Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [21]
‘General Basha, I assure you,” Picard said, “it is not necessary.”
The general did not repeat his order. He merely glared at the guard. The look on that once beautiful face was frightening.
Troi could feel the weight of Basha’s personality. It was a strange phenomenon that she had felt around some races, humans included. The truly great leaders had an almost psychic force to them.
The guard did not hesitate. He bowed very low and left the room without a word of protest.
‘There, Captain, is that… satisfactory?” Basha said. He had to swallow between words. His pain was evident, but it was nothing like yesterday.
‘Very,” Picard said.
Troi realized it wasn’t General Basha’s physical pain that had hit her so hard the day before, but the general’s rage.
Today he was calm. The anger was still there bubbling and hidden, but Basha was in control today. How unusual was it to catch General Basha so totally out of control? Very, if what Troi was sensing was correct. So why would such a steady man show himself to the Federation ambassador bloody and panicked? The panic and rage had been real, but there had been no effort to control them. The man sitting before them now was a man of iron will and nerves of ice. Why had he lost control yesterday? Troi would bring her findings to the captain later in private. For now, she watched and tried to learn more.
Talanne touched Basha’s shoulder. There was quiet tenderness in that touch. It was like being allowed a glimpse into something very private. He started to nod but stopped in midmotion. It hurt. “As you can see, Captain Picard, my husband is in some pain. If it is acceptable, I will do much of the talking for now.”
‘Of course,” Picard said.
‘There is a reception planned for this afternoon. The Venturi faction will be represented there.”
‘What of the Green party?” Picard asked.
General Basha’s anger flared through him like a hot wind, but his face never betrayed it. He spoke carefully, each word an effort. “The Greens have no part in our government.”
‘They are a part of your people, General Basha. Can any peace last if all the people are not represented?” Picard said.
‘The Greens will not be a part of this peace,” Basha said.
‘They wish to bring biotechnology to the bargaining table, General. They have a way to clean this planet’s water. Surely that is a valuable bargaining chip.”
‘NO!” The anger in that one word was enough to scald.
‘Basha,” Talanne said, “if they can truly make the water pure again…”
‘No.”
‘General Basha, you came to the Federation for peace. You and the other leaders realized that war was killing not just the warriors, but the planet.” Picard stepped forward, Worf moved with him to flank him. Basha’s guards moved forward as well.
‘I will be all right, Lieutenant. Thank you for your concern.”
Worf started to protest, but Picard shot him a hard look. The captain had the ability to say much with a glance, Troi noted. Worf stepped back in place.
‘General Basha, Colonel Talanne, we have seen the nurseries. We have seen the lifeless children that are not lifeless at all.”
Talanne stiffened, clutching her husband’s shoulder. He winced at the strength of her grip, His own face remained impassive, guarded.
‘That is a forbidden area, Captain. You had no right to be there,” Basha said. He stared at the remaining guard that had accompanied them inside. “Tell me.”
The guard went down on one knee, much as he had to the doctor.
‘General Basha, Colonel Talanne gave orders that the Federation ambassador was to have access to all areas.”
‘Is this true, Talanne?”
‘Yes.” Her voice was very soft as she said it.
‘Very well, you have seen our greatest shame. It makes no difference.”
‘If the Greens’ biotechnology can clean your water of the poisons, then perhaps they can clean the air. It is your planet that is killing your children. Even if the war stops today, the planet will not recover overnight. It will take decades. Would you turn down anything that would speed that process?”
‘I will