Possession - J.M. Dillard [56]
Geordi was startled, and a little pleased. The scientist’s heartfelt regret seemed genuine enough.
“Mr. La Forge,” Tarmud continued, “the breakthroughs that my team and I discovered when we fashioned the VISOR are the cornerstone of my work on a functional android. The eyes are the windows of the soul, so to speak, and questions we answered with the VISOR have led to much greater things. I came upon some of my early work with the instrument as I was reviewing issues with Master Scientist Skel. I didn’t even know I had some of that early material with me—it was tucked away on one of my working cassettes. I thought perhaps you’d like to see that material. There are images of some of the first prototypes, and some interesting history there. And, while we were reviewing that, I thought—we could talk.”
La Forge grinned, both flattered and surprised by the generous offer. “Why, thank you, sir. I would be interested in seeing some of that material. But I know you and Skel have a lot of work ahead of you before the TechnoFair. I’d hate to take away some of your precious time just for my own indulgence.”
“Even Vulcans take a break from their work, Mr. La Forge,” Tarmud insisted. “In fact, when I discussed it with Skel, he thought showing you this material and taking the time to have this discussion with you was most logical.”
The two men entered the nearby turbolift, and Tarmud told it which deck they needed.
“In fact,” the scientist continued, “Skel agreed that with all the hospitality we’ve been shown aboard your vessel, the least we could do was repay that in kind. And with whom better than the chief engineer, the man who runs the ship?” Tarmud again put a friendly hand on Geordi’s shoulder as the turbolift doors opened and they left to approach Tarmud’s quarters.
“Yes,” Tarmud continued as they approached his cabin, “Skel was in complete agreement. After all, if we’re speaking of the nuts and bolts of the Enterprise, the chief engineer is the most important person on board!”
Before Geordi could deny this overly broad interpretation of his importance aboard the vessel, the doors of Tarmud’s quarters whooshed open. Geordi saw that the Vulcan was there, already standing, as if anticipating his arrival. La Forge greeted the Vulcan scientist; Skel nodded at him, his eyes downcast. But there was one brief flicker of eye contact, and when there was—
Geordi frowned. He thought he saw something, some unusual energy reading behind Skel’s eyes. It had just been for a second, before the Vulcan turned his gaze away. The VISOR could pick up bands of energy far outside normal human visual range, but he’d never seen anything like this before. He would’ve loved to manipulate Skel into lifting his eyes for a second look, but Tarmud was guiding him over to a console and showing him some visual records there.
Skel came and stood beside them as Tarmud gave him a “tour” through this historic material. It was interesting, and Geordi wished he could focus on it, but he couldn’t help wondering what it was he’d seen in the Vulcan’s eyes.
In the middle of an explanation, Tarmud broke off, then said, “You seem a little distracted, Commander La Forge.”
“I’m sorry, sir, it’s just—well, as the creator of the VISOR, you’d appreciate this. All the different heat and energy readouts that the VISOR interprets are always open to some fluctuation. I’m so used to it I can compensate for it most times without even being aware of it. But, just now, I thought I saw something odd about Skel’s eyes. It’s probably just a momentary glitch, or a misinterpretation due to a Vulcan’s different temperature and energy readouts.”
“You know,” Tarmud said quietly, “we were wondering if you’d be able to see them.”
Geordi stared at the energy bands that formed his image of Tarmud’s face. “Them, sir?”
“Yes,” the Vulcan seconded emotionlessly. “Them. The agents of your deliverance, Commander.”
Skel stood at his left shoulder, and Geordi turned toward him, trying to capture that gaze again. This time it was offered to him willingly, as Skel met his gaze full on. And