Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [40]
“The original version stimulated the pleasure centers of the brain to make agents of the Obsidian Order resistant to torture. It appears that this new implant has been greatly modified to act as some kind of emotion-amplification device. As we know, Ambassador Tabor had Ullian telepathic abilities. Our theory is that this device enabled the ambassador to amplify his innate abilities-in effect, to broadcast his own emotions simultaneously to entire groups of people rather than to specific individuals.”
“Which would certainly be a help with his diplomatic missions,” said La Forge.
Batanides raised an eyebrow, her gaze intent on La Forge. “Are you suggesting that the ambassador was using implanted thoughts to force negotiating parties to act against their will?”
“No, sir. Even if he had wanted to do something like that, this device just doesn’t have enough bandwidth for that. But if you wanted to convey general emotional states to another mind, rather than specific thoughts, I think this chip could do it.” La Forge hesitated for a moment. “You probably couldn’t change another person’s thoughts radically, but I think you could ‘nudge’ somebody farther in the direction they were already heading. If you were negotiating with somebody who was calm, you could soothe that person even more during a delicate negotiation. Like having quiet music in the background.”
Picard stared pointedly at La Forge and Data. “Are you both sure about this?”
“It is only a theory at present, sir,” Data said. “We will have to study the chip further to ascertain if this is indeed the case. Nevertheless, I should note that at the time of the ambassador’s death, the chip’s active isolinear circuitry recorded not a state of calm, but rather one of intense rage.”
“That’s not surprising in the least, Commander,” Batanides spoke quietly, her manner stiff, her eyes betraying nothing. “A Chiarosan rebel had just stuck a dagger into him.”
Rage? Picard thought. Shouldn’t there have been fear of imminent death there as well?
But there was no time to dwell on the thought. Picard knew he had to diffuse the tension created by Data’s last statement. “Thank you, Mr. Data. I want you and Mr. La Forge to continue your study of this chip, and give me a full report.”
“That is not all I had to report, sir,” Data said.
“Go ahead.”
“We have identified trace protein residues on Commander Riker’s and Counselor Troi’s combadges. It appears that Commander Cortin Zweller was the last person to handle them.”
The silence in the room was palpable. Data couldn’t have shocked his superiors more if he had suddenly broken out into a soft-shoe song-and-dance routine.
“Are you telling me that Zweller is alive?” asked Picard.
“I cannot confirm that, Captain. But his DNA was found on both the front and rear surfaces of both combadges. It would seem likely that it was he who removed them.”
Batanides’s hand dropped to her side heavily. “Incredible!”
“Have any of the crew been able to track life signs from Zweller or any of the other Slayton crewmembers?” asked Picard.
“No, sir,” Data responded. “The atmospheric disturbances are continuing to block all orbital scans.”
“We have to find him. Keep trying, Data. Geordi, do whatever you can to penetrate the Chiarosan storms with our sensors. If we can find Zweller, we may find Riker and Troi as well. And the rebels.”
Data and La Forge exited the ready room, leaving Picard standing alone with Crusher and Batanides.
“I don’t know what to think about this, Jean-Luc,” said Crusher. “This is getting more Byzantine by the minute. The loss of the Slayton, the death of the ambassador, the Romulans, the rebels, this chip, and now Commander Zweller’s involvement… Can either of you make any sense out of this?”
Picard looked over at Batanides, who shook her head. He was sure that these new revelations about Tabor and Zweller had added to his old friend’s pain-they had certainly rocked him-but he also knew that she was more than strong enough to soldier on.
“Marta, I know this is difficult for you on a personal level, but it appears