by Peter David
“But what…?”
McHenry sighed heavily. “It cost him. Cost him everything…except his inner essence, which he placed into me. And the problem is, the Beings can be imprisoned…but destroying them is a much more difficult matter. Someone has to remain as a sentinel against their possible return…plus as an early warning against other extradimensional threats that could harm all reality…or, at the very least, be really, really annoying. And I’m afraid that’s gonna have to be me. No more sleeping at my station.”
“I don’t accept that,” said Calhoun. “There must be another way…”
At that, McHenry laughed. “Sorry, Captain. There are some things in the universe that are beyond the influence of even the great Mackenzie Calhoun.” And very, very slowly, McHenry started to fade. “Don’t be concerned. I’ve always felt such an affinity for the stars. Well…now I’ll be walking among them.”
“Will…” Burgoyne sounded as if hir voice was choking. “Will we see you again?”
“You’d better hope not,” said McHenry. “Because chances are, if you do, I won’t be showing up with good news.” He smiled at Kebron. “When we started at the Academy, Zak, bet you never thought you’d wind up serving next to a demigod, huh?”
“McHenry,” said Kebron, “there’s things that should be said…”
“Say them some other time. I’ll stumble over ’em sooner or later. Oh, and Robin…”
“Mark…?”
He wagged a finger at her. “I’ll know if you’ve been naughty or nice. So watch it.”
And he disappeared.
Danter
SOLETA WOKE UP.
She wasn’t even sure she had been sleeping. All she knew was that she was lying in a field, and suddenly there was a clarity of vision that she had been lacking before.
And then, slowly, the memories began to creep back to her. The memories of peace of mind, and warmth, and a lack of concern.
And a smiling face above her, and heat within her.
She had lost all of that, and instead her free will had been returned to her.
She should have been happy. And relieved. Even angry.
Instead she began to sob.
Trident
SHELBY SHOOK HER HEAD in disbelief as she and Calhoun walked down the corridor leading to the turbolift.
“So McHenry’s gone?”
“That’s right,” said Calhoun.
“And Soleta’s returned to the ship.”
“Feeling very bewildered and, I think, rather embarrassed,” Calhoun told her. “And the effects of the ambrosia are wearing off the rest of the Danteri as well. They’ve already been imploring Si Cwan to come back and take another stab at beginning a new Thallonian Empire.”
“Let me guess,” said Shelby. “He doesn’t want any part of it.”
“No. The Danteri were no joy to work with even before the Beings got involved with them. Si Cwan is interested in keeping a safe distance from them. I think he’s still enchanted with the idea of a new Thallonian Empire, but he’s convinced the Danteri aren’t the way to go.”
“Our remaining problem is the Tholians,” said Shelby. “Fortunately enough, Ambassador Spock is with us. The Tholians are on their way, but we’re thinking the ambassador will be able to forestall any problems. Especially when he explains that the downside of ambrosia is that it makes anyone who takes it extremely peaceful. I doubt that’s going to be very attractive to the Tholians.” She paused just before they got to the turbolift, turned, and said to Calhoun, “I’m very proud of the way you handled everything. I really am.”
“Thank you. That means a lot, coming from you. And I love you.”
She laughed softly. “You don’t initiate that statement very often. And I love you, too.”
“Tell me,” he said, “do you think they’d miss me back on the Excalibur if I was gone for, oh…another half hour or so?”
“Even if they did, they’d probably figure out why and have the good taste not to comment on it.”
“Your cabin?”
“By all means.”
They walked forward into the turbolift, the door hissing open, and Shelby jumped back and barely stifled a shriek.
The ripped-up body of Lieutenant Commander Gleau tumbled out of the lift, staring with lifeless eyes up at them.
“This might take longer than a half hour,” said Calhoun.
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