Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [50]
If Baldwin had been there he could probably have cleared up some of this, but he wasn’t, and wishing would not make it so. It was easy to think of him as a casualty of his own deeds, but Picard saw no way that the virus could have anything to do with either the capricious speed of the ship or the spell of sleep that had fallen over selected passengers and crew. Then Picard realized he was not using all his resources.
He raised his voice and said, “Lieutenant Shubunkin.”
“Here, Captain.”
“Please come to the bridge immediately.”
“Now, Captain? Without Baldwin to help me analyze this data, my time is extremely valuable.”
“Now, Shubunkin,” Riker said.
Sounding slightly miffed, Shubunkin said, “Aye, Commander. Now.”
Riker sat down and pulled his tunic straight. He and Picard said nothing. Wesley turned around and said, “Sir, do you think the natives of Tantamon Four have something to do with the warp speed?”
Picard said, “That’s what we’re hoping Lieutenant Shubunkin will tell us.”
Shubunkin arrived on the bridge, huffing and puffing with his own importance. When he saw the stony looks on the faces of Picard and Riker, he calmed down and said, “How can I help you, Captain?”
“Sit down, Lieutenant,” Picard said, and indicated the seat normally filled by Counselor Troi.
Shubunkin sat.
Riker said, “Lieutenant, the Enterprise is no longer on course for Memory Alpha.”
“But—” Shubunkin began. He stopped when Riker held up one hand.
Riker said, “We are cruising back to Tantamon Four at warp eight. The thing that makes this odd is that our warp engines are no longer engaged.”
“Isn’t that impossible?”
“Yes, it is.”
Picard saw that Riker was enjoying baiting Shubunkin, just as he’d enjoyed arguing with him at that first dinner. Riker did not suffer pomposity gladly. However, in this instance, perhaps more could be accomplished by being direct. Picard said, “We don’t know how it’s being done. Is it possible the natives on Tantamon Four are responsible?”
“Why them?”
“We’re going to Tantamon Four,” Picard said. “Maybe they want something on the Enterprise. Perhaps they want the ship itself.”
The idea obviously came as a shock to Shubunkin. He frowned. He looked at the viewscreen. Anything not to be looking at Picard and Riker. Then he met their eyes and said, “I’d just be guessing. Why not ask Baldwin?”
“We’re asking you,” Riker said.
Shubunkin drew himself up and became very professional. He said, “I’d have to say no. Despite the argument that you saw, Captain Picard, Baldwin and I agree on many things. One of them is the primitive nature of the Tantamon Four natives.”
Picard said, “The Orma seem to be primitive, but they have enormous telekinetic powers. They carry their technology in their brains.”
Shubunkin shook his head and said, “I don’t think that’s the case on Tantamon Four. I don’t think Baldwin thinks so. By the way, where is Baldwin?”
“Sleeping,” said Picard. He explained what had happened as far as he understood it.
“No,” said Shubunkin. “That is not the doing of the Tantamon Four natives.”
Picard had expected that, and Shubunkin’s comment gave him a certain satisfaction. Nothing else seemed to make sense. He said, “What about the teardrop ship?”
“What about it?”
“Could something on that ship be controlling the Enterprise or the people aboard?”
“In what way?”
“We were hoping you could tell us,” Riker said.
Shubunkin stood up and said, “Despite what you may think of me, sir, I’m good at my job. But I am not a magician. I’ve had access to Baldwin’s infowafer for less than a week. There are many things about the teardrop ship I have not yet discovered.”
“Please, Lieutenant,” Picard said, “I assure you we all have the highest regard for your abilities.”
“Thank you, Captain. Will there be anything else?”
Riker said, “In Professor Baldwin’s infowafer, is there any mention of a computer virus?”
Still a bit stiffly,