The Search for the Lost Documents

Chapter One

"We are at war and our defenses are failing. Those aliens are more advanced than us. We need you and two selected crew members to journey to the edges of the universe, if necessary, to find the advance technology to beat those mysterious aliens," said the general to Capt. Picard. " "Yes sir," the captain responded. " I will take Data and Geordi La Forge with me." "As long as you get the information, take whoever you want with you. Keep the rest of the crew here. They will be needed to fight," the general said. "Very well," Picard responded. Later, on the Enterprise, Geordi was questioning the general's opinion. "I don't see why the others had to stay to fight. They could help grab the documents that we need." "The more people, the better. If we do manage to get enough data, but everyone is dead, then it would have all been for nothing," said Data, calculating the possibilities that could happen in the endless expanse of space. " Strap in everyone, we'll find a planet sooner or later," said Captain Picard anxiously.

"Well, here we are. Our best bet of finding any technology to beat the aliens," Picard said after a while. "We are landing soon, but be cautious. We don't know who or what lives on the planet. Prepare for anything." Later, on the planet, which was later named Traxacoriplus, the crew wandered wearily around the planet's surface, ready for anything. "Look, Picard," Data said. "Inhabitants. They look like people. Do you think they're dangerous?" "I don't know, but be careful," Picard responded. They approached the planet's inhabitants. Suddenly, the savage inhabitants attacked them! The crew ran for safety, but Data was caught in the hands of the alien species. Then, the people tried to eat Data! "We can't let them kill Data!" Picard shouted as he and La Forge ran to help him. "Use any means necessary to free him! Ignore the Prime Directive!" Picard yelled, in a rare moment of defiance. They defeated the people, who ran off in a frenzy. "They are people; however, they must be cannibals," Picard noted. "We should get to safety," Data suggested. "But your injuries," Geordi noted, worried. "I can walk, but I will need repairs soon," Data replied. "Then it's settled,"Picard said. "We search for the information immediately."

"Here we are," Picard said after a few hours. "Our best chance of finding any information on the technology of our enemies and how we can counter them." They were standing at the foot of a tall arch with a hallway leading to an enormous oak door. They walked up to the oak door and heaved it open. Geordi dragged Data into the room and tended to him while Picard went exploring. An hour later, he returned and said, "This place looks like a library. Let's look for anything that will help us." Picard and La Forge went searching while Data nursed his wounds. "These books seem like books from the 1990's." They wandered to the next aisle. "This aisle seems to be filled with books from the 2000's." "I'm noticing a pattern here," Geordi said. "These books seem to be ordered by 10 years per aisle. That means if we go close to the end, we should be able to find the books on at least the blueprints for the technology the aliens use." "Good idea!" Picard exclaimed. As they neared the end of the shelves, they spotted a crew of the cannibalistic guards. "Quickly, hide!" Picard whispered as they hid behind a stack of shelves. "While we wait for the squad to pass, let's look at the books in this aisle, but be careful!" warned the captain. "We don't know how many more guards are in this place." They skimmed through the books, always keeping an eye on the exits in the aisle. "I found something," Geordi declared. "It looks like a blueprint for a weapon the aliens were using on us. The shelf says that this technology is based in the 2290's to 2300's." " That weapons tech was way more advanced than ours in that same time period," Picard noted. " What does the blueprint say the species that uses this tech is?" " There isn't a name, but there is a planet name: Omnicronious." "Oh, no," Picard said. " What is it?" Geordi asked. " That planet is home to the most deadly beings in the discovered universe: The Omicrons." "Why are they deadly?" Geordi asked. "They are centuries beyond our technology but prefer to use their weaker tech to fight their enemies. If they are using this primitive tech, they must think lowly of us," Picard responded. "I thought we were the most advanced beings in the discovered universe," Geordi stated. "No, they just say that so that the citizens don't panic. The real award for most advanced beings goes to the Omicrons. Now let's go. The guards have passed."

They advanced cautiously to the last aisle in the library. "Here we are," Picard said, stating the obvious. The aisle held all of the books from their time period so far. "Go get Data," Picard said to Geordi. "Be wary of any guards. We will need Data to absorb as much of the contents of these shelves as possible." Geordi went to grab Data from his spot at the entrance. As he approached, he noticed a squad of guards on patrol. He found a hiding spot in one of the aisles. However, the guards had already noticed Data. "What is that thing?" one of the guards asked. "It appears to be some sort of Android. That means we cannot eat it for our energy gain. It seems to be resting and regaining its strength because of some sort of injury. Now is our chance for a promotion. Take the Android captive, but be wary, this Android might not have come on its own," the lead guard cautioned. "Take it away," one of the guards commanded after they had tied Data up. Geordi watched all this from his hiding place in the book aisles. They had to save Data, and fast, because they were running out of time.

Data was taken through a secret doorway in the library. He could feel that his hands and feet were bound. Data was fighting unconsciousness as it was, so when a guard hit him, it did nothing to help his battle. He was violently shaken to full consciousness after being planted in a chair, and he opened his eyes. The room he had been taken to was extremely bright and small. The small squad of guards stood at attention on all sides of the room. Eventually, someone entered the room and started questioning Data. "Why are you here? Did you come with anyone else? If so, who did you come with?" and questions like that. Data remained silent. "Very well," the interrogator said. "If you won't talk willingly, we'll just have to make you talk. Take him to the torture chamber."

Picard waited patiently for a little while, but he eventually grew impatient and went to look for Geordi and Data. As he strode towards the place where Data used to be, he noticed that the Android wasn't there. He looked around. Where was Geordi? He surely could explain the mysterious disappearance. Eventually, he heard a familiar voice. "Captain Picard? Is that you?" "Yes, it is me, Geordi. But what happened to Data?" He was taken away," Geordi answered. "Did you see where he was taken?" asked Picard. "I didn't get a clear look, but it looks like they took Data through a secret door in the wall." "Can you show me where they went?" Picard asked. Geordi came out from his hiding place and led Picard to a wall with intricate carvings on it. "I think they took Data over here." "Now we just have to figure out how to open it," Picard stated. "I think I remember seeing them press on a part in the carving." They searched for a hidden button on the wall. "I think I found it!" Geordi exclaimed. He was pressing on a circular part in the strange, unreadable carvings. Geordi pressed down. The wall opened.

Meanwhile, Data was being tortured. He later recalled that he couldn't remember what exactly had happened to him. He remembered being beaten, then questioned, and when he wouldn't answer, they beat him again. This process was repeated several times. He kept hoping that one of the crew members would find him soon because even though he was an android, he could still feel pain. When the crew members did find him, Data was hanging onto a thread of life. He was battered, and many of his circuits were broken and smashed. He was unconscious but still "breathing" in his way. Picard and Geordi had to deal with Data's injuries before he was suitable to absorb information, but they made sure that they were out of sight when they did it. Data remembered little of the medical care supplied to him by Geordi and Picard, but he remembered it as the longest period that he had ever experienced with most of it in pain. He was later told that the process was only a few hours, but it still felt like a very long period of time.

After the process, when Data had recovered enough, he started absorbing as much data as possible. "We have to be careful," Captain Picard noted. "The guards seem to have figured out Data escaped. Their sentries are on high alert. Be extremely careful. They will eat on sight. Geordi, gather as many books as possible and Data, keep absorbing the information. We have very little time left, and we still have to get back and manufacture the weapons. I will do the same thing as Geordi, but first, I will sneak back to the ship and retrieve some bags to carry the books." "Okay Captain. Be careful out there," Geordi cautioned. "Don't let them even touch you. If you are spotted, just run." "Of course I will," Picard replied. Then he took off.