Chapter Eighteen:

To say Data was holding his breath as they traveled through the targetted pocket did not mean anything, since he did not need to breathe to survive. Nonetheless, he felt every bit as much tension as his crew.

When they exited the wormhole, their sensors immediately picked up three alien ships in the immediate vicinity, one considerably larger than the other two. Data ordered Berlitz to magnify their image on the viewscreen. The contour of the alien saucer section consisted of a broad backside that angled into a narrow front.

"Hail them," the acting captain ordered.

"The larger ship is responding," Worf said.

"Greetings," said a Humanoid who appeared on the screen. He had a heavily creased forehead, a long nose that widened considerably at the nostril, and a thin mouth. He wore a portion of his hair up with what looked like chop sticks, while he allowed the remainder to flow to his shoulders. "I am Quain, captain of this vessel, the Emblem, from the planet Akie. We've been expecting you."

Data and La Forge exchanged questioning glances.

"I am Commander Data representing the United Federation of Planets," Data said as he stood and walked closer to the viewscreen. "You sound eager to see us, and we are curious about you. It is our hope that you sent us your coordinates as an invitation for a peaceful exchange."

"Indeed, we did. It is natural to be curious about others. My people, the Akodians, have been exploring the Delta Quadrant and portions of the Gamma Quadrant for centuries. Through our observations, we have learned that your people are much like us."

"Observations," Worf scowled under his breath. Data did not believe Quain had heard the Klingon and did not feel it prudent to remind his tactical officer that they'd had their share of clandestine missions.

"A recent technological development among my people, as you now know, has opened up both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants to our explorations," Quain continued. We hope to one day soon venture into other galaxies."

"Did you have this man sitting behind me, Commander Geordi LaForge, in your custody for several months?"

"I assure you, it was quite necessary. My government meant neither him, nor your people any harm." He glanced at La Forge "Was he not returned to you safely? He appears in good health now."

Data refrained from answering the alien's question. He did not know what complications might still arise within Geordi. Instead, he asked a question of his own. "What was the purpose of abducting him? You could have contacted our people and requested whatever knowledge you sought. Is it customary for your people to abduct those you wish to study?"

"The circumstances are not as simple as they must seem to you. My government felt they had no choice. I am merely a space vessel captain. My opinion is not even asked in such matters."

"Then are you contacting us now without authorization?"

No. I have official orders. My mission is to make first contact and to introduce the ways of my people." As the alien spoke, La Forge stood and came to Data's side. His face bore both suspicion and doubt. Did Data also see recognition in his friend's furrowed brow? "If you do not believe the truth of my words..."

I believe you," Geordi interrupted. "I've met you before.....and I think you're telling the truth about having no say in my being abducted. And yet I get this feeling you were at least partially responsible for my release.

"How can I embrace credit for that which I feel such shame? Please, accept apology from my people, but I have not earned the face of a hero."

"Why was he returned in an escape pod rather than the probe he arrived in?" Data asked. "And do you know how your government obtained the pod?"

"That task was not easy." He turned to consult with one of his subordinates, a tall thin man with short hair. The other seemed displeased that his captain was speaking with the Starfleet officers. Was Quain telling the truth about his mission? The captain pointed toward a console chair, and his officer reluctantly sat down. "My apologies," Quain said to Data. "My subordinate and I were debating whether we should reveal how our people obtained your escape pod. I have elected to tell you that it required a cloaked mission."

Surprised that the alien admitted use of cloaking technology so readily, Data knew he had to tread carefully with this new relationship. They did not need another formidable enemy on their hands. "Why did you not return Geordi in the class-eight probe he came in?"

"My people wanted time to prepare for your arrival and they felt false memories planted in your subordinate with sufficiently block his recall for a long enough period."

Data glanced back at Geordi, suspecting that his friend was wondering the same thing as him. How did their time technology work?

"Many of my superiors realized the resourcefulness of your people and agreed that someone should monitor this wormhole for your eventual arrival. I was honored when I learned the duty was to be mine." He hesitated for a long moment, obviously deliberating over how much more information to reveal. "We know what happened to your ship known as Stargazer." The alien bowed his head, apparently in shame.

Data glanced back at his crew, gauging their reactions. Worf was barely containing a growl. Did he suspect that the Stargazer had been deliberately destroyed? Data wondered. Geordi appeared solemn, while Berlitz and Raines expressed pure shock. Not sure what he was feeling, perhaps a mixture of his crew's emotions, Data turned back toward the viewscreen.

"We were....responsible," the Akodian captain admitted. "It was purely accidental. Your Stargazer crew encountered one of our artificial wormholes. We hadn't finished stabilizing yet. If only we could make amends, but regeneration was designed for Akodian physiology. It would require pelvars of research to determine the effects it would have on other species."

"I do not fully understand. What is this regeneration you speak of?"

"It could be explained easier if you permit us to beam your small crew onto our ship. We can transport you to our homeworld where we have facilities that will aid you in understanding far better than my words could."

"Allow me to confer with my officers. I will give you an answer in a few minutes."

"Very well." He severed their communication link.

At that moment, Data wished desperately that Deanna had been able to join their away mission. Her insight into the alien's emotional state would have been invaluable.

"Suggestions?" he asked the group.

"I do not trust him," Worf replied. "He has too much to hide. How do we know that they didn't purposely destroy the Stargazer and that this is not now a trick to lure us in?"

"He sounded sincere to me," Berlitz said.

"It sounds as though they are far more technologically advanced in temporal mechanics than we are," Raines admitted. "That is if this regenerative technology of their's is what I'm thinking it is. Sir, do you think its possible that they discovered a way to bring back the dead?"

"Even with the best intentions such a superior power could be quite dangerous," Data pointed out. "However, I cannot deny that given the power I would not at least consider using it to bring back Captain Picard and his crew. He meant a lot to me, both as a mentor and a friend."

"Even though I haven't yet remembered much of what they did to me," Geordi began, "my gut tells me to trust them. "

"Very well. Geordi and I will board their ship," Data said. "If you do not hear from us within forty-eight hours, you are to consider the Akodians hostile and to return to Federation space."

"Sir," Worf intercepted, "I must insist that you allow me to accompany you. You need a security officer present while dealing with these aliens. We cannot yet rule out a hostile intent."

"That is a valid point. You may accompany us." He turned toward his female officers. "In the meantime, Ensign Raines, I know how anxious you are to begin mapping the wormholes."

"Thank you, sir," the ensign replied, smiling broadly.

"Berlitz and Barclay, assist her as necessary." Turning to face the tactical officer, he said, "Open hailing frequencies, Mr. Worf."

"Aye, sir," the Klingon replied. "Hailing frequencies open."

"Alien vessel, this is Commander Data."

Captain Quain immediately responded, appearing on the viewscreen. "Greetings. Have you reached a decision?"

"We have indeed. We have decided to accept your offer. Commanders La Forge, Worf, and I will beam aboard your ship in five minutes if that is convenient with you."

The alien smiled broadly. "Ah good. Hail us again when you are ready." He disconnected their link.

After they had their belongings repacked in their away bags, Data informed the Akodian captain that they were ready, and a moment later, the three officers dematerialized and reappeared on an alien platform.

Like the outer hull of the ship, the transporter room took on the same angular design, narrow on the end of the transporter platform and wider on the other end where the controls could be found.

"Greetings," said a female Akodian as she stepped away from her console. "I am Zee Zeta. Allow me to show you to main control where our captain awaits you."

Data and Worf followed the technician through a door to the left of her console, while Geordi lagged behind for a moment. He wanted to take in every centimeter of this craft in hopes it would further jog his memory. The corridors did not curve as the ones found on the Enterprise, but rather angled every twenty meters. Geordi hoped that something about this ship would spark a memory. None came, which made him feel all the more leery about trusting these people.

La Forge caught up with them and leaning toward Data, whispered, "Do you get the impression that they're being just a little too friendly, a little too cooperative?"

"I am not sure, but if your memories are accurate, it would seem so," his friend replied. "Still, let us not be too quick to judge."

They entered a clear plastic tube similar in appearance to the turbolifts on the Enterprise only smaller. The three of them could barely squeeze inside it. Geordi also took special note that they had walked a considerable distance before reaching the turbolift. On any Federation starship, one could reach a turbolift access every forty meters or so.

"Recognize Zee Zeta top clearance, level two," the technician said. "Destination main control."

"Clearance acknowledged," a computerized voice said. The shaft sprung into action, accompanied by a grinding hum.

Geordi watched with a dizzying effect as the shaft went from level to level. He wondered why the aliens had designed a see-through shaft. What purpose did it serve other than to give them headaches? A minute later, the single door swished open to admit them into main control.

Quite obviously, this room served the same purpose as the Enterprise's bridge. Several Akodian officers, all standing, were monitoring various ship functions around the room. On the viewscreen, Geordi noticed the Huron only a few kilometers away. He knew it was vulnerable and could not survive an attack from this ship. He prayed these people truly wanted to help them.

"Greetings," a young male Akodian at one of the stations said as he turned to glance at them.

La Forge was beginning to get annoyed with their insipid salutation. They were behaving as though they had never violated him!

"They seem too eager to please us," Worf mumbled so only his fellow officers could hear, voicing the same doubts that Geordi felt.

"Ah, Commander Data. Good! Good! " the captain said as he approached them. "We Akodians are also explorers as I stated earlier. The best part of our jobs is making new contacts. However, I do regret the circumstances that have brought you to us." Quain glanced quickly at La Forge before continuing. "After I've shown you our regenerative database, hopefully you will begin to understand why this was all necessary." he turned toward his technician. "Thank you, Zeta. You are dismissed." He then gestured toward a door, inviting his guests inside.

They followed him into the room, Worf insisting that he enter first, where they found the ship's computer library. The captain activated a large viewscreen and instructed, "Computer, provide us with a general description of the regenerative process. Recognize Tozar Quain, top clearance, level one."

"Clearance acknowledged. . . . The regenerative process invented on two-hundred and sixteen cycles after pelvar three-four-three-seven is a form of time splitting, which enables lost crew members to be regenerated after fatal accidents."

The three guests from the Huron exchanged shocked glances. Had these aliens really brought them here because they believed they could bring the Stargazer crew back to life? Although they had already considered the notion back on the Huron, La Forge couldn't understand how such a thing could be possible. Nonetheless, having served as a member of Starfleet for many years and having witnessed countless new phenomena, he was open to just about anything.

"Previous regenerative subjects have had no knowledge of the passing of time from the moment of death until the moment of regeneration," the computer continued to drone on. "Regeneration must occur no less than .35 Pelvars after present time and has been successful in subjects deceased up to four hundred and fifty-five cycles. One attempt on a subject deceased five hundred and three cycles failed. Most regenerative projects have involved one to three individuals. There has been only one case of a ship-wide regeneration. Although the regeneration was successful, seventy-six percent of the crew members suffered physical and/or psychological side-effects as a result of the mass trauma. Recommendation by Arbiter Dregoni: Avoid ship-wide regeneration and limit regeneration to no more than five. End of entry."

"You bring those who have died honorably back to life?" the Klingon said in an accusing tone.

"They sacrifice their lives for the good of their people," Quain replied compassionately. "Many of them spend years working so their people may benefit in the long run. Giving them a second chance at life is the least our government can do."

"How does this regeneration technology work?" Data asked.

"I am not permitted to tell you that under penalty of the Direct Code. However, let it be sufficient that you know it involves the folding of space."

Data nodded with understanding. "My people have a similar law, the Prime Directive, which prevents us from sharing our technologies with less-developed or non-aligned cultures."

"I am delighted that you will not press the matter. Our dealings will be more cordial that way."

"Our people did not discover the remains of Stargazer until several months after her disappearance. Do you know why?"

"Yes. The debris was trapped inside a collapsed wormhole until a scientific team was available to cleanse the wormhole. It's a very delicate matter, and we wanted to be sure that no more lives were lost."

"I don't understand why you thought it was necessary to abduct me for several months," Geordi said, a touch of animosity in his voice. "Direct Code or not, I think you better have an answer for that one!"

"Yes. We wanted to determine if your people are physiologically compatible with our regeneration process. Our tests on you provided us with a plethora of data."

"That still does not make it right by our standards," Worf said. "We prefer to make new contact face to face."

"Every Federation starship has members of several different species," Geordi said.

"Representatives from at least a dozen planets were on board the Stargazer. So you see, there is no way that your tests on me could prove that your regeneration technology could be successful on everyone who was aboard that ship."

The captain demonstrated frustration for a moment. He clearly did not know how to react. "My worst fear is that this could all be for naught. My main objective and that of my government really is to help your people, whether you believe me or not. For the most part, my people are a peaceful, inquisitive race. We do not wish to destroy life. Quite the opposite! We wish to enhance it. But if there is that much variance in your crew personnel, we will probably never convince the arbiter that regeneration is the most appropriate course of action in this case.

Again, Data and Geordi glanced questioningly at each other. "Would it be possible for us to talk with the arbiter?" Data asked.

"Of course. We can schedule a hearing for tomorrow. As our computer has already reported, however, there has been only one attempt at a ship-wide regeneration--and the results were quite unfavorable. Its entire crew roster were Akodians. We know the physiology of our own people well, and yet it took many of the victims months to fully recover from the ordeal. A second petition for a ship-wide regeneration was recently denied and its entire crew was also Akodian."

"That does not bear favorably on the Stargazer crew," Worf grumbled. "We have friends aboard, and I do not wish to see them suffer needlessly."

"I assure you that they are not suffering at the moment. If they were to be regenerated, they would have no recollection of the time in between their deaths and their regeneration."

"It is the time after regeneration that concerns me," Worf growled.

"However," Data interjected, "we still wish to consider the option." He gave Worf a non-verbal warning and the Klingon backed down.

"You said you recently lost one of your own ships. How was it destroyed?" La Forge asked.

"In much the same way as your Stargazer," Quain replied. "The only difference being that its crew knew the risks they were taking. They went through a newly formed pocket that unfortunately proved unstable. It collapsed around them, killing all personnel on board."

"Has this been a frequent occurrence?" Data inquired.

"We have formed nearly four thousand pocket wormholes and only three have been unstable. The losses of three ships and their crews are most unfortunate, but three failures against the numerous successes are extremely good odds."

"The Ferengi Marauder," Data mused. "Have your people considered regenerating its crew as well?"

"Indeed, that option was presented to my government. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain any medical data on the alien race that ship belonged to."

"You mean, abduct one of them," La Forge said coolly.

Quain eyed the engineer nervously, but did not verbally acknowledge the comment. "It is too late for the. . . .Ferengi? Nearly five hundred pelvars have passed since their destruction."

"How much time do we have left to save the Stargazer crew?" Data asked.

"Not much, I'm afraid."

***

The captain led the three Starfleet officers inside a building and into a large crowded room. All the seats were taken and many people were still left standing, while more continued to pour in. An elderly Akodian was repetitiously sounding a gong.

They had arrived on the planet's surface only a short while ago after less than a five hour trip on board the Emblem. Quain had delighted in giving them a tour personally, and even Worf's doubts of their intentions was beginning to wane.

Akie, as its natives referred to it, had a pleasant atmosphere by human standards and appeared to have many intriguing recreational activities. Data only wished they had time to enjoy some of them.

Shooing a few Akodians out of second-row chairs, the captain provided the Starfleet officers with seats.

The doors were closed only a minute later, and the gong stopped. "Time court is now closed for visitors," one of the Akodians at the door bellowed.

"All persons please note," the arbiter said, "that this time court has come into session at eight-oh-five after dawn on the fifth cycle after pelvar three-four-six-two. Anti-counsel Frei, please state your argument against the regeneration of alien craft Federation USS Stargazer, class Nova."

Frei stood and approached the arbiter. "The Federation starship, USS Stargazer, entered an area of space where our government was in the midst of creating a new wormhole pocket. No craft can go through a pocket while it is being stabilized! Whether purposely or accidentally, the Stargazer did just that, killing its entire crew.

"There are no available videos from any of the deceased, so I can make no comments regarding their own personal wishes. It is my contention that without said videos, we cannot petition for regeneration in this case under code R1-36."

"Objection, arbiter," Pro-counsel said suddenly standing. All heads turned toward him, many with their mouths agape.

"This is highly unusual," the captain whispered to Data. "Very rarely are objections made during a regeneration hearing."

"Please state your objection," the arbiter said calmly.

"The video requirements must be overruled for these people. Since they are not Akodian and thus don't possess the regenerative technology, they could not foresee any need for such videos."

"I will take that into consideration," Dregoni said. He turned toward Frei. "Proceed, anti-counsel."

"There are other arguments, sir," Frei continued. "We don't know beyond any doubt how people from their Federation would react to the knowledge of this technology. Will their need to possess it cause hostile relations between our people? We have evidence that they are not a single race as we are, but many diverse species. Regeneration may work on some, but could it possibly prove successful on all their different species? We've already witnessed its effects on an Akodian crew. The negative consequences of regenerating an alien crew far outweigh the positive ones. Anti-counsel passes for debate."

The counsels switched places and pro-counsel cleared his throat before addressing the arbiter. "Sir, you must rule in favor of regeneration in this case. The fact that the victims were not Akodian should not hinder the process, but rather deem it necessary. We must consider further the matter that Akodians were responsible for these wrongful deaths."

Leaning toward Quain, Data whispered into the Akodians ear, "May I inquire as to why your people continue to practice this regenerative technology when there is a high ratio of psychological trauma among subjects of regeneration?"

"I am only a starship captain," Quain replied. "I have no say in my government's policies."

"If you have a question, speak up, so everyone may hear you," the arbiter said in a booming voice. He did not seem the least bit angry.

Standing, Data repeated the question for everyone. Murmured responses filled the courtroom and Data feared he would be thrown out for questioning the credence of their regeneration philosophy.

The arbiter hesitated in offering a response as if deliberating whether he should throw Data out of his courtroom. "I will allow an answer from the pro-counsel."

Pro-counsel nodded with pleasure. "Thank you, sir. " He turned to face the audience, directing eye contact at Commander Data, who had returned to his seat. "Nothing is more painful than the loss of a loved one, especially if the loved one was young and vital. Our government must take full responsibility for casualties lost during military actions whenever it is feasible. They are taking on the responsibility. It is my job to insure that they continue to do so."

The audience seemed satisfied with the pro-council's explanation. Data, however, had a strong sense that the Akodians based their laws and beliefs on a weak philosophy. Perhaps many of them struggled with such concepts as he had during his Academy days.

"Sir, it would clearly be an injustice," pro-counsel continued, turning toward the arbiter, "to allow this matter to remain unresolved. An attempt to regenerate these people needs to be made." He hesitated for a moment, allowing his words to sink in, and then said, "Pro-counsel passes for further debate."

"As further argument," Frei said standing, "consider that rehabilitation for these people would be difficult if not impossible. The Federation would require our assistance for many cycles. We cannot, sir, realistically extend ourselves that thin. Rehabilitation would require continuous wormhole travel between the Akodians and the Federation. Do we want to grant the Federation continued access to our wormhole? To our technology?"

"Your questions, anti-counsel, are certainly ones deserving of careful consideration. I shall do just that and render my decision as soon as possible. This time court is hereby closed for debate."

The gong began to sound again as people filtered out of the courtroom.

"What does this mean?" Data asked the captain. "How long will the arbiter keep this under consideration?"

"It could take many cycles," the captain replied.

"But you said no one has been regenerated beyond four-hundred and fifty-five cycles. The Stargazer was destroyed several months ago."

"I know. We are dealing with a tight time line, aren't we?"