Possession - J.M. Dillard [77]
“Yes, sir,” Riker agreed. Troi nodded at the same time.
“Dr. Crusher, when you have the anesthetic and the accelerator prepared, I’ll make a general announcement.” Picard looked around the table. “We have one other advantage those suffering from the first outbreak of the infection didn’t have: Mr. Data, who can safeguard the ship while we are indisposed, and who can have in his possession the computer code for the antidote should we need to be roused quickly for an emergency.”
“Captain,” Data interjected, “are you sure this is necessary? It is only speculation that the entities have infected anyone. Lieutenant La Forge and I could work on recalibrating a portable medical scanner to detect memory-loss patterns based on the information you have just shown us, while Dr. Crusher goes through the Federation communiqué to see if she can find a more medical approach to a cure.
“If Barbara Evans was the sole person infected by these entities, and if she, in turn, infected only one out of five people she came in contact with, and then, they in turn infected only one out of five people—”
“That’s still a great many people!” Deanna agreed.
“Data’s question is valid,” Picard agreed. “And I think that he and Mr. La Forge should work on such a scanner. However, you must realize that type of scanner will not tell us if we have an active infection—only if the person showing the appropriate pattern had been infected. We will need something to help us determine if, after the anesthetic wears off, we have indeed destroyed these entities.”
Picard grew more somber as he addressed the central issue of Data’s question. “I want you all to understand the seriousness of this threat. Before I would let this ship dock at the TechnoFair and risk loosing the entities upon the most diverse group of Federation members ever to assemble, I would destroy her first with all hands aboard. Is that clear?”
“Very,” said Will Riker.
Lieutenant Worf strode down the corridors of Deck Five. Despite his admonition to himself, he could not help peering suspiciously at every crew member who passed. Was Ensign Meyers infected? He seemed quite preoccupied. What about Lieutenant Mata? She would not meet his eyes. He forced himself to stop this fruitless analyzing and tend to the task at hand.
At least he’d had a chance to contact Alexander and tell him about the four hours he would be unconscious. Worf’s son had always understood his responsibilities as a member of the ship and took them seriously. He’d seen numerous shipboard emergencies. And he was a Klingon—he would not panic, but weather the storm just as his father expected him to.
Worf wasn’t surprised to find Alexander still in Kyla’s company. He expressed concern to the boy that he was imposing on the woman, but Kyla herself insisted he was “assisting” her in her experiments. Worf was proud of Alexander’s interest in science, and—after a moment’s paranoia that Kyla might be infected, and thus in danger of infecting his son—was secretly pleased that the human warrior woman would be with the boy when they were forced to sleep. While Alexander was fully capable of taking care of himself, Worf felt better knowing a battle-ready adult would be with him.
Finally, the Klingon slowed his quiet steps as he found himself before the Vulcan’s quarters. While Vulcans were normally a people of peace, their physical strength was great. Worf ground his teeth in an effort to repress a smile. If the Vulcan resisted, it would be a glorious fight!
He rang the door chime, then heard Skel’s placid voice: “Enter.”
The Klingon stepped through the yielding doors and found himself facing Skel, who stood in the center of the room—carry bag slung over his shoulders, hands inside his sleeves—as if he wished to present the most passive appearance possible. Beside him, Dr. Tarmud stood, frowning and defiant.
“I have just spoken with Captain Picard,” Skel said quietly. “He has explained the need for my return to quarantine isolation. I have gathered my work