Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Force and Motion by Jeffrey Lang

Author:Jeffrey Lang
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek
ISBN: 9781501110788
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2016-05-30T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Two Days Earlier

Public House, Robert Hooke

“Weren’t you supposed to tell me the story of your life last night?” Nita Bharad asked as she pulled on the tap and let stout flow into a pint glass. When she was finished with the pour, she handed the glass to Maxwell, who admired the artful swirl she had drawn in the head.

“Where did you learn to do that?” he asked.

“I told you last week,” she replied, drawing a smaller amount into what had probably started its life as a juice glass. Bharad didn’t believe in letting anyone drink alone, even if she only intended to have a small amount. They tapped glasses and both said, “Cheers.”

“Remind me,” Maxwell said, setting his padd on the bar. He had a vague recollection of a rambling conversation—the only kind with Bharad—about the circumstances that had brought her to the Hooke.

“I did post-grad work at Trinity. You learn a lot about pouring beer in Dublin.”

“Ah, right.”

“You may also recall that after our conversation, you said you’d share some of the details of your no-doubt extremely interesting life story. Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Recall?”

“Alas, no.” He sipped his beverage. “I can’t imagine why. Was this the same evening where I proclaimed my undying affection for you?”

Bharad chuckled and turned away while tucking a strand of jet-black hair behind her ear. “No,” she said. “And has that line ever succeeded in distracting a woman from what she was saying?”

“Only the one time,” Maxwell said, thinking of Maria, despite the fact that such comments had as little effect on her as they seemed to have on Bharad. Maria had tucked her hair behind her ear too, when she was mildly embarrassed. The memory of her doing so made him smile.

She leaned forward, elbows on the bar, and peered at Maxwell. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen that before.”

“Seen what?”

“A smile. A genuine smile and not that fake grin you pull when you want people to think you’re listening to them. You should try it more often. It works for you.”

Maxwell smiled again. He couldn’t help it. Bharad’s no-nonsense manner was irresistible. He asked, “Where’s your entourage?”

“I don’t know. That’s half the reason I came here. I thought you’d be here and figured Ginger would be hovering.”

“Where do you think they go when they’re off on their own?”

“I have ideas,” Bharad said, taking the tiniest sip from her glass. “I think they watch people: not just you, but everyone. I think they may be a lot smarter than they let on sometimes.”

“How smart do you think they are?”

She considered comparisons. “Smarter than a dog,” she said. “And smarter than many university administrators I’ve met.” Maxwell laughed. “But, seriously, I’m not sure. Sometimes I find them poking at things on my workbench like they want to pick them up.”

“Tool-using intelligence. Like apes and ravens?”

“Maybe.”

“And you made them.”

“I did.” She smiled. “Makes you want to treat me with more respect, doesn’t it?”

“I respect you,” Maxwell said.

“Mmmm.” Bharad crossed her arms, but did not comment.

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