The Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter [109]
“However,” continued La Forge, “the new damage to the deflector shields has compromised tactical defense. There’s a limit to the repairs we can conduct out of spacedock, but I should know what percentage of our performance capacity has been restored in about four hours.”
Riker would have found the information reassuring if not for the recent sighting of the unDiWahn.
“Geordi, a rather large space fleet just wandered through this area. They appear to be gone for now, but there’s always the possibility they could circle back and find us. Without weapons and without defensive shields, our only recourse is to tuck tail and hope we can outrun them.”
“Fortunately,” said Data, “our sensor scans indicate the fleet is moving slowly.
The unDiWahn may lack the capacity for high warp speeds.”
“At the moment, so do we.” La Forge waved at the diagram of patchwork repairs in progress. “The warp reactor core has been off-line for the last hour while we replaced the starboard nacelle generator coils. As a result, we’ll have to ease into warp drive as we align the matterstantimatter injectors.”
“Swell,” said Riker. “At the first sign of trouble, we’ll limp out of here.”
“Yeah, but if we’d taken one more hit from the Plath, we wouldn’t be able to crawl out of here, so I’d say we’re pretty lucky.”
The engineer’s comment brought a puzzled frown to Data’s face. “Geordi, I am most curious about the Plath’s destruction.”
Riker had no way to cut off the discussion without drawing undue attention to the subject; instead, he listened as La Forge answered the android’s question.
“I can’t explain it, Data. There’s an outside chance it was some freak weapons malfunction, but I just can’t imagine what could make a warship’s phasers detonate like that.”
Geordi glanced back toward the schematic.
“And frankly, I haven’t got time to worry about the Plath right now.”
“Then we’ll leave you to carry on more important work,” said Riker, relieved that the engineer had dismissed the matter so quickly.
A few minutes later, when he and the android were walking down an empty passageway, Riker broached the subject himself. “Data, I would prefer an end to any more speculation about the explosion on the Plath. If anyone asks, we can attribute it to a faulty detonation control.”
“You wish me to lie?”
“Well, as a matter of fact …” Then Riker sighed, and said, “Let’s just say that I’d rather not concentrate too much attention on the incident.”
“Because it would corroborate certain powers attributed to the Heart?”
The first officer shook his head. “I can’t answer that.” The only person who had the authorization, or the knowledge, to deal with that question was the captain; and Riker wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to hear Picard’s explanation.
Data was still silently pondering the implication of Riker’s evasion, when an intercom hail echoed through the corridor.
“Crusher to Commander Riker.”
“Riker here.”
“I’m ready to make that house call we discussed.”
“Proceed, Doctor,” said the first officer, coming to a sudden stop. “I’ll wait for you in Counselor Troi’s office.”
He turned to walk in a new direction, then realized that Data had overheard the entire exchange and might refer to it at some inopportune moment. Riker tried to think of a plausible excuse for this covert arrangement with the chief medical officer, but the strain of a last-minute invention must have showed because Data took the initiative.
“Commander,” said the android. “Would you prefer that I did not concentrate too much attention on this event as well?”
“Yes, Data,” said Riker with a sigh of relief. “Your inattention would be most appreciated.”
For now, at least. However, if Beverly Crusher’s effort was not successful, then the circle of involved officers would have to widen to include Data.
The lights of the ready room were dimmed to their lowest level. Taking a cautious step over the threshold, Crusher peered toward the star window.
There was no one sitting at the desk, yet she had heard Picard call out permission for her to enter.
The doors shut behind