Enigma Ship by J. York (small books to read .TXT) 📕

“Beaming you back was Corsi’s call, and Captain Gold’s, Soloman.” Stevens retrieved a relay from the parts replicator. “The module is still out there, operated from the bridge. It’s keeping the breach open, just in case, and relaying sensor readings. I’m not sure what else you could be doing out there.”

“If they should return, they will need me to pilot them back to the ship.”

Stevens bent over the torpedo casing, and fitted the relay into place. “They can be beamed back, or the module can be flown home by remote control.”

Stevens glanced up as the lights on Soloman’s data buffer abruptly went dark, and he turned to face Stevens. “They will need someone—to be waiting there for them when they return.”

Stevens considered this for a moment. He couldn’t argue. Part of him wanted to be out there, too.

Soloman broke the silence. “We Bynars, we are aware that we are—unusual among humanoid species; that some species look upon us with disfavor.”

Stevens blinked in surprise, the relay momentarily forgotten. “What do you mean?”

“We are small. We are physically weak. We are linked closely to computers in a way that some humanoids find disturbing, or even repulsive. Even our aversion to ambiguity is disturbing to some. Yet we have always reached out to other species. We are a curious people. But some say we are not brave.”

“Soloman, I don’t think anyone on this ship questions your courage—”

“I wonder. What if Lt. Commander Corsi beamed me back in anticipation that this was my wish?”

“Trust me, Soloman, she would have done the same for any of us.” Stevens chuckled dryly. “She’s protective of us crazy engineering types. I think that’s why the captain pulled her back a little this mission, to remind her we need room to work.”

“Yet I have noted that she will place herself, and her security people, in danger.”

Stevens nodded. “When the situation calls for it, yeah. But that’s what they’re trained for, and she trains them hard.” He waved a hand in the direction of the corridor. “Haven’t you seen them working out down at the court? When Lense isn’t playing handball, anyhow. When we pull into a starbase, while the rest of us are taking shore leave, Corsi is rotating her people down so they can run combat simulations on a real holodeck.”

“I do not like uncertainty,” said Soloman. “I do not seek danger. Yet I would prefer to be out in the module, waiting for my crewmates. Do you know what the Klingons say of my people?”

“No.”

“They say ‘a Bynar never stands alone.’ I gather they mean great disrespect in this. Yet when my friends disappeared, I was as alone in that module as I have ever been in my life, even more alone than when 111 died. Yet I did not wish to return to the ship. I wished to fulfill my duties, to be of service to my shipmates. I would be there still, if I could.”

Stevens grinned. “You’ve come a long way, Soloman. You can watch my back anytime.”

Soloman blinked, then turned away. The data buffer began to flash again. “I will take that as a compliment, Fabian, but I do not consider your back to be especially interesting.”

Stevens laughed and picked up his tools. “Let’s get this done. We have a message to send.”

*     *     *

It’s good to be out of the space suit, thought Gomez, adjusting her fresh uniform, even if it made her a little nervous.

She half expected the “Keeper of Order” to appear through the wall of their assigned quarters at any moment and transport them somewhere else, but logically, that wasn’t going to happen.

Whatever force controlled their fate on Enigma, had decided they belonged on a Federation vessel. This was likely their final destination.

Large windows lined the curved wall. To all appearances, the Lincoln was under way at warp speed.

A set of doors opened, and Duffy emerged from an adjoining bedroom.

They’d been assigned to a large guest suite, and even with three of them, it was luxurious by the standards of the da Vinci. Even Captain Gold’s quarters weren’t this big.

“Interesting that we got VIP quarters,” she said. “But I’d feel a lot better about it if there weren’t a pair of armed security officers standing outside.”

The cushions on the couch under the windows stirred, and Pattie emerged from where she’d tunneled in to rest. “I feel much refreshed,” she said.

“Good,” said Gomez, “I wish I’d had time for a nap myself. We need a clear head here.”

Duffy looked puzzled. “We were looking for the Lincoln, and we’ve found it. If our situation isn’t perfect, it’s much improved. Moreover, this ship is real. We’ve tested it.”

She nodded her head towards the windows. “But is that real? We assume not, but we can’t be sure.”

“If it is a simulation,” said Pattie, “then whose simulation is it? We know Enigma’s holographic systems have a telepathic capability they use to create their simulations. In this case, would it base the simulation on the thoughts of the entire crew, or perhaps just one individual?”

“Judging by those guards outside,” said Gomez, “we don’t know what we’re dealing with here. Clearly somebody, probably Captain Newport, is suspicious of us. If the simulation is based on his thoughts—Well, remember what Reg warned us about. He may not want to know this is a simulation.”

The door slid open, and an Andorian security officer leaned in. “The captain will see you now.”

The three of them followed her to the elevator, and three decks up to the captain’s ready-room off the ship’s bridge.

Captain Newport sat behind his desk, the top empty except for a three-dimensional chess board in the center. A green-skinned man dressed in civilian clothing sat in a chair to his right. They appeared to be in the middle of a game. From what Gomez could tell, the green-skinned man was winning.

Both men stood as they entered the room. The green-skinned man seemed to study them with