The Sky's The Limit Part 21

For a long moment, Deanna's mind went blank as she took in the scene around her, surreal in the emergency lighting: Data, eyes blank and scorch marks on his chest and face; the blanketed figure at the back of the cabin. Then she looked at Taurik, who was shaken but calm as he waited for her orders.

It was the expectation in Taurik's eyes that restarted her brain. "Ensign, we need to a.s.sess the damage as quickly as possible," she said in a brisk tone. "Check structural integrity to make sure we're not venting atmosphere, then look at communications, weapons, and propulsion. I'll look at sensors to see if I can figure out whether that was an accident or an attack. Either way, we need to know if the worst is over."

"What about Commander Data?" asked Taurik.

"As long as he hasn't experienced a cascade failure, almost any other damage can be repaired," she said, hoping she was right. "If we can contact the Enterprise, they can meet us at the outpost, or come to us here if we can't take off. Lieutenant Commander La Forge is best equipped to repair Data."

As Deanna went back to the c.o.c.kpit's aft stations, she felt Taurik's unease recede into resolve as he began to work. His emotions, as quickly masked as they were, reminded her of the confusion she thought she sensed during the crash. Was that Taurik, before he'd gotten his feelings under control? Or Doctor Aaron before he'd died?

Or had she completely imagined it?

In any case, she didn't sense anything now. She turned to the console Aaron had been using and rerouted the sensor controls to that station. She was relieved to find the sensors still functioning, if a bit unevenly. She set the array for a broad sweep, instructing the computer to search for weapon and engine signatures in particular.

Nothing unusual: there were no residual traces to indicate weapons activity and no warp or impulse trails anywhere nearby. Not an attack, then. But there had also been no warning of an imminent system failure, so an actual engine explosion seemed equally improbable.

"Ensign," she said, remembering something she'd read the evening before, "Beta is full of volatiles-that's one of the main reasons the outpost is interested in mining it. Could something have triggered an explosive outga.s.sing event?"

Taurik considered the question. "It's possible, Commander. However, Doctor Aaron had not indicated that Beta is p.r.o.ne to outga.s.sing, and it is not approaching a heat source that would cause sublimation, the way a comet outga.s.ses as it approaches a sun. But it is possible that chemical reactions inside the moonlet could build pressure to the point of outga.s.sing."

"Could outga.s.sing explain the deviations from Beta's planned trajectory? If there were many small events, not easily detectable from the outpost?" she asked.

"Again, it is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely," said Taurik.

Deanna frowned. "What's the status on communications, Ensign?"

"I should be able to reestablish short-range communications soon, with enough power to raise the outpost. I am still a.s.sessing the damage to the subs.p.a.ce relays for long-range communication."

"Concentrate on short-range for now. Director Maher can relay our messages to the Enterprise if necessary."

"Aye, Commander."

"I'm going to check whether the thruster unit made it on board before the explosion. That's when this all started, and there might be some information we can use."

Trying not to look at Doctor Aaron's covered form, Deanna picked her way back to the runabout's laboratory module, directly aft of the c.o.c.kpit. A sizable isolation and decontamination chamber was situated along the back wall. Through its window, Deanna could see a hulking metal object that was difficult to make out in the dim illumination. She instructed the computer to reroute power to the lighting.

Better. The machine's silver surface was blackened in places, and its crevices contained a melange of rust-colored sand and grit. She touched the chamber's control panel, which lit up in response. She input commands for two simultaneous tasks: a.s.sessing the thruster unit for mechanical failure and performing a compositional a.n.a.lysis on any materials that were not part of the unit itself.

After a few minutes, a list of elements began to scroll on the display. Deanna studied it without knowing what she was looking for. "Computer, do you detect any evidence of current or former biological activity in these samples?"

"Negative."

"Computer, reorder the list with the least common elements, those that generally occur less frequently in nongaseous planetary bodies, on top. Describe any noteworthy properties of those elements, beginning with the first one."

After a brief pause, the computer stated, "There are notable quant.i.ties of several radiogenic elements, which are produced by the process of radioactive decay. In order of abundance, these elements are argon-40, nitrogen-14, and lead-207. There are also significant quant.i.ties of helium, which is common throughout the known universe but which also can form as the result of radioactive decay. There are also several complex isotopic compounds including-"

Deanna interrupted the litany. "Are there pockets of these materials on Beta's surface?"

"Negative. These materials do not appear in significant quant.i.ties on Beta's surface. However, minute quant.i.ties are present, scattered thinly. There is also a dissipating cloud of helium emanating from a fissure in the moonlet approximately twenty-three kilometers from our current position."

"Behind us?" asked Deanna.

"Affirmative."

"Computer, is that where the explosion that damaged our engine occurred?"

"Affirmative."

Outga.s.sing seemed more and more likely to Deanna, in spite of Taurik's doubts. But the event had happened just as Data transported the thruster unit aboard. "Computer, was the thruster unit active when we transported it?" she asked.

"Negative. The thruster unit was dormant."

"And does it show any signs of malfunction?"

"Negative. The thruster unit is capable of operating within normal parameters."

It was only one thruster out of dozens, but if it and the others were working, why hadn't Beta remained on course? Taurik believed that outga.s.sing was an unlikely explanation, and Doctor Aaron hadn't mentioned any outga.s.sing activity on Beta at all.

"Computer, has Beta's trajectory changed since the explosion?"

"Affirmative. Beta has changed its course by two degrees."

Something Captain Picard had said back on Ennis came back to her. You almost make it sound as though the rings have a mind of their own. Could Beta be protesting being dragged from its home?

It was ludicrous, when the sensors detected no signs of even low-level biological activity on Beta.

"Commander," Taurik's voice came over the comm. "Short-range communications are online, although there may be some interference."

"Good work, Ensign," said Deanna. "I'll be right up. Raise the outpost."

She went back up front. "This is Commander Deanna Troi calling the Ennis Outpost," she said at a signal from Taurik. "We have an emergency situation. Please respond." A moment later, she repeated the message.

The screen crackled in response and a jittery picture appeared. "Commander Troi?" More static. "This is Maher. We're tracking Beta from here and it seems to have shifted again. What is your status?" The picture cleared enough for Deanna to discern Maher's worried expression.

"An explosion caused one of our engines to malfunction, and we crashed into the moonlet," Deanna said. "We're not sure what caused it, although we're working on a theory. Director Maher, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Doctor Aaron is dead. His neck was broken in the crash."

The pause was longer this time. Finally, Maher spoke again, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Understood, Commander. I'm sorry to hear that. You said you don't know what happened?"

"No," she said. "Lieutenant Commander Data has also been damaged, and we won't know the extent of his injuries until we get him back aboard the Enterprise. We're attempting to repair our systems now, but it may be a while."

"I can send our shuttle for you. It will be cramped but it should get you back safely. Can you rig the runabout to self-destruct?"

"What?" said Deanna, startled.

"I think we need to cut our losses," he said, running his hand over his tired face. "This project has been a disaster from start to finish. We need to destroy Beta before it causes more harm, and initiating a warp core breach on the runabout would probably be the easiest way."

"Destroying the runabout is not an option I'm currently considering," Deanna said, still not believing that Maher had suggested it. "Now that the crash has happened, the damage has been done, and as far as the runabout is concerned, it doesn't seem to be irreparable. I don't believe we're in danger at the moment."

"Doctor Aaron is dead, and Beta's course has shifted yet again," Maher said, his tone sharp. "How much danger do you have to be in before you act? Beta is still roughly on course to intersect with our orbit, and taking chances at this point would be reckless. If you don't want to destroy the runabout, can you repair it and take off? Are your weapons capable of destroying Beta?"

"No," said Deanna. "Even at full capacity, our weapons wouldn't vaporize the entire moonlet-they would create a lot of debris, some of which could threaten the outpost as well. At the rate Beta is moving, there's plenty of time to take action if we need to, especially if we recall the Enterprise from Chandra. Our long-range communications are damaged, so if you contact them-"

"Commander, I'd rather not involve the colony," Maher said. "There are certain individuals on Chandra who've been working against this outpost from the start, and this will just fuel the fires. We can take care of this ourselves without any more excitement."

Deanna sighed with frustration and hoped the continuing static had masked the noise. "Director, please. If you'll contact the Enterprise, I'm sure Captain Picard can smooth things over with the colonists. He has a great deal of diplomatic experience.

"And there's something else," she went on, hoping she was about to say the right thing. "I don't know if you're aware, but I'm an empath-I'm half-Betazoid. I don't know for certain, Director, but I thought I sensed something during the accident, and I think it's possible there may be life near here, perhaps somewhere in the rings or on one of the other moons if not on Beta itself."

Maher's face was a picture of disbelief. "Life, Commander? Are you sure?"

"No, I'm not," she said. "It was a very brief contact, if that's what it was, and I couldn't tell where it came from."

"Commander, surely you know that indigenous life in this part of the system is extremely unlikely. There's no energy source, and there's been no sign of biological activity anywhere. We surveyed extensively before we began building the outpost."

"I understand, Director. But since neither we nor the outpost appears to be in immediate danger, it would be irresponsible to destroy Beta if there's even a remote chance of finding life."

Maher sighed. "Commander, with all due respect, being irresponsible is exactly what I'm worried about. You're responsible to Starfleet, and I'm responsible to the scientists who work here and the colonists who've entrusted me with this project. I disagree that there's no immediate danger. Are you sure you're not just worried about being blamed for losing your ship?"

Deanna fought to control her anger. "Director, I a.s.sure you, that's the least of my concerns. Please contact the Enterprise and we'll be able to determine if there's anything to my hunch. If not, the Enterprise will be able to help you deal with Beta."

"I'm sorry, Commander, but the answer is no," Maher stated flatly. "I'm not going to let you or Captain Picard jeopardize my outpost without more than a vague hunch to go on. I'm sending the shuttle to Beta, and I suggest you either find a way to lift off or prepare to come aboard the shuttle when it gets there. Maher out."

Deanna stared at the starfield that had replaced Maher on the viewscreen, her thoughts racing. The life-form, if there was one, wasn't here on Beta-at least, she didn't think so.

She could almost hear Captain Picard's voice asking for options, so she answered him in her thoughts. If they took the runabout back to Beta's point of origin-a.s.suming Taurik could restore propulsion-Maher might really attack the moonlet with the shuttle. His weapons would be limited, but he could probably do a fair amount of damage.

Or she and Taurik could try to restore subs.p.a.ce communications and contact the Enterprise.

"Ensign," she said, "which system is more badly damaged, long-range communications or propulsion?"

"Communications, Commander," Taurik said. "The power surge shorted more relays than we can replace. Propulsion is down one engine, but now that we're stationary, I should be able to manually disconnect it and compensate with the other engines. One of the starboard thrusters is also damaged, but I believe I can fix it."

"Warp drive?" Deanna asked, knowing it was too much to hope for. Under warp, they could get to the rings and back before Maher could blink.

Taurik shook his head. "No, ma'am. The impact knocked the warp coils out of alignment and, well, warped them. They won't generate a stable field."

Impulse power, then. But how to keep Maher from attacking the moonlet?

If only Data were functioning properly, surely he would think of a way- Data. She turned and looked at the back of Data's motionless head. Then she looked at the s.p.a.ce-suit locker, and back at Data.

"Ensign, drop everything else and work on propulsion. Keep me informed of your progress." She walked back to the science station. "Computer," she said, taking a deep breath. "How long can Lieutenant Commander Data survive in a vacuum?" she asked.

"Unknown," said the computer.

"Will Data's current condition affect his ability to survive in a vacuum?"

"Unknown."

Deanna sighed. She was fairly certain she'd heard Data relate an incident in which he'd been unprotected in a vacuum, but she wasn't sure.

One last question. "Computer," she said. "What is the status of the runabout's EVA suits?" Deanna mentally held her breath.

"The EVA suits are undamaged," said the computer.

As Deanna struggled into her suit, she vowed to practice emergency procedures back on Enterprise at least once a week. She'd kept up with Starfleet's minimum certification hours, but clearly they weren't enough. Beside her, Taurik was already snapping his helmet into place.

"I don't think we'll be able to wrestle Data into a suit," she said, "but I want to put a helmet on him to protect his eyes. Can you create a seal at the neck? He doesn't need an oxygen supply, but I want it pressurized if possible."

"Yes, ma'am," said Taurik. He took down another helmet from the locker and moved, somewhat tentatively in the unaccustomed gear, to where Data sat. By the time Deanna had closed her own helmet and run the suit's autocheck sequences, Taurik had finished with Data.

"Ensign, activate your suit's mavlock," she said, pressing a b.u.t.ton on the front of her own suit. "Computer, turn off artificial gravity." Instantly she felt buoyant in spite of her suit's lock on the floor, and she had to overcome a surge of nausea. Although Data was now light enough for them to move him, his ma.s.s was unchanged, and maneuvering was tricky. Together, she and Taurik pulled Data to the runabout's tiny airlock and attached tethers to their suits. Deanna tied a third tether around Data's waist but did not attach the other end to the runabout.

"Let's move him farther away," said Deanna, her voice tinny and distant through the suit's radio. With awkward movements, they pulled Data several meters and leaned him against a rocky ledge. "Ensign, you're better in a suit than I am. Can you tie his tether to this rock, just in case?"

When Taurik had finished, Deanna sent him back toward the runabout. Then she knelt down to look into Data's face. Obviously he wouldn't be able to hear her, but maybe his eyes were registering something. She switched off her helmet radio so Taurik wouldn't hear and then said slowly, "We're coming back for you, Data. We can do this. Remember Pica.s.so." She forced a smile, just in case he could see her, and then she turned away.

Just before she entered the airlock, Deanna pulled a small sample container from the belt at her waist and scooped up some of the regolith that had been displaced by the runabout's skid.

Deanna spent the entire trip back to the rings second-guessing herself. There had been another tense exchange with Maher, during which she'd told him that Data was remaining on Beta "for further study." A suspicious Maher had reminded her that she'd told him that Data wasn't functioning.

"We fixed him," she'd lied, signaling Taurik to cut the connection.

Taurik, too, had doubts about her proposed course of action and had requested permission to speak freely.

"Commander," he said, "have you considered the possibility that Director Maher will contact Captain Picard, but will relay only partial information? Even if Maher will not attack Beta himself while Lieutenant Commander Data is there, he may convince the captain that Beta presents enough of a threat to warrant destruction and fail to mention Lieutenant Commander Data's presence there. I have occasionally observed that people who are normally rational sometimes invent faulty chains of 'logic' when they are affected by strong emotions, particularly grief." He stopped for a moment, then went on. "And Captain Picard will have no reason to suppose that anyone is on Beta when he detects our runabout near the rings."

"Maher is an administrator worried about his people and his facility," Deanna stated definitely. "He's trying to bully us because he thinks he's right, but he won't allow the Enterprise to fire on Data any more than he would do it himself."

"But Commander-"

"I understand your concerns, Ensign, and yes, it is a risk. But I believe it's remote. Remember, I can sense his emotions, and he's more worried than anything else-he's not a cruel man. So this is a risk we're going to take. There's a lot at stake, and Data of all people would understand why this is important. Besides, if the Enterprise comes back, we should be able to hail it ourselves on short-range communications. Prepare to lift off."

When Taurik did not move immediately, Deanna looked straight into his eyes. "That's an order, Ensign," she said calmly, "and I expect you to follow it."

"Aye, Commander," he said, his doubts apparently a.s.suaged.

As Taurik eased the runabout off the moonlet, skillfully compensating for the disabled engine, Deanna thought of Data yelling at his first officer on the Sutherland, and smiled in spite of her anxiety. That, she knew, would have been exactly the wrong thing to do in Taurik's case.

This foray into the rings was unable to captivate Deanna as the first trip had done. When they reached the gap where Beta had been, Deanna instructed Taurik to hover above it as before. "Ensign, try to configure the sensors to search for the isotopic compounds similar to the ones that the computer detected on the thruster unit from Beta. Start from Beta's original position and work outward."

"Aye, ma'am," said Taurik. "There do seem to be concentrations of similar compounds on several of the larger fragments near Beta's original position."

"Is the transporter working well enough to bring a sample on board?" asked Deanna.

"There is not much power to devote to the transporter, Commander. However, if we get quite close to one of the fragments, I believe the transporter can bring a sample aboard."

"Do it," she said. "Approach one of the larger fragments very slowly, no more than one-eighth impulse. Watch for signs of outga.s.sing and be prepared to react quickly."

"Aye, Commander."