Strange New Worlds IX

by Dean Wesley Smith

  While he prepared the hypospray, Kira continued to stroke the tribble. The purring was nice. Tribbles were nice like this when they weren’t busy making more tribbles and stripping farmlands. What had she told Vedek Tola? That she would be the first to shovel them into the disposal units?

  Julian pressed a hypospray to her neck. There was a soft hiss and the ache in her muscles started to fade. Kira sat up and shoved the tribble at him.

  “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll arrange to have your Klingon pheromones replicated and distributed on the surface.”

  The shrill cries were deafening. Kira winced until Kai Winn closed the window. The tribbles had been contained by using the pheromones but they continued to approach the barrier. Thousands upon thousands of tribbles sat at the invisible line crying out their fear. Worf would be proud, Kira thought.

  “You see, my child,” Winn said. “This cannot go on. The parasites must be destroyed.”

  “They are contained.”

  “For now. What are we to tell the farmers whose fields have been decimated by these creatures? Surely it is the will of the Prophets that this filth be cleansed from Bajor.”

  “Vedek Tola would disagree with you,” Kira said with a slight smile.

  “Tola? Tola is a child.” Kai Winn waved a dismissive hand. “I am the one chosen to speak the will of the Prophets. This blight must be removed. You must impress upon Captain Sisko that Bajor needs those disposal units. It is the only humane way to remove the creatures. Without their help we may be forced to burn those fields.”

  It was one thing to picture tribbles being quickly and painlessly disintegrated but another altogether to imagine burning them. The thought of the smell of millions of burning tribbles—

  Kira stood up with some difficulty. “Your Eminence, I will do what I can.”

  “I pray to the Prophets that your efforts are swift and successful, my child. The blessing of the Prophets on you.”

  After visiting Kai Winn, Kira went to Minister Shakaar’s office. Shakaar wrapped his arms around her and held her for a moment. Kira sank into his arms but found herself wishing that he could purr like Gladys. Troubled, she drew back.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked gently.

  “I just came from the kai.”

  Shakaar laughed. “Enough said.”

  “She wants the tribbles destroyed. She talked about burning them if she can’t get the disposal units from the Federation.”

  Shakaar grimaced. “Can you imagine the stink of all that burning fur?”

  “Right. On top of that, I’ve got Vedek Tola telling me that the tribbles must be preserved. And Odo is investigating Quark about the station quarantine being broken.”

  Her combadge beeped. Kira tapped it and turned a bit away from Shakaar. “Kira.”

  “Major,” Captain Sisko’s calm voice came over the channel. “Are you busy?”

  Kira rolled her eyes. “I’m in a meeting with Minister Shakaar.”

  “Good. I’m sure the minister would like to know that we’ve detected three Klingon battle cruisers heading this way.”

  Kira exchanged a sharp look with Shakaar. “Any idea what they want?”

  “Not yet, Major, but Worf seems to think it has something to do with the tribbles.”

  “The tribbles?” Shakaar asked with surprise. “What would the Klingons want with the tribbles?”

  “Tribbles are considered enemies of the Empire,” Kira said. “Captain, I’ll leave immediately.”

  “Good. I’d like you here if things turn ugly.”

  “Any word yet?” Kira asked as she walked into ops.

  “Nothing,” Sisko said.

  “Odo was looking for you,” Dax offered.

  “Good. I’ll talk to him later.”

  “How is the surface holding up?” Sisko asked.

  “So far the tribbles have been contained by Wo—” Kira glanced at Worf and saw his countenance darken. “Bashir’s invisible fence. They are making a lot of noise but otherwise no new damage.”

  “Worf?” Captain Sisko looked over at the Klingon. “What can we expect if Gowron has sent those ships because of the tribbles?”

  Worf thought about it for a moment. “They will attack the surface. Sterilize all areas that might harbor an infection. They will be thorough.”

  “They wouldn’t dare!” Kira spat.

  Worf’s eyes widened.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Sisko cautioned. “Worf, prepare the Defiant for departure. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

  “If they were planning to fight us, you’d think they would have brought more ships,” Dax said. “Instead they just have three ships and they aren’t cloaked.”

  Worf nodded. “That is reasonable. Perhaps they mean merely to ensure that the tribbles are, in fact, destroyed.”

  “Perhaps,” Sisko said. “I’d still feel better with you on the Defiant. How long until they’re within hailing distance?”

  “Two minutes,” Dax said.

  Worf nodded to the captain and left ops. Kira watched the screen while they waited. She still remembered the Klingons boarding the station. Sisko had carried the day then. She hoped that the Emissary would be able to do the same thing today.

  “The ships are within range,” Dax said calmly.

  “On screen,” Sisko ordered. “Open hailing frequencies.”

  “They’re responding.”

  The battleships on the screen were replaced by a view of the lead ship’s bridge. A broad-faced Klingon tending toward fat sneered at them.

  “Captain Nolath. We come to sterilize the planet of this infection.” Nolath said the last word with disgust. His eyes narrowed. “Consider it a gift to the Bajoran people. Compliments of Gowron and the High Council.”

  Kira leaned on the ops console. She forced a smile. “As much as the Bajoran people appreciate the generous offer we have the situation under control.”

  “Then you have eradicated the infestation?”

  “Not yet,” Kira said tightly. “But it is contained.”

  “That is unacceptable! If you are unable to eliminate these vermin, we will.”

  “Bajor will not tolerate any interference in this matter.”

  Nolath’s leathers creaked as he leaned forward. “If we decide to take matters into our hands, we will do so. You would be foolish to try and stop us.”

  Captain Sisko raised a hand. “I think we can all be reasonable about this. The tribbles are being dealt with, Captain. I’m sure Gowron didn’t send you here to open a conflict with the Federation. If he had, he wouldn’t have only sent three ships.”

  Captain Nolath snarled and waved a dismissive hand.

  Sisko smiled brightly. “Good. Then I think we understand each other.”

  “We will remain to make sure the infestation is removed,” Nolath snarled.

  “As you wish,” Kira said tightly. She motioned with her hand and Dax terminated the signal.

  Kira blew out her breath. “These Klingons sure take tribbles seriously.”

  “You have no idea,” Dax said, grinning. “Just the mention of a tribble makes Worf surly.”

  Sisko raised an eyebrow.

  Dax shrugged. “Well, more surly than usual.”

  Kira entered Odo’s security office. “What do you have?”

  Odo spun his chair around to face her. He wasn’t smiling. “Not much, I’m afraid.”

  “Nothing.”

  “I’ve been checking with my contacts on Bajor and here on the station. If anyone knows anything about the tribbles no one is talking.”

  “They have to know the penalty for smuggling. They’re keeping quiet.”

  Odo inclined his head. “Maybe. My other avenues of investigation have failed to turn anything up either. I keep running into the same problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Where is the profit in tribbles?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Quark is always seeking the profit. But where is the
profit in trading an animal that can reproduce dozens more within such a short time period? We saw the same thing happen with Cyrano Jones on K-7.”

  Kira sank into one of the chairs and leaned back. She placed a hand on her belly and found herself wishing that she had Gladys.

  “Are you all right, Major?”

  “Yes. I never thought I’d be having a baby.”

  Odo nodded.

  “So Quark’s off the hook?”

  “For now,” Odo growled. “Perhaps a tribble did just manage to get missed by our inspections.”

  Kira levered herself up. “Fine. I’ll be in the infirmary if I’m needed.”

  The infirmary wasn’t busy when she got there. Julian looked up brightly when she entered. “Major. How are you?”

  Kira’s face tightened. “I’ve been better, Doctor.”

  “I’ve been working on an appetite suppressant for the tribbles. It would be transmitted by an engineered retrovirus. If it works, I believe it will lower the tribbles’ reproductive drive.”

  Kira nodded. She sank down onto the nearest biobed as Julian hurried over with a tricorder. Kira waved a hand at him. Julian stopped with a puzzled expression on his face.

  “I don’t know how I’m going to help you if you don’t let me see what’s wrong.”

  Kira looked around the infirmary and spied what she wanted sitting on top of a nearby console. “Just bring me Gladys.”

  “Gladys?”

  “Yes, Doctor. Her purring is soothing.”

  “Fascinating.” Julian put down the tricorder and fetched Gladys from the console. He handed the tribble to Kira.

  The tribble was warm and soft in her hands with a pleasant weight to it. Kira smiled and settled Gladys on her belly. Gladys seemed quite content to stay put. Her purring deepened and became more penetrating. Julian had picked up his tricorder again and was scanning them. Kira ignored him as she felt sore muscles loosen under the tribble’s soothing influence.

  “Amazing.” Julian leaned on the biobed. “The tribble’s purring seems to have restorative properties. Both your readings and those of the baby are improving. Do you mind if I study this? It could have interesting implications.”

  Kira closed her eyes and shook her head. “Just do it quietly.”

  “Ah, yes. Of course.”

  Later, in ops, Kira gave the captain a brief smile. “Hail Nolath’s ship.”

  “Hailing,” Dax responded. “On screen.”

  Captain Nolath appeared on screen. “Yes, Major?”

  “On behalf of the Bajoran people I extend our thanks in this situation and hope that it leads to further cooperation between the Empire and Bajor. The situation has been resolved and you are free to return to the Empire.”

  “Resolved?” Nolath’s bulk leaned forward. “What do you mean resolved? Have the tribbles been eliminated?”

  “They are contained.”

  “That is unacceptable. If any remain they may leave Bajor and infect other worlds.”

  Kira shook her head. “Our doctor has discovered that the tribbles have a unique medical application. He also believes he can control their reproduction.”

  Nolath growled and pointed a finger at Kira. “We will not rest until every last tribble has been eliminated!”

  “Then come and try!” Kira picked up Gladys from her seat and placed the tribble on the console. “If you want a war we’ll give you one.”

  Sisko smiled brightly and shook a finger in Nolath’s direction. “Captain, I should also mention that the Federation is sending a team of experts to study the tribbles in a contained environment. They consider the preservation of this endangered species as very important.”

  Nolath scowled. “The High Council will hear of this and when they do—”

  “They’ll come to the same conclusion they did last time,” Kira said. “They can’t afford to fight a war on every front.”

  The screen cut out. Kira sank down and picked up Gladys. Dax laughed softly.

  “I don’t think they’ll be back.”

  Sisko cracked a smile. “Not if they want to avoid tribble.”

  Star Trek

  Voyager ®

  (Second Prize)

  Choices

  Susan S. McCrackin

  He was a child who kept coming to her in her dreams, his body round and soft, brown wispy hair falling down into bright green round eyes. He danced around her, his clothes flashing red and purple, the garish colors melding together in nauseating waves. Explosions of clicks came from him with every move, with every lift of his hand, with every shake of his head. She tried to close her eyes, to allow herself to drift away from him, but he yelled at her, screamed for her to open her eyes.

  She felt him touch her face and tried to turn from him, but could not. She looked down at herself and saw her old body, dull gray metal holding her extremities straight, unfamiliarly immovable. Opening her mouth, she sucked in air and choked. He was there immediately, screaming, waving colors, clicking, everything all at once, and she sank away from him, somehow finding her voice even as she gagged, begging him to vacate her dreams, to leave her.

  “Leave you?” He laughed at her, his mouth pressed tightly against her ear as he whispered softly. “But you don’t understand. If I leave you, you’ll die.”

  There were sounds around her; the sounds of items being moved, something being slid—metal on metal; squeaking shoes—rubber soles on tile floors. Smells. Strange smells. Antiseptic. Cleansers and alcohol.

  Her mind processed it all slowly, fighting to gain full awareness, working through the thick fog that seemed to wrap itself around her thoughts, tucking itself in tightly under the corners, working as hard to keep out clarity as she fought to gain it.

  She was on her back, her mind strangely disassociated from the rest of her body. A shadow passed over her face followed by smells like cinnamon and vanilla. She managed to open her eyes only to find her field of vision filled with a blur of white close to her face.

  Instinctively, her mind sent out signals to push herself away from the too close body. It should have been a natural thing for her body to react, for hands to come up to press against the torso blocking her; for feet and legs to propel her up and away.

  But nothing happened.

  She tried to twist her head, but was stopped by a strange pressure on her skull. Blinking to clear her vision, her eyes searched for her restraints, seeing thin strands of metal circling her head, supported by rods that disappeared below her chin. Her heartbeat quickened, the fight or flight instinct triggering and her body stubbornly refusing to respond.

  The figure leaning over her pulled back and stared at her for a moment before turning and yelling, the words running together, indistinct and indecipherable.

  She felt her face flush, her heart pounding in her ears. She opened her mouth and gagged, her breath dying in her throat. Panicked, she fought for air, her mind now screaming at her body to move, to run, to break free of the restraints that were holding her.

  The world around her dimmed as people leaned over her, round green eyes intense as they surrounded her. The last voice she heard as she passed into oblivion was that of the boy’s, screaming that he would not let her leave.

  A pinprick of light flashed in her eye, slamming into her retina. She blinked quickly, trying to recoil against the intrusion, but her head was held steady.

  “Eduow eil heisot shedult irodemtriec.” The light slid off to the right and a figure pulled back and into her line of vision. “Weirld is owcsk qruistle eil pslor cifcord—”

  She frowned, working to focus on the words, struggling to understand the strange accent. Squinting, she stared at the wide mouth, watching the lips move, forming around syllables that slowly took on meaning.

  “—evorist blust relax and try to stay calm. Doctor Gretkora is on his way. He’ll explain everything as soon as he gets here.”

  She blinked again, watching as her caretaker moved closer and reached to rest an elongated hand gently
against her face. “Don’t worry. We’re taking good care of you.”

  The wide mouth spread, drawing across broad white teeth forming into something that she decided was a smile. She opened her mouth, but one of the slender fingers moved across her lips.

  “No, not yet. Doctor Gretkora is almost here.”

  A loud scuttling noise drew her eyes toward the door as someone came rushing through, arms swinging awkwardly with legs moving stiltedly, giving the appearance of someone struggling to run while trying to keep himself from falling. Brown hair flew in all directions, framing a youthful humanoid face that topped a round, short body held up by mechanical legs that clicked loudly as they propelled him forward. Lights flickered and flashed in alternating colors of red and purple pulsating on a panel fastened across his chest.

  He grabbed for the side of the bed, steadying himself as he leaned over her, round eyes intently studying her face. “Hello. I’m Doctor Gretkora.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  “It’s okay.” He moved his hand to her neck. “We had to assist with your breathing so we installed an autobreather. You’ll find talking difficult, but not impossible.”

  For the first time, she became aware of a rhythmic swooshing that matched each breath she took.

  “Relax and try to speak as you exhale.” He paused, then asked, “Do you remember your name?”

  She concentrated on timing her breath so she could respond, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Seven of Nine.”

  “Very good.” Obviously pleased, he spoke to the caretaker. “Please make note of that.” Addressing Seven, he said, “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Nine.”

  She opened her mouth again and he fell quiet, waiting for her to speak. “I…prefer…Seven.”

  “Then we shall call you ‘Seven.’” He glanced towards the machinery to her left, his eyes moving quickly back to her, a smile spreading widely across his face. “Your vital signs are getting stronger.” She frowned and his smile immediately faded. “Ah, yes, well, I know you’re wondering what happened to you.”