Immortal Coil - Jeffrey Lang [33]
Picard massaged the bridge of his nose and said, “It is, I’m afraid. I’ve been trying to review the recent decisions regarding the civil rights of artificial life forms.”
Riker picked up the padd and clicked through a few screens, skimming the text. Then, wincing, he laid it back down on the bar. “I’d rather fight the Borg, thank you.”
Picard chuckled in agreement, then said, “Ah, but you’re at least partially responsible for all this. It’s all a direct result of the hearing we held where Judge Louvois decided that Data is entitled to full constitutional rights and isn’t the property of Starfleet.”
Riker shuddered extravagantly. “I take comfort in knowing that though I’m a terrible prosecutor, I’m a fine trombone player.”
“Terrible? Are you being modest? I thought you performed brilliantly. When you reached behind Data and turned him off, I almost walked out of the hearing.” It had been a near thing, Picard remembered. Judge Louvois had been appointed to determine whether Data could legally refuse Bruce Maddox’s request that he allow himself to be disassembled. Only Data’s eloquence, and Picard’s own impassioned arguments, had saved him, and the repercussions of Louvois’s decision were still, apparently, echoing throughout the Federation.
Riker grinned at the memory and said, “That was rather good, wasn’t it? At the time, I hated myself for it. But Louvois didn’t give me much of a choice. Said that if she didn’t believe I was doing my best, she would rule against Data. In the end, virtue triumphed, as always … .” and he raised his glass in a toast. Picard touched the brim of his glass to Riker’s and the conversation shifted to his discussion with Admiral Haftel about Data’s investigation of Maddox’s accident. Just as Picard finished repeating Haftel’s grudging decision, Troi entered the lounge and pulled up the chair next to Riker’s, handing Picard an isolinear chip. She had just finished her bridge shift, she explained, when Dr. Crusher’s latest report came in, and she decided to bring it to Picard personally. The captain immediately slid the chip into his padd.
“Maddox’s condition is essentially the same,” Picard read aloud. “She can’t seem to pin down the coma to any known agent and she’s getting frustrated. Not trauma-induced. No infectious agents. They’ve even done a poison screening.”
Troi smiled. “Beverly hates a mystery.”
“Yes,” Picard replied. “She does. And she’s decided to stay on the surface until she can sort this out.”
“Couldn’t she transport Maddox to the Enterprise?” Riker asked.
“I asked her the same thing this morning,” Troi related. “But she said there’s nothing up here that they don’t have down there. Personally, I think she’s decided the infirmary staff is lax and is taking the opportunity to whip them into shape.” Picard and Riker chuckled. “So, what else have I missed?” Troi asked. She knew about Riker and Picard’s debriefing sessions. “Already covered all the news of the day?”
Riker beckoned to the civilian bartender who, when he saw who his new customer was, grinned brilliantly and asked, “What would you like, Deanna?”
“Hot chocolate,” Troi said smiling warmly in response. “With whipped cream, please.”
Deanna studied the bartender’s back as he programmed her request into the food replicator. Riker seemed to note with amusement that her gaze lingered, then asked, “So, you two have met?”
“Oh, yes,” Troi replied distractedly. “Standard psych evaluation. We had a very interesting conversation.”
“How interesting?”
“Very interesting, Commander,” she teased. “We talked about art and music and seeing the galaxy as a member of a starship support staff.” When the bartender returned, Troi said, “Sam, allow me to introduce you to Commander Riker.”
“We’ve met,” Sam said. “He has great taste in single malts.”
Riker raised his glass in acknowledgment and sipped his drink. “How are you adjusting, Sam?”
Sam stood up straight, surveyed the lounge, then unconsciously smoothed back his thick hair with a well-manicured hand. He looks, thought Picard, like a lion who has just checked his domain