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Blind Chess	By : madradena Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1334 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own ST:TNG, nor the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
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- 12
When the briefing was finally over, Data felt he was almost literally pulled in three directions. He was ordered to show his mother the probe's findings, Geordi jumped at him saying that they needed to talk, and above all else, he wanted to go to Emma to check if she was okay. But it seemed that she didn't even want to look at him: she just walked out of the observation lounge with Doctor Crusher. Maybe she again had a period of needing solitude, but he always managed to cheer her up at times like this.
"Data!" Geordi called for the third time seemingly getting irritated - or he already was, Data couldn't tell.
He turned to him frowning but heard her mother say "I'll wait for you on the Bridge."
He looked at her and nodded "Yes, Mother!" and she walked out after the others. He and Geordi remained alone.
Geordi looked at him expectantly, and he cocked his head trying to determine what his friend might be thinking.
"You're angry with me." he stated his observation after a moment.
And Geordi's temper snapped "You bet I'm angry at you! A court martial?! And you don't say a word?! I thought we were best friends! What the hell's wrong with you?!"
Of course, Data answered in the absolute literal sense: "Apparently, Starfleet thinks that based on the reports of Counsellor Troi during the time I was suffering from the after-effects of my abduction by the Borg, that the emotion-chip clouds my judgement and hinders my performance as a Starfleet officer. To a certain extent, I loath to say it, but I do agree."
"That's just crazy! You're a sentient being just as all of us. How can they expect you to just discard your emotions? I mean nobody can do that!"
Data shook his head a little puzzled at what Geordi said "My sentience was never in question during the hearings. It seemed that the problem was more of the fact that I never consulted anyone about making use of the chip. The court martial drew the analogy of an organic entity being put on a serious psychotic drug. Their performance then need to be reassessed, if they want to keep on serving in Starfleet and prior consultancy with the relevant departments is necessary as well. In my case, this would be the Cybernetics Division of the Daystrom Institute. I failed to meet both requirements. They judged this as a severe misconduct and breach of Starfleet rules and regulations."
"So what the hell? Just let them examine you and be done with it! That can't be a good enough reason for them to make you discard your chip just as if it was a piece of malfunctioning circuitry!" Geordi went on berserking.
"I did have examinations, Geordi. Mostly from psychological point of view. My results are very different compared to the ones produced by the last examination I took before the emotion-chip."
Geordi cut in "Of course they're different! You have emotions now for god's sake, of course your psyche doesn't work the same way as before! But don't tell me that the results were worse, because I refuse to believe that!"
Data went on on his calm voice "They were not necessarily worse. However, the differences between the two sets of results were significant enough to make the court martial doubt that I am worthy of the Lieutenant Commander rank or to serve as the Operations officer on the flag ship."
A shocked silence descended as Geordi couldn't do more than just gap at his friend. After a long moment, he shook his head disbelievingly and took a few steps away from him as if to distance himself of what he had just heard. He let out a long breath to calm himself - no use. He turned back to Data still agitated "So they just decided that you simply have to get rid of the one thing that causes the trouble, and all would be sunshine and happiness after that?!"
When Data answered, his voice was silent and very sad "No. The court martial ruled that I have to leave the Enterprise, and that I would be placed in a position with a lot less responsibility."
"What?!" Geordi breathed.
Data went on on the same wistful voice gazing only ahead "I didn't want to leave the Enterprise. I didn't want to give my whole life up. I offered that I could use the turn-off switch on duty. The court martial reluctantly conceded to the notion of applying a work-around. However, they argued that with the turn-off switch, there could be no guarantee that I wouldn't use the chip without the knowledge of my fellow officers. Captain Picard and Commander Riker were kind enough to bear testimonies in my favour stating that they would carry the responsibility of such an option. However, the court martial was not convinced. They wanted physical evidence that such a thing could never happen."
"So you proposed to make the chip removable?" Geordi asked on a shaken voice.
"I saw no other options." he looked at his friend and tried to smile "It'll be fine, Geordi. At least, better than leaving everything and everybody."
Geordi spread his arms frustrated and tried to find arguments against this whole, though he knew that it was utterly pointless: "What about the buffering effect of the chip? You always say that if you turn it off and then on again, you have a jumble of emotions to deal with suddenly as the chip processes all that's happened since it was turned off. What will you do when there's a mission that's days long - like the one you're going to now? You take it out, and when the mission's over, and you put it back, you get a nervous breakdown or what?!"
"I talked to Doctor Maddox about the effect and based on the schematics, he is convinced that the buffer of the chip can be reduced or even turned completely off. He will need to examine this problem, when he arrives here and prepares for the procedure."
Geordi paced slowly around the table shaking his head "Maddox. Was he in the court martial too? Was he the one who..."
"No." Data cut in, then turned up his palms, when Geordi finally looked at him from the window he was standing next to "Officially that is, I'm unaware of any influence he or the Daystrom Institute might have had on the course of decisions made by the court martial." he looked at his friend genuinely confused "What purpose would that have served him, Geordi?"
Geordi threw his hands up "I don't know! Like dissecting you to his liking the way he wanted to eight years ago?"
Data shook his head "No, Geordi. He wasn't even aware of the fact that I was court martialed until I notified him about needing some assistance with the procedure."
Geordi looked daggers at him which now really confused Data. The Chief Engineer stepped to him and looked into his eyes plainly hurt "Why do you need Maddox with this? I've been your physician almost from day one here on the Enterprise. I'm perfectly capable of doing what needs to be done, don't you trust me anymore?" he snorted "Stupid question. You didn't even trust me with telling me about the court martial." he shook his head seemingly very disappointed.
Data was really taken aback by this "Geordi." he called on a silent stunned voice "Of course I trust you. However, I was also aware of the fact that there was nothing you could have done for me during this court martial. There was no point in me burdening you with it. And as for the technological aspect of the issue. I do trust you in that too. You know I do. However the last time we talked about the removal of the chip, you seemed genuinely shocked about the idea. I didn't want you to find yourself in a situation, where our friendship would have to be in conflict with your values. I felt I would abuse your friendship, if I asked you to do something that I knew you would feel really bad about."
With this, all the irritation and hurt and anger that Geordi felt ever since the topic came up during the briefing dissipated into thin air. He bowed his head shutting his eyes then gazed up at his best friend once again "You wanted to protect me."
Data thought about it for a moment then nodded "In a manner of speaking, yes."
Geordi slouched and let out a long breath "Data... Friendship shouldn't be about that. We've been fairly open about everything with each other so far. If I had had a problem with doing as you asked, I'd have told you. You don't have to go to someone else just to avoid making me feel uncomfortable. You never had to tiptoe around me ever, you know that. Next time, please just ask." he winced "Well, I hope there would be no next time for such a request..."
"Me too." Data nodded and gave him a tiny smile. And after a moment, Geordi returned it.
The door opened, and Riker stepped in with a serious expression "If you can spare a moment, join the Captain in his ready-room. For a private tea-party." he added with a meaningful glance.
"Private tea-party? I do not believe..." Data asked with a confused frown cocking his head, but Geordi put a hand on his arm to stop his questions. It was plain that whatever the Captain wanted, it was for the ears of certain chosen people only.
Riker turned and left, and they followed him on his heals.
"I'm not satisfied with your performance so far on this mission, Picard." the Admiral told the Captain off-handedly and then sipped his tea sitting opposite the Captain in his ready-room. "Your personnel is disobedient and reckless. I do know Emma Stern - well, Jones now - from before, but it's your job to break her, now that she's under your command! And what do you do? Instead of putting her in her place, you give a gun in her hand by making empty promises."
The Captain crossed his legs sitting in his chair behind his desk, and steepled his fingers "I prefer getting my staff to do as I need them to do instead of using discipline. It might be not to your liking, Sir, but it has certainly worked well so far."
The Admiral snorted "It's not a matter of my taste, Picard. It's the way command dictates. They are here to follow orders not to question them or to ask any pesky questions about classified information." he mused sipping his tea.
The Captain leaned forward and clasped his fingers. He waited until the Admiral fixed his gaze on him and then looked straight into his eyes "Nevertheless, Admiral, the questions were valid. What is the real reason behind this sudden interest in the Epsilon Four colony? It's quite straightforward that it cannot be purely based on the humanitarian interest of the Federation. If it was so, there are colonies a lot more in need for some intervention. Turkana Four, for instance."
"It's classified, Picard. But if you look close on the starmaps, you might make an intelligent guess."
"I have, Sir." the Captain stood his gaze "The planet is located very close to the Neutral Zone. In fact, the senior staff is well aware of that. Has been since we have got our destination coordinates yesterday."
The Admiral leaned back in his chair "Well, Picard. Now, what do you need me for in telling you, why luring Epsilon Four to our side is so immensely important?"
The Captain frowned thoughtfully "The dilithium. Would the colony try to sell dilithium to Romulans? Even with their xenophobic ideology?" he asked incredulously.
The Admiral snorted, and his lips curved up in a creepy smile "In my view, these people are just crazy fanatics. I think they want to make contact with the Federation to sell the dilithium to US, humans! But if the negotiations fail on such hot-headed good-for-nothings as Lieutenant Jones, for instance, I'm sure, sooner or later the Epsilonians will figure out that they could sell the dilithium to others. The Orion Syndicate, and in worst case scenario, to the Romulan Empire as well! And I don't want to wait for that, Picard. With the shortage of dilithium we are facing, it would give the Romulans a tremendous tactical advantage!"
"But the colony is in Federation space! Even if the government of the colony sold the dilithium to them, given the fact that the colony does not possess warp-capable ships, collecting it by Romulan starships would be a severe breach of the Treaty of Algeron!"
"Don't be so naive, Picard!" the Admiral barked "If they sensed that they have a chance at laying their hands on a rich dilithium deposit, the Romulan Empire will treat the Treaty as nothing more than ink on a page! Besides, we wouldn't even know about it! We still can't detect their cloaked ships! Or have you missed this tiny piece of information on reading the last Federation communiqué about Romulan technology? We need to be a step ahead of them. At all times, Picard!"
The Captain glanced away trying to wrap his mind around the possibility of such a misconduct on the part of Romulans. They WERE power-thirsty, and their thirst of territory knew barely any boundaries. But to enter into Federation space on a regular basis... it was beyond belief even by Romulan standards.
"Well, Picard. Thanks for the tea." the Admiral put his cup on the Captain's desk and stood. The Captain stood too respectfully as the elder man added "I retire to my quarters now." then turning, he glanced back at the Captain from the door patronizingly "I hope by the time, we are to beam to the planet, I'll see a measure of obedience in your crew."
Picard's features remained as carved in stone as ever "Certainly, Sir." he told his superior dryly, and the older man left him alone. He didn't even have time to sit back in his chair when the door chime sounded.
"Come." he called, and Counsellor Troi stepped in "Deanna."
"May I have a word with you, Sir?"
The private tea-party commenced, when Riker got back with the last of the senior staff. They formed a circle: Deanna and Beverly sat on the couch, Riker and Geordi sat in the two chairs opposite the Captain's desk, and the Captain took his own seat at the desk, while Data remained standing in the corner.
"I hope you all sense that whatever we are to discuss here cannot leave this room." the Captain told them on a low voice. The others nodded their assent, and the Captain looked at Deanna "Counsellor, please." he motioned.
All eyes fixed on Deanna as she started to speak: "There are two very important things that I brought to the attention of the Captain a few minutes ago. The first one concerns the Admiral. Throughout the briefing, I felt that he was hiding something. Something vitally important."
The Captain took over "After the briefing, he told me that the Federation was concerned that the colony might sell dilithium to Romulans. This is why the mission is so important to succeed."
Deanna went on "However, this is not the thing that I felt he was keeping as a secret. Even through the jumble of emotions oozing from Lieutenant Jones, I could clearly feel the Admiral being scared. It was as if he would lose something very valuable, if we don't succeed. I think there is something more behind his emotions than the fact that Romulans might appear during this mission. His interest was more personal."
"What kind of personal interest could he possibly have in this mission?" Riker asked theoretically.
"I don't know." Deanna replied "But I wanted you to be aware of this fact... The other matter is of more personal nature to most of us... Lieutenant Jones was not completely sincere with us either during the briefing. She's hiding something too and is ready to lie about it even to us." she gazed up at Data "I'm sorry, Data." she told him on a soft voice.
"It's alright, Counsellor." he replied, and the last word died on his lips. He barely could conceal his distress in learning this as Deanna went on.
"She was scared throughout the briefing. At the mention of meeting her husband, her fear was palpable to all of you. However, there was something else too. When the Admiral asked her about the Resistance, she was lying when she said she'd known nothing about it or no one involved in it. I suspect she knows a lot more than she lets on, and her loyalties are divided if she were to choose between Starfleet or the Resistance."
"Well, Deanna. No wonder!" Beverly told them taken aback by what she was implying to "Think about it, for god's sake! She lived with the Resistance for years, they saved her, she is used to protecting them."
"I hate to say it, Beverly." Deanna looked at her apologetically "But it goes beyond that level." she looked around "She doesn't feel the same strong bond that we do towards Starfleet."
"She willingly admitted that fact to me in the brig today." the Captain added on a low voice.
"She feels a lot firmer connection with the Resistance... I don't think we can safely rely on her. I don't think the away team should rely on her down on the planet, because if you were to cross with the Resistance for any reason, she would choose them over Starfleet."
A shocked moment of silence descended on them, then Riker spoke up "Well, it turns out I was right, and the shrew WAS dangerous after all." Beverly looked daggers at him but then saw the crestfallen expression he had on. He massaged his neck growling "Ah, I never ever wished to be wrong more than now."
"No." Data's voice came hollow from where he was standing in the corner. They turned to him, and he straightened his back "You might have perceived emotions, Counsellor, that might have been true for the moment, when she was so distressed and agitated during the briefing. But I refuse to believe that she would do anything against us out of malice. She is a loyal Starfleet officer and a loyal friend." he looked at Beverly who locked gazes with him for a moment - her eyes reflected gratitude as he finished "I'd place my life in her hands without thinking twice."
"I suppose, Mr. Data," the Captain spoke up on a soft voice "there's no one in this room who doesn't understand your feelings." he sighed and leaning forward, steepled his fingers "A blind game of chess. That's how Ms. Jones described dealings with her husband and Epsilon Four. Well, it seems there are now at least four colors on the board. We will need to make sure that at least one of them remain our ally throughout this mission."
- 10
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- 12
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