Chapter Three
The team from engineering had just completed the installation of the two additional work stations in Data's quarters when the Doctor exited his TARDIS. "Ah, now we can get some work done."
Data looked up from the station where he'd been reviewing the Doctor's earlier efforts. "I must say, sir, you have accomplished a great deal already. You have determined the potential output of all energy systems of the Enterprise, compared them with the known rate of expansion of the dissolution area and determined the precise time when it will be beyond our capabilities to reverse the effect."
"Simplicity itself, Data. I just put together all the information already gathered and did some simple extrapolation."
Data looked at the smiling Doctor. "I must disagree. The extrapolations were hardly simple and you have also programmed this console to ignore all security limitations on information you wish to peruse, while leaving those same limitations in effect for any others using the system. I believe the only term fitting your programming solutions is 'inspired'."
The smug-looking Doctor tapped the fingers of both hands together in front of his chest, in what Data realized was a 'characteristic gesture'. "Yes it was, wasn't it. Where is Lt. Rondell? I believe I have determined the best method of using all of our various abilities to their maximum on this problem."
"After she and I had overseen the installation of the work stations and tested all the systems, she returned to her quarters." Data paused and, with a puzzled tilt of his head, continued, "She said she "had to take a pill". Doctor, she said it with what I can only describe as a 'conspiratorial air'; however, I have no understanding of what she meant by it. I sometimes believe I shall never understand humans."
The Doctor smiled. "I've associated with humans for several hundred years, Data, and sometimes I'm not sure I shall ever understand them either. I do know; however, that they are worth the effort. As to Lt. Rondell, she is not just a human, she is a woman. I have met few human males that profess to understand women and I believe most of them were mistaken."
Data and the Doctor had just decided that the Doctor should take the central station with Data and Lt. Rondell on the peripheries when the door beeped. Data called, "Come in." and Lt. Rondell entered.
"Hi Data, well that's taken care of and I'm all ready to implement Plan B." She stopped as she realized the Doctor was seated at the central work station.
Data said, "Plan B?"
The suddenly flustered young woman glanced at her interested associates. "Uh, it's not important. I'll explain later if we have time. Shall we get to work?"
Realizing her embarrassment, but having no clue to its cause, Data immediately said, "Yes. The Doctor has been explaining his ideas for our working together. Perhaps we should try them." As Data took his place and indicated hers to Lt. Rondell, his sensitive hearing picked up her murmured "I've got a few ideas of my own." Data decided the Doctor was correct. Even if he came to understand humans in general, women might still be beyond him.
As soon as she had taken her place, the Doctor said, "Right, Data, Lieutenant, let me show you what I had in mind."
"Why don't you just call me Gwen? After all, you call him Data, not Commander. That goes for you too, Data."
The Doctor said, "Emm, oh, of course, Gwen." He looked up into a pair of beautiful green eyes over a dazzling smile. He was suddenly quite sure working with this pair was going to be a very different experience than working with any of his companions in his travels in the TARDIS. He glanced again at Gwen Rondell. There was something... He dismissed the thought. What could possibly be in a young human's smile that could make him nervous?
Geordi and the Doctor were just putting the finishing touches on a piece of equipment the Doctor had designed when Commander Riker walked in to Engineering. He said, "Now, that's an interesting looking device. What is it?"
"Oh. Hi, Commander. Well, according to the Doctor, this little jewel should give us a running calculation of mass and energy loss in both universes. It'll also give us the photon absorption level at the edge of the dissolution."
The Doctor looked at Riker and smiled. "The only problem we have with it is there doesn't seem to be any way we can use it from here."
"You see, Commander, the outer boundary of the area is like a sort of mist. It has currents in it. We've sent out probes, but, sooner or later, they run into an eddy current and just disappear. Since this has an essential part of the Doctor's TARDIS in it, we just can't chance putting it in a probe. I'm going to ask the captain's permission to use one of the shuttles tomorrow."
Commander Riker looked thoughtful. "I don't know, Geordi, it sounds pretty dangerous. Chief Engineers aren't that easy to come by. What's to keep you from 'just disappearing' too."
The Doctor smiled and held up a tiny gold circuit board. "That's where this comes in. This is a circuit to adapt Geordi's VISOR to see the unique tachyon decay resonance at the very edge of the dissolution. Geordi will be able to pilot around any protuberances in the field."
Riker said, "Geordi may be the best pilot on the ship, but it still sounds like an awful risk sending one man out alone, even if he can see where he's going."
The Doctor's smile grew wider. "Commander, what makes you think he's going alone? My gravitic anomalizer is in there. It's not going anywhere without me."
Riker looked at the two smiling men and realized that, if anyone could accomplish what they proposed, they could. "Geordi, it looks like you've finished with this. Are you ready to take a break? How about you, Doctor? Would you like to see some of the ship?"
Geordi said, "Thanks, Commander. You're right about our being done with this, but I've still got some ordinary work to complete. I can't have my staff thinking they can get along without me, but I think a tour for the Doctor is a great idea. How 'bout it, Doctor?"
The Doctor put his hands in the small of his back and stretched. "I admit to being curious about this ship. The specifications we've been working with have just whet my appetite, and this is probably one of the few times my curiosity won't get me into trouble. Lead on, Commander. I'll see you later, Geordi."
Riker grinned. "Come up to Ten Forward when you finish, Geordi. I'll arrange to wind up our tour there."
"You got it. I'll see you both there."
As they left Engineering, Riker said, "Just a minute, Doctor. I forgot I told Worf I'd meet him on the phaser range. Won't take me a minute to cancel."
As he reached for the comm panel, the Doctor said, "Don't do that. I think I'd enjoy a bit of target practice. I hope Mr. Worf won't mind if I join you."
"I'm sure he won't, but I have to warn you, Worf won't practice with the program running at anything less than top speed."
"That's all right, Commander. I shall endeavor to keep up." As they entered the turbolift, Riker wondered about the smaller man's enigmatic smile.
When they reached the phaser range, Worf was waiting. He didn't look extremely happy to see the Doctor. He nodded and said, "Commander, Doctor, I've set the program for standard two man use. I can change it if you wish."
Riker suddenly decided he'd rather be an observer of this interesting encounter than a participant. "Don't bother Worf. I put in some pretty heavy practice with Captain Picard yesterday. You two go ahead. I'll just watch."
Worf said, "As you wish, Sir."
Riker headed for the observation area struggling not to laugh. Worf looked as if he'd eaten something sour. His expression as he had looked down at the smaller, smiling, man was one he'd have paid to see. By the time he got there, the Doctor and Worf were taking their positions. As he made himself comfortable, he noticed the Doctor had removed his coat. The back-to-back positioning of the two participants emphasized their physical differences. Worf's massive size and trained positioning made the average sized Doctor look small, but something about his relaxed stance told Riker this was not the mis-match it would at first appear.
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The program began. Riker watched with interest, which soon turned to amazement, as Worf and the Doctor hit target after target. He soon realized the Doctor had not missed a shot. The man could move with blinding speed. Worf was about to lose his distinction as the only 'biological' person to get a perfect score with the program running at top speed.
When the session ended, Riker hurried to join the others. He reached them as Worf was pulling up their scores and the Doctor vas pulling on his coat. Riker saw Worf's eyes widen as he looked at the results, two perfect scores. "Doctor, you may guard my back anytime. You did not miss any targets."
The Doctor smiled up at Worf. "I never miss. Thank you. I think yours is a back worth guarding. Shall we go, Commander? I would like to see some of the ship before we're to meet Geordi." As they walked down the corridor, Riker thought to himself that this was the second time today he'd have paid to see the expression on Worf's face. He found he felt much better about Geordi and the Doctor making their proposed excursion.
Deanna Troi walked into sickbay and found it crowded. She'd had to spend time in her office. There were some very frightened people on the ship. So far, there was no panic, but frightened people needed someone to listen to them. Once again, she found herself thankful for Guinan's presence in Ten Forward. In this kind of situation, she vas probably of more assistance than a counselor. Besides, the ever-present undercurrent of fear was wearing raw edges on her empathy. As she made her way through the crowd, she saw several of the medical staff interviewing people and keying information into data-pads. She suddenly realized the overwhelming emotion she was feeling in sickbay wasn't fear. It was curiosity. Whatever was going on, she definitely approved. She saw Lt. Selar at one of the consoles and made her way over to her. "Hello, Lieutenant, do you know where Dr. Crusher is?"
The calm eyes of the Vulcan physician glanced up at her. "Dr. Crusher is in isolation area B."
Deanna wove through the clusters of people and entered the isolation area. Beverly was standing in front of one of the isolation cubicles with her arms crossed. She had a very thoughtful look on her face. As she neared Beverly, Deanna was pleased her emotional state was good. In fact, Beverly was quite pleased about something. There was also a feeling of confidence that had been absent since the disappearance of the two crewmen earlier. "Hello, Beverly."
Beverly Crusher jumped. "Oh! Hi, Deanna, you startled me."
"That's obvious." Curious as to what held her friend's attention so completely, Deanna looked into the cubicle. Inside were a man and a woman, three small children, and a small furry animal she couldn't identify. She gave Beverly a questioning look.
"They're a family unit. One of our checks turned them up as being from a planet endangered by the dissolution. The planet itself is uninhabited, but all three children were born there. Their parents were assigned to a now-abandoned science station on the planet for several years. See that device over there. It's part of the Doctor's TARDIS. He called it a dimensional stabilizer. When he set this up, he said he wasn't sure it would work, but it does Deanna. That planet disappeared an hour ago and the kids are still here. They're still here!"
Deanna understood her buoyant emotional state, but she was worried about a sudden surge in it when she'd said "the Doctor". "That's wonderful Beverly. I know how upset you were this morning when those people disappeared."
Beverly turned and looked at Deanna. She said, "Aha, I may not be a Betazoid, but I know what you're thinking. Crusher's got a crush. I plead guilty. Oh, Deanna, don't worry. It's a very healthy one. He's brilliant, he's charming, and his voice gives me goose bumps, but he's from another universe and will soon be gone. He also told me he's seven hundred fifty years old. That much of an age difference is a bit much, even for me."
Deanna found herself laughing. Yes, it was a healthy one. One she thought she might even share before this was all over. She said, "Speaking of our elderly Doctor, where is he and what are all those people doing out there?"
"Well, the Doctor said the Rutans are a species with a strong electrical field. He described them as "an electrically charged glob of jelly with pseudopodia and a nasty attitude". The people are being screened for testing for what he calls "electrical-psi sensitivity". I'm not sure he's not just giving everyone something to think about, but he's rigged up some kind of testing device in one of the labs, adapted one of the biobeds. As to where he is, I don't know. He just appears, does something, then disappears again. I'm afraid our Doctor is a bit of a phantom."
Both Deanna and Beverly jumped this time as the Doctor's deep, cultured, voice said, "Not a phantom, please. I'm really quite solid." He held out an arm and said, "Here, feel, quite solid. Ladies, since our wards," he nodded toward the cubicle, "seem to be also quite solid and Dr. Crusher's; may I call you Beverly, Dr. Crusher seems so formal and Deanna, it is Deanna; staff has the screening so well in hand, perhaps you might show me your ship." He slipped an arm around the shoulders of each of them and began guiding them toward the door.
"Yes," thought Deanna, looking up at the Doctor's smiling face, "a crush I might definitely share."
The man the captain thought of as the Fourth Doctor exited the turbolift onto the bridge. Beverly and Deanna were with him and all were smiling. The captain felt a small twinge, of what he refused to recognize as jealousy, at the happy look on Beverly's face. The three entered the command area. Deanna and Beverly sat down in their stations and the Doctor walked up to him. "Captain, the ladies tell me you fence. I fancy a bit of exercise. I wondered if you might be free to indulge me?"
"I think I would enjoy that, Doctor. Let me see if Commander Data is available for bridge duty." He tapped his communicator. "Commander Data." When Data answered, he asked, "Are you free to take the bridge?"
"Yes, Sir. The Doctor, Lt. Rondell and I have completed all our preliminary work. Lt. Rondell is escorting the Doctor on a tour of the ship. I am presently in turbolift three on my way to the bridge." At that point, Data exited the turbolift, walked down into the command area and over to the captain and said, "Sir."
The captain smiled and the Doctor standing nearby said, "Mr. Data, your timing is excellent."
Data said, "Yes, sir, it is digital." The Doctor laughed. Data was pleased. Guinan had laughed when he said it to her and he had always wondered if he would be able to find an appropriate time to use it again.
The Doctor said, "Why, Mr. Data, you have a sense of humor. That is very rare in a constructed being."
Data said, "Thank you, sir. Did you hear the one about the--"
"Commander, you have the bridge. Come with me, Doctor, quickly." As he and the Doctor left the bridge, the captain heard Beverly Crusher and Deanna Troi burst into laughter. Once they had entered the turbolift, he said, "I'm sorry, Doctor, but you have no idea what you almost started." He tapped his communicator. "Mr. Data, if I am needed, I will be in the gymnasium." The Doctor with him laughed.
Data had just seated himself in the command chair when Deanna Troi said, "Data, Beverly and I are going to Ten Forward. We've agreed to meet the Doctor there after he and Captain Picard finish their fencing match and I want to talk to Guinan. If you are free later, you are welcome to join us."
"Thank you, Counselor. I may do that."
Shortly after Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi left the bridge, another of the Doctors, the small one with dark hair, entered the command area. Data considered telling him a joke, but decided it might be inappropriate at this time. He said, "How may I assist you, Doctor." instead.
"Data, I find myself somewhat at loose ends. There's nothing more I can do here until your team and the other two begin assembling new information."
"Doctor, may I suggest you go to Ten Forward? It is one of the crew's favorite places to relax."
"Ah, that sounds like exactly what I had in mind. Thank you, Mr. Data."
"You are most welcome, sir." As the Doctor left th
e bridge, Data sat back in the command chair and thought, "Yes, a joke would have been inappropriate."
The Doctor entered Ten Forward and looked around. Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi were there, but seemed to be deep in conversation. The Doctor didn't see anyone else he'd met. His glance was suddenly arrested by the incredible view. He made his way to a table and gazed out at the stars. Shortly thereafter a voice called him out of his reverie.
"Hello, I'm Guinan. I'm your hostess. Welcome to Ten Forward. May I get you something?"
The Doctor turned to look at her and nearly stumbled in his haste to rise, as he realized who, and what, she was. He doffed his hat and bowed. "Madam, I am most pleased and surprised to find one of your race here."
Guinan pulled a chair out and sat down on the opposite side of the table. She said, "You can only be one of the Doctors."