Silence of the Android
By David Hopper.
Forenote: The punch line is at the end.
Hate-mail should be addressed to david@hop-per.demon.co.uk
1.
Captain Jean Luc Picard sat in his ready room aboard the USS Enterprise-E. He was currently reading a report on some engine trouble that LaForge had noticed and was trying to correct before he and Commander Riker left for Risa. It appeared to be some kind of problem with the EPS conduits that was preventing the Impulse engines working to maximum efficency, and, as always in these types of matters, Picard was beffled by the amount of techno babble used.
Suddenly, and unexpectidly, Counsulor Troi stormed into his ready room.
"Counserlor?" he said, looking up in anoyance. Then he caught her expresion, sheer panic. "Whats wrong?" he asked, genuinly concerened.
"It's Data," she replied briefly. She was fidgiting, as if uncomfortable in the newly issued uniforms. "He's acting,... strangley." she said after a while.
"Deanna," he spoke softly as he placed the report down on his desk and stood up next to her. "We know Data is diferent now that he has his emotion chip. We just need time for him to get used to it, and for us to get used to him as he is now. Thats just how things are now." He placed a friendly hand on her shoulder but she was still terrified of something. It was at times like this, Picard thought to himself, thta he could really do with telepathic skills himself. It would have made this, rather one sided conversation a little easier.
"You haven't seen what he's done." she said. "On the Holodeck" Picard relised what her terror was. "Picard to Security, meet in," he relised he didn't know which holodeck Data was in, but Troi quickly interupted with the number when she heard the captain's hesitation.
"Two, holodeck two." she said.
"Got that? Holodeck two. Set Phaser's for maximum stun. You are to arrest Commander Data."
"Understood, sir." came the reply.
"Well, counserlor, we had better go down there, hadn't we?" she nodded in reply. Before he left Picard took out a small hand Phaser he kept in his draw, and then marched out of the ready room with Troi behind him.
2.
Picard ignored Riker's order for the crew to come to attention when he came on the bridge. Instead he simply moved to the nearest turbo lift, which quite typically was being delayed. when it did finally get there half a dozen ensigns pushed him out of the way. Picard felt at this point enraged. They had pushed him, the captain, out of their way.
"Do you know who I am?" he barked at the ensigns who continued to ignore him. "I asked you a question. You will answer me or I will have your commisions." They all looked at him, half looked like they were about to give him some kind of back chat, then they saw his rank insignia and they all looked totaly disgruntiled "Thats better." said Picard as he entered the Turbo lift with Troi.
"Grumpy old fart," muttered an ensign after the doors to the Turbo lift closed.
"Your on report, Ensign." growled Riker.
3.
Picard and Troi had travelled in silence for the entire trip in the turbo lift, and now they had walked to the holodeck entrance. Troi was begining to shows signs of aggitation. Picard reasoned that she musn't have wanted to walk in through that door.
"Counserlor, just how bad is this?" he asked.
"I really can't explain." she replied.
Picard opened the door to the holodeck and felt something quickly brush past his leg. He looked down in astonisment to see Spot running full pelt out of the holodeck. Picard was wondering why Data would bring his pet onto a holodeck, untill he saw the blood covering Spot's body. Picard relised that from the state of Spot's soaked fur, that it could not be Spot's blood. "the hell?" he mouthed toTroi, who simply shuddered.
4.
Picard entered the holodeck, and relised that his eyes were not adjusted for the lowly lit surroundings. He was in a large room, with a high ceiling. He could just make out the cage like structure in the midle of the room, as well as two dead security guards with their chest's ripped out, lying in a growing puddle of mixed blood. suddenly he heard Data's voice. It was a very soft, yet dark voice.
"What did you do to the Sheep Clarice?"
The End!!!