“This time, my friend. This time.”
“Transports initiated.”
And so Koloth waited. A feeling of great relief washed over him. The single remaining Tholian fighter was no threat to the fresh SuvwI’. His casualties had been acceptable and now he could return to the Empire not in disgrace but as a warrior. Proud and victorious in battle.
Stepping down from his command chair he surveyed the wrecked bridge of the Gr’oth. His only regret. It had been a good ship.
“Everyone has been beamed aboard, Captain Koloth.” The voice of the SuvwI’s transporter operator called out over the ship-to-ship comm link.
“Understood. Stand by.”
There was one more thing Koloth had to do. “Initiate Klingon self-destruct. Code Koloth twelve-one-seven-two.”
“Voiceprint confirmed. Self-destruct sequence initiated.”
Koloth paused for only a second. He bent down and scooped up a tribble from the floor. It was the scorched brown-and-white one. Surprising himself, he grinned.
The tribble squeaked and trembled in his hand. “Perhaps I’ve misjudged you, little vermin. You are so much more resilient than I gave you credit for.”
He held it a little higher. “Perhaps a more worthy adversary after all.” It twitched, squawked.
“Perhaps,” he mused. “If so, then you deserve a warrior’s death. Go, my unexpected adversary, and know that today is a good day to die.”
He flung the tribble across the bridge into a burning computer console. The yellow-red flames licked hungrily at the spinning ball of fur.
“A good day to die,” he said, feeling the transporter seize his body. “But not for me.”
Seconds later the tribble-infested Gr’oth exploded into a ball of fire and smoke and twirling, twisted metal.
Book of Fulfillment
Steven Costa
(Translation of a fragment of scroll, labeled “Book of Fulfillment,” discovered on Maltos IV by Professor Richard Galen, stardate 46531.5: Chapter 6, Verse 27 to Chapter 9, Verse 16.)
Chapter 6
27. But the people took no note of the words of the Prophet. In their eyes, his words were like the words of a madman. They drove forth the Prophet, he with his attendants, and he did depart from them with a heavy heart.
Chapter 7
1. A generation of the people did come to pass, a generation of the people in the valley of the green river. And in the fortieth year of the Fifth Cycle, in the month of the sweet fruit harvest, on the tenth day of the month, a great calamity befell the people.
2. In the sky appeared a bright star, and the name of the star was a name not known to the wise men of the people, for it was a new star and its coming was a wonderment.
3. The new star did grow large in the night sky, and brighter. It descended upon the people with a brightness that was like the brightness of the feast-day bonfire. But when it reached the ground, the brightness did fade, and the star became as a vessel of iron.
4. From the vessel came forth the Destroyers, the Fearsome Ones of the old tales, known to men as the Ones Who Roar. Their appearance was fear-inspiring, for they wore garments of iron and hide, and they carried implements of destruction.
5. Each Destroyer had taken into his hand a blade of fearsome might, and also an evil weapon of thunder and lightning. And they did descend upon the people in the valley of the green river.
6. And their faces were strange in the eyes of the people, for they were of a color like that of rich, dark bread, and their eyes numbered only two, and there was no antler upon their head but a fleshy ridge like no one had ever seen before.
7. Around the encampment of the people they did encircle, and their roaring was as the roaring of the southern wind for its might. And the strong men of the people went forth to stand against them, armed with their implements for hunting. But they were as long grass before the Destroyers, the Ones Who Roar, and they were mowed down close to the earth.
8. The people did bend their knee as one and submit to the Destroyers, for their power could not be opposed. The Destroyers did speak their name, and their name was Klingon. The name was new in the ears of the people, and fear-inspiring.
9. And the people did toil for the Klingons. The people were compelled to prepare their loathsome foods, and dig in the earth, and gather from the forest the herbs used by the wise ones to make the ointment that gives health and life and strength of arm. Every task from the mouth of the Klingons, the people did just so, for the Klingons were mighty. And the people were faint of heart, because of their might.
10. The hands of the Klingons were very heavy upon the people. And the outcry of the people was a very great outcry.
Chapter 8
1. The people gave way to tears and tore their garments and threw themselves to the ground and begged the Great Ones for forgiveness. “We did not listen to the words of the Prophet, so many years ago, and our sin rests heavily upon us. Save us, O Great Ones, we beseech. Deliver us from the hands of the Klingons, from the hands of the Ones Who Roar!”
2. But the Great Ones did not give ear to the words of the people, for the sin of the people was a very heavy sin. The people did continue to suffer under the hands of the Klingons for the time of three turnings of the smaller moon.
3. Then the Great Ones looked upon the sorrow of the people with mercy and judged “The people have suffered and their sin is washed clean.”
4. And the Great Ones spoke the word. So it came to pass that the Liberator came to the people.
5. The Liberator came from beyond the sky. Through the stars in the heavens his vessel came, bearing him forth to save the people. To smite the Destroyers he came forth, for their kingdoms were adversaries in the heavens. The Liberator was a great warrior, a man of fame.
6. The vessel of the Liberator was a mighty one and concealed within the depths of the heavens. Brave were the souls of the attendants of the Liberator. Their hearts were loyal to him, for his rulership was a good rulership.
7. At his left hand was the Healer. The Healer’s words went forth like spears from the hand of the thrower, and his counsel was like fire in the ears of the Liberator.
8. At his right hand was the Sage. His thoughts were clear and cold and swift, like the stream of water from the mountains, and his counsel was wise beyond wisdom.
9. And about them were the attendants of the Liberator: the Way-finder, to guide the vessel through the darkness between the stars of the heavens; the Armsman, to rain destruction upon the foes of the Liberator; the Proclaimer, to announce his great name to all who would hear; and the Machinist, to harness the power of the vessel of the heavens.
10. Together they came forth to save the people, and to crush the Destroyers, the Ones Who Roar.
11. Before the eyes of the wise men the Liberator appeared, and the Healer was upon his left hand, and the Sage was upon his right. They appeared in the encampment of the people, in the dark hours of the night. Arrayed as the people, in garments like unto those of the people’s garments, did they appear.
12. Their faces they had concealed, for their faces were different from those of the people. Similar to the Klingons’ were their faces. Only to the wise ones were their faces revealed, in the inner chambers of the wise ones. And when the name of the Liberator was revealed, they cried out in exultation, for his words were known to the wise men as the words of the Prophet.
13. The words of the Liberator were new in their ears, for he spoke of contention, and deliverance, and vengeance upon the Destroyers.
14. On the rising of the sun, the vessel of the Liberator would rain down destruction upon the vessel of the Klingons.
15. But the Sage spoke quiet words of counsel in the ear of the Liberator, speaking of the oath. And the Healer spoke fiery words of counsel in the ear of the Liberator, speaking of the suffering of the people.
16. The Liberator pledged unto the wise men. His oath to his own masters was a powerful oath, and he could not deliver the people if the peo
ple would not request the deliverance. The people must make the request, and the people would rise up.
17. The numbers of the Klingons were not many, but the people were frightened because of their might. They were fearful of the plan for deliverance and their hearts were troubled, and they would not rise up against the Destroyers.
18. Then the Liberator addressed the people, and he spoke with a voice of command, inciting the people. The words of the Liberator were powerful words. The spirit of the people had been slumbering, but it awoke with a great and righteous fury.
19. The people rose, and put each one into his hand an implement for digging, or an implement for cooking, or an implement for harvesting to fight against the Destroyers, the ones now known as the Klingons.
20. The wise men asked the people, “Will we request the deliverance, and will we rise up against the Destroyers?”
21. With one voice, the people said, “We will rise up, and we do request the deliverance!”
22. And the night until the rising of the sun was a very long night.
Chapter 9
1. Upon the rising of the sun, the vessel of the Liberator did rain down fire upon the vessel of the Klingons, upon the Ones Who Roar, and they were unable to stand against it.
2. Then the people rose as one, and took each one into his hand an implement for digging, or an implement for cooking, or an implement for harvesting, and turned their hands against the Destroyers.
3. And the people made a great shout of praise, for the Liberator appeared among the people to fight against the Destroyers, against the Klingons. His implement of destruction was a powerful implement, a righteous weapon of thunder and lightning, and he did strike down the Destroyers with its fury.
4. The Sage did stand by the weak ones of the people, the old and the young. Before the wrath of the Destroyers he stood. There was no fear in his heart at the approach of a Destroyer. And the Sage did lay a hand upon him, and the Destroyer did fall.
5. The Healer did move among the people struck down by the Destroyers, and did proclaim that he was a Healer, and not a worker of miracles. But the saying of the Healer was a humble saying, for with his implements of healing he did work miracles in the eyes of the people.
6. And the people went about piling the fallen Klingons into heaps.
7. When the battle was concluded, the people made a joyous outcry. And the wise men implored the Liberator to speak his name before all the people, that they might know and give it praise.
8. And the Liberator spoke these words to the people: “I am Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I represent the United Federation of Planets.”
9. And the people again gave voice to great exultation, for the words of the Liberator Kirk were words known to them. The name of the Liberator’s vessel was a name known to the people, and the kingdom of the Liberator was known to them, for the Prophet Archer had spoken these same words in the days long ago, in the days of the Prophecy.
10. Like the Prophet Archer before, the Liberator spoke of the great union of worlds, and now the wise men of the people gave ear to his words. They said unto the people, “These are good words. Will the people be united with the worlds of the Liberator, with the worlds of the Federation?”
11. The people said with one voice, “We will be united with you, and our peoples will become as one people.”
12. The Liberator was joyful in his heart, and the Healer was joyful with him. The Sage had no joy in his heart, but he was content, and it was enough. They went away from the people to prepare a place for them. And their going was a wonderment to the people, for they were gone in a twinkling.
13. The people offered up a sacrifice of praise to the Great Ones, for the Prophecy had come to pass. They had suffered under the hands of the Ones Who Roar, but they had been delivered, and their praises were many.
14. And the people did celebrate their deliverance with a bonfire like no bonfire before. They brought forth the captured ones of the Klingons, to share in the festival. And they roared no longer, but they did howl.
15. The toil of the people had been long, and their hunger was a very great hunger, but there was enough for all the people in the valley of the green river, from the small to the great. For the flesh of the Klingons was not tender, but it was plentiful.
16. And it was good.
The Smallest Choices
Jeremy Yoder
I see no logic in preferring Stonn over me.
Over a century after Spock had spoken those words, T’Pring still considered them. Stonn was a decent husband and father. At times she found his company adequate. But he had never been an excellent Vulcan. Never as poised and dignified as other Vulcan males. Never as controlled and secure as herself.
She rose from her chair, her green robe swaying, and walked past the white Tholian lace adorning her bed canopy. Hot sunlight poured in through the windows. Her shoes clicked on the auburn stone floor on which her ancestors had walked. When she and Stonn died someday, their offspring would inherit the house as she had.
Her husband had left for the Daystrom Institute months ago. He was a scientist and should prove helpful there, but the assignment was granted as more of a favor to her than for his own merits. Certain high-ranking officials pitied her and therefore sent Stonn on missions to make her household appear noble in the eyes of the populace. She questioned if the ruse was successful, though sadly enough, it worked on Stonn.
T’Pring paused at the mirror. Beneath her wrinkles, her eyes were exquisitely shaped, but had lost their luster long ago. She never knew why. After all, she was held in the highest regard—a stalwart, disciplined, and prolific dignitary of her people.
Then there was Stonn.
She achieved Kolinahr eight years into marriage, thereby purging all her emotions. It had elevated her status, placing her on councils and allowing her to shape Vulcan’s future. Her opinions were sought and valued. She lived the life she strove to achieve. Yet something stirred within her.
T’Pring pressed a button beside the mirror. The wall slid open to reveal what would have been her wedding brooch. It had been given to her by Amanda Grayson—Spock’s mother—on the day T’Pring had been betrothed to the half-Vulcan, half-human boy. They had never seen each other before then.
She withdrew the silver item. She remembered her parents’ approval of her marrying an ambassador’s child. They had doubts about Spock’s human half, but Spock had shown remarkable progress in the sciences. There had been the option of Spock’s older half-brother, Sybok, but he was flirting with emotions.
As T’Pring was about to return the brooch to its hiding place, the computer console near the door chimed. She started to walk toward it until she noticed the flashing purple light she had programmed over a year ago. After pocketing the brooch, she strode to the transporter and beamed herself up to her orbiting shuttlecraft.
“Computer,” she said as she materialized. “Load flight plan V3 and execute.”
The destination was preprogrammed, so the ship simply had to plot a course and take off at the highest possible warp. She exited the transporter room and walked down the hallway of lavender walls and yellow flooring. The door to her quarters swished open, revealing a double bed and dresser.
The floor shifted beneath her feet, signaling that the ship had gone to warp. She lay down on the bed. She usually slept to pass the monotony of deep space travel, but today she stared up at the dull ceiling tiles.
Then there was Stonn.
Her family had questioned her choice. Contrary to what some believed, she had not chosen Stonn for some trite emotion like love. And especially not for the reason she gave Spock when he returned to marry her. She had married Stonn because it assured her control of her family by taking responsibility and credit when Stonn failed, as she knew he would.
It meant other Vulcans would grant her opportunities when sensing weakness in her mate. She knew that if she had married a dignitary or any man of grand potential, she’d remain
in the background, and she would not have that. At first, T’Pring had questioned her reasoning as emotional—the weakness of pride—until she logically ascertained that having the best for herself would enable her to serve Vulcan’s greater good.
Stonn had never completed Kolinahr. He had tried several times, if only to make her proud. But even then, his motives were flawed. For if he intended to do it for her—which was his reason for almost everything—it meant he loved her.
She sighed at the thought. The terrible, agonizing thought. She, T’Pring, had married a Vulcan who loved her. It wasn’t just his shameful words in private, but his gaze. His stance. Everyone knew. How could he gain her trust and respect if he clung to such emotions? How could he ever complete Kolinahr? But therein lay her double-edged sword, for that placed her at the forefront of their family, which is why she had chosen him.
On the dresser stood a picture of her younger self and new husband. As was tradition, the male stood before the female—a role she had reversed in the following decades. Her image stood rigid, staring straight ahead, ready to forge a new path. And though Stonn appeared to have the same expression, his eyes betrayed his delight at marrying the woman behind him.
Then there was Spock.
Strange New Worlds IX Page 3
