Before Deanna could take control of the situation, she lost control of herself entirely. Maybe it was an unintentional shifting of Luc’s foot or the movement of his heel, but the technology that tapped into Deanna’s neural suppressor suddenly powered up at the worst time. Once again, she felt the onslaught of mixed emotions, none more powerful than the rage Luc felt toward the Klingon women. It was now mixing with her own.
The murderous intent took over Deanna’s body, and she flew across the salon, attacking the source of her pain. Deanna tore at Luc’s clothes, pummeling him, fueled by his own rage. He raised his arms to defend himself but refused to fight back. The Klingon guards snapped to attention, watching the bizarre scene. Lwaxana was screaming at her daughter to calm herself.
In the melee, Luc’s pocket ripped away, and a small round device rolled out onto the floor. Seeing things more clearly than she had before, Deanna lunged for the device, scooping it into her hands.
She stood and faced the women who had killed her sister. Her father. No. Not her father. He was not dead. Just her sister. The sister who raised her when her mother failed to. The sister who came back to her. Who found her a new father to protect her. To use her.
The Klingon women stood across the room in a state of shock and confusion. Their guards’ pistols were raised. Her mother was trying to calm them.
Her mother. Who had abandoned her own child. Suppressed Deanna.
Before she realized what she was doing, Deanna pressed a button on the round device and flung it at the trio of women. The guards fired on Deanna, but Luc threw her to the ground a split second before the shots hit their target.
A split second before the explosion struck.
Deanna took what she assumed was to be the last look at her home planet from the emergency escape shuttle she shared with Luc Picard. It was the first time she’d ever seen Betazed from space. Oddly, it looked smaller than she’d always imagined it. Her entire life had been contained in the Sacred Chalice, which led her to dream that the world outside its walls was so much larger than it actually was.
The universe, however, was a different matter. As they headed off to meet with Luc’s contacts, Deanna wondered what her future held. The Klingons would see to it that the path her mother had laid out for her since birth was no longer possible.
The explosion had killed her mother instantly. Deanna hadn’t even had a farewell moment with Lwaxana. The woman’s motivations remained a mystery to Deanna, who apparently had a chip in her brain as her legacy.
Luc had apologized repeatedly, to the point that it was becoming rote. He claimed that he hadn’t meant to press down on the heel of his shoe and activate the device when he learned of his crew’s death. His body had simply reacted without heed of the consequences. She wasn’t so sure that she believed him. Her breakdown would have made for an aptly timed distraction. As it was, she had fulfilled his mission on her own, by killing the Duras sisters.
Deanna found it hard to forgive Luc, but she knew that she had to for her own good. He was her only connection to the universe at large. She needed him now that they’d abandoned the Chalice.
Lursa and B’Etor’s ship hung in orbit on the other side of Betazed. Knowing it could take out the Chalice in a single shot, Deanna was forced to follow Lwaxana’s emergency escape plan and have her people flee the planet in the ships hidden for just such an emergency. Once it was discovered that the Duras sisters were dead, there would be a price on the head of everyone associated with the Chalice.
Once again, the Betazoid race was going to be hunted for something over which they had no control. Deanna wanted nothing more than to pawn off this problem on Jean-Luc Picard and his friends, who had successfully destroyed her life and the lives of all of the people in the shuttles that were following hers. She couldn’t even mourn for her sister. Deanna was on her own for the first time in her life. At the same time, she held the lives of the last of the Betazoid race in her hands, just as Lwaxana had always promised she would.
The only saving grace came from the files Deanna had taken from her mother’s computer. It was all there, as Kestra said it would be, the secret thoughts of some of the most powerful minds in the Alliance. It was a commodity she would use to find her people a new sanctuary. And maybe her father as well.
As Deanna flew off into the unknown with Picard, she felt the despair of those people wash over her as they were being forced, once again, to abandon their home. It was an emotion that she feared was going to become familiar.
Bitter Fruit
Susan Wright
HISTORIAN’S NOTE: This tale is set in late 2371, several months after the events of The Mirror-Scaled Serpent from Star Trek Mirror Universe: Obsidian Alliances.
Susan Wright’s latest fantasy novels were published by Penguin/ Roc: To Serve and Submit (2007) and A Pound of Flesh (2008). Her forthcoming novels, urban fantasies set in New York City, are called Confessions of a Demon and Demon Revelation, with Confessions scheduled to be published in November 2009 by Penguin Group. Susan has written nine Star Trek novels: Dark Passions (Vols. 1 & 2), Gateways: One Small Step, Sins of Commission, The Best and the Brightest, The Badlands ( Vols. 1 & 2), The Tempest, and Violations. Susan has also written a number of nonfiction books on art and popular culture, as well as Slave Trade, her first science fiction trilogy, published by Pocket Books (2003–2005). The uncut version of Slave Trade book 1 is now available in free chapter downloads on Book View Café at www.bookviewcafe.com. Susan founded the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom in 1997, and currently serves as spokesperson. Her website and a link to her blog are at www.susanwright.info.
Kes perched on a rock, slippery from mist at the base of the waterfall. The droplets fell on her face and uplifted hands, filling her with hope. In the Alpha Quadrant, water was like space itself—there was more than enough for everyone. This waterfall was even more remarkable because it had been created along with the underground oasis by the Genesis Project nearly a hundred years ago as part of the far-reaching plan of a man long dead.
Despite her delight, Kes couldn’t stop tracing the contours of the rock wall that indicated where cracks might exist. It was silly, because the lift could take her from the Memory Omega base to the surface of Regula. But the Vulcans here said it was too dangerous to risk exposing herself while the Alliance might still be looking for her, and feeling confined had brought out old habits. Back home with the Ocampa, she had spent most of her time searching for a way out of their underground city. Eventually, she had discovered a gap in the security field and a crevice that led to the surface, where she had found love in the person of Neelix and horror at the hands of the Kazon-Olga, who had tortured her to reveal the secret entrance to the Ocampa’s home.
Those Kazons were the first men I murdered.
She shuddered at the memory. From behind her, a measured voice asked, “Are you cold, Kes? Perhaps you should sit in a different location.”
“Tuvok!” Kes scrambled down over the boulders to greet the first friend she had made in the Alpha Quadrant. “Your wife didn’t tell me you were coming. How’s Neelix?”
Tuvok, like the other Vulcans, didn’t smile. “Mr. Neelix is doing well. He now serves as a pilot for the Terran rebellion.”
“He must like that.” Kes gave Tuvok an impulsive hug, even though she’d learned that Vulcans didn’t like displays of affection, and uninvited physical contact even less. But since she couldn’t hug Neelix, he would have to put up with it.
Tuvok waited until she was done. “Kes, would you like to help, too? It would mean leaving Memory Omega for a short while.”
“Yes!” Tuvok raised one brow in question, and she added, “Everyone here has been good to me, Tuvok. I’m learning very fast—T’Pel told you, didn’t she? But I’ve never liked being shut up in one place.”
Tuvok held out a padd. “You should see this before you agree. It will not be an easy assignment.”
Kes activated the stored message on the padd. The face of a
Cardassian woman she had never seen before appeared on the small screen. Bright body paint was smeared across her lips and cheeks, with delicate chains draping over her head. At first, Kes thought she was pretty, but the woman twisted her lips in a disdainful way that destroyed the pleasing effect.
“We have a problem. My target just told me that he’s perfected his gene-resequencing technique. He’s been trying to seduce me, and he thought I would be impressed by his success.” The Cardassian smirked. “He claims to have augmented a half-Klingon test subject—and now she can read minds. It’s got to be B’Elanna! My target is irate, because he wants to present the findings to the Alliance, but for some reason, she’s stalling. The best we could do is tail them when they leave. Request instruction. Seska out.”
Kes handed back the device. “Is it really B’Elanna?”
“We believe so, but Harry has been unable to obtain visual confirmation. Seska’s target is Crell Moset, a Cardassian scientist who was one of the project managers on Monor Base, the place you were being held when we rescued you. The Alliance listed him as ‘suspected dead’ along with B’Elanna after the base was destroyed.”
Kes suppressed a shudder. B’Elanna had ordered another one of her scientists, Dr. Louis Zimmerman, to experiment on Kes soon after she and Neelix had arrived in the Alpha Quadrant. This time, her torturers sought to unlock the secret of her telepathic talent, instead of the secret entrance to the Ocampa’s home.
“Since it appears that B’Elanna may now be able to read minds,” Tuvok continued, “I called off Harry’s planned attempt to infiltrate their safe house. They are in the underground city of Archanis, living in the tunnel complex of a wealthy Ferengi businesswoman named Ishka. We have discovered at least one instance in which Ishka completed a business deal with B’Elanna’s mother, Miral.”
“So Ishka’s sheltering them. Does she know about the telepaths?” The Vulcans had explained how vital it was to protect their underground network of telepaths until the time was right to overthrow the Alliance. Their long-term predictions of how events would play out had been correct until now, so Kes was inclined to believe them.
“Perhaps,” said Tuvok. “It is not enough to stop B’Elanna and Crell Moset if Ishka has gained access to their research. We also need to recover the tissue samples they took from you.”
Kes rubbed her hands over her damp arms, chilled to her core. Since gaining her telepathic abilities, she had been nothing but a danger to others. Her mind was so powerful that she could destroy people with a thought. As panic rose within, she took slow, deep breaths as the Vulcans had taught her.
She got herself under control and met his steady gaze. “Do you want me to kill them?”
“I deeply regret asking you this, Kes. If there is any other option, I intend to take it. But as a last resort, where ordinary weapons cannot reach, your powerful mind may penetrate.”
“I’ve been learning how not to kill people with my mind.”
“I understand.” His compassionate eyes said he knew the struggles she had been through. For someone so unemotional, he had a distinctly sympathetic way about him.
“You have to keep the Alliance from creating telepathic operatives,” Kes agreed. She owed him; Tuvok had saved her life, first by rescuing her from Monor Base and then by bringing her here so she could learn how to control her formidable abilities. “I’ll do what it takes. You’ll be with me, won’t you?”
“Yes. We shall leave immediately.”
Kes felt a twinge of empathy for T’Pel, Tuvok’s wife. For decades, she had seen him only a few times a year. These Vulcans sacrificed everything for their cause. It made Kes feel selfish about pining for Neelix, but at least T’Pel knew Tuvok was alive. Neelix thought Kes had been transformed into pure energy—that’s what Tuvok had told him during their escape from Monor Base.
Kes stopped short on the trail back to the quarters. “I can tell Neelix now! If it’s safe for me to go outside, then the Alliance isn’t looking for me.”
Tuvok hesitated. “Mr. Neelix’s ability to maintain your cover is uncertain.”
“He can do it, I’m sure of it. Especially since he knows it would mean life or death for me.”
“It means life or death for all of us,” Tuvok corrected.
Kes stared at him. “You said Neelix could be told when the time was right. I think we’ve waited long enough.”
Tuvok urged her forward. “You are cold and wet, Kes. We will discuss this on the ship. There are many aspects to consider.”
Kes dug in her heels. She was still that obstinate girl who had defied her elders’ warnings about seeking a way to the surface of Ocampa. She wouldn’t deny her love for Neelix. When the Kazon-Olga nearly killed her, he had returned to rescue her in spite of the danger. He had persuaded the rebellion to save her from B’Elanna’s scientists on Monor Base. It was no ordinary love they shared. She would be true to Neelix—she had found her partner, the man for her. And he had proven himself; she would never doubt his love.
“I’m not going anywhere until you agree that I can see Neelix.”
Tuvok’s brow rose. “Is it that important to you? You would risk allowing B’Elanna to become more of a threat rather than give up Mr. Neelix?”
“Yes.” If Tuvok was going to ask her to violate her most cherished beliefs about the sanctity of life, then she was going to hold Neelix close to her heart again.
“Agreed, then,” Tuvok said. “Mr. Neelix can visit you here. Since I doubt he will be able to keep the secret unless you convince him, he will be summoned, and you can tell him yourself that you are alive.”
Relief flowed through her. “You’ll see, Tuvok, everything will work out fine.”
Kes flicked her fingers nervously through her dyed black hair. She had straightened it on the journey to Archanis and wasn’t used to the bangs hanging against her forehead, but the layers concealed her distinctive Ocampa ears. Tuvok had added dark spots on her face and down her neck so she looked like a Trill. Tuvok was posing as her Vulcan slave, though she wasn’t doing a very good job of ordering him around.
It was also her task to negotiate with the elderly owner of the Archanis complex for access to the tunnels closest to Ishka’s home, where B’Elanna was assumed to be hiding. “We would greatly appreciate it if you agreed,” she finished, after she had outlined their offer.
They were seated in the reception tunnel of the Archani’s ornate complex. The tunnel walls arched into the ceiling and were polished to a satiny texture that revealed the red and orange layers in the rock, swirling and rippling like frozen water. The floors were springy and absorbed sounds well. Passing through the many levels of tunnels in the city, Kes had been forced to pull her cap over her ears to muffle the echoing noises. But here it was serene, with chimes playing in the background and sweet scents in the air. Graceful violet fish with lacy fins circled in a pillar of cloudy gas in the center of the reception room. With the brightly embroidered cushions and glowing glass ornaments, it was luxury like she’d never seen before.
No, Kes, you must insist, Tuvok urged silently. Make him agree to let us stay. I know you can do it.
She had practiced on a few people at Memory Omega, but this was real. She mentally pressed her desire on the Archani as she had been taught.
“We shall only stay a short time,” Kes repeated more firmly as she compelled the old man to agree. “The two rooms in that tunnel will be for our exclusive use. In exchange, you’ll accept our latinum and won’t say a word to anyone. You’ll also order your servant not to speak to anyone about us.”
The Archani’s reluctance evaporated. “Agreed,” he said pleasantly. “My servant will escort you there now.”
Tuvok nodded slightly as he spoke directly to her mind. Well done, Kes.
It was easier than she expected. Her pangs of guilt were reassuring; she refused to be complacent about manipulating people. She was doing this for the good of people who were trying to overthrow an oppressive regime, not for he
r own gain.
Kes did everything Tuvok silently directed as they took possession of two rooms in the tunnel adjacent to Ishka’s complex. They were finely decorated, though not nearly as grand as the reception room. Despite the flowery incense, she could detect a faint, dank odor that was all too familiar.
“Stuck in another cave.” Kes sighed. “I was looking forward to being above ground so I could see the sun again.”
“Rock is a formidable protection. Let us see if you can penetrate it.”
Kes sat down on a hassock and prepared herself. If she couldn’t reach through the rock, their options were going to be limited. Everyone was relying on her.
“Relax,” Tuvok told her. “You can do this.”
She smiled up at him. Other than Neelix, nobody had ever had such faith in her. It helped calm her excitement caused by their journey to Archanis in his ship. The rhythm of her heart slowed as she relaxed. Nodding to Tuvok, she closed her eyes and reached out…
Inside the rock, the only sounds were the distant tremors of the planet vibrating in basso echoes; it was like being in the womb. She had spent her life underground, and nothing was more familiar. Where there was rock, there were cracks and chinks from the movement of the earth. Tendrils of her mind found passage through those cracks, until suddenly she was questing in a vast open space. There were people nearby, their thoughts like birdsong, with too many notes to distinguish between them.
Kes gasped, as if straining to hear through a heavy door. She forced her fingers to unclench. One had to work with the flow of the mind, not fight it, in order to gain access. Soon snatches of coherent thought began to reverberate inside her head.
…to get that replicator back online before…
…she’ll love it. Maybe she’ll be so happy she’ll…
…no, no, no, NO, NO!
Star Trek®: Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows Page 22
