Part 7 (1/2)

Scott looked to Beverly. ”I dinnae know. How am I feeling, Doctor?”

Crusher grunted in mock-seriousness. ”Well,” she said, ”other than a couple of b.u.mps and bruises and a slightly battered arm, I'd say you feel fine for a man of a hundred and forty-seven.”

Scott cast Picard a rakish look. ”How about that? An' I dinnae feel a day over a hundred and twenty!”

Picard grinned at Scott politely. However, he didn't join in the bantering. As Crusher knew from long experience, that just wasn't the captain's style.

”I must say,” Picard commented, ”I was more than a little surprised when Commander Riker informed me that you were aboard the Jenolen. Our records didn't list you as one of their crew.”

Scott's smile faded a little. ”I wasn't actually a member of the crew, sir. Truth to tell, I was just a ... a pa.s.senger.” He winced again, just as he had when Crusher had touched a sore spot on his arm. ”I was heading for Norpin Five, y'see, to settle down and enjoy my ... retirement.”

He spat out the last word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. And maybe it did, Crusher mused. Obviously, the man found the whole idea of retirement an embara.s.sment.

”I see,” remarked the captain. ”Well, I would very much enjoy the opportunity to discuss your career at some point. History is one of my hobbies... and I'm sure you have some fascinating insights into the events of your time.”

”I dinnae know if I'd call them fascinating exactly,” Scott replied, smiling at each of them in turn. ”But I'd be happy to answer your questions.”

”Good,” said Picard. ”I look forward to it. Unfortunately, I must return to the bridge now.”

”I know the feeling,” Scott said. ”Duty calls. I've been called to the bridge a few times myself, y'know.”

He's a.s.serting himself, thought Crusher. Reminding us that he was once important too.

”So I understand,” the captain a.s.sured him. Turning to Geordi, he said in a somewhat less casual tone ”Commander, we need to begin a full a.n.a.lysis of the Dyson Sphere.”

Geordi nodded. ”I'll get right on it, sir.”

Finally, Picard refocused his attention on Crusher's patient. ”Again, welcome aboard, Mr. Scott.” And with that, he took his leave of them.

A moment later, Geordi turned to Scott. ”You heard the captain. I have to get back to engineering to start that a.n.a.lysis.”

Scott's face lit up at the word. ”Engineering, lad? I thought ye'd never ask!”

And before Crusher could stop him, he'd moved down off the biobed to accompany Geordi. However, the doctor wasn't about to give Scott the run of the s.h.i.+p-not after what he'd been through. Though he was in generally good health, there was no telling what kind of long-term effects that kind of experience would have on a human body.

”Just a minute,” she said, placing a restraining hand on the older man's shoulder. ”Where do you think you're going?”

Scott looked at her, puzzled. ”What is it, la.s.s? Ye've finished yer tests, have ye nae?”

”True,” Crusher conceded. ”But you've had quite a shock to your system and I don't want you to push yourself too hard. The first thing you're going to do is get some rest.”

Scott seemed on the verge of protesting-until Geordi intervened. ”We're pretty busy right now anyway, Captain Scott. But I'd be happy to give you a tour of engineering a little later, when the doctor says it's okay.”

Scott looked from one of them to the other. Faced with uniform resistance, he sighed. ”Aye,” he said in a resigned tone, even managing a little smile. ”When the doctor says it's okay.”

”Great,” said Geordi. ”See you then.”

As they watched him exit through the sickbay doors, Beverly turned to Scott. ”I'll ask for an ensign to show you to your quarters,” she said.

”Whatever ye say,” he told her. He was clearly disappointed.

But Crusher wasn't about to give in. If all went well, there would be plenty of time for Scott to see engineering and whatever else he liked-later.

By now, Ensign Kane had expected Commander Riker to be treating him a little better. But he wasn't. Far from it. Kane was still mired in cargo duty-much to the detriment of his status among the other ensigns.

Kane hated to admit he was wrong. He hated being shown up. So instead of keeping his mouth shut, since that was what had gotten him into this hole in the first place, he opted to dig a little deeper.

”I'm telling you,” he said, commanding the attention of the other half-dozen male ensigns in the rec room, ”the man's going to come crawling to me on his knees, begging my forgiveness. Just wait and see.”

Tranh, who'd graduated just behind Kane at the Academy, shook his head and chuckled. ”Sure he will. And then we'll all put on dresses and do a little jig.”

That got the rest of them laughing-even Sousa, who'd turned out to be Kane's best friend in this sorry bunch. Kane could feel his cheeks growing hotter with each pa.s.sing moment.

”Go ahead,” he said, putting on the best show of confidence that he could muster. ”Laugh all you want. You're going to look pretty funny dancing around in those dresses.”

That got the chuckles going his way. He smiled, building on his progress. One thing Darrin Kane knew how to do was work a crowd.

”Tell you what, though,” he said. ”When I'm up there on the bridge, impressing the h.e.l.l out of the captain, I won't forget my friends. I'll make sure you get twice the recommended-”

Before he could finish, a voice rang out in the rec. ”Ensign Kane ... this is Commander Riker.”

As far as the ensigns were concerned, it might as well have been the voice of G.o.d. Riker was the man on whom all their careers depended, the single most important factor in whether they realized their dreams or spent the rest of their lives as second bananas.

Kane just smiled. Finally, he thought. He's had his conversation with Picard and he's calling to make his atonement.

Well, Kane wasn't going to make it easy for him. Instead of answering right away, he took the time to grin at each of the others in turn, as if to say You see? I told you he'd come around.

”Ensign Kane?” Riker called again.

Clearing his throat, the ensign responded in a casual tone. ”Aye, sir?”

A pause. ”Ensign ... am I catching you at a bad time?”

Kane's grin widened. ”No, sir.”

”Because if I am,” Riker continued, ”I can always find someone else to give this a.s.signment to.”

The ensign straightened at the word a.s.signment. This was what he'd been waiting for. He didn't want to blow it.

But by the same token, he didn't want to lose the entertainment value of this little scene. It was almost as important to him that he regain his preeminence among his peers as that he get his career on firmer footing.

”No, sir,” Kane a.s.sured the first officer. ”I'm ready, willing and able.” But he put an ironic spin on the words, eliciting m.u.f.fled sn.i.g.g.e.rs and head shaking from his companions.

”Good,” said Riker. ”In that case, you're on duty as of right now. I want you to report to sickbay.”

Kane felt as if he'd just hit some turbulence. ”Sickbay, sir?” What in blazes was happening there that was so important they needed him to take care of it? Weren't there nurses for that sort of thing?