Signs from Heaven by Phaedra M. Weldon Page A

need a schematic. It would be unfortunate if we proceeded blindly and accidentally shut the generators off completely.”
    â€œYeah,” Fabian said, “that would be bad. I vote we don’t do that.” He looked at Scotty while nodding to the second tier. “Captain, what are those podiums for?”
    â€œI don’t know, lad. As far as we can tell, they’re observation posts.”
    Fabian was already moving up the steps to the center podium. He saw words along the upper left side of the flat, blank surface. They were raised from the material itself. The podium stood as high as his waist.
    He tapped his combadge. “Stevens to Faulwell.”
    â€œFaulwell here. I don’t hear us moving yet. Did you break something?”
    â€œNo, but what are these?” He scanned the relief into the tricorder and sent it to Bart’s padd.
    â€œArdanan letters.” He paused. “This is weird. It’s — oh, for the love of — ”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œEngineering kiosk system, orientation station.”
    Fabian nodded slowly. “Orientation station…”
    â€œDid that help you?”
    â€œYes—yes it did. Or at least I think it did.”
    â€œOkay, I’ve got exploring to do. Faulwell out.”
    Fabian considered what Bart and Carol had said about the Sentinels, as well as what Dr. Lense told him about the parasites. Orientation station sounded like a focal point—a main consol. Vanov said the Sentinels controlled the city’s functions.
    He didn’t hear anything, nor did he see anything other than the flat, glossy surface. No dials. No switch. Not even a monitor. In fact, the entire podium reminded him of the artifacts in color, shape, and makeup.
    Sarjenka came up the stairs, her expression quizzical. “Did you find something?”
    â€œDunno.” He looked at his hands and remembered what had happened in engineering when he’d touched the console there. “We’ll see.”
    She touched his left arm. “Look.”
    He looked where Sarjenka gestured. All of the Ardanan engineers were turned, facing the podium, their hands clasped together in front of them. “What are they staring at?”
    â€œYou.” She glanced at the podium. “I guess they’re waiting to see if you’re really a Sentinel.”
    â€œWon’t know if I don’t try.”
    â€œFabe, remember the theory I had, about stimulus making the parasites grow?”
    He was looking at the podium, studying its sides. “Um-hm.”
    â€œI know Dr. Lense doesn’t believe it’s a possibility, but I do. I’m not sure you should try and attempt anything.”
    He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. “Sarj, I’m here because I want to be. Because if the city isn’t halted, or moved, or destroyed, people will die below. I’m an engineer.” He shrugged. “Fixing things is what I do.”
    With a smirk he placed both his hands, palms down, on the surface of the podium.
    Nothing happened.
    â€œWell, I can’t say I’m surprised. How many Ardanan engineers have already touched these panels?” Sarjenka said.
    A light flashed in the center of the panel. Fabian stared at it. His hands grew warm as the light moved around the black surface, outlining his fingers. Once the light completed what Fabian suspected was a scan, the surface lit up in a mosaic masterpiece of color and light.
    The light traveled up into the air several inches before shifting away from Fabian. It spread itself up flat in the air in front of him before transforming itself into a colorful wire-framed grid. A holographic control center!
    Sarjenka gasped.
    Fabian looked at her. “You can see this?”
    She nodded, her eyes wide.
    Neat .
    â€œLad!”
    Fabian saw Scotty moving as quickly up the stairs as his frame would allow him. He was followed by Pattie, Lauoc, Krotine, and Tev. Dreena followed at a