Worf helped her to her feet. B’Oraq noted that G’joth was still unconscious and propped up against one of the bulkheads, and McKenna and Falce were standing and rubbing their temples, looking like they were in considerable pain.
“We were victims of a telepathic attack,” Worf said. “Our captor rendered us unconscious, placed us back inside the shuttle, and reactivated the forcefield.”
B’Oraq tugged on her braid. “I assume that we won’t be able to cobble together another miracle device to wipe out the forcefield?”
“No.” Worf masked his anger well, but B’Oraq could feel the undercurrent in his voice. She found it oddly appealing.
“So what do we do now?”
Falce muttered, “Panicking might not be a bad idea.”
“Oh, cut that out, Matt,” McKenna said. “There’s got to be a way out of this.”
A voice came from the still-open rear hatch. “Perhaps there—there is.”
B’Oraq turned to see a Vulcan male standing on the other side of the hatch. After a moment, she realized that it was Ambassador Spock. After another moment, she remembered what Worf had told her.
“Are you responsible for this?” she asked.
“Not—as such, no. I do not have much time. Malkus will reassert his control over me—soon.”
Falce frowned. “Who’s Malkus?”
“A—tyrant from many millennia ago. Are you familiar—with Starfleet General Order 16, Lieutenant?”
B’Oraq knew nothing of the regulation, of course, but Worf immediately said, “The fourth artifact?”
Spock nodded. “It was unearthed—here. Apparently, my exposure to—to one of the other artifacts made me—susceptible to Malkus’s control. Three others—Dr. McCoy, Colonel Kira Nerys, and Captain Robert DeSoto—are also enthralled. And, Ambassador—I must apologize for my actions against you, Lieutenant Falce, and Ensign McKenna. I was—not in my right mind at the time.”
“How are you able to resist now?” Worf asked.
“I am—not sure. Possibly because my brain chemistry has—changed since I encountered the first artifact—when I died and was reborn on the Genesis Planet.”
“Of course,” Worf said matter-of-factly, as if people talked about being resurrected every day. B’Oraq looked at both of them as if they were insane.
McKenna saw the look, and gave the doctor a smile. “Trust me, this sort of thing is normal for those two,” she said in a whisper. “Read any six random captain’s logs for any ship named Enterprise, and you’ll see what I mean.”
“Malkus sent me,” Spock continued, “to place you back in the shuttle and—reactivate the forcefield. I must—return soon or he will notice—that I have taken too long—or that his control is not what it should be.”
Falce started fidgeting. “So why don’t you just deactivate the forcefield?”
“Great idea, Matt,” McKenna said. “Then we can get zapped again.”
“The ensign—is correct. I had hoped that another—possibility might present itself.”
Spock, B’Oraq noticed, was giving Worf what seemed to be a very significant look. Is this some kind of diplomat code or something? she thought.
Then she recalled her studies of Vulcan anatomy—particularly as related to the Vulcan brain. “You’re suggesting a mind-meld, aren’t you?”
“I am—not, no,” Spock said. “However, it would—be a useful tool for allowing two of us to resist—Malkus’s control.”
Worf stepped forward. “I will volunteer.”
“I don’t like this, Mr. Ambassador,” Falce said. “I’m not so sure he should be trusted.”
“Perhaps,” Worf said. “But I would be the most—logical choice. I was the first to recover from the psionic attack earlier, and I have felt no ill effects from it. You are still obviously in pain, as are Dr. B’Oraq and Ensign McKenna—and G’joth is still unconscious.”
B’Oraq hadn’t realized that her headache was so bad that the ambassador could see it in her face. “I agree with Ambassador Worf,” she said. “His quick recovery makes him the best choice. It means he’s more likely to be able to retain his own self, and not be lost in the melding.”
Spock regarded B’Oraq. “You are—familiar with the mind-meld?”
She smiled. “I studied medicine at Starfleet Academy. It included a primer on the medicinal applications of psionics, particularly as related to Vulcans, Betazoids, and other telepathic races.”
“Indeed. We are—fortunate, then, that you are here to monitor.”
“I’m not sure how much I can monitor without equipment,” B’Oraq said ruefully, “but I will try my best.”
The Vulcan ambassador removed a control from the folds of his robes and pressed a button on it. The forcefield fell and he stepped inside the shuttle. “We must—we must hurry. I can feel myself beginning to lose control once again. Malkus has—spread himself fairly thin, which has—aided in my ability to resist. But that ability—may weaken without the extra support—from Mr. Worf’s mind.”
Turning to Worf, B’Oraq put a hand on his arm. “Have you ever experienced a mind-meld before?”
“No.”
“It can be a very—overwhelming experience. Try to focus on one particular thing—a favorite song, a face, an image, anything—before you start. Use that as a mental anchor.”
Worf nodded. “I understand.”
I hope so, she thought.
“Are you—are you ready?” Spock asked.
B’Oraq took a look at the older ambassador and thought that question applied more to him. He looked horrible; the strain of trying to resist this Malkus person’s control was obviously wearing on him. She hoped that this worked, because if it didn’t, Spock would be in Malkus’s thrall again, and they’d be back stuck in the shuttle with no way out. Or he might just decide we’re better off dead….
In answer to Spock’s query, Worf simply said, “Yes.”
I don’t like this, B’Oraq thought. Usually the participants have some time to get ready—a half an hour at least, especially if Spock is going to attempt a meld as deep as I think he’s going to.
Spock stood face-to-face with Worf and placed his fingers on the areas of Worf’s face that were closest to the neural pathways to the cerebellum.
“My mind—to your mind. My thoughts—to your thoughts. Our minds—become one…”
Chapter Fifteen
YOUNG WORF STOOD IN THE DOORWAY of his ancestral family home on Vulcan. His father, Sarek, demanded to know where he’d been.
“I have been in the mountains,” Worf said.
“You are not to travel to the Llangon Mountains,” Sarek said.
Confused, Worf started to say that Father had taken his brother Sybok to the Ural Mountains only last week.
“Come,” Sarek said. “It is time.”
Young Spock stood in the doorway of the Rozhenko home in Minsk. His adoptive father, Sergey, demanded to know where he’d been.
“I have been in the mountains,” Spock said.
Father laughed. “We just went to the Ural Mountains with your brother Nikolai last week.”
Confused, Spock started to say that Father had forbidden him travel to the Llangon Mountains.
“Come,” Sergey said. “It is time.”
(My mind…)
“Oh, look, it’s the little human boy!”
“Stinking half-breed!”
“Why don’t you go back to Earth?”
“You’re not a real Vulcan!”
Young Worf was angered at the insults the other Vulcan children threw his way. He wanted to kill them all—it wasn’t his fault that Mikel had died. He hadn’t sufficiently restrained himself in the soccer game, but it wasn’t his fault that their collision resulted in a broken neck!
“My God, he killed him!”
“Murderer!”
“Mikel’s dead!”
“Klingon savage!”
Young Spock was confused at the epithets the human teenagers on Gault
threw his way. He wanted to fight back—it wasn’t his fault that his mother was human and that he couldn’t be like the other, full-blooded Vulcans.
(…to your mind…)
“Why do you reject the ways of logic, brother?”
Sybok smiled indulgently at Worf’s question. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Vulcan is your home, even more than it was ever mine!” Worf cried.
“You have made this your home,” Sybok said, putting a hand on Worf’s shoulder. “But I never truly belonged here.”
With that, Worf’s half-brother turned on his heel and left the house at ShiKahr. Worf would not see him again until many years later while serving on the Enterprise….
“Why are you leaving Starfleet Academy, brother?”
Nikolai smiled indulgently at Spock’s question. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“You belong here, even more than I do,” Spock said calmly.
“No, this is where you were meant to be,” Nikolai said, putting a hand on Spock’s shoulder. “But I never truly belonged here.”
With that, Spock’s foster brother turned on his heel and left the grounds of the Academy. Spock would not see him again until many years later while serving on the Enterprise….
(…my thoughts…)
Images of K’Ehleyr’s broken, bloody form filled Worf’s head as he lunged at Jim Kirk. As they tumbled, Worf wrapped the ahn-woon around his old friend’s neck.
He had failed with the lirpa, but he would not fail now. As he lifted Kirk off of him and all but dragged him to the coal fire, his mind was ravaged with but one thought: K’Ehleyr will be mine forever! The needs of the Pon farr would be fulfilled.
Kirk made a last, desperate lunge, which saved him from the heat of the coals, but Worf never lost his grip on the ahn-woon. The light died in Jim Kirk’s eyes.
Victory was his….
Images of T’Pring’s serene face filled Spock’s head as he lunged at Duras. Spock deflected Duras’s tik’leth strike with his bat’leth.
He had failed to save T’Pring from Duras, but he would not fail now. As he parried another tik’leth strike and then moved onto the offensive, his mind was ravaged with but one thought: T’Pring will be avenged! The right of vengeance would be fulfilled.
Duras made a last, desperate parry, but it did him no good. Spock knocked him to the ground and then slammed his family’s bat’leth into his enemy’s chest. The light died in Duras’s eyes.
Victory was his….
(…to your thoughts…)
There were many days in Worf’s life that he would have defined as happy, though he doubted he would have admitted it aloud to anyone. But to stand there on Vulcan’s Forge and to marry Saavik right there with T’Lar officiating and all of his crewmates from Deep Space 9 present was one of the moments he would treasure until the day he died….
There were many days in Spock’s life that he would have defined as happy , though he doubted he would have admitted it aloud to anyone. But to stand there in Quark’s bar and to marry Jadzia right there with Sirella officiating and Sarek, McCoy, and Uhura present was one of the moments he would treasure until the day he died….
(…our thoughts…)
It was small comfort as Worf stood there in the caves beneath Romulus, but at least Jean-Luc Picard was there by his side—his lone support when he was discommendated from the Klingon Empire.
* * *
It was small comfort as Spock stood there in the Great Hall on Qo’noS, but at least Jean-Luc Picard had been able to mind-meld with Spock—his last connection to his now-dead father, Sarek.
(…are becoming…)
Worf had thought that studying Kolinahr on Vulcan would be the answer to what had ailed him since the Enterprise-D was destroyed on Veridian III. But then came the siren call of V’Ger, and he knew he had to go back.
Spock had thought that studying under the clerics at Boreth would be the answer to what had ailed him since he resigned from Starfleet at the end of the Enterprise ’s five-year mission. But then came the orders to report to Deep Space 9, and he knew he had to go back.
(…one.)
The news that Jim Kirk had been lost on the Enterprise-B to some kind of energy ribbon had saddened Worf more than he thought it would. At least Kirk had sacrificed himself to save the people of Bajor….
The news that Benjamin Sisko had been lost in the fire caves on Bajor had saddened Spock more than he thought it would. At least Sisko had sacrificed himself to save the el-Aurian refugees they’d rescued….
“It is done.”
B’Oraq stared at Worf and Spock. They’d only been “connected” for a minute or so, though it had felt like hours. “Are you both all right?” she asked.
Spock nodded. “I am well. I cannot feel Malkus’s influence.”
“Good,” B’Oraq said.
Worf also nodded. “We shall have to hope that we will be able to continue our resistance.”
“Great,” McKenna said, stepping forward, “let’s go, then.”
“No,” Spock said, putting a hand on McKenna’s shoulder, “you must stay here. As soon as you leave this shuttle, you will once again be attacked by Malkus’s psionic blast.”
“The ambassador is correct,” Worf said. “Logically, the best course of action would be for you to remain here.”
“Agreed,” Spock said.
It took all of B’Oraq’s willpower to keep from laughing. Worf was now standing in a much more relaxed posture than usual, with his arms resting in front of him in a serene manner. In other words, the body language of a Vulcan. Spock, on the other hand, was like a coiled spring. He no longer had the haggard look he had come in with, and he seemed ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
Spock turned to Worf. “I don’t suppose you have any weapons?”
“No,” Worf said. “We were forced to cannibalize all of our weapons in order to overload the forcefield earlier.”
“A wasted effort,” Spock said with disdain. “Our tactical position is much weaker.”
“It was our best course of action at the time,” Worf said calmly. “What kind of resistance can we expect?”
“Most of the planet’s population has been mentally enslaved by Malkus. He could, in theory, turn them all against us.”
One of Worf’s eyebrows rose. “Then we shall have to use guile.”
“So it would seem,” Spock said.
“Indeed.” Worf turned to McKenna. “Ensign, remain vigilant. I will take Davok’s communicator and use it to contact you should we feel that it is safe.” McKenna was the only one of the two Starfleet officers who still had a combadge, since Falce’s was used for the device.
Impatiently, Spock said, “Let us go.”
“Qapla’,” B’Oraq said.
“Good luck,” Falce added.
Again, Worf raised an eyebrow. “I do not believe in random chance.”
This time, B’Oraq couldn’t hold in her laugh.
“I did tell you, did I not?” Rodek said to Toq. “B’Elath sang that wretched song yesterday, and today we go into battle.”
Toq looked up at Rodek. It took him a moment to focus on the gunner’s presence, much less what he had said. He had been completely focused on the energy readings that he’d been studying for so many hours now. Stealing a glance at the chronometer on his console, he saw that it was time for the morning duty shift, which meant Rodek was reporting back to the gunner’s position. In theory, Toq would have been doing so now as well, had he ever actually departed the bridge since returning here after last night’s dinner.
“Oh, yes, of course,” he said distractedly. “B’Elath.”
“You’ve been on duty all night?” Rodek asked. The question was asked matter-of-factly.
“Yes. I still have not learned what these strange emissions are.”
Rodek took up his position to Toq’s right at the gunner’s station. Toq was back at his operations console, since the ship was on a
lert status as they headed to Narendra.
“Take heart, Toq,” Rodek said as he checked over his own console. “The famous android of the Enterprise has not figured it out, either. In fact, there is still the chance that you may find it first. That is a victory worth celebrating.”
Toq laughed bitterly. “At this point, I would be just as happy if he did find it—just so it would be found.”
“Interrogations are always easier when you know that the subject will talk eventually.”
“Good point,” Toq muttered. “The universe is usually much more reluctant to talk than your average prisoner.”
Tereth walked by just then. Toq had been worried that she might reprimand them, but she said, “The universe is not our prisoner.”
Rodek regarded her. “Are you saying that we are prisoners of the universe, Commander?”
“We are Klingons,” she said quickly and with a menacing undertone, “we are no one’s prisoner. We bend the universe to our will—which is why we will always be victorious. We do not succumb.”
Toq entered a new scan into his console. “I wish the universe was our prisoner right now.” He laughed. “In the old days, we could use the mind-sifter on—” He cut himself off. “toH!”
“What is it?” Tereth asked.
“Computer!” he bellowed, not answering the first officer directly. “Call up complete specifications for a mind-sifter.”
A security override flashed in front of him. Viewing such files required a clearance he didn’t have.
“Why do you want to know about mind-sifters, Lieutenant?” Tereth asked in her most serious tone. “They were banned by the Khitomer Accords.”
“Yes, but if I’m right, those readings are similar to the emissions given off by a mind-sifter.”
Rodek gave him a look. “Mind-sifters don’t give off emissions.”
The Brave and the Bold Book Two Page 20
