Free The Light by Jeff D. Jacques

transmission, so he would have been aware of any subsequent messages. Asking about it would make little sense, yet this was the third time in the past ninety minutes that he’d felt compelled to do so. He wasn’t sure if his anxiety was the result of his natural concern for his people or the presence of the Borg cube, which, admittedly, had proven to be no threat at all. He preferred to think it was the former.
    To distract himself from his worry, he looked to the rear of the bridge where Tev and Soloman continued to work side-by-side in relative peace. The pair appeared to be working well, conferring with each other as they researched relevant data on the interior of Borg cubes. Gold rose and made his way over to where they sat.
    â€œAnything to report, gentlemen?”
    Soloman opened his mouth to respond, but it was Tev who spoke. “Nothing of significance, Captain. Specialist Soloman was unable to locate any useful information in the logs made by Captain Picard’s crew on the occasions they boarded a Borg cube.” Gold noted that Tev mentioned the Bynar’s failure before his own. “And while Captain Janeway’s reports from the Delta Quadrant on Voyager ’s encounters are more significant, I have yet to find anything that would be of use to us on our particular mission. But there are still many more logs for me to look through.”
    Gold nodded. Kathryn Janeway’s crew in the Delta Quadrant had had an inordinate number of experiences with the Borg, and the intelligence already forwarded through to Starfleet Command via the Pathfinder project would keep the analysts there busy for years.
    â€œKeep at it,” Gold said. “Soloman, why don’t you help Tev with Voyager ’s logs, and maybe something will turn up faster.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Gold noticed Tev didn’t appear particularly enthused about that idea, but the Tellarite wisely kept quiet.
    â€œCaptain,” Shabalala said, “I’m receiving a message from the surface.”
    â€œFinally.” Gold joined the tactical officer at his post and nodded for him to proceed.
    â€œStevens to da Vinci .”
    Stevens? Gold had expected Gomez to report in, but evidently it couldn’t be helped. He hoped nothing had gone wrong. “Go ahead, Stevens.”
    â€œSir, we’ve discovered an underground society here, and they’re the ones who are using the power from the cube.”
    â€œSo those lifesigns Blue discovered were legitimate?”
    â€œYes, sir. They’re using the power to light their world, grow crops, and, basically, to sustain themselves. In fact, they pretty much worship the light.”
    Gold considered that and realized their mission plans needed to be modified. “Would Gomez agree, then, that just shutting the power off outright is no longer an option?”
    â€œYes, sir. Since communications are blocked beneath the surface, she sent me and Pattie back up to the cube with Hawkins and Kim to report in and try to find another option in the cube.”
    â€œUnderstood. Tev and Soloman are still looking for any information on Borg power systems that would apply to your situation, but so far nothing has jumped out.”
    â€œThat’s good to know, sir. We’ll figure this out one way or another.”
    â€œI know you will,” Gold said. They always did. “Where are Gomez and Corsi right now?”
    â€œThey’re taking a tour of the city, sir,” Stevens replied. “One of the natives extended the invitation, and the commander didn’t think it would be diplomatically sound to refuse.”
    â€œDoes she think these people pose any danger?”
    â€œNegative, sir, but she figured it would be a good way for her to learn more about the people here and how their society works.”
    â€œProbably true,” Gold said. “Proceed as ordered, Stevens, and have Gomez contact me when she returns to your