Vendetta (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by Peter David

Author:Peter David [David, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 2000-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

GEORDI LA FORGE KNEW that they had a few hours yet before arriving at the site of the battle between the Repulse and the planet-killer. The engines were operating smoothly, and all systems were on line and functioning at peak levels. So he felt no guilt in going down to sickbay to spend some time with the woman who’d once been known as Reannon Bonaventure. He even had a plan that he had already put into operation, because he was certain that there was a woman inside there—a woman who could be reached, and was somehow aware of what had happened to her. A woman that, in some way, he could help.

Bev Crusher, however, was hesitant when she saw the chief engineer enter sickbay. “Look, Geordi,” she began.

“I know what you’re going to say, Doctor,” he said, “but you have to let me try. I know that I can help her.”

“How do you know for certain?” She stood before him, arms crossed, body language virtually shouting, Do your best to convince me, but I’m not buying it.

“I don’t know for certain,” admitted Geordi. “But every time you work on a patient, do you know for certain that you’re going to be able to save him?”

“Reasonably sure, yes.”

“But not one hundred percent.”

She rolled her eyes impatiently. Geordi didn’t see that, of course, but he detected an annoyed flickering of her electromagnetic aura. “Of course not, Geordi. Nothing is absolutely guaranteed in this galaxy.”

“So don’t you think I should be allowed the same leeway of uncertainty that you have?”

Crusher chuckled slightly. “What is it with you, Geordi? Why all the interest in her?”

“Call it instinct, if you want, Doctor. I know what it’s like to be in need. Besides, I’ve been studying about her career, about her personality. She was one hell of a character. She deserves better than this.”

“All right, all right,” sighed Crusher, knowing that sooner or later she was going to bow to the inevitable. “I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be able to resist you. I’ve explained to the Penzatti the situation with her and they’ve promised me that they will restrain themselves in her presence.”

“Much obliged, Doctor.”

He turned towards Reannon. She sat there on the edge of the biobed, staring at nothing. She was there because someone had put her there, and she wasn’t going to move until someone retrieved her, like some pathetic lapdog. Geordi took her gently by the hand, still cold as ice, and said, “Come on, Reannon.” He tugged her slightly and she slid off the bed, following him as he pulled her along.

They walked through the sickbay and this time the Penzatti looked away, although a number of them shuddered. The only one who continued to stare at her, Crusher noticed, was the one who had attacked her earlier: Dantar. But his green face was unreadable, his antennae unmoving. His body was tense, as if waiting for the former Borg to make some move, but she gave no sign that she was aware of his existence.

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