Foreign Foes Part 17

The voice was unmistakable.

Data, Geordi sighed, what happened?

You are ill.

That was his friend Data, as matter-of-fact as ever.

But Geordi didntfeel ill. What he felt was ... blind.

He angled up, eyes open but unseeing, and turned his head toward the sound of Datas voice.

Yeah, I figured I was probably here for my health. Whats wrong? Wheres my VISOR?

He heard the bio-blanket rustle at his side, and imagined Datas hand was now on the bed. The mental picture of that, even though he couldnt be sure it was realistic, was of concern. If Data was apprehensive about saying somethingData, the android of thousand-word answers to yes or no questionsthen something was very wrong.

Your VISOR is in Bioengineering. Its been tested for possible malfunction, Data said finally.

Has been. Past tense.

And?

Geordi prodded.

No malfunction was uncovered. Dr. Crusher did find neural rejection of your visual cortex bionic implants. They have been removed.

Geordi brought one hand to his temple, and felt the smoothness of his own skin where there had been an input sensor just hours before. It had been decades since hed felt that smoothness. Decades since ...

Everything is dark.

I am sorry, my friend.

Geordi wanted to answer that Data need not be sorry ... but didnt. Instead, the chief engineer began to listen. To the steady rhythm of the androids breath in front of him, to the hum of the medical scanner panel above him.

He remembered what it was like for the other senses to pick up the slack for a sightless manand remembered that it wasnt the same as eyes, artificial or otherwise.

Do you have any pain?

Data asked.

No.

Geordi answered quietly and quickly, and without thought. Then he realized it was truehedidnt feel any pain, and that too was a feeling he hadnt had in decades.

Datawill I be okay?

Somehow the android must have known what his friend meant.

We do not know if the VISOR implants can be re-implanted. But you are otherwise physically sound.

There was a slight pause as Data grasped Geordis hand in his own, perhaps mimicking a human gesture he had seen before.

You will be fine, Geordi.

I guess Ill have to rely on your optimism.

It is not optimism. I base my conclusion on the evidence available.

Geordi chuckled.

Then I guess Ill have to put my faith in that.

He felt himself smile, and noticed the absence of the implants again as his new skin stretched in places it hadnt a day before.

When will Dr. Crusher be back?

Presumably when she has proved Lieutenant Worfs guilt.

Guilt?Geordi bent himself anxiously toward Data.

What are you talking about? Whats happened?

Much has happened. It began when our white-noise transmission was taking far more energy Give me the condensed version and save me the trouble of trying to read the book, huh, Data?

Of course, Data said, the small joke lost on him.

It would appear that Lieutenant Worf has murdered the Hidran amba.s.sador, and that Commander Riker and Counselor Troi have either been abducted or are dead.

Not necessarily.

Deanna tapped her finger near the glowing pink b.u.t.ton.

Red doesnt have to mean danger. Youre applying a very human cultural concept to a situation where no human may be involved.

Riker frowned and s.h.i.+fted his phaser from one hand to the other. His palms were moist with nervousness and delay. If they didnt hurry, whoever had brought them here might come back.

What do you suggest?

Eeny-meeny-miney-moe? We have to trysomething.

Deanna huffed.

If youre going to base your decision on poor concept formation, you might as well be arbitrary. Youre just as likely to get the wrong result.

Her voice held that irritating tone that patronized and lacked patience.

He nodded.

Thats annoyingly logical.

He shrugged consent and opened a palm toward the console.

Okay.

Its your call. Ill go cower in a corner.

He turned his back to the console, a.s.suming that the door would open up and someone would be waiting. He tapped in the highest stun settingthe painful oneand stood ready.

Now, he ordered.

Riker heard her pull in a breath and slowly press the alien b.u.t.ton into the wall.

Nothing. Not even a beep.

He began to turn his head toward Deanna, to rib her about the decision ... but before him the wall opposite the panel console began to silently slide away, pulling itself apart from the slit that was the doors opening.

He turned back toward the wall and a rush of sour air rode in at him. Whoever might be waiting behind the door obviously didnt need the fresh air Riker and Deanna did.

Beyond the now open doorway was a corridor of brightness. The incoming stale air fouled the atmosphere in the transporter room or holding cell or wherever they were.

No alien presented itself to be shot. Somewhat disappointingly, Riker and Deanna seemed to be alone.

He nodded toward the new corridor that lay before them.

Good choice.

Whatve you found, Doctor?

Picards tone, at once prodding and apprehensive, made Beverly feel as if she were back in front of a panel of medical officers at one of her final Fleet oral examinations.

Barbara, to the captains right, with a white lab coat over what Beverly had noticed was a beautiful gown, looked especially like one of the severe physicians meant to awe and unnerve young doctors.

Now, as then, Beverly stood uneasily before a grim jury of harsh expressions. Here, however, she was not the one being judged. And the stakes were not her medical career and a prestigious post, but the life of a man who had saved her life more times than she had patients fingers to count on.

Shed considered lying. Not just at this moment, as Picard was prompting for answers, but minutes before and deeply and seriously. But lying, like murder, had consequences, and she did still believe her friend to be innocent.

The Hidran didnt have that faith in Worfs character, and she knew that as well.

Beverly studied the Hidran captains face, half hidden by the same type of mask that had been torn from the amba.s.sador, causing his death. Would he give Worf the benefit of doubt? No. No mask could hide that fact.

Amba.s.sador Zhad died of suffocation, she began slowly, looking mainly at Picard as she stated the obvious. From the corner of her eye she could see Urosk and Worf tense, and she cleared her throat, another stalling tactic, before she pressed on.

His breathing mask, surgically implanted, malfunctioned and was subsequently pulled out of its implanted base.

She looked back down at the computer pad in her hand, and thumbed in a few commands.

There is cellular residue with DNA patterns matching the Amba.s.sadors, as well as Lieutenant Worfs, on the surface of the mask.

Urosk straightened, sucking in a quick breath.

Picard looked immediately away from Beverly and to the Hidran.

Captain, so far thatdoes support Mr.

Worfs explanation of the events that took place outside the hall. Please allow us to hear the rest of Dr. Crushers findings.

Nodding, Urosk relaxed slightly.

With a short sigh Beverly mustered her voice up again.

There is chemical evidence of recent skeletal muscular exertion, as well as the amba.s.sadors blood and tissue under his own fingernails.

What would skeletal muscular exertion imply?

Urosk asked, his demanding voice a hammer on Beverlys ears.

She hesitated, shaking her head and shrugging.

There could be many causes. Its not The Hidran captain rose.

A struggle, yes?

Taken aback by Urosks height, Beverly stepped backward a bit. Either Zhad was shorter than his captain or seven feet tall was only intimidating when it was alive and growling.

Not necessarily a struggle, she said.

Urosk turned away from Crusher and looked straight down at Picard.

But it could have been.

There was no question for her to answer, and she looked back at Worf who was as motionless now as hed been when she entered. At Worfs side, Commander Kadarhad he been here all the time?seemed to be covering a smile.

Well, Picard.

Urosk stalked toward Worf, placing himself between the captain and his security chief.

I am convinced of the Klingons guilt. Do I take my prisoner into custody?

Picard pursed his lips and crimped his eyes into determined stones.

No. Mr. Worf has the right to a fair and objective trial. He will not be subjected to an unwarranted execution behind a curtain of prejudice. Since that would evidently be the case if I were to release him to your custody, this is the only choice I can make.

I see that even you are unwilling to believe the truth.

Urosk folded his arms beneath his dank, tenebrous cloak, and sat back down. Somehow, at least to Beverly, it was the most threatening motion one could imagine.

Youronly choice, Picard, Urosk said slowly, was a very poor one.

I dont believe that.