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Data pulled up a holodeck interface on his console and prepared the program. “Done,” he said.

Picard tapped his communicator. “Picard to Hawk.”

“Hawk here, Captain.”

“Mr. Hawk, I think it is very important that our new crew members appreciate the legacy of the Enterprise, and I’ve had a holodeck presentation on the subject prepared. Please conclude your tour at holodeck three. The presentation will be loaded and waiting for them.”

“Yes, sir.” Hawk sounded slightly puzzled.

Picard considered the situation for a moment. “All except Lieutenant Addison. I’d like our new security chief to meet the senior staff as soon as possible. Mr. Data and I will wait for her at the holodeck and escort her to the bridge. Picard out.” He tapped his combadge, severing the connection with Hawk.

“Data, program a computer trace on the eight crew members. If any of them leaves the group before they reach the holodeck, we should be notified immediately.”

“Already done, Captain.”

Picard turned and headed for the door. “You’re with me. We’ll take care of the rest on our way to the holodeck.”

Hawk decided to make the holodeck itself the end of the tour. Anticlimactic though it was in comparison to the rest of the ship, it seemed the easiest way to comply with Picard’s puzzling order.

“You’ve all seen holodecks countless times before, but the Enterprise-E’s represent the most realistic simulations yet available. For example, at it highest realism setting, almost every object that a holodeck user might touch or hold, be it a book, or a wall, or a weapon, is actually replicated in complete detail, on the fly, rather than being simulated with holograms and force fields.

“For instance, if you were to see a sword on a table across the room, you’d be looking at a hologram. Walk toward the table, and the table and the sword will be seamlessly replicated before you arrive. Pick up the sword and it will be completely real and solid in your hand. Walk away from the table, and it will dematerialize and again be replaced by a hologram.” All this was exciting from an engineering standpoint, but hardly the big finish he wanted for his tour. Still, he pressed on.

“Of course, if you were to swing the sword at another user, safety protocols would cause the blade to be immediately dematerialized and replaced with a hologram. And if you wish to participate in a subjective-mode program, you don’t even need to put on a costume before your arrival. The holodeck can replicate one for you directly.” Stunning, Hawk. You’re putting them to sleep. You sound like a Ferengi holosuite salesman.

Thankfully, at that moment Picard and Data appeared around the corner. Hawk turned to them gratefully. “Captain, we were just concluding the tour.”

“Excellent, Mr. Hawk. Now, if our new crew members will proceed into the holodeck for the historical presentation, you and Lieutenant Addison can accompany us to the bridge.”

The seven crew members entered the holodeck, glancing back over their shoulders at Addison. Hawk thought he detected a trace of envy in the glances they threw at her, and he felt a moment of sympathy for them.

As they entered, Data selected the program from the console just outside and initiated it. Then Hawk noticed him do something very curious. Data continuted tapping on the console long enough to program a security lock on the door. It could be opened only from outside, and only with command authorization. Hawk wondered if Addison had noticed, but her attention again seemed to be focused on Picard.

The four of them strolled down the corridor to the turbolift. When the doors opened, they found not an empty car, but Dr. Crusher flanked by two security officers armed with phaser rifles.

Two more armed security guards appeared from a cross-corridor behind them. Hawk realized he was in the middle of some kind of ambush. “Captain?”

Picard and Data stepped back behind the security officers. “Lieutenant Hawk, Lieutenant Addison, I’m afraid we will need to screen a sample of your blood.”

Linda