Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [74]
Instantly shedding despair of Riker’s news, McCoy came to life and found the nimbleness in his ancient fingers to poke Spock in the ann. “A CST! Give you any ideas, Spock, ol’ man?” “I beg your pardon?”
“Double-hulled, industrial, strong enough to defend herself, but doesn’t attract much attention? Get it?”
“Ah “Spock felt his brows flare. Decades ago he may have been embarrassed, but such social pressures were long withered from disuse. “Yes… conveniently unprovoking, yet combat-ready… possibly, Doctor!”
McCoy turned gingerly to Picard. “See if you can get ‘era to stop! Pull ‘em over on a traffic violation or something!”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, Doctor” the captain said as he watched the helm console from where he stood. “The CST is on an approach vector. They’re reducing speed.” “Captain” Data reported, “Saskatoon is hailing us.”
“Mr. Data, go ahead and give us ship to ship,” Picard ordered. “Aye, sir. Frequencies open.”
“This is Captain Picard, Saskatoon. Do you have a problem?”
“What a relief that we found you before you moved on! I’ve got to speak to Ambassador Spock.”
Spock wondered if he had heard incorrectly, though he knew that was unlikely. He had been cautious to keep his
whereabouts private. Who was this CST commander that he could pierce top security?
Glancing at Spock, obviously surprised that anyone else knew, Picard sedately required, “Identify yourself, please.”
“This is Lieutenant Commander Eric Stiles. Is Ambassador Spock there? It’s an emergency.”
Chapter Fourteen
COMMANDER STILES APPEARED in the turbolift within ten minutes of the first message, instantly flooding Spock with nostalgia for the young man he had once counseled, for today there appeared on the upper bridge another kind of young man altogether. His blond hair slightly darkened to an ashy shade, and the beard he had grown while in captivity was missing. His face had lengthened to a manful form, lacking the baby-fat of the twenty-one-year-old, and his hairline had changed. He looked like a wizened echo of the boy who had stormed the embassy.
Hesitating only an instant, as if unsure whether to come down the starboard ramp or the port ramp, Eric Stiles virtually ran to the command deck.
“Commander Stiles,” Captain Picard greeted. “It’s a pleasure.” Stiles said. “Sorry, Captain. I’m sorry to barge in …. ” Riker reached for Stiles’ hand and shook it. “I remember your return from captivity, Mr. Stiles. I was in the audience on board the Lexington. It’s a privilege to have a Medal of Valor winner visit us-” “Thanks.” Stiles turned instantly to Spock, and it was as if they had spoken only yesterday. “I’ve got a problem. And I think I can help you with yours. Can we talk alone?” How odd.
Stiles’s eyes were filled with complexity. The years sheared away between them and once again Spock was speaking candidly with the frightened boy who so needed the lifeline of an experienced voice sounding around him. Yet there was more.
Captain Picard gestured to the port side. “My ready room, Ambassador. Help yourselves.”
“Manna from heaven,” McCoy uttered, stating. “Spock! A Romulan royal nowhere near any other Romulans! And you don’t believe in luck!”
“Yes, I do,” Spock fluidly contradicted. ‘`This is most startling. You remain certain that your cellmate was a member of the Romulan royal family?”
“Absolutely, And if he’s still alive and you help me go get him, you’ll have an uncontaminated member of the royal family.” “How the devil do you know about that?” McCoy raved. Stiles blinked. “Well… you’ve had your contacts searching all over the Romulan Empire for an isolated member of the family… I’ve got a few contacts too… y’know, Medal of Valor and all… you get some connections, even if you don’t want them …. “
McCoy blew a breath out his nostrils. “What’s it take to keep a secret in this galaxy?
Spock turned to him. “This is troubling. It means the news is leaking out.”
‘`This is the part that hasn’t leaked out!” Stiles quickly told them. “I haven’t told anybody