Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [29]
Im Commander William Riker of the Starship Enterprise.
The man blinked, struggling to make sense of Rikers words and his surroundings, to gather himself.
Soran … he whispered. Dr. Tolian Soran … His eyes widened as he looked into the smoking ruins; a flicker of intense almost insane, Riker thoughtbitterness crossed his face before he lifted a hand to his eyes.
Who attacked you, Doctor? Riker asked with quiet firmness. He did not turn at the sound of light footsteps behind him, but watched with his peripheral vision as Dr. Crusher hurried toward them.
Soran lowered his hand and, with a disconsolate sweeping glance at the destruction around him, shook his head. Im not sure … It happened so fast …
Beverly directed a reassuring smile at the dazed scientist and began to scan him with the tricorder. Riker watched, trying to get a fix on Soran; there was something about the man that vaguely disturbed him. The intensity in the eyes, perhaps, that verged on wildness; or maybe that the mans apparent helplessness somehow did not quite ring true.
Commander! Paskall called down from the upper level. Youd better take a look at this!
Riker directed a glance at Worf; the two strode over to the emergency ladder and crawled quickly to the upper deck, where Paskall and Mendez knelt beside another body. As Riker and Worf approached, Mendez held his beacon so that the corpses face was clearly visible.
It was a young soldier, one who had apparently accidentally died in the falling debris. His face was bruised, smudged with smoke, but otherwise composed in death; Riker felt no surprise, only a growing outrage at the sight of the upswept eyebrows and ears, the ridged forehead. He said nothing, but let Worf give their common anger voice in a single low, disgusted growl:
Romulan …
SEVEN
The minute he got off duty, Geordi La Forge headed for Datas quarters. He did so partly because he felt the overboard incident with Dr. Crusher bore discussionand partly because being around Data usually cheered him up. Amargosa had caused a strange pall to settle over the day; it seemed unfair that the earlier celebration could have been overshadowed so quickly by tragedy. But then, death interrupting life never seemed fair.
And it wasnt just Amargosa; something else bad had happened, something to do with Captain Picard. Geordi had been near the bow when the captain had retrieved his personal message. He hadnt been able to see Picards facenot until Troi had gone over to speak with himbut even so, he had read shock in the sudden slump of the captains shoulders.
Geordi paused in front of the door to Datas quarters and pressed the chime. The door slid open; inside, Data sat in a chair with Spot curled in his lap.
Geordi, the android said. Please come in. I am glad you are here. There are some questions I would like to ask
about the business with Dr. Crusher this afternoon? Geordi stepped over to his friends side as the door closed behind them.
Datas pale golden face brightened. Precisely. I am determined to understand why her falling into the water was not funny, whereas Commander Worf falling into the water was.
Er, Data … Im still not so sure I can explain it. Humors pretty elusive stuff …
Data frowned faintly as he stroked the cat, who closed her eyes and purred drowsily. Perhaps overt aggression is the key. After all, I pushed Dr. Crusher to make her fall, whereas Worf fell simply because the plank was removed.
Geordi shook his head. Unh-unh. Humor can get pretty aggressive sometimes. And you didnt push Dr. Crusher hard enough to hurt her.
Oh. Data gazed up at his friend with puzzled, golden eyes. Is she still angry?
No … But Id stay out of sickbay for a while if I were you. Geordis lips curved upward in a slight smile. Whatever possessed