The Badlands_ Book One Part 14

Riker deliberately turned to Gul Ocett. "Set course for bearing seven-one-five mark ninety. That should take us within range of the Enterprise."

"Of course," Mengred replied for the commander. "Meanwhile, I'll have my aide, Pakat, show you to your quarters." He waved his hand and turned, letting the tall back of the chair conceal him.

Mengred's aide turned out to be a rather short Carda.s.sian male with wide shoulders and stocky legs. Pakat looked powerful enough to roll a Stars.h.i.+p, and Commander Riker didn't doubt that the aide would do so if Mengred ordered him to.

Pakat didn't say a word as he showed Data and Riker to a narrow set of quarters with bunk beds along one wall. As the aide left, Riker said, "At least it's not the brig."

The door closed with a final hiss. Riker went over to it, but it stayed shut. "Or maybe this is the brig."

Riker began to look around, but he glanced at Data, covertly tapping his ear to indicate that Carda.s.sians were likely monitoring the room.

Data nodded slightly, indicating he would reveal no tactical information. "Sir, Mengred and his aide wear the insignia for the Obsidian Order, the Carda.s.sian internal security police."

"I knew there was something different about him," Riker said, as he circled half-way around the small room. "He didn't stand when Gul Ocett entered the room. Captain Picard would never put up with having an 'internal security agent' hanging over his shoulder on the bridge."

"It is an intriguing distribution of power," Data agreed.

Riker determined that there were no obvious ports allowing observation, but he was under no illusions. They were being watched. The panels were all welded shut, including the one under the wash basin. There was nothing loose in the room, and nothing that could be used as a blunt weapon. Even the drinking cup was attached by a cable to the wall. He filled it from the tap and drank.

"Metallic," he said with distaste, pouring the rest out.

"Orders, sir?" Data asked.

Riker tested the padding on the lower bunk, then lay down. "Now we wait," he said, putting his hands behind his head. "While Mengred calls his superiors and gets his orders. He isn't going to do anything without checking with his superiors."

Mengred leaned closer to the three-dimensional holo-image of the cell displayed on the black mirrored surface of his desk. Riker was no taller than his hand, and Data's slightly stiff movements made him look remarkably like a child's toy come to life.

Data took up a post near the door with his back to the wall, his hands clasped in front of him, and his eyes focused on the crack of the door. Then he went perfectly still, watching for the slightest movement while Commander Riker calmly lay in the bunk with his eyes closed.

Mengred had to admit that it was an impressive display of nonchalance. But then again, if he had a machine like Data to serve as his aide, he could rest easy too.

Mengred discounted Riker's ploys to gain supremacy, both his comments and his posturing. The Starfleet officer had managed to briefly discomfit Gul Ocett in the shuttle hanger, but she wasn't difficult to intimidate. She was a typical lumbering military officer. Riker's statement about his own captain refusing to put up with an "internal security agent" had even been useful in prompting an idea of how he could proceed in this matter. So he discounted Riker as not worth the effort of careful a.n.a.lysis.

On the other hand, there was Data ... Mengred had read the reports about the Starfleet android as curiously as any other agent in the Obsidian Order. But he had never imagined coming face-to-face with the android. There was a standing order for all operatives to obtain any data they could on it's positronic brain, for future reproduction.

Mengred kept the holo-image activated, even while his call to Enabran Tain, the head of the Obsidian Order, was answered. Tain looked haggard, his down-turned mouth firmly set in displeasure. Mengred knew that things had not been going well for Tain lately.

'This had better be important," Tain barked.

"Sir, I have the android Data and Commander Riker of the Stars.h.i.+p Enterprise," Mengred informed him. "We have their damaged shuttlecraft, and scans and data downloads are underway. They claim the Enterprise is in the area doing surveys and request to be returned to their s.h.i.+p."

Tain's expression lightened somewhat. "That is news, indeed, Mengred. Good work."

Mengred Ucked his lips, pleased by the rare praise. "Sir, if I may be so bold as to suggest a plan for exploiting this situation...."

Mengred explained to Tain what he had in mind. But the entire time, he could see the tiny form of Data standing at perfect attention watching the door. If only he had an aide like that... knowledge instantly at his fingertips, power enough to overcome any attack, never sleeping, never tiring, the perfect guard....

The Hawking was six hours overdue for its rendezvous with the Enterprise when La Forge suggested sealing the warp coils of the Enterprise so they could enter the Badlands on impulse power. Though Picard was reluctant to do so, he knew their options were rapidly running out. If his people were in trouble in there, he would have to pull them out.

"Search pattern completed," Ensign Ro announced, having run through a pattern that spiraled out from the area of the Badlands the shuttle had entered and eventually circled around and back to where they had started. "Nothing on sensors, sir."

"Very well," Picard said. The expectant eyes of his crew were on him, waiting for him to give the order. They wanted nothing more than to plunge into the Badlands to find their fellow officers. Yet somehow, his instinct told him that was not the right thing to do....

"Sir," Lieutenant Worf spoke behind him. "You have an incoming message on a secured channel from Admiral Henry at the Gamma 7 Outpost. Priority two."

The Gamma 7 Outpost was the meeting site during the ongoing negotiations between the Carda.s.sian Empire and the Federation. "On screen," Pi card said, rising from the command seat.

Admiral Thomas Henry appeared on the viewscreen. "Captain Picard, I've just received word from the Carda.s.sians. They have your missing men, Commanders Riker and Data."

"Where are they?" Picard asked, ignoring the m.u.f.fled exclamations from the bridge crew at the news.

"They're on a Gator-cla.s.s wars.h.i.+p near the Badlands. I'm sending the coordinates to you now," Admiral Henry informed him, glancing down to send the transmission. "Along with the official Carda.s.sian request submitted to Starfleet Headquarters."

"Information received," Worf informed the captain.

"Carda.s.sian request?" Picard asked.

"Yes, Captain. When you rendezvous with the wars.h.i.+p, your orders are to take on two Carda.s.sians. The Detapa Council of Carda.s.sia have requested that members of the Obsidian Order, Jos Mengred and his aide, be allowed to partic.i.p.ate in the survey of sector 21305."

"Carda.s.sians?" Ensign Ro blurted out.

Admiral Henry focused on Ro Laren. "Yes, Ensign, Carda.s.sians. Or have you forgotten the Federation is at peace with the Carda.s.sian Empire?"

"With all due respect," Picard said to the admiral, resting a hand on Ro's shoulder to keep her from saying anything more. "I know we've hosted Carda.s.sian observers before, but does Starfleet really think it's wise to allow members of the Obsidian Order on board a galaxy-cla.s.s Stars.h.i.+p?"

"I don't like letting their intelligence operatives on one of our s.h.i.+ps any more than you do, Jean-Luc. But my hands are tied on this one." Henry narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "If we agree to their terms, the Carda.s.sians will agree to designate the Badlands as neutral territory. I don't have to tell you how important that would be strategically, or how important it is for us to cooperate with the Carda.s.sians."

"Of course," Picard said, remembering the recent damage done by Admiral Kennelly. "I understand the need to maintain relations."

"They have your people, Jean Luc." Admiral Henry's expression was closed, as if that said it all. "Before picking up the Carda.s.sians, seal off engineering and don't let them have access to the s.h.i.+p's computers. They are obviously going to gather as much information about us as possible. Be polite but not too accommodating with technical data."

"Understood, sir," Picard agreed.

"Good, you'll have them for over a week, so stay on your guard. Henry out."

The Badlands appeared on the screen, blurred red and orange. Now Picard almost wished he had ordered the Enterprise into the plasma storms to search for the Hawking. Then they wouldn't have received Starfleet's orders. But he knew that facing a problem was the best way to overcome it.

"Worf, send the coordinates to the helm. How long will it take to intercept the Carda.s.sian wars.h.i.+p?"

"The direct route would take us through the sensor shadow," Worf replied. "At full impulse power, it will take just under two hours."

"That should be enough time to batten down the hatches," Picard said thoughtfully. "Worf, arrange for a complete security lockdown."

"Aye, sir," Worf replied.

"But sir!" Ro protested, turning around in her seat. "Just last week the Carda.s.sians subverted a Starfleet admiral and tried to destroy a s.h.i.+p full of Bajoran refugees. Now you're cooperating with them?"

"You have your orders, Ensign," Picard replied, perhaps too sharply. "I'll be in my ready room."

Picard strode off the bridge and into his ready room. As soon as the door slid closed, he was able to relax. He was glad, as always, to have the ready room, where he could monitor the bridge operations from his desk without letting the crew see his concern. Right now, he couldn't allow them to know that he felt the same way as Ro Laren. How could the Federation deal honorably with people who refused to take a clear and honorable stand themselves?

Chapter Four.

Riker groaned, instantly alerting Data. While monitoring the conditions in their cell, a significant portion of his positronic brain had been engaged in computing new formulas for the impulse reaction chamber on board the Enterprise.

But Data halted that task and gave Riker his full attention. "Commander?"

Riker half-rolled over, revealing a sweaty face. "My guts are tied in knots."

Data instantly went to his side. He was no doctor, but he had a great deal of medical knowledge stored in his database.

"How long have you been experiencing pain?" Data asked.

"About an hour now, I guess. It's getting worse."

Riker's pulse rate was 91.7 per minute, and he was running a temperature of 101.2 degrees. His mouth appeared dry.

"My face and neck itch," he rasped. "Like I want to peel the skin off."

"That would not be advisable," Data told him.

"Thanks for the expert medical advice!" Riker snapped.

"I am not a medical diagnostician," Data informed him. "However, it is clear that you are suffering from some form of illness."

Riker rolled his eyes, a familiar reaction that indicated Data had stated the obvious. "How long have we been in here?"

"Two hours, twenty-seven minutes, and fourteen seconds."

Riker's muscles contracted, and he curled into a ball. His grunt of agony turned into panting. Data correctly ascertained that Commander Riker was unfit for duty and that he must now take command.

Data tapped his comm badge, but a dull buzz indicated their communications devices were being jammed. His internal sensors indicated they were being continually bombarded with electromagnetic energy.

"Data to Gul Ocett, this is an emergency." Data glanced up at the ceiling. They were undoubtedly being monitored. "We require immediate medical a.s.sistance"

"No!" Riker exclaimed, still writhing in pain. "I don't want those ... Carda.s.sian butchers ... touching me."

"With all due respect, sir, in your condition, you are not competent to make that decision."

Riker glared up at Data. But before he could protest, he gulped wildly and pointed toward the waste reclamation unit.

During the next hour, Data a.s.sisted Commander Riker in whatever way he deemed necessary. He carried the commander back to the bunk and removed his uniform jacket. Then he washed Riker's face with a cloth ripped from his own sleeve cuff. He wrung out the rag and placed it on Riker's forehead, an old method of helping to cool the head and bring down fever. Data even snapped the cup cord from the wall so that he could transport water to Riker.

Every three minutes, Data repeated his request for immediate medical a.s.sistance.

"Commander Data to Jos Mengred, we require immediate medical a.s.sistance. Please respond."

Mengred leaned closer to the screen, thoroughly intrigued by the android's actions. He alternated between calling for Mengred and Gul Ocett. It was quite the tactical move, since Ocett was calling him every time to say she must respond to an official request as per the detailed agreement Starfleet and the Carda.s.sian Empire had entered into.

Mengred simply overrode her command, informing her to prepare a science bay for medical work. He wanted more time to observe the android.

The android stayed by Riker's side until the human's fit seemed to ease somewhat, and the commander lay quietly, his eyes closed and his black s.h.i.+rt heaving with every breath.

Mengred wasn't too worried about Riker. Humans were always getting sick. They sometimes blamed it on direct exposure to Carda.s.sians, which had only started when they began meeting face-to-face in treaty negotiations two years ago. But Carda.s.sians weren't getting ill with human viruses, so the Obsidian Order had informed their operatives that humans were a relatively weak and sickly people.

The android remained unaffected by his commander's lack of strength. His voice betrayed no anxiety, despite the lack of a response. He was efficient in tending to Riker and actually seemed to ease the human's suffering somewhat.

Then the android went to the door panel. He meticulously felt around the crack of the door, trying to insert his nails in to get a leverage point. But the door was self-sealing, to ensure that any gases pumped into the cell could not escape into the general atmosphere of the s.h.i.+p.

The android placed his ear against the paneling next to the door. Slowly he moved up and down, listening to the machinery behind the wall.

Mengred was intrigued. By listening along the wall, the android pinpointed the spot he intended to focus on. It was in the corner, far from the door. Mengred quickly accessed the structural specs and discovered that the door controls were located directly behind that panel.

The android backed up and began methodically kicking the metal wall panel. His strength was prodigious! Mengred quickly routed sensors to determine the cubic pressure applied with each blow, and was amazed by the results. The duranium filament membrane was layered with reinforcing trilanium sheets. It was rated to contain a cla.s.s-two explosion.

But the android had already dented the s.h.i.+ny surface, and was methodically continuing to kick the same stress spot.

"Kee-ta!" Mengred saluted him under his bream. Very impressive.

"Gul Ocett to Mengred. Respond!"

At the interruption of the audio message, Mengred regretfully tore his eyes from the figures on his desk.

"What is it, Gul Ocett?"

"That machine is damaging my s.h.i.+p," Gul Ocett said darkly. "It could batter down the wall panel and open the door."

Mengred smiled at her urgency, the strain she must be feeling to so clearly exhibit her frustration. This little test had accomplished far more man he had hoped for.

Ocett's voice was rising, "You do not have authorization to endanger this s.h.i.+p"

"Excuse me, Commander," Mengred interrupted. "I don't have time to discuss my authorization. I have to escort our guests to the science lab."

He could hear the strangled silence on the other end, before the chann el snapped closed.

Data could feel the electron bonding give a mi-cromilimeter with every impact. He continued with blows of the same intensity, intending to break off a section fourteen centimeters in circ.u.mference. That would allow him to access the gyro servos that operated the door panel.

"Worf!" Riker called weakly. "Worf, stop that banging... ."

"I am attempting to attract attention," Data informed the commander, though he knew Riker was incoherent and talking in a dream-like state because of his soaring fever.

The door hissed open, catching Data in midkick.