Kirk searched his eyes. In them he found coldness and dislike, but no lie. He nodded to himself, convinced of Lissan’s truthfulness. Kirk waved them over to a console.
“Some information about the virus was recently downloaded to your computers,” he told the chief engineer. “We ran several simulations. Call them up.”
The engineer complied. Kirk had seen the simulations before; he was more interested in watching the reactions of the two Falorians. Both of them looked upset, but Lissan continued to mingle his distress with defiance. The scientist had no such constraint.
“This is terrible!” He turned to his superior. “Kal-Tor, we never intended this. The virus was only supposed to make the dilithium useless, not destroy it!”
“I told you, I never thought you were a killer, Lissan,” [286] Kirk said quietly. “Julius seems to think that the virus can only be activated from that site down on that planet. I’m betting that only you know the command codes. Am I right?”
Lissan didn’t answer. Finally, Kalaskar could stand it no longer. “You are right,” Kalaskar said. “There’s no way to activate the virus except from Sanctuary. And yes, only Kal-Tor Lissan has the command code.”
“Is there any way to get the nanoprobes to self-destruct?” Kirk pressed.
“Oh, yes,” Kalaskar said. “It was one of the safeguards I insisted we have, just in case the virus got tracked onto one of our own ships. It, too, can only be executed from Sanctuary, and again, Kal-Tor Lissan is the only one that knows the correct code.”
“Lissan,” Kirk said, “You see what’s at stake. If those nanoprobes aren’t destroyed, someone with less conscience than the Falorians could figure out how to activate them. What would happen if that level of technology fell into the hands of a race like the—” Kirk stopped himself. He had almost said Klingons. “The Orion Syndicate, or the Romulans, or another racist species? Someone who thinks every other species is beneath them?”
“As I see it, Captain,” Lissan said coldly, “that is your problem, not mine. We are a dead race now. You have utterly ruined our chance to gain the wealth that should have been ours from the beginning. You will halt our attack against our ancient enemies, the Huanni. The Syndicate knows that we tricked them, and do not think for a moment that we will escape their wrath. The Federation will never consider us as potential members [287] now and will probably not permit us to conduct any kind of outside trading. We’ve lost everything. I don’t care what becomes of you.”
He folded his arms and held his head high. “I wish to return to my cell now.”
Kirk stared. “You can’t mean this,” he said. “You know that someone will figure it out. The Falorians may yet be indirectly responsible for wiping out half the galaxy!”
Lissan’s eyes glittered. “The corpse cares not who follows him, Kirk. My people and I are as good as corpses. And soon, you will be, too.”
Chapter Twenty-five
WORDLESSLY, Kirk escorted the two Falorians back to their crowded cell. Lissan vanished into the crush of bodies without a backward glance. Kalaskar wasn’t as certain, but he too went silently.
“Guards, these two may speak with me at any time,” Kirk said. “Lissan, I hope you change your mind.”
“You may rot, Kirk, and all your Federation friends with you,” was Lissan’s retort.
He returned to the bridge and met Spock’s gaze. He shook his head. “Any word from Mr. Scott?” he asked.
“Negative,” Spock said. “The complex is quite large. It will take even our Mr. Scott some time to determine how the controls work.”
The door to the turbolift hissed open. Skalli stood there, her tall, willowy frame looking desperately out of place aboard the sharp angles and shiny metal of a Klingon ship’s bridge.
“Captain? May I speak with you?”
He opened his mouth to say no, but then thought [289] better of it. She’d proved herself many times on Sanctuary. If she wanted to talk to him, she probably had a good reason. It amused him to think of how much his attitude toward her had changed.
“Of course.” He indicated what served the Klingons for a ready room, and they entered. The door hissed shut behind them. “What is it, Skalli?”
She hesitated, her ears flapping. Finally, she said, “You did not act.”
For a second he was confused, then understood what she was saying. “In the control center? You’re right, I didn’t.”
“I watched you. We talked about Sabra Lowe and agreed that destroying the complex was the right thing to do, and yet you didn’t do it. You gambled that there would be someone to rescue us, which made no sense. You didn’t know anyone would even be looking for us. It was an illogical decision.”
Kirk smiled. “Illogical,” he agreed, “but the right one. There are always ... possibilities. Commander Lowe did the right thing. She had a choice, just as I did. Her decision was the best choice she could have made, the one that would save the most lives. Going out in a blaze of glory is noble, but death is a rather final option.”
She cocked her head, trying to make sense of it. “Then ... you are saying that sometimes it takes more courage to live, to find another option, than to die.”
“Exactly. Had I pressed that button, we’d have destroyed the complex, certainly. And we’d have destroyed the Falorians’ ability to activate the virus. That would have stopped the immediate threat. But [290] you know and I know that as long as those nanoprobes are out there, someone is going to figure out how they work. Oh, we’d do as much cleanup as possible. We’d find most of the probes, but we wouldn’t find them all. And one day, maybe not tomorrow, but in a year, or two, or ten—someone will discover how to activate the virus and we’ll be right back where we were. But as it stands, because the facility is still intact, we now have the chance to determine how to completely destroy the nanoprobes once and for all.”
She brightened. “We do?”
“There’s a signal and a code. If I could just convince Lissan to give it to us.” He sighed.
Skalli was silent for a time. At last, she spoke. “I have decided that I need to know more about these things, these command decisions and why they are made. I’m going to return to the Academy and continue my training. A diplomatic career will no doubt be full of such ... options.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Anything else?”
She thought about the question carefully. “No,” she said at last.
Kirk opened his mouth to dismiss her, and then he paused. The words died in his throat. There are always possibilities. ...
“You really want to be an ambassador?” he asked.
“Oh, yes!”
“How’d you like to start right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Lissan is refusing to assist us. You might be able to get through to him.”
[291] She recoiled as if he’d struck her. “Oh, no! I tried, down on the planet ... and he was so mean to me. ...”
“He was so mean because something ;you said affected him,” Kirk said, pressing his point.
Her ears flapped wildly and her eyes bulged. “I’d mess everything up ... I’d get him angry with us again. ...”
“Skalli, he’s not willing to help us as it is. You can’t possibly make anything worse. And you might very well make it better. You’re the same species. He’s got more reason to talk to you than to anyone.”
He could tell she wanted to believe him. “But I ... oh, Captain, what would I say? What would I do?”
Kirk smiled and squeezed her shoulder. “Trust,” he said. “Trust yourself.”
She was silent, then said, “If I do this, you have to promise me something. I don’t want the conversation monitored. He needs to know that I am the only one who’ll hear what he has to say.”
Kirk was confused. It would be safer if they could keep tabs on Lissan. “I’m ... not sure where you’re going with this, Skalli.”
“Neither am I, but it feels like the right thing to do.” She looked at him, he
r large eyes pleading. “You said trust.”
“So I did. All right. But I will post guards. And if you are in any danger, I want you to call for help.”
“Aye, sir.” She saluted smartly. “I’ll do the best I can, Captain.”
As she left and he returned to the bridge to give the peculiar order, Kirk desperately hoped he was doing the [292] right thing. He walked down with her to the room the guards had secured, and for a moment, they stood together outside. She shuffled her feet. She looked very, very young.
“He can’t physically hurt you,” Kirk reassured her. “The minute you call for help these two gentlemen,” and he indicated the towering, muscled Klingons on either side of the door, “will be in immediately.”
“I know,” she said.
“But he can and very likely will say some very hurtful things. I know your people are very sensitive.”
“If I ever want to be an ambassador, I’ll have to learn to live with people saying hurtful things.” She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed, then took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
The guards tapped the controls that unlocked the door and it hissed open. In the back of the room, Lissan stood staring out the window at the stars. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he faced away from the door.
Skalli stepped forward. Slowly, Lissan turned. Their eyes met, and then the door closed behind her.
“What have you got for me, Scotty?” Kirk asked.
Scott’s face filled the screen. “Well, I’ve figured out how they were going to do this, at least,” he said.
“Let’s have it.”
“It looks as though your little scientist told the truth. The signal was to be sent from this console through the main subspace relay tower. It consisted of a certain code and a keyword that apparently only Lissan knew. Now, [293] that signal’s not strong enough to go very far on its own, but there’s a series of subspace amplifier buoys scattered throughout Falorian space,” Scott said. “And they just happen to be Starfleet issue.”
“One of the things that Julius got for them. All the better to penetrate Federation space,” Kirk said grimly.
“Aye,” Scott said. “The signal would hop along from buoy to buoy, and every single nanoprobe in the area would be told to turn its little self on. The good news is—”
“The self-destruct code works the same way,” Kirk finished. “Keep working on it, Mr. Scott. I want to be able to send the signal immediately if we can convince Lissan to aid us.”
Scott gave him a dubious look. “The difference between the two orders is probably nothing more than a single word, Captain. Even if you could get Lissan to agree to give you the code, there’s no telling if he’d give you the one to activate the nanoprobes or order them to self-destruct.”
Kirk nodded. “Understood. Kirk out.” He glanced at the chronometer. Skalli had been in with Lissan for over twenty minutes. The guards had reported no sounds of violence. Kirk could only hope that somehow, the Huanni could get through to him.
All their lives depended on it.
Hikaru Sulu, captain of the starship U.S.S. Excelsior, sat alone in his ready room, sipping tea and thinking furiously. A few moments ago, he had learned that the immediate threat posed by the Falorian [294] nanoprobe virus had been halted. While at the present time the Excelsior was the only vessel in the area, the president had assured him that more were on their way. The first should arrive within forty-eight hours. In the meantime, Sulu was to use his own best judgment as to how to proceed.
He drank his tea without sugar, lemon, or cream, and the slightly acidic flavor mixed with the sweet jasmine scent never failed to both calm and stimulate his thinking.
Sulu’s mind raced. He desperately wanted to charge forward, phasers blasting, to defend the Huanni. But that would only result in every Falorian vessel targeting him and, probably, blowing him right out of the sky. No help to the Huanni from a destroyed ship.
He reached forward and tapped a button. Instantly he saw what was on the main screen on the bridge: an image of a green, pleasant-looking planet being bombarded by a hodgepodge of vessels. Apparently the Falorians dealt in trade; there was no uniform look to the ships. Debris from the destroyed Huanni fleet floated in space. As Sulu watched, a ship approached a vessel that appeared to be only slightly damaged and locked a tractor beam on it.
Sulu frowned as he gazed intently at the scene. He hadn’t seen that before.
He kept watching, the tea growing cold, as another ship approached and did the same thing to another small vessel.
And then Sulu figured it out. “Sulu to communications,” he said.
[295] “Aye, sir?”
“I need to send a message out. Top security clearance. Stand by for coordinates.”
A few moments later, a face appeared on Sulu’s screen. The green-skinned Orion wore a mask to hide his features, but his species was obvious.
“Well, well. Hikaru Sulu. It’s been a long time. The console signature says, Excelsior. So, what are you, captain now?”
Sulu nodded. “I am indeed the captain. Otherwise I’d never have the authorization to initiate this pleasant chat.” He leaned forward. “And pleasant as it is, I’m afraid we have some serious matters to discuss.”
“What is it you want, Sulu?”
“I just saw some of your scavengers hard at work in Federation territory,” Sulu said. “Around a nice little planet called Huan which, incidentally, is under severe attack.”
“I’m sure you’re mistaken,” the Orion said.
“I’m sure I’m not.” Sulu shook his head in mock sympathy. “I have to say, it looks pretty bad for the Syndicate. I’m well within my rights to open fire, seeing your people brazenly operating in Federation territory like this.”
The Orion, Sulu knew, liked playing the game almost as much as he did. But this time, Sulu knew that he was the one with all the cards.
“So why aren’t you attacking?” Sulu’s contact pressed.
“You know violence isn’t what the Federation is about,” Sulu said. “I’m actually contacting you to do [296] you a favor ... even though you still owe me one.” He smiled. “But who’s keeping count?”
“Who indeed?” Sulu had him on his guard now. Good.
“You see, the people attacking Huan just tried to get a corner on the dilithium market by creating a virus that would kill anyone aboard a ship that launched into warp drive. Now, with those Syndicate ships waiting around to pick up what the Falorians leave, it sure looks as though you’re involved. And if it comes out that you’ve assisted a mass murderer. ...” He let his voice trail off and sighed deeply in false sympathy. He spread his hands. “Much as I’d like to help, you know I’d have to report what I saw here. Unless. ...”
The Orion’s face didn’t move a muscle, but his eyes gleamed behind the black mask.
“You always were a good bluffer, Sulu.”
“Hey,” Sulu said. .”I’m sure you’ve got someone working on it, but let me send you the information we’ve got. You’ll be able to see that it’s genuine. Get back to me if you’re interested in talking further.”
Sulu had barely gotten himself a fresh cup of tea when his Syndicate contact reappeared. He looked utterly furious, which was exactly what Sulu had hoped for.
“The Falorians are no friends of the Syndicate,” the Orion snarled.
“I take it you were able to verify my information?” Sulu said smoothly, taking a calm sip.
The Orion, unsure as to what to say, said nothing.
“Look,” Sulu said. “Your organization is not allowed [297] to traffic in Federation space. I’ve caught your people red-handed. Further, I’ve got a feeling that you weren’t here by accident. I’m betting you allied with the Falorians and they’ve double-crossed you. And I’m also betting that that makes you pretty mad.”
He put down the cup. The delicate china clinked against the saucer.
“If indeed we were ever working with the Falorians,” said the
Orion, and by his choice of words Sulu knew that the Syndicate had been, “you may rest assured that we knew nothing about the virus.” In a quieter voice, he said, “They would have, as you said, double-crossed the Syndicate. On the level, Sulu, we would not have participated in a scheme such as that. Dead men can’t pay their debts, and mass murder is bad for business.”
Sulu believed him. The Syndicate was all about money, and while murder didn’t particularly disturb them, he knew better than to think they’d risk the ruination of their carefully crafted empire.
“Federation heat would be pretty bad for business too, I’d imagine,” Sulu said. “I have a proposal for you.”
Kirk couldn’t take it anymore. He had just arrived at the room in which Skalli and Lissan were closeted when the door hissed open. Skalli staggered out. She was pale and exhausted and almost collapsed into Kirk’s arms. Her face was streaked with tears, but she was smiling.
Behind her stood Lissan. His face was a mixture of emotions, and he trembled violently.
[298] “Skalli,” Kirk said, helping her stand. “What happened?”
She gazed up at him with pure happiness in her large eyes. “Kal-Tor Lissan will help us,” she said in a thick voice.
“Yes,” Lissan said. “The Huanni child ... Skalli ... has convinced me that I cannot be part of something that will claim so many lives.” His voice was hoarse and cracked a little. If Kirk didn’t know better he’d think Lissan had been crying. He looked more closely and saw the Falorian’s eyes were wet.
“Good God, Skalli,” Kirk said, unable to believe the turn of events. “What did you do?”
She steadied herself against him and extended a hand to Lissan, who grasped it swiftly. Squeezing the hand of the being who had hours ago called her a sworn enemy, she smiled.
“You were right. I needed to trust what I felt, and I did. I listened,” she said simply.
STAR TREK: The Original Series - The Last Roundup Page 23