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Chapter Six:
The Enterprise arrived at the coordinates of the large wormhole and two probes were launched and retrieved within
forty-five minutes. Immediately, Data went to work analyzing their recorded data. He spent nearly an hour reviewing it
before letting Riker know he had reached a final conclusion. The captain called a senior staff meeting and fifteen minutes
later, they were gathered in the conference room.
"The doctors say that he is beginning to show signs of improvement, " Lt. Castlevich told Troi. Several weeks ago, Ensign
Jerry Castlevich had tripped over an alien land mine while on an away mission. She had held little hope for his survival
and sought Deanna's counseling to deal with her grief and anguish over not being able to be with her son. "He still won't
wake up, though."
Deanna knew that she needed to say something to her patient and usually consoling words came to her easily. Right now,
most of her energy went toward not looking out the viewwindow and blocking out the wormhole's influence. Silently, she
ordered herself to listen to Castlevich's every word and to offer meaningful responses. It's your duty, she chastised herself.
Deanna studied the lieutenant and noticed how tired the older woman appeared. Stress lines marked her eyes and cheeks.
"Despite this positive sign, you're not feeling much relief."
"They still can make no guarantees that he will ever recover. Even if he wakes, will he be the same man?"
"I wish I knew," Deanna said as her gaze wandered to the viewwindow. She was hardly aware She'd spoken. Despite the
blackness outside and the silence that had fallen between her and her patient, Deanna sensed an unrest that seemed to
surround the Enterprise like Jonah and the whale. How could she hope pretend can I'mnothing was wrong and perform her
counseling duties unabated? She had to !
"Counselor, are you don't ill?" Castlevich asked. " Perhaps, I can reschedule this session for tomorrow."
Deanna was ready to protest when a communications interrupted her. " Riker to Counselor Troi."
Giving her patient an apologetic look, Deanna answered the page. "Troi here."
"I'm calling a senior staff meeting. I'd like to see you in the conference lounge room in fifteen minutes."
"Understood, sir. Troi out." She returned her attention to the lieutenant. " Looks like we will have to continue this
tomorrow afternoon. I'm sorry."
Deanna arrived last at the meeting and quietly took her seat beside her husband. The captain nodded toward Data to begin.
"From the data, I have extrapolated that the wormhole is most likely no more than a decade old. There is no evidence of
any natural-occuring phenomenon in this sector, which could result directly in the creation of a wormhole. Therefore until
further evidence presents itself, I suggest we procede under the asumption that it is artificially created. As to what is on the
other side of the wormhole, I could not determine that. Both probes returned with only data on the wormhole itself."
"Perhaps the wormhole has only one opening," Selar suggested.
"That is illogical," Worf countered. If she were not feeling emotionally wrought, Deanna would have found this exchange
laughable: A Klingon calling a Vulcan illogical. "Why would anyone create a wormhole that has no use."
Selar raised her eyebrows. For a Vulcan, Deanna would say the doctor looked angry. "There are possible uses for a
wormhole other than travel."
Worf fixed her sternly"Name one," he waited a beat. " you cannot there is no logical reason to create a wormhole." Deanna
squeezed her husband's hand in hopes of calming him down.
"Commander!" Riker exclaimed. No further warning was needed as the Klingon's expression mellowed..
"What should we do?" Geordi asked. "Send out a welcoming beacon? Maybe they'll answer and solve this mystery for us."
"No," Deanna responded. She didn't know how to explain her adament belief that seeking out contact with these unknown
aliens was a mistake. She considered that she might be overreacting. After all, Guinan had led her to believe that although
these aliens had not wished to initiate contact with the Federation, that contact was necessary.
The group fixed her with concern. "Deanna, are you sensing a presense?" Riker asked.
"I'm not sure." Wishing she could be more certain, Troi shook her head in exasperation. "Maybe. Or it could be something
about their technology making me feel this way. Guinan believes that we will need contact with them if we are to advance
any further. You should trust her judgment over mine in this matter."
"But your emotional state is important," Worf grumbled. "There is no reason your well-being, or that of our baby's, should
be sacrificed for anyone's advancement."
Riker raised a hand to stop the Klingon from protesting further. "Your concerns are noted, Worf. Data has a plan for our
next course of action. I'll let him explain it to you."
The android smiled with obvious glee. "The captain has authorized my entry through the wormhole in a shuttlecraft. I
believe that sending more probes through would only waste time and offer the same baffling results. If a manned
shuttlecraft went through, we would more likely determinewhy we are only detecting one opening and perhaps more
importantly why it was designed that way."
"Good," the captain said. "Schedule the trip through the wormhole for 1100 hours. That should give you and Geordi
sufficient time to run ta full diagnostic on shuttlecraft 5."
"Aye sir" the two officers said in unison.
The captain dismissed everyone and they returned to their respective duties
Everyone aboard the ship had been informed over communications what Data was about to attempt, and those crew members he and Geordi passed by on their way to the shuttlebay favored him with well wishes offered nervously. Unlike the majority of his subordinates, Data had the ability to literally turn off his emotions. Yet he chose not to in this case, instead honing in on his fears to aid him in his mission.
A few minutes later once they had the diagnostic scan underway Data said to his friend " Geordi, I had the impression during the meeting that you feel pessimistic about the outcome of this mission."
"I don't believe these aliens created these wormholes with the intention of letting others have access to them, don't get me wrong Data. I would trade places with you in a second."
"Do you believe they are evil?"
" I don't know. We have no proof they deliberately destroyed either of those ships, but we do know their technology was directly responsible.
"Geordi, if it is any consolation to you, I have found no indication that this wormhole is unstable. I am not afraid to enter it."
Nodding, Geordi returned his attention to his tricorder. The hull integrity of the shuttlecraft was well within recommended limits and its computer system was online and functioning properly. "Well then, I'd say you're set to go."
Data tapped his commbadge, paging the captain. "Shuttlecraft five is up to specifications and ready to launch."
"Good Data," the captain replied. "Prepare for launch in five minutes."
"Acknowledged." The android said and climbed inside the shuttlecraft. "I am inside Shuttlecraft Five and am awaiting clearance."
"Good luck," Geordi told his friend as the door slid closed.
Swiftly, Data programmed in the coordinates of the wormhole and verified that the log recorder was active.
"Shuttlecraft Five," came Lieutenant Berlitz over the comm, "you are clear for launching."
"Releasing locking clamps," the technician on duty told Commander Data.
"Acknowledged," the android replied. He watched as both shuttlebay doors opened and ignited the shuttlecraft's engine. An annular forcefield, maintained in the shuttlebay, negated the need to depressurize the bay. While this type of forcefield enabled a small craft to pass through it, it also allowed for crew members to remain in the shuttlebay while the doors were open.
"Engaging Shuttlecraft Five now," Data reported per protocol. Slowly, he glided the craft through the first door and as that door closed, he reached the second. "Shuttlecraft has cleared shuttlebay doors." As the shuttlecraft ventured out into space, the android increased its speed, heading for the center of the wormhole. "Sensors indicate that I am nearing the eye of the wormhole."
From the bridge, Riker and his bridge crew watched on the large viewscreen as Data's shuttlecraft entered the wormhole and disappeared. The brilliant display seemed miraculous to Riker, although he knew there was nothing natural about it. For a brief moment, that felt like eternity, the captain waited silently to hear from his officer.
"Data to Enterprise," came the crystal-clear sound of the android's voice.
"Acknowledged," Riker replied, letting out his breath. "What is your status?"
"Shields are holding. The wormhole shows no signs of collapsing and its dimension are exactly as the probe reported. I am proceeding at quarter-impulse speed. There are several pockets throughout the walls of the wormhole, varying in size. However, none thus far have been large enough to permit passage of this shuttlecraft."
"Pockets? As in smaller wormholes?" Riker could not imagine how any species could make use of such an odd creation.
"It appears so, sir."
"Data, can you see the other end yet?"
"No, Captain. I have traveled ten thousand kilometers farther than the longest wormhole previously discovered." After a moment, he said, "I can now see an opening just ahead, approximately eight hundred and thirty kilometers wide."
"Exactly the same width as the other end?" Riker questioned with surprise.
"Yes," his first officer responded.
"Then why in the hell didn't our probes detect that large of an opening?"
"Sir," Berlitz said, sounding alarmed. She turned to face the captain. "Sensors indicate that Commander Data's shuttlecraft is growing closer to us."
Barely had she spoken before the shuttlecraft exited the wormhole--and came to a full stop only kilometers away from the Enterprise.
Staring in shock at the viewscreen, no one spoke for a long moment. Riker glanced back at his security chief for his reaction. Worf gazed back at him, mirroring his astonishment.
"Data, are you all right?" the captain finally asked, looking back at the viewscreen.
"I am fine," the android replied. "This wormhole is obviously a loop of some kind, with only one entryway. Should I reenter it for further analysis?"
"No. Bring the shuttlecraft in and prepare for another meeting of all senior officers in fifteen minutes. Riker out."
