Free Violations by Susan Wright Page B

two of the shunts that supply nutrient to the main banks were severed by the forcefield.
    The loss of nutrient may have caused some problems.”
    Torres argued, “That doesn’t explain why the neural networks are reacting as if the processor is still here.”
    “How can that happen?” Janeway asked.
    “Like isolinear chips, the neural networks are primarily a storage medium,” Kim tried to explain. He climbed up through the severed floor of the monitor room, sitting on the edge next to Janeway. “In the same way the nanoprocessors of isolinear chips enable them to receive and store data, the neural networks manage data configuration independent of LCARS control, processing it in a way that’s actually faster than the faster-than-light processors.”
    “The bioneural tissue can’t select operational responses,” Torres countered.
    “But somehow it’s responding to ODN input.” Kim winced at her glare.
    “Only it’s sending back nonsense signals. That’s what causes the system delays, with operations canceled because of orders from the main computer that conflict with the auxiliary computer and subprocessors.”
    “That’s why cutting the junction to the main core should have worked,” Torres insisted.
    Janeway examined the sharp edge of the severed bulkhead. “It looks as if the processor was removed with surgical precision.”
    Torres grudgingly conceded, “The mainframe was gamma-welded to the bulkhead, but it’s been sliced as easy as if it was crem-bi-lange.”
    “They knew what they were doing,” Kim agreed.
    Janeway surveyed the gooey remains of what used to be their main computer. “You know something, it doesn’t look like you need an engineer in here.”
    “No?” Kim asked.
    Torres was starting to look offended.
    “No.” Janeway undid the neck of her jacket. “What we need in here is a doctor.”
    Kim raised his head. “It is bioneural circuitry….”
    “With this damage, we’ll be lucky if we still have a doctor,” Torres reminded them.
    Janeway tried unsuccessfully to raise Kes on the sickbay frequency.
    Several sections reported that the medical technician had recently been in their area, administering the antidote to the crew members.
    Impatient with the archaic communication system, Janeway muttered, “I don’t know how captains did it in the old days.”
    “I guess it took a lot more time to get things done,” Torres said flippantly.
    “Maybe more time than you think.” Janeway opened her jacket all the way, then gestured for them both to follow her. “Come on—we’ve got five flights to climb.”
    They met Kes in the corridor outside sickbay. From her weary smile and the size of the portable medical unit, she was apparently returning from administering the antidote to the crew.
    “How is the doctor?” Janeway asked.
    “He seemed to be functioning once the power went back on. He insisted that I finish distributing the antidote.”
    The main room of sickbay was empty, but a clutter of padds and tricorders indicated the recent activity. Inside the examining room, Zimmerman was alone, working furiously over the empty table.
    “Quickly, Kes!” the doctor ordered, as soon as he caught sight of them. “I need a splatlian smear and the ion analyzer, right away. I’m having difficulty stabilizing his vital signs.”
    Kes drifted forward as he spoke, her confusion clearly growing as the doctor bent over the examining table. “Doctor, what are you doing?”
    “Ensign Navarro has suffered an ion-phase infusion.” The doctor injected hypospray into the area where a patient’s neck would be.
    “The rest of you will have to wait.”
    Janeway entered the examining room as cautiously as if there was a dangerous animal inside. “I suggest you run a self-diagnostic, Doctor.”
    His expression said more than words. “No time for that. All of you, get out of here! Can’t you see I’ve got an emergency on my hands?”
    “No, we don’t see that,” Janeway told him. “I