40.3 Tunnel Through the Stars by John Vornholt

Author:John Vornholt [Vornholt, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure, Interplanetary voyages, Picard; Jean Luc (Fictitious character), Picard; Jean-Luc (Fictitious character), Media Tie-In
ISBN: 9780671025007
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1998-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

SAM PACED ANXIOUSLY in the narrow confines of his cabin, which was nothing but a converted storage room. It was made even more cramped by the lean Romulan stretched out on the sofa he had borrowed from the rec room, which left Sam a flimsy cot. They were both supposed to be sleeping, but Sam couldn't, not after having embarrassed himself with his outburst on the bridge.

Of course, he told himself, Captain Picard has to defer to Enrak Grof. I did the same thing when I was Grof's captain. There's no way around that selfish Trill, even though he is a collaborator and a traitor!

"Will you stop grinding your teeth," muttered Hasmek, keeping his eyes purposefully closed. "We might as well admit it, we're all part of Grof's Follies. He just wants to keep everything revolving around him. You never know what he'll tell the captain next, but it's always something that will keep him in the spotlight."

"He's valuable for his knowledge, not his personality," answered Sam.

"And does he know half as much as he claims to know?" scoffed the Romulan. "Thus far, Ro and I have piloted this craft, and the captain has kept us focused on the mission. What has Grof contributed, except to cause dissension? What an egomaniac-the way he got his notes delivered to the Federation. I'll bet that scurrilous courier is sitting around some tavern."

Sam stopped his mindless pacing and stared at the Romulan. "You'd kidnap Grof in a flash and take him home with you, if you could. We all want to know what he knows, and what he's going to do with his knowledge."

"I'll tell you one thing," countered Hasmek, "he's not going to destroy his precious invention. It was good that you challenged him on that point, because it showed him for the liar he is."

"Yeah," answered Sam absently. He was thinking about Ro Laren and how unlikely it was that he would be given a chance to spend any time with her-alone- until this was all over. He tried not to think about how it would probably end.

"And now you and I have been dismissed from the bridge," grumbled Hasmek, "although we've done more than anybody for the success of this mission. We brought the captain all the intelligence he has. Without us, he'd be totally lost! Not that he has much of an idea of what he's doing, as it is."

"That's enough," said Sam, flopping onto his bed. "At least we're alive. That's more than billions of people in this war can say. I remember when you were telling us how grateful you were just to be alive."

"It's true," admitted Hasmek. "For that, I owe Picard my allegiance and respect." He laughed at Sam's startled expression. "Oh, you thought I didn't know who he was? A bogus name and that dreadful earring are not going to hide the best officer in Starfleet. But you're a fool if you think Jean-Luc Picard can protect us from death. Death stalks this ship like a pack of hounds.

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