The Brave and the Bold Book Two - Keith R. A. DeCandido [22]
Hudson sighed, knowing that she was serious, regardless of the impracticalities of such a plan. Still, he figured it would probably be wise to assign McAdams to Tuvok, at least for the time being. Unlike Mastroeni, she would keep a clear head, and was much less likely to fire without provocation or orders.
He got up and proceeded to the mess hall, Mastroeni right behind him. McAdams and Schmidt were on opposite sides of the room—McAdams’s lithe form leaning against the wall near the door, Schmidt’s massive body crammed into one of the mess-hall chairs across the hall, both of them with phaser rifles conspicuous. Tuvok sat placidly in the middle of the room, his elbows resting on one of the tables, his fingers steepled together near his forehead. Probably something vaguely meditative, Hudson thought.
At the new arrivals’ entrance, McAdams straightened up. “He’s just been sitting there, Skip. I don’t think he’s even blinked since he sat down.” She grinned. “Better check, make sure his eyes haven’t gone all crusty.”
Hudson smiled and approached the prisoner.
Tuvok looked up. “My suspicions were correct, I see.”
Frowning, Hudson said, “What suspicions, Mr. Tuvok?”
“Your voice over the comlink sounded sufficiently similar to the voice on record as belonging to a former lieutenant commander in Starfleet named Calvin Hudson. Your face matches that record as well. It is therefore reasonable to deduce that you are he.”
McAdams grinned. “Well, if he does wind up joining, he can fill Sakona’s old role of class pedantic.”
Mastroeni shot the other woman a venomous look, no doubt angry that McAdams used the name of one of their fellow Maquis, but Tuvok said, “If you are referring to the woman who was captured on Deep Space 9 last year, it is my hope to prove more useful to you than she was.” He turned his impassive gaze on Hudson. “You have investigated the data?”
“We have.” Hudson rubbed his chin. “So far, it looks promising—but I don’t see any good reason to trust you. On the other hand, I have half a dozen reasons to shoot you on sight.”
“I will assume, since you have not shot me on sight, that you’re willing to give me the benefit of the doubt for the nonce.”
“For the nonce,” Hudson said with a nod. “We’ll enter these energy readings into the computer, see if we can track it down.”
“I will join you on your bridge,” Tuvok said, standing up.
Hudson smiled. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Mr. Tuvok. Our bridge doesn’t have much walking-around room. We’ll keep an open channel down here.” He pointed to the viewscreen on the side wall. “I’ll tie that in to the main viewer so you can see what we see. Let us know if we do anything wrong.”
Dryly, Tuvok said, “I will assume that request is limited to anything you might do in relation to the Malkus Artifacts.”
Mastroeni raised her phaser. “Good assumption, Vulcan. You’ve been living on borrowed time since you first entered the DMZ, and it’s only a matter of time before someone burns your head open with a phaser.”
Tuvok seemed unmoved by the threat. “All mortals live on ‘borrowed time,’ madam. Concerning oneself over-much about the nature of how one gives that time back, so to speak, would be an illogical waste of resources.”
“Darleen!” Hudson barked just as Mastroeni raised her weapon.
After a moment, Mastroeni calmed down and lowered her weapon. “Don’t push me, Vulcan.”
Tuvok continued to look unimpressed.
Hudson grabbed Mastroeni by the arm and led her out, giving both McAdams and Schmidt nods as he left, indicating that they were to remain on guard. As soon as the door closed behind them, he spoke. “Will you stop that, please? I know you don’t trust him, but we’re not killing him if we don’t have to, and if he is legit, I don’t want him expecting a phaser in the back from you.” As they approached the door to the bridge, which was on the same deck, he added, “Unless, of course, you’re just trying to intimidate him, in which case you’re wasting your time. He’s obviously one