Vectors Read Online Free PDF Page A

inside of one of these again."
    Pulaski smoothed her hair with one hand. "I missed it a great deal."
    "I imagine you did," Pulaski said. She felt her shoulders stiffen. She would miss it too.
    "I'm sorry, Katherine," Dr. Crusher said. "You were doing an exceptional job here. I wouldn't have asked to come back to the Enterprise if it weren't for Wesley."
    Pulaski nodded. "I had a feeling from the first that I was merely keeping this place warm for you." "It looks like you did more than that." Dr. Crusher nodded at the crewman. His vitals were closer to normal than they had been just a few moments before. "I've never seen such quick work on a burn patient. I doubt I could have done as well."
    "I've studied your logs," Pulaski said. "You've done as well or better."
    Their gazes met, and an awkwardness that had been reflected in their words seemed to grow. Finally Dr. Crusher tossed her long hair back-such a girlish move from such an accomplished woman-and laughed.
    "I'm sorry about this," she said. "I didn't realize it would be so uncomfortable."
    Pulaski frowned just slightly. If Dr. Crusher was referring to their meeting, she should have known. It was an unwritten rule among chief medical officers that they never share a sickbay-at least not on a starship. The new officer replacing the old officer would wait until his or her predecessor was off the ship before entering sickbay.
    But Pulaski said nothing. An unwritten rule was a tradition, yes, but it wasn't as if Dr. Crusher had done much more than been slightly impolite. It was something easily overlooked.
    Apparently Pulaski's silence went on too long. Dr. Crusher's smile faded. "There is a reason that I'm here early," she said. Pulaski felt some of the tension leave her. The breach of etiquette had bothered her, even though she had just been trying to convince herself that it hadn't. She felt Dr. Crusher's returning as a slight rebuke, almost as if she weren't important enough to remain on the ship. She had known that the feeling was irrational and, in her better moments, had forgotten all about it. But it had been a thread, an undercurrent, during the whole last month, since she'd finally learned that she would be leaving.
    "I hope it's not too serious," Pulaski said.
    Dr. Crusher's mouth formed a thin line. "Starfleet Medical wanted me to tell you there's a problem on Bajor."
    Whatever Pulaski had expected, it wasn't that. She fought to keep her face impassive, not to let her emotions show. Dr. Kellec Ton, after all, was her ex-husband, and as much as she cared about him, she had known that this moment could come. She had urged him to leave Bajor, knowing that with his temperament, he couldn't be safe under the Cardassian occupation. But he had refused, just as he had always refused to do the sensible thing during their marriage, citing his loyalty to his homeland and its great need for him in time of crisis.
    "Why did Starfleet Medical believe they needed to inform me of this?"
    Dr. Crusher's gaze held hers. "There are rumors that a plague on Bajor is killing both Cardassians and Bajorans."
    Pulaski threaded her fingers together and held her hands over her stomach, as if the pressure would keep her nerves from getting worse.
    "That's not possible," Pulaski said. "Their systems are too different. Viruses cannot be spread from Bajoran to Cardassian and back again."
    "I thought the same thing," Dr. Crusher said softly. "But Starfleet Medical is taking the rumors seriously."
    Rumors. If they only had rumors, they wouldn't know who died. For all they knew, Kellec was just fine.
    Suddenly Pulaski knew why Dr. Crusher was telling her this. "They want me to contact Kellec for them, don't they?"
    Dr. Crusher nodded. "A message from Starfleet might put him in jeopardy. A message from you"
    "Would seem normal. Or somewhat normal." Pulaski let her hands drop to her sides. She was on good terms with Kellec, as she was with her other two ex-husbands. But she didn't like talking with