The Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter [67]
Then he excluded artificially generated anomalies that were the result of esoteric physics experiments.
Then the screen froze.
A Human would not have noticed; however, given the rate at which Data processed information, the brief lag was quite obvious to him.
After a microsecond flash of a new file listing, the screen returned to the previous display of physics experiments.
“Search complete. No new matches on stated search parameters.”
“That is not correct,” said Data firmly.
” Access Archaeology File TGOF-1284-678A.”
“No such file is present in the data base.”
The computer was in error. He had clearly seen that file listing added, then quickly deleted.
“Repeat, access Archaeology File TGOF-1284-678A.”
The screen went blank. “Listing error that file material has not been entered in the data base.”
Yet he had noted a considerable volume size in the file description. He considered a backdoor approach that might open a new access route. “Correlate data on the Devil’s Heart with data in Archaeology File TGOF-1284-678A and—” “Starfleet Command override … Attention Lieutenant Commander Data, USS Enterprise, you have requested classified material. Your current security clearance is not sufficient to allow access to this file.”
“Intriguing.” He tapped his comm insignia and began with, “Data to Commander Riker.”
Less than ten minutes later, the first officer was standing by Data’s side.
“Computer,” said Riker sternly. “This is Commander William T. Riker. Show me Archaeology File TGOF-1284-678A.”
The screen remained blank while the computer-generated voice repeated its refrain.
“Starfleet Command override … Attention Commander William T. Riker, USS Enterprise, you have requested classified material. Your current security clearance is not sufficient to allow access to this file.”
“Damn.” The first officer tapped his comm insignia. “Riker to Picard.”
Less than two minutes later, the captain had joined them on the aft deck. He listened patiently to Data’s recapitulation of the data base search. “And you think this file has material pertaining to the Heart?”
Data shook his head. “I cannot corroborate any connection until I have actually seen the file, but the request for a correlation triggered the security procedures.”
“Then I agree this subject is worth pursuing,” said Picard. “Computer, this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I require access to Archaeology File TGOF-1284-678A.”
“Starfleet Command override … Attention Captain Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise, you have requested classified material. Submit your justification for access to Admiral Emm Wilkerson, Director of Starfleet Special Projects.”
“Well, I suppose that’s progress of some sort,” said Picard with a wry smile. “I’ll send a priority request for an explanation to the admiral right away.”
Given their distance from Command Headquarters, Data quickly calculated that the earliest possible response could not arrive for hours. In the meantime, however, he could conduct another round of laboratory tests.
“Mr. Data,” continued Picard, “until we’ve received some clarification from Starfleet Command, I suggest we suspend any further attempts to analyze the Heart.”
“As you wish, Captain.”
“Why am I not surprised by that?” muttered Riker under his breath as he watched Picard return to his ready room.
This was a rhetorical question, decided Data; he was not required to respond. Nonetheless, he noted with interest that his own reaction matched that of the first officer.
Beverly Crusher had just started the last paragraph of the last page of a very dreary set of reports when she heard the sound of the outer doors to sickbay open and shut. Her fingers picked up their pace over the keyboard.
“I’m almost done, Jean-Lu—” Then she looked up. “Oh, Deanna.”
“You were expecting the captain,” said Troi.
“Yes, actually, I was. He invited me to join him for dinner tonight.”
The counselor’s eyebrows quirked