Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [131]
And we know how well that little confrontation went, Picard thought. Perhaps that was part of her point.
She resumed: “The stakes are too high, and I won’t have you jeopardizing your career. Heaven knows how many officers have had their lives ruined by this agency-and how many more might be, given this supposed ‘Romulan spy list’- but I won’t allow you to be among them.”
“Marta, this travesty cannot go unchallenged.”
“And it won’t. I warned Zweller last night that Section 31 isn’t invulnerable.” She recovered her cup, took a drink, then continued. “Perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea for me to warn him, but I think it’s safe to assume that he was already expecting one of us to go after him anyway.”
Setting her cup down, she reached forward and put her hand atop Picard’s, on his desk. “I’m the one who should go after him, Johnny. I’ll use whatever resources are available to me through my rank and position in Starfleet Intelligence. Resources that not even the captain of Starfleet’s flagship has. And if it’s within my power, Commander Roget and his crew-and everyone who died aboard the Slayton-will see Corey and his superiors brought to justice.”
She paused for a moment, giving his hand a slight squeeze. “Believe me, we both want the same thing, but you’re too high-profile. And if you go off half-cocked, you might throw away any chance we have of ever stopping Section 31. You could drive them even further underground.”
Now it was her turn to look him squarely in the eyes, her gaze studying him. “You have to do what you’ve never been inclined to do: nothing. And, you’re going have to trust me to handle things… quietly.”
Picard looked down at her hand atop his, feeling their warmth. “I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said quietly.
“What more could they do to me, Johnny?” She gave him a sad smile. “All I’ve got left to lose is my friendship with you. So I ask you: Please just walk away from this. Leave it to me.”
Though Picard’s emotions roiled like Chiaros IV’s stormy atmosphere, he could not refute her logic. There simply weren’t any good alternatives to her plan. “All right, Marta. I’ll keep my mouth shut. And I’ll stay out of your way while you gather enough evidence to expose the bureau.”
Batanides grinned warmly. “I hope you won’t stay too far out of my way, Johnny. I’d hate it if it took another life-and-death crisis to bring us back together.”
The door chimed again. Batanides quickly removed her hand from Picard’s, and sat back in her chair. “Come,” Picard said, and Commander Riker stepped into the room a moment later.
“Captain, the Tian An Men is standing by. They’re requesting that we beam Zweller over immediately, along with all information pertaining to our Geminus Gulf mission.”
Picard looked up at Riker wearily, and handed him a padd. “Number One, I’d like you to go to the brig and supervise the commander’s release. I… It’s probably best that I don’t see him again for a good long while.”
“I understand, sir.”
Looking into his trusted first officer’s eyes, Picard knew that he did understand.
Sean Hawk and Ranul Keru rounded a corner in the corridor, and came face-to-face with a security contingent led by Commander Riker. Two burly security officers accompanied him, flanking Cortin Zweller, who was dressed in a fresh Starfleet uniform.
“Hello, sir,” Hawk said to Riker, nervous.
“Lieutenant,” Riker said. “Congratulations again on your derring-do in the Geminus Gulf. I’m sure Ranul is at least as happy as we are that you’re back among us.”
Keru grinned. “It wouldn’t be much of an anniversary celebration without him.”
Hawk smiled as well. To Riker, he said, “Thank you, sir.”
“See you on the bridge, Lieutenant,” Riker said, leading his party on in the direction of the transporter room.
As Zweller moved past Hawk, he stopped and grabbed the young man’s arm lightly. Riker and the security officers stopped as well. “It looks as though you’ve made your choice,” Zweller said, his voice low.
“It was the only choice I could make,” Hawk replied, looking