Renaissance

by Peter David

  “I’m telling you, it wasn’t him. It was him,” and Kalinda pointed with utter confidence at Nik.

  “What … in hell is going on?” demanded Robin.

  “Robin,” Morgan said sharply, in a tone that clearly indicated she expected Robin to silence herself.

  But Robin wasn’t buying that for a moment. “No, Mother. I’m a lieutenant in Starfleet. Si Cwan, whose aide I formerly was, has just come in here, throwing around accusations, and I insist on knowing what’s going on!” She had been addressing her mother, but the statement was as much aimed at Si Cwan as it was at her.

  “Olivan … this man,” and he indicated Rafe, who had not moved from the spot, “was a former student of a teacher of mine. A man who taught me the art of self-defense, of camouflage. How to move, to fight … in some ways, to think. But they came to a falling-out, many years ago. Some weeks ago, Olivan returned … and killed him.”

  “How do you know it was him—I mean, this ‘Olivan.’ ”

  “Kalinda saw it. In a dream.”

  “And you trust the imaginings of some young girl?” Nik said scornfully. “Based on that, you’d accuse—”

  “Nik.” His father spoke, and there was something different in his voice. “Nik … let it go. This is unworthy. Is it not unworthy, Si Cwan? We were students of Jereme, after all. Denying who and what we are, and shying away from a battle … these are inappropriate things, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Very much,” agreed Si Cwan. He had not relaxed a muscle.

  “But it wasn’t him!” said Kalinda, pointing at Rafe. “He’s not Olivan! The other one is!”

  “He’s much too young.”

  “But he’s the one who killed Jereme!”

  “It does not matter who did,” Rafe said evenly. He hooked his thumbs into his belt, pressing them against the belt buckle. “We are both responsible. Singling out one or the other is not relevant. If you have a grievance with one … you have it with both.”

  Robin had never, ever seen Si Cwan like this. The fury was palpable, and when he spoke, it was like a voice from the grave. “Then I will kill you both,” said Si Cwan. “One or two … it matters not to me. For you killed my teacher, and you will die.”

  “Oh, my God,” whispered Robin.

  Si Cwan took a step toward him, and suddenly froze in place as he saw a grim smile spread across Rafe’s face. Kalinda was advancing next to him, but he put up a hand. She looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s done something. I don’t know what, but he’s done something.”

  “My, my. You have learned a good deal, Si Cwan, even with the limited training that Jereme gave you,” said Rafe. He was starting to circle the table, his gaze locked with Si Cwan’s. “You see, Si Cwan … the true art of war is to plan for it, even if you do not know that you’re going to be in one. There is no such thing as too many backup plans. Tell me … does the name Gerrid Thul mean anything to you?”

  It was Robin who spoke up. “A madman. Someone who created a computer virus that came close to wiping out the Federation. His allies introduced a virus into the Excalibur that nearly destroyed it—”

  “Did … destroy it.”

  There was dead silence.

  “No,” whispered Robin. “It was … it was two separate incidents.”

  Rafe shook his head. “No. You thought it was. But it wasn’t. The virus that led to the destruction of the Excalibur was a delayed farewell present from the incident your Federation has termed the ‘double helix situation.’ And I … helped create it. I helped conceive it, and my resources, my scientists, aided in its development. I’m rather clever when it comes to creating such things. And I like to spread the joy. That’s why I have introduced a virus into the central computer of the El Dorado, which I’ve just triggered,” he tapped the belt buckle, “with this. Within two minutes, this entire resort will become one gargantuan death trap. I am the only one who can stop it. If you kill me, Si Cwan—if you manage to do so, which I very much doubt—then you will be dooming everyone you see in this room to a very violent death. Your choice, Si Cwan. For the sake of everyone here … I hope you choose correctly.”

  TO BE CONCLUDED …

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series

  Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Final Frontier • Diane Carey

  Strangers from the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Spock’s World • Diane Duane

  The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Best Destiny • Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan’s Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan’s Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  The Ashes of Eden

  The Return

  Avenger

  Star Trek: Odyssey(contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)

  Spectre

  Dark Victory

  Preserver

  #1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  #2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 • Yesterday’s Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 • Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 • Uhura’s Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 • Shadow Land • Laurence Yep

  #23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majiliss Larson

  #27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson

  #29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 • How Much for Just the Planet? • John M. Fordr />
  #37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 • Time for Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 • Memory Prime • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 • Vulcan’s Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 • Doctor’s Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 • Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 • Home Is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls

  #53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 • The Rift • Peter David

  #58 • Face of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 • The Disinherited • Peter David

  #60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn

  #75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 • The Captain’s Daughter • Peter David

  #77 • Twilight’s End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #79 • Invasion!#1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn

  #81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion

  #82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 • My Brother’s Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 • Republic

  #86 • Constitution

  #87 • Enterprise

  #88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #89-94 • New Earth

  #89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  #91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf

  #92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion

  #93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith

  #94 • Challenger • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah

  Vendetta • Peter David

  Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi • Peter David

  The Devil’s Heart • Carmen Carter

  Dark Mirror • Diane Duane

  Q-Squared • Peter David

  Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman

  Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman

  Ship of the Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright

  Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David

  I, Q • Peter David & John de Lancie

  The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman

  Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint • David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey

  All Good Things … • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 • Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 • Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 • The Captain’s Honor • David & Daniel Dvorkin

  #9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman

  #10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 • Gulliver’s Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 • Fortune’s Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 • Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 • Q-in-Law • Peter David

  #19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCoy & E.L. Flood

  #22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 • War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 • Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 • Debtor’s Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan

  #33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #34 • Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke

  #35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger

  #36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese

  #37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson

  #38 • Dragon’s Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox

  #39 • Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt

  #40 • Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O’Malley

  #41 • Invasion!#2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #42 • Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson

  #43 • A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #44 • The Death of Princes • John Peel

  #45 • Intellivore • Diane Duane

  #46 • To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner

  #47-49 • The Q Continuum • Greg Cox

  #47 • Q-Space

  #48 • Q-Zone

  #49 • Q-Strike

  #50 • Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski

  #51-56 • Double Helix

  #51 • Infection • John Gregory Betancourt

  #52 • Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #53 • Red Sector • Diane Carey

  #54 • Quarantine • John Vornholt

  #55 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #56 • The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden

  #57 • The Forgotten War • William Fortschen

  #58-59 • Gemworld • John Vornholt

  #58 • Gemworld #1

  #59 • Gemworld #2

  Star Trek: Dee
p Space Nine®

  Warped • K.W. Jeter

  Legends of the Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe

  The Lives of Dax • Marco Palmieri, ed.

  Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #1 • The Fall of Terok Nor

  #2 • The War of the Prophets

  #3 • Inferno

  Novelizations

  Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  The Search • Diane Carey

  The Way of the Warrior • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Trials and Tribble-ations • Diane Carey

  Far Beyond the Stars • Steve Barnes

  What You Leave Behind • Diane Carey

  #1 • Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  #2 • The Siege • Peter David

  #3 • Bloodletter • K.W. Jeter

  #4 • The Big Game • Sandy Schofield

  #5 • Fallen Heroes • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #6 • Betrayal • Lois Tilton

  #7 • Warchild • Esther Friesner

  #8 • Antimatter • John Vornholt

  #9 • Proud Helios • Melissa Scott

  #10 • Valhalla • Nathan Archer

  #11 • Devil in the Sky • Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt

  #12 • The Laertian Gamble • Robert Sheckley

  #13 • Station Rage • Diane Carey

  #14 • The Long Night • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #15 • Objective: Bajor • John Peel

  #16 • Invasion!#3: Time’s Enemy • L.A. Graf

  #17 • The Heart of the Warrior • John Gregory Betancourt

  #18 • Saratoga • Michael Jan Friedman

  #19 • The Tempest • Susan Wright

  #20 • Wrath of the Prophets • David, Friedman & Greenberger

  #21 • Trial by Error • Mark Garland

  #22 • Vengeance • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #23 • The 34th Rule • Armin Shimerman & David R. George III

  #24-26 • Rebels • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #24 • The Conquered

  #25 • The Courageous

  #26 • The Liberated

  #27 • A Stitch in Time • Andrew J. Robinson

  Star Trek: Voyager®

  Mosaic • Jeri Taylor

  Pathways • Jeri Taylor

  Captain Proton! • Dean Wesley Smith

  Novelizations

  Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  Flashback • Diane Carey

  Day of Honor • Michael Jan Friedman

  Equinox • Diane Carey

  #1 • Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  #2 • The Escape • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch