Part 21 (2/2)

Data nodded in sudden comprehension. ”Nalavia tried to arrange matters so that either way, she would win. If you had used the s.h.i.+p's weapons to destroy Rikan, or if you had attacked Nalavia to rescue us, either could be interpreted as a violation of the Prime Directive.”

”But she didn't count on Data's ability to access her computer, or his escape,” said Tasha. ”And she certainly could not have expected her enemies to kidnap me.”

”Had that not happened,” Data agreed, ”it would have taken me longer to become suspicious. Since I thought that it was Nalavia keeping Tasha and me apart, I felt no compunction about breaching her security. It was my duty toward a colleague in jeopardy.”

”All that will be included in the final report,” Picard said. ”You operated under standard procedures ... until you became involved in the fighting.”

”We were under attack, Captain,” said Tasha.

”That is true,” Data agreed. ”Nalavia attacked Rikan because she knew we were in his castle.”

”We knew too much,” said Tasha. ”I am certain she meant us to be casualties of an insurrection.”

”Mmm,” said Picard, rubbing his chin. ”You are probably correct, but how do we prove it? A piece is missing from the puzzle of Treva. And until we find it, I intend to stay in orbit here.”

”Why did you come here?” asked Tasha. ”We sent a distress signal, but what was the Enterprise doing in this vicinity?”

Riker laughed. ”When we got your earlier message, repeating on a non-Starfleet frequency, we didn't know what to think.”

”Wesley thought it was code, but he couldn't break it,” said Picard. ”Worf thought it was sent by someone else to make us think you were safe when you were really in trouble, and Deanna ... she just had a bad feeling about it.” He shrugged. ”I was outnumbered. Since it turned out that you really were in trouble, I was right to rely on the suspicions of my bridge crew.”

”What are you going to do now, Captain?” asked Tasha.

”Data,” said Picard, ”I want you to look at the reports of all recorded activity in this sector for ... how long has Nalavia been in power?”

”Five Trevan years, sir.”

”Very well-for that time plus several years before. Look for anything odd.”

” ... odd, sir?”

Picard sighed. ”Data, I don't know exactly what to tell you to look for. An unexpected pattern-or else something that doesn't fit an expected one. It's a hunch. You're the only one who can help me play it.”

Confused again over human feelings, Data nonetheless settled himself at the computer terminal in his quarters and began the search. It took an hour.

When Data called the Captain to report, Picard said, ”Meet me in my ready room.”

Riker was there again, and in moments Tasha joined them. She had said nothing directly to Data since they had beamed up from Treva, and she said nothing now. She was back in uniform, self-possessed, but still pale.

”Report, Mr. Data,” Picard instructed when they were all a.s.sembled.

”What I have found in this sector over the past ten years is a steadily increasing number of references to Orions.”

Tasha's eyes widened. ”Orions? Why Orions?”

”I do not know,” Data replied. ”I found large banking transactions involving conversion of Orion currency; Orion trading vessels docking at ports in nearby systems; Orion communications and data management technology spreading across a number of worlds in this sector. There is your unexpected pattern, Captain. As to exceptions to the expected pattern, despite widespread Orion activity, I did not find any mention of slave trading.”

”Interesting,” said Picard. ”The one thing that would have brought the Federation in. Anything else?”

”Yes, sir. In the center of all this Orion activity lies Treva-with not so much as the purchase of a flyer or a weapon from the Orions.”

Riker frowned. ”From what you've told us, Nalavia doesn't seem the type to care who she deals with. If everyone else in this sector is trading with the Orions, why isn't she?”

Suddenly Tasha said, ”Captain! Do you remember how you chose the away team for this mission? A woman and an android?”

A slight smile tugged at Picard's mouth. ”So you figured that out, did you?”

Riker, attempting to conceal annoyance, asked, ”Figured what out?”

Data replied, ”The Captain sent an away team who are immune to Nalavia's sensuality.”

Riker responded with his congratulatory smile. ”Of course. Very appropriate, Captain.”

Picard began, ”But what has Nalavia's sensuality to do with-?” Then the proverbial ”light dawned.” ”Tasha-you think Nalavia is actually an Orion?”

Data frowned, accessing the information he had drawn from the Trevan President's computer. ”Nalavia's records indicate that she was born on Treva ... on a farm in a remote area almost at the limit of their developed territory. Nine years ago she was elected to the Legislative Council, where she soon became a popular leader, and eventually was elected President.”

”Those early records,” said Picard. ”Could they be faked?”

Data considered. ”There is no way to tell from the information in my memory banks. However, I can access the palace computer via the s.h.i.+p's computer, as I put a frequency code and recognition signal into its programming so I could transfer its data without having to remain physically in the computer room. There was ... the danger of being caught,” he explained at Picard's stare.

”You said you accessed the computer. You did not say you sneaked about the Presidential palace-”

”Yes, Captain,” replied Data, ”I ... 'snooped, sneaked, proceeded by stealth.' Most intriguing. It appears I was wrong when I said it was a form of human behavior I was not designed to emulate. When the occasion required, I discovered that I can emulate it extremely well.”

”But if you already have all the information from Nalavia's computer in your memory banks,” asked Riker, ”what more is there?”

”I have a copy of the data. There is no way to tell from it whether any of that information has been changed. But that computer is more than nine years old, and uses a long-outdated system of data storage. It is physical, not virtual memory, and thus will contain all original data, even if it has been altered and written over. If Nalavia's records are falsified, I will be able to trace it.”

Picard said, ”Mr. Data, you had an opportunity to observe Nalavia closely. Do you think she could be an Orion?”

”Yes, sir,” he replied honestly. ”There are certainly Orions operating in this sector, but by refraining from slave trading they avoid attracting the Federation's attention. It is probable that Nalavia is not Trevan. Orions have been surgically altered before to pa.s.s as other species, in order to infiltrate the Federation. Nalavia is trying to prevent Treva from joining the Federation, while the Orions establish a foothold in this sector. The pattern fits ... and explains both Nalavia's sensuality and the artificial appearance of her eyes. Even with the natural green of her skin bleached out, the vivid blue eyes of Orion females might give rise to suspicion. But coloring them makes them appear unnatural.”

”Yes,” said Tasha. ”Data is right. I'm sure Nalavia is an Orion.”

Data added, ”She wanted no one on Treva-or Federation visitors-to find a clue to her origins. Hence no trade with the Orions, and no upgrading of equipment like the palace computer, which appears to be a very old Ferengi model.”

”If Nalavia is Orion,” said Picard, ”we can certainly act to prevent a planet which has applied for Federation members.h.i.+p from being taken over by enemies of the Federation! Mr. Data, I want that evidence. Use the terminal here, and get on with it. We have a war to stop!”

”Yes, sir,” Data replied, sitting down at the Captain's terminal as the others left the ready room.

But Tasha lingered after Picard and Riker had gone out to the bridge. ”Data?” she said softly.

He looked up.

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