Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [27]
‘I am saying I cannot explain the toxicity of the plant alkaloid in these plant fragments.”
General Basha turned to Audun. “Does your biotechnology include a process to grow such a poison?”
Audun pulled himself up to his full height, still not reaching to the general’s shoulder. “There are enough poisons on this planet without growing more.”
‘Answer the question,” Basha said.
The new Venturi leader was standing very close to Audun. “Yes, Green, answer the question.”
Audun looked to Picard. He could only nod. “You must answer the question,” Picard said.
‘I do not know the true nature of the doctor’s findings but, yes, we could grow such a plant. But we would not do it. We do not believe in violence.”
Basha stepped very close to the smaller man. “You did it. You and your peaceful technology.” His words were very quiet, a whispered hiss.
The new Torlick leader said, “They must pay for what they have done.”
‘Agreed,” Basha said.
‘Nothing has been proved against them, yet,” Picard said.
‘It was a bioengineered plant alkaloid,” Basha said. “Who else would have access to such a thing? No one else has tampered with genetics for over a century.”
‘I do not know. But why would the Greens kill General Alick? What would it gain them?”
‘People who twist the very babes in their mother’s wombs do not have to have a reason,” the Venturi leader said.
This is absurd, Picard thought, but aloud he said, “You need proof before you can accuse them of murder.”
Basha was staring at Picard, a look on his face that the captain did not understand. It was like an idea was growing behind his eyes.
Troi came up beside Picard and put a hand on his arm. “Captain, I must speak with you.”
‘It was you who insisted on the Greens attending this party, Captain Picard. And you were the last person to speak with the Torlick leader.”
Picard didn’t understand for a moment, then the awful implications hit him. He was too outraged to be frightened. “What are you saying?”
‘He was standing right beside you when he drank poison. The poison was not in the tea, or you and I would be dead. It had to have been administered.”
‘I am a Federation ambassador. What possible motive could I have for poisoning General Alick?” He let the anger at the ridiculousness of the accusations flow into his voice.
‘I do not know,” Basha said, “but we will find out. If it is acceptable with the Venturi leader, we will put Picard and the Greens in one of our cells.”
The woman nodded. Her face was very grim. “That would be most acceptable. General Alick was so pleased that our two sides were working together on this. Perhaps the general can bring us together to do one more thing.”
Basha bowed. “I would be honored.”
‘What are they talking about, Captain?” Worf asked.
‘I’m not sure,” Picard said.
Troi tightened her grip on Picard’s arm. “Captain…”
‘Guards!” Basha yelled.
The new Venturi leader called, “Guards.” The room was suddenly flooded with uniforms. “I arrest the Green delegation and Ambassador Picard for the murder of General Alick.”
Worf and the three other guards formed up around Picard and Troi. The Orianians that had been assigned to Picard did not hesitate to draw rifles on their fellow Orianians.
‘Wait,” Picard cried. “Wait!” He stepped out from behind Worf’s broad back. “General Basha, Venturi Leader, I had nothing to do with this. I do not believe the Greens did either.”
‘You would say that,” the Venturi leader said.
Picard looked down at the floor, then quickly up, trying desperately to think of some way out of this. The situation would have been ridiculous except for the corpse lying on the floor. It was absurd that they thought a Federation ambassador could have participated in an assassination, but the faces of the Orianians were grim. They believed it. “Don’t you need proof before arresting a Federation ambassador?”
‘If your guards do not stand down,” Basha said, “we will need no proof whatsoever to kill you all where you stand. This is war, Captain, and this,” he motioned to Alick’s body, “is treason.”