Star Trek TNG - 010 A Rock and a Hard Place by Peter David

Author:Peter David [Peter David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Star Trek
ISBN: 9780671741426
Publisher: Star Trek
Published: 2014-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

PICARD WAS LOOKING AT Deanna Troi in a way that he had never looked at her before: with flat-out disbelief.

“You still claim he’s not insane?” he asked incredulously.

They were in the captain’s ready room. At that moment, Data was seated serenely in the command chair on the bridge. Ordinarily, that was where the second-in-command would have been. However, Commander Stone was, at that moment, in his quarters, pending the outcome of the inquiry Picard was making into Stone’s actions.

Deanna felt a flash of disappointment that the captain would, at this stage in their relationship, display any form of doubt in her abilities.

“Yes, Captain,” she said calmly, “Commander Stone is not insane.”

“Yet both you and Worf concur.” Picard looked back at the transcript of his earlier conversation with the lieutenant. “Stone threatened homicide and suicide,” he said incredulously.

“He would not have killed himself,” said Troi flatly.

“How do you know?”

“I just do. The feelings I was getting from him were not in that vein.”

Picard circled his desk to face Troi. “And what feelings were you getting from him?”

“Calm,” she said. “Inner peace.”

“Counselor, are you familiar with the concept of kami-kaze pilots?”

She frowned, trying to recall it. “No, Captain.”

“Japanese pilots,” he said, “particularly during the Second World War on earth, who were perfectly willing to sacrifice their lives. I’m quite certain that they were calm and had inner peace as well, just before their planes exploded into fireballs.”

“Be that as it may, Captain. I am certain that Commander Stone would not have killed himself.”

“How can you be certain?”

“Because,” she replied simply, “it’s my job.”

Picard regarded her for a long moment. “Counselor, I have always trusted your judgment. We have an understanding, you and I, that goes beyond mere surface. In many ways, we share a relationship intimate in all ways except physical. And, to be honest, sometimes I have felt closer to you than with women I have been . . . physical with.”

She smiled slightly at that. “I am flattered, Captain.”

“I didn’t say it to flatter you,” he said. “I said it because I have to ask you now whether you think your personal feelings for Commander Stone might be interfering with your ability to make calm judgments about him.”

She blinked in confusion. “Personal feelings?”

“It was . . .” Picard cleared his throat. “It was Lieutenant Worf’s opinion that perhaps you may have feelings for Commander Stone that transcend normal counselor/crew relations.”

Her eyes narrowed at that and, for the first time in their relationship, Picard felt anger from her. “Was that his opinion?”

“You are as subject to the pull of emotions as anyone else, Counselor,” said Picard, holding his ground.

“And what, may I ask, led Worf to this conclusion?”

Picard ignored the icy tone of Troi’s question and glanced at the viewscreen. “Worf stated that Stone seemed particularly irate over the praedor’s manhandling of you. He seemed to take personal affront. Is that correct?”

“Whatever Commander Stone might feel about me is not necessarily a reflection—”

“Granted,” Picard said quickly, “but according to Worf,

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