Double Helix 06_ The First Virtue - Michael Jan Friedman [81]
“Thereby endangering not only our mission, but the Stargazer as well,” the Vulcan finished. “I can see where an individual of your species might reach that conclusion.”
“Let’s not bring species into this,” Crusher told him.
“However,” Tuvok went on, undaunted, “what you fail to consider is that we, our mission and indeed this entire sector were already very much at risk. It was only by applying native ingenuity that we were able to remove ourselves from Abbis’s grasp and eventually turn failure into success.”
The commander frowned and wagged a finger at him. “Uh-uh. You don’t get off that easily. You still had no idea how Abbis would react.”
“On the contrary,” said the Vulcan, “I had a very good idea. Remember, I had previously experienced mental contact with the Indarrhi-a link which permitted me to search his mind even as he was searching mine. As a result, I had come to know Mendan Abbis through his associate’s impressions of him, and therefore could predict with reasonable certainty how our captor would react to my ploy.”
Crusher sighed and shook his head. “I should know better by now than to argue with a Vulcan.”
Tuvok shot a look at him. “For once,” he commented, “I find myself agreeing with you.”
The commander smiled. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.”
The Vulcan maintained his composure, despite an inexplicable impulse to smile. “It is a deal,” he said.
Jack Crasher basked in the grins of his beautiful bride and his impish baby son. “And since our rendezvous with the Wyoming was so close to Earth,” he continued, “I saw my chance and booked some time on subspace.”
“You couldn’t have been the only one,” said Beverly.
“That’s true,” the commander agreed. “But rank has its privileges.” He shrugged. “Actually, I didn’t take any more time than anyone else with family in the sector-I just went first.”
His wife chuckled and shook her head. “You’re always thinking of others, aren’t you?”
“Right now,” Crasher told her, “I’m thinking about you. And about Wes. And about how much I miss the two of you.”
Beverly sighed. “Any prospect of shore leave?”
“None right now,” he said. “But you never know. Just keep hoping.” He paused. “Honey, there’s something I want to tell you about.”
She must have sensed something in his voice, because her eyes narrowed. “Is something wrong, Jack?”
“No,” the commander said, “nothing like that.”
Then he brought her up to date about his mission on Debennius VI. He started with the explosive diplomatic situation the Stargazer had sailed into and proceeded through the beginning of his adventures with Tuvok.
“Sounds dangerous,” Beverly said, clearly none too thrilled about the idea but resigned not to say too much about it.
“Maybe a little,” Crasher conceded. “But the worst part…”
She looked at him. “Yes?”
“Was at a place called The House of Comfort.” And he went on to tell his wife all about it.
The commander wasn’t sure what reaction he expected-but it wasn’t the one he got. When he had finished with his description of what happened in the bathhouse, Beverly broke into peals of laughter-so much so that little Wesley gaped at her, startled.
“Jack,” she exclaimed when she was able to catch her breath, “that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!”
“It is?” he blurted. “I mean… of course it is. Absolutely. That’s why I… er, wanted to share it with you, because it’s so funny. And you’re not… upset or anything, right?”
His wife looked at him askance. “You mean… am I angry that my husband was willing to go to any length in that place to get the information he needed?” She thought about it for a moment “Yes, I guess I am a little angry. But you were doing your duty, Jack.”
“That’s right,” Crusher confirmed.
“And for a very worthy cause.”
“Right again,” he told her.
“And if our positions were reversed