Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [34]
“It is,” said his chief engineer. “Ingenious, in fact. And made from parts one might find around the ship.” “Naturally,” said Riker. “A device like that would have been detected in the transport process.”
“It appears,” said Troi, “that someone among us is out to get Morgen. Or Worf. Or both of them.”
The captain felt a muscle in his jaw beginning to twitch. He did his best to control it.
Riker frowned. “Someone was after Morgen once before. On the Stargazer.”
Beverly turned to the captain. “But that was twenty
years ago. And she was apprehended before she could carry out her mission-wasn’t she?”
Picard nodded. “Gerda Asmund was found guilty of attempted murder and remanded to the rehabilitation colony on Anjelica Seven. She spent eleven years of her life there before the authorities judged her fit to rejoin society.” He sighed. “Shortly thereafter, she died on a freighter en route to Alpha Palemon.: The ship was passing through a meteor swarm when its shields suddenly failed. Gerda was working in the hold; it was punctured, and she was lost with seven others.”
“Her body?” asked Riker. “Never found,” said the captain. “Then she could still be alive,” Geordi concluded. “Not likely,” said Picard. “There were no containment suits missing. No shuttle craft unaccounted for.” “Still …” Geordi insisted. Crusher leaned forward. “Captain … how much did Idun and Gerda resemble each other?”
It was a chilling thought.
“They were identical,” said Picard. “I could barely tell them apart, except for the fact that Idun sat at the helm and Gerda at navigation.” He shook his head. “But what you’re suggesting seems a bit farfetched.” He regarded Troi. “Counselor … have you sensed anything to make you suspect Idun is not who she seems?” Troi shook her head. “No, not really. Just the sort of ambiguities one might expect from a human raised by Klingons.” She paused. “Though I must admit, I have had little experience with Idun’s sort of mind. There is a discipline there that keeps me from reading her emotions very well.”
“What about the transporter?” asked Geordi.
“Wouldn’t it have a record of her bio-profile? One we could match with her records?”
“Inconclusive,” ruled Crusher. “If Gerda and Idun have the same bio-profile-which has been known to happen with identical twins— then we would have no way of knowing if Gerda beamed aboard in her sister’s place.”
“They did have the same profile,” Picard noted reluctantly. “I remember that.”
Riker regarded him. “And Idun was at Starbase 81 long enough for Gerda to make the switch.” He looked thoughtful, then frowned. “But I have to agree with the captain. We’re looking a bit far afield-especially when Idun herself has a motive.”
“You mean revenge?” asked Troi. “For what happened to her sister?” “Make that two motives,” the first officer amended. “I was thinking more along the lines of her completing Gerda’s mission.” “Completing…” Picard began. “To what purpose, Number One?” “The same purpose as before,” said Riker. “To create a rift between the Federation and the Daa’Vit. To eliminate any need for the Klingons to share a conference table with their old enemies. And with Morgen inheriting the crown of Daa’Very, they could hardly have picked a better time to kill him. Not only would the Daa’Vit break ties with us, they’d be thrown into a state of internal disarray.” The captain shook his head. “Idun Asmund has served Starfleet with distinction for more than two decades. She has never given anyone any reason to doubt her loyalties.” He straightened in his chair. “When Gerda