Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [36]
“I’ll organize the security effort,” said Riker. “We’ll have each of them watched around the clock.” “Good, Number One. But be discreet. Security personnel are not to discuss the matter in public-not even among themselves.” He turned to Geordi and then to
Crusher. “That goes for engineering and medical personnel as well. I do not wish to put the assassin on guard.”
Assassin. The word seemed so out of place here on the Enterprise. “Counselor Troi,” he said, addressing the empath in her turn. “Keep an eye on our visitors. Let me know if you sense any duplicity in them.”
Troi nodded. “Aye, sir.”
“In some cases, Counselor, you may have to seek them out. We may not have the time to carry on a passive investigation.”
She nodded again.
Picard turned to the ship’s doctor. “I trust Worf will be up and about soon?”
“I want to keep him—and Morgen as well-for observation overnight. Then they’re all yours. But I wouldn’t ask Worf to take on anything physically strenuous—not for a couple of days anyway.”
That was fine with the captain. What he needed now was the Klingon’s mind-his training in protecting the ship and its people from calculated harm.
“That will have to do,” he said. “When you release him, send him directly to me.”
Crusher promised that she would do that.
Morgen shook his head, stalking from one end of the captain’s ready room to the other. Dr. Crusher had done a good job; Picard would never have noticed his friend’s limp if he hadn’t been looking for it. “It is out of the question.”
Sitting behind his desk, the human frowned. “It is an eminently reasonable request.”
“Not from my point of view.”
“I am not asking you to lock yourself in your quarters —only to make yourself scarce.”
The Daa’Vit eyed him. “And I categorically refuse.” “Damn it, Morgen. Someone has made an attempt on your life. was “So you’d have me hide from them? Be fearful of them?” He sneered scornfully. “That is not the Daa’Vit way, my friend. I would have thought you’d know that by now.”
Picard took a deep breath, let it out. He hadn’t expected this to be easy, had he?
“Of course,” said Morgen, “you could order me confined to quarters. That is certainly your prerogative.” He stopped to face Picard, as if challenging him. “But then, you would be jailing the next ruler of the Daa’Vit worlds.”
The captain decided against picking up the gauntlet. He wanted matters to proceed calmly-in an orderly fashion. And arousing Morgen’s ire was the wrong way to do that. Fortunately, a more subtle tack occurred to him. “I would never think of it,” he told the Daa’Vit. “Not even if you were still an ensign, and you crown was twenty years away.” That gave Morgen pause. “That’s right,” he said finally. “You didn’t confine me to quarters then either.” He tilted his head. “But then, the killer had already been caught-hadn’t she?” “We didn’t know there weren’t other killers aboard.” Picard got up from behind his desk and came forward to sit on the edge of it. “Not for certain, we didn’t. What’s more, there was the matter of a Klingon escape ship to be reckoned with.” He shrugged. “But at the time I was concerned with more than your well-being. I was
concerned with your education. It occurred to me that if you were to become a Starfleet officer, you had to be treated like one.” Morgen nodded. “1’m grateful.”
“You are quite welcome,” said the captain. “And my trust was rewarded. Starfleet got itself a fine officer.” He looked at the Daa’Vit. “A fine captain.” A pause. “That is, before you became a dignitary.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the Daa’Vit, his eyes narrowing. Picard smiled. “Come, Morgen. Admit it. You are, for all intents and purposes, already the ruler of your people. You have left behind your status as a Starfleet officer-in your own mind, if not