Possession - J.M. Dillard [61]
“Yes. I thought I’d look in on her. See if she got some rest today, and how she’s doing.”
Picard nodded. “I encourage you. She needs to feel secure again, Will. It will help her get over the trauma of that mental contact with the artifacts.”And while you’re checking on Deanna, Picard thought, I’ll look in on the artifacts, and double check their security myself.
Dr. Crusher was taking one last walk around sickbay before the end of her shift. Dr. Ramirez, whose shift was now beginning, had been briefed about the cases currently being followed, and advised to watch out for any person—crew member or otherwise—who came in with a freshly broken nose or injured groin. Beverly had put away some data cassettes in her office, and made sure all the equipment had been cleaned and put up. She didn’t like to leave work for the next crew on duty, any more than she liked to find work undone when she came on in the morning.
Satisfied that everything was as it should be, she debated whether she should check on the artifacts one more time. Part of her didn’t like looking at them and part of her felt obsessed about checking on them constantly, making sure all the fail-safes were in place. Of course, the failure of any one of them would trigger warning alarms, but even so she’d check this one last time, and then go to her quarters, curl up with a good play, and call it a night.
She moved quietly through the darkened sickbay and entered the quarantine facility just as she had a dozen times that day. Only this time, she was greeted by three people: the Vulcan Skel, the researcher Dr. Tarmud, and the ship’s chief engineer all turned to look at her as the doors of the facility closed behind her.
She tried not to let her consternation show in her face, but failed. Of all people, La Forge surely knew better than to violate the captain’s off-limit order regarding the artifacts—much less bring visitors along with him.
“Excuse me,” she said in a chilly but polite tone, “permission to enter this area can only be granted by the captain. He did not notify me that you would be here to see the artifacts.”
“I’m sorry, Doctor.” Geordi smiled apologetically. “I guess I thought that the permission I’d been given earlier was still valid. Skel and Dr. Tarmud and I were discussing some data about the artifacts, but Dr. Tarmud had never seen them. Skel assumed that since they were his research objects, and I’d been given permission earlier, it would be all right.”
That was the muddiest logic she’d ever heard Geordi use, but she wasn’t about to argue with him. The security parameters were all still in place. The artifacts still sat benignly behind their multiple security shields.
“You’re a doctor,” Tarmud said to her charmingly. “Surely you know how impulsive researchers can be. Try to understand, Dr. Crusher.”
“I understand that researchers can be impulsive,” she said quietly, as she approached the quarantine device that held the artifacts, checking the readouts on its diagnostic panel: All within norms, thank God. “I also understand that researchers are used to following exacting protocols. And that chief engineers are used to augmenting them.” She shot a sharp glance at La Forge. “And that the three of you have violated those protocols. This area is off-limits without the captain’s express permission. I must be present during any authorized visit. That’s the short and sweet of it, gentlemen. Please remember that in the future. Now, if you would please leave?”
She turned to move away from the diagnostic panel, but found herself hemmed in by the three men. Skel was on her right, Geordi on her left, and Tarmud directly in front of her, nearly pinning her to the quarantine tank that held the artifacts. “Excuse me!” she said pointedly, trying to sidle past Tarmud, but he only moved forward, blocking her even more.
“Wait a minute, Doctor,” Geordi said quietly. “There’s something we’ve