Trekipedia

Double Helix, Book Six: The First Virtue

Years before the U.S.S. Enterprise, the U.S.S. Stargazer must prevent a war!

• Stardate Unknown
• Released August 1999

An insidious plot for revenge has spanned several years in the life of Jean-Luc Picard, but how did this merciless vendetta get started? Like a double helix curling back on itself, the final answer lies at the very beginning . . .

A series of terrorist attacks have heightened tensions between two alien races, bringing an entire sector to the brink of interplanetary war. While Picard, captain of the U.S.S. Stargazer, struggles to keep the peace, Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher must team up with a Vulcan officer named Tuvok to uncover the hidden architect of the attacks, but the outcome of their quest would breed dire consequences for the future.

Written by Michael Jan Friedman and Christie Golden

Cast:

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Commander Gilaad Ben Zoma
• Vigo
• “Pug” Joseph
• Chief Engineer Phigus Simenon
• Doctor Carter Greyhorse
• Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher
• Lieutenant Gerda Asmund
• Lieutenant Idun Asmund

Guest Cast:

• Ensign Tuvok
• Dr. Beverly Crusher

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Excerpt

Commander Jack Crusher asked, “And where can we find this man?”

Languidly, keeping his eyes on the bartender’s face, he again shook out the three slips of latinum – this time, into his palm. He ran his thumb over the shiny metal and waited for the alien to speak.

“There is a klaapish-klaapish’na house not far from here,” said the bartender, his dark popeyes glued to the latinum. “The name of the place is The House of Comfort.”

Jack kept his expression as neutral as possible. He wasn’t sure what a klaapish-klaapish’na house was, but with the name The House of Comfort, he could make a pretty good guess.

Already, he was formulating his next message to Beverly: Hi, honey. Hope you and Wes are well. My most recent assignment took me undercover to an alien brothel. Hope you understand the sacrifices an officer has to make in the line of duty . . .