Part 28 (1/2)
”You are?”
”Yes.”
”Oh.” That was of no help whatsoever. It was like trying to have a conversation with Data on a bad day ...
Data! Of course! This thing was a machine.
”Are you a machine?”
”If it will help you to describe me that way.”
Geordi sighed. ”How would you describe you?”
”In terms you can understand?” She paused. ”The welcoming committee.”
”Did you welcome the Kreel?”
”No. They were merely a means to an end. They were not ready to meet us. We did not wish to meet them. But they brought you here, and so served our purpose.”
”Served your purpose?” Geordi said incredulously. ”They took your weapons and went crazy with them! They cost lives!”
”Lives cannot be cost,” she replied. ”They are merely different forms of energy, and energy cannot be destroyed. It's all the same.”
”Look,” said Geordi, trying to come at it from a different angle, ”What's the big deal about this room? Why all those protective devices and everything for an empty room?”
”This room isn't empty.”
”Well, what's in it then?”
She sounded so peaceful as she said, ”Everything.”
”What?”
”This room has no boundaries. It goes on forever, to all sides, to infinity. That is why it was important for you to enter here. You, Geordi La Forge, can see things as they really are.”
”Uh-huh,” said Geordi slowly, not understanding. ”So?”
”Others would enter this room and see things as they think they are. It would drive them quite mad.”
”Yeah. Well look, I have to admit I'm not feeling exactly too stable right now, myself. Would you at least tell me what purpose is being served by my being here.”
”That's simple.”
”I'm glad something is.” Geordi sighed.
”When you entered this room, it served to summon them.”
”Who?”
”The Cognoscente.”
The star face floated before the Enterprise, ma.s.sive beyond all measuring.
”This is ... ” Picard licked his lips, cleared his throat, and started again. ”This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Stars.h.i.+p Enterprise. Identify yourself please.”
There was a long pause. And when the face spoke it was without words, and yet they all understood.
We have a variety of names. We prefer simply the Cognoscente.
”Who ... are you?”
We are those who have been waiting for you. We created this planet, with all its weapons, as a test to see how you would handle hostilities between two races. To see how well you could impart the lessons you've learned.
”Ah!” said Data brightly. ”A test! I was right. Geordi won't be at all pleased.”
”Oh no,” moaned Picard. ”Not a test.”
”Oh yes, sir,” said Data. ”I was very certain that ... ”
”Shut up, Data.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Are you saying,” Picard said, anger building slowly, ”that all this-all the death, all the destruction and suffering-has been yet another test to keep beings like yourselves amused.”
Not just this test. There have been other instances of death and destruction and suffering. They have always been for you to learn and grow.
”What?” said Picard, incredulous. ”You've ... done things like this before.”
Always for a reason.
”Your reasons.”
Yes. So that you could grow. And now the testing is over. Now we are here to take you by the hand. To- It all came cras.h.i.+ng down on Picard. All the tension, all the anger, all the fury, and now this-this d.a.m.nable cavalier att.i.tude by yet another race that fancied itself to be the judge and jury of mankind.
”NO!” shouted Picard. ”I have had it! We have had it! All of us! We are sick to death of mysterious Alien races who think they know better than us! Who think that we're little white mice to run through mazes for their amus.e.m.e.nt!
”We are not test subjects! We are not guinea pigs! You, all you blasted 'superior' races, have the gall to arrange these ma.s.sive, insane tests and act as if your ability to manhandle us makes you better. It does not! We have come this far, not because of beings like yourselves, but despite you all! Despite all those throughout history who have called us barbarians and sought to judge us. We have brought ourselves this far and we'll bring ourselves further still.
”And you can keep your hands to yourselves, and you can keep your tests to yourselves! Is that understood! We will not be threatened! We will not be pushed! We will not jump through hoops, and we will not, repeat, not, be subjects of tests anymore. Do you understand? No ... more ... tests!”
There was a long and ominous silence from the star face.
And then, it smiled.
Congratulations. We had hoped you would say that. That ... was the final test.