Boogeymen - Mel Gilden [76]
Wesley smiled and said, “Thank you, sir.”
They rode without incident to deck eleven. Air temperature and gravity seemed normal. Inside holodeck three Picard and Wesley found the same four overstuffed chairs along with Baldwin, La Forge, and a godlike being dressed in a pirate outfit. The being was tall and bronze and handsome. He had the noble bearing of someone who knew he had nothing to prove. Picard approached the being and said, “Pilgrim?”
“Yes.”
“You look different.”
“The Boogeymen are gone.”
“Yes. We can send you back to your ship aboard the infowafer.”
“We cannot leave. We have no pusher.”
Picard turned to Baldwin. “Eric,” he said, “you asked me to erase your name from Federation records. I can’t do that. But I am not without sympathy for your situation. For this reason, I make you a counter-proposal. The d’Ort’d need a pusher—a crew member to accelerate their teardrop ship to warp speed. They cannot return home without one.”
“You suggest I go with them?”
Picard said, “Is that such a dreadful alternative? Why did you go to the transporter room when you were running, if not to escape?”
After a moment of consideration Baldwin admitted, “Maybe you’re right.”
Picard said, “Realize, Eric, that I make this proposal not entirely for your benefit. I hope you will return to Federation space someday and teach us to train our own pushers.”
While Baldwin considered, Picard went on. “You are also the perfect choice to be our goodwill ambassador to the d’Ort’d.”
“You can’t make me an ambassador, Jean-Luc.”
“Not officially, no. But I can strongly suggest it.”
Baldwin didn’t say anything.
“I know what it is, Eric. You don’t like running out in the middle of a fight.”
“That,” Baldwin admitted, “and also, I’m only human. If I go with the d’Ort’d, it’ll be a long time before I see another one of my own kind.”
“Don’t go, then.”
“The d’Ort’d can’t get home without me.”
“Another moral dilemma,” Picard said.
“Baldwin must come,” Pilgrim said.
While they waited to see what Baldwin’s decision would be, Shubunkin arrived, a little breathless. “Everything works,” he said with some surprise.
Baldwin said, “Shubunkin, how would you like to take my place on Memory Alpha?”
“It would make my career.”
“Jean-Luc, call Starfleet and see if they’ll go for it. Why shouldn’t Shubunkin make some enemies of his own?”
Shubunkin blanched, but Baldwin smiled broadly.
“You’ve decided to go?” Picard said.
“Talk about moral dilemmas. After causing everybody so much trouble I guess I have to go.”
“You have to go,” Pilgrim said.
Picard said, “Computer, discontinue and save d’Ort’d program.”
The computer gave its auditory twinkle, and Pilgrim and his chairs disappeared. Except for living beings, the holodeck was now empty. Shubunkin stared at the space where Pilgrim had stood. “That was a d’Ort’d?”
Baldwin put a hand on Shubunkin’s shoulder and said, “Lieutenant, it’s a lot more complicated than that.”
Picard said, “Mr. La Forge, record the d’Ort’d on two infowafers. We will beam one of them down to Tantamon Four with Professor Baldwin; the other is for Lieutenant Shubunkin to study on Memory Alpha.”
“Aye, sir.” La Forge left.
Wesley said, “What about me, sir?”
“You were present at the beginning, Mr. Crusher. I thought it only fair that you be present at the end.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And, Ensign Crusher?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Next time you see fit to install an unorthodox program in the computer, make sure it can’t get loose.”
“Yes, sir.”
Later, back on the bridge, Shubunkin stood next to Counselor Troi taking everything in, not nearly so arrogant as he’d been when Picard first met him. The captain thought he might be considering what Baldwin had said about making enemies.
Picard said, “Transporter room two.”
“Here, Captain. Professor Baldwin is ready.”
“Good-bye,