The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [33]
Im sorry, the second officer told her.
Santana looked sympathetic. Dont be.
No, he said, shaking his head, I didnt mean to
She held up a hand for silence. Im serious, Commander. Theres no need to feel awkward. Unexpectedly, her expression turned coquettish. After all, who knows how embarassing my thoughts might be.
For a heartbeat, Picard was lost in the dark, sorcerous pools of Santanas eyes. Then he swallowed and pulled himself back out again.
An intriguing notion, he replied.
She seemed on the verge of saying something in response. But instead, she picked up her glass and sipped her drink. By the time she put it down again, the second officer had regained his composure.
I hate to say it, the commander began, but
I know, Santana said, saving him the trouble. Its time I was returning to the brig.
He nodded soberly. Yes. After all, I have a shift starling on the bridge. But I enjoyed our conversation. Perhaps we
Could have another one some time? Here in the mess hall? The woman shrugged. Why not?
Picard couldnt help feeling there was more to say. However, he didnt want to make this any more personal than it had to be. When it came to Serenity Santana, he was simply doing his duty. He was following the orders his captain had laid out for him.
He didnt dare consider the possibility of falling in love with the woman.
Without another word, the second officer got up and gestured to the doorway. Santana rose as well and preceded him out into the corridor. Then she allowed Pug Joseph to accompany her back to the brig.
Picard watched them go for a moment. Heaving a sigh, he turned and headed for the bridge.
Carter Greyhorse was sitting behind his desk, studying the results of the examinations he had already conducted, when he spied Gerda Asmund through one of his offices transparent walls.
The last time the doctor had seen the woman, she had been wearing a tight-fitting exercise garment, her lips pulled back from her teeth, her skin tantalizingly moist with perspiration. Now, she was dressed in the cranberry tunic and black trousers of Starfleet, looking like anyone else in the Stargazers crew.
No, Greyhorse corrected himself quickly and emphatically not like anyone else. Not at all. Even in her standard-issue uniform, with her spun-gold hair woven into an austere bun, Gerda Asmund was a most attractive woman.
A most exciting woman.
But she was there to see him as a physician, not someone with whom she might share a love interest. He forced himself to remember that. Taking a deep breath, he assumed his most professional demeanor.
Unaware of Greyhorses inner turmoil, the blond woman came to a stop at the entrance to his office. Lieutenant Asmund, she said in a husky but eminently feminine voice, reporting as requested.
The doctor smilednot an activity at which he had had a lot of practiceand gestured for his patient to take a seat on the other side of his desk. She complied without comment.
Her eyes were so blue it almost hurt to look at them. He tried his best not to notice. Thank you for coming, he told her. Do you have any questions about why youre here?
She shrugged. You need to test my extrasensory perception quotient before we penetrate the barrier. Its straightforward enough. She frowned. Though, as you must know, Ive been tested before.
Greyhorse tapped his key padd and brought up Gerdas medical file. It took no time at all to locate the results of her last ESP test, which showed she had no talent in that area whatsoever.
Lets see, he said. ESPer quotient oh-one-one. Apercep-tion quotient two over twenty-five. As you say, youve been tested before. He looked up from his monitor. However, things can change, and Starfleet regulations are rather specific in this regard.
The woman nodded. Of course. Lets just do what we have to.
The doctor pretended to review other parts of her file, though he had come to know them pretty much by heart. Youre the primary navigator, he noted,