Star Trek The Next Generation - 71 - Double Helix 1 - Infection by Star Trek

Author:Star Trek
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780671032555
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1999-05-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

DUSK PALLS BELOW. The magic hour is here.

In his cabin, Commander Riker stroked his long black beard and stared at himself in the mirror. He had never worn a beard before, and he had to admit he rather liked the effect. The follicle stimu­lator had given him a bushy growth in the style on a native Archarian. When he shrugged on a loose-fitting brown shirt and laced it up the front, then brown pants and soft brown boots, he barely recog­nized himself.

"Well, let's get going," he told himself.

He strode to the door and out into the corridor. Several crewmen did a double-take. Grinning, he nodded to them and said, "Carry on!"

"Sir." Data's voice came from behind, and Riker paused long enough for the android to catch up. Data too wore loose brown clothing and sported a thick brown beard. Flesh-coloured makeup hid the metallic gold of his face and hands; only his slitted yellow eyes still marked him as other than human.

"Your eyes—"

"I have inserts to change their colour and appear­ance, sir. However, since they impair my vision by 1.0037 percent, I have elected not to wear them until we actually beam down to the planet."

Riker nodded. "Other than that, you look good, Data. Truly human ... and ready to rebel."

"Thank you, sir. You also look substantially different."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"That is how I intended it, sir."

They reached the turbolift, which hissed open promptly. Deanna Troi stood inside. She stared at them, then broke out in giggles. That better not be the reaction we get on the planet, Riker thought. He stepped inside, folded his arms and gave her a long stare. Oddly, her giggles grew louder, but at least this time she tried to stifle them a bit.

"Transporter Room Three," he said.

"Bill—" Deanna gasped. "You should see your­self!"

"I rather liked the effect." He stroked his beard and struck a new and even more heroic pose, one arm curled up and back with the first against his forehead. "I am a true planetary pioneer!"

"Sir," said Data, "very few human space pioneers actually wore beards. A comprehensive anal­ysis starting with John Glenn in the mid-twentieth century shows—"

"Uh, that's not really what I meant, Data," said Riker.

"I'll leave you two to sort it out," Deanna said as the turbolift came to a stop. The doors shushed open and she stepped into the corridor, probably heading toward sickbay, Riker thought. She added over her shoulder, "Don't get too carried away, Bill."

"Thanks, Deanna—I think!" Riker called after her.

"May I ask you a question, sir?" Data said as the turbolift resumed its ascent.

"Certainly."

"Why does Counselor Troi call you 'Bill' when the rest of your fellow officers call you 'Will'?"

"I've known Deanna quite a bit longer than anyone else aboard. I used to go by Bill at the Academy—but then I dated a woman named Bili Seller, so we mutually decided I'd use Will." That conjured up images of her in his mind—tall and slender Bili, with her sea-green eyes, full pouting lips, and high cheekbones.

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