Relics - Michael Jan Friedman [56]
Geordi felt the anger building inside him, crawling up his throat-ready to burst forth from his mouth. First he couldn’t get this guy to stand aside-and now he couldn’t convince him to help. No matter what he promised the captain, he’d taken about all he could-
“Wait a minute,” said Scott. He stroked his chin for a second or two … and then went on like the most reasonable man you’d ever want to meet. “We dinnae have a week, now do we? So there’s no sense cryin’ about it. Come on. Let’s see what we can do with that power converter ye’re so fond of.” Then, turning away from Geordi, Scott made his way toward the engines-leaving the younger man a little surprised. With a bemused look, he followed his predecessor’s lead.
As tenuous as their situation was as they orbited the captive sun, Picard could not help but remember his mission. As he’d told Data not too long before, they had gone out into space to seek out new life and new civilizations-and the builders of this Dyson Sphere promised to represent the strangest civilization of all.
It was at least part of the reason he had asked his second officer to examine the inside of the solar system-sized construct. The other part was based on a more selfish motivation survival.
Someone had gone to the trouble of drawing them inside this thing. It was incumbent on them to find this someone if they were to have any serious hope of reopening the hatch and gaining their freedom.
Unfortunately, Lieutenant Worf had already analyzed the sphere’s composition and discovered it to be composed of carbon-neutronium-one of the hardest substances known to the Federation. Even at full power, they could not generate a phaser barrage strong enough to punch a hole in the outer shell.
“Captain?”
Picard traced the call to its source one of the aft science stations. “Yes, Data. Have you got something already?”
“I do, sir.”
It was difficult to tell from the android’s expression, which was as deadpan as ever, just what it was he had. Containing his curiosity for just another moment, the captain joined his second officer.
“I have completed the bio scan of the interior surface of the sphere,” Data informed him.
Picard took a look at the monitor, where the evidence was plain to see. His hopes sank. “No life,” he concluded.
The android looked almost sympathetic. “That is correct, sir. The sphere appears to be abandoned. Although …” He switched to another graphic-one that mapped out the surface of the sphere in terms of sensor efficiency. “.. . our instruments seem incapable of probing a small area … right there.”
Picard followed Data’s finger as he pointed to the spot in question. The captain grunted. “In other words,” he said, “we do not know if there is any life in that location or not.”
“We do not,” the android confirmed. “Of course, one might conclude that since the rest of the surface has apparently been deserted-“
“That this section has been deserted as well,” the captain remarked, completing his second officer’s thought. “On the other hand, if this area is shielded from our sensors, it may have been shielded for a reason.” He reflected on the possibility. “Say, by a group who elected to stay in the sphere when the others left-and wished to remain hidden from any who might enter here.”
“True, sir,” said Data. “Nor will we know for certain one way or the other-unless we send an away team down to investigate.”
Picard turned to him. “Are you advocating that, Data?”
“I am merely stating a fact,” said the android.
The captain mulled over the advisability of sending down an away team. Power reserves were still low. With various systems down, the ship was not as maneuverable as he would have liked.
However, the sensor-shielded area would be below them in less than an hour. This might be their only chance-not only to make contact with an obviously superior race, but to rescue themselves from the sphere. Could he pass it up just like that?
Finally,