Part 7 (1/2)

Chapter Five.

RIKER WAS HAVING a drink with Baldwin in Ten Forward when the call came through from La Forge. They sat on the highest level, the one farthest from the bar, and Baldwin was staring out the window at the rainbow streaks of stars falling toward them.

Riker sipped his transporter, a silver drink whose s.h.i.+mmering bubbles gave it its name. He said, ”You must have formed some conclusions about the Tantamon Four natives, having been there for six months.”

”Am I still on company time?” Baldwin said without turning his head.

”Sorry,” said Riker, obviously a little miffed. ”I was just making conversation.”

Baldwin looked at him and smiled. ”That's okay. I don't really mind. Exology is my life.”

”You don't sound serious.”

They both watched a pretty yeoman cross the room and sit down at a table with a friend.

”I almost never do. A playful att.i.tude protects me from the stuff that really bothers me.”

The pretty yeoman laughed. Light caught in her blond hair glowed.

When Riker looked back at him, Baldwin was frowning. ”Thinking about Mont?” Riker said.

”I guess I was, at that. I was thinking that it's funny how you can make enemies without even half trying.”

Riker nodded and looked out the window.

”Commander Riker?”

Riker touched his insignia and said, ”Riker here. What is it, La Forge?”

”I have a strange power fluctuation on holodeck three. Nothing to worry about, but I thought you should know.”

”Strange how?”

”It looks like signal interference, but that's not possible. Nothing on board broadcasts a signal of that type.”

”The captain's using holodeck three with Data and Wesley. Is there any danger?”

”Not at the moment. But if it gets much worse, the simulation they're using will start to break up. They may suffer some disorientation.”

”Let me know if the situation changes.”

”Aye, sir. La Forge out.”

Baldwin said, ”One d.a.m.n thing after another, eh, Commander?”

”Sometimes I think certain people attract trouble.”

Baldwin raised his gla.s.s and said, ”Here's to the heroes.”

Riker smiled and joined him in the toast.

Picard led Data and Wesley through the holodeck exit into a corridor of what looked like the Enterprise. Once again they were ambushed by Boogeymen. Picard was not gentle fighting them off. Even if they had been real and not just holodeck fever dreams, he would not have been gentle. They had adequately demonstrated their hostility. And Picard, though a man of peace, was also n.o.body's fool.

Data was handling his Boogeyman with his usual elan, and even Wesley, who was understandably disturbed and intimidated by his creations, seemed to be holding his own. While gripping his Boogeyman in a headlock, Picard shouted, ”Exit holodeck.”

A holodeck exit opened before him. He, Data, and Wesley pushed the Boogeymen aside and leapt through. The doors slammed behind them with a satisfying bang, locking in-out?-the Boogeymen.

They stood just outside the holodeck. A few feet away was the cross corridor from which the Boogeymen usually attacked. Picard said, ”Exit holodeck,” and another doorway opened before them. They stepped through and found themselves in a place very much like the one they'd left. Picard said, ”Exit holodeck,” and they stepped through again. Hoping that the computer would just give up and allow them to exit for good and all, Picard called for the exit again. And again. He lost count of the number of times he and his companions walked through an exit to find themselves where they'd started. They developed a rhythm. Walking the same six feet over and over again was, in its bizarre way, intoxicating. But eventually it just seemed pointless.

As they stood resting in front of a holodeck door, Data said, ”I fear your actions will be fruitless, Captain.”

Picard smiled grimly and said, ”Are you about to remind me that computers never tire or get bored?”

Data looked a little surprised. ”Yes, Captain. I was.”

”At least we're getting our exercise,” Wesley said.

Picard knew that Wesley was responsible for their predicament, but he did not hold that against him. Not every experiment could be a success. Picard was certain that having to confront one's childhood fears over and over again could not be easy, but Wesley seemed to be making the best of it. He would log the exemplary performance of both Ensign Crusher and Commander Data. He contemplated the s.p.a.ce around them, so familiar, and yet as alien as the backside of Borgus.

”You're right, of course, Mr. Data. And yet, waiting here seems no more constructive than walking through the same door over and over again. We are, as Mr. Crusher points out, at least getting our exercise.”

Data was about to reply when his eyebrows went up. Picard had never seen him so surprised, and in fact hadn't known that he was capable of showing such a strong reaction. Picard followed his gaze and the gaze of Wesley Crusher and suddenly was at least as surprised as either of them.

Standing at the intersection of the corridors was a tall, slim woman with short blond hair. She wore a Starfleet uniform. It was Tasha Yar, chief of security aboard Enterprise before her death at the metaphorical hands-the thing had no actual hands-of an amorphous tarry monster that called itself Armus.

”Tasha,” Data said quietly. It was an open secret that Yar and Data had been very close under peculiar circ.u.mstances, causing much speculation-some of it less scientific than vulgar. Data claimed that, being a machine, he had no emotions. Evidently his circuits were working overtime simulating them. He looked bewildered, but pleasantly so, like a man surprised by a birthday party thrown in his honor.

Lieutenant Yar was-had been-a serious woman, but at the moment, the small nervous movements of her lips meant that she was trying not to smile.

Picard was aware-as Data and Mr. Crusher certainly must have been-that the Yar before them was a hologram, no more real than the Boogeymen. Still, the effect was startling, and wishful thinking made it necessary for Picard to continually remind himself that she wasn't real. Crusher looked at Picard for a clue as to how to act.

From the side of his mouth, Picard said, ”The Boogeymen may have made their first mistake. If this Lieutenant Yar is as sympathetic as the real one would have been under these circ.u.mstances, we may have found our way into the main computer and from there a way out.”

”I believe you are correct, Captain,” Data said. ”I will attempt to speak with her. It. Her.” He walked forward and stood within easy reach of her. ”It is good to see you again, Lieutenant.”

Yar said, ”Good to see you, too. Still fully functional?”

”Of course.”

This time Yar allowed herself a smile. It was as radiant as the smile of the original. Wesley whispered, ”Hard to believe she's not real.”

Picard nodded and raised a hand for silence.

Data said, ”If you are a fabrication of the holodeck computer, you certainly know our problem.”

”Of course.”

”And perhaps a solution?”