Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Young Adult Books #5: Arcade

by Diana G. Gallagher

  Nog blinked and sat up. “How’d you do that?”

  Trembling, Jake stared at the snake. He had come within a split second of disaster and needed a moment to catch his breath. Selfish greed had almost cost him the game … and his life.

  Nog, never missing a profitable opportunity, turned to get the gold ball. It was so heavy, he needed both hands to lift it.

  “Put it down, Nog,” Jake ordered breathlessly.

  “No! It’s worth a fortune!”

  “It’s not worth anything if you’re stuck on this rock.” Jake nodded toward the viper sliding into position above Nog. Below, the sand-snakes were wiggling and swarming around the raised stone steps. Nog could not jump the steps holding the heavy gold ball. He needed his hands for flowers and balance.

  Nog hesitated. The viper’s mouth opened. Dropping the ball, Nog took the flowers Jake offered, but he was incensed. “What’s the point of playing this game if there’s no way to win?”

  Jake shrugged. Nog didn’t need to know he had struck a bad bargain with Bokat when he had agreed to play. There was no profit in the venture. The only way to win the Zhodran Crystal Quest was to survive it.

  Jake did not look back as he scrambled down the mound. He’d get to Earth someday—on his own. For now he was happy that he and his father were together. Where they lived wasn’t important.

  Back on the main path, Jake took the lead again. Nog shuffled beside him, sulking over the loss of his riches. Tena Lin and Rotor trudged behind in grim silence. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, and as the terrain slowly changed from desert to marsh, Jake was stricken with an ominous dread.

  Daylight dimmed as the trail drove into a swamp. Gnarled trees covered with tangled brown vines closed in around them. Broad, slimy leaves floated on stagnant water on either side of the narrow walkway. Thick curtains of moss hung from dead tree branches over the path, slowing their progress. The hoots and howls of creatures hidden in the shadows chilled the blood and warned of greater danger ahead. Total darkness would soon envelop them. Was he running out of time?

  The road through the swamp got steadily harder to follow. Trailing vines snagged at Jake’s arms. Knotted tree roots erupted from the soggy ground to trip him. A heavy mist formed over still gray waters as the remaining light waned and the air cooled. Desperate and uncertain, Jake led his friends deeper into a darkening gloom that seemed to go forever.

  Exhausted, Jake stumbled and fell into a tangle of vines suspended over the murky water. He cried out as heavy organic ropes twisted around him. He tried to rip the vines away, but the harder he fought, the stronger the net became. The choking vines drew him down toward the water.

  “Jake!” Nog stopped dead, too petrified to help. Tena Lin grabbed for Jake’s outstretched hand, but she couldn’t reach it.

  The vines tightened and dragged Jake closer to deadly swamp waters that weren’t even real, except in his mind. Worse. Dr. Bashir would continue to revive him. He wouldn’t die. He would drown over and over again through all eternity.

  Cold water seeped through the back of his jumpsuit. Jake stiffened, then tensed as water washed over his face. The vines plunged him deeper into the dirty swamp.

  Inspiration struck suddenly. Submerged and unable to breathe, Jake forced himself to relax. The organic mesh loosened slightly. This was a devious game, but it had rules. He was not a helpless victim of the alien device. His own panic was killing him. He had to achieve a state of total calm and hope he did not black out from lack of oxygen before the vines surrendered.

  Relax, Jake. The crushing net eased, but Jake was wary of reacting too soon even though his lungs screamed for air. Not yet… Cautiously he moved an arm, then the other arm and his legs. And he was free. Out of breath, but afraid the deadly vines would snag him again, Jake slowly pushed upward. Stay calm… His head broke the surface of the water. Gasping for air, Jake crawled up the bank to the path and collapsed to collect his thoughts.

  Blind luck combined with rational thinking had gotten him through the alien game so far. Now he knew why.

  CHAPTER 12

  What happened?” Nog looked at Jake anxiously. “I thought we’d lost you for sure.”

  “I think I just got an A in panic control.” Getting to his feet, Jake grinned at his confused companions. They weren’t home yet, but their chances had greatly improved. “The end isn’t too far now, and I want to get going.” Turning, he marched boldly into the dark swamp.

  Keeping a watchful eye out for any other hidden dangers, Jake reviewed his theory. Every game had a point and pushed the limits of a player’s abilities. This program altered the specifics of each scenario according to the player. The Ferengi Bokat had called the game the Zhodran Crystal Quest. According to Dax, the Zhodran called the device the Crown of Ultimate Wisdom.

  “I wish I’d never heard of this stupid game,” Nog muttered.

  “It’s not a game,” Jake said. “It’s a test.”

  “A test!” All three children shouted in unison.

  Nog’s face reddened with indignation. “That’s impossible. There’s no profit in a test!”

  “A test for what?” Lin asked.

  “Character.” Jake immediately regretted his honest response. Tena Lin and Rotor glared at him.

  Nog sagged in humiliation. “I’ve been had! Conned into taking a dumb test with no reward! This is the worst deal I’ve made in my life!”

  Jake decided not to explain in detail. The Zhodran wouldn’t give him extra points for making his friends feel worse. Tena Lin had seen a Cardassian guarding the dock. Jake had seen a Borg. Both had been confronted with the thing they feared most in the universe—a test of courage Lin had failed. Also, Jake had not killed the Borg, which demonstrated compassion and a respect for all life. He wasn’t sure what he had proved by goading Tena Lin into following him up the cliff—loyalty, understanding, leadership? Perhaps it didn’t matter. While Rotor had acted foolishly when baited by the Antican, Jake had refused to fight Tommy Watson for stupid reasons. Lured by the gold ball, Nog had succumbed to greed and selfishness. Jake had chosen Nog’s life over Earth—his heart’s fondest desire.

  “I don’t get it.” Rotor shook his head. “There must be a purpose to such an elaborate deception. Someone stands to gain something.”

  Nog brightened. “He’s right, Jake. There must be a prize for passing the test!”

  Jake could only guess at the reasons for such a dangerous test, but again he kept silent.

  The game left no margin for faking one’s real personality or character. Dax had said the Zhodran were afraid of outsiders. Maybe they used the device to learn about each new species they encountered. If so, it meant the Zhodran were unwilling to invest the time and take the risk of getting to know people socially. Members of the Federation gradually developed understanding through personal contact and experience. Jake didn’t approve of the Zhodran method, but like it or not, he was being tested as a representative of the human race. If he failed, all humans lost, and he would forfeit his mind. So far, Jake had succeeded on his own merit, but knowing it was a test made the pressure worse.

  He still had to pass the final exam—the test of Ultimate Wisdom.

  The terrain changed, suddenly and dramatically. The swamp was left behind as the path wound into another forest. White wildflowers and bushes with red and blue berries flourished among leafy, green trees. Although the sun had set, the light of three moons and a brilliant cluster of stars illuminated the woods. A warm yellow glow shown from a clearing ahead.

  The end of the game.

  Emerging from the trees, Jake paused to stare at a huge set of doors set into the face of another cliff. Small crystals embedded in the rock twinkled with reflected starlight. The glow came from a crystal mosaic inlaid in the doors. A huge padlock ran through two large handles, sealing the barrier.

  Tena Lin gasped in awe. “It’s so beautiful! The prize must be behind those doors!”

  “Do you have any idea what it might b
e, Jake?” Nog prodded.

  “The secret location of the Da-hahn Crystal,” Jake said softly. “If the legend is true.”

  “The Da-hahn Crystal! That’s got a priority-one rating on the Ferengi list of missing artifacts!” Nog rubbed his hands in greedy delight, excited by the prospect of unlimited wealth.

  “What’s the Da-hahn Crystal?” Rotor shivered with anticipation, his scales glistening in the moonlight.

  Nog was quick to answer. “A treasure beyond my wildest dreams! It’s the key to immortality! Whoever owns it is invincible!” He sank to his knees and raised his fists toward the stars. “I will rule the Ferengi Empire!”

  “Power beyond imagination!” Rotor cried. “The Anticans could not stand against the Selay if we possessed that crystal. Victory at long last!”

  “Bajor could make the Cardassians pay for the crimes they committed against us!” Lin snarled. “Their empire will be ours!”

  Jake listened, but said nothing. The decision he made now would determine their fates. He could not make a mistake. As his companions bolted for the door, he lingered behind to think.

  Rotor pounded on the massive barrier. “Open up! In the name of my father, Gaynor, Captain of the Selay ship Erlan, I command you!”

  Taking a less violent approach, Tena Lin carefully felt along the seams, looking for a hidden control panel.

  Nog jiggled the handles, but the sturdy padlock held. “There must be a key here somewhere!” Frantic, Nog began to search.

  “I have the key.” Jake casually strolled forward.

  “Where?” Rotor hissed menacingly. “Give it to me.”

  “I can’t.” Sighing, Jake met Rotor’s demanding gaze.

  “I’m the one connected to the Zhodran device back in the Infirmary. I have to solve this problem. You’re all just spectators.”

  “We’ll rule the Ferengi Empire together!” Nog clamped his arm around Jake’s shoulders. “You are my best friend, right?”

  Rotor rattled, and Lin bristled.

  “Yes, I’m your best friend, Nog. And I’m going to try to get you out of here alive. All of you.” He looked at Lin and Rotor intently. “There’s nothing you can do to help, understand? Only my decisions can affect the device.”

  All three hesitated, then nodded.

  “Okay. I hope this works,” Jake muttered softly as he faced the door. Clasping his hands in front of him, he just stood there. A minute passed, two minutes, then five. Jake waited, ignoring the restless shuffling and discontented murmurs from the three observers behind him. While they had been attacking the door, Jake had decided that one of the character traits a fearful species like the Zhodran would value was patience. If he was wrong, they could be standing here for a very long time.

  Five minutes became ten. Twice Nog opened his mouth to comment, then changed his mind. Rotor’s tongue flicked in and out impatiently. Lin scowled at the ground, tapping her foot. Jake stood perfectly still, waiting. Fifteen minutes. He heard a click, then smiled. With trembling hands he reached for the lock. A quick tug and the U-shaped steel bar separated from the rounded bottom portion. A twist, and the quaint device slipped from the handles. Jake put his hand on the door, then hesitated.

  “What are you waiting for?” Disbelief flashed in Nog’s eyes. “Open it, Jake.”

  Rotor couldn’t stand the tension. He rushed forward and threw himself at the door. The massive door didn’t budge, and he bounced off to land with a thud on the ground.

  “Come on, Jake.” Nog shook Jake’s arm. “Everything you could possibly want will be yours! Wealth. Power…”

  Jake shook his head slowly and removed his hand.

  “Oh, great!” Lin spit fire. “The most powerful weapon in the universe is sitting there, waiting for someone to claim it, and Jake won’t open the door!”

  Ignoring the taunts and pleas, Jake stepped back. Being invincible and immortal wouldn’t be any fun at all. A sense of accomplishment depended on overcoming obstacles—against the odds, with no guarantees, despite pain and hardship. There would be no challenge, no thrill, if winning was easy and assured. And life was sweeter because it didn’t last forever.

  The Zhodran called the device the Crown of Ultimate Wisdom. If there really was a Da-hahn Crystal, it was too powerful for anyone to own. The wisest thing to do was walk away.

  And Jake did.

  With his friends still trying to convince him to open the door, Jake turned his back on it and awakened in the Infirmary.

  “Jake?” His father gasped and grabbed his hand. Dark eyes filled with tears of relief. “Welcome back, son.”

  Jake blinked, confused for a moment. “Did I pass the test?”

  Sisko smiled. “With flying colors.”

  “This is not possible!” A tall, thin, white-haired alien dressed in blue stepped to the foot of the biobed. He held a silver rod that sparkled with blue light and hummed. “No one has ever returned. Not in two thousand years!”

  “There’s a first time for everything.” Dr. Bashir lifted the device off Jake’s head. He handed it to Sisko, then looked at the alien with a smug, satisfied grin.

  The amazed alien stared at Jake. Must be a Zhodran, Jake thought. Fighting a slight dizziness, he sat up and watched as Dax removed the Federation helmets from the other three children. They all seemed a bit dazed, too, but they had made it back with him. Lin and Rotor ran off as soon as Dr. Bashir gave them permission. Nog waited, still hoping for a profitable miracle.

  “But he’s just a child!” the alien exclaimed.

  “No, Talarn. He’s not a child.” Sisko beamed with pride and clasped Jake’s shoulder. “Not anymore.”

  Jake grinned, too choked with emotion to say anything.

  “No one? In two thousand years?” Swinging his legs over the side of the biobed, Nog leered at the stunned Zhodran. “Jake saved our lives and beat your game. There must be some reward.”

  Jake punched Nog in the arm. “We’re alive. Isn’t that enough?”

  Nog glared at Jake. “Not for a Ferengi.”

  “I’m not a Ferengi.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re quite human, Jake.” Dr. Bashir scanned Jake with the medical tricorder. “And none the worse for wear after your ordeal.”

  “Actually, it was kinda fun.” Jake sighed wistfully. “Zhodran is a beautiful planet. It reminded me of Earth.”

  O’Brien gathered up the Federation helmets and winked at Jake. “You might be able to visit Zhodran soon.”

  Talarn’s blazing blue eyes widened. “No one visits Zhodran—”

  “But Jake passed the test.” Dr. Bashir focused his pointed gaze on the Zhodran.

  Sisko nodded with a serious expression, hiding a smile. “And as a representative of the Federation, he’s earned us the right to open diplomatic relations and trade negotiations with your world.”

  The Zhodran’s mouth fell open.

  “Your rules, Talarn,” O’Brien said. “Not ours.”

  Talarn’s shoulders sagged in defeat. Then he smiled. “My government will contact you as soon as I return home with this remarkable news. But we will only meet with a human ambassador from the Federation. No other species will be permitted.”

  “I’m certain that can be arranged. And perhaps, in the future, others will be welcome, too.” Sisko gave the Zhodran crown back to Talarn. “As I promised.”

  Talarn bowed. “The father is as honorable as the son.” Tucking the alien device under his white fur cloak, the Zhodran priest glided majestically out the door.

  Pleased, Jake looked at Nog. The young Ferengi gazed at him with renewed awe and respect. Not only had Jake won the game and saved his friends, he had singlehandedly paved the way for Federation trade with a whole new market. Of course, Nog would soon scorn him again—once he found out that Jake would not profit from the deal personally. Sometimes there was just no way to win.

  “Commander!” Quark raced into the Infirmary. He halted before Sisko with a causal glance at Nog. “Glad to see you’
re back among the conscious, Nog. your shift starts in an hour.”

  Nog shrugged and rolled his eyes, but inside, he was delighted. The curt exchange had been rather emotional for Ferengi. Quark was relieved and happy that Nog was okay.

  “What can I do for you, Quark?” Sisko was not amused.

  “When you’ve got a moment, I’d like to talk to you about leasing the Games Bazaar. At least, while Bokat is in jail.” Quark slumped into a begging posture. “The arcade provides harmless entertainment. It keeps the children busy and out of trouble.” He scowled at Nog. “Most of them anyway.”

  “Aside from the thousands of credits the business earns every day,” Dax added with a twinkling smile.

  “Profit goes without saying,” Quark countered.

  “I’ll think about it.” Dismissing Quark, Sisko turned back to Jake. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

  “I feel great.” Jumping off the biobed, Jake grabbed Nog and headed for the door. “But I’ve still got to finish that paper on the Crusades.” He bolted down the Promenade before his father could comment, dragging Nog behind him. Once they were clear of the Infirmary, Nog dug in his heels, refusing to go any farther.

  “I’ve got better things to do than watch you write a report for school! We need a marketing plan for Zhodran!”

  “We don’t have anything to sell on Zhodran, Nog.” They were always at odds over their different value systems, and Jake was desperate to preserve some of Nog’s respect. However, he couldn’t lie about their prospects concerning Zhodran. “That’s why I’ve got to finish this paper.”

  Nog eyed Jake suspiciously. “There’s profit in it?”

  “Maybe,” Jake hedged. He now realized that valuable lessons could be learned from the past. Tena Lin, Rotor, and Nog had made mistakes in the Zhodran game. Knowing what not to do had helped Jake win. History might come in very handy someday—for both of them. But since Nog wouldn’t understand any motive that was not clearly and immediately profitable, some Ferengi strategy was required. “Quark wants to acquire the Games Bazaar because business is good, but eventually people are going to get bored playing the same games over and over again, right?”