Foreign Foes Part 27

Geordi nodded.

Yes. I did. I cant let him go beaming down into what could be such a touchy situation.

You didnt hear him when he talked about boarding the Klingon cruiser and searching for Riker. Hes not being rational, Wyckoff.

With all due respect, sir, Wyckoff said, this is what Id a.s.sume a Klingon agent would say.

Sweat broke out across Geordis forehead. He could feel it, and hoped it wasnt seen. He avoided scratching his head nervously. He didnt want to give Wyckoff any body-language cues that might compromise what he was saying.

The security lieutenant hesitated a moment, then continued.

Commander, I do know Lieutenant Worf, and Ido know you. But I also know Commander Data, and heis in command. It isnt within my purview to decide that he should be replaced by you.

Im not fit to take command. Youcan see that. I wont ask you to make that decision.

Geordi stepped forward, pointing to his chest.

Arrest me, Lieutenant. I wouldnt ask you not to. But arrest Data too.

Put usboth in the brig and sort it out later. Let the captain do it. Let anyone else do it but us.

The engineer pressed himself forward again, until the proximity vest told him he was right in front of one of them. He hoped it was Wyckoff, or his flair for the dramatic would look farcical.

Lieutenant, if nothing else,ask Data why he thinks the captain is under duress. Ask him why he thinks Worf is a murderer.Ask , Lieutenant ... and base your decision on what you hear.

Geordi stepped back and gestured his hands in a surrendering motion.

Ill put my trust in your reason. I sure cant trust Datas.

What kind of coward are you, Batok?

Urosk hissed at one of his men. They were both still choking.

Picard himself was choking some, but noticed the Hidran looked especially depleted. They had changed filters in their masks and were breathing steadily, but Picard would have bet anything that this wasnt what theyd expected at all. There werent many sandstone buildings on Hidra, to be sure.

I am inferior, sir, Batok said, slumped over, coughing. The man was obviously exhausted.

I am sorry.

Sorry?

Urosk m.u.f.fled a gag with his ranting.

We were being held at bay by awoman a verysmall womanand all you have to say is you are sorry?

I did stun her, sir. Had the other humans not appeared I do not want your apologies, Batok, I want your perfection!

Removing his jacket, Picard snorted, Is that all want? Perfection? Youll need it, Urosk. Youve a.s.saulted Starfleet officers and managed to abduct the captain of a starship. The Federation will not play at this situation lightly.

Silence from you, Picard!

Urosk growled, pointing his phaser.

You are the reason we are here. Youwho would not listen to the truth.

Truth?

Picard scoffed.

What truth? Your truth? All you seem to need to define truth is that you speak it.

Silence!

Urosk exploded, then turned back to Batok.

Urosk needed to be pushedbut not so hard that Picard would get himself killed in the pushing. Just hard enough so that he might give up whatever foolish plan he had. It was on this end that such work had to be done: there would be no help from theEnterprise. If La Forge couldnt hear him, Picard was on his own in all this. Worf was weaponless, Crusher didnt know what was going on ... She would soon enough, though. On his way down the corridor Picard took notice of the two security guards. They had moved a bitalive. They were obviously found by Barbara, and woulddo what? Contact the ship? Unlikely that would prove fruitful. Something had obviously happened to Datasomething that had caused him to cease thinking rationally. Or stop listening.

Picard knew he should have seen this all coming. Hed thought something seemed strange about Data, and should have acted on that suspicion.

He looked at his plush red jacket, now filthy with tan and yellow grit, and tossed it on the bench behind him. He mopped his brow and pulled on the collar of his turtleneck. Disappointed in himself, angry at the situation, Picard tried to focus his thoughts on what the Hidran were saying. Any information he could gain would be helpful.

I dont expect my soldiers to act like fools!

Urosk barked.

Shedid have a phaser, sir, and Batok cut the end off his own sentence.

Urosk backhanded him and the clapping sound of flesh against the plastic-like construct of the breathing mask echoed in the small room.

Picard cleared his throat. Batoks mask was intact and seemed to be functioning well. Obviously well manufactured. Could Worfs blow to Zhad have been much harder than Urosks just now? Picard doubted it.

Perhaps Zhadhad killed himself.

Wanting to blend away into the background for now, to see if he could get a fix on the att.i.tudes hed be dealing with, Picard lowered himself silently onto the bench along the wall. He looked about the room.

Some of the dust from outside had settled on the floors and tables. Before its history as a base of operations/holding pen for the Hidran, it must have been a lab of some type. Nondescript computers stood along one wall and a great many tools and trays and jars of dirt were scattered on the tables. At one time theyd probably been neatly stacked. The Hidran were obviously not known for their housekeeping.

Batoks head was down. He slouched yet spoke loudly and clearly as possible through his mask.

Sir, if I may speak ...

Stomping awaythen back again, Urosk took on the posturing of an angry bull. If he had nostrils somewhere under that mask, they were flaring.

Shall you speak? Im not even sure if you shall continue to live!There is the heart of my lunacyindecision as to whether Ishould kill you rather thanhow I should!

Well, at least all captains were alike in some respects. Picard had never actually said anything like that to a member of his crew, but he could sympathize with the feeling.

I would only speak to please my captain, Batok said.

Urosk laughed.

Not possible, Batok. The sound of your voice is as grating as the dust in the air.

Sir, I have been to the Klingons holding cell. I did not leave here solely to supply us with two weapons.

Urosk turned toward the younger, shorter Hidran who still had his eyes focused tightly on his own boots.

Despite wishing to remain seated, something in the Hidrans tone pulled Picard up. Thankfully they had not taken his Universal Translator, or all this talk might just have been a series of hisses and clicks.

Tell me what you must, Batok, Urosk said intensely.

The Hidran lieutenant looked up at his superior, returning the intensity with his eyes.

I have killed the amba.s.sadors murderer. The KlingonWorfI have watched him die at my own hand.

Picard rose forward slowly, but didnt move any closer than that. He couldnt if hed wanted tohis spine, his legs, his jawall locked with the tightness of anger and fume.

All that had happened until now suddenly seemed trivial. Worf was deadtried and convicted by a jury of one.

Chest tight, Picard balled his fists at his sides. He had let this entire predicament swing wildly out of hand ...

Time to bring it back in check.

Urosks eyes became slivers. He was obviously smiling behind that blasted mask.

You have done well, Batok. How many of the others did you kill?

Others?

Batok battled with himselfhe obviously wanted to look away from his captain, but couldnt.

Surely you didnt only kill the Starfleet Klingon!

Urosk snapped.

SirI ...

Picard watched Urosk stifle Batok with a glare.

Speak no more, Batok. You killed onlyone Klingon when you had the chance to kill them all.

He wheeled away toward the table behind him. On it he dropped the two communicators hed collected. Together with Batoks there were four.

You will redeem yourself, Batok, by joining these into a communicator that will reach our ship.

Batok said nothing, but slithered toward the table, obsequiously silent.

Two steps forward and Picard was nearly on top of Urosk. He felt an urge to wrap his hands around the Hidrans throat.

Worf ...

And what then, Captain?

Picard snapped.

What happens when you return to your ship?

Urosk towered over Picard.

We destroy the Klingonsin orbit, then on the planet, he said frankly.

Why?

Picard spat bitterly.

What will this do? Why must hundreds die for your revenge?

There was a choking sound from Urosk that must have been a laugh.

Revenge? You know nothing of me, Picard. Batok acted on revenge. He is a young fool. I might have done the same for justice, but there is a grander plan at work here.

The Hidran captain still kept his phaser in his palm, pointed toward the floor. Picard glanced down at the weapon. Urosk noticed, and once again aimed up toward Picards chest.

Had it been reset to stun?

Whats your grand plan?

Picard asked.

Killing me? Would full Federation intervention really meet your end?

Another Hidran chortle.

Is that how precious you are? How many Federation Starships would be deployed to hunt me down if I killed you now? Two? Three? Five? A hundred?

Jaw hardened, Picard held his anger in check.

Therewill be political implications if you kill me, Urosk. More if you attempt to attack the Klingon ship. And theEnterprise will stop you.

I will allow nothing to stop me, Picard. Not you, not your ship. The Klingons want war and I will prove to them such a move would be much more unhealthy for them than any virus.

Picards hands flinched. He wanted to grab the Hidran, shake him. It was unfortunate that logic couldnt be beaten into people.

My people will stop you, Urosk.

With his gravel voice grinding into every ear, the Hidran captain gestured to Picards chest with the phaser that was once his own.

If yourpeople do stop me, you may never live to see it. I would not mourn if you went the way of your Klingon lieutenant.