Chapter 7
I stood from the seat behind my desk in school and stretched wearily, despite all the technology available, preparing lessons was still an intellectual challenge and time consuming. Once that was done though, the actual time spent on preparing a presentation was over in a jiffy. Say what you will, but having a voice interface and a 'smart' computer in the style of Star Trek was a blessing, it was way beyond having Powerpoint, and with the addition of interactive holograms – man, I wish I had classes like my own students were having. It seemed like the blackboard and chalk was back in the Stone Age, in comparison.
At that point my com implant chimed into my ear canal, (I was the only one that could hear it, a rather obvious tactical security measure). A purposeful twitch of my ear opened the channel.
"Keiran here."
"Mr Swan," Sisko said, "I thought you'd like to know that Kai Opaka has arrived on DS9."
My heart rate sped up – Opaka coming to the wormhole and going to the Gamma Quadrant – it was a highly significant event, a near lynchpin one.
"Where is she now?"
"Visiting the temple on the Promenade."
"Thank you for telling me. I'll be right there. Keiran out."
I saved my work and locked up the school, moving to circle the Promenade to where the bajoran temple was. I was also occasionally greeted by a parent of my students in passing. DS9 was big, but the amount of families living on it was small enough that I could put a name and face to each. I had also made a few friends in the process with the bajoran parents of my students.
I saw Sisko and Bashir standing outside the temple entrance and joined them. "Hey, did she say why she was here?"
"No," Sisko sighed. "Not in so many words, just taking me up on my offer of a tour of the station."
I shook my head; it was just a convenient excuse of course. Opaka and Kira emerged from the temple at this point. I bowed my head.
"Eminence."
"Administrator Swan," Opaka smiled. "I'm glad to see you again."
"So am I, Eminence."
"Please join me."
She led the way to the upper Prominade, stopping at a viewport that had the most perfect view of the wormhole when it was active. Her face looked serene as ever, but there was something in her eyes that told me all I needed to know.
I walked forward and stood respectfully at her side, "Why are you here, Eminence?"
"Contemplating prophecy."
"Prophecy is very hard to make sense of; they aren't understood usually until after the fact."
"It sounds as though you have experience in this."
"Not personally, but there is enough literature and our own examples of ancient prophecy on Earth. Cassandra, doomed to predict events and have no one believe her. The Oracles at Delphi. Things usually end very badly for all those involved."
Opaka nodded, "It's unfortunate that the Celestial Temple can only be viewed when a ship is passing through."
"It's a spectacular sight," Sisko agreed, "there are no ships due today."
Opaka turned to him with a serenely knowing smile, "A shame."
Sisko got the hint and tapped his combadge. "Sisko to O'Brien."
"Go ahead Commander.'"
"Prepare the Yangtzee Kiang for launch, Chief. Kira and I are taking the Kai through the wormhole."
"Right away, sir."
"Thank you," Opaka nodded.
"I don't want to keep you from your duties, Doctor."
"It's a slow day," Bashir agreed.
I cleared my throat meaningfully, "You are not taking the spiritual leader of bajor to the other side of the galaxy without me, Commander. She needs more than just Major Kira as a bodyguard."
"Oh and can you be a proper bodyguard?" Kira asked sarcastically.
"Sure, put your own body between your principal and any danger, preferably shooting the danger before it can hurt you."
"Enough, we are wasting time," Sisko ordered, "There should be no danger, Mr Swan, you can come."
"Thank you."
I had my 'emergency' duffle bag with me when I entered the airlock to the Yangtzee Kiang, and dressed in the most rugged clothing I had; jeans, combat boots, and a black reinforced long sleeve shirt with the words 'One at sufficient velocity,' printed on it.
"Is the ship ready, Chief?" Sisko asked.
"All prepped and ready for departure, Commander. Ma'am."
"And the new safety systems?" I inquired.
"All tested and ready, Administrator."
"After you," Sisko gestured for Opaka to precede him into the Runabout. Doctor Bashir and Kira entered next, but he stopped me. "What's in the bag?"
"It's my JIC bag, it stands for Just in Case. It has some of the new rifles Scotty is designing for the Bajoran militia and body armor, food rations, water purifier and so on."
Sisko chuckled. "A JIC bag. I'll have to remember that one."
I entered the Runabout and took a seat on the port side. Opaka was starboard opposite me, with Kira and Sisko at the controls. Bashir had to contend with the fold out seat at the transporter alcove.
The launch sequence was completed and soon the Yangtzee Kiang was accelerating across the few hundred kilometres that separated DS9 from the mouth of the wormhole.
Sisko turned around in his seat to address Opaka, "We'll be entering the wormhole in about a minute."
"Thank you again for indulging me," Opaka nodded.
"Not at all, Opaka," Kira said enthusiastically, "you honour us with your presence."
"Yangtzee Kiang to DS9. Estimated time of return, sixteen hundred hours."
"Logged in. We'll expect you then," replied Jadzia from Ops.
Kira as co-pilot tapped sequences into her console, "Flight stabilization at maximum."
"Here we go."
The wormhole blossomed into existence, swallowing up the tiny Runabout like we had just flew into the maw of a giant space creature. The interior was like a tunnel of swirling cyan blue gas and glowing energy fields. The runabout was being jostled somewhat, but it was no worse than being in a car on a bumpy road. The patterns I was seeing were eye-watering, amazing and beautiful all at the same time.
Thirty seconds of this passed and then we were suddenly amongst a completely different star field than what I was used to seeing.
Amazing. Stupendous. I had to pinch myself to check if I wasn't dreaming.
Bashir smiled, "Spectacular, isn't it?"
"More than I imagined," Opaka breathed in awe.
"There's Idran, the closest system. It's a trinary star."
"A doorway to the unknown," Opaka said enigmatically.
"The other side of the galaxy, to be precise," Sisko explained. "The Gamma Quadrant is seventy thousand light years from Bajor. It would take our fastest starship sixty seven years to get here."
"I'm glad I could get the chance to see it."
"You'll be seeing what this wormhole is worth to Bajor in a few years."
"If that is to by my fate, Commander."
Kira spoke up, "Should I reverse course?"
Opaka raised her eyebrows, "So soon?"
Sisko shrugged his shoulders', "There's not much else to show you yet."
"Prophecy can be vague, Commander. That's why we must test it."
I wanted to scream at the three way juggling act I was being forced to perform here. I didn't want to antagonize Opaka, I didn't want to stop these events entirely since who knew what ripple effects discovering the prison planet will have – desirable or undesirable, but there was one thing that I was determined to change, Opaka would not die on that hell world if I had anything to do and say about it. My heart rate was also rather high – knowing I was going to be in another crash, was doing nothing to help my stress and anxiety.
"I don't understand, Opaka."
She sighed folding her hands on her lap and leaned backward, "You may return."
"Take us back to the wormhole, Major," Sisko ordered.
"Coming about."
The computer began blaring an alert the instant the runabout had decelerated and reversed course.
"Sensors are picking up a narrow band subspace signal," Kira reported after shutting off the alert. "Odd, it's a long stream of statistical data followed by a request for a reply. I'm not reading any response."
"Launch a Class Two probe; we'll follow it up later," Sisko ordered.
Opaka almost looked disappointed, "You're not going to investigate?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Because of my presence?"
"There's no telling me what it may be," Kira objected.
"Please, Commander. I don't get out often."
"Opaka, you are Kai," I sighed. "There should be a squadron of Interceptors with us going forward. This is the unknown. Your safety..."
"Administrator, I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing, but the Prophets are guiding me on this path... if they contacted you and told you to do something, would you not do it?"
I wanted to scream at how she so successfully disarmed me.
Sisko seemed to somewhat relent at hearing that, "Can you get a fix on the source, Major?"
"Point three five light years, bearing two two nine mark four one."
"I guess we'd better take a look. Send a message buoy through the wormhole informing them of our situation."
It took three hours to reach the coordinates at Warp six. The view outside was slightly underwhelming when compared to the wormhole, warp speed wasn't 'stars' or space dust flashing past, but rather a twisted shifting mass of blue light, if I were to walk to the aft section of the runabout and look out backwards, I would see phase shifted red light. It was rather like Mass Effect FTL in that way. The novelty was gone quickly and rapidly became boring, so I contented myself with my studies from a PADD, all the while quietly fuming at the Prophets.
The runabout came out of warp and was soon approaching a small brown planet.
"This is definitely the origin of the signal, but it's not coming from the surface," Kira explained.
Sisko brought up a tactical diagram of the planet, "Theré it is. A network of artificial satellites, one of which is malfunctioning with an unstable orbit. I think the signals we picked up, is from a system trying to repair it."
"Commander, sensors indicate lifeforms localized in twelve square kilometres on the surface, they may be humanoid," Bashir reported.
"Can you verify that?"
"I can't resolve the biopatterns, there's too much interference."
"Take us in a little closer."
There was an alarm tone.
Kira's hands began tapping rapidly, "We're being scanned by one of the satellites. I don't like this. It's heading towards us!"
"Shields up!"
The ready lights in the Runabout began flashing red and five point crash harnesses emerged from the edges of our seats to smartly mould around us in the blink of an eye and secure themselves.
"Reading an energy build up in the satellite. It's massive... its firing!"
It felt like a giant had slapped the Runabout. My body was flung against the restraints but they held me secure.
"Shields are down! Forward thrusters are gone. We're losing power!"
The Runabout's lights began flickering. My eyes closed and fear seemed to wrap iron bands around my mind as secure as the restraints around my body.
"Attempting to compensate with secondary boosters."
"Impulse engines are failing."
"Ejecting anti-matter pod."
"We're going down! Check contingency fuel cell output."
"Holding at sixty five percent. Stabilizing attitude control response."
"Pitching up to twenty degrees." The Runabout began rocking and shuddering.
"Hull temperature at nine hundred C, nine fifty, eleven hundred!"
"We're holding entry profile."
"Twelve hundred C. Thirteen."
"Pitching up sixty degrees, preparing for final breaking manoeuvres."
"Brace for impact!"
There was an almighty crash, my breath exploded out of me and all my extremities was pulled forward... darkness fell.
"Keiran! Wake up! Mr Swan!"
I gasped and sat up instinctively. The crash harness had been retracted from me by Bashir who was standing over me in the tilted and damaged Runabout, which was lying on its starboard side. All that could be seen through the front windows was solid earth. The fore consoles were shattered and deformed. Pain shot through my body and a glance under my shirt showed bruise lines in the pattern of the harness. I became hyperaware, everything seemed too real and yet un-real. Bashir helped me to my feet and I barely remembered to grab my JIC bag as I went.
The heavy weight of the bag made me struggle with the climb, but I strained, persevered and climbed out onto the hull. The area around the crash site was rocky and the flat area of ground we had crashed into was amazingly small. That was some impressive piloting skill.
The Kai and Kira were seated a dozen meters away cataloguing supplies. I rushed over to them. "Eminence, are you all right?"
"Yes, Administrator, just a number of bruises from the crash harness. I'm told you are the one who thought of them."
"Yes, but thanks should really go to the Chief, he is the one who made it a reality." I dropped my bag and zipped it open. I pulled out the black body armor that Scotty and I had designed for the bajoran militia (a name I was campaigning hard to change to the Bajoran Defense Force and instituting a larger Marine type military organization), it was only the abdomen, chest and back pieces as I couldn't fit in the whole body suit. The armour itself was an ablative alloy that would be considered a 'superalloy' back in my own reality. It would stop a phaser or disruptor set on vaporize (you'd need medical attention in hurry though), but would resist more power conservative 'kill' shots handily for a few shots and essentially made you functionally immune to stun shots if it wasn't aimed at your head.
Contrary to what was shown on Star Trek, it was not unique. Every major military force in the Alpha Quadrant had conformal bodysuit armour for its ground forces, Starfleet was no exception. Starfleet Security were the only ones who really used them though, as it was required that the wearer have to be physically fit to wear them. It was also a case of the body armor limiting your movements, you were not as agile with it, especially in the confines of a starship. Hence the reason why the armor wasn't as favoured as it should be. The oddest thing was the fact that no one had gone one step further to Powered Armour – which would negate a lot of the mobility impediments. Heck, there was no practical reason why I couldn't build an 'Iron Man' suit.
I shook off those happy thoughts and pulled out a rifle that I designed from memory and the Federation archives, the ergonomics of the late 20th Century HK G36, mixed with the internals of a modern 24th Century Bajoran phaser and metallurgy, which could fire semi, 3 shot burst bolts or full beams.
"Are those...?" Kira asked curiously.
"Say hello to the E69 Phaser rifle and Defender body armor. The Militia is just short of banging on Scotty's door to get these adopted." I reached into the duffle bag and handed over the second E69 I had with me to her. She stood and hefted it into her shoulder as I explained the functions.
"It's heavy."
"Relatively yes, there is a good reason for that. This thing is extremely rugged, with extra cooling and the weapon can now be an effective blunt force club for close quarters combat, there is also attachment rails for adding an underslung close quarter weapon, like a plasma torch, cutting laser or conventional bayonet blade."
Kira looked suitably impressed, "Wish I had one of these during the Occupation."
"I can imagine."
"Company," Sisko hissed intently, his own hand phaser out.
Ï spotted the shadowy figures approaching from the rocks, and put myself between them and Opaka, going to a half-prone firing position and bringing my weapon to bear. Kira also had her rifle up in an instant.
An alien tongue shouted harshly down at us and the UT resolved the words after a few seconds, "You're surrounded. Drop your weapons."
I sighed, "Crap."
On the bright side I still had my body armor, and the aliens on this planet couldn't use the E69 – as it was biometrically encoded to only be usable by bajorans and humans. That would change in the future, if the Federation decided to adopt the weapon, then it would be hardcoded to the specific owner. Anyone unauthorized trying to fire it would get a nasty shock for their trouble as a first warning, trying again would set a sixty second self-destruct.
Thankfully, the aliens only handled our weapons and didn't try to fire them. Again, the aliens while humanoid were not part of the rubber forehead crowd, they had no noses, odd glowing puplish eyes, reverse jointed legs, and leathery beige skin. We were escorted into a cave and met there someone of obvious importance – given the elaborate body armor that he wore (it was hard to tell apart sex of these aliens), but battle and age had taken its toll. The alien himself had also seen better days, with scar tissue telling a grim story of war on his skin.
"Our first visitors," said the alien, "you're not all the same race."
"We're bajoran," Kira pointed to herself and Opaka.
"I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko, Major Kira Nerys, Kai Opaka, Administrator Swan, and Doctor Julian Bashir."
"A Doctor? How ironic," the alien shivered, "I'm Golin Shel-la, leader of the Ennis. Why are you here?"
"We were attacked by one of your satellites, our ship was damaged and we crashed," Sisko explained.
"Of course, Commander. But why did you come here?"
"We were exploring. We've recently discovered permanent wormhole linking our quadrant of the galaxy with yours. I command a space station on the mouth of that wormhole."
"You know nothing of our home planet. You know nothing of the punishment."
"We're just beginning to explore this sector. As I said, our home is on the other side of the galaxy."
"Well you're unlucky then, for you've stumbled into a war."
"Who are you fighting?"
"A brutal enemy that attacks at a whim, we maintain a constant vigil." Golin held up Sisko's phaser and my E69. "These are nadion energy weapons."
"Yes," Sisko confirmed.
"The Ennis stopped using nadion weapons centuries ago, not damaging enough. Your arrival complicates matters."
"We don't plan to be here long."
"Oh, you expect to repair your ship?"
"No, but a rescue team is undoubtedly already on their way."
"Like you, they'll have to deal with the defence net, and that is beyond my influence."
Sisko raised both eyebrows in astonishment, "You don't control the satellites?"
"We're all prisoners on this planet."
"Then this is a penal colony."
Golin waved off the subject, "My immediate concern regards your partisanship. By your presence here you'll be considered our allies. All your lives are in danger." He pointed to one side of the cave where a group of injured Ennis were lying on the ground, moaning in pain. "The latest victims of our enemy, the Nol-Ennis."
"Where are your doctors?"
"We have none."
"You have no medical personnel? How do you survive without it?"
"The homeworld authorities orbital drop supplies to us periodically. But resources are still scarce, since you're here, I was hoping we'd be of some help to each other."
Sisko visibly considered this for a moment before saying, "Doctor Bashir will give you any assistance he can, but understand, we can't take sides in your battle."
Golin trilled in an alien form of what was probably laughter, "It doesn't matter what I understand if the Nol capture you." He walked off but I followed him.
"Just a friendly warning, the rifles will be useless to you, they're keyed to only be usable by our kind."
Golin blinked his eyes at me and threw the E69 at an underling, who shouldered the weapon and pulled the trigger without missing a beat. The ennis jerked as a high voltage discharge shot through his body and he collapsed bonelessly to the floor, twitching and squealing in pain. I sighed and picked up the dropped weapon. The Ennis trained their weapons on me, but I kept the barrel firmly pointed down.
"Nice trick," Golin grunted.
My ears were promptly deafened by an explosion.
My memories of the next minute were flashes at best, as if I wasn't really in control. I had heard it called many names, 'hyperfunction,' 'in the zone.' Science would say the adrenaline release and extreme emotion brought if forward.
I was rolling into cover.
My rifle came to bear.
A pull of the trigger felling a target.
Blasts of angry white light seeking kill us, sent by aliens identical to the ennis.
Putting myself in cover near the Kai to protect her.
Ennis standing fearlessly in the open, trading shots with the enemy like they were in the ball and musket era.
Ennis getting hit, falling over dead with smoking chests.
I killed my third ennis.
Major Kira grabbed her E69 from Golin who was also lying dead on the ground, joining the fight.
I killed my fifth nol and just like that silence fell, the remaining nol retreating in disorder.
I fell to the floor and threw up. Even though my head was telling me that they would all soon be alive – it didn't help.
Kira helped me to my feet, her eyes knowing, understanding and not condemning.
"Idiot," I cursed myself, didn't I have a tricorder installed in me for just this reason. I activated my AR HUD program and could see the lifesigns of the retreating nol. I walked over to one of the dead nol and picked up the rifle they had used. It was very familiar... how the hell? This was a Jem'Hadar Polaron Auto Rifle! I engaged a full scan...
It wasn't long until the 'miracle' occurred, and the formerly deceased ennis and nol began waking up. The latter being allowed to run away the instant they woke up. I scanned the bodies as Doctor Bashir was doing his thing.
"The tricorder indicates a bio-mechanical presence at a cellular level."
"Nanotechnology?" Sisko asked.
"Yes. It seems to be directly controlling their metabolic processes. If the Runabout's computer were functional, I might be able to run a full analysis. The nanites have literally brought them back to life, this is huge."
Sisko turned to Golin, "You've died before?"
"Many times, too many to count," Golin said, his eyes dulled.
"Sir, I'd like to return to the Runabout and try to get the computer up and running."
"Doctor, we're in the middle in the war."
"Sir, this could be a breakthrough of unprecedented magnitude," Bashir persisted.
"It's too dangerous."
"I'll see to his protection," Golin offered.
Sisko sighed and nodded in agreement, and Bashir promptly left with two of the newly revived ennis.
"Your Doctor acts as though he's seen a miracle."
"He's not alone."
"If you lived with it, as we have, you'd see it as a curse."
"That makes sense," I said absently. "After all, who'd want to be immortal if you were stuck in this place."
"How long have you been here?" Sisko asked curiously.
"Stopped counting, it might as well be an eternity, it's all part of the punishment. Everything here is designed to prolong our punishment. The homeworld ships us new weapons along with the food, knowing they're just further fuelling our punishment. Some of us believe we're even entertainment, those satellites see everything on the surface..."
"What was your crime? What was so bad that you deserved this?"
"The Ennis and the Nol are ancient enemies. We were two powerful nations on the homeworld. For generation after generation we fought the same war. The other nations tried but were unable to mediate a peace. Finally, they had had enough, and banded together, overwhelmed us, and exiled us here. We were to be an example to the rest of civilization on the merits of 'getting along'."
"How did your fight begin?" Opaka enquired, her serene voice seemed terribly out of place.
"Some say it was water, some say it was land. It's not very relevant now."
"Then what do you hope to gain by continuing?"
"Vengeance. All of us and our families have suffered horribly at the hands of the nol. It's all we have left."
Sisko shook his head, "The nol can probably say the same thing."
"They probably do," Golin conceded.
Kira stepped forward, "Well, if you must fight a war the least you can do is fight it more effectively."
"Major, this is not our war," Sisko objected.
Golin frowned at her curiously, "What do you mean?"
"There were no guards at the entrance when we arrived..."
I stopped her with a raised hand, "Major, these people can't die and have been fighting forever; they probably don't care about strategy or tactics at this point."
"He's correct, Major. We used to defend ourselves better, Major. Safety perimeters, counter-attacks, pre-emptive strikes. And then we realized it was all pointless. When you cease to fear death, the rules of war change. You'll understand as the years pass, Major."
Sisko shook his head and spoke intently, "Listen to me, Golin. Our rescue is not going to take years. Days, weeks maybe, but they will find us and then they'll penetrate the defence net and transport us out of here.
"Then you will be luckier than we have been."
"We'd be willing to transport all of you away from here if that's what you want."
Golin's eyes were haunted with shadow as he said, "Away from here? To live one life, to die in peace? To us this is an ancient prayer that's never been answered, Commander. You would do this for us?"
"For both sides, the Ennis and the Nol. After you leave, you can go wherever you want, but end this nightmare. Stop fighting long enough for all of us to get off this planet."
"Zlangco, the leader of the Nol would never agree to a cease-fire."
"Ask him," Sisko insisted.
"You don't know them. All they care about is..."
"What do you care about? If you want to end the suffering of your people, then at least try. Set up a meeting with this Zlangco. Talk about this."
Golin raised his hands, "This is hopeless. But I will talk, if he will."
It was bed-time for those of us from the Alpha Quadrant, but I struggled to sleep. I nibbled on food from the Starfleet MREs, which actually taste good! I've eaten the 21st Century versions, and those had nothing on this. The foods were synthetic, non-perishable even in the worst of conditions, and tasted like I was eating properly home cooked spaghetti bolognaise. In my bouts of sleeplessness I would fiddle with the Jem'Hadar rifle, aiming down its sights and reviewing the scans of the thing in my AR. I wouldn't be able to keep the rifle, but I really had to show the scans to Scotty and O'Brien and see what they made of it.
After hours of on and off catnaps I had finally grown too frustrated for further sleep and walked over to Opaka who was now awake again. She had had no problems falling into a solid uninterrupted five hours of sleep, it somehow didn't surprise me. She was looking around at the ennis and her surroundings with an expression on her face that I didn't like at all.
I sat down next to her, putting my E69 within quick reach.
"Administrator."
"Eminence," I looked at her knowingly, "You do know that there is nothing to be done here, for them."
"You can't know that, Keiran."
"I do, more so than most anyone can say, Eminence. I came from a nation within my home universe that also had two bitter enemies at each other's throats. It wasn't an outright civil war, but it was almost like the Cardassian Occupation. There was a powerful side, small in number, in control of the military, and an oppressed majority. Both sides were forced to live apart, the government kept everyone in the dark and censored media very carefully. There were forced relocations, state-sponsored murder of political opponents, massacres and the whole gamut of sorry tragedies that go with such a state of affairs. In the end, it was two men, the leader of the oppressors, and the leader of the oppressed, who came together and brought both their peoples together out of the abyss. The point is, Eminence that change must come from within. The ennis and the nol must decide for themselves. Do they want to remain in the abyss of pain, tragedy, violence and oppression, or do they want to come together and pull themselves out. You can't do it for them; you are an outsider, someone they can't ever truly trust."
"I can see you speak from truth and even experience."
"Eminence, your people need you. I need you. Don't let Prophecy that's been re-translated and even misinterpreted so many times determine your fate. The future is never pre-determined; it's constantly being shaped and formed by our decisions, actions and character."
Opaka looked at me in the eyes and even grabbed my right ear. I stared back unflinchingly. She sighed and let go. "I will think on your words."
I bowed to her before taking my leave and heading over to where Sisko was standing at the mouth of the cave and waiting.
"Commander, I need to ask you a favour."
"What is it?"
"If Opaka refuses to leave when the time comes, beam her up anyway, stun her if you have to."
"What? Why..."
"Bajoran prophecy, inspired by the Orbs of Prophets, has given her the idea that she's meant to remain here to help these people."
Sisko's visage was grim, "If she does, it could undo what little unity remains among the bajorans."
"So I can count on your support if..."
"Yes, consider it done, Mr Swan."
A shadow appeared in the mouth of the cave and revealed itself to be Golin.
"I'm surprised. Zlangco has agreed to listen to your proposals."
"Good. When?"
"Right away. We'll meet at a neutral site near your vessel. We've both agreed to carry no firearms."
"This'll be a trap," I pointed out.
"We've taken the appropriate precautions, Administrator, but if you personally would care to check the security, I'm sure your Commander will allow you to accompany us." Golin looked me up and down, "You fought rather well for a bureaucrat."
"The combat arts are a hobby of mine," I shrugged.
"Very well, let's go."
The journey back to the runabout took about twenty minutes on foot and I couldn't help but feel very naked without my rifle. I wasn't entirely defenceless as I had a tiny cricket phaser stuffed in my left boot and a combat knife strapped to my right thigh, also hidden under my bulky pants. Sisko and I took the opportunity to visit Doctor Bashir to see how he was faring with his analysis. The area had been lit by flaming torches set up by the ennis, casting everything in a very medieval glow.
Sisko called out loudly, "Any progress, Doctor?"
Bashir popped his head out of the hatch, deftly climbed up and jumped off the hull. "Yes, sir. I've got the computer up, more or less. It's processing the data now. I can already confirm that it's indeed nanites that are saturating the air of this planet. They are in us as well, but are inactive and dormant for some reason. I should have a complete analysis from the computer in a few minutes." He pointed to the gathering of ennis. "What's going on?"
"Talks about a cease fire," Sisko explained.
Bashir's eyebrows rose in astonishment, "No kidding. How'd you arrange that?"
"I told them that we'd transport them off this planet."
"Isn't that a bit like assisting a jailbreak?"
Sisko narrowed his eyes and his voice was cutting, "I don't need you to interpret the prime directive for me, Doctor."
Bashir stammered, "Yes, of course. I only meant..."
"Whatever crimes they've committed they've paid for a hundred times over. They've been altered and left here. Their homeworld is actively encouraging the slaughter. I believe the Federation would recognise them as separate and unique."
"Assuming the ennis homewold don't stop you," I said.
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it."
"Well, I should be checking on that analysis," Bashir said and headed back into the runabout.
Soon we were approached by a group of five nol. Again the leader was easy to make out, as he had the most elaborate armour and always walked in front of the group. I assumed this was Zlangco.
"So, you are the leader of the aliens," Zlangco stopped in front of Sisko and Golin.
"Benjamin Sisko, Commander of a Federation space station."
Zlangco narrowed his glowing eyes in confusion, "Federation?"
Golin sneered, "What does it matter to us, Zlangco?"
"It matters to me," he retorted angrily, and only looked at Sisko again when he was sure Golin wasn't going to speak further.
"The Federation is made up of over a hundred planets that have allied themselves for mutual scientific, cultural and defensive benefits. The mission that my people and I are on is to explore the galaxy." I winced at the rather campy explanation.
Zlangco tittered in a laugh, "Such a noble purpose. There'll be no reward for our release, you know.
Golin closed his eyes, "You are being a fool, as usual."
There was an alien twist in his Zlango's mouth as he smirked, "A fool who always manages to outwit you, Golin, as I have proven over and over again."
"If you care to die once again, then all you need to do is ask."
Sisko put himself between the two steadily advancing aliens. "If you've had enough of this, then make your leaders stop and listen. Your only reason to live is to make each other suffer. If you've had enough of suffering, then make them stop. I'm not here to be a mediator, but if you ask for an alternative I'll give you one."
Zlangco gave a measuring stare at Sisko, "We're listening."
"In a matter of days, when our rescue party arrives, I can arrange to transport you and your people off this planet, if both sides can only cooperate until then."
Golin raised his arms parallel to the ground in what was probably a conciliatory gesture, "Zlangco, they will resettle us on different planets."
"If that's what you wish," Sisko said carefully.
Zlangco narrowed his eyes at both Sisko and Golin, "The two of you seem to have discussed this plan in detail."
"Of course. His crew has been with us for a day."
"Explain why you choose to ally yourself with the Ennis."
"We have allied ourselves with no one," Sisko objected.
"Two of your people fought and killed a number of us, one of whom is standing right there," he pointed at me with anger in his eyes.
"We were defending ourselves," the Commander retorted.
"I think you're lying. I don't know the aliens, but I know Golin. I know how his mind works. I promise you this is an ennis trick to lure our entire population out of hiding so they can be slaughtered."
I shook my head. This was futile, and heading straight along the rails of what I knew would happen. I settled into a relaxed stance and brought my right hand to rest on my hip.
"That's not true."
Zlangco laughed again and gestured to Golin, "Then the ennis are surely willing to make the first gesture of peace. Let them bring all of their people out of hiding first to prove their honourable intention."
Golin was spitting mad now. "Do you think I would allow a single nol escape this planet alive?"
"No more than I would let an ennis go free!"
Out of seemingly nowhere the nol pulled short blades that they had strapped and hidden in the armour on their backs. The ennis did the same and charged at each other with enraged yells.
I was given no chance to reach for my cricket phaser, and barely managed to pull out my combat knife to fend off a nol that swung his blade at my neck. I couldn't flat out oppose that much momentum, so redirected the blade and ducked under it, this put the nol off balance and allowed me to plunge the knife into his back.
I had to use a bracing foot to get the knife back out and roll sideways to avoid another nol seeking to plunge his blade into me.
The same nol charged at me, seeking to bisect me with a sideways slash.
My knife was in a reverse grip and shielded my forearm to allow me to use it in a solid block.
Clang!
My forward momentum had been enough to stop the blade and charge past the nol's defenses, where my palm struck the nol in the face with a powerful snap. I continued my momentum as the nol fell back off balance and tripped him. My blade buried itself in his chest.
The next moment I saw a blur flash past my face, going down and...
There was no pain at first.
My brain struggled to comprehend it...
I couldn't believe my eyes...
I stared at the stump of where my right arm had been... blood squirting out in time with my heartbeat...
"Fuck..." I said faintly and the world tumbled and...
