Star Trek - TOS by Generations

Author:Generations [Generations]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-07T14:09:36.922000+00:00

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Geordi heard the muted sound of fingertips pressing controls. And then he bowed his head and groaned as the chest-crushing pain seized him once more, with such mind-blotting intensity that he was aware of nothing else... except the soft, steady ticking of a timepiece.

NINE

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Other than the holodeck, one of Picard's favorite places aboard the Enterprise was stellar cartography. With the holographic map activated, standing on the stellar car- tography deck was like lying in a country field staring up at the night sky--or better, like hanging suspended in space; one need only lean forward to touch the nearest star .... At the moment, the holographic map wasn't activated; Picard stood, surrounded by computers, sensors, track- ing devices designed to monitor the ship's precise posi- tion in space. Beside him, Data sat at a console, awaiting a readout. Picard gazed at the nearby bank of viewscreens, which displayed diagrams of an angry streak of ultraviolet lightning--the energy ribbon--at various times and locations. He had used the mystery of Soran and the ribbon to focus, to extricate himself from grief. His initial fury and frustration had ebbed. There was nothing he could do to help Robert and Ren6; but there was much he could do to help Geordi La Forge... and to stop whatever harm Soran planned.

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Data leaned forward as the readout appeared on his screen; Picard caught the movement in his peripheral vision and turned, expectant. He was still unaccustomed to seeing the android under the sway of emotion; Data's depression showed in the slump of his shoulders, the barely perceptible downward curve of his lips. "According to our information," Data said listlessly, "the ribbon is a conflux of temporal energy which travels through our galaxy every thirty-nine point one years." He paused and frowned, apparently having lost his place. "It will pass through this sector in approxi- mately... forty-two hours." Picard moved away and began to pace, hoping the movement might keep his weary mind and body alert; he had slept little since Marie's message. "Then Guinan was right .... She said Soran was trying to get back to the ribbon. If that's true, then there must be some connection with the Amargosa star." He turned on his heel and faced Data. "Give me a list of anything which has been affected by the star's destruction, no matter how insignificant." The android did not respond, but merely stared unblinking at the glowing screen with a disconsolate expression. "Data," Picard snapped. Data straightened at once; Picard fancied he caught a fleeting look of embarrassment on the android's face. "Sorry, sir." He pressed several controls on the console, then looked back at the captain. "It will take the computer a few moments to compile the information." Picard folded his arms to wait. As he watched, Data released a deep, sorrowful sigh, then leaned forward and

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put his head in his hands. Perplexed, the captain stepped forward and put a hand on the android's shoulder. "Data... are you all right?" "No, sir." Data raised his head, revealing a tortured expression.

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