CONCERNING FLIGHT
Episode 79
Part C

The character "Da Vinci" is a holographic character. I omit mention of his holographic nature to avoid having to constantly denote him using the long and unwieldy term "Hologram Da Vinci".

 

Da Vinci seizes the device. "Be careful! They have found a way to harness the energy of a thunderstorm and to expel it with great force."

Tuvok and Janeway exchange a look, as they listen to Da Vinci tell them about a phaser, whose workings they know about better than he does.

Da Vinci: "A pistole that shoots not a lead ball but a bolt of lightning."

He demonstrates on an object on the other side of the Workshop.....

He fires at it and it dematerialises.

Janeway: "I'd like to meet this patron of yours." Da Vinci: "And so you shall, this very evening, but I caution you. He is as ruthless as a Borgia."

Tuvok takes the phaser but Da Vinci takes it from his hand.

Chakotay: "First Officer's log, Stardate 51392.7. Though we've yet to hear from the Captain and Tuvok, Paris and Neelix have returned from their mission to the southern continent with some disturbing evidence." The picture shows USS Voyager orbiting the planet.

In Voyager's Briefing Room, Paris, Neelix and Chakotay are with an alien. On the table are Starfleet items - a phaser rifle and a tricorder.

Chakotay: "Who sold you these things?"

Alien visitor crossly to Paris: "I didn't come here to be interrogated. You told me you have a warp coil to trade." Paris: "I said you could talk with Commander Chakotay. I didn't say he'd necessarily do business with you." Alien visitor: "Well, this is a waste of my time."

Chakotay: "I agree. There's the door." Alien visitor, not expecting that, instead expecting Chakotay to try to negotiate a trade: "What?!" Chakotay: "Goodbye." To Neelix: "Make sure he doesn't get lost on the way out." Neelix rises to do so.

Alien visitor: "No, no, no, no, wait, wait! His name is Tau. He controls the seventh province in the north."

Paris observes how Chakotay has managed to obtain the alien's co-operation.

Chakotay: "He sells weapons and technology." Alien visitor: "Yes." Chakotay: "Which he confiscates from passing ships." Alien visitor: "Yes, using his translocator device, which he also stole. It's made him a rich man." Chakotay: "There are a few items I'd like to get back. Where can I find him?" Alien visitor: "I deal with a go-between. I've answered enough of your questions. Let's talk about that warp coil. I'm looking for something that-" Chakotay: "You can keep what you've got. We'll call it even."

Alien visitor: "This was a waste of my time." He collects the items from the table and starts to leave.

Chakotay: "Not really." Fingering the Starfleet uniform, which is the scarlet one of command, the same division colour as Chakotay's: "These colours look good on you."

That evening, in the market place, Tau is talking with a potential buyer at a social gathering Tau is hosting to encourage commerce. As they look down from the upper level, Tau says: "Torpedoes, plasma grenades, particle beam rifles. I can even get a ceremonial spear if you're interested."
Alien buyer: "I am not interested."
Tau: "My point is, no matter what the weaponry, if you desire it, chances are I have it or I can get it."

They descend to the main level. Alien buyer: "Your prices are said to be unreasonable."

Tau: "Unreasonable is such a strong term. But if I can't sell to you, I'll sell to one of the other colonies in your system. A violent sort, your neighbours, aren't they? I'd hate to make your life difficult by offering my weapons to them. But if you don't give me a choice...."

A little distance away are Tuvok and Janeway. Tuvok: "There can be no doubt our computer processor is not in the city." Janeway: "Well, that certainly makes things a little more difficult."

Janeway: "Leonardo's new patron is quite the businessman." Tuvok: "We may have no choice but to do business with him." Da Vinci calls to her: "Catarina! Here are some friends I want you to meet."

Janeway: "Try to keep our hologram occupied." Tuvok: "But Captain-" Janeway: "Make small talk." Tuvok: "Vulcans do not make small talk."

Janeway: "Improvise."

As Da Vinci heads after the departing Janeway, Tuvok deftly intercepts him and takes the glass Da Vinci intended for her. Tuvok: "Thank you. That is very considerate." His words are stiff, but he is making an effort at socialising. Da Vinci: "Er Catarina, wait a minute!" Tuvok: "Mr da Vinci, how have you been?" Da Vinci: "Benissimo. Now if you'll pardon me-"

Tuvok: "I wish to speak with you." Da Vinci: "What about?" Tuvok, managing to get Da Vinci to walk with him in the opposite direction from Janeway: "About you. You are most intriguing."

Da Vinci: "Ah, grazie. You, signore Tuvok, are equally provocative. Where, exactly, are you from?" Tuvok, thinking quickly: "Scandinavia." naming somewhere Da Vinci has probably never been and does not know. Da Vinci: "So, what do the Scandinavians think of this New World?" Tuvok: "It is fascinating, and you are obviously enjoying it." Da Vinci: "Beyond words. Yes, Italy is already a fading memory. This city is full of mechanical marvels, the countryside alive with creatures strange and wonderful."

Tuvok: "I'm curious. How have you spent your time here?" Da Vinci: "I work on my inventions and my art, and I accompany the Prince when he goes to visit his great fortresses." Da Vinci continues: "Well, this er, fascinating conversation," taking a drink, "has left me as dry as Vulcan." Tuvok, from the planet Vulcan, is most interested: "Vulcan?" Da Vinci: "An island off Sicily. Have you been there?" Tuvok: "No." Da Vinci: "Pity." He moves away.

Janeway seats herself near Tau. Janeway: "Good evening."

Tau: "And to you. Enjoying yourself?" Janeway: "Not yet." Tau: "No? How can I change that?" Janeway: "By having exactly what I want and selling it to me at a low price." Tau: "The former's quite likely, but as for the latter I don't sell inexpensive merchandise."

Janeway: "I have a client who runs a colony about twenty parsecs from here. His computer is outmoded so I'm looking for a replacement." Tau: "A computer that could co-ordinate the systems of an entire colony. That's no small order, but I think I might have something that will interest you."

He takes her over to a large wall where there is a communications interface. "Hello, computer, and how are you today?" Computer: "All systems are functioning within normal parameters." Janeway: "Verbal interface. Impressive." Tau: "Computer, tell us your technical specifications." Computer: "Simultaneous access to 47 million data channels, transluminal processing at 575 trillion calculations per nanosecond." Tau to Janeway: "Interested?" Computer: "Operational temperature margins from 10 degrees kelvin to 1,790 degrees kelvin."

Tau: "I could sell it to you, but I could hardly let it go for anything less than a warship." Janeway fakes a disappointed look, which is what Tau would expect while negotiating a trade. "Or we could find something else in your price range."

Da Vinci's Workshop.
Janeway: "We should be looking for a stronghold or storage facility, any place Tau might keep the stolen technology."

Tuvok: "There are several possibilities all within a ten kilometre radius of the city. I must admit, your Mr da Vinci is an astute observer of nature. These maps couldn't be improved upon by Voyager's topographical computer."

Janeway: "He was a Renaissance man, Tuvok - interpreted, re-interpreted, deconstructed, fantasised about all through history."

Janeway: "Vasari thought he was an angel. Freud thought he had a problem with his mother."

Janeway: "James T. Kirk claimed he met him although the evidence is less than conclusive."

She beams as the Maestro comes down the stairs. Da Vinci: "Buongiorno, amici."

Janeway: "Good morning, Maestro. Did you sleep well?" They greet each other Italian style - she kisses his right cheek then his left.

Da Vinci: "Too well, I'm afraid. My apologies, Catarina. The morning is half gone. Nevertheless, the images that come before the eyes upon awakening can be inspiring." He shows them his latest drawing, which imaginatively incorporates the shape of one of Tuvok's ears.

Tuvok, looking at the drawing: "Indeed."

Da Vinci: "Catarina, where did I leave my silver tipped pen? I could swear it was here on-" He freezes as Tuvok reaches across and activates a control on the mobile emitter.

Tuvok: "Captain, we should return to Voyager. With my tricorder readings and Leonardo's maps we can use the ship's sensors to triangulate the exact location of our processor." Janeway: "We'll work on two fronts. You go back to the ship. I'll stay on the surface and keep working with Leonardo. He has access to Tau and he knows the territory."

Tuvok: "Inadvisable. Charming as your childhood hero may be the program was not designed for use outside the Holodeck." Janeway: "This is Leonardo da Vinci we're talking about. Simulation or not, he's one of the greatest creative minds in Earth's history." Tuvok: "The program reproduces the entire range of Da Vinci's behaviour - his genius and his notorious unreliability." Janeway: "We have an opportunity here, and I want to take advantage of it."

Tuvok gets out his combadge and clicks it. Via comms: "Tuvok to Voyager. One to beam up."

After he has gone, Janeway re-activates Da Vinci.

Da Vinci: "-the table. Where did he go?" Janeway: "Back to the ship."

Da Vinci: "The ship?! You mean the Portuguese are still in the harbour." Janeway: "No, not exactly, but they're nearby." Da Vinci: "Ah. Mad sea dogs, the Portuguese."