Tooth and Claw - Doranna Durgin [89]
Picard could easily read behind the lines on that one. Riker and the young ReynTa had clashed, and often. The surprising thing was mat Akarr had reported it as he had, and not as insubordination.
“And your kaphoora?” Atann asked, his body language turning a little more formal.
Atann held up a thin circle of what appeared to be filament. “Cartiga whisker.”
All the starch went out of Atann in his relief, but he quickly caught himself and returned to public mode. “I’m much relieved,” he said. “I was … concerned on many levels.”
“With reason,” Akarr said, and then stopped short; Picard knew enough to recognize the distress in the quiver of Akarr’s ears, although he was tempted to put it down to fatigue. Except… he glanced at Riker and saw anger there. Restricted to his eyes, but Riker could do quite a lot with anger when it came to his eyes.
Akarr finally finished, “It will be worth much discussion when I return. Discussion I would like to have before leaving the Enterprise.”
“We’d be glad to provide you with a place for private discussion,” Picard said. “Meanwhile, Commander, you’ll be glad to know that we have come to an agreement regarding the charts. And ReynTa, your ReynSa is on her way up—we expect her at any moment—and I’m
sure she’ll be glad to see that you’re not only alive, but unhurt.”
“And with cartiga trophy,” Atann said, and there was no mistaking the pride in his voice. “No one of us has ever returned with cartiga trophy, not even the seasoned pros.”
“There’s a reason for that,” Riker muttered, but he didn’t seem inclined to take the comment any further; Picard noted it but let it pass. There were stories within stories, here; the challenge was to find the most important story first.
The ReynSa burst in, trailing both a younger Tsoran and a hapless ensign behind her. Picard waved the young woman away with an understanding nod, and she hesitated, handed him a padd, made good her escape. But the ReynSa’s bearing—confrontational, righteously triumphant—lost all momentum the instant she understood what, until her arrival, had captured everyone’s attention. “Akarr!” she cried in surprise. “Akarr, you are well, and returned to us!”
Picard took advantage of the noisy reunion—as Atann proudly chimed in with news of Akarr’s cartiga trophy and Tehra made delighted noises in response—to glance at the padd. The universe had apparently not stopped so he could take Atann into the holodeck. The padd held notations from Data regarding the current fluctuation and reaction rate of the Ntignano sun … a summary from Beverly Crusher, detailing how many Ntignanos had died in the last several hours and at what rate they were continuing to die, as well as how many would still be left on the planet’s surface when the sun went nova on its accelerated schedule, and a report on the probe charting process, now that it was up to speed. And of course, a message from Starfleet, demanding an update.
“Takarr,” Akarr said in the background, and offered the comm screen a little bow. “I see you made it to the Enterprise after all.”
“I see that he did,” Picard said, tearing himself away from the padd. With any luck, within moments—now that the ReynSa had her son back—he’d have an answer about the charts. An answer for Starfleet, for Dr. Crusher… for the Ntignanos. For now, he needed to keep his attention within this room. He handed the padd to Troi and looked over at the ReynSa and her charge. When his expectant expression didn’t prompt introductions to the young Tso ran, he said, “I am Captain JeanLuc Picard, commanding the Federation starship Enterprise. This is Commander Deanna Troi, our ship’s counselor.” Troi looked up from the padd, distracted and unhappy at its contents, and smiled a greeting anyway, her teeth neatly covered. “And this is Takarr. We met briefly while I was on the planet.”
“My son,” the ReynSa said, all but drawing the boy to her—but then, at a glance from Atann, actually stepping slightly apart from him. “Takarr is the reason we’re here today. It is