The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [5]
They reached the turbolift. Riker followed Deanna inside.
“Observation lounge,” he ordered.
While the lift moved soundlessly through multiple levels, Riker eyed the woman at his side. Before leaving her quarters, Deanna had changed into her uniform and brushed her hair, but she still wore the same exhausted expression, and her uniform hung loosely on her formerly curvaceous figure. She appeared to be wasting away before his eyes, and he felt helpless to comfort her. Since they’d lost all communication with Betazed four months ago when the Dominion invaded, no one knew what was really happening on her home planet. Not knowing freed the imagination to conjure the worst.
“Any idea why the captain wants us?” she asked.
“Someone docked in shuttlebay two while I was on my way to your quarters. Maybe there’s news.”
Her dark eyes clouded. “I don’t think I can stand more bad news.”
He started to reassure her that the news might be good, but held his tongue. Lately, good news had been scarcer than the grizzly bears that had once ranged his native Alaska.
The turbolift stopped and its door slid open. Riker motioned Deanna ahead and followed her into the observation lounge.
Captain Picard and an unfamiliar officer stood at the windows, their backs to the door. Admiration for his commanding officer flooded through Riker. He’d been offered his own command many times, but he hadn’t wanted to leave the Enterprise. He loved the ship. His loyalty was to her captain, and it was difficult to imagine one without the other, or himself anywhere else.
“Ah, you’re here,” Picard said, tugging by habit at his jacket as he turned to greet them. His voice was warm, but his expression somber, and Riker feared Deanna was probably right about more bad news.
The unknown officer turned away from the window and faced them. He was a Starfleet commander, taller than Picard, with a full head of silver hair and a closely trimmed beard of the same color. Fine lines etched the corners of the stranger’s serious blue eyes and the broad expanse of his tanned, high forehead. Riker noted that while he appeared relaxed, the man moved with a precision and economy that he’d seen before only in the most seasoned officers.
“Commander Elias Vaughn,” Picard said, “my first officer, Commander William Riker. Commander Vaughn is attached to Starfleet special operations.”
“Commander,” Riker said. Vaughn nodded but said nothing as he gripped Riker’s hand.
“And I believe you already know my counselor, Commander Troi,” Picard went on, which puzzled Riker. He couldn’t remember Deanna ever mentioning an Elias Vaughn. Not that that means anything. There’s probably a long list of people in our pasts that Deanna and I have never discussed.
“Hello, Deanna, it’s been a while.” Vaughn shook her hand as well.
Troi nodded to him, though Riker could feel her growing tense next to him. “It’s good to see you, Elias,” she said evenly.
“Now that everyone’s acquainted,” Picard said in a tone that inhibited further pleasantries, “let’s begin. Commander Vaughn?”
Vaughn clasped his hands behind his back and eyed his fellow officers from beneath thick brows. “As I’ve already explained to Captain Picard, I’m here under orders from Starfleet Command to brief you on the Enterprise ‘s next assignment.”
“Begging your pardon, Commander,” Riker interrupted, “but our ship’s in no condition—”
“She will be,” Vaughn said. “Effective immediately, Enterprise is Starbase 133’s top priority. Your ship will be mission-ready in less than four days.”
“Everything Commander Vaughn is about to tell