Section 31_ Rogue - Andy Mangels [88]
“Why are you so sure your plan is going to work, Commander La Forge?” Batanides said, sounding skeptical.
The engineer placed an arm about Data’s shoulders, momentarily surprising him. “Because, Admiral, even the smartest Romulan can’t think nearly as fast as the Enterprise’s second officer.”
Data looked embarrassed. “Why… thank you, Geordi.”
Picard smiled. “Then make it so, Mr. La Forge, Mr. Data. Mr. Hawk, I’d like to have you aboard that scoutship as well.”
La Forge noticed a slight scowl forming on Keru’s face, though the stellar cartographer said nothing. Hawk beamed, apparently not noticing Keru’s reaction. “Captain, I’d be happy to volunteer. I’m looking forward to having a go at that scoutship’s cockpit.”
Picard dismissed his officers, and La Forge and Data were the first to leave the room, nearly at a run. With yet another inscrutable riddle before him, the engineer felt fairly abuzz with excitement. Sleep is overrated anyway, he thought, his agile mind already setting up several new equations as he entered the turbolift alongside his android friend.
The knowledge that the Romulans were now poised to take over-or perhaps even annihilate-the universe settled uneasily in Cortin Zweller’s gut. Compared to the singularity, Koval’s list of Romulan spies now seemed impossibly trivial.
Zweller now had to accept the bitter truth that he-and Section 31-had been duped. Taken in by a master deceiver, to be sure. But fooled nonetheless.
He mulled these self-recriminations over as he watched Lieutenant Hawk and most of the other officers file out of Stellar Cartography. He wondered if Hawk had said anything to Picard or Batanides about their conversation on the scoutship-and which way Hawk’s loyalties would ultimately lead him.
Suddenly, Zweller noticed Counselor Troi’s appraising stare. Hurriedly, he reinforced his mental shields. Had he allowed his regrets to compromise him?
Troi spoke briefly-too softly for Zweller to overhear-to both Picard and Batanides. A moment later, the captain approached Zweller, regarding him with a taut expression.
“Please wait for us in the aft observation lounge, Commander. I think there’s still some unfinished business left over from our previous conversation.”
Zweller’s pulse thundered in his ears as he left the chamber, alone. He knew he had to be the principal topic of whatever conversation was now occurring in the room behind him.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and the flames of the singularity blazed behind his eyelids. What a waste, he thought, to banish such a useful thing forever into subspace. There has to be a better alternative.
He decided to speak to Lieutenant Hawk about that at the earliest opportunity.
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you sure of this, Counselor?” Picard asked, his voice booming across the nearly empty Stellar Cartography room.
“Not entirely, sir,” Troi admitted. “The feelings I got during the meeting were so fleeting that I only have vague impressions.” She hated sounding so equivocal, but she knew that evaluating the emotions of others was far from an exact science.
“Just because you sensed feelings of betrayal coming from Commander Zweller doesn’t necessarily mean he’s working with the enemy, Counselor,” said Batanides, her expression showing slight annoyance.
“All the same, Marta, we both know that Corey’s story hasn’t been adding up.” Picard splayed his fingers on the dais railing and stared down at them. “Was he working with Falhain’s rebels or was he just playing along to find a way to free his fellow officers? Did he provide them with weapons? How much does he know about the Romulans’ involvement in this sector? What isn’t he telling us?”
“I’m afraid I can’t be of much help, Captain,” Troi said. “According to his records, Commander Zweller is a nontelepathic human, but he apparently knows how to erect mental shields.”
“Maybe some people just don’t like to have their minds probed without permission,” Batanides said testily, crossing her arms. “In Starfleet Intelligence circles, it’s not uncommon to protect