by Dave Stern
She kept hammering. There was no response.
“Hey! I’m trapped in here. I need help!” She hit the door again, and again and again, and then—
“It doesn’t matter.”
The voice came from behind her.
“Theera?” she asked, turning and squinting into the nearly absolute darkness. She could just barely make out a shape, at the edge of the Andorian’s bunk.
“Yes.”
“What—why didn’t you say anything before? Let me know you were still here?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Theera said again. “They’re coming.”
“They.”
“The Antianna.”
“Theera.” Hoshi started walking slowly toward her. “For one thing, we don’t even know who’s out there. It might not be the Antianna. It might be—”
“It’s them. You know it is.”
“Probably,” Hoshi admitted. “But even so—you don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody does. The Armada…”
“I know.”
“There’s no way to be certain.”
“I know,” she said. “They’re coming for us, and once they’re here, they’re going to…”
The lights, all at once, came up.
Hoshi blinked.
Theera sat directly in front of her, on the edge of her bunk, hands knotted together in her lap. She stared up in surprise.
“Secure from alert status,” a voice sounded over the com. “Repair crews to ancillary power deck. Repair crews report to ancillary power deck. Other personnel, stand by for further instructions.”
Hoshi let out a sigh of relief.
“Secure from alert status—sounds like we’re going to be okay.”
Theera said nothing for a moment, and then, “No we’re not. They’ll be back. Sooner or later, they’ll be back and then—”
“Theera—”
“I can’t do this,” she said suddenly, and stood up. “I can’t.”
She walked to the terminal and stood over it, her back to Hoshi.
“Why don’t they just send me back to Andoria,” she said. “I’m not helping here. Not at all.”
For a second, Hoshi didn’t know how to respond to that. It was the truth, and yet…
The Andorian is not going home anytime soon—not based on her conversation with Elder Green, Hoshi thought.
And then, she knew what she had to say.
“It happened to me once too.” Hoshi was surprised to hear how calm her voice sounded. “A few months ago. I was captured, and taken aboard a ship belonging to this race called the Xindi.” She told Theera the details; still, the Andorian said nothing.
“They hurt you, didn’t they?” Hoshi said. “That’s where the scar is from.”
Theera nodded.
“What did they do?”
“Does it matter?”
“Not really, I suppose. What does matter is what you saw aboard that ship. What you remember about the Antianna—their language, their technology, what they looked like…”
“If I had anything relevant to say, I would have said it long ago. You can rest assured of that,” Thera said.
“You must remember something.”
The Andorian shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing except the pain.”
Trauma, Hoshi thought and was reminded of what she’d gone through, everything that she had forgotten.
And then, all at once, it hit her.
The blank look in Theera’s eyes when she’d asked her which of the fifty-seven pulses she’d been working with, when she’d talked to her about the ice caves on Andoria, or her work on the Universal Translator Project.
The lack of emotion in her voice when she’d talked about her husband.
She hadn’t been lying, or trying to hide the truth.
“You don’t remember anything, do you?” Hoshi said. “About the signal, or Jakon, or anything. That’s it, isn’t it?”
Theera glanced at her quickly, and just as quickly, looked away. Not, however, before Hoshi saw the truth in her eyes.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” the Andorian said, and reached for the companel above her bunk, clearly intending to activate the privacy screen.
Hoshi grabbed her wrist.
“Leave me alone,” Theera said.
“I want to know the truth,” Hoshi said.
“Leave me—alone!”
Theera swung her arm backwards and up, slamming it into Hoshi, who suddenly went flying halfway across the room.
She landed on the floor hard, so hard that if she hadn’t been trained—if she hadn’t known the right way to fall, how to dissipate the momentum from that throw—she would have been hurt. Badly.
“I’m sorry,” Theera said. And then, before Hoshi could get out another word, she activated the privacy curtain once more, and disappeared from view.
The Andorian’s actions, the look in her eyes—they had answered Hoshi’s question just as clearly as words would have.
Amnesia, Hoshi thought as she left the room. That explained a lot of things—not all, but a lot. It didn’t explain why the Andorian hadn’t just come out and confessed to one and all her inability to recall what had happened to her. At a guess, Hoshi supposed that might have something to do with Ambassador Quirsh, and his obvious pride at her achievement. Perhaps Jakon had felt the same thing. Perhaps Theera had as well. Perhaps she’d simply been overwhelmed by the rush of events, and before she could admit the truth, she’d already been in so deep there was no backing out.
Really, there was only one person who knew the answer to that question, and she still wasn’t telling the whole story. She had, however, told enough of it that Hoshi felt compelled to seek out Elder Green. Let the Kanthropian know that there really wasn’t much point in hoping for any further information from Theera, because they weren’t going to get any.
Getting to Green, however, proved a little more difficult than Hoshi had expected.
Outside the elder’s office, she found two Conani warriors flanking the doorway. They wouldn’t let her in. They wouldn’t even announce her presence.
She stood in the hall, waiting, for several long minutes, as a series of other personnel—mediators, Conani warriors, the H’ratoi ambassador—came and went. Something, obviously, was going on in Green’s office, something that no doubt had to do with the battle that had just occurred. That situation, understandably, took priority over her news, but even so…
She didn’t like waiting around.
She was, at least, able to learn something about the attack on S-12. A single Armada ship had inadvertently crossed over into Antianna space—a problem with their navigation system. The ship had immediately come under fire. Jaedez had ordered the fleet forward, in an attempt to rescue it. A failed attempt. The ship was destroyed. The Antianna continued firing on the entire fleet, until all the Armada vessels were back in Thelasian space.
Younger Emmen came rushing down the hallway. He almost walked right past her, till Hoshi put a hand on his arm and drew his attention.
“Ensign Sato,” Emmen said, frowning. “Why are you here?”
“There’s something I need to discuss with Elder Green.”
“This is not a good time. Now, please—if you would step aside…”
Reluctantly, Hoshi allowed him to pass.
He emerged barely a minute later, frowning.
“This way. Please,” he said to Hoshi, and waved her inside Green’s office.
Inside, she found not the conference she had been expecting, but just two people. Green herself, and General Jaedez. The viewscreen on the far wall showed a tactical display similar to the one Hoshi had seen earlier in the analysis chamber. Positions of the Armada fleet, positions of the Antianna ships.
The two turned as one at Hoshi’s entrance.
“Ensign. Your arrival is fortuitous,” Green said. “We were about to send for you.”
Hoshi frowned. “Oh?”
“I believe you know General Jaedez,” Gr
een said.
“We’ve met.”
“Indeed. On Procyron, I believe.” Jaedez inclined his head, a look of amusement in his eyes. Or maybe Hoshi was just imagining that.
She had, for a second, the uncomfortable feeling he was going to say something about the dress.
“Elder Green has told me of your assignation,” the general continued. “Your task to speak with the Andorian. Have you completed it?”
Fortuitous timing indeed, Hoshi thought, and shared with both the general and the Kanthropian what she had come to say.
“So it’s not a question of pulling information out of Theera,” Hoshi said, finishing up. “She really doesn’t remember any of what happened to her.”
Green and Jaedez exchanged glances.
“I’m sorry,” Hoshi said. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear.”
“This does explain the database usage,” Green said.
Hoshi frowned. “Sorry?”
“Earlier—we were reviewing how the Andorian has been using her time within the analysis chamber. We were puzzled as to why she spent so much of it on material that she should have been very familiar with. Records relating to her own translation work. The planet Andoria. Her service record.”
“She’s trying to jog her memory,” Hoshi said.
“Indeed.”
“Perhaps we can be of assistance,” Jaedez said.
Green frowned.
“General. I thought we had discussed this. I am unequivocally opposed to the use of that device. In the first place, we have no record of it ever being used successfully on an Andorian. In the second, the potential for serious injury—”
“I understand your concerns, but in my opinion, we have no choice,” Jaedez interrupted. “We cannot confront the Antianna again without obtaining some sort of tactical advantage. If there is information in the Andorian’s unconscious that may help us do that…” Jaedez shrugged. “We must obtain that information. No matter the cost.”
Hoshi didn’t like the sound of that.
“Could someone please fill me in on what you’re talking about?”
The general turned to her.
“There is a device,” he began, “which Governor Sen bequeathed to us. A souvenir of his victory at Coreida.”
“A device,” Hoshi said.
Jaedez nodded. “It is called a mind-sifter.”
Hoshi didn’t like the sound of that either.
“And what does this mind-sifter do?”
Jaedez ignored her, and gestured to one of his soldiers.
“Fetch the Andorian, please, and bring her to the flagship. We will rendezvous there.”
The man saluted, and left the room.
“General,” Elder Green said, “I really must protest…”
“Mediator.” Jaedez towered over the diminuitive Kanthropian. “We are at war. Sacrifices must be made.”
“Somebody please,” Hoshi said. “Tell me what the mind-sifter does.”
“The device utilizes focused electromagnetic fields to facilitate memory retrieval,” Green said. “Unfortunately, the process is often quite painful.”
Hoshi shook her head. “Well…wait a minute. It seems a little premature to talk about using something like that on Theera—especially when we don’t even know whether or not she has any information that could be useful to—”
“Premature?” Jaedez, for the first time since Hoshi had seen him, looked angry. “We are at war, Ensign Sato. I would say if anything, it is past time we utilize the sifter.”
“There has to another way to get what you need,” she said.
The general shook his head.
“We do not have time,” he said, “to run a series of scientific experiments.”
“Which is just what this sounds like to me—an experiment. You’re treating Theera like a lab animal, or something.”
The look on Jaedez’s face didn’t change.
“The Andorian will be made as comfortable as possible, I assure you. In fact, if you so desire, you may accompany us to the flagship. And see for yourself.” Jaedez turned from her then, and bowed to Elder Green. “Mediator, I appreciate your counsel, and your time. I will keep you apprised of further developments.”
The general swept out of the room then, the other Conani guard trailing in his wake.
Shooting Elder Green a concerned glance, Hoshi hurried after them.
Twenty-Two
On the viewscreen, in the center of Enterprise’s bridge, Admiral McCormick tapped his fingers against the surface of his desk, and frowned.
Trip was in the captain’s chair, having taken over the conn a few minutes earlier from Lieutenant O’Neill. Most of the A-shift personnel—Travis included—were now on duty as well, having been roused from sleep, most of them, to hear the news. No one looked tired, though. Not in the least. There was an air of excitement on the bridge. Anticipation, that not even the scowl on Admiral McCormick’s face could dampen.
“Say that again please, Commander. You are where now?”
“En route to Procyron, sir,” Trip replied.
“En route to Procyron. So—you’ve turned the ship around?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Commander.” McCormick closed his eyes, and pinched his brow. “I have to say, I’m more than a little upset to hear that.”
“I understand that, sir,” Trip said quickly. “But given what we’ve discovered now…”
“Yes,” McCormick said. “Captain Archer is alive. You said that. I remember you saying that.”
The admiral spoke very, very quietly. The expression on his face was one of utter and complete calm. In his eyes, though…
Well, if watching O’Neill had reminded Travis of a long-dormant volcano, about to explode…
He supposed he was looking at a G-type star right now, on the verge of going supernova.
“And—do you have any suggestions about what I should tell the Tellarites? Or the other attendees at the peace conference?”
“Sir, you can tell them we’ll be there,” Trip said earnestly. “As soon as we find Captain Archer.”
“You’ll be there.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be there.”
McCormick nodded. “Tell me something. Malcolm Reed is your security officer, yes?”
“Yes, sir,” Trip said.
Travis exchanged a frown with Ensign Carstairs, across from him. Why was McCormick asking about security?
“And where is Lieutenant Reed?” the admiral asked.
“Not certain, sir.”
“You’re not certain.”
“No, sir. I believe he’s in the armory.”
Travis nodded. That’s where he thought Reed was too; after the two of them had gone to engineering, grabbed up Trip, and told him what they’d just realized, and why, Malcolm had left them to spread the happy news, and disappeared—gone to “check on something,” as he’d put it. Probably something like ship traffic in and out of the Procyron system, looking for clues as to how the governor had managed to sneak Captain Archer out of the Thelasian capital. How he was planning to sneak Archer into Klingon territory.
“All right. Reed’s not there,” McCormick said. “Who is his second?”
“Chief Lee here, sir,” Trip said, pointing behind him, to Malcolm’s usual spot on the bridge, where Lee now stood. “Admiral, I may be a little out of my field of expertise in suggesting this, but I think some sort of formal protest to the Empire’s representatives regarding Captain Archer just might—”
“Chief Lee,” McCormick said, a sudden snap to his voice.
“Yes, sir.” Lee stepped forward and stood at attention.
The admiral pointed right at Trip. “Take that man into custody. Place him in the brig. Right now.”
The bridge fell silent.
“Commander T’Pol.”
She stepped forward. “Yes, Admiral.”
“I’m placing you in command of Enterprise. I want you to turn the ship around, again, and make
your best speed to Barcana Six, where the Tellarite vice-ambassador is waiting. You will contact the ambassador, and provide him with a revised ETA for your ship. Is that understood—Captain?”
T’Pol nodded. “I understand, sir.”
“Good.” McCormick nodded.
Chief Lee looked to T’Pol. T’Pol glanced at Trip. Trip rose from his chair.
“However,” T’Pol said. “I must respectfully decline the appointment, sir. For one thing, Enterprise already has a captain, and he is, at this moment, in considerable jeopardy, I suspect. As Commander Tucker has suggested—”
McCormick exploded.
Travis hadn’t heard so much cursing since—
Since—
Well, he’d never heard so much cursing.
Halfway through McCormick’s outburst, the lift doors opened, and Malcolm stepped out onto the bridge.
The admiral glared at him.
“Sir,” Reed said, stopping in his tracks, snapping to attention.
“Lieutenant Reed.” McCormick said the name with more than a trace of relief in his voice; the two men, obviously, knew each other. “What is going on out there?”
“Sir?” Reed looked puzzled.
“There is a mutiny aboard your ship, Lieutenant. As security officer, I would expect you to be aware of something like this.”
“Mutiny?”
“The admiral’s ordered us to continue on to Barcana Six,” Trip supplied.
“Ah.” Reed nodded. “Sir,” he said to McCormick, “I believe you may have been misinformed regarding the true nature of events taking place here.”
McCormick frowned. Trip frowned. Travis looked around the bridge, and saw, in fact, that most people were frowning.
“I don’t understand,” the admiral said.
“Please, allow me to explain.” Reed went to his station. Chief Lee stepped aside, and let him access the terminal.
“I assume Commander Tucker has told you of our conclusions regarding Governor Sen and the captain. The Klingons.”
“You assume correctly,” McCormick replied.
“Well,” Reed said, keying in a series of commands to his console. “It was immediately obvious to me that the governor’s plan had to have been in place for some time before Enterprise’s arrival on Procyron. To arrange a deception of that magnitude—”
