Chapter Eleven.

PICARD STOOD UP and looked at Worf with an innocent expression. "I a.s.sure you," he said, "you have our complete attention."

Worf was impervious to that sort of humor. He merely reported, "Audio transmission coming in from Tantamon Four."

"Let us hear it," Picard said.

The signal sounded like insects playing insect instruments. It had the same charm, the same sound as the signal from the d'Ort'd teardrop ship that had brought them out to the Omega Triangulae region the first time. Picard let it continue while he tried to make sense out of it. He would have left that job to the computer, but he had no great confidence in the computer at the moment.

"Stores," Picard called out.

"Stores. Ward here, sir."

"Mr. Ward, send a tricorder up to the bridge immediately."

"Aye, sir. Ward out."

While the alien music continued, Picard said, "How long has this been going on?"

"Unknown, sir," said Worf. "It is not among the frequencies we normally scan for. I discovered it largely by accident."

Riker's eyebrows went up, and Picard knew why. Worf did not make such an admission lightly.

The turbolift arrived, and the person inside said, "Sir?" as if a little frightened. And with good reason. Ward was standing with his feet flat against the ceiling of the car. Worf and Riker got him down, a tricky job since the Boogeymen had apparently inverted the artificial gravity in that single turbolift.

Picard gave the tricorder to Wesley and ordered him to see if he could make the music yield a message. While Ward went away on the turbolift-oriented normally for the moment-Wesley took a sample of the alien sound. He sat down at the conn, all the while pushing b.u.t.tons on the tricorder and studying the results.

Mr. Worf's discovery of the alien signal had triggered many thoughts in Picard's head, and for the first time since he and Wesley and Data had emerged from the holodeck, the thoughts led him to conclusions that made sense. While half listening to Wesley tinker with the insect music, Picard matched the evidence together in his head and was delighted to discover that the fit was firm. He looked up and saw Riker watching him.

Earnestly, Picard said, "Number One, I feel that things are coming to a head. The virus seems to have originated aboard the d'Ort'd teardrop ship, although Professor Baldwin may have modified the program for his own use. We are receiving a signal from Tantamon Four that could be coming only from the d'Ort'd ship. We are traveling at warp speed without using our engines, which is something at least one d'Ort'd ship has demonstrated the ability to do. Evidence strongly suggests that the sleepers and the Martinez node have something to do with our speed. Which means that the trance state also has something to do with the d'Ort'd. How does this sound to you, Number One?"

"Good so far, sir."

"Then the d'Ort'd are the key. Perhaps using that key we can reduce our many problems to one."

"Unfortunately," said Riker, "the galaxy's leading expert on the d'Ort'd is in a trance down in sickbay."

"Yes. We will have to make do with Shubunkin."

"He really does know his stuff, sir."

"Glad you realize that. Call a meeting of everyone involved. The conference lounge in ten minutes."

Picard sat at the head of the table, Riker at his right hand. La Forge, Data, Dr. Crusher, and Shubunkin were ranged down the table waiting coolly for him to begin. He wished Troi were there, stabilizing them, reminding them of the human part of the equation if they should ever forget. Still, he felt better now that the problems all had handles, the same handle, the d'Ort'd. Together, he and his staff would save the ship. He only hoped they figured out how to do so before the Boogeymen took total control.

Picard said, "As I see it, we have three problems. First, and perhaps most critical, a virus has attacked our computer and is taking over the ship. Even our main core is at risk. The virus seems to be compounded from an alien program and a program written at the request of Ensign Crusher. It was designed to generate warlike aliens on the holodeck and now seems to be doing that job inside our main computer.

"Second, the Enterprise is traveling at warp eight back to Tantamon Four and will arrive there soon. Our warp engines are not engaged. At the same time we are receiving a signal from Tantamon Four that could be coming only from the d'Ort'd ship.

"Third, crew members and civilians are in some kind of trance. An unmapped part of their brains, the Martinez node, is showing unusual activity. Were it not for the fact that this unusual activity seems to have a bearing on our uncontrolled warp, I would say that the rest our sleeping shipmates are getting is the least of our problems. Dr. Crusher?"

"It's true, the sleepers don't seem to be in any danger."

"Very well. Mr. La Forge? Mr. Data?"

Data nodded at La Forge, who stood up and began to explain things. He said, "The combined Boogeymen-d'Ort'd program is unlike anything either Data or I have ever seen. Unfortunately, it is also unlike anything our maintenance programs have seen. That's the reason the virus program is still in the computer and able to get comfy."

Data said, "a.n.a.lysis of the contagion pattern makes it eighty-five percent certain that the d'Ort'd virus program entered Enterprise systems through the terminal in the exobiology lab on deck five."

"The d'Ort'd set out to destroy us," Riker said.

Shubunkin said, "I am sorry to disagree with you, Commander. But I have read Professor Baldwin's extracts and summaries of his work on the teardrop, and I find no evidence of hostile or belligerent tendencies among the d'Ort'd."

"Could they have been hiding their hostile or belligerent tendencies?" Riker said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Possible, but unlikely. It is not consistent with the pattern we have observed among races in our galaxy."

Riker did not appear to be convinced, but he let the matter go.

"Then Baldwin must be responsible," Picard said. He had hoped to find clues to the contrary, but evidently it was not to be.

"Indeed, sir," Data said.

La Forge said, "We have no idea whether the contagion was installed intentionally or not."

Riker said, "At the moment I don't think that's our most urgent question."

"Indeed not," said Data. "But to continue. Mr. La Forge has spent some time telling me about Professor Baldwin, whom I forgot after plugging into the main computer manifested on the holodeck. Mr. La Forge and I have determined that my forgetting was no fluke. The alien virus was modified to wipe any mention of Professor Baldwin from Federation computer records."

Picard said, "Can you flush the Boogeymen-d'Ort'd program from our computer?"

La Forge looked embarra.s.sed. He sat down and said, "Not at the moment, sir."

"I trust you will continue your best efforts."

"Yes, sir."

"Commander Riker, inform Starfleet of our problem and suggest any ships that may come in contact with a d'Ort'd teardrop proceed with great caution."

Data said, "I am afraid, sir, that that is not advisable."

"Why not?" said Riker.

"Anything we broadcast will contain the Boogeymen-d'Ort'd virus. With our first communication, we would doom the Federation."

After a moment of horrified silence, Picard said, "Thank you, Mr. Data. Belay that order, Number One. Let us continue."

Shubunkin said, "If I may?"

"Please," Picard said.

Shubunkin nodded and said, "The sensor readings we took on our first meeting with the teardrop indicated that the d'Ort'd were really two separate races. One was almost human, and the other was so unusual as to be incomprehensible. I would like to propose a theory now that, though strange, fits all the facts as we know them. Please consider it before you reject it."

"Go ahead," said Riker.

"I would like to suggest that the humanoids we observed with our sensors are not the crew of the ship but part of the ship itself."

"How do you mean?" said Dr. Crusher.

"I would like to suggest that the humanoids are used as pushers, to push the teardrop ship into warp." Shubunkin was embarra.s.sed. "Professor Baldwin was correct when he insisted that the d'Ort'd think of the humanoids the same way they think of their tools. Well, that's the reason why."

No one liked the idea very much. It made Picard uncomfortable to think of people being used as tools, no more important than wrenches or dilithium crystals. It was even worse than thinking of Data as just a machine. But the captain could concoct no argument against Shubunkin's theory. No one else spoke up, either. Picard said, "Is it possible, Doctor? Could stimulating the Martinez nodes push a ship into warp?"

"I wouldn't have thought so, but given the evidence-the timing of the fainting and the boost into warp, the high activity of the Martinez nodes-it seems likely. On the other hand, we're on dangerous ground here. Could you look at a human foot and predict ballroom dancing?"

There were guffaws all around the table, in which Shubunkin did not join.

Riker said, "If Lieutenant Shubunkin's theory is correct, it would explain the signal from Tantamon Four. Maybe its purpose is to stimulate people with high telepathic indexes into becoming pushers and to guide them back to the planet."

La Forge said, "What I want to know is how a signal coming all the way from Tantamon Four can cause an effect of that magnitude."

Everyone looked at Dr. Crusher, and she shifted in her chair. "I have a theory almost as strange as Shubunkin's."

"This seems to be the day for it," La Forge said.

Dr. Crusher plunged ahead. "We know from sensor scans that the creatures the d'Ort'd use to push their ships are within two points of being human. Maybe we and they come from the same stock. Maybe the Martinez node has been a hair trigger waiting millennia for something that would set it off, something like the signal coming from the teardrop on Tantamon Four. The effect of the signal is actually very small, like the pebble that starts the avalanche."

"You mean," said Riker, "the signal set off a reflex?"

Not very happily, Dr. Crusher nodded.

After a moment of silence, Picard swallowed and said, "What you suggest will cause historical and philosophical earthquakes all through the Federation."

Dr. Crusher shrugged and said, "It fits the facts as we know them. I, for one, would be delighted to hear a less bizarre theory."

"We will work on a new theory when we have the time," Picard said. He turned to Shubunkin. "There are no humanoids aboard the teardrop on Tantamon Four?"

"That is right," said Shubunkin. "None of the other creatures, either, if Professor Baldwin is correct."

"Then who is sending the signal?" Data said.

"It could be automated," said La Forge.

Riker shook his head. "But why send the signal now?"

"Because," said Picard, "now the ship has found new pushers."

It took a moment for Picard's statement to sink in, and then Dr. Crusher said, "You mean the teardrop plans to re-man itself with members of the Enterprise's crew? Members selected because of their apt.i.tude to be pushers?"

Everyone looked at Shubunkin. He waited, milking the momemt for its drama. And then he said, "I believe Dr. Crusher has, as you say, hit the screw on the head."

"But how did the d'Ort'd know when to start signaling?" Riker asked.

Dr. Crusher said, "Maybe Baldwin acted as an antenna for their sensors-they must have them even if the sensors are not like ours. The d'Ort'd knew the Enterprise was loaded with potential pushers."

"Another bizarre theory," Shubunkin said.

"I'll be d.a.m.ned," said Picard. He slapped the arms of his chair and stood up. "Very well," he said. "Mr. La Forge and Mr. Data, continue your a.n.a.lysis of the Boogeymen-d'Ort'd virus. Draft Ensign Crusher if you believe he would be of use to you. I do not think I need to remind you that time is very much of the essence."

"Yes, sir," La Forge said. He and Data hurried out.

"Dr. Crusher, find a way to deactivate the Martinez node without killing the subject."

"Aye, Captain." Dr. Crusher was on her way to the door when Picard heard the comlink twinkle. Everyone stopped and waited.

"Bridge to Captain Picard," Wesley said.

"Here, Mr. Crusher."

"Enterprise has dropped out of warp a hundred thousand klicks off Tantamon Four."

The twinkle came again. "Sickbay to Dr. Crusher." It was a male voice Picard did not know.

Dr. Crusher looked at Picard wonderingly and said, "Go ahead, Birnberg."

"Doctor, the sleepers are awakening."

"And demanding breakfast, no doubt," Riker said.

"Why, yes, sir."

"Feed them," said Dr. Crusher. "Give them anything they want that the food slots are willing to produce. But don't let them fall back asleep. I'll be there in a minute."

"Captain?" Wesley said.

"Patience, Mr. Crusher. Doctor, it is still important for you to find a way to neutralize the Martinez node. We don't want to be at the mercy of the d'Ort'd."

"Aye, sir."

Even before she was gone, Picard said, "Mr. Crusher?"

"Here, sir."

"Make standard orbit around Tantamon Four. The answers to all our questions may be here."

Riker said, "Mr. Worf."