String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [32]
“There are many areas within the array that currently contain an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere which would allow us to explore without environmental suits,” Seven replied. “In addition, there is evidence that the environmental systems aboard the array are adaptive.”
“Adaptive?” Janeway asked.
“There are sensor grids in the airlocks which connect the docking bays to the rest of the array that are set to detect the precise life-support requirements of any individual who comes on board and adjust the internal atmosphere accordingly.”
“How thoughtful,” Janeway quipped, before asking the obvious question. “What about life signs?”
Seven’s brow furrowed. “It is difficult to say.”
“Why?”
“Voyager’s sensors are calibrated to detect consistent life signs. Even when those signs are faint, they are detectable as long as they remain constant for one second or more. Within the array, there are indications of life, but they fluctuate too rapidly for definitive analysis.”
“You mean in less than a second, a life-form may be alive, and then dead?” Janeway asked.
“A more accurate explanation, based on the readings I have collected, would be that in less than a second the potential life-forms I am reading exist, and then cease to exist.”
“It might be a sensor glitch,” Janeway suggested.
“It might. The sensors have been operating at maximum since we encountered the array and our systems could be overloading, though every diagnostic I have run suggests otherwise.”
“So it’s possible the array is devoid of life, at least humanoid life…” Janeway began.
“Or it is possible that there are thousands of different life-forms currently occupying the array,” Seven finished.
“What about Tuvok?” Janeway asked.
“We have pinpointed Lieutenant Tuvok’s shuttle and life signs within one of the docking bays. His life signs are growing weaker.”
“Dammit!” Janeway vented.
“We will be within transporter range within the next fifty minutes,” Seven said, softening the blow as best she could. “Even if the lieutenant has sustained serious injuries, we should be able to transport him to sickbay in time for the Doctor to…” She hesitated to finish the statement with the words “revive him.”
Janeway nodded, eliminating the need for her to find a more comforting phrase.
“There is one more thing, Captain,” Seven said.
“What’s that?”
“One of the other docking bays is currently occupied.”
“Can you identify the vessel?”
“It is Monorhan… but…”
“Go on,” Janeway said.
“Its technology does not conform to the specifications of the Monorhan vessels we have already encountered in several significant respects. There are organic components to the design which are unusual, and their propulsion system is somewhat primitive by current standards.”
“An early transport vessel perhaps?” Janeway suggested.
“One of the Monorhans I worked with while Lieutenant Torres and I were on the surface told me of a group of Monorhans who left the planet almost fifty years ago. They were members of the planet’s Fourteenth Tribe. They were seeking something known as Gremadia, a city built by their god.”
“The Key to Gremadia!” Janeway said, apropos of nothing that Seven could see.
As the ocular implant that almost surrounded Seven’s left eye rose quizzically Janeway explained, “Phoebe was asking me about the Key a little while ago and I couldn’t remember what it was called.”
“What is your sister’s interest in the Key?” Seven asked.
“She’s bored and looking for a new subject to paint, or sculpt.”
“The Key is a perfect sphere,” Seven said as if no further information were required.
For Janeway, none was.
“I suggested she find something more challenging,” she replied, before returning to the more interesting and intriguing topic of the array. Finally she said, “If the Monorhans were looking for a city built by a god, based on these readings anyway, it looks like they might have found it.”
Seven’s face fell skeptically. Surely the captain did not seriously