Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [58]
‘Do not thank me, Picard, please, do not thank me.” With those cryptic words she swept past them, two guards falling into step behind her. Her sharp footsteps echoed into the distance.
It was Breck who broke the silence. “You heard Colonel Talanne. Take us back to the ambassador’s cell.” His voice held the certainty of an order.
The faceless guards did not argue. They turned almost as one and formed a phalanx around the Federation group. Breck was very clearly grouped with the outsiders. If he minded, he made no show of it.
Picard found himself almost relieved to be back in the cell. He had not thought that was possible. He had spent all day waiting for news, or anything else. The guards fed him but would not talk to him.
It was like some awful anxious dream. Not only was the peace mission in ruins but he, a Federation ambassador, was thought a murderer. His own possible death was secondary. The total failure of their mission would doom thousands.
The white cell seemed even smaller with Worf’s bulk. His head brushed the ceiling. The Orianians hadn’t planned for a prisoner of such height. Of course, Worf wasn’t the prisoner, Picard was.
‘How is the peace mission progressing, Ambassador Worf?”
‘I am no ambassador, Captain,” Worf growled. “The Venturies and Torlicks are still willing to talk peace but only after the stain upon the Federation’s honor is removed.”
‘What exactly does that mean?”
‘Proof of your innocence, or your death,” Worf said.
‘I see,” Picard said quietly. “Then we must find the real murderer.”
‘We have been trying, Captain.”
‘What have you discovered, Lieutenant, Counselor?” Picard sat on the pallet that he had slept on. There were no chairs to offer so he waved them to the floor.
Breck slid easily to sit against the far wall, nearest the door. Counselor Troi sat near the captain on a corner of the pallet. Worf remained standing at attention.
Worf gave the report, what little there was of it. “We believe that Dr. Stasha was telling the truth about finding your genetic print on the cup.”
‘Counselor?” Picard made the one word a question.
‘I wish I had more to add, Captain. I don’t think anyone has deliberately lied to us, except perhaps General Alick’s sentinel. He was extremely nervous and fearful when we questioned him. But it makes no sense for him to have anything to do with Alick’s death.”
‘Why not?”
‘If a sentinel’s charge is killed while he, or she, is on duty, then the sentinel is expected to commit ritual suicide,” Troi said.
Picard glanced at Breck still sitting easily across the room.
‘If I die, will they expect it of you?”
‘Yes, Picard. Our laws are very strict on sentinels who fail their task.”
‘Though it seems harsh in this case, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this,” Picard said.
‘It does not matter, Ambassador Picard. Sentinels are one of the cornerstones of our government. There can be no excuses or exceptions. If one failure is allowed, then more will follow.”
‘You aren’t angry about that system?” Picard asked.
‘Why should I be?”
To that Picard had no answer. “Have you sensed anything at all, Counselor?”
Troi glanced at Breck. “Yes, Captain, but…”
‘If you think I am a security risk, I will wait outside the door,” Breck said. His voice was even, no offense taken.
‘Counselor?” Picard asked.
Troi shook her head. “His life is forfeit along with yours, Captain. It seems… unfair to exclude him. Besides, he might be able to answer some of the questions I have about the Orianians.”
‘Lieutenant Worf, do you concur?”
Worf nodded, one small movement. “Yes, Captain.”
‘Very well,” Picard said. “Proceed, Counselor.”
‘The Orianians have very strong empathic abilities. I have never been around any race that could so easily breach my empathic barriers.”
‘Is that what happened the first night, when we saw the room of lifeless children?”
‘Yes and no. When I’m asleep, sometimes my barriers are not as strong, and intense emotions do seep through, but never to that degree. It was like the fear, the pain, was my own. One of the greatest fears for