"I don't much care for the thought that an armed Romulan warrior simply disappeared without a trace," said Ro. "I have a feeling that we're not alone in here."

Troi moistened her lips nervously. "I have that feeling, too," she said.

Chapter Eight.

AS NIGHT FELL in the ark, Valak's search party returned to the arrival coordinates. They were the first ones back. There was no sign of the groups led by Torak and Antor. They had found no sign of the first away team, either, and Picard was worried. Valak, too, seemed concerned, but for other reasons.

"Kalad would not have simply wandered off exploring," he said. "As soon as he discovered his communicator was not functioning, he would have returned to the arrival coordinates. I am concerned that I cannot account for his disappearance."

"I am equally concerned about my own people," said Picard.

"Are you?" said Valak. "Perhaps they encountered friends aboard this ark."

"You still believe there may be Federation personnel aboard this ark?" said Picard. "We have seen no signs of life at all."

"This vessel is very large," said Valak. "And it would take a long time to search it all."

"If there were Federation personnel present here," Picard said, "don't you think they would have responded to your presence by now?"

"Perhaps they are biding their time." Valak tried to use his communicator again, but it still wasn't functioning. He swore. "If this interference is affecting communications, it may also affect the transmissions from the scanner probe on the surface. Talar will be unable to get a fix on our position."

"And a blind transporter beam sweep of our arrival coordinates may prove ineffective as well, so long as the interference persists," Picard said.

"You had best hope that it does not," said Valak. Picard frowned. "Why?"

"I have given orders that the ark is to be destroyed if I do not return within a reasonable length of time," said Valak.

"Destroyed!" Picard said. "And what of my crew aboard the Syrinx and the Enterprise?"

"That will be Korak's decision to make, as he is next in command," Valak replied. "So for your own sake as well as that of your crew you had best hope that this interference with our communications does not continue."

"You suspect your signals are being purposely jammed?" Picard said.

"The possibility has occurred to me," replied Valak. "I find it curious that we were initially able to communicate with the away team without difficulty, and now all of a sudden our communications devices are inoperative. It is possible that the interference may be the result of power fluctuations aboard this vessel, as you have suggested, but there may also be another explanation."

Before Picard could reply, there was a shout, and Antor's team appeared, moving toward them quickly. "Something has happened," Valak said.

As Antor and his team came running up to them, Valak frowned, noting that some of them were missing.

"Commander," Antor said breathlessly, "we have lost several of our warriors!"

"What do you mean, you lost them?" demanded Valak. "What happened?"

"We were searching the streets in the area a.s.signed to us, and Dalok saw movement in the entryway to one of the buildings. I sent him to investigate, along with Eivak, Istak, and Jalad. We saw them enter the building, and then, moments later, the doorway disappeared!"

Valak frowned. "It disappeared? How?"

Antor shook his head. "I cannot explain it, Commander," he said. "One moment there was an arched entryway leading into the building. The next moment it simply was not there! The wall ... moved."

"Be more precise," Valak said irritably. "What do you mean, it moved? You mean a panel of some sort came down to seal the entrance?"

"No, Commander, I mean the wall moved! It seemed to flow, to actually alter its shape until the archway disappeared. The entrance rapidly grew smaller, the opening shrinking rapidly before our very eyes! I thought at first that I was seeing things. Before we could react, it was no longer there. Where once there was an opening, there was now a solid wall, as if there had never been an opening there to begin with. And our warriors were trapped inside."

"And you simply left them there?"

"We fired our disruptors at the wall, Commander, but they had no effect."

"Impossible," said Valak.

"By the G.o.ds, Commander, I swear it!" Antor insisted. "All six of us fired our weapons at it, but the structure sustained no visible damage!"

"How can a solid wall flow, and then remain impervious to disruptor fire?" said Valak.

"Perhaps the wall is composed of a structural material with molecular memory and the density to withstand such damage," said Picard.

"Molecular memory?" said Valak. "What is that?"

"Something that was first developed on Earth many years ago," explained Picard. "The earliest examples entailed metal alloys that were designed to return to a specific shape if heat was applied. However, on a much more advanced level, molecular engineering could produce materials capable of being programmed for specific functions. It is something we have only begun to develop."

"Explain," Valak demanded.

"The term for it is 'nanotechnology,'" said Picard. "In essence it involves the manufacture by molecular chemistry of tiny machines that are smaller than living cells. The applications of such technology would be almost limitless. Applied to medicine, for example, it could result in nanomachines capable of being injected into the bloodstream and traveling to specific areas of the body to repair injuries and heal diseased tissue. Applied to structural engineering, it could result in building materials that could rea.s.semble themselves on a molecular level."

"I have never heard of such a thing," said Valak.

"Admittedly, it is supposition," said Picard, "but in theory, it could explain what happened. None of the structures we have seen so far have any visible entryways, except the one your warriors found, and they actually saw that entrance seal itself, or so they claim. You asked how a solid wall could alter its shape. I merely offered one possible explanation. Can you think of another?"

"All I can think of at the moment is that four of my warriors have been sealed inside a building, with no way out," said Valak tensely. "And now Torak is overdue."

"Commander, look!" Antor said.

All around them, like islands in the street, were abstract sculptures surrounded by small trees and shrubs. Some of the sculptures were tall, cylindrical, and spindly, like the undulating stalks of underwater plants; others were blocky, hard-edged, and angular. They varied in height from four or five feet to eight or nine feet, and most were arranged in cl.u.s.ters interspersed with plants. At first they had appeared to be artworks constructed of stone or metal, but now several of the sculptures began to emit a soft glow while others remained dark, creating artful shadowy effects in the sculpture gardens.

"Streetlights," said Picard.

"So the forms are functional as well as decorative," said Valak, in a tone that dismissed the matter as being of no consequence. "I have rather more pressing concerns at the moment."

"This may touch on one of your concerns," Picard replied. "Note that the lights appear to be coming on only in our immediate vicinity."

Valak saw that he was right. Everywhere up and down the streets at the crossroads where they stood, similar sculpture gardens were s.p.a.ced out at regular intervals. However, they all remained dark. The "streetlights," as Picard had called them, had come on only in the area where they were.

"There may be sensors placed to react to our proximity, controlling the lights only in areas where they are needed," Picard continued. "We can test that easily enough by moving to a darker area and seeing if the lights come on."

"And what if they do?" said Valak.

"If the lights are controlled by sensors designed to detect movement," said Picard, "then there is also movement over there."

Valak's gaze followed in the direction he was indicating. Picard was pointing almost straight up. Above them, in another section of the ark, they could see similar dots of light.

"The missing away team?" Valak said.

"That seems unlikely," said Picard. "We are standing in the area to which they were beamed down. Those lights are nearly on the opposite side of the ark. The away team has only been missing for a matter of hours, surely not enough time to travel that far on foot."

"On a ship of this size, there must be some means of transport other than walking," Valak said. "Perhaps they discovered some sort of shuttle connecting the various points of the ark."

"Perhaps," Picard agreed. "However, as you have already pointed out, one has to wonder why they would have ventured so far from their arrival point once they discovered that their communicators were not functioning."

"So then there is someone else aboard this vessel," Valak said.

"I never discounted that possibility," replied Picard. "I merely stated that there was no secret Federation base here. And I expect by now, even though you seem reluctant to admit it, you have concluded that I was telling you the truth."

"Commander, someone is beaming down!" said Antor.

They all turned to see the shimmering images resolve themselves into another landing party from the Syrinx, headed by the Romulan science officer.

"Talar!" said Valak.

"We were unable to raise you, Commander," Talar said, as he approached with his party. "There was concern that something might have gone wrong."

"Our communicators are not functioning, due to some sort of interference," Valak said. "But why have you beamed down with a landing party? I left you in command aboard the Syrinx!"

"Lord Kazanak has a.s.sumed command in your absence," Talar replied. "He directed me to lead this landing party."

"Lord Kazanak has a.s.sumed command?" Valak was clearly astonished.

"And who is Lord Kazanak?" Picard asked.

"The son of a member of our high council," Valak replied, "and the designer of the Syrinx."

"Indeed?" Picard said. "I have never met a member of the Romulan n.o.bility. A pity you neglected to introduce us."

"It was a pleasure Lord Kazanak chose to deny himself," said Valak. "He is not fond of humans."

"I see," Picard said. "And he is now in command of your ship, with members of my crew aboard it. I take it he has the authority to a.s.sume command?"

"He is the high council representative on this mission," Valak replied, flatly. "That gives him the authority."

"And you do not like it," said Picard.

"What I like or do not like is no concern of yours!"

Picard smiled. "You most definitely do not like it."

"Lord Kazanak acted unwisely," Valak said grimly. "Now we have three away teams down here with no way to get in contact with the ship."

"I antic.i.p.ated that possibility and suggested to Lord Kazanak a way to solve that problem," Talar said. "In one hour's time the transporter will be activated once again, on a wide pattern aimed at the same coordinates. We may not be able to effect communication and have the Syrinx properly lock on to our signal, but if we are standing in the right place at the appropriate time, the transporter should be able to beam us up."

"One hour may not be enough time," said Valak. "Several of our warriors are missing, and we have found no trace of the first away team."

"Lord Kazanak feels the humans are expendable," Talar said.

"Does he, indeed?" Picard said tensely. "What about your own chief of security? I suppose he is expendable as well?"

"I have no intention of abandoning one of my officers unless I am left with no other choice," said Valak. "And if we find Kalad, we shall probably find your people as well. Perhaps they became trapped inside one of these buildings, as did my four warriors."

"Trapped?" said Talar.

Valak quickly told him what Antor had reported. "And Torak has not yet returned with his squad," he added. "We must find them, and seek a way to free Dalok and the others."

"I can send a party out to search for Torak," said Talar, "but if disruptor fire has no effect on the walls of these structures, how can we free the four who are trapped?"

"If there is a way to close a door, then there is a way to open it as well," said Valak. "You are the science officer, Talar, you tell me. Captain Picard thinks this 'flowing wall' may be the result of something he calls nanotechnology."

"Molecular engineering?" Talar said.

"You know of it?" Valak seemed surprised.

"It is something our own scientists have been researching. We have heard the humans are pursuing it as well," Talar replied. "We have not had much success, but neither have the humans."

"Well, whoever built this ark seems to have succeeded," Valak replied dryly. "Go with Antor and find a way to open that door. The rest of you, come with me. We shall search for Torak and the others."

"Has it occurred to you that someone may have purposely closed that door on your warriors?" asked Picard. "Antor said that one of them saw movement in the entryway of that building. It may have been meant to lure them inside. Something similar could have happened to Torak and his group."

"That thought has already occurred to me," said Valak. "And if that is what happened, the parties who are responsible, whether they be Federation personnel or otherwise, will have cause to regret their actions."

The door to Riker's quarters opened and Korak entered without announcing himself, as if he owned the place. "Don't Romulans believe in knocking?" Riker asked him.

"Knocking?" the first officer said, in a puzzled tone. "What is ... knocking?"

"Apparently not," said Riker. "Never mind. It's not important. What do you want, Korak? Are you looking for a rematch?"

Korak sneered. "The next time we face each other-and you can be sure there will be a next time, I shall be ready for your tricks."

"Then I guess I'll have to think up some new ones."

"Joke all you like," said Korak. "But you will not feel like joking when next we face each other."

"I'm shaking in my boots," said Riker. "Is there a point to this visit, or did you just come down here to scare me?"

"I merely thought you would be interested to know that there has still been no word from the first away team. And since Commander Valak beamed down with your Captain Picard and another away team, there has been no word from them, either. I have just been informed that a third away team has beamed down from the Syrinx, and contact with them has been lost as well."

"It sounds as if you can't keep track of your people," Riker said lightly. Inwardly he felt concerned, but he'd be d.a.m.ned if he'd allow the Romulan to see it.