The Children of Hamlin - Carmen Carter [0]
Day is a concept born of planets spinning captive about a sun. In deep space, far removed from the light and heat of flaming stars, the kingdom of perpetual night reigns …
“CAPTAIN, WHAT ARE you doing awake at this hour?”
The words pricked the fragile bubble of thought that carried Jean-Luc Picard through space. He pulled back from the void, back inside the protective shell of the ship’s hull. His gaze focused on the clear glass of the port window and met his own reflection: dark, piercing eyes set in a lean face, its strong features heightened by a high forehead and closely cropped fringe of gray hair. The fingers of his hands, resting lightly on the clear glass of the port window, were stiff with cold, their warmth drained into space. He lifted his palms from the chill surface, and turned to face the woman who had entered the observation room.
“I might ask the same of you, Dr. Crusher,” he said.
Beverly Crusher walked up beside him and peered out the window. The captain continued to look at her.
“It’s all in the title. I’m a doctor; we’re always awake when everyone else-almost everyone else-is asleep.” She yawned and ran a smoothing hand back over her long and somewhat tousled red hair. “What’s your excuse, insomnia or ship’s duty?”
“Philosophy.” But the formless, almost mystical emotion that had welled within him had slipped away, and he had no desire to call it back now that she was here. “How serious was the medical call?”
“Not serious enough to warrant a report to the ship’s captain, if that’s what you’re asking.” She shivered and wrapped the blue medical jacket more tightly around her slender frame.
Picard stepped away from the chilled air lining the port wall, and out of the lounge into the corridor beyond. Crusher, her easy stride matching his own, kept pace beside him. The curving passageway was empty and still; the soft glow of deck lights tracked a path for their boots. “Nevertheless,” he said, “I’m always concerned about the welfare of the crew.”
“Then you’ll be relieved to know that Lieutenant T’sala’s firstborn is resting quietly after a somewhat nasty bout of colic.”
“Ah, colic.” Picard arranged his features to convey what he hoped was sympathetic interest. “I didn’t think Vulcan infants were prone to colic.”
“Well, strictly speaking, Surell’s condition involves a circulatory rather than gastric distress, but the result is a baby that cries very loudly for hours on end. It might as well be colic.” Crusher threw him a quick glance and smiled. “But these aren’t the usual concerns of a ship’s captain, are they?”
“Perhaps not,” he conceded with an answering smile. Even in the subdued light of the corridor he could detect the glint of amusement in her eyes. Such very blue eyes.
Picard cleared his throat with a selfconscious cough. “How have our new passengers taken to life aboard the Enterprise?”
“The Oregon Farmers?” The doctor sighed. “Well, of course, Starfleet certifies that all emigrant populations are medically fit. And it’s to be expected that there will be some emotional adjustments when faced with such a different environment as a starship … “
“Dr. Crusher,” broke in the captain. “What seems to be the problem?”
“No problem yet,” she said. “But Troi reports that one of the young Farmers seems to be unusually fascinated by starship technology. He’s been severely reprimanded by the community for exploring the ship.”
“I see.” Picard pondered the implications. “Poor young man. I gather the Oregonians are rather suspicious of modern technology. Still, I dare say it’s not too serious. In another day they’ll all be on their new planet, safe from the corrupting influence of-” He stopped suddenly in the corridor, his prediction unfinished.
“What’s wrong?”
“Can’t you feel it?” Picard balanced the weight of his body on both feet, reading the subtle movements of the deck. “The Enterprise just changed course … and increased warp speed.” His right hand flew up to the silver emblem pinned to his chest, activating his communications link with the ship. “Picard to bridge … “
“Riker here,