The Children of Hamlin - Carmen Carter [61]
“No,” cried Troi. “Don’t get any closer.” Despite Tasha’s comforting embrace, the counselor was also shaking. Her face was contorted in a mirror image of Jason’s emotional distress. “Your presence only frightens him more.”
“What can I do to reassure him?”
“I don’t know,” sobbed Troi. “Nothing. Leave him.”
Jason had retreated into an even tighter huddle, and his cries had taken on a disturbing rhythmic chant.
“Damn.” Crusher pulled a hypo from her medical kit. Jason flinched at the touch of the cold metal against his skin but otherwise took no notice of the contact. Seconds later, as the sedative took effect, he fell silent and slumped in place. Crusher lowered the man onto his side and gently untangled his limbs into a comfortable sleeping position. He would remain that way for at least another six hours.
The doctor activated the chamber-control panel and the shield slid back over the unconscious form, hiding it from view. The diagnostic panel indicated that Jason’s body was healthy even if his mind was not, but his intense emotional reactions would have a depressive effect eventually. Changing a setting on the hypo, Crusher turned her attention to the counselor.
“No,” protested Troi, but she was too late to stop the hissing dose of medication from entering her system. “Really, I’m fine now.”
“That’s what they all say,” murmured Beverly Crusher. “This should calm you down until you reach your cabin.”
“But I can’t leave Moses.” The Counselor was as determined to stay in sickbay as Yar had been to leave. “He’s just starting to recognize me.”
“I’ll keep you company,” volunteered Lieutenant Yar.
Crusher looked up with disbelief. “I thought you wanted to get out of sickbay.”
Yar shrugged sheepishly. “I hate to see Troi cry.”
Troi laughed even as she wiped away the last of her tears. “Thank you for the offer, but what do you know about babies?”
“Not much,” admitted the lieutenant. “But the exposure might be good for me.” She paused. “As long as there aren’t too many messy biological functions involved.”
“Oh, do what you want,” said Crusher, exasperated with them both. Troi was quickly recovering her emotional equilibrium, but the doctor’s own reaction to Jason’s awakening was only now taking its toll.
In the privacy of her office, Dr. Crusher was unable to ignore her growing despair. She sat at her desk, calling up a succession of case files on the computer without absorbing the material on the screen. Her mind kept returning to the Hamlin captive, searching for ways to help Jason adjust, but the situation was far removed from any she had ever dealt with before. She needed help. Raising a hand to her chest, Crusher tapped at her insignia.
“I was expecting your call,” Andrew Deelor replied. “And I have a pretty good idea of what you want.”
“Will you ask her?”F
“Yes, I’ll ask,” he said reluctantly. “But I can’t guarantee she’ll help.” He broke contact.
And I can’t guarantee Jason’s life, Crusher admitted for the first time.
Chapter Thirteen
PATRISHA STOOD APART from the other Farmers. The men and women of the community were ranged in a semicircle around the front face of the barn, talking among themselves in whispered voices, stamping their feet to keep warm in the chill morning air. She held back, observing them as they watched the barn. An early dawn light washed over the wooden structure. The stage was set for the drama to come.
A hush fell over the group as Dnnys and Wesley pushed their way through the crowd and marched up to the barn, conscious that their every movement was being watched. Exchanging nervous grins, the boys unbarred the great doors and swung them open. The Farmers edged forward, necks craning to catch sight of the cryogenic equipment stored inside. Beyond a few murmurs of contempt at the intricacy of the machine, there were no other comments.
Patrisha was almost ashamed of the unquestioning acceptance of the stasis equipment on the holodeck. No one, not