Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [108]
Hawk called back from the front of the cockpit. “The warbird captain isn’t buying my ‘technical trouble’ messages, Captain. He’s locking his main disruptor bank on us.”
“Evasive maneuvers, Lieutenant!” Picard shouted, holding onto the sides of Data’s chair as the deck lurched. “Maximum impulse!”
Picard felt the scoutship shudder just before the inertial compensators leveled the deck out. The first salvo had evidently been a clean miss. Crouching beside Data, Picard said, “Can you try again to transmit the abort code?”
“Not… at present.”
“Are you still connected to the Romulan array?”
“The subspace channel… remains open…. The other machine intellect… must maintain it… to continue… affecting my body… But it is keeping me… preoccupied.”
A grim realization suddenly slapped Picard in the face: Because Data was still connected to the scoutship’s computer, every one of the vessel’s systems-including its deflector shields-was just as vulnerable to outside cybernetic assaults as Data was. Picard briefly considered disconnecting the cable linking the android to the vessel, then restrained himself. Not only was he unsure about what the interruption would do to Data’s positronic matrix, he also didn’t want to sacrifice what might well be their only chance to resend the abort command.
Picard spoke urgently to the android. “Mr. Data, whatever you do, you must keep this intelligence from invading the scoutship’s systems.”
The scoutship rocked, and a loud bang! reverberated through the crew cabin. Smoke and sparks flew from an instrument panel. Picard ignored it, counting on Hawk’s piloting skills.
“I will… endeavor… to do so, sir,” Data said.
“I certainly hope you can, Mr. Data. Otherwise, I might have to disconnect you suddenly…” He trailed off, certain that Data understood better than he the danger that eventuality might pose.
Data nodded stiffly. “Hope… is all… I have.”
“Understood,” Picard said. “Continue doing whatever you have to.”
At that moment, Data lapsed into a disconcerting silence, and Picard moved forward to take the cockpit seat beside Hawk. The lieutenant’s full attention was focused on his evasive flying. “Mr. Hawk, how thoroughly did Commander Data brief you on the Romulan command protocols he’s been using?”
“He showed me the entire abort-command sequence,” Hawk said, casting his wide eyes momentarily on Picard. He added sheepishly, “Once.”
“Lieutenant, I think it’s time to test that photographic memory I’ve read so much about in your service record.”
“Captain, I could never enter the commands as quickly as Commander Data could.”
“Then slow and steady will have to do,” Picard said, smiling grimly as he took control of the helm. “The subspace uplink with the array should still be open. I’ll hold the warbird off while you enter the commands.”
At once, Hawk began manipulating the instrument panel, slowly at first, then accelerating to an almost inhuman speed. Though Picard gave most of his concentration over to the flight controls, he saved some for the forward viewer. It showed the maw of the approaching warbird’s main disruptor bank, which was glowing like the core of a star.
The Presence caught up with Data at last-it felt as though years had passed since Data had first distracted it with his emotion chip-and restrained him again within its cybernetic tendrils. Data became aware that he had once more lost command of his speech functions. That revelation discouraged him. Until he noted that the emotion chip remained firmly under his control. That told him that the Presence still did not understand what he was doing. Emotion chip-generated hope sang within him. No, Data said simply. But he quickly understood that resolve would be an insufficient