The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [10]
Ive had enough of intensive care , Agnarsson replied, not bothering to conceal an undercurrent of resentment, and Ive had enough of people talking behind my back .
The doctor glanced at Coquillette. Leave, he said.
She shook her head. Not if youre staying.
Someones got to tell Tarasco whats going on, he insisted.
Coquillette hesitated a moment longer. Then she opened the door, left Gorvoys office and darted to her left down the hallway, heading for the exit from sickbay and the nearest turbolift.
In the meantime, Agnarsson had gotten out of bed and was headed toward Gorvoys office. The medical officer rose from behind his desk and went to meet his patient halfway, thinking that would be the best way to make him forget about Coquillette.
It didnt take long for him to find out how wrong he was.
Where is she? Agnarsson demanded impatiently.
Shes got nothing to do wim this, Gorvoy argued as they got closer to one another. This is between you and me.
Thats what youd like it to be, said the engineer. But Im tired of listening to you calling the shotsyou and your friend, the captain. Now where is she?
The doctor stopped in the middle of the corridor. Why is Coquillette so important to you?
Agnarssons silver eyes narrowed. She pretended to be nice to me, but I heard her talking to you. Shes just like everyone else. Shes scared of me. He laughed an ugly, bitter laugh. And who can blame her?
Only then did Gorvoy realize the extent of the transformation that had taken place. It wasnt just the engineers hair and nervous system that were changing. It was his personality as well.
Quite literally, Agnarsson wasnt himself anymore. He was something elsesomething dark and dangerous, despite what McMillan and Hollandsworth had said about him. And the doctor would be damned if he would let such a thing walk the Valiant unchecked.
Out of my way, Agnarsson snarled.
We can help you, Gorvoy told him. We can help you cope with whats happening to you. You just have to go back to intensive care.
The engineer lifted his chin in indignation. You like it there so much? Why dont you go there?
Before the doctor could do anything to stop him, Agnarsson grabbed him by the front of his uniform and sent him hurtling headlong toward intensive care. The last thing Gorvoy saw was the engineers blanket-draped bed as it rushed up to meet him.
Then, mercifully, he lost consciousness.
Dan Pelletier hefted the laser in his hand as he made his way toward engineering and hoped that he had guessed correctly.
As soon as he heard from the captain that Agnarsson might be getting belligerent, the security chief had led a team down to sickbayand discovered Dr. Gorvoy slumped at the base of a biobed, bleeding freely from his nose and mouth. Pelletier wasnt a physician, but he knew a concussion and a set of broken ribs when he saw them.
At that point, Agnarsson had gone from being a misguided fellow crewman to a dangerous and potentially deadly fugitive. And when that fugitive could manipulate objects with the power of his mind, where was he most likely to go other than a place where the slightest manipulation could place the ship in mortal jeopardy?
Especially when that place was where he had spent most of his waking hours over the last few years.
With that theory in his head, Pelletier had used the intercom to get Gorvoy some help and left a man there to look after him. Then he had taken Peavey and Marciulonis and headed for the engine room.
Remember, he told his men, fire only on my command. We dont want to blow the warp core with a stray shot.
Acknowledged, said Peavey.
Aye, sir, Marciulonis chimed in.
The doors to the engine room were open. Signaling for his officers to fan out on either side of him, Pelletier darted straight ahead, laser pistol at the ready.
When he got inside, he looked around quickly, hoping to find Agnarsson and take him down before the man realized he was there. But all the security chief saw