To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [52]
Riker supported him, helped him into the room, lowered him to sit on the edge of the bed beside Troi.
The Betazoid stroked the innkeeper’s hand. “A pilgrimage is more than walking from one shrine to the next just to look at piles of stone,” she said. “We will stay.”
Chapter Nine
“THERE,” SAID DR. CRUSHER, closing the wooden box.
“That’s the last of it.” Lt. Worfpicked up the packed box and asked, “Did you make sure to remove anything that might look suspicious to the natives?” “The only possible way the locals could catch on is if they don’t use glass containers for medicines. Other than that, these supplies look as if they’d fit right into any healer’s kit in a 1ow-tech, agrarian civilization like Ashkaar.” “If the supplies you are sending to the Away Team are no different from what the Ashkaarians already have, what is the point?” the Klingon asked.
Dr. Crusher smiled. “I said they look like what they already have. I promise you, these medicines are much stronger and more effective than any native remedies.” Lt. Worfs expression grew even sterner than usual.
“I do not like this. Starfleet regulations dearly prohibit us from interfering with—” “I obey the Prime Directive as scrupulously as anyone aboard this ship, Lt. Worf,” Dr. Crusher cut in. “It’s not the easiest thing in the world to do.
Sometimes it goes contrary to all my instincts as a doctor, but I obey it. However in this case, I’m not the one performing direct medical intervention among the natives. Ambassador Lelys is the one who ordered this delivery. There’s no reason for me to deny a special envoy access to what are fairly basic medical supplies. What she intends to do with them once she receives them—” Dr. Crusher shrugged, “I do not approve of your reasoning, Dr. Crusher,” Lt. Worf said severely. “It is clear that she intends to use them to help the Ashkaarians. If she needed medical attention herself, she could have returned to the ship.” “I did point that out to her when she first communicated her request via Commander Riker. She refused on the grounds that if we were to transport her aboard the Enterprise now, her abrupt departure would cast suspicion on the remaining members of the Away Team. That, in turn, would endanger their mission.” Dr. Crusher made a gesture of helplessness that was purely for show. “What else could I do?” “You are a resourceful person, Dr. Crusher,” Worf responded. “You could have found any number of alternate solutions to this situation, if that had been what you wanted.” “You sound as if it annoys you that I didn’t,” Dr.
Crusher said, giving him a canny look.
“It does not… annoy me,” Worf replied in a way that as good as said that it did, but that he’d sooner die than admit it. “I merely think that such behavior sets a bad example.” “What sort of behavior? And for whom am I setting this bad example?” Dr. Crusher maintained a calm expression. “Your son, perhaps? Lt. Worf, this is not about Ashkaar, is it.” It wasn’t a question. She knew very well what was on the Klingon’s mind.
“We’ve been over this time and again. Look, if you don’t want him to have that hamster, why don’t you just take it away from him? Why keep hinting at the subject every time we speak? I already told you, I’m not going to go to Alexander and tell him that I’ve changed my mind and that I’m taking back his pet.” “Do you know what he named the beast?” Worf’s eyes narrowed. “Fido. What sort of a name is that for a young Klingon warrior’s companion?” “Uh.” Dr. Crusher swallowed her mirth. “A very good name, actually. It means faithful, but it isn’t a name that’s usually given to, um, hamsters. He didn’t happen to get the idea from Mr. Data, by any chance?” Worf stared at her. “How did you know?” Dr. Crusher thought of the tabby-striped pet cat that the android had named Spot. “Oh, just a lucky guess.” “All the beast does is sleep and eat and run around in that accursed wire wheel. I have taken the wheel to Engineering for adjustment several times and it still squeaks.” “Well, there you are, then. That’s a suitable lesson for