Here's another update! I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think! :)

Chapter Fourteen

The Stardate is 44502.7 and, at this very moment, the Enterprise-D is under attack. An energy field deployed from an unfamiliar class M planet has rendered all biological crew and civilians aboard the ship unconscious, leaving only Lt. Commander Data awake and aware to face the ongoing assault.

Seated at his ops station at the front of the bridge, the android is keenly aware that shield penetration is imminent. He knows, once the shields are compromised, Starfleet's Galaxy-class flagship, the living beings aboard her, the matter/antimatter core, the ship's non-encrypted records, its cutting-edge Federation technology – all would be vulnerable to anything from devastating energy weapons to hostile boarding parties.

And Data is not about to allow that risk to manifest.

"Computer," Data says, his pale fingers flying over his control console as he reinforces the internal shields around the warp core, enhances firewalls, encrypts unprotected files… "Engage Emergency Plan Zed-Zed-Alpha."

"Automated defense procedures initiated," the Enterprise computer responds. "Energy field strength increasing. Warning: shield penetration seventeen percent."

Data speaks without hesitation. "Computer, begin random fluctuation of shield frequency and modulation."

"Executed."

And, just like that, the attack on the ship has been stalled. While the computer randomly shuffles the modulation and frequency of the ship's energy shields, the enemy is forced to rapidly adjust and readjust their own energy field in an attempt to compensate. With one quick order, Data has bought enough time to leave his station and revive the crew…

"Gaaahhhhdd..." Geordi groaned, sinking down onto the shuttlestop bench and rubbing his face with his hands. "That was murder. I mean it, Data. That man put me through the proverbial meat-grinder. How did it go with you?"

The engineer glanced at the stone-still android seated beside him and gave his arm a little nudge. "Data?" he tried again, then sat back and sighed. "Yeah... I guess it went pretty bad, huh..."

"Geordi," Data said, blinking once, then turning his head to face his friend. "Apologies if I seem distracted. I have been going over the events of the crash in my mind."

"Oh...Data, no," Geordi said. "Don't do that to yourself."

But Data shook his head, his gaze distant and his brow deeply furrowed.

"Why did I not think to remodulate the shield frequency?" he said. "I had done so before to great effect. Looking back, it seems so simple a solution. One command to the computer, and the Enterprise could have been saved. The Klingon ship could have been captured rather than destroyed, its mercenary crew brought to face justice for their actions against us. Against you…"

"Data, it's no good second-guessing after the fact," Geordi said tiredly. "We did what we could in the moment. Concentrate on that. Brooding over what-ifs will only keep you up at night."

"Perhaps Captain Bryce is correct," Data said, staring up at the heavy clouds. "Our crew had grown complacent. Arrogant."

"Data, please..." Geordi winced, pinching his nose under his VISOR. "Let's not—"

"Do you remember, Geordi, our first mission to Farpoint Station?" Data said. "Dr. McCoy came aboard to tour the new Enterprise-D, and I had the honor to serve as his guide. As he was preparing to leave, he said to me, 'Well, this is a new ship. But she's got the right name... You treat her like a lady. And she'll always bring you home.' He told me to remember that, Geordi, and I promised him I would."

Geordi's jaw tightened and he turned his head away. Data sniffed in a rough breath and swallowed hard.

"We failed her, Geordi," he croaked. "We failed the Enterprise."

Geordi sighed through his nose. "Listen, Data," he said. "Captain Bryce has to play the Devil's advocate. He has to anticipate what the prosecution will do and prepare us for their attacks on our decisions, our actions, and our integrity. That doesn't mean we—"

"But, he was right, Geordi," Data insisted, his golden eyes puffy with tears. "If I had been more diligent, less distracted by emotion, I may have recalled—"

"Uh uh, don't start that," Geordi said. "You're not alone in this. Remember, pal - those damn Klingon kidnappers hacked my VISOR to spy on the Enterprise." He tapped the silvery device with his finger. "If I'd thought to put this blasted thing through a deep diagnostic after those bastards finally returned me to the ship, if I hadn't been satisfied with just the medical scan, maybe I would have caught the piggyback frequency they were using. Maybe I could have shut their little operation down before they spotted our shield modulation on my engineering panel. After all, my VISOR had been hacked before - several years ago, by Romulans working with a Klingon agent. Why didn't that misadventure spring to mind the moment those photon torpedoes started ramming into the ship, huh?"

Data tilted his head. "I do not know."

"It's because I'm human, Data," Geordi said. "It's because our minds don't work that way - especially in moments of extreme stress. When those photon torpedoes hit, there wasn't time to think back and run comparative analyses with past missions. All we could do was react - to face the challenge of the moment to the best of our ability. That's what we did, and that's what the record shows. Stick to that, and we'll make it through this tribunal just fine. I promise."

Data propped his chin on his folded hands and frowned.

"Perhaps," he said quietly. "Nevertheless, there is a strong aspect of truth in what Captain Bryce said. We are here because we deserve to be here. And, while I appreciate your optimism, my friend, I cannot help but feel that the outcome of the tribunal remains quite uncertain. We may be facing disgrace and demotion, perhaps even discharge. Yet, there are worse fates. Our presence here may not be in vain."

Geordi furrowed his brow over his VISOR. "What are you getting at?"

"Tilly Tillingham lost his life," Data said, rising to his feet. "Dilly Gherkin faces a murder charge. It may not be within our power to save our own careers. That decision lies with the tribunal. But we can solve this mystery, Geordi, and bring the true killer to justice."

"Well," Geordi said, getting up to stand beside him. "I'm not ready to give up on salvaging my career just yet. But, you do make a good point. Do you think there's still time to join Tasha and Ned at the track?"

"We can find out," Data said, and slapped his comm badge. "Data to Tasha. Tasha, please respond."

Receiving only silence, Data shot his friend a questioning look.

Geordi put a hand on the android's arm. "She might still be mad," he said. "Let me try."

"La Forge to Yar," he said, then waited a few beats. "Tasha? Tasha, it's Geordi. Tasha, come in."

"She is not responding," Data said anxiously, his whole face tight with worry. "Geordi, something is wrong!"

To Be Continued...

References Include - TNG: Clues (some direct quotes), Encounter at Farpoint (some direct quotes), The Mind's Eye; Star Trek: Generations

Thanks so much for reading and for your reviews! Next Time: the mystery continues as new clues to Dilly's past are revealed! Stay Tuned! :D