Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [202]
As the gateway opened in one of the alcoves along the far wall, the readings on Crusher’s tricorder conformed in every respect to his projections. His theory was correct! Just one or two more things to check and he’d have the whole problem licked.
He knew Captain Picard was eager for him to report success. Just what the captain intended to do with the information, though, was something that Crusher couldn’t begin to guess, no matter how many odd angles he used to approach the question. He knew that the captain had oblique strategies all of his own.
It really was too bad, Crusher mused, that Picard had gone into command. He would have made one hell of a scientist.
Picard stood beside Lal as the three androids stepped through the gateway. From the other side, he could hear the faint sounds of klaxons, and rumbles like distant thunder as the warbird’s shields struggled to withstand the Enterprise’s continued attack. Picard tried not to think about the state of his own ship at that moment, looking instead for a speedy resolution. There were just one or two questions left to be answered.
“Close the gateway,” shouted Lore, the second he was through into the control chamber, “and reopen with the terminus on the warbird’s bridge.” He turned to the quartet of cosmetically altered androids across the room. “Why don’t you make yourselves useful for a change and get me a couple of warheads?” He looked with distaste at his tunic and pants, which were soiled and discolored from his recent travails. “And get me a clean suit while you’re at it.”
“Belay that,” Data said in a calm voice. He turned to La Forge, who manned the controls. “Geordi, please do close the gateway, but it will not be necessary to open it again for the time being.” He turned to the four androids across the room. “I am pleased to see that you escaped detection and harm.”
“Data,” Picard said, stepping forward, “would you mind explaining why Turing has expended the energy and effort necessary to create androids who can pass for Romulans or Cardassians or Klingons?” He held up his hand, and quickly added, “And please, don’t try to tell me that this is all part of some forced evolution or exploration of forms. You should respect my intelligence enough to know that I’m not about to swallow that.”
Data had already opened his mouth to reply, but shut it again, thoughtfully. When he spoke again, it was with some regret. “You seem to have formed an opinion as to our reasons, Captain. What is it that you already suspect?”
Picard narrowed his eyes. “Truthfully, Data? I suspect espionage.”
Data cocked his head to one side. “That is a word with some nuance of meaning, Captain.”
“All right, Data.” Picard was beginning to lose patience. “I mean the practice of employing spies.”
“And 'spy’ here taken to mean one who watches in secret, obtaining information or intelligence? And not an ambush, ambuscade, or snare?”
Picard gave a ragged sigh, and impatiently replied, “No more word games, Data, I mean espionage and you know it!”
Data nodded, slowly. “In that case, Captain, that is precisely what it is.”
Isaac looked from his commanding officer to the first of his kind and back. He had not known what to expect when the gateway back to Turing had opened, but it had most definitely not been this.
“Enough of this charade, brother,” Lore implored angrily, “let’s destroy the Romulans and be done with it.”
“Data?” Isaac said, sounding as if he were afraid to interrupt, which surprised him, considering it was not a tone he had intended. Were his opinions of Data and Lore-even his feelings about them-affecting his processing on a level below his active awareness? Was this what humans called an unconscious reaction? “A short while ago on the Haakona you mentioned an 'infiltration network,’ and spoke with high regard of all that you have accomplished with it, and spoke with some evident hope