by David Mack
As the monolithic slabs of transparent steel retracted into the deck, Xiong jogged toward the old-style toggle that served as the manual override for the lab’s main power relay.
He got halfway to the switch before the Shedai smashed through the wall in a blur of obsidian liquid surrounded by arcing bolts of electricity.
Xiong drew a phaser and aimed at the creature. It spawned a tentacle that swatted the weapon from his hand.
The phaser skittered across the deck and slid past Marcus. She dived after it.
A flurry of slender tendrils lashed out from the Shedai and struck at Xiong like cobras. He dodged one, ducked another, then plucked a length of broken pipe from the floor and parried the monster’s third stabbing assault.
Marcus scuttled across the floor. Scooped up the phaser. Fired it on full power at the Shedai.
The shot did no damage, but it seemed to draw most of the creature’s attention toward her. It reared up to attack.
Xiong took a short running start and somersaulted over its back. He rolled across the floor.
The creature spun toward him, forgetting Marcus.
Its tentacles coiled and sprang at Xiong.
He closed his hands around the power-relay toggle and pulled. With a loud clack it snapped shut.
Power surged through the lab—and into the empty artifact.
A burst of light overwhelmed Marcus, and in that moment of white blindness she heard the most terrible screech of torment.
Her vision returned, but all she could see was a painfully bright storm of light and fury. The creature flailed wildly as it was pulled toward the empty artifact, which blazed like a miniature sun. The Vault was filled with an unearthly wailing, a cry of terror and agony that Marcus was sure would haunt her nightmares for the rest of her life.
Then there was darkness … and silence.
Dust and smoke lingered in the half light.
Marcus wandered toward the open experimental chamber. As she arrived at its edge, Xiong joined her. They stood together, staring slack-jawed with equal parts wonder and horror.
They now had two identical glowing artifacts.
Two magenta-hued polyhedrons radiating rage and fear.
A whistling alert signaled an incoming comm. “Doctor Marcus or Lieutenant Xiong, this is Admiral Nogura. What is your status? Is the Vault secure? Please respond.”
Marcus was transfixed by the unearthly glow of the two artifacts. She mumbled to Xiong, “You take it.”
With apparent effort, Xiong tore himself away from the twin crystals and pressed a button to open a reply channel. “Admiral, this is Lieutenant Xiong. The Vault is secure.”
“What happened down there, Lieutenant?”
There was an unmistakable note of pride in Xiong’s voice.
“Admiral … we’ve captured the Shedai intruder.”
The Saga of
STAR TRACK OF VANGUARD
Will Continue
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As ever, my first thanks belong to my wife, Kara, whose hard work and patience made it possible for me to leave my old life of “day job plus writing” so that I might become an honest-to-goodness full-time writer.
Because the Star Trek: Vanguard saga began with editor Marco Palmieri, it is only fitting to thank him for letting me help him bring it to life; and because Margaret Clark is the editor who now keeps the saga’s flame alive, I am equally grateful to her for her support and guidance.
In Precipice I have built once again on the contributions of fellow authors Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore, whose book Open Secrets set the stage for this tale. Thanks for pushing me to keep up, guys.
A tip o’ the hat is also due to the men whose visuals have consistently inspired my vision of this series: Masao Okazaki, the designer of Starbase 47 and the U.S.S. Sagittarius; and digital wizard Doug Drexler, who brings great wireframes to life as breathtaking cover art.
Last but not least, I offer my gratitude to two resources that help me keep my continuity straight: http://memory-alpha.org and http://memory-beta.wikia.com.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Mack is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Wildfire, Harbinger, Reap the Whirlwind, Road of Bones, Promises Broken, and the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy: Gods of Night, Mere Mortals, and Lost Souls. He developed the Star Trek: Vanguard series concept with editor Marco Palmieri.
His first work of original fiction is the acclaimed supernatural thriller The Calling.
In addition to novels, Mack’s writing credits span several media, including television (for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), film, short fiction, magazines, newspapers, comic books, computer games, radio, and the Internet.
Mack’s upcoming novels include a new, expanded edition of Star Trek Mirror Universe: The Sorrows of Empire; Zero Sum Game, part of the Star Trek: Typhon Pact miniseries; and More Beautiful Than Death, an adventure based on the 2009 feature film Star Trek.
He currently resides in New York City with his wife, Kara.
Visit his official site: www.davidmack.pro