by Catherine Ellis
"Does your dream program help you to relax?"
Data hesitated, he had never been asked this question before. "I do not think I am capable of physical relaxation, I am never physically tired."
"Then how about mental relaxation, does dreaming help you relive stress?"
"No."
"Then what do you do?"
"To allay anxiety? If I cannot remove the cause, then I turn off my emotion chip."
Jayell let out a guffaw of laughter. "Of course! The Off-Switch. Why didn't I think of that? Or more's the point why didn't my creator think of that? If I have a creator that is."
Data was baffled by this whole conversation. "Is something worrying you Jayell?"
"Yes Data, you could say that, and before you ask, 'no', none of the remedies Picard or Sarek used to calm themselves seem to work on me. I can't meditate and I can't sleep." He closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers against his temples. "Even the Borg fall into a kind of unconsciousness while they regenerate. Why aren't I able to do that?"
"Probably because you are not Borg?"
Jayell laughed again, "Well there's something to be thankful for!" He let out a long sigh. "If I can't sleep Data, then perhaps I can be distracted. Tell me about the Pasteur. How do her systems differ from the Enterprise?"
"That information is classified and you do not have sufficient security clearance."
Jayell stifled his initial annoyance at this response. Data was right, of course, he didn't have clearance.
"Then how about some aspect of the Pasteur that Picard knew about? The flexible shields you helped design, could we talk about those? What type of user interface did you create for the operator?"
"Would you like me to give you a demonstration."
"Please."
"I should warn you that you are likely to be disappointed. Admiral Dupont insisted on an interface that he could master himself. He is not a skilled pilot, as a result it takes several seconds to reconfigure the shields."
"But the whole point of the new shields was to make them quickly adjustable to rapidly changing conditions!"
"That was the idea."
Jayell thought for a moment. "I'm not having Beverly leave space-dock without the best possible protection. You and I are going to design a better interface Data, whether Admiral Dupont likes it or not."
The android could not help but smile. He liked it when Jayell allowed his Picard personality to show through. It was if his old friend had come to life again.
++
"I'm sorry Beverly, I won't be able to see you again on this visit. We've already left orbit. Will's been given a difficult diplomatic mission and I need to help him prepare."
"There's no need to apologise, Deanna, I quite understand. Call me again when the mission's over."
She understood, but was still disappointed. After last night, she suspected Deanna had sensed something familiar about Jayell. Was that why she'd gone to speak to him in the kitchen? And what was said between them that made him decided to leave.
++
"Might I enquire how Captain and Counsellor Riker reacted to Jayell?"
Beverly glanced across at the object of Data's enquiry. Hadn't he told Data about last night?
"Let's just say 'Jayell came as a bit of a shock'."
"I see."
"In fact Will urged me to tell Starfleet about him as soon as possible. If we don't, he'll feel obliged to do so himself. I wouldn't want to put him in a situation where he has to choose between his friends and his duty."
She looked across at Jayell again. "It's your future we're talking about, do you have anything to say?"
Jayell hesitated. While trying 'not to be Picard' he frequently had to suppress Jean-Luc's natural inclination to lead. This, however, was no time to be passive.
He stepped forward decisively.
"Would Admiral Kent be interested in your holographic double?" He asked.
"Yes, I should think so, she'll come in useful for treating patients with highly contagious infections. Why do you ask?"
"Perhaps you could invite him here to see her and then introduce him to me at the same time. With my medical knowledge and physical abilities I should be a useful addition to one of his Medical Starships."
A time was arranged with Kent immediately – three days hence.
Beverly let out a sigh of relief as she switch off the communication-panel. She was nervous about Jayell meeting Kent, but is was a necessary step if he was to be allowed aboard the Pasteur.
In the mean time she would enjoy their remaining private sessions together.
"I didn't give any specific instructions for today, Jayell. What have you been doing?"
From his manner she guessed he was proud of what he was about to announce.
"Data and I have been tackling an interface design problem. If you are free this evening, we'd like you to try it."
"Sounds intriguing," she replied, "how could I resist."
The smile she gave him bordered on the flirtatious.
++
"You recognise it, of course." He said, as the bridge of a starship shimmered into existence.
"The Pasteur, yes. I haven't been aboard her yet, but I've been in so many holodeck recreations I feel I know her already."
She walked over to the captain's chair and sat down, wriggling her backside a little as she did so.
Jayell swallowed hard. From his Picard memories he knew what it felt like to have her lower herself onto his lap.
"Definitely more comfortable than the Enterprise." Her voice sounded more playful than of late.
"I'm pleased to hear it Ma'am."
His subservient little bow sparked one of Beverly's own sexual fantasies. Deanna would have urged caution at this moment she knew, but where was the harm? Hadn't she and Jean-Luc flirted safely for years before they ever became a couple?
With fake haughtiness she asked him what he wanted to demonstrate.
"It's a new interface for the Pasteur's shields."
"Good, they need it."
"Would you like me to do a demonstration first?"
Beverly waved him on. From the side of the helmsman's control panel he swung up a new hand control.
She laughed, "It looks like the device I use for exploring the inside of blood vessels."
"That’s exactly what it is. I found similarities between controlling a ship’s shields and steering a probe through an artery. Why not use a solution you and many of your crew will be familiar with?"
"If only Shevchenko realised how relevant medical experience is to starship management. Still that's his problem. Go ahead."
As Jayell worked the controls she stood close behind him, sometimes leaning over to get a better view. Her proximity made it difficult for him to concentrate. Occasionally the back of his elbow would bumped against her and at the end of the final simulation one of her dangling locks brushed against his head.
"It's time for you to take over."
He stood up abruptly, in an effort to free himself from her spell.
Beverly stared at him, puzzled by his behaviour.
"Very well." She sat down in the helmsman’s seat. "I active the shields like this, don’t I?"
Jayell stood a way off to start with, but as the simulations progressed he forgot his earlier concerns and moved in closer. Her reaction time was comparable to his, quite remarkable for a human of her age.
"This is fun." She declared, as she negotiated her second asteroid belt. "I might almost start looking forward to asteroids."
Beverly turned her head quickly and looked up at him. The face that looked down was full of pride in her accomplishment.
He coughed and assumed a sterner visage.
"Would you care to try the plasma storm exercise."
Her first efforts proved clumsy. Jayell leant forward and whispered. "Imagine you’re swimming across a fast flowing river."
Beverly stopped fighting the storm, and rode with it instead.
"Nicely done, if I might say so Ma’am."
"You may Jayell, you may."
The final simulation involved using the shields to defend the ship from a hostile attack. Try as she might Beverly couldn’t reproduce the defensive manoeuvres she had seen him perform. Jayell described the required movements three more times but she couldn’t match her actions to his words. During her sixth flawed attempt he changed tactics. Leaning forward he placed his right hand firmly over hers.
"Stop. You’re getting into bad habits. Let me guide you." He started to work the instrument through her hand.
"No!" He rebuked her, "You’re still trying to take control. Let me lead."
The dancing analogy was one could relate to, she managed to do as he asked.
"That’s better. Now observe what happens as I move your hand in different ways. Try to associate movement and effect in your mind."
The lesson had the desired result but it also taught her much more. In all their days together they'd never touched each other's skin, not since that first brief stroke.
He's warm!
She had never know, for some reason she had expected him to be colder – like Data. Instead Jayell's touch was incredibly human... and strong ... and masculine. It roused erotic memories of wrestling with Jean-Luc .
"Now you take the lead." He told her.
Concentrate! She ordered herself, forcing those thoughts aside.
It wasn’t easy, not with his hand still on top of hers.
She didn't need his guidance anymore, but Jayell found he couldn’t let go. The connection was too powerful. He didn’t need to tell her she was doing well, she could sense his approval. Parting her fingers slightly she made it possible for him to interleave his in between. When he did so she squeezed her fingers against him.
The effect on Jayell was overwhelming erotic. It was as if she was squeezing his whole body.
But it wasn’t right!
With a great effort he forced himself to break the connection.
"Are you satisfied with the control interface Doctor?" He asked, immediately regretting his choice of verb.
Beverly stood up and moved away from him. She too was feeling hot and flustered
"Perfectly satisfied." She replied. "I’ll recommend it to Starfleet."
"In which case it’s time I returned to my quarters."
She could see from his face his ‘need’ was as strong as hers.
Should I order him to stay?
Her decision could have gone either way.
"Very well then Jayell, I shall see you tomorrow."
Back in her apartment Beverly struggled to keep her thoughts off Jayell. She had had erotic thoughts about him before but never so strong or so difficult to suppress. She was trying the age-old remedy of a cold shower but it wasn't doing much good. All it created was a vivid fantasy about being in the shower with him. She was standing behind him soaping him down, working her hand down his back and over his firm and peach-like buttocks. Her fingers massaged and explored the area before drifting lower to find the gap between the top of his legs.
Jayell let out a gasp. The cold water wasn’t doing any good. His mind kept imaging that she was in the shower with him, soaping him down and doing the most tantalising things with her long flexible fingers. He banged his head against the wall in an effort to make the thoughts stop.
After an hour Beverly gave up try to resist. She would go and see him. If he rejected her advances it might help her to calm down, if he accepted …
Using the transporter control that Data had provided for Jayell to visit the apartment, Beverly used it to beam herself directly to his basement quarters.
Jayell was standing facing the wall, wearing only shorts and singlet. She didn’t need to say anything; he sensed she was there. Even when she drew nearer he still did not move.
"Jayell?" she whispered.
"Please!" he begged her, "this isn’t right. I’m not Jean-Luc Picard. You must Go!"
"I can’t. I want to be with you. I don’t care whether you’re Jean-Luc or Jayell, all I know is that I want you."
She put out a hand and touched his bare shoulder.
He shuddered with pleasure.
"Please Beverly! Don’t!"
"Why not? You want it as much as I do."
He grabbed her so quickly she hardly saw him move. His strong hands held her by the upper arms as he pressed her back was against the wall. His face was inches from hers, its contours distorted by the effort to control his desire.
"Maybe I’m not as gentle as Jean-Luc."
"Maybe I don’t want you to be gentle." She tried to reach his mouth.
He pressed his hips firmly against hers, trapping his throbbing urgency between them.
"Maybe I’m not as patient as Jean-Luc."
"Who's asking you to be?" Her rasping voice urged him on.
He lifted her up, then while still trapping her against the wall with his shoulder, his hands grabbed the fabric between her legs and tore it apart. Removing his own shorts he lowered her over him stopping only a centimetre before penetration.
"Maybe I’m not as considerate either." He shouted at her.
"Don’t be." She shouted back.
She fought against him, forcing her body down and onto him.
Jayell let out a wail of anguish as he felt himself being enveloped. For half a second he retained control, then the unstoppable urge to thrust overwhelmed him.
She thought she had been ready for him, but his size and firmness came as a shock. Whether it was his orgasm she had experienced or her own she could not later recall. Either way the sensation was astonishing.
As Jayell finished his climax she noticed his legs starting to buckle. Seconds later he had collapsed onto the floor.
"Jean-Luc!"
He wasn’t moving, his eyes had dilated.
Instinctively she started feeling for a pulse, but he had never had one.
From a shelf she grabbed a medical tricorder he’d been studying and rushed back to his side.
"Thank God!"
There were still signs of life.
She cradled his head in her hand.
"Jean-Luc? Can you hear me?"
His face twitched, but nothing more. She would have to call Data ... but first she had replaced their clothing.
++
Jayell started to speak again just as Data entered the room.
"I’m fine," He insisted, "there is no need for alarm."
"But you were unconscious." She replied.
"I might have appeared so, but in reality I was only resting."
"I thought you were incapable of relaxation." Data commented.
"It seems I was mistaken." He turned to Beverly, "Doctor, I believe you have the first of your physical tests early tomorrow, perhaps it would be advisable if you had a good night’s sleep."
She was stunned.
So what if he was embarrassed by Data's presence, was it really necessary to be so remote?
His cold unresponsive gaze almost scared her.
"If you are sure you are all right?" She asked.
"Completely."
++
Data gave a little grunt of surprise. "Perhaps your body is not as stable as I thought."
Before Jayell could stop him, the android scanned him all over. The results gave Data another surprise, there were minute traces of human tissue attached to various parts of his anatomy.
"Jayell . . . " Data began carefully, " . . Does Doctor Crusher have any reason to be displeased with your behaviour?"
"No Data, I assure you she does not."
"Dr Crusher, we’re teaming you up with Captain Peters."
Beverly knew exactly what to expect during the test, she was the one who had designed it. The scenarios differed for each pair of candidates but they all involved three stages - something physically demanding, a test of hand and eye co-ordination and finally a mental calculation . For their test she and Alan Peters would have 20 minutes to move some heavy equipment between three decks of a damaged ship, after that they would have to manually recalibrate a sensor and finally they would calculate their trajectory home.
Despite her continuing anxiety over Jayell's behaviour, physically she felt good. In fact more than good. Sex with Jean-Luc had always ‘re-charged’ her batteries but yesterday’s session with Jayell had done so tenfold.
"I’m glad I’m paired with you Beverly, I wouldn’t want to work with someone who was determined to break every record."
It was a comment Peters would soon regret. Record-breaking seemed to be exactly what she was aiming for. At the top of the second ladder Peters insisted they rest.
"Are you all right Alan?" She scanned him with her tricorder. His heart rate was very high. "Perhaps you should drop out."
"There is nothing wrong with me." He snapped back, when he’d regained his breath. "Do you realise how fast you were going? If you expect your crew to perform at this rate you’ll kill them all from exhaustion."
She checked her timer. "Sorry Alan, I didn’t realise, I’ll slow down."
++
"How has he been today?" She asked.
Data seemed reluctant to answer. "Physically he appears the same as usual. However, he has been somewhat distracted."
From the androids behaviour she guessed he knew what had happened between them.
"Beverly, I do not mean to intrude on your relationship, but for your own protection I must ask whether he has done anything to displease you?"
"He hasn't hurt me Data, I can assure you of that."
"I am pleased to hear it. I was concerned as Jayell asked me to be present on the next occasion you meet."
Coward!
"Would you like me to fetch him?"
"Please."
When Jayell materialised his manner was as remote as when she had last seem him. When he didn't respond to her smile she asked Data if he would leave them alone for a while.
"Do you remember what happened last night?" She asked.
"At 19:43 I demonstrated the new shield control. This finished at 21:13."
His Starfleet method of replying was insulting.
"And after that?"
He took longer this time. "You visited me in my quarters."
"And then?"
He looked away. "Something happened that shouldn’t have."
"Shouldn't have?" She moved nearer, forcing him to look at her.
Suddenly his stoical façade dissolved and he was an emotional being again.
"I'm not supposed to be Picard, remember? You told me I wasn't him, that you would never accept me as him. Yet last night when you thought I was unconscious, you called be Jean-Luc."
"I was panicking, I thought you were dead!"
He was still glaring at her, disbelieving.
"So sometimes I get the two of you confused, can you blame me? You look like him, you sound like him, you know all about our life together. And yet... and yet," she slowed down." At the same time I know you're not him. Jayell, everything that’s happened in the last two weeks has happened between you and me. It is you that has learnt to be a doctor, it is you who's been helping me to become a captain, it is you that I've …"
"… and that’s the way it should stay," he insisted, " with the two of us behaving as colleagues and friends."
"No!" She shouted back. "No. I know what you’re suggesting - that we should dance around one another for decades, just as Jean-Luc and I did. Well that’s not on. You might have the time and patience for such games but I haven’t. I’m mortal remember. I'm aging. Pretty soon I’ll be too old to enjoy the pleasures of passionate love. I want that Jayell and I want it with you. It’s you I’m in love with." Her words shocked him. "You needn’t pretend to be surprised. You started this when you asked me to name you, to be your guide into human society. You knew what could happen between us and it has. So either be with me as my partner or leave me alone."
After storming out, Beverly had called some of her ex-colleagues from the surgery research unit and spent the evening with them. With an iron will she managed not to think about him till she left work the next day. The following day was when they had arranged to reveal him to Kent, she would have to sort things out with Jayell before then.
If they were to reach a compromise she must look at things from his perspective. When he'd first been activated he had agreed to continue living only on the understanding that he wasn't Picard. By asking him to be her lover she was encouraging to resume Jean-Luc's life. If she persisted did she risk his opting to destroy himself? Surely he wouldn't be so cruel? Was there an alternative? Could she tolerate his suggestion that they remain just friends? Or did they have to part?
++
They couldn't meet in his quarters. The room was too charged with memories of their last encounter there. Once again she asked Data to vacate his laboratory.
This time Jayell looked anxious rather than distant as he materialised in front of her.
"Jayell . ." she opened immediately ".. I've been thinking about what you said."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
"No, hear me out first. .. Maybe we could remain just friends, taking the occasional lover as Jean-Luc and I did on the Enterprise. But it wouldn't work would it? We've crossed the boundary and we can't go back. I couldn't lie comfortably with someone else knowing it was you I wanted to be with. It would be using them. If we can't be together then I think it's better we don't see each other after tomorrow."
"May I speak now?" He asked.
She nodded.
"I haven't been very fair to you, have I? I expected you to not treat me like Jean-Luc while in my head I still continued to have his thoughts and feelings. There's also another character inside me too, you were right about that. There's this Jayell person who's been learning medicine and who's looking forward to a life Picard would never even have contemplated. He has feelings too.
"Yesterday I was angry with you, I'm not sure quite why. Maybe it was the Picard part of me that was jealous at you taking a new lover so soon after his death or the Jayell side jealous that you only wanted Picard?" He gave a little snort of laughter. "Why should I expect you to distinguish between the two of us when I can't tell where the two of us end and begin?"
He paused to see her reaction.
"Speaking as Jayell there are occasions when I find Jean-Luc to be a bit of an fool." Beverly couldn't help smiling at this. "He has this absurd reluctance to take a route that might him happy, as though he didn't deserve it." He stretched out his hands and gently took hold of hers. "I’ve been explaining to him that in this instance it's all right for him to indulge himself, in fact its his duty to do so as it's in pursuit of making someone else happy. So ... assuming you still want us both of us .. may we respectfully request the honour of being your partner life."
Beverly felt her heart heave in response. She was tempted to shout YES immediately.
"Are you sure it's what you 'Jayell' want? I'm an aging human woman, are you sure you want saddle yourself with me?"
It was his turn to smile. "This conversation is turning into the reverse of one you had with Picard when he first became ill. You wanted to stay with him and he tried to persuade you to leave for your own good. My answer is yes, I am sure." He freed one hand to lift a hair out of her face. "If you need more convincing think of it this way – through Picard's memories I've already had many experiences, I've explored much of the galaxy, but what I've never experienced is growing old with someone I love. That opportunity was cut short by his illness, it was something he was looking forward to, a new adventure if you like. Beverly we are both certain that you are the woman we want to grow old with."
Beverly wrapped her arms tightly around him and buried her face in his neck. He held her close and caressed her back just as Picard had done.
"You'll age a little more slowly than me." She corrected him.
"Oh, I don't know about that, " he joked, "have you looked at yourself lately? I think there's a fair chance you've inherited your grandmother's genes."
She lifted her head and laughed. "You mean the ones that kept her sexually active into her 90s."
He coughed, embarrassed. "Since you mention it. Of course I may not be up to Ronin's talents."
"Don't under estimate yourself. I think you show considerable potential." She pressed herself against him again.
Jayell Picard leant forward and kiss her gently but sensuously on the mouth. He wanted to demonstrate he could be passionate without being violent. Her response matched his own.
When they parted Beverly took hold of his hands.
"I think I should continue to call you Jayell."
"Agreed."
"Also, please don’t be offended, but I’m not quite ready for you to move into the apartment yet."
"I understand", he assured her, "let’s get my public revelation over with first. Speaking of which, shall we call Data in and discuss tomorrow’s meeting with Admiral Kent?"
Beverly was alone in the laboratory while Data went to fetch the Admiral from the front entrance. She was trying to think optimistically about the coming encounter least her worried face should lead Kent to react like Riker.
"Admiral, thank you for coming."
"It sounded too intriguing to miss." As he spoke two other visitors entered the room behind him.
Maddox! Beverly almost swore. He was the man who had once tried to dismantle Data. Why did it have to be him!
"I hope you don't mind, I brought Captain Maddox with me and his assistant Lieutenant Kendrick. When they heard Mr Data had a new invention they wanted to see it immediately."
"That's okay Admiral, assuming it's all right with you Data?"
She and the android exchange a quick anxious glance.
"Perfectly Doctor. Shall we begin?"
Data lifted a small box and started to explain how this was the holographic emitter for a new type of hologram.
"The holograms are personal to the individual users, they can only be operated by them."
"Why is that?" Maddox asked.
"Because an essential part of their matrix is derived from the user's DNA. If you would care to demonstrate Doctor."
While Data turned on the emitter, Beverly 'thought' her hologram into existence. She deliberately made it materialise behind them. When she spoke through 'Bev' all three of them jumped.
"No need for alarm, gentlemen. I'm the same Beverly Crusher who's standing on the other side of the room, it's just that I can speak, see and feel through this hologram in real-time."
Maddox looked back and forth between the two Beverleys.
"What control mechanism are you using?" He asked.
"Thought."
"Thought? What no transmitter?"
"No Sir. My range of control is 110 metres if I have clear line of sight, less if there are obstructions."
Maddox and his assistant exchanged a disbelieving glance.
"Let me demonstrate. Admiral Kent would you mind if I examined your hand? Over here where my real body can't see."
Speaking, through her own body, Beverly described the appearance and feel of Kent's right hand."
"This is incredible." Kent responded. "The medical possibilities are considerable."
"I thought you would see it Sir. I could send her inside a quarantine barrier to treat patients or into an area with dangerous radiation levels. She has another possible uses besides being a medical operative. A hologram like this can be used by someone who is seriously disabled, through the hologram they can do all that an able bodied person can do - speak, fetch food, hug their children."
"In fact that was the original idea behind this invention." Data explained. "Captain Picard used one during the last months of his life."
Maddox jumped in. "Months? How long have you been hiding this invention?"
Beverly was immediately annoyed at his aggressive manner, but Data didn't seem to mind.
"I have not made it public before now because I was endeavouring to explain why some people can control such holograms and others cannot. Captain Picard and the Doctor can but Reg Barclay has been unable to do so. I have not found a satisfactory explanation for this difference. I am making the invention public today in the hope that someone else can find an explanation."
"Can you control one?" Kent asked.
"No Sir, I have no DNA from which to create the matrix."
For 20 minutes Data answered Maddox's technical questions and then agreed to pass the instructions for creating the holograms onto the Starfleet Research laboratory.
"Thank you, Data." Kent put out his hand. "Visiting you is always worthwhile. Bruce are you ready to leave now?"
Data looked over at Beverly, waiting to see if she was ready to make the next announcement.
Crusher swallowed. "Before you go there is one more creation we would like to show you."
"Is it as intriguing as the last?" Kent joked.
"Maybe more so."
Jayell materialised on a spot next to Data. He stood perfectly still and said nothing, just as they had agreed the day before.
His resemblance to Picard unsettled Admiral Kent.
"Beverly, do you approve of Data creating a hologram that so resembles Jean-Luc?"
"It’s all right Admiral, I approve, besides this isn’t a hologram. This is a permanent sentient being. His name is Jayell."
The Being turned and bowed politely towards them, but still said nothing.
"Sentient?" Maddox was suddenly paying great attention. "Is he positronic like you Data? What can he do?"
"Jayell has the ability to learn rapidly," Beverly explained, "in the last 12 days he has successfully completed the entire six year Star Fleet medical course, as well as many other exercises and research projects. I consider him to be a qualified doctor. Admiral Kent would you care to ask him a question?"
He thought a moment. "What do you know about Belnoir Disease?"
"It is rare human disease that .... "
Kent had met Picard and recognized his voice, thought the inflection was slightly different he thought, perhaps Vulcan?
Jayell continued his answer describing the symptoms of Belnoir and the two known treatments, both of which only alleviate the symptoms rather than cured them. He was coming to the end of his reply when he suddenly stopped and looked at Beverly.
"What is it?" she asked, somewhat alarmed.
"On Lamara 3 there is a disease called Olzuk. It also attacks the humanoid lymphatic system. The Lamarians treat it with a combination of an extract from a local herb and low level gamma rays. Perhaps this treatment or a variation...."
"... would be effective on humans!" Beverly finished his sentence excitedly.
"I'm sure this is all very interesting," Maddox interrupted, "but can we get back to discussing this new ‘Being’ or whatever it is. Dr Crusher may not mind, but I certainly don’t approve of it looking like a real person."
"The reason he resembles Jean-Luc Picard" Data explained, "is because he is constructed partially from the nanoprobes that remained in Picard body after he was rescued from the Borg."
Maddox and his assistant responded as if Data had shouted ‘Red Alert’. "He’s built from Borg technology!"
"Partially, yes Sir."
"Kendrick, check out ‘Locutus’ here."
Locutus! Beverly was fuming.
Kendrick opened the case he had brought with him and selected an instrument.
On seeing what he was holding Jayell quickly raised a hand to protect himself. Kendrick was startled by his sudden movement and stepped back. He tripped and stumbled. Jayell moved forward to help him causing Maddox to grab a phaser from the case.
"Jayell FREEZE." Beverly yelled. "Captain Maddox, please put that phaser away." There was no mistaking her anger at his behaviour. "Mr Kendrick if you approached me like that with an electronic scalpel I’d also raise my hand to protect myself. Jayell might be an artificial being but he feels pain. If you want to examine him then here .... use my medical tricorder."
While Kendrick performed his scan, Maddox quizzed Data about Jayell’s construction and physical abilities
"The readout doesn’t make sense to me Sir, I need the equipment back at our research centre to understand what’s going on inside him."
"Data," Maddox ordered, "see to it that this being is delivered to my Los Angles base by 13:00 today."
"No." Jayell’s response was calm but adamant.
Maddox turned on him. "What did you say?"
"I said ‘no’, I do not wish to go to your laboratory."
"Data, just how do you control this thing!"
"Captain," Beverly jumped in, "you are forgetting Jayell is a sentient being. He is entitled to make his own decisions."
"Are you telling me you’ve allowed a powerful Borg based being free reign to do whatever he likes?"
"Not exactly." She replied. "He’s put himself under my control. He accepts orders from me."
"And what if he decides not to obey those orders?"
"The situation hasn’t arisen." Beverly knew it wasn’t an adequate answer. "Jayell, please explain to the captain why you want to stay here."
"Data still has tests to do on me. We have yet to provide satisfactorily explain how I was brought to life. Reg Barclay, the Voyager doctor and Dr Crusher are the best people to assist him in that work and they are all located here in San Francisco. After they have concluded their investigations I would be happy to visit you at the Daystrom Institute."
"Data. Crusher. Explain to me how does he know about the Institute? Have you been giving him access to classified information?"
"The existence of the Institute is not classified." Data replied.
"Captain, please," Beverly tried to calm Maddox down, "Data and I have been working with Jayell for several days now, we've seen no reason to believe he might a threat to human society. In fact he has all the makings of an admirable citizen."
"How can you be sure? What controls or motivates his actions? We know and trust Data because we understand his programming, it includes ethical subroutines. Can you say the same of Jayell?"
"No, but then how can you be certain about Lieutenant Kendrick here. How do you know he isn’t going to turn into a killer?"
Maddox was thrown for a moment. "That’s irrelevant, even a model citizen can be a carrier of a dangerous disease. He’s created from millions of nanites and nanoprobes which are potential threat to human health. Your own son almost caused the loss of the Enterprise when he allowed just two of them to get loose. Are you 100 percent certain this Jayell ‘thing’ isn’t going to shed nanoprobes wherever he goes?"
"I have been monitoring him quite closely Captain." Data cut in, "So far he has lost none."
Admiral Kent decided to assert himself, "Captain Maddox . . .Bruce, I understand your concerns and share them, however I think we can trust Mr Data and Dr Crusher to take sensible precautions. I want to give them a few more days to continue their investigation of Jayell. Mr Data would three days be enough?"
"Yes Admiral."
"Sir!" Maddox was still fuming. "I accept, but under protest. I must insist that they keep Jayell under close observation at all time."
++
"DAMN!" Crusher thumped the table.
"I’m sorry Beverly I shouldn’t have said ‘NO’ like that, I allowed myself to be irritated by his attitude. It was stupid of me, especially as the man has a point. The nanoprobes within me could be a health risk. Data are you sure I am stable? Even after my ‘episode’ the other day?"
"Every measurement I have taken indicates your body has not changed."
"Then perhaps we can re-assure Maddox on that point. However, as to what motivates me or guides my behaviour.." he let out a sigh, ".. maybe it would have been better if I had told him that I have Picard’s memories. Maybe that would have reassured him, also it would have explained how I come to know a lot of secret information."
"We didn’t lie to him, we just omitted certain details." Beverly responded.
Jayell laughed. "Somehow I don’t think Maddox will see it like that. Data? Did I ‘bend the truth’ when I said we were investigating how I was brought to life?"
"Those words are consistent with the facts. I have arranged for Doc to visit us tomorrow. He has extensive experience of Borg nanoprobes."
"In that case," he put his arm around Beverly, "I think we've done all we currently can to reassure him. Let's stop worrying that they’ll lock me away and investigate the Belnoir treatment idea we had earlier."
++
A hour later the results of their analysis were beginning to appear on the computer screen.
"See", she pointed out, "the Belnoir cell has multiple similarities the Olzuk. Your idea for treating this disease with the Lamarian solution has a good chance of working."
Kent shut the door to his office and invited her to sit down.
"Would you like a drink?"
"Yes please, you chose."
"How did your bridge test go today?"
"Well I think. When will I know the result?"
"Tomorrow evening, after you've completed the last of your physical fitness tests. Can you report here at 19:00? I'd like the pleasure of confirming your captaincy myself."
"I'll be here, Admiral."
They clinked glasses and sat down. Beverly sipped her drink and she waited for him to bring up the real reason he had invited her there.
"Beverly you know the idea Jayell had for treating Belnoir?"
"Yes."
"Well Clare's doctor contacted me this afternoon. He's examined the material you sent him and is optimistic it'll make a real difference to her condition. He's arranging for her to visit Lamara next week."
"That's great news."
Kent studied his glass. "Had you briefed Jayell to expect my question?"
"No sir." She began to feel uneasy
"The reason I ask is the way Jayell answered my question. I felt sure he was aware that my daughter was a sufferer. .. Beverly, I have to ask this ... is Jayell's connection to Picard more than a matter of looks?"
She was tempted to lie, but that would only make matters worse when the truth came out.
"Jayell ... has Picard's memories." She paused, anxious to see how he'd react..
"I see ... and do you consider Jayell to be .."
"No." She jumped in. "Jean-Luc Picard is dead, he's buried in Labarre. It wouldn't be right for a dead human to be given an artificial body. Jayell is like him but he isn't him."
She looked Kent in the eye, willing him to understand her plea. Please don't go round saying Jayell is Jean-Luc!
"You've been preparing a list of officers you'd like appointed to the Pasteur. You haven't appointed a medical researcher post ... are you hoping it can be Jayell?"
"Yes sir... if you agree?"
Beverly held her breath while she waited for his reply.
Kent lifted his glass and smiled. "Then here's to your latest crew member - Jayell, a new and very gifted life form."
+++
"How did your examination go, Doctor?" Data asked.
"What? .. Oh! You mean the bridge test. It was surprisingly easy. It usually takes three hours but I was through it in two."
Jayell and Data exchanged surprised looks - since when were bridge tests 'easy'?
"You needn't look like that, I'm not being arrogant. Whoever set the test obviously knows very little about medical matters. For example I had to dissuaded some Garardian border guards from looting my ship while it was being repaired. That was simple, all I had to do was tell them we had an outbreak Vulcan Mirano flu on board."
They still looked puzzled.
"Mirano flu is pretty harmless to humans but leaves Garadian males impotent."
Jayell gave a little cough. "Yes I can see that might have a deterrent affect."
"The other problem I had to solve was some faulty biopacks. I had them taken to Sickbay and treated with Fisher's cellular regeneration method."
Jayell was impressed, she could see it in his face.
Data too was intrigued. "A most imaginative solution doctor. You are right, ship's engineers are not familiar with the latest medical developments. It is an area that I must study further."
"You could do your study aboard the Pasteur if you like. Admiral Kent has agreed to support my request that Jayell should become the ship's medical researcher. I don't have a science officer yet, if you would like that take that post for a while ...?"
"That arrangement would be most acceptable."
Beverly placed a hand on each of them.
"Then here's hoping our wishes come true."
Jayell felt her hand shake slightly. "Is everything all right?."
She gave him a quick little smile. "Kent guessed that you have more in common with Picard than his looks."
"I suspected as much, when he left the other day he looked across to me and nodded just as he used to to Jean-Luc."
"Fortunately, unlike Will Riker, he doesn't seem to mind. But then, I suppose, he has good reason to be grateful for what you've discovered about his daughter's disease. Kent's prepared to judge you on how you behave, Maddox and many others will judge you on what they see you as – a Borg derivative. When Maddox learns you have Picard's memories, I fear he'll see you as even more of a threat. I can't stop myself worrying that in two days time they'll take you away and I'll never be allowed to see you again."
Jayell took her hand and held it firmly.
"Then will have to arrange things so we have the right to see one another. Remember Phillipa Louvois who established that Data was a sentient being with rights? Well she still works in the judge advocate's office. Let's see what she can do in my case."
End of Chapter 33.