Chapter Seven

“KALAD TOSyrinx. Come in, Commander.” The Romulan frowned as, for the third time, there was no response. “Kalad

toSyrinx . Please acknowledge.”

 

There was no reply from the warbird.

 

The Romulan frowned. “My communicator seems to be malfunctioning,” he said.

 

“Let me try mine,” said Dr. Crusher. “Crusher toEnterprise . Come in, please.” She waited a moment and then tried

again, this time calling theSyrinx, but still with no result. “Strange, mine doesn’t seem to be working, either,” she

said with a frown.

 

Data lowered his tricorder. “There may be nothing wrong with our communicators,” he said. “My readings indicate that

there is considerable interference.”

 

“What sort of interference, Data?” Troi asked.

 

“I cannot pinpoint the source,” the android replied. “However, I am picking up highly irregular readings on my

tricorder.”

 

“I am, too,” said Ro, looking down at the readout screen of her own instrument. She tapped it slightly on the side.

“Something is affecting our instruments.”

 

“There was no interference with the signal earlier,” Kalad said suspiciously. “Why now?”

 

“I cannot say,” Data replied. “But numerous power fluctuations are taking place all the time aboard this vessel. Most

of its automated systems still appear to be functioning, coming on line at different times, and it is possible that

one or more of them is generating a field that is causing the interference.”

 

“What will Commander Valak do when he does not hear from us?” asked Dr. Crusher.

 

“He will either locate us and beam us back aboard theSyrinx or beam down another away team to investigate,” said

Kalad.

 

“Perhaps we should return to our arrival point,” said Troi.

 

“No,” said Kalad. “We were sent down here to investigate and to report our findings. I see no immediate danger. I

shall attempt to communicate with theSyrinx later. We shall carry on, for the present.” He gestured with his

disruptor. “Continue. I mean to have a look inside some of these structures.”

 

They approached an arched entryway that led inside one of the buildings. There were no doors. They entered a sort of

lobby with a corridors leading off it in three directionsto either side and straight ahead. The ceilings were high,

and the corridors wide, like boulevards. Daylight came in through large windows in the outer walls, though from the

outside, no windows were visible. Here and there, placed in islands in the corridors, were clusters of abstract

sculptures.

 

Data raised his tricorder and frowned. “The interference is increasing,” he said. “It is greater here. I am not

picking up any clear readings at all now.”

 

“This architecture is fascinating,” Dr. Crusher said as she looked around her. “But it doesn’t tell us much about the

people who built it. They might have been large and very tall, or they might simply have wanted to achieve a sense of

space in this closed environment. But they obviously appreciated art.” She approached a cluster of sculptures. “These

are beautiful.”

 

She reached out to touch one, but Troi caught her hand. “Wait,” she said.

 

“What is it?” Dr. Crusher asked.

 

“I … don’t know,” said Troi, frowning as she gazed at the strangely shaped forms. They were dark and their

surface textures were varied. Some shapes appeared sleek and glossy; others were rough and irregular. Some were as

tall as humans, others taller, still others shorter, but they were all clustered in groups. No one individual

sculpture stood alone.

 

“Are you getting something?” Crusher asked.

 

Troi shook her head. “I’m not sure,” she said in a puzzled tone. She reached out tentatively toward one of the

graceful forms. Her hand hesitated, inches away; then she touched it, barely grazing it with the tips of her fingers.

It felt hard and cool to the touch. She shook her head as she drew her arm back. “I feel nothing now,” she said.

“Perhaps it was some sort of residual aura from whoever created this.”

 

Data stepped forward and reached out to touch the sculpture. “Curious,” he said. “I have never seen material like

this. It is neither stone nor metal. It appears to be synthetic, and it seems to have been molded into this shape.”

 

“The shapes are all different,” Ro said. “Some are smooth and flowing; others are angular and blocky. But they all

seem to fit together.”

 

“They appear to serve no practical purpose,” Kalad said.

 

“They serve an aesthetic purpose,” Dr. Crusher replied.

 

Kalad scowled. “We are wasting time. I see nothing of value to be learned here.”

 

They proceeded down the corridor, past other strangely shaped clusters of sculptures, but they saw no doors anywhere.

It was as if they were walking through some sort of gigantic endless maze. There were places where other corridors

branched off, and they passed several other graceful archways leading into interior plazas with gardens planted in

them and more sculptures placed around them. They entered one of these small plazas and saw that it was an atrium

with an open shaft extending all the way up through the building. From the upper levels balconies looked down over

the plaza. The plants in the well-tended garden were unlike any they had ever seen before.

 

“Someone has been taking care of these gardens,” Troi said, examining one of the strange willowy trees growing in the

center of the plaza. It was surrounded by fragrant, well-trimmed shrubbery and smaller succulents that echoed the

shape of the sculptures.

 

“So thereis someone aboard this ship,” said Kalad.

 

“I am still not getting any clear readings off my tricorder,” Data said. “However, it is possible that some automated

function is maintaining these gardens. That would appear to be the case with the rest of this vessel.”

 

“You mean some sort of robotic droids?” asked Dr. Crusher. “We haven’t seen anything like that.”

 

“As yet, Doctor, we have seen very little of this vessel,” Data pointed out.

 

“True,” she replied, “but it certainly doesn’tfeel deserted, although I can’t really say why.”

 

“No, it does not,” Troi said, looking around her. “I have the distinct sensation that we are being watched.”

 

Kalad glanced around quickly, his disruptor held ready. “I see no one.”

 

“Nor do I,” said Troi. “But I still feel as if someone or something is watching us.”

 

“Why are there no doors?” asked Ro, in a puzzled tone. “Nothing but endless corridors and plazas, and no doors

anywhere. What’s behind these walls, and how does one get inside them?”

 

“Perhaps there are doors, but we just don’t know how to recognize them,” Dr. Crusher said.

 

“Well, so far we have not seen anything that looks like a door,” said Troi. “Merely archways connecting open areas

and corridors. The walls all appear to be quite smooth. Perhaps the doorways are concealed.”

 

“We haven’t seen anything that looks like a lift or a stairway, either,” Ro said, “yet these buildings have upper

levels. There must besome s way to get to them.”

 

Kalad tried using his communicator once more, but it didn’t work. “Perhaps the interference is being caused by

something behind these walls,” he said. “We shall retrace our steps and go back outside to where we did not encounter

this difficulty.”

 

He herded the others ahead of them, and they went back the way they came, but after they had walked for a while, Ro,

who was leading the way, stopped and looked around. “We must have made a wrong turn somewhere,” she said.

 

“No, I’m sure we came this way,” said Dr. Crusher, looking around uncertainly.

 

“Then where’s the archway leading to the outside, where we came in?” asked Ro.

 

“We have to go back,” said Troi. “Obviously we took a wrong turn somewhere.”

 

“Negative, Counselor,” Data said. “I have kept careful track of our progress, and we have retraced our steps

exactly.”

 

“Then where is the archway leading out?” asked Kalad.

 

Data cocked his head in that curious, almost birdlike manner. “Itshould be here,” he said.

 

“Clearly it is not,” Kalad said irritably. “You are mistaken.”

 

“I am most definitelynot mistaken,” Data insisted. “This is where we came in.” He turned toward a corridor that

branched off from the one they stood in. “That corridor was ahead of us when we entered, and we turned right. The

archway was there.” He pointed at a blank wall.

 

“That is absurd,” said the Romulan. “There is nothing there but a wall.”

 

“I assure you that I amnot mistaken,” Data said. “This is where we came in.”

 

“Impossible,” said the Romulan.

 

Dr. Crusher walked slightly away from the others, toward a group of sculptures. “No, he’s right,” she said. “This is

the same sculpture we were looking at earlier.”

 

“Perhaps it only looks similar,” said Ro.

 

“No, it is the same one,” Troi agreed. “I am certain of it.”

 

“Then why is there no way out here?” asked Kalad.

 

“The way outwas here,” said Data. He approached the wall and felt it. “However, it is here no longer.”

 

“What do you mean?” demanded Kalad.

 

“I mean that this is the precise spot where we came in,” Data replied. “but the opening through which we entered has

now been sealed in some manner I cannot detect.”

 

“You mean we’re trapped in here?” said Ro.

 

“Unless we can locate another exit or find a way to open this one, it would seem so,” Data replied.

 

“Something has gone wrong.” Valak, aboardSyrinx, had repeatedly tried to raise the away team, with no result. He

turned to Picard. “If your crew members have anything to do with this, Picard, both you and they will regret it, I

assure you.”

 

“Do you think they would try to overpower your chief of security and escape, thereby endangering the hostages?”

Picard asked. “Where would they escape to? With your people in control of theEnterprise, you control the only means

of bringing them back up.”

 

“One would certainly think so,” Valak said. “However, there remains the fact that they are not responding.”

 

“Perhaps they cannot respond,” Picard said. “They might be injured … or perhaps worse. Send me down there, Valak.

Beam me down with one of your away teams and let me see what’s happened to them.”

 

“I shall do better than that,” said Valak. “I shall go down myself with an attack group, and you shall accompany me.”

He addressed the guards. “Conduct the captain to the transporter room and wait for me there.” Valak faced Picard. “If

you have lied to me and there are Federation personnel waiting for us down there, I shall wipe them out to the last

man.”

 

After Picard left with his guards, Valak quickly gave orders to assemble an attack group, then left the bridge and

made his way to Lord Kazanak’s private chambers.

 

“Enter,” Lord Kazanak said from within.

 

The doors opened and Valak went inside. Lord Kazanak was seated at his table. He looked up as Valak entered. “Ah,

Valak. I have been preparing my report on this mission. I am including your log entries as well as my own

observations. Have you anything new to add?”

 

“We are receiving no response from the away team, my lord,” Valak said. “I am preparing to beam down with an attack

group to ascertain what has become of them.”

 

Lord Kazanak frowned. “You suspect treachery?”

 

“Until I know for certain what has occurred, I suspect everything,” Valak replied. “I am leaving Korak in command of

theEnterprise . Until I return, my science officer, Talar, will be in command of theSyrinx . He will see to your

comfort and keep you informed of any new developments.”

 

Kazanak nodded. “Very well. I shall monitor your communications with the bridge from here. And I shall consult your

first officer aboard theEnterprise for periodic reports.”

 

“If we fail to return, my lord,” said Valak, “this mission must be abandoned and the ark destroyed. I leave the fate

of the Federation prisoners to you.”

 

“Our warriors will be more than sufficient to deal with any threat you may encounter,” Lord Kazanak replied.

 

“My lord, Picard’s warning about a quarantine may have some substance,” Valak said. “If there is danger of infection,

the ark must be destroyed.”

 

“Yes, well, we can make that decision when and if the time comes,” Lord Kazanak replied. “Until then I shall eagerly

await your reports.”

 

Valak bowed and left. He took the turbolift to the transporter room, where Picard was waiting with his guards. The

attack group was also waiting, thirty Romulan warriors armed with disruptors and dressed in battle armor. They made

an imposing sight. Valak armed himself and turned to them, quickly dividing them into three squads of ten, each with

an officer in command.

 

“Antor, your squad will beam down first and secure the area,” he said crisply. “Torak, your squad will follow, and

then Captain Picard and I will beam down with Sirok’s squad. If you encounter any resistance, crush it immediately.

Proceed.”

 

The attack groups snapped to, and the first group of warriors took their places on the pad. Valak gave the order, and

the transporter was activated on wide beam. The warriors dematerialized, and the second squad quickly stepped up to

take their place. Finally it was the last group’s turn. Picard stood with Valak on his left and Sirok on his right.

He alone was unarmed. Valak had allowed him to carry only a tricorder. It did not make for a great feeling of

security, he thought wryly, but for the moment, his greatest concern was for the members of his crew on the away

team.

 

“Energize,” said Valak.

 

Moments later they were standing in an open area, on the same coordinates to which the first away team had been

transported. The Romulan warriors were deployed all around them, their weapons held ready, alert for any sign of

movement. But Picard only just barely noticed their presence. His entire attention was occupied by his surroundings.

 

“Good Lord!” he said as he looked around him.

 

It was absolutely breathtaking. In their initial reports, the away team had understated the case considerably.

Intellectually, Picard had been prepared for what the away team had described, but actually experiencing it for

himself was overwhelming.

 

He had been in similar habitats beforesome of the older starbases had been constructed on the O’Neill modelbut he

had never seen anything built on this scale. Artificial light flooded the interior of Hermeticus 2, illuminating the

breathtaking panorama that surrounded him. Cities hung above him where one would expect to see the sky. It was almost

like seeing a world photographed through some sort of bizarre fish-eye lens.

 

The buildings surrounding them were Cubist, vaguely reminiscent of the twentieth-century architecture of Paolo

Soleri. Rather than individual buildings that stood side by side, these were irregularly clustered atop one another

like crystalline formations. It was as if some impossibly large child with a skewed sense of perspective had been let

loose with building blocks. Aside from the sheer spectacle of it, the inside-out world possessed a surreal beauty

that was awesome to behold.

 

“On the outside, it’s camouflaged to resemble a planet. On the inside …this , ” Picard said. “You still believe

the Federation could have constructed such a ship, Valak?”

 

The Romulan commander was equally impressed. He shook his head. “No,” he said, staring around him with amazement.

“Clearly, this was not built by humans. But that does not mean there are no humans here.” He held up his

communicator. “Valak to away team. Report.”

 

There was no answer. He tried again.

 

“Valak to away team. Report, Kalad!”

 

He waited a moment, but there was still no response. As he tried calling the ship, Picard glanced at his tricorder.

 

“Valak toSyrinx.”

 

Nothing.

 

“Valak toSyrinx . Talar, respond!”

 

“I think I know why there has been no word from the away team,” Picard said, still looking at his tricorder.

 

“Valak toSyrinx! Talar, are you receiving me?”

 

“He can’t hear you, Valak,” said Picard. “Some sort of interference is affecting the instruments. My tricorder

readings are completely jumbled.”

 

“This interference did not affect our earlier communications with the away team,” Valak said suspiciously.

 

“Well, it is affecting them now,” Picard said. “This tricorder is useless. And so, I suspect, are your

communicators.”

 

Valak drew his disruptor and fired it at a spidery tree. The tree disintegrated. “This interference does not seem to

affect our weapons,” he said.

 

“It may be only a localized phenomenon,” Picard said. “Or perhaps a temporary one. Your probe registered unusual

power fluctuations down here. It is possible that these fluctuations are affecting communication signals. And since

tricorders operate on a similar frequency, that may explain the malfunction.”

 

“That seems logical.” Valak holstered his weapon and turned to his warriors. “We shall split up to search by squads,”

he said. “Torak, search that section.” He gestured to his left. “Antor, take your squad the other way. I shall take

the others and search the immediate area. Meet back here in one hour.”

 

“In one hour it will be dark,” Picard said.

 

“How can it be dark?” said Valak. “There is no sun to set in here.”

 

“Perhaps not,” Picard said, “but whoever constructed this ark apparently succeeded in simulating day and night. You

will observe that the light is slowly fading.”

 

Valak looked up and frowned. “The lightis fading,” he agreed, “but I see no source for it.”

 

“Nor do I,” Picard said. “Perhaps it is being diffused throughout the interior of the ark with automated solar

mirrors. Or there may be an artificial power source. However, night is most assuredly about to fall inside this

vessel.”

 

“Then let us waste no time,” said Valak. “Split up and look for the away team. Meet back here when it grows dark.”

 

“We’ve been wandering these damned corridors for hours!” Kalad said, with exasperation. “Theremust be a way out

somewhere!”

 

“We’ve been going around in circles,” Ro said. “We passed these sculptures before.”

 

“And that’s the garden atrium we went into earlier.” Dr. Crusher pointed, then sighed. “I’m getting tired.”

 

“It’s getting dark,” Troi said as she walked out into the garden atrium and looked up.

 

“Dark?” said Kalad. “But I thought the light in this vessel was artificial.”

 

“Then someone is turning down the lights,” Troi replied. “See for yourself.”

 

The rest of them walked out into the garden atrium. It was indeed getting dark. Dr. Crusher sat down on one of the

benches. “It looks as if we’re going to have to spend the night here.”

 

Kalad tried his communicator again. “Kalad toSyrinx . Kalad toSyrinx . Please acknowledge.”

 

There was no response.”Aarrgh!” The Romulan snarled in frustration.

 

“They’re bound to send someone down to look for us,” Troi said somewhat uncertainly.

 

“Perhaps they already have,” said Ro. “But how would they ever find us in here?”

 

“It is possible that we inadvertently tripped some type of security device when we first entered this complex,” Data

said, “thereby activating a mechanism that sealed the entrance.”

 

“Either that or someone sealed us up in here on purpose,” Dr. Crusher said.

 

“That was the second possibility I was about to mention,” Data said.

 

“Do you really think there is a chance of that, Data?” Ro asked.

 

“There is always a chance,” the android replied. “How remote that chance may be is a matter for conjecture. Without

accurate tricorder readings, it is impossible to ascertain whether or not there are any life-forms aboard this

vessel. However, the automated functions of this ark appear to be operating smoothly, and these gardens are being

maintained. Those two facts do suggest the presence of sentient beings.”

 

“Then why don’t they show themselves?” demanded Kalad angrily.

 

“Without more specific information, that is impossible to determine at this time,” Data replied.

 

“I am growing tired of your flat, unemotional responses,” snapped Kalad. “We are trapped in here, and you prattle on

as if nothing were the matter! Does nothing arouse any feelings in you?”

 

“No,” said Data. “I am an android. I have no feelings. And I do not prattle. I was merely replying to your question

to the very best of my ability.”

 

“Bah!”The Romulan turned away from him angrily. “I am tired of seeking a way out of this place! I am going to blast

my way out!”

 

“That may not be wise,” said Data. “We know nothing of the composition of this structure, and the energy beam of your

disruptor may cause”

 

“Silence!I have had enough of this! If you are afraid, then you can all wait here. I shall come back for you after I

have blasted open an exit. And if you value the lives of your comrades aboard theSyrinx , you had all best be here

when I return!”

 

“Where would we go?” Dr. Crusher asked wryly.

 

“Humans!” Kalad said contemptuously. Unholstering his disruptor, he left the atrium and strode back out into the

corridor.

 

They sat for a while in silence. “It’s getting darker,” Troi said, looking up through the shaft of the atrium. “It

seems so strange to see buildings suspended overhead in the evening sky. But I suppose one would grow accustomed to

it eventually.”

 

“I hope we won’t have to,” Ro said. “You think we’re ever going to get out of this?”

 

“We’ve been in tight situations before,” said Dr. Crusher, “and the captain’s always found a way to pull us out of

them.”

 

Ro took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “I wish I had your confidence.”

 

“They will send a team down to search for us,” said Troi. “I am certain of it.”

 

“And if they do not find us?” Ro said. “Remember that, to Valak, we’re expendable.”

 

“There’s Kalad,” Dr. Crusher reminded her.

 

“One warrior?” Ro said. “I doubt that the Romulans consider Kalad irreplaceable. If they did, Valak never would have

sent him down here with us. We’re the guinea pigs, remember?”

 

“The captain would never allow Valak to simply leave us down here,” Dr. Crusher said.

 

“With the Romulans in control of theEnterprise , the captain may not have any choice,” said Ro. She sat down on the

bench beside Crusher. “It looks as if we’re really in a tight spot this time.”

 

“Well, unless Kalad can blast a way out of this maze, it appears that we will be spending the night in here,” Troi

said.

 

Data frowned. “It occurs to me that we should have heard Kalad firing his disruptor by now.”

 

Dr. Crusher looked up. “That’s right,” she said. “He’s certainly been gone long enough.”

 

They all exchanged apprehensive glances.

 

“You don’t suppose he would simply leave us here?” said Troi.

 

“He could not have blasted his way out without us hearing his disruptor firing,” said Data.

 

“Unless he managed tofind a way out,” said Ro. “Perhaps the entryway where we came in has opened up again. We’d

better go check, Data. I don’t trust that Romulan.”

 

“I’ll go with you,” Troi said. “Perhaps you had better come with us, Beverly.”

 

Crusher smiled and got up. “All right, we’ll all go. If he’s managed to find a way out, I’m all for getting out of

here. I’m utterly exhausted.”

 

“With all the stress we’ve been under and all the walking we’ve done, I’m about worn out myself,” said Ro. “How are

you holding up, Deanna?”

 

“As well as could be expected, I suppose.” Troi smiled. “I wish I had Data’s stamina.”

 

“Actually, Counselor, it is not really a matter of stamina,” said Data. “Stamina relates to physical endurance, and

as such”

 

“I know, Data, I know,” Troi said with a weary smile. “It was merely an idle comment.”

 

They went back into the corridor and looked both ways, but there was no sign of Kalad. “Where could he have gone?”

asked Dr. Crusher, with a frown.

 

“I don’t know,” said Ro. She tried calling him.”Kalad!” There was no response. Her shout echoed down the long

corridors. “Kalad!”She waited a moment, and then tried once more.”Kalad! Can you hear me?”

 

Nothing.

 

“I don’t like this,” Troi said apprehensively.

 

“He couldn’t have simply disappeared,” said Dr. Crusher.

 

“Something’s happened to him,” Troi said.

 

“Perhaps we should spread out and look for him,” said Data.

 

“Absolutely not,” said Ro. “We should all stick together. Remember, we’re not armed.”

 

“That’s not exactly a comforting thought.” Dr. Crusher sounded worried.

 

“I think we should go back to the point where we came in and see if that doorway has opened up again,” said Ro.

 

They walked back down the corridor toward the place where they had come in, but they found no opening to the outside.

 

“Are you sure this is the same spot?” asked Ro.

 

“I’m sure this is where we came in,” said Troi. “I remember those sculptures.”

 

Ro shook her head. “They all look pretty much alike to me.”

 

“No, these are the same ones, I’m sure of it,” said Dr. Crusher.

 

“Well, there’s still no opening,” said Ro, running her hand along the wall. It felt completely smooth. “It’s as if

there never even was one in the first place.”

 

“We do, however, know therewas an opening,” said Data. “Therefore, that means it was sealed in such a manner as to

present a perfectly smooth and seamless surface.”

 

“Great,” Ro said wryly. “So how does that help us?”

 

“At the moment, perhaps, it does not,” replied Data. “However, it would seem to explain why we have seen no other

doorways. There may be similar sealed passageways all around us, only we cannot detect them.”

 

“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Ro. “Why would anyone make doorways you can’t even see? And how is it possible to

construct a door that seals so tightly there’s not even the faintest trace of a crack or a seam?”

 

“I did not say I knew how it was done,” said Data, “I merely pointed out that it clearlyhas been done. One logical

possibility, however, is molecular engineering.”

 

“You mean nanotechnology?” said Dr. Crusher.

 

“Precisely. To date, Federation scientists have only scratched the surface of what could be accomplished with

nanotechnology. Properly developed, the techniques of molecular engineering could produce sophisticated nanocircuitry

capable of programming the functions of this structure on an atomic level.”

 

“You mean the molecular structure of this wall could actually alter itself to create a doorway?” asked Troi.

 

“Theoretically, it is possible,” the android replied. “In fact, given the knowledge and the technology, this entire

structure could have been designed along such lines.”

 

“So what are you saying?” asked Ro. “This building can assume any shape it wants?”

 

“It would be more precise to say that the molecular components of this structure may have been designed with a

certain limited flexibility dictated by the desired function,” the android replied.

 

“In other words,” said Dr. Crusher, “a solid wall could rearrange itself on the molecular level to form an open

archway or a door, but not a chair or a staircase, because that’s how it was designed.”

 

Data cocked his head. “A rather curious and simplistic way of putting it, Doctor,” he said, “but essentially

correct.”

 

“Great,” said Ro. “So where’s the doorknob?”

 

“Doorknob?” said Data. “Ah, you mean the mechanism that controls the function.” He shook his head. “I fear I do not

know.”

 

“You’re a lot of help,” said Ro.

 

“I perceive by your tone that you are being sarcastic, Ensign,” Data said. “I fail to see the reason for sarcasm,

however. I am doing the very best I can, given the little information we possess.”

 

“She didn’t mean to snap at you, Data,” Troi said. “It’s just that we are all tired and frustrated.”

 

“And on top of that, it’s getting dark in here,” Ro said.

 

“I would feel a lot safer if Kalad hadn’t disappeared,” said Dr. Crusher. “At least he had a disruptor.”

 

“Well, whatever happened to him, the disruptor didn’t seem to help him any,” Ro said.

 

“We still do not know for a fact that anything has happened to him,” Data pointed out. “He simply went off and had

not returned.”

 

“Deanna’s had the feeling that we’ve been watched ever since we came in here,” Ro replied. She shook her head. “No,

something happened to Kalad all right. He never would have left us alone this long. If he lost us, he’d have to

answer to Valak.”

 

“What are we going to do?” asked Dr. Crusher.

 

“Well, we can’t stay awake all night,” said Ro. “We don’t even know how long the night is in here. We’ll have to find

somewhere to bed down as best we can. We’ll take turns standing watch.”

 

“That will not be necessary,” Data said. “Since I require no sleep, I am perfectly capable of standing watch all

night long.”

 

Ro glanced at him and sighed. “Of course. Sometimes I forget you’re not really human, Data.”

 

“Thank you,” Data replied.

 

Ro smiled wanly. “You’re welcome.”

 

“That garden atrium would make as good a place to sleep as any,” Dr. Crusher said. “We could stretch out on the

benches there. Right about now, that seems almost as good as a warm bed.”

 

“I am not sure I would go that far,” said Troi, “but I suppose it will have to do under the circumstances.”

 

“Let’s just hope the circumstances are temporary,” Dr. Crusher said as they headed back toward the garden. “I don’t

much care for the thought of being trapped in here much longer.”

 

“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.