The Sky's the Limit - Marco Palmieri [16]
“I suppose that’s one indication of how serious the Cardassians are about any peace treaty,” Crusher said. Eyeing Daret, she offered a small, grim smile. “Present company excepted, of course.” Completing her initial examination of Weglash, she turned from the patient bed and moved to Commander Spires, continuing her rapid triage. “Tasha, help replace Weglash’s respirator and start the new vapor mixture.”
Opening the case she had carried with her from the shuttlecraft, Yar searched through its assortment of medical supplies until she identified the vapor device and the fist-sized pressure cylinder Crusher had requested. She affixed one to the other and handed the assembly to Daret, already feeling overwhelmed and out of place as the two doctors quickly fell into an efficient rhythm. According to Crusher, it had been several years since their last correspondence, but their actions made it seem as though the physicians worked together every day.
The sound of the infirmary doors opening caught her attention, and Yar turned to see another Cardassian entering the room. Like most of his kind, he was tall and brawny, with large, muscled arms and legs evident even beneath the hard segmented plates of his brown uniform.
“Glinn Malir,” Daret said, looking up from where he stood next to where Crusher now was examining Lieutenant T’Lan. “A pleasant surprise, seeing you here.” Yar recognized the new arrival’s name as that of the Kovmar’s second-in-command, and she noted the slight yet still perceptible trace of sarcasm lacing the Cardassian physician’s greeting.
Malir nodded, remaining near the door with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes moved, taking in everything in the room, then narrowing as they focused on Yar. “It’s my understanding,” he said, “that officers in Starfleet’s medical and science branches are designated with blue as one of their uniform colors, whereas gold is usually worn by their engineers and security personnel.” The words sounded almost playful, though his expression remained neutral, and Yar felt a slight chill as his eyes regarded her with wanton interest. “You do not strike me as an engineer.”
“What the hell happened to her?” Crusher’s voice was loud and sharp, cutting off Yar’s attempted reply. “Some of these injuries are more recent than the crash.” She leveled a harsh glare at Malir. “What did you do to her?”
With a casual air that Yar found irritating, the first officer shrugged. “She sustained some damage while resisting the efforts of security personnel charged with restraining her. It is an unfortunate consequence.”
“Why was she being restrained by security at all?” Yar asked, already knowing the answer. “You interrogated her, didn’t you?”
“She was questioned,” Malir countered, malice now creeping into his voice. “Standard procedure when dealing with spies and other enemy combatants.”
“Even though she required medical attention for her injuries sustained in the crash?” Crusher asked. She looked to Daret. “Is this true?”
Daret nodded. “Unlike the others, her injuries were not life threatening. Gul Edal ordered the interrogation ended when he learned of it.” He cast his eyes downward. “But by then it was too late.”
“You’re damned right it was,” Crusher snapped. “She’s sustained a cerebral hemorrhage and there’s blood in the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid.” She leveled another withering stare at Malir. “One of her molar teeth is missing. You didn’t waste any time with that bit of idiocy, did you?”
Yar knew of the Cardassian Union’s practice of collecting for the purposes of identification the first molar of all citizens prior to their entering adolescence. The distasteful measure was also exacted on non-Cardassians when taken into custody.
“Again, standard procedure,