The Brave and the Bold Book Two - Keith R. A. DeCandido [29]
“One of the Malkus Artifacts is reported to have the ability to control thoughts, but that is separate from the artifact that affects weather patterns.”
Hudson frowned. “What about the other two people who wielded the artifacts?”
Tuvok’s eyes almost seemed to turn inward for a half-second as he recalled the records of the artifact. “One was a citizen of a human colony. She was a disaffected civil-service worker named Tomasina Laubenthal, and had no history of mental illness prior to finding the artifact. However, she had recently gone through a life change that was believed to be the reason for her using the artifact to commit attempted mass murder. The second artifact was used by the Bajoran terrorist Orta.”
The Bajoran woman—Seska—snorted at that. “I’ve heard of him. He isn’t a model of mental health at the best of times.”
Tuvok steepled his fingers together. “However, the artifacts do not have any visible controls. They must function by reacting to the thoughts of the wielder.”
“Tharia seemed to simply will the device to do what it did,” Chakotay said.
“It may therefore be logical to postulate that the transfer of psionic waves works both ways, as it were—that the artifacts are capable of, in essence, forcing the possessor to utilize them. This hypothesis is supported by a telepath noticing a change in thought patterns.” One of his eyebrows rose. “In the case of Ms. Laubenthal, it probably would have taken very little to convince her to do so, given the life change she had undergone.”
“In Orta’s case, it wouldn’t have taken any convincing whatsoever,” Seska said.
Nodding, Tuvok said, “It is an intriguing hypothesis.”
“It’s also pretty irrelevant.” That was B’Elanna, the part-Klingon woman. “We need to find Tharia—that shuttle can’t go higher than warp three. I assume this tub can do better?”
Mastroeni gave the woman one of her lesser snarls. “We hit warp nine to rescue you.”
“Tharia was headed for Slaybis. He’s got a head start, but we should be able to beat him there at warp nine.”
Hudson shook his head. “We can’t maintain it that long. But I’m not sure why he’d want to go there. The only Cardassians there are a bunch of civilians.”
Chakotay hesitated. “Actually, Slaybis IV was on our list.”
“That’s a human colony!” Mastroeni said angrily.
To Hudson’s surprise, it was Tuvok who responded. “However, it is a human colony with a Starfleet Intelligence operative working on it.” He turned to Chakotay and again raised an eyebrow. “Logically, that is the only possible reason why Slaybis IV would be a legitimate Maquis target.”
Hudson also turned to Chakotay. “Is this true?”
Slowly, Chakotay nodded. “We got word that one of our couriers, a young man named Elois Phifer, was working for SI.”
Tuvok added, “Lieutenant Phifer is, in fact, an SI operative, sent in six months ago to gather intelligence on the Maquis, though his information has been sporadic and less than useful to Starfleet.”
Rubbing his chin, Hudson turned to Mastroeni. Her face was unreadable, which told Hudson all he needed to know. Tuvok gave up an SI operative before Chakotay had a chance to—that was a major point in the Vulcan’s favor.
He tapped an intercom. “McAdams, set course for the Slaybis system, warp seven-point-five.” He turned to B’Elanna. “I can’t risk going any faster than that—we already strained our engines to get to you as fast as we did.”
B’Elanna smiled. “Let me get a look at your engines. I’ll coax warp eight out of them at least.”
“Let her do it,” Chakotay said. “She’s the best. In fact, she’s better than the best.”
Chakotay didn’t strike Hudson as the type given to hyperbole. “Darleen, take her to engineering.”
Mastroeni fixed Hudson with a glare, but did so without comment.
“All right, Mr. Tuvok, I think you’ve shown plenty of good faith,” Hudson said. “I’m still not completely convinced that your desire to join the Maquis is legitimate, but I’m content to not shoot you for the time being. Right now, the main thing is to get that artifact back from Tharia. We’ll figure