Possession - J.M. Dillard [103]
And contemplating using their state-of-the-art weaponry, Deanna knew, without voicing the thought. “Data … it’s time. We have the VISORs, we have the containment device … and we also have the lure.”
The android turned to regard her with his golden eyes, but there was no curiosity in his expression. He clearly had come to the same conclusion Deanna had, but was leaving it to her to make the decision.
“The lure?” Dannelke asked, long arms folded atop long knees, her pale hair falling forward out of its braid to frame an equally pale face.
Deanna paused, choosing her words carefully. “Right now, those infected are in a precarious state; the entities had adapted most successfully to Vulcan hosts, but the human hosts are not able to contain the entities’ desperate hunger for very long. And now that they’ve lost their opportunity to infect the Vulcans, they are even more desperate; their controls are breaking down.
“Now, when they are especially vulnerable, we can lure them to us …” She paused and drew in a steadying breath. “By my opening my empathic sense and actually broadcasting to them to come to me. To feed.”
Beside her, Kyla Dannelke shuddered and closed her eyes.
“I will not permit it!” Worf exclaimed. Deanna let the heat of his anger bathe her, protect her for a few seconds’ blessed relief before the onslaught. Worf turned toward the android. “Commander, do not tell me that you will allow her to do such a thing!”
Data blinked as if he, too, were buffeted by the powerful Klingon emotions. “This is not something I can order her to do—or not to do. This is a very personal decision only she can make. And I suspect she has already done so.”
Deanna glanced up at him gratefully; the android was becoming more insightful into the human condition every year.
She’d resisted the idea herself when Skel’s mother had first proposed it. It had taken time for her to accept the ramifications—especially if their apparatus should fail. But as she thought of T’Reth, of the horrors that had been visited upon that courageous Vulcan woman and the strength with which she’d faced them, Deanna knew she could do no less. Realizing that Data’s statement had implicitly put her in charge of this current tactical situation, she fingered her VISOR and the containment box it was attached to.
“The frequency modulation Data and Kyla programmed into the VISORs will enhance this lure. You will all be here to help control the hosts,” Deanna went on, “and assist me in handling the crew so that they don’t go berserk, or try to crush us. Since you will each be wearing VISORs, it won’t be necessary for me to collect the entities from each crew member. Every person with whom you can intervene will spare me.”
Data nodded. “Since we are in the cargohold, we can utilize the temporary force shields that hold the cargo in place when the ship is destabilized. If the crowd becomes too large or unruly, these small forcefields can restrain them. Twenty or thirty crew members can be contained by each forcefield, until we are capable of handling everyone.”
“Like so many barrels of ale,” Kyla remarked.
Deanna managed an uncertain smile.
“The forcefield units are small,” Alexander piped up. “I can handle them while Father and Data manipulate the group.”
“A good idea,” Deanna agreed. “It will be critical that we all work as a team, and—” Her voice almost caught, but she stopped and collected herself in time. “And try to contain our fears. Remember, the most important thing is to keep your VISORs on and functioning. Are we ready?”
Troi nodded her readiness to the others, and silently they donned their VISORs.
The others took up positions on either side of her, except for Alexander, who hung behind them lest he be overwhelmed by the crushing tide of adults. The others formed a short funnel, with Worf in