Part 8 (2/2)
”I have to,” she said, her expression hardening.
”Did you find out anything about my father?”
”Little one, that's not why we went to Bareesh.”
”But you know what that escaped prisoner said when we saw him at Crossroads. He swore he talked to Evain in the prison hospital less than a year ago.”
”I know what he said.”
”And you said you'd see what you could find out-was Durren's temper flared. ”We were on a mission. We lost a good fighter. We're lucky the two of us got away alive. Mori, we can't drop everything to find out about rumors-was She cut him off. ”Do you really think he's dead?”
”I don't know.”
”Do you think there's any chance at all he might not be?” He took a deep breath before answering.
”A chance.”
”That's all I wanted to know.” She smiled.
”I'll see you later, Durren.” ”Durren.”
Lessandra beckoned him over to where she was talking with Glin and Jaminaw. ”This is our time; I'm sure of it. It's in the Testaments, just as Evain preached before they caught him. This stars.h.i.+p that has arrived-it's the Hidden Hand working for us.”
He shook his head. ”I don't understand.”
”Durren, do you think we can kidnap the captain of the Enterprise?” Glin's eyes opened wide.
”Have you lost your mind?”
”No,” said Ussandra, ”I'm using my mind, which is something you should try doing more often. Durren, what about it?”
He thought a moment. ”Our agents say the captain stays on his s.h.i.+p. It was his executive officer, a man named Riker, who beamed down with some Federation representative.”
”Good enough. This executive officer, Riker, will do as a hostage.”
Glin's disbelief grew. ”And what if this captainwhat's his name?” ”Picard,” said Durren.
”What if this Captain Picard won't bargain with Lessandra's face remained impa.s.sive. ”Then Executive Officer Riker may very well become a casualty of war.”
WESLEY CRUSHER sat cross-legged on his bed. ”I do miss you, Mom, but it's not as bad as I thought.”
Beverly Crusher, on Wesley's cabin viewer, feigned deep distress. ”Words to warm a mother's heart.”
”You know what I mean,” Wes laughed. ”I hardly have time to think about it.”
”Are you eating?”
Wes rolled his eyes at the indignity of this maternal interrogation. ”Of course. How's your job going?”
”Well, I've discovered that being chief of Starfleet Medicine has its good points and its bad points. Too much administration, not enough medicine.”
Wesley glanced at the time on his computer screen. ”Mom, I have to go.”
”Bridge duty?”
”No, I have to give a report to Captain Picard.”
Beverly's eyebrows arched beneath her red hair.
”I'm impressed.”
”No big deal.” Wesley shrugged. ”It was just a little research project Data gave me.”
”Has he learned to tell a joke yet?”
”Not exactly,” Wesley said ”But he keeps trying. Maybe by the next time we see you ...”
”Oh, Wm” she sigh, ”I wish that could be soon, but I just don't know when I'm going to be able to escape this bureaucratic black hole.”
”I understand, Mom. Well, I better get going.”
”Bye, honey. I love you.”
”I love you, too, Mom. Bye.”
Dr. Crusher's wi/l smile faded from the viewer, and Wes felt a little blue, the way he always did after they'd spoken by comm channel.
These were the moments when he felt most alone. But he'd stayed with the s.h.i.+p by choice, and now he had work to do.
He slid off the bed, straightened his uniform, and headed for the bridge.
Captain Picard peered across his ready room desk. ”I gave this a.s.signment to you, Mr.
Data.”
”And I gave it to Ensign Crusher, sir. I felt it would be useful for him to gain experience doing research not directly related to his special skills in engineering and propulsion science.”
Seated on the corner of Picard's desk, Riker nodded his approval. ”A reasonable rea.s.signment, Data. Very well, Mr. Crusher.
Report on the Sojourners.”
Wesley swallowed, wis.h.i.+ng his mouth didn't taste like he'd taken a swig of composite-repair glue. He stood so stiffly he could barely breathe.
”Yes, sir.”
”At ease, Ensign,” Riker said. ”My granddad used to tell me, ”Look 'em in the eye and tell 'em what you know.””
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