“Very wrong.
“‘Sir,’ Pok said. ‘The singer was responsible for this. Correct?’
“I nodded. ‘It would seem such was true.’
“‘The opera she sang,’ Pok said. ‘It has a theme. A simple theme.’
“‘You waste time,’ ChaqI said. ‘Push the buttons. Enough talking. I am prepared to die.’
“I held up my hand for ChaqI to stop. I understood what Pok was thinking. It made as much sense as anything else.
“‘Yes,’ I said. ‘The opera has a theme.’
“‘A five-note theme,’ Pok said. ‘If I am correct.’
“I nodded. ‘You are.’
“‘If you would, sir, assign each note a number from one to five,’ Pok said. ‘From low to high.’
“I hummed the simple theme of the opera, then said the numbers to Pok.
“He nodded and took a deep breath. Then he turned and without a moment’s hesitation punched in the five numbers I had given him. His hand did not even shake. His father would have been so proud of him at that moment.
“The device gave out a series of musical beeps, following the theme of the opera, then went dead.
“The crew around the bridge yelled their joy. Many slapped Pok on the back, not even giving him time to stand. We were all prepared to die. But the quick thinking of a fellow warrior had saved us. That was a moment for rejoicing.
“And I joined in.
“Then I pulled Pok to his feet. I, too, slapped him on the back. ‘The singer’s aria from qul tuq. I should have thought of that myself.’
“I laughed. And Pok laughed with me. ‘But I did not. I am glad you did, young Pok.’
“Pok only smiled. But I knew that in the last few moments he had grown to be a full warrior.
“I looked Pok in the face. ‘We have killed the assassins who killed your father, Pok. Until we know who hired these assassins, the oath will not be fulfilled. We will find this Klingon from an ancient house.’
“Pok nodded.
“I shouted to my crew. ‘Return to your stations. Set a course for Taganika.’”
Gowron glanced around at those at the table as he took a drink of his ale.
Picard had managed to finish most of his salad. And it looked as if most of the others also were almost done. But Gowron clearly had another part of the story he wanted to tell this lunch hour. And after his long drink he immediately started in again.
“The trip back to Taganika, even at full warp, gave us all enough time for dinner. I went with Pok to the mess. As we entered, Pok saw the old Klingon and approached him.
“I could see as the old warrior looked up that he had a weary look in his eyes. He clearly thought this was finished between himself and young Pok. He knew he had lost. What more was there to determine?
“But Pok surprised him. He simply placed a writing pad down on the table in front of the old warrior, then without a word moved to get food.
“We filled our plates and returned to the table as the old Klingon finished reading what Pok had given him. He placed the pad on the table as if it burned his hands. Then he sat staring at it, as if he didn’t know what to do.
“ChaqI sat down across from the old warrior and leaned forward. ‘What does it say?’
“‘The words are not for me to read aloud,’ the old Klingon said. His voice was soft. Very soft.
“I sat down next to ChaqI and took the pad. I glanced at what Pok had done. ‘Pok has written a GaTH’k,’ I said, loud enough for all in the mess to hear my voice. ‘An ode of respect for the old Klingon, Ler’at.’
“I turned to ChaqI. ‘Ler’at is full of old superstitions,’ I said. ‘He believes it is bad luck to speak proud words about yourself. I will read them.’
“That got a cheer of agreement from those in the mess. The old Klingon said nothing. His gaze stayed focused on the table in front of him.
“So I read Pok’s words.
‘Ler’at, House of Tignar. Warrior Son.
At the battle of teh, he killed many men.
At the battle of reth he took many hurts.
His arms were strong to lift the Bat’tleh high.’
“I paused, then went on.
‘His heart was fierce to keep the enemy afraid.
At teh, at reth, at lagon, at dumath, at negan.
His arms are heavy now with the weight of many battles.
His heart is burdened by the press of many honors.
When he dies, the heaven will shake
with the screams of his comrades.
Warning the dead, Beware! Beware!
A warrior is coming.’
“I laid the pad down in front of the old Klingon and he picked it up. The room was silent with respect for what we had all just heard.
“The old Klingon stood and moved around the table. He placed a hand on Pok’s shoulder. ‘May you die with honor, Pok.’
“Then the old Klingon left the mess quickly.
“I turned to young Pok. ‘This was a true GaTH’k, Pok.’
“The others in the room agreed, some loudly. Then all went back to their eating.
“In a quieter voice I said to Pok, ‘I see the makings of a warrior poet in you. It runs in your family’s blood. Your father was also very good at—’
“Before I could go any further, the communications officer announced we were approaching Taganika.
“I broke off my sentence and stood. ‘Come,’ I said to young Pok. ‘We are almost there. Prepare yourself for your return to your home as a warrior.’”
Gowron looked around at this audience again. “It seems we must return to our meeting. The time grows short.”
Admiral Jellico stood. “Yes, it would seem that way.”
“I look forward to hearing the conclusion of your story,” Picard said as he stood with Gowron. And he did. He had no idea just how the story was going to end up. Or what part it played in the talks and events going on with the murders. But he suspected it did in a very large way.
“Tonight, Captain,” Gowron said. “Tonight the story will find an end.”
Picard nodded. “Good. I will be back here, waiting and listening.”
“Yes,” Gowron said. “I look forward to the nights. I have grown fond of this table. And the good company.”
“I am honored,” Picard said.
“As am I,” Riker said.
Gowron laughed. “Tonight you will match me, glass for glass, Commander Riker.”
Picard watched as Riker turned slightly pale at the thought of that much blood wine. Then he smiled. “I will match you, sir.”
Gowron laughed. “True Klingon spirit. I like that in a human.”
Chapter Fourteen
“YOUR CHOICE THIS TIME,” Lieutenant Jadzia Dax said, smiling. Behind her the others filed out of the afternoon meeting, talking among themselves. She had come over to Riker after the meeting and asked him if he’d like a third try at dinner.
He’d gladly accepted.
Now he smiled at her, then decided. “Quark’s again. Last time I didn’t have to pay for the dinner I had there.”
“If I remember,” she said, “didn’t you pay with a headache?”
He waved her comment aside. “I have paid for many a visit to a bar with a headache.”
She laughed and took his arm, turning him toward the door. “Then Quark’s it is.”
But this time they didn’t even get seated before their dinner was interrupted. As they were entering Quark’s Riker felt the familiar sensation of being transported.
“What?” Dax said, turning toward him, a look of alarm on her face. Obviously, people being beamed out of the middle of the station was not a normal occurrence.
“Sorry,” he managed to say to her.
Now the question was, just where was he going?
And who was taking him?
Major Kira stood at the security console as the lift brought Chancellor Gowron, Captain Picard, Lieutenant Worf, Admiral Jellico, Commander Sisko,
and three guards to Ops.
As they continued toward the transporter pad, she checked security measures. Everything seemed to be in order. She also did a quick check to make sure the two Cardassian ships were still in their positions. In almost two days they hadn’t moved. And Gul Dukat had not even called the station. It was very odd. Very odd indeed.
Gowron laughed. “Admiral Jellico,” he said. “I would be very proud to show you my ship.”
Kira couldn’t hear Jellico’s answer, but the admiral stepped up on the platform next to Gowron and his two guards.
“Captain,” Gowron said loudly to Captain Picard. “Are you sure you would not like to join us?”
Captain Picard shook his head no. Kira heard him say, “Thank you, Gowron. “But I have duties to attend to on theEnterprise.”
Gowron smiled. “A captain’s work, huh, Picard. Worf?”
“No, sir. Thank you,” Worf said.
Kira did not hear Picard’s response, but Gowron laughed. Maybe this laughter meant the afternoon’s meetings had gone better. Kira hoped so. It would be a shame to have all this effort go to waste.
“Ready,” Gowron said.
Commander Sisko turned to her. “Lower shields.”
She did as she was ordered. Gowron opened his communicator. “Four to transport. DaH!”
Suddenly the board in front of Kira went crazy. Two new Klingon Birds of Prey decloaked right in front of the station.
One fired on Gowron’s flagship. The other stood off to one side.
“Shields up!” Sisko shouted. “Red alert!”
Kira’s actions were automatic as she triggered the red alert and brought the shields up. The weapons were instantly set to ready and brought up to power.
But it was too late to stop the transport. The four on the transporter pad disappeared, only Kira did not like what her instruments had shown.
“Sir,” Kira said, doing her best to make her voice remain calm. “They did not transport to Gowron’s ship.”
“What?” both Picard and Sisko said at the same time.
“When the Bird of Prey fired on Gowron’s ship, its shields went up automatically. The transport was not done by that ship.”
“So where did they go?” Sisko demanded, stepping toward her.
Kira let her fingers dance over her board. It took only a moment to have the answer. “Sir. They were taken to the second new Klingon ship.”
On the large screen Kira watched in shock as the two new Klingon ships quickly turned to move away without firing another shot. They again cloaked, disappearing almost as fast as they had appeared.
Again things around Kira seemed to happen at once.
Gul Dukat’s ship turned and shot off in the direction it seemed the two Klingon ships had gone. The other Cardassian ship stayed in position.
Picard tapped his com badge. “Enterprise. Lock on Commander Riker, Lieutenant Worf, and myself and beam us directly to the bridge. Now!”
“Shields down,” Sisko ordered.
Kira instantly dropped the shields, and a moment later Picard and Worf disappeared.
“Shields back up,” Sisko ordered, and Kira did as she was told.
Then the two of them stood and watched as first Gowron’s flagship, and then, a moment later, the Enterprise turned and jumped to warp.
Both of them stood there for a moment in silence. Then Sisko said, “Stand down from red alert. Take us to yellow.”
“Yes, sir,” Kira said.
“Now,” Sisko said. “We have a Klingon somewhere on this station who doesn’t belong here. I want him found. I want you, Dax, and Odo in my office in five minutes.”
“Yes, sir,” Kira said. But at that moment she had no idea how she was going to follow that order. Since this morning before the meetings, over forty Klingons had beamed aboard the station. Which one didn’t belong?
She was about to call for Dax when she burst off the turbo lift. “What happened? Riker was beamed off the Promenade.”
“I know,” Kira said. She looked up at the screen showing only one Klingon Bird of Prey and one Cardassian ship left in positions around the station.
Dax followed her gaze, then said, “Oh, my.”
Chapter Fifteen
RIKER WENT FROM LOOKING at Jadzia Dax’s beautiful but shocked face to staring at the bridge of the Enterprise.
Beside him Captain Picard and Worf materialized at the same time.
“Red alert,” Picard instantly said, moving to a position in front of the screen. Worf scrambled instantly to his station at security.
It seemed they both knew exactly what was going on. Riker wanted very much to ask what happened, but he knew he would get filled in after just a moment. He moved over to his position beside the captain.
The red alert lights came up.
On screen Gowron’s flagship turned and quickly dropped into warp, disappearing off in a direction headed for the Klingon Empire.
“Stay with that ship, Mister Data. Engage.”
“Yes, sir,” Data said. A moment later Riker watched as they turned and went to warp nine.
“Where is Gul Dukat’s ship?” Picard asked.
Data glanced at his board. “On this same heading, sir. A few minutes ahead of Gowron’s ship.”
“Any sign of the other two ships?”
“No sir,” Data said. “They remain cloaked.”
Picard nodded and turned and sat down. “Well, then. We’ll just have to trust that either the Cardassians or Gowron’s crew have a way of tracking a ship under cloak.”
Riker moved to Picard’s side and sat down. After a moment of sitting there beside Picard with nothing seeming to be happening at once, he asked, “What happened?”
Picard glanced at him, then smiled a half smile, understanding that Riker had no idea what had gone on. “Gowron and Admiral Jellico have been kidnapped.”
Picard must have assumed that was enough information, since he turned back to the main screen and stared at the stars streaking past.
Riker felt his stomach clamp into a tight knot as the captain’s words slowly sank in.
And he felt downright queasy as the implications of what had happened sank in. The sector was now, very suddenly, poised on the brink of war.
And it was up to them to stop it.
dRacLa, son of Vok, walked along the Promenade toward Quark’s bar. A dozen other Klingon warriors walked on the Promenade. For at least the moment, he didn’t stand out. He needed both food and drink. He also needed news. He wasn’t sure that his message had gotten out of the station. And if Lursa had received it. If it had, he would move to step two of his plan.
It appeared that the afternoon’s meetings had just broken up. Many Klingons were around and none seemed to be in the slightest bit alarmed. It was clear nothing had happened. Yet. But if it was to happen, it would be anytime now.
He quickly moved into Quark’s and to the bar. A small Ferengi came to a place in front of him.
“What can I get for you, fine sir?” the Ferengi asked, an annoying smile on its face.
“Ale, first. Then a full loaf of Klingon bread.”
“Strange diet,” the Ferengi said, and moved off.
dRacLa turned and stood watching out over the bar. There was no one in the room he recognized. And that was good. No one would know him.
Two Federation officers were entering. Suddenly one of them was beamed out, almost in midstride. The other looked very shocked, then turned and headed off down the Promenade at a run.
It seemed now, that something had happened. Something very important.
He laughed to himself as the Ferengi slid the ale in front of him.
“You like your own jokes,” the Ferengi said. “You ought to hear mine.”
“Can you hurry the bread, Ferengi?” He laid an Acta crystal on the bar.
The Ferengi’s eyes opened slightly, then he said, “Sure. Sure,” and moved quickly down the bar.
Around the bar a few of the warriors suddenly
answered their communications calls. The word passed quickly. Within moments every Klingon in the room got up and headed for the door.
“Wow,” the Ferengi said, staring at all the warriors running for the door. He dropped the bread on the table. “What’s the rush?”
“Called back to our ships,” dRacLa said. He slid the crystal at the Ferengi, then downed his ale. With the bread tucked under his arm he followed the rest of his Klingon brothers out of the bar.
But near a side corridor he turned left and slipped unseen into the many halls of the huge station.
Gowron glanced around at the darkened room he found himself in after transport. He had expected to find himself on his transport platform in his own ship.
But instead, he and his guards and Admiral Jellico were transported into a small, dark room, with the doors closed and very securely latched. He knew the room was on a Bird of Prey. But he also knew he wasn’t on his own ship.
“What?” Jellico said. “Is this …”
“Where is this place?” Gowron called out.
When no answer came back, he indicated to the door. “Get us out of here. moD!”
RocIa and uQvam, his guards, both instantly pulled their disrupters.
RocIa adjusted the setting on his. Then he pointed it at the locking mechanism on the door. His shot made no impact. It became instantly clear that the walls were protected by a force field. There would be no breaking out.
“bup,” he ordered his guard. “We will wait.”
Both guards kept their weapons drawn, as they should have done, and took up positions flanking him.
Admiral Jellico finally managed to find his voice. “What happened?”
“It seems, Admiral,” Gowron said, “that we have been taken hostage.”
“But who would want to take me?” he asked, glancing around. “For what reason?”
Gowron forced himself to not laugh. “Admiral. I am afraid you are just an unlucky passenger. This is a Klingon ship. I fear this is a plan to kill me.” He glanced around the small room. “And it may well succeed.”
“How can such a thing happen?” Jellico asked. “And why. Who would do this?”
Star Trek: Klingon! Page 10
