Spirit Walk_ Enemy of My Enemy (Book 2) - Christie Golden [29]
He wished he’d let the creatures kill Patel and the others after all.
Fortunately, he’d been expecting this, judging from what Kaz had said so far, and he was ready with an explanation. But he couldn’t make it look as though it came too quickly. So the Changeling opened his mouth slightly in an expression of shock, and leaned a bit heavily on Kaz’s desk, and wiped his forehead. Astall went up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. He wanted to slap her.
“I don’t understand. How is this possible?” he replied, feigning shock. He felt Astall watching him closely. “There’s got to be an error somewhere.”
“Believe me, Captain, that was our first thought,” said Patel. “We double- and triple-checked everything. It’s all there.”
“Chakotay” rubbed his chin, thinking frantically. How much had they learned?
“Kaz, what made you run a specific DNA check?” he asked finally.
Kaz laughed a little, but it was cold laughter. “Call it a hunch,” he said. “If you had the memories of a Maquis who’d lost a Bajoran wife to Cardassian experimentation, it might have occurred to you, too.”
Damn the man. Damn his dead wife, and damn himself for not remembering this. He’d known Vallia Kaz, known exactly how she’d died. It was what had brought Crell Moset and his work to the Changeling’s attention in the first place. He was slipping, slipping badly, and if he didn’t watch himself, it would be his undoing.
“Of course,” he said, putting a hint of sympathy into his voice. “I hadn’t though about that.”
“My theory is that the colonists were somehow transformed into the creatures that attacked the away team,” Kaz continued. “It’s the only explanation for why there’s Fortier DNA in that creature. Whether it was some bizarre accident—I don’t know, a transporter malfunction or something—or deliberate genetic manipulation, I can’t tell.”
“That theory provides at least a tentative explanation for why there’s Fortier DNA present,” said Patel. “But what’s really puzzling me is how Captain Chakotay’s DNA got into the mix.”
“Me, too,” said the Changeling earnestly.
“This does lend credence to the genetic-manipulation theory versus an accident,” said Patel.
“Chakotay” sighed and straightened. “Kaz, you were right. We should bring the rest of the senior staff in on this.”
“And Fortier’s people as well,” said Astall promptly. “They have a right to know what we think happened to their families. If the evidence can be trusted, then Patel was attacked by Marius’s brother.”
“Chakotay” fought the urge to grind his teeth. Informing the colonists would be exactly what Chakotay would do. He was open, forthright. He didn’t like to keep secrets unless it was necessary to security, and the Changeling suspected that this was poised on the brink of metamorphosing into something very big if he didn’t navigate carefully. Cries of “but why?” would go up if he didn’t tell Fortier what was going on.
“Of course,” he said, trying to sound sincere. “Kaz, Patel—I want you two to work up a presentation. I’ll call a meeting of the senior staff at 0600 tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” they said, both in chorus, like some sort of musical theater performers.
He put a puzzled expression on his face. “I assume it would take you that long to prepare.”
“We can be ready in, what, Patel, an hour?” said Kaz. Patel nodded her head vigorously. “I’ve done most of the research anyway on my own,” Kaz continued, “before bringing it to you.”
“Chakotay” smiled easily. “Of course you would have. Two hours, then. Just to double-check your research.” He hesitated, then motioned to Kaz. The doctor rose and the two walked a little bit away from the others.
“How are you doing?” the Changeling inquired solicitously. A fair question, and, he hoped, one that would make Kaz give him necessary information.
“Well enough,” Kaz said. “My isoboromine levels were elevated, but I’ve been able to keep them down with medication. I’ve told Astall I’m prepared to call Vorik in for assistance if Gradak becomes