The Farther Shore - Christie Golden [90]
“Admiral Montgomery,” she said, surprised. “What an unexpected pleasure. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to let you know there’s been more from Baines,” said Montgomery, “but I think we may have seen the last of him.”
“Really?” she answered, keeping her voice even. Thus far, no one had connected her with Baines. In the excitement that followed Montgomery’s appearance on Voyager, the admiral had never gotten around to asking her about how she managed to get past security.
“Several people, including Starfleet personnel, were abducted and then released after a brief time,” Montgomery said. “They were forced to jump through a lot of hoops. Seems that Baines got some kind of pleasure out of making humans act like holographic characters in some of the more, er, lurid holonovels.”
[270] “Really,” she said again. So Baines had listened to her comments about the Doctor’s holonovel but, as usual, had gotten the message all wrong. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Not seriously. There was some mistreatment at the hands of the holograms. Whip lashes and cuts and so on.”
“Whips?”
“They were returned to report on how badly holograms suffered,” said Montgomery, with an expression that made Janeway believe he thought the whole thing was ridiculous. “And shortly after that, we got a tip which led us to Baines’s body. Looks like suicide.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” Janeway said. “He had the fight to live for, the fight for holographic rights. Why would he kill himself?”
“Crazy guy like that, who knows,” said Montgomery. Janeway felt a brief stab of sorrow. Baines wasn’t an evil man, just dreadfully misguided. “Anyway, thought you might like to know. Looks like everything’s all wrapped up now. Except for one thing that still bothers me.”
“And what’s that?”
“I want to know who this Peregrine is. The one who helped you out with the mysterious messages.”
“Does it really matter? He was instrumental in helping us determine the identity of the Borg queen. Maybe we ought to just let Peregrine fade into the woodwork.”
“Hmph.” Montgomery looked stern, but his eyes were bright. He was off to fight another battle.
Janeway leaned back in her chair, thinking. She wondered what would become of the holographic rights issue, now that its leader was dead. It wouldn’t go away, that much was certain. Perhaps the Doctor would [271] choose to become more involved. He’d spoken with pride of his progress on Photons, Claim Justice. No doubt, it would be a best-seller. She wondered what had happened in Baines’s little scenario, if it had done what he wanted it to do, if being treated like a hologram had truly changed anyone’s mind or heart.
It was the first day back at work for Vassily Andropov. He had been debriefed and visited a counselor; Starfleet felt it had done all it could for him. Andropov could barely get through the day, so anxious was he to return home.
When he transported into his kitchen, they were waiting for him. He held out his arms and Allyson rushed into them, smiling happily. Andropov hugged her fiercely and planted a kiss on top of her head.
And, grinning, he extended a hand to the dark-haired, male hologram who stood off to the side.
“Welcome home, Vassily,” said Oliver Baines.
The thin, high-pitched wailing woke Tom Paris from a deep and very pleasant dream in which B’Elanna had returned home and they were getting reacquainted. He blinked, and despite the hour, smiled. It was good to have his daughter back with him, loud screams and all. It felt ... normal. And after the ride he’d had recently, normal was good.
As he went to pick her up, he heard the computer chime softly. Who could it be at this hour? Not Jane-way, not anymore. He sat down, holding Miral, and touched the controls.
“B’Elanna!” he exclaimed, and then immediately [272] wedging his foot in his mouth added,