The Light by Jeff D. Jacques Page A

bit alarmed.
    â€œYou’ve gotta be kidding me,” Fabian said as he stepped forward and gawked at the old woman.
    Corsi decided that that pretty much summed up everyone else’s reaction as well.

Chapter
7
    â€œS age!”
    Sonya Gomez started as the guide’s voice rang out in the hall like a banshee’s call. In response, the conduits entwining the old woman brightened as though the power coursing through them was illuminated with the same light that was so prevalent in this underground world. And her blue eyes, still before now, turned to regard the group of people before her.
    â€œWhy do you come?” Sage asked in a strong commanding voice that belied her physical appearance. She directed her question at Gomez, as though sensing somehow that she was the leader, and Gomez felt somewhat unnerved by the old woman’s piercing gaze.
    â€œWe are from a Federation starship,” Gomez said, uncertain if “Sage” was the woman’s name or some sort of title. “We are explorers and came to this world to investigate the power that was draining from the ship above. We were not aware your society even existed. It was our belief that this planet was uninhabited.”
    â€œThis perception is in error,” Sage said, her diction more developed than that of their guide. Gomez wondered if this was a result of her union with the machine.
    â€œYes, we see that now,” Gomez said. “What you have accomplished here is very—”
    â€œYou cannot take away our power,” Sage said. “It allows for the growing of crops for food and gives us light where there is none. My people depend on it for their very survival. I will not allow you to take our power!”
    Gomez was glad they’d already decided not to cut the power outright, because it was an argument she wouldn’t want to engage in with this woman. “There’s no need to worry. We have no intention of shutting down your power. But there are other issues we must address. Above, within the vessel, there are power readings that may still be strong enough to attract evil entities that could consume your society.” Theoretically it was true, though she doubted the Borg would bother with these people if they came, because the only technology they had was the Borg’s own.
    â€œIt matters not,” Sage said. “Power is life. The Light is all.”
    â€œYes, I’m sure it is,” said Gomez. “But as I said, it is not our intention to—”
    â€œPower is life. The Light is all,” Sage said again, a little more forcefully this time. Clearly she had no interest in furthering the conversation.
    Gomez nodded respectfully at Sage, then drew her team together to confer. “What do you think?”
    â€œI think we’re at an impasse here,” Corsi said. “We’ve already decided not to shut them down, but she has no interest in listening to anything else we have to say, even the possibility of danger to her people. I don’t think there’s anything else we can do here.”
    Looking at P8 Blue, Gomez asked, “Pattie?”
    â€œI believe we should take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about these people. Perhaps we could ask our guide to give us a tour of the society they’ve built here. This Sage mentioned food crops; where are they, and how big are they? What kind of food is grown, and how is it grown? I’d be interested in seeing how extensive this underground world is.”
    â€œIt’s a shame Carol isn’t here,” Hawkins said. “I’m sure she’d love to explore this place.”
    Sonya didn’t doubt that, and she knew Hawkins hadn’t made the comment just because he and Abramowitz were romantically involved. This was exactly the sort of situation that the cultural specialist would jump at the chance to participate in. She loved finding out what made different cultures tick, and Gomez hoped