Part 2 (2/2)

”Low power,” the first officer said, making the statement a question. ”I guess that means it can't be an asteroid. Anything else, Data?”

”It is symmetrical and appears to be artificial,” the android reported. ”We will need to move in closer for a more detailed a.n.a.lysis.”

Picard weighed the question. On the one hand, they did have plenty of time before the summit. On the other, he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks that might delay their arrival. The meeting with the Gorn was too important.

In the end, it was Data's interest that persuaded him. This is as close to excited as he gets, the captain observed. For now, he would indulge his third officer.

”All right, Mr. Data, I will allow a short detour. Scan the object carefully for any possible threats. If there is any sign of danger at all, we will have to take a closer look on the way back.”

Data's matter-of-fact report had not even come close to preparing Geordi La Forge for the sight that greeted him on the main viewscreen. He stood in front of the open turbolift from which he had just emerged.

”Wow” was all he could think to say.

Geordi quickly made his way to the Engineering console. ”Tell me that the magnification circuits are on the blink.”

”That is not the case,” Data replied. ”The computer imaging system is functioning normally. The object is actually as big as it looks.”

Taking his seat, the chief engineer began punching up the android's scans on his console. ”And how big is that?”

”Five kilometers in diameter,” Data said in his customary emotionless tone.

”Wow,” Geordi repeated. ”That's some doughnut.”

He noticed that Captain Picard, Commander Riker, and Counselor Troi were all staring raptly at the screen.

”An apt a.n.a.logy, Mr. La Forge,” the captain interjected. ”Any explanation for the shape?”

Geordi took in the thick, circular shape of the alien station. It had more or less regular external markings that resembled windows, small protruding structures he couldn't even guess the significance of, and what looked like airlocks or docking bays.

A quick look at the information on his screen told Geordi what he needed to know. ”Well, the engineering is pretty advanced. The power they're generating shouldn't be nearly enough to maintain a gravity field for an object that size-yet somehow, it does.”

Commander Riker had approached Geordi and was looking over his shoulder at the incoming data. ”It's too symmetrical to be an arbitrary design.”

Data turned away from his console to face them. ”It does not appear to be arbitrary at all, sir. In fact, the entire structure seems to have been designed as an immense coil of some sort.”

Geordi continued to study the readouts at the console before him. Of course, he thought. Look at all that verterium in the station. That suggested a subs.p.a.ce field coil-not unlike the ones that drove the Enterprise through warp s.p.a.ce.

”But why would anyone need a coil that large on a stationary platform?” Riker asked.

”You could generate a lot of power,” the engineer responded. ”But I'm not sure what you would do with it.” He watched the data scroll across his screen. ”Wait a minute, they've got a lot of matter-transport circuitry. Now, that makes sense; theoretically, a large enough subs.p.a.ce coil would allow for interstellar transport ... or even time travel.”

The others on the bridge started at that remark, but the captain remained still, studying the station with his face as composed as ever. Nonetheless, he's as excited as any of us, thought Geordi.

Picard turned to Data. ”Commander, any sign of what happened to the beings who created this object?”

”No, sir,” replied the android. ”Though the station has enough internal volume to accommodate three hundred thousand humanoid inhabitants, there are no substantial deposits of organic matter, no remains of the inhabitants, no food stores.”

”They just left,” Geordi commented.

”Counselor?” Picard asked.

Troi shook her head. ”I don't sense anyone. It feels as deserted as it looks.”

”Apparently so,” Data replied. ”The computer dates the station at approximately twelve thousand years of age. And it seems to have been abandoned for several thousand of those years.”

”A Metron artifact?” Picard suggested.

The android frowned ever so slightly. ”We know virtually nothing of Metron technology, so we cannot make a comparison, sir. However, scans indicate that some of the technology is similar to known Iconian designs.”

Geordi watched the captain's interest level go up a notch. Captain Picard was an accomplished amateur archeologist and the lost Iconian culture was one of his favorite fields of study.

”A great many interesting questions,” Picard said simply.

Commander Riker looked up from Geordi's console and took the few steps necessary to return to his position at the captain's side.

”We do have time for a quick preliminary study,” the first officer said, ”before we need to leave for the Gorn summit.”

For a moment, Geordi considered adding in his own two cents, but one look at the captain's face told him it wasn't necessary.

Twenty minutes later, Geordi was standing on a transporter platform with Commander Riker, as well as engineers Barclay, O'Connor, and Varley.

Geordi was certain the captain wished he could come along. Maybe, if it was safe, Picard would be able to make his visit later, after the Gorn summit.

What about Data? he wondered. He could have sworn he heard excitement in the android's voice. But disappointment over staying behind? Geordi dismissed the idea.

In any case, Data belonged on the s.h.i.+p where he could quickly sift through the mounds of information as they came through the sensors. That would satisfy whatever programming he had that might pa.s.s for curiosity.

”Energize,” Riker ordered the transporter chief. And Geordi's musings were cut short by the transporter.

The Enterprise disappeared around him.

And was replaced by nothing.

Complete and utter darkness. With a few slight exceptions, there were no infrared signatures, nothing in the visual spectrum, no radio waves-in fact, almost no EM rays of any kind. It was very rarely that Geordi came across any artificial construct that was this dead. Any s.h.i.+p or place functioning even marginally was usually awash with all sorts of radiation.

Here, most of the readings were coming from Commander Riker, the two security guards, Barclay, and his two fellow engineers.

Almost simultaneously, Riker and the security guards ignited their handlamps. Geordi followed suit as Barclay and O'Connor powered on the two portable light sources.

As the light sources gently bobbed on their antigravs, their diffuse illumination described a small, empty chamber.

Geordi saw that the room they were in was ... comfortable. Though empty, the walls were decorated with subtle, rounded moldings and a few intricate designs that-according to his tricorder readings-served no purpose other than the obvious aesthetic one. Even without normal sight, and relying on his VISOR, the chief engineer was sure the others would find it- ”Now that's beautiful,” Riker said to the away team, pointing behind them.

Geordi turned to see what the commander was referring to and saw a large window on the far wall. The Enterprise was hanging in s.p.a.ce outside.

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