The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [24]
The doctor held up a hand to forestall Deanna’s questions of concern. “I’m all right.”
“When did Commander Vaughn recruit you for the mission?” Deanna asked.
“Right after he recruited Data,” Beverly panted. She took a moment to regain her breath. “I haven’t had a workout like that since running through the Celtris III scenarios with Jean-Luc and Worf.”
Deanna scrutinized her friend with concern. The Federation wounded were pouring into the sector, and every doctor at Starbase 133 had been working round the clock. Not only did Beverly’s face reveal exhaustion from her session with Vaughn, the lines around her eyes had deepened, and the circles beneath them had darkened since yesterday.
Deanna understood more than most that treating the injured brought its own tolls. Beverly would know firsthand the horrors, the sacrifices, the losses of friends and families and homes. And no matter how strong the physician’s psyche, continuously dealing with bad news and dying patients wore down even the most resilient souls. Small wonder Beverly had accepted the assignment to Darona.
“He’s waiting for you,” the doctor said, straightening her shoulders.
“What do you think of him?”
Beverly shrugged. “He’s not the first hundred-year-old I’ve met who could go up against holographic opponents, or even real ones. Most people don’t give it much thought, but there are actually a lot more active centenarian humans in Starfleet than is generally known. One of the benefits of an ever-lengthening life span.” She smiled wryly. “Just the same, I’m glad Vaughn’s on our side.”
“You almost sound optimistic,” Deanna said. “I wish I could be.”
Beverly put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Deanna, Jean-Luc told me a little about the issues you’re struggling with. I can really only try to imagine what you’re going through right now. But let me ask you something. Do you have faith in your friends on the Enterprise to do everything we can to help win back Betazed?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then you need to have that same faith in your people back home. Trust them to get through this without forgetting who they are.”
“Easier said than done,” Deanna said. “Tevren—”
“I know,” Beverly said. “But I also know you. And if even half the Betazoids are anything like you or your mother, I think Betazed will endure whatever Tevren brings to it.”
Deanna mustered a grateful smile and squeezed her friend’s hand. “Thanks, Beverly.” And with an encouraging nod, the doctor set off for her quarters, leaving Deanna staring at the holodeck doors.
Letting out a deep breath, she stepped forward. The doors parted at her approach. Inside, she saw to her surprise that the holodeck walls were bare but for the diode grid. No holographic environment. She’d expected a Darona simulation—a city street, maybe the prison interior, with a squad of holographic Jem’Hadar waiting to ambush her.
Instead, she saw only Vaughn standing in the middle of the room, the red stripe of his S.O.B. standing out against the otherwise black uniform. In contrast to Beverly, he hadn’t broken a sweat. And his breathing appeared to be perfectly even.
“Try to kill me,” he instructed.
“I beg your pardon?”
He beckoned her closer. “Make your best move.”
She didn’t advance but dropped into a widespread stance, left foot forward, left fist up and ready for a jab. Keeping her weight on the balls of her feet, she bounced lightly, slowly circling, sizing up her opponent for weakness.
She couldn’t find any.
She feinted, moving in and out, testing his reaction but keeping her distance. He didn’t so much as blink.
“Come on, Deanna,” he taunted softly. “Come get me. Take me down.”
She ignored his jibe and watched his blue eyes for a hint of movement. Just because Vaughn had asked her to attack didn’t mean he wouldn’t do the same. And while her offensive strikes weren’t particularly powerful, she’d practiced her defensive