The Farther Shore - Christie Golden [17]
“Live long and prosper, Commander Tuvok.”
Tuvok returned the gesture. “Peace and long life, Commander Data.”
Data cocked his head. “An interesting wish for an android, who is technically not alive.”
Janeway smiled. “An apt comment, Commander, considering the nature of the issue which brought you here.” She indicated a seat and he took it. She sat on the sofa next to him.
“I assume Captain Picard filled you in ... on everything?”
“If by that you mean did he inform me that you [49] desire to utilize my skills as an advocate for the EMH Mark One who served aboard your vessel, that you are certain that this same hologram can be invaluable in helping to halt the Borg virus that is currently spreading across the Earth, and that you suspect that Starfleet itself may be responsible for the implementation of said virus, then yes.”
Janeway smiled. “I wish we’d had you with us during our time in the Delta Quadrant, Mr. Data.”
“Thank you, Admiral. I doubt, however, that Captain Picard would share that desire.”
“I’m certain he wouldn’t.” Her smile faded. “Tell me, Mr. Data, may I take it that your appearance here implies that you are willing to help us?”
“I am inclined to do so, but I would like to hear more.”
She leaned forward, her eyes searching his. “You’re about to get an earful. I invited my former senior staff here tonight to tell you about ... a slight change in plan. You’re welcome to rake us over the coals if you like.”
He looked puzzled, then his face brightened. “Ah. Rake one over the coals. To take to task, or to interrogate vigorously. Another slang term is, to grill. It is curious that there are so many cooking metaphors involved in—”
“Data,” said Janeway, “time really is of the essence.”
“Of course. Please proceed.”
It was nearly 2200 when Janeway put through a final message to Kenneth Montgomery. He seemed in unusually good spirits when he answered. She wondered what had happened to put him in such a cheerful mood. [50] She thought about asking, but was worried that it would turn into a sarcastic remark, and that wasn’t what she wanted right now.
“Good evening, Admiral,” he said. “Who will it be this time, Seven, Icheb, or the Doctor?”
Janeway forced herself to smile pleasantly. “Why, all three. Let me get right to the point. You’ve held Seven and Icheb for almost two weeks now without allowing them to regenerate. Dr. Kaz tells me that he can minimize the risk of any Borg contact while in their regenerative state.”
Montgomery sighed. “The key word in that statement is ‘minimize.’ We can’t be certain. There’s a Borg virus running around striking apparently at random. Surely you can see what a security risk they are.”
“If they don’t regenerate, they’ll die,” she said quietly. “Are you willing to have the deaths of innocent people on your hands?”
Montgomery made a dismissive gesture. “That’s an overstatement,” he said.
“Your head doctor doesn’t think so.”
“Kaz is an alarmist. Probably that poet/Maquis combination in his symbiont. The other doctor on my team assures me that it’s nowhere near that dire. And even so, the answer to your question is yes. To prevent every person on the planet from turning into a Borg, I’d sacrifice two innocent people. From what I know of your encounters with the Borg, you’d do the same.”
For just a moment, Janeway pondered the statement. Would she? The answer grieved her but did not surprise her. Yes, she would sacrifice Seven and Icheb ... if she [51] knew, without a doubt, that it would halt such a terrible thing.
“But you don’t know that their deaths will stop the virus. In fact, utilizing their knowledge would be more helpful than letting them go insane and die in a Starfleet prison.”
“I don’t agree,” said Montgomery. “Let’s go to the next battle so we can both get to bed at a decent time, shall we?”
“Fine with me,” said Janeway. “Even if I agreed that the Doctor was involved in the HoloRevolution—hell, let’s go for it, let’s say he was the ringleader. Even so, he knows more about the Borg than anyone else except