Chapter twelve - Pow wow
Captains office. Day 44.
Max thought process was interrupted by a knock at the door. Inside came the Klingon commander and Gregory Hayes.
"We need to talk." Hayes said. "What do you remember?"
"That our ship was under fire, by you, that we crashed hard, I woke up alone at Kronos. That, you, pushed him, in melted steel, I barely got you up. That, I, took a shuttle and left you at the planet". Max said.
"What about the crew?"
"I do not know. If you try to think logically, they still must be at Kronos".
"Yes. Working." The Klingon said. "You've been fooled to not think about them."
"What about the explosions?" Cook said.
"A distraction".
"Where do you fit into all this, Hayes?"
"You and me, we haven't even noticed that my face is fine. Someone has wanted us to believe their story." Max looked at his friend. He saw indeed what he wanted to believe. If he looked really hard he could see that Greg was fine. "They wanted us out of here, your ship never crashed".
"What about my scar?" Max asked. "Fake to?" The Klingon nodded and said: "You have both been used".
"How about you, how do you fit into this?" Cook asked.
"I was under their influence too for a while. But it is time for the truth to come out".
"So Kronos never happened as we know it?" More a statement than a question. What a relief, Max thought. But many years wasted.
Later.
"You are telling me that your crew has been on Kronos the whole time?" The admiral sounded disbelieving. "If you can prove your theory, Starfleet will send a rescue team. You cannot command two ships. You can choose which crew you'd like".
"Fine, I'd like to stay on the Trespasser, sir".
"You have a deal. And Cook, you need to get through some psychological testing before you leave known space."
"Alright". Piece of cake.
The bridge.
"What do you think happens when we find his crew?" Stick asked Tom.
"Nothing. He's not going to leave this ship. This is the fastest one in the fleet".
"What if someone can influence the captain? What guarantee do we have that we are safe? He got one crew stranded already".
"Because we are not gonna let anything happen. We are not losing a captain nor crew". The science officer said with determination.
"Guys, I can hear you". Jane said from the chair. "I am leading the away team, a direct order from the captain. And you two just volunteered".
"Aye". Stick couldn't help thinking if it was wise to leave Max aboard.
