Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [59]
“Sit down, Eric.”
Baldwin lit up that shy smile—one of the features, Picard suspected, that so endeared him to women—and came around the desk to sit down.
Picard settled behind his desk. He was glad to see that the fish in the tank on the other side of the room still appeared to be healthy. Its environment was controlled by the same systems that controlled life support on the rest of the ship. Picard suddenly thought of the canaries that used to be taken down into coal mines; because of their delicate constitutions they were the first to fall prey to poisonous gas. Seeing a bird fall gave the workers a good chance of getting out of the pit alive. Fancifully, Picard decided that as long as the fish was all right, the crew of the Enterprise still had the same chance as those miners.
Baldwin said, “Last time I was here, you accused me of installing a virus in your computer.”
“The evidence is overwhelming at this point, Eric.”
“Is it?” Baldwin was still trying to make light of the situation, but his voice shook.
“And the fact that in doing so you’ve broken any number of Federation laws is not important right now. What is important is for you to tell my chief engineer all you can about it.”
Baldwin was quickly losing his polish. Sounding a little shrill, he said, “What can that virus possibly have to do with—”
Picard interrupted. “Somehow your virus program is working in synergy with a program designed to create aggressive, warlike aliens on the holodeck. The resulting mess is destroying my ship.”
“I see,” Baldwin said. He began to nod and did not stop. His face took on the pained expression of a man who’d been made to confront an unpleasant reality. His breath came hard and fast, and his hands were all a jumble in his lap. He stood up and began to pace. “So I’m responsible for all your troubles.”
“Eric, please—”
“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to endanger anyone.” The calm, heroic Baldwin was entirely gone. Every part of him shuddered. He was agitated, nearly frenzied.
Trying not to feel guilty about prodding Baldwin into this fit, Picard watched him closely. Baldwin’s excitement was building to hysteria. Hoping for the best, Picard touched his insignia and said, “Counselor Troi to the captain’s ready room.”
“We have your ship now, Captain Crusher,” a Boogeyman voice said.
“I just wanted to disappear.” Baldwin clutched his face and cried.
“Eric, I …” Picard began, wondering what Troi would do if she were there.
Baldwin bolted from the room through the open door. Picard ran after him and almost caught him as he stepped into the forward turbolift. The door closed, nearly chopping Picard’s hands off at the wrists. He called, “Mr. Worf, security alert. Professor Baldwin is to be considered dangerous, most of all to himself.”
“Aye, Captain.” A few seconds later he said, “No response on any comlink channels.”
“We’ll have to catch him ourselves. Worf, Number One, Ensign Perry, come with me. Ensign Winston-Smyth, you have the bridge.”
Winston-Smyth looked horrified, but said, “Aye, sir,” and hurriedly turned to her Ops board.
The doors of the forward turbolift would not open and neither would the aft. Worf offered to pry the doors apart with his bare hands, but Picard was not sure even Worf would be able to perform such a feat. All Picard said was, “What is the good if no turbolift car is there?”
Worf growled but saw the logic of Picard’s question.
“The emergency gangway,” Riker said and headed for an emergency door between the battle bridge turbolift and the main viewscreen.
Picard said, “Number One.”
Riker, obviously in a big hurry, turned to look at Picard.
Gently, Picard said, “Number One, where are you going?”
“To find Baldwin.” Riker frowned, then smiled ruefully. He said, “He could be anywhere.” He tapped his insignia and said, “Computer, where is Professor Baldwin?”
Nothing came from the comlink.