Survivors - Jean Lorrah [77]
Nevertheless dinner was excellent, the conversation was fascinating, and afterward Dare and Yar joined Rikan in one of the salons.
Only to have alarms sound almost at once.
Dare tapped his combadge. “What’s happening?”
“Flyer approaching, no recognition signal,” came Barb’s voice. “Cleared the outer defenses without triggerin’ ‘em.”
“Data,” said Yar. “It has to be.”
Dare grinned wolfishly at her, then said into his combadge, “It’s the android. Shut off electronic surveillance and follow the procedures we discussed this afternoon.”
“Right!”
“What are you doing?” Yar asked as Dare turned to stare into the fire as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Your android relies on electronic gadgetry. So we will take it with methods that do not involve electronics.”
And Yar could do nothing but wait, knowing Data would not expect physical traps, hoping his strength and quickness would let him elude them.
But Dare’s people were too good; in less than half an hour they herded the android into the salon. And when Yar tried to lessen the tension by making introductions, her sometimes impossibly naive colleague stepped forward and attempted to arrest his captor!
Yar stared from the dappled form of Lieutenant Commander Data to the dark shadow of Darryl Adin. The room lights were dimmed, so the flickering firelight could be appreciated. Despite the dirt smeared on it, Data’s pale face was still clear enough that she could see his puzzled frown.
She had to turn to see Dare, although she first heard his choking attempt to keep from laughing. By the time she could see his silhouette, he had lost the battle and was laughing freely-the first genuine humor she had seen in him since her arrival. It took him several moments to regain control. Then he walked over to Data, and around him, still grinning as he looked the android over.
At the same time, Rikan did something to the arm of his chair, and the lights slowly came up.
Yar wanted to leap to Data’s defense, but the situation was tense enough already. The android was, unfortunately, accustomed to being treated on first acquaintance as a fascinating piece of equipment; he remained still, allowing himself to be examined. Behind him, Sdan, Barb, and two of Rikan’s men kept guns trained on him. He ignored them.
Dare completed his circuit, peering into Data’s face. Data looked mildly back at him, taking his cue from Yar to wait. She was surprised at her own calm. Perhaps after the wild emotional swings of the day her nervous system simply could not attain red alert again.
Dare finally spoke, but it was to Yar instead of to Data. “Was that courage, or merely programming?”
“It was foolhardiness,” she replied. “That’s supposed to be my department, Data. How often do I have to remind you that you are not indestructible?”
“Nor invincible,” he replied with genuine chagrin. “I came to rescue you, Lieutenant, but as you see … ” He gave the tilt of his head that was his equivalent of a shrug, and smiled his small self-deprecating smile.
Dare stared at Data. “You are more than a machine,” he said.
“Yes, sir. A portion of my structure is organic.”
“No, not the physical. Tasha, you told me your colleague had a personality-but I wasn’t expecting a sense of humor.”
Yar saw Data’s eyes widen. Dare couldn’t know what that assessment from a stranger would mean to the android.
Dare turned back to Data. “Give me your word as a Starfleet officer that you won’t try to escape-or to arrest me again-and I will dismiss these people. They have better things to do than guard you all night.”
“Tasha?” Data asked.
“Dare has my word-until I have all the information he and Rikan can provide. They know the other side of what’s happening here, Data. I think we should listen to them, compare their evidence with what Nalavia has told us and what we’ve found out for ourselves, and then decide what to do.”
“Conditionally, then,” Data agreed. “You have my word that I will make no attempt to escape while we are still investigating.