Dragon's Honor - Kij Johnson [25]
“Can’t we just offer him protection outright?” Troi said.
Picard shook his head. “It would reflect poorly on his honor, he claims.” Picard deliberated in silence while Beverly administered her hypospray to Riker. “The one good thing,” he said finally, “is that Lu Tung is possibly the least likely candidate for assassination. He has already lost the war, he is not in line for the throne, and, unless I’m missing something, his death would not affect the treaty. All in all, he’s more likely to be the assassin than the target.”
“Speaking of targets,” Beverly said, “what about the Green Pearl herself? It’s a horrible idea, but I can’t think of a faster way of stopping a wedding than by killing the bride.”
Picard scowled. Beverly was right. They had to assume the Green Pearl was in danger as well. He hoped Lu Tung would not go so far as to sacrifice his own daughter, but the G’kkau (and maybe even one of the princes) might have no such scruples. Certainly Chuan-chi seemed less than enthusiastic about marrying the Pearl. And as for Kan-hi … well, any child of the Heir and the Green Pearl would inevitably come between the Second Son and the throne.
But how could they manage to protect the Green Pearl? They hadn’t even been allowed to lay eyes on her yet. Picard contemplated Beverly Crusher, so elegant and dignified in her formal robes. If anyone of them might be permitted to get close to the bride, it would probably be Beverly. “Dr. Crusher,” he said, “perhaps we can persuade Lu Tung to let you visit the Green Pearl tonight?”
“Fine with me,” she said, “but for what reason?”
“To attend to her, er, physical well-being,” Picard said, improvising. “Heaven forbid she should fall ill the night before her wedding.”
“That might work,” Beverly said thoughtfully, “if you can persuade the Dragon and the others that I’m a qualified healer.”
“You know,” Riker broke in, “while I was chatting with the Heir it came out that the Green Pearl’s mother died several years ago. Chuan-chi commented that it was, quote, ‘unfortunate’ that she did not have her mother to help prepare her for the wedding.”
“Unfortunate for the Pearl, perhaps,” Picard said, “but lucky for us. After we return to the banquet, I will helpfully volunteer Beverly’s services as chaperone, surrogate mother, or whatever.”
“And bodyguard,” Beverly added. She took a deep breath to prepare herself. “I suppose this is the closest I’ll ever come to being the mother of the bride. Who knows? Maybe this experience will come in useful if and when Wesley ever gets married, not that that’s likely to happen anytime soon.” She glanced back toward the lavish banquet. “I just hope he opts for something a little less elaborate.”
The music from the courtyard came to a halt, and Picard heard a smattering of polite applause. “We had better get back to the banquet before the Dragon wonders what’s happened to us.” A grim expression came over his face. He did not relish the prospect of candied eyes, chilled or otherwise. Still, duty called and his much-abused taste buds had no choice but to obey. “Keep your eyes open,” he reminded his officers. “A life, and the future of the Dragon Empire, is at stake.”
The Fang drifted through the Dragon Nebula on its stealthy approach to Pai, all but its most basic systems shut down to prevent the flagship from being picked up by sensors on either the Enterprise or the planet itself.
“Master?” Gar said. “The traitor on Pai has contacted us again.”
“It’s taken him long enough,” Kakkh hissed. “Very well. Put him through.”
The screen between his forward claws bloomed into life. Kakkh beheld the pink, scaleless visage of their human pawn. He thought the Pai looked apprehensive, but it was hard to tell. These humans were impossible to read by sight alone. “Yes?” he demanded. “You have been a long time