A Call to Darkness - Michael Jan Friedman [105]
“You’re too modest,” remarked Riker. “Using marshals to gather the Mendel survivors into two groups-and to stand guard over them, so they’d each be in a predetermined place when we went to beam them up… that was nothing short of brilliant, Data.”
For once, the android was speechless. Picard almost thought he could see Data blush-though it might have been a trick of the light and his officer’s hair, which was still bright red.
The captain decided that it would be merciful to change the subject. He turned to Pulaski. “I trust your efforts are continuing to meet with success?”
The doctor nodded. “That gruel really packs a wallop. Less than eight hours after ingestion, Fredi and Vanderventer were not only feeling better-they were completely free of the bacterium. And of course, now that we’ve isolated the antibiotic, we’ve been able to cut that time in half by injecting it directly into the bloodstream. It won’t be long before the last of our patients is on his or her feet.”
“What about the memory restorations?” asked Geordi. Naturally, that was a subject of some immediacy to him.
“No problems there either,” said Pulaski. “We’re just going slowly so as not to make any mistakes. The optic nerve is a delicate thing-since we’re stimulating it directly, we have to exercise caution.”
“Also,” said Troi, “we cannot merely hook everyone up to machines and tell them to hold still. These are people who have been traumatized over and over again in a short period of time-as much by their sudden appearance on the Enterprise as by anything else. They must be emotionally prepared for the restoration of their memories and the brief period of confusion that precedes it.” She glanced at Worf with a little half smile. “Or else they’re liable to try to destroy the very apparatus that helped them.”
The Klingon scowled and looked around, daring anyone else to comment on the incident. No one did.
“Actually,” Pulaski continued, “the more troublesome procedure will be the removal of the language-translation implants that the Klah’kimmbri were thoughtful enough to lend us. But there’s no harm in leaving them in until we’ve taken care of our other problems.”
Picard grunted. “Not the least of which is what to do about the numerous representatives of Federation worlds that still toil under the A’klahn mantle.”
“Completely unaware of who they are and where they come from,” said Geordi.
“We can’t just leave them here,” maintained Riker. “It’s our responsibility to set them free. To give them back what the Klah’kimmbri took from them.”
“I agree,” said Picard. “But how?”
Worf placed his elbows on the table. Apparently, he had been waiting for someone to pose that question.
“I say we attack,” the Klingon advised. “Quickly-before the Klah’kimmbri can formulate a strategy of their own. We have enough sensor information now to determine where their planetary defense installations are. We do not need to see them in order to hit them. And once the Klah’kimmbri are defenseless, they will have no choice but to release the conscripts to us.”
Riker shook his head. “We can’t just go in there shooting. It would be an act of war. And as much provocation as the Klah’kimmbri have given us, war is to be avoided at all costs.”
Provocation indeed, thought Picard. But of course, his first officer was right.
“Violence is not an option here,” he confirmed. “Nor, I am afraid, is negotiation. The Klah’kimmbri High Council has demonstrated its reluctance in that regard.”
“If only we could restore the conscripts’ memories,” said Pulaski. “Imagine what kind of chaos it would cause; the marshals would be swamped by a rebellion of that magnitude. The Council would almost have to deal with us-to have us remove our people before they posed a threat to the general peace.”
“There is a way to do that,” said Worf. His suggestion was simply put: “Fire the phasers.”
Picard was about to rebuke him for repeating his earlier suggestion when the Klingon’s meaning dawned on him.
“Of course,” said Data, straightening. “A barrage calculated to light up the sky over