Part 5 (1/2)

Chapter Two.

AS A MATTER OF REFLEX, Commander Riker turned his head and shut his eyes at the brilliant flash on the main viewscreen. A moment later, he remembered that the effort was unnecessary-the optical system automatically filtered out dangerously bright light, Willing his eyes to stay open, Riker saw the nearest portion of the doughnut-shaped s.p.a.ce station enveloped in a long pulse of blue-white light. It was as if the initial flash of energy was frozen in place for long seconds.

”Riker to shuttlecraft. Come in, Mr. Worf.”

No response.

”Riker to Picard.”

”No response to hails, sir,” Data reported.

d.a.m.n, the first officer thought. ”Sensors, Mr. Data? Can you get a fix on the shuttle?”

The android shook his head almost imperceptibly. ”No, sir, too much interference from the power surge.”

Riker watched the station, its nearest segment awash in light, and felt completely and utterly useless to his captain and crewmates on the away team-who, for all he knew ...

And then there was a momentary flicker in the cloud of light that hung around the station. After a moment, Riker was sure, the light was dimming.

”Power levels dropping,” announced Data.

The first officer could see that for himself. The nimbus of light and energy quickly dulled to a haze and then disappeared, leaving the affected part of the station with small points of light emanating from the windows.

”Station power at nominal levels,” Data said.

”Any sign of the away team?” Riker asked anxiously.

The android manipulated the controls at the ops station for a moment. ”Yes. I have located the shuttle, and I am receiving life-form readings from within.” The exec heard Troi let out a breath of relief beside him.

”However,” Data went on, ”shuttle communications and propulsion are out.”

Riker got up. ”Throw a tractor beam around the shuttle. I'll meet it in bay three.” Making his way to the turbolift, he noticed that Deanna was right behind him. They didn't speak a word as they entered the compartment, but they didn't need to. The counselor wore her concern on her sleeve, and the first officer knew he was no harder to read than she was.

The ride seemed interminably long, though Riker knew it was really only seconds. Then the doors opened and he practically sprinted to the landing area, just as the shuttle was being brought through the forcefield that separated the shuttle bay from the vacuum of s.p.a.ce.

A quick glance told him what he needed to know. The shuttle was completely dark inside and out. That meant power had been knocked out completely. Still if they hadn't been hurt by the blast, the away team would be fine; even without life-support, a shuttle would be safe for at least an hour.

The craft touched down with the help of the bay tractor beams. The moment it touched the deck, Riker nodded to the two waiting technicians. The men fixed a capacitor to the shuttle next to the door and hit the switch.

The door slid open and Worf was outside almost instantly, face-to-face with the first officer.

”We were unable to retrieve the captain,” the Klingon snapped. Riker could see the frustration in his scowl.

Geordi came out next, no less frustrated. ”He was caught behind a bulkhead door in the station, sir. The shuttle's emergency transporters got to us, but couldn't reach him.”

”Commander,” Worf interjected. ”Request permission to take another shuttle immediately to effect rescue. If we act quickly, we may be able to avoid the next power surge.”

Riker hit his communicator. ”Data, do sensors show the captain on board the station?”

There was a brief pause as they awaited the android's reply.

”Negative,” Data answered at last.

Riker cursed inwardly. ”Any life signs at all?”

”Negative,” the android replied again.

Looking at Worf, the first officer didn't need to guess how the security chief felt, because he felt the same way himself. d.a.m.ned useless.

The swish of the opening door broke Geordi's concentration. He looked up from his work to see Counselor Troi entering with Lieutenant Barclay in tow. They approached the engineering console where Geordi and Data were working.

To the engineering chief's surprise, Barclay spoke first. ”Sir, I'd like to help with the a.n.a.lysis.”

Geordi was taken aback. He hadn't expected the counselor to put Barclay back on duty so quickly, if at all. The man had had his ups and downs on the Enterprise, and when he panicked on board the alien station, Geordi felt all of the old doubts about Barclay's future in Starfleet rearing up again.

Over the past couple of years, Geordi had watched as Barclay overcame what had once seemed like crippling self-doubt. And to his surprise, he had come to like the tall, thin engineer.

However, that didn't mean Barclay was cut out for stars.h.i.+p duty. As much as Geordi didn't like to admit it, there was a very good chance that the young officer wouldn't recover from the day's events-at least not enough to remain in the Fleet.

But one look at the counselor told the chief engineer that she approved of the idea. Otherwise, she would have approached Geordi in private later.

Without further thought, he said, ”Sure, Reg. We could use a fresh pair of eyes.”

Turning to the main engineering console, he pointed to the data streaming across the terminal. ”We're trying to build a computer model of what happened on the station, using records from the Enterprise and shuttlecraft sensors as well as the limited tricorder readings we took on board. Commander Data can bring you up to speed.”

Geordi then turned his attention to Deanna. ”Counselor, if you have a moment?” he asked.

Troi nodded, and the engineer led her into his office. Inside, he didn't waste a second.

”Counselor,” he asked, ”do you really think Barclay is ready for duty? I a.s.sume he told you what happened on the station.”

”Yes,” she replied. ”He said he panicked when Mr. Varley was killed, and failed to respond to orders. He feels responsible... .”

”Look,” La Forge interjected. ”I don't have time to hold his hand right now. I've lost one of my staff and the captain is missing. I can't take any chances on Barclay falling apart.”

The counselor kept her voice conversational. ”Geordi, you've said more than once that Barclay often has good insights.”

”Yes, but-”

”And,” Troi added, ”I'm not suggesting that you subject him to any pressure or make him part of another away mission. I'm merely hoping that you will make use of Barclay as a resource, just as you would have if today hadn't happened. It may help the investigation. And it would certainly help Lieutenant Barclay.”

Geordi felt a response rising up in his throat, but he knew there was no sense behind it-only frustration. ”Okay,” the engineer said finally, ”you're right.” Nodding, he secured control of his emotions. ”Right now,” he admitted, ”I can use all the help I can get.”

Riker drummed his fingers on the conference-room table. d.a.m.n it, he hated waiting around at a time like this. '

He tapped his communicator. ”Lieutenant Burke, this is Commander Riker. Any change on the station?”

”No, sir. No change in power levels.” And then the answer to the question the first officer hadn't asked. ”And no life signs.”