The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [26]
He paused, looking just the least bit uncomfortable with his actions. And Picard knew why. The pair was human and as far as he could tell, they hadnt done anything to merit imprisonment
They seemed disappointed, of course, said Eliopoulos. And more than a little displeased, I might add. But not surprised.
Whys that? asked Ruhalter.
Eliopoulos scowled again. They said their colleagues had warned them that they would be taking a chance. As they were escorted to the brig, they quoted a twentieth-century Earthman a fellow named Thomas. Apparently, hes the one who said, No good deed ever goes unpunished.
Picard smiled a grim smile. It sounds like the type of remark one might make if his ancestors were Earthmen.
Or if it served one to create that impression, Leach added cynically.
Go on, Ruhalter instructed the bearded man.
Naturally, said Eliopoulos, I didnt like the idea that I might be detaining innocent people. But when I contacted Command, Admiral Gardner-Vincent applauded my judgment and ordered me to run a battery of tests on Daniels and Santana.
Tests? Picard echoed.
Brain scans, for the most part, the starbase commander elaborated. Also, some blood workups.
And what did you find? asked Ruhalter.
Eliopoulos looked at him gravely. While both Daniels and Santana looked perfectly normalperfectly human on the outside, their brains were different from those of normal Homo sapiens . Their cerebellums, for instance, were a good deal more developed, and the blood supply to their cerebral cortices was greater by almost twenty-two percent.
Which suggested what? Ruhalter wondered. That they had been born with the mind-powers that Mitchell acquired?
That was the inescapable conclusion, Eliopoulos told him. With the cooperation of our guests, we performed additional tests designed to gauge the extent of their telepathic and telekinetic abilities.
Picard leaned forward in his chair, eager to hear the results. Ruhalter leaned forward as well, he noticed.
Mind you, said Eliopoulos, Daniels and Santana could have been holding back and we would have been hard-pressed to detect it. However, what we did see was remarkable enough. They could tell me what I was thinking at any given moment, as long as I didnt make any effort to conceal it. And they could maneuver an object weighing up to a kilogram with reasonable precision for an indefinite period of time.
Remarkable indeed, thought Picard.
In addition, Eliopoulos went on, Daniels and Santana underwent psychological tests. If were to believe the results, theyre a good deal more independent and desirous of privacy than the average human being. Whoever said that no man is an island never met these two.
Did you ask them why that might be? Picard inquired.
Eliopoulos turned to him. We did. They told us that in a society where people can read each others thoughts, privacy necessarily becomes an issue of paramount importance.
Ill bet it does, said Werber.
So you were right about them, Leach observed. Both of them had powers like Lieutenant Commander Mitchells.
Like them, yes, Eliopoulos noted. But we didnt find any evidence that their abilities are as devastating as Mitchells were. For what its worth, both Daniels and Santana claim that they demonstrated the full extent of what they could do.
Leach grunted. And if you believe that, Ive got some prime land to show you in an asteroid belt.
Werber laughed at the remark.
This is all very interesting, Ruhalter said, his tone putting a lid on his officers banter, but whats the Stargazers role in it?
Eliopoulos looked at him. Despite our suspicions about Daniels and Santana, weve yet to prove theyre telling anything but the truth. As a result, Command wants a vessel to go through the barrier and investigate their story about the Nuyyad invasion force.
Leach rolled his eyes, making clear his incredulity. At the same time, Werber muttered something under his breath.
Ruhalter eyed them, the muscles in his jaw bunching. Lets maintain an air of decorum here, shall we, gentlemen?
Of course, sir, the first