Double Helix 06_ The First Virtue - Michael Jan Friedman [18]
Picard held the image in his mind for a moment-the long gray face, the mobile tail, the bright ruby eyes fastened on Tuvok’s implacable visage. Simenon would no doubt consider it a personal challenge to get some kind of rise out of the ensign.
The captain glanced at his second officer again. “See you back on the Stargazer, Mr. Crusher.”
“Aye, sir,” said the commander. Then he tapped his comm badge. “Crusher to transporter room. Two to beam up.”
“Ready, sir,” came the response.
“Energize,” Crusher ordered.
Almost instantly, the commander and Tuvok were enveloped in the shimmer and sparkle of the transporter effect. A moment later, they were gone as if they had never been there in the first place.
Nodding approvingly, Picard tapped his own comm badge. “Stargazer, this is the captain,” he said.
“Asmund here,” came the voice of his efficient young helm officer. “I trust you’re making progress, sir?”
“A bit,” Picard told her. “Ensign Tuvok and Commander Crusher have beamed back up. As I noted before I left the ship, Commander Ben Zoma and I will stay down here in the-“
“Gladiator pit,” Ben Zoma quipped with a hint of a smile.
“-Benniari’s Grand Council Chamber,” Picard continued evenly, without missing a beat.
He glanced at his first officer. Ben Zoma had a sometimes inconvenient sense of humor, but he was a damned fine first officer. The captain didn’t begrudge him a witticism now and then.
“Acknowledged, sir,” said Asmund.
“Picard out,” said the captain.
Chapter Five
“RECORD MESSAGE,” SAID JACK CRUSHER, leaning back in his chair.
“Recording,” came the response from his workstation.
Crusher smiled at the monitor screen, imagining his wife’s face there instead of a Starfleet insignia. “Hi, honey. It’s me. I hope everything’s working out for you and Wesley.”
The commander hated like the dickens to talk to a computer screen. Unfortunately, it was the only way he could get a message to Beverly, so he put up with it.
“We’re out here in the Debennius system,” he said, “trying to stop a run of terrorist attacks that are bringing a couple of species called the Melacron and the Cordracites to the brink of war. My job is to check out a theory that some third party is responsible for the attacks-presumably, someone who wants that war to happen.”
Crusher knew he didn’t have much time. After all, the captain wanted results-and quickly-and the fact that his shift had ended an hour ago was hardly an excuse.
“I’m working with a Vulcan named Tuvok, who’s had some experience in this neck of space. He’s a little stiff-not unexpected, I know-but deep down, he seems like a good guy. A family man, too. I told him my idea about bringing families aboard a Starship and he seemed to like it.”
The commander recalled Tuvok’s reaction and smiled to himself. It had given him a good feeling.
“I’ve never really had a lot of contact with Vulcans. Few people have. You know … they keep to themselves a lot.” He shrugged. “But I like this guy. I think if he sticks around a while, we could become friends.”
The Starfleet insignia on the screen stared back at Crusher, despite his attempts to see his wife there instead. It seemed to be reminding him that he had work to do.
“Got to go now,” he said with a sigh, “but I’ll send you another message as soon as I can. Love you, honey. And give Wes a hug for me. Tell him his daddy can’t wait to see him.”
This was the part the commander hated the most. However, he managed to get it out before the lump formed in his throat. Guess I’m getting better with practice, he told himself.
“Bye, Bev,” he concluded.
Crusher instructed the computer to end the message and send it with the next subspace packet intended for headquarters. Then he got up from his chair and headed for the door.
The lounge awaits, he mused.
The sound of a gong filled the council chamber, then died.
Sitting in a seat on the second level of the speaker’s platform, Picard watched First Minister Culunnh