Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [39]
How can we be sure of anything when every corner seems to hide someone’s secret agenda?
Picard’s combadge chirped, and Beverly Crusher’s voice dispelled the silence of the room. “Captain, I’ve found something.”
“The admiral and I will meet you in my ready room,” Picard said crisply.
“What?” Batanides looked incredulous.
Beverly Crusher stood her ground. Picard knew that as a doctor, she had become used to delivering bad news; it didn’t make it easier just because she had done it before, but it had made her emotional hide thicker, so that she didn’t take the reactions personally. Crusher placed a small vial down on the ready-room table, slowly and deliberately.
“I’m not sure what it is, Admiral. But I found this implant in your… in Ambassador Tabor’s brain.”
Picard picked up the vial and studied the small item inside it. It was a microchip of some sort, with multiple hair-thin cables extruding from its interface, looking like so many ganglia. “Do you have any idea what its purpose might be?”
Crusher sighed. “I’m not sure. It could be medical, but it’s not a piece of technology that I’m familiar with. It might also be something unique to the Ullian species.” She turned slightly toward Batanides. “Did the ambassador ever mention having suffered a brain trauma or neurological disorder in the past?”
“No. He was always in perfect health,” the admiral replied. “But I suppose it could date back to before we met.”
The doors hissed open, and Lieutenant Commanders Data and Geordi La Forge stepped into the ready room, each of them snapping to a more formal posture than normal due to Batanides’s presence.
“Good timing,” said Picard, handing his chief engineer the vial. “Geordi, Data, I want you to analyze this component and determine its purpose.”
“Yes, sir,” La Forge said, and moved to a corner of the ready room with the vial. He scrutinized its contents closely while Data began scanning it with his tricorder. They spoke to each other in low tones.
Batanides turned toward the doctor. “Did you find any other… abnormalities during the autopsy, Dr. Crusher?”
“No, Admiral. A full scan showed that his health was as good as you’ve said. His death was entirely the result of the internal and external trauma caused by the Chiarosan weapons.”
“Killed by a dagger and a sword. Not even a disruptor.” Batanides shook her head. “And we don’t even know who did it. Or why.” The admiral stepped over to the window, looking out at the stars. “Every calamity that’s happened on that world, every disaster that’s hit this region… and it’s all due to the hidden agendas of rebels and rogues.”
A heavy silence hung in the air. Picard exchanged glances with Crusher, but neither of them seemed inclined to speak just yet.
La Forge cleared his throat, ending the awkward moment.
Picard turned toward Geordi and Data, and immediately noticed the android’s satisfied smile. “Did you find something already?”
“Yes, sir. Our scans have identified the likely source of this chip. Its technology has, however, been greatly modified.”
“Modified from what, Data?” Crusher asked.
“From a Cardassian cranial implant,” said La Forge.
Picard looked stunned. “Cardassian?”
“The chip is similar to a highly classified biotechnological implant that has been used in the past by operatives of the Obsidian Order,” Data said. “The original implants were designed to stimulate endorphins, thus allowing operatives to withstand great amounts of pain, and even torture. Starfleet Command first learned of these devices more than two years ago, thanks to a report filed by Deep Space 9’s chief medical officer, Dr. Julian Bashir.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Batanides. “Why would Aubin have a Cardassian chip inside his head?”
“The chip merely appears to employ Cardassian technological principles,” Data said, addressing the admiral. “However, it was not necessarily built on Cardassia, or by Cardassians.”
Picard nodded. “What is its function,