Enigma - Michael Jan Friedman [44]
“What I want,” said Mehdi, “is for you to be off studying worlds we’ve never seen before, looking for new forms of life and undiscovered civilizations. But under the circumstances, yes, I’d like you to be part of the Federation’s defense.”
Picard nodded. “Consider it done, sir.”
Mehdi fashioned a halfhearted smile. “Thank you, Captain. I’ll transmit the pertinent coordinates.”
Picard didn’t like seeing the admiral this way. He seemed to be carrying the weight of the entire Federation on his narrow shoulders. “We will stop them,” the captain blurted, attempting to sound as reassuring as possible.
Mehdi appeared to brighten a bit. “I trust you’re right,” he said. He looked around. “I’ve grown rather fond of this place. I’d hate to lose it.”
And his image vanished from the screen.
“This place,” said Vayishra, echoing the admiral’s words. “I wonder if he meant his office…or Earth.”
It was an ominous question. Picard didn’t have the stomach for answering it. Neither did Vayishra, apparently.
Picard turned to his colleague. “I hate to leave the Antares to her own devices.”
“Don’t worry,” said Vayishra, “we’ll manage. It’s the Stargazer I’m concerned about.”
Picard regarded Vayishra, wondering what, exactly, the fellow intended by his remark. After all, he was an ally of McAteer. Was he implying that the Stargazer’s captain wouldn’t be equal to the task in front of him?
“We’ll manage as well,” he said, unable to quite keep the indignation out of his voice. Then he started for the exit.
“Picard,” said Vayishra.
Picard stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“All I meant was that you’ll be on the front line. Nothing else, I promise you.”
Picard took the remark at face value. “Thank you,” he told Vayishra. Then he turned again, and left engineering for the nearest transporter room.
Chapter Eleven
ELIZABETH WU WAS LYING on her bed, staring at the ceiling of her quarters as if she might somehow find all the answers she wanted from Ulelo displayed there.
She ran her conversations with him over and over again in her mind, sifting them for just a nugget of something she could use. But it was to no avail.
The second officer was so intent on her introspection, she barely heard the chime that announced someone at her door. And she had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t the first time it had rung.
Getting up from her bed, she left her bedroom behind and emerged into the adjoining anteroom. Then she said, “Come in.”
As the doors opened, Wu saw that it was Jiterica. The ensign was looking remarkably like a humanoid in her new, improved containment suit. But if the look on the ensign’s face was any indication, she was anxious about something.
“Good to see you,” said Wu. She indicated a chair on one side of the room. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you,” said Jiterica.
Not so long ago, she would have found it painfully awkward to sit down. Her new suit seemed to have eliminated that problem.
“Is everything all right?” Wu asked.
Shortly after Jiterica came on board, the second officer had appointed herself the ensign’s unofficial guardian. Back then, Jiterica was lonely and unsure of herself, uncomfortable in an environment built for higher-density beings.
Fortunately for Jiterica, that had all changed, and she didn’t need a guardian as much as she used to. However, Wu had yet to relinquish the position.
“It’s Ensign Paris,” said Jiterica.
Ah yes, thought Wu. Paris.
Jiterica and her fellow ensign had become rather close over the last couple of months. And the second officer, who harbored a liking for both of them, had been delighted to see how much they enjoyed each other’s company.
Of course, there was that brief period where Paris appeared to want to avoid Jiterica, when he had pulled back from her. It had bothered Wu to see it, almost to the point where she had said something to him.
But thankfully, that phase had passed, and Paris and Jiterica had become constant companions again. So it was perfectly understandable if Jiterica was concerned about her friend.
“You want to know about the shuttle,