To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [84]
I only want you to call in the a’dyem if there’s no other way to get their cooperation.” “It does not seem to be so great a thing,” Bilik admitted, stroking his chin. “And yet, his appearance is such that—” He shook his head. “How shall I explain him to my betters? Will they see him as a messenger of great good or greater evil?” “The only important thing is that they see him,” Geordi stressed. “Tell them—tell them he’s a goodwill ambassador from—” “Goodwill,” Bilik interrupted. “But whose?
Ma’adrys told me much about you, lord. I no longer know what to believe. What are you, in truth? Or is the truth something I will ever know? So much has changed, so much I once believed in. Evramur. After Ma’adrys was taken from us, I used to comfort myself with the thought that even though her going tore my heart, at least she was happy, blessed to walk the holy ways of paradise. Now she has told me that the refuge of all departed spirits is only another ball of dirt and stone. Is this message the goodwill your ambassador will offer the Na’amOberyin?” Geordi saw the very real spiritual anguish in Bilik’s eyes and it called up an answering pang in his own spirit. Faith could move mountains, but doubt could send them crumbling down into a handful of sand. He searched himself for answers he might offer Bilik and found none. The oberyin would have to find his own answers. All that he could say was, “Trust me.” It was feeble, but it was the best he had.
Bilik gave him a hard, measuring look. Then, without another word, he gestured for Data to follow him and set his feet on the uphill path. Before the android could fall into step behind, Geordi detained him and whispered, “When you get there and Bilik’s presented you to the council, I want you to excuse yourself for just a little while. Find somewhere private, signal the ship, then stand by.” “For further instructions?” “For a package.” Geordi smiled faintly. “Special delivery. It wouldn’t be a goodwill mission without a few gifts for your hosts, now would it?” “If you say so, I will assume that is the case.” With that, Data turned and set out to catch up with Bilik.
“Gifts?” Troi asked. “What gifts?” But Geordi had already touched his comm badge and told the ship that there were four to beam up. The air shimmered around them and they were gone.
“Feeling better, Ambassador?” Lt. Riker leaned over the med station where Lelys lay blinking as if she had just awoken from a deep sleep.
The Orakisan touched her temples gingerly with her fingertips. “What… happened to me?” Dr. Crusher came to stand on the other side of the ambassador’s bed. “The simplest way I can describe it for you is that you were the victim of a series of neural overrides from an external source, although we’re still working on an explanation for how they were transmitted.” “Please, do not bother on my account.” Lelys closed her eyes and looked pained. “It makes my head ache.” “That’s the normal aftereffect of the stimulant I administered,” the doctor said. “It took some time for me to find one that would remove the overrides without adversely affecting your normal mental processes.” “Good thing for you she had a guinea pig to test it out on first.” Riker grinned.
“I remember everything.” Lelys sounded surprised by her own admission. “It was terrible. It was as if I had no control over myself. They made me into a child again, a helpless child!” “You’re lucky they didn’t just immobilize you,” Riker said. “I felt like I was turned to wood, trapped in my own body.” The ambassador sat up slowly and turned her head as if working kinks out of her neck. “Better to be trapped in the body than in the mind. There will be grave consequences when I confront the ones responsible for this outrage.” “I’m afraid that you’ll need to put aside your own grievances for the moment,” Riker said. “You’re wanted in the briefing room.” He slipped one hand under the ambassador’s elbow and helped her stand, then escorted her out of sickbay and through the corridors of the Enterprise.
“Ambassador Lelys! ! am so pleased to see you well