The Children of Hamlin - Carmen Carter [66]
Inside the sphere, Tasha Yar hung suspended, treading water with lazy strokes, her blond hair drifting like a halo around her head. She waved one hand and the simulation faded, dropping her down to the deck with a thump.
“Data!” she cried in protest. Rising from the crouch that absorbed the shock of her fall, she swept aside a lock of hair trailing down over her eyes.
The android looked up from the control panel at the entrance to the room, his brows contracting in puzzlement. He caught the irritation in Yar’s voice, but it took him a moment to construct the reason for the emotion and infer that an apology was necessary. “Sorry. The gravity field is tied to the other program parameters. An entry portal will be necessary eventually, but I have concentrated on the interior of the Choraii vessel. However, I can take the time to … “
“Don’t worry about it.” Yar brushed absently at her uniform, then stopped when she realized the material was dry. When Data had suspended the program, all the liquid had been removed along with the exterior shell. “The feel of the program is getting better, though.”
“Could you be more specific?” he asked.
“The temperature feels right and so does the density of the liquid. I think.” She concentrated on recapturing the physical sensations of her brief visit to the Choraii ship. The memories, which she had thought were indelible, blurred a little more with every exposure to the holodeck projection. “But something’s not the same.”
Data opened his mouth to speak, but Yar held up a hand to stop him. “I know, please be more specific,” she said. The android nodded and she tried again. “The buoyancy is still wrong.”
“In what way?” asked Data. Dr. Crusher had provided samples of the interior atmosphere, a few milliliters wrung from Yar’s clothing, but the properties of the substance were difficult to determine from such minute quantities. As the mass of the liquid increased, its qualities changed. This mutability was fascinating from a theoretical point of view, but frustrating for his attempts to duplicate its effects.
“I can’t tell. It just feels off.” Yar hurried on with more items before he could try to pin her down. “And the walls are still too stiff.”
“Ah. That particular logarithm is also very interesting,” said Data as he adjusted the program parameter for the bubble construction. “The Choraii exhibit an amazing ability to control surface tension.”
“And can we try it with the color added?” asked Yar. “Maybe that will help make it seem more real.”
Data nodded and entered another series of numbers into the control sequence. The broad structures of the Choraii ship were set, but these subliminal details played an equally important role in establishing a proper credibility. Unfortunately, human imprecision was further lengthening the time-consuming process. If Data had beamed over to the B Flat instead of the lieutenant, the project would be completed by now. He initiated the program run once again.
“Hey!” Yar was pulled up into the air without warning as the low-gravity field reactivated. A translucent orange sphere popped into existence around her.
When Wesley Crusher entered the Farmer holodeck, the sunlit meadows were still wet from morning rain and a faint rainbow stretched across the sky. The idyllic vista was completed by the sight of white lambs bounding over the rich carpet of moist green grass and a leggy colt racing around a grazing herd of calves. Walking through scattered patches of wildflower, Wesley wondered how soon the mushrooms would come up and whether anyone would notice them.
“Fine weather we’re having,” said Old Steven when Wesley passed by the orchard. The man was sitting on a fallen log, carefully peeling an apple with his pocketknife.
“It certainly is,” answered the boy. He couldn’t tell whether Old Steven meant the comment as a compliment or a simple observation. In either case, it would be rude to admit credit. He walked on.
Wesley was a frequent visitor to the farm, and despite his starship dress, the ensign managed to blend remarkably