P: |
We seemed to be in pretty well shielded in, Doctor.
|
Cr: |
No exits?
|
P: |
Not that I can see.
|
Cr: |
If you find one, go.
|
P: |
Oh, no. Tied(?) my company already. Beverly, Beverly.
|
Cr: |
I'm tired. I need to sleep. Woke up too early.
|
P: |
Talk to me. Stay awake. Tell me something. Tell me about, uh... How
those roots... How did you know them this of value?
|
Cr: |
My grandmother.
|
P: |
Your grandmother was a doctor?
|
Cr: |
No.
|
P: |
Oh. She was the botanist, then.
|
Cr: |
No. She helped to colonize the beta three.
|
P: |
Tau beta three? That's such a tragedy. This is vile.
|
Cr: |
Yes. Once the medical supplies had run out, she had to use what was
at hand. So she learned all about roots and herbes, then taught it to me.
|
P: |
You were a part of that colony. I didn't know that. Then, there must be
a lot of things about you that I don't know.
|
Cr: |
Quite a few.
|
P: |
What? I've just met it is something odd. It's glowing.
|
Cr: |
What it is?
|
P: |
I don't know. It's covered up. Just... clearing away the dirt. It's
a view screen. It seems to still be operative. It's a tracking
device of some kind.
|
Cr: |
Tracking what?
|
P: |
There are three moving indicators, possibly the away team.
|
Sa: |
Beautiful, isn't it? It's the central piece of the whole unit.
|
Cr: |
Who's that?
|
P: |
Projection. It's the automated salesman who greeted us on the Enterprise.
What unit?
|
Sa: |
Privy eco purpose 607. Our proudest achievement. The ultimate weapon
system technology.
|
P: |
Is that what's behind the attack on my people?
|
Sa: |
Impressive demonstration, isn't it?
|
P: |
Demonstration? It tried to kill us.
|
Sa: |
Versatile, powerful, and easy to use. The 607 does it all. Its various
modules can gather information, neutralize ground personnel, even
destroy enemy space vessels.
|
P: |
The Enterprise. It's one of the things after my ship. Tell me.
|
Sa: |
Of course, I can tell you. I am programmed to answer any and all questions
about the unit. I can talk terms, arrangement for delivery.
Whatever you need.
|
Cr: |
It doesn't understand anything other than what it's peddling.
|
Sa: |
The 607 represents the state of the art in dynamic adaptive design. It
learns from each encounter and improves itself.
|
P: |
So, what we dread? Where're its creators? Where's the people of Minos?
|
Sa: |
Once unleashed, the unit is invincible. The perfect killing system.
|
P: |
Too perfect. In proof of fool, your own creation destroyed you.
What was that noise?
|
Sa: |
The units analyzed its last attack and constructed a new stronger
deadly weapon. In a moment, it will launch that weapon against
the targets on the surface.
|
P: |
Abort it.
|
Sa: |
Why would I want to do that? It can't demonstrate its abilities unless
we let it leave the nest.
|
Da: |
They are down there, sir. Let's create some other way.
|
Ta: |
If Data's calculations are correct, the next one will(?) show up
in two minutes.
|
R: |
Captain, did you hear me?
|
P: |
Yes, we are here.
|
R: |
Are you all right?
|
P: |
Dr. Crusher's seriously hurt. We can't contact the Enterprise.
The communicators are out.
|
R: |
Yes, our communicators are out too.
|
P: |
Those devices are a part of a system located down here. And another one
is about to be released. Watch yourself.
|
Ta: |
We know Captain.
|
R: |
It's too far down. There's nothing to hold on to this. No way to
climb down.
|
Ta: |
I'm surprised either of them survived.
|
Da: |
I can do it, Commander.
|
R: |
How?
|
Da: |
Jump.
|
R: |
Data. It's over 10 meters.
|
Da: |
11.75, sir.
|
Ta: |
Data! You may be sturdy, but you're not indestructible.
|
Da: |
I believe I can safely traverse the distance.
|
R: |
Captain. Data is going to join you down there.
|
P: |
Be my guests. Data.
|
Da: |
At your service, Captain.
|
Ta: |
We'd better to find the defense position. If Data is right...
|
R: |
He usually is.
|
Ta: |
... we are going to have company any minutes now. And this time,
I don't know how we're going to stop it.
|