Survivors - Jean Lorrah [98]
Tasha had made the same decision; she was with Picard and Riker in the Captain’s ready room, still wearing the civilian clothes she had beamed up in.
Until that moment Data had avoided wondering if Tasha were angry at him. She did not act angry. Rather she was pale and slightly stiff. Data had seen humans in that state before; it meant they were weakened by illness, shock, or injury, but determined to carry on.
He knew he would never understand the emotional blow Tasha had taken in being forced to arrest the man she loved, but her reaction gave him another clue to add to his study of human behavior.
A clue he wished he didn’t have.
On the one hand, he admired Tasha for doing her duty. On the other, although it was illogical for her to blame him for her pain, he feared she would.
Data added his report to Tasha’s. When they reached this morning’s battle, and the unexpected arrival of the Enterprise, he concluded, “We assumed Nalavia withdrew her forces because she needed them to control the people in the cities-that the suggestibility drug had worn off.”
“I think you’re right,” said Riker. “There seems to be a civil war going on down there. You were not sent to Treva to start a war, but to prevent one.”
Tasha said nothing. Data considered before he spoke. “Starfleet’s aid was requested by the apparent legitimate government. However, we found that due process had been subverted. Nalavia ignores Treva’s constitution, and enforces her power with acts of terrorism. I accessed the evidence from her own computer.”
“So you took it upon yourselves to join the rebellion against her,” said Picard.
Data opened his mouth to protest, and closed it again. From the moment Nalavia’s troops attacked Rikan’s castle, there was no denying he and Tasha had done exactly that. So he said simply, “Yes, sir.”
“Lieutenant Yar?” asked the Captain.
“Yes, sir. Nalavia meant to use us as hostages to force you to destroy Rikan’s stronghold.”
“She must have known Starfleet would do no such thing,” said Picard.
Tasha looked at Data, then back to Picard. “Suppose her plan had worked, sir. Suppose Dare-Adin- had not kidnapped me, Data not escaped. If she had imprisoned us and attempted to coerce you?”
“We would’ve done everything in our power to get you out,” Riker answered without waiting for Picard’s response.
“Everything?” asked Tasha.
Riker began, “You don’t think we would abandon-“
“Just a moment,” the Captain interrupted him. “Lieutenant, are you suggesting-?”
“I don’t think Nalavia will be content with a single planet, especially not one with such a small population as Treva’s. I think she’s out to gain power here on the edge of the Federation-make other worlds hesitant to apply for Federation membership by making us look like hypocrites.”
Data nodded in sudden comprehension. “Nalavia tried to arrange matters so that either way, she would win. If you had used the ship’s weapons to destroy Rikan, or if you had attacked Nalavia to rescue us, either could be interpreted as a violation of the Prime Directive.”
“But she didn’t count on Data’s ability to access her computer, or his escape,” said Tasha. “And she certainly could not have expected her enemies to kidnap me.”
“Had that not happened,” Data agreed, “it would have taken me longer to become suspicious. Since I thought that it was Nalavia keeping Tasha and me apart, I felt no compunction about breaching her security. It was my duty toward a colleague in jeopardy.”
“All that will be included in the final report,” Picard said. “You operated under standard procedures … until you became involved in the fighting.”
“We were under attack, Captain,” said Tasha.
“That is true,” Data agreed. “Nalavia attacked Rikan because she knew we were in his castle.”
“We knew too much,” said Tasha. “I am certain she meant us to be casualties of an insurrection.”
“Mmm,” said Picard, rubbing his chin. “You are probably correct, but how do we prove it?