25. We Meet at the Appointed Place
Constance was now waiting in the back of a hover truck in a dark alley between two rather tall buildings in the outskirts of the city. In fact, it was a rather desolate part of San Francisco. Only an hour had passed since she had finished getting ready at Starfleet HQ. Thankfully they had let her take a navy shower, which she felt was really for everyone's benefit. Admiral Washington's aide had dressed her in a plain white shirt and jeans along with a burgundy leather jacket. They had also pulled her hair into a rather severe ponytail which was signature to how the operative she was impersonating wore hers. All the while Admiral Washington briefed her on what exactly she was to do. She was to meet with the informant where he would hand off a package to her. It was quite simple really.
The support team consisted of two men, one of whom was named Mark. He was the driver, and he remained in the front seat watching for any signs of the informant. Ewan – "the Ears" he called himself – sat next to Constance in the back with an earpiece on while the truck idled quietly in the darkness.
"Now remember Mark and I will be watching the exchange the whole time," he said as he handed her an earpiece. His hand shook slightly as he fumbled in handing her the device. "Sorry," he mumbled glancing at Constance briefly through thick rimmed glasses. She smiled reassuringly. It had been years since she'd seen anyone wear glasses given that most people with poor vision underwent laser revision. Perhaps he was just scared, she thought. It perplexed her though and she frowned inwardly realizing he probably had one of the most dangerous occupations on Earth working for SI so a little laser revision could hardly be that frightening in comparison. Everyone has their quirks, she thought. She shrugged and stuck the earpiece in her ear. Ewan began to speak again and this time she could also hear him through the earpiece.
"Listen he thinks you work for the local news network as a reporter. All he is going to do is handoff a package. That's it. Piece of cake, right? You just need to take it and come back to the truck. I doubt he'll want to chit-chat, however if he starts asking too many questions just tell him you are afraid of being followed and that should scare him off. He's informing on his own faction so no doubt it is a fear of his own," said Ewan.
"I know, it'll be fine," said Constance as she smoothed her ponytail one last time.
"Alright, it's time," said Mark. Ewan glanced at the front, and then back at Constance.
"Just walk to the corner, and wait there. He should arrive within a few minutes or so," he said. Ewan slide the side door of the hover truck open and Constance jumped down. She glanced up at Ewan one last time as he gave her a thumbs-up before closing the door.
Slowly, she began walking through the alley between the two tall buildings heading toward the street corner. Her boots clicked quietly on the damp pavement. She still could not believe she had agreed to do this, but Admiral Washington had assured her it was quite routine; only a simple handoff. When she reached her destination she looked around. She did not see anyone, but after about a minute and a half of waiting she saw a person appear out of the shadows across the street. They began walking in her direction.
She squinted in the darkness. It looked like they were carrying something, but she could not be sure what it was. As they came closer she saw that it was a man holding a large envelope. He must be the contact, she thought. She felt momentarily relieved.
"Ms. Brooks?" he asked as he walked up to her. That was the operative's alias.
"Yes," Constance replied.
Without another word the man pulled a phaser pistol from the package and tossed the envelope on the ground.
"You can't all be that naïve," he said. "Your informant is dead. And I know you are SI."
Constance's stomach dropped. All the combat training in the world was no match for a phaser pistol at close range. If only she could disarm him. She took a step forward, but before she could react she heard what sounded like two shots being fired through her earpiece, then a sharp mechanical squeal, and then static. She grimaced and instinctually covered her ear.
"And you're bugged? I hope Starfleet realizes the mistake they made," he said closing the distance. Her heart clenched. She thought at Mark and Ewan. They had been led into a trap, and they were now more than likely dead. Her heart sunk, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she probably would be as well.
"I was instructed to tie up loose ends. And you're one of them," he said before he fired two shots at Constance. She instinctively dove to the side, but they made contact. Constance felt a flash of pain as she crumpled to the pavement just in time to watch him fade into the distance as her vision went to black.
Soval heard a knock and looked up to see his aide, Vosik, standing in the door frame of his office at the Consulate. It was quite late, and he was surprised that the aide had not left for the day yet. Soval had just finished mediating himself, and was now reviewing some reports on his PADD.
"Pardon me, Ambassador, but I was to inform you when Minister T'Pau arrived." Soval nodded.
"You may escort her to my office," he replied and he watched Vosik nod politely before disappearing. Soval moved to stand and smoothed his robes as T'Pau swept in. Soval made sure to see that the door was closed securely behind her before she spoke.
"It is agreeable to see you, Ambassador," said T'Pau.
"I trust your journey was not too arduous," he said, his face devoid of emotion.
"Not at all. It was quite tolerable in comparison to a trek through the Forge. Besides you have given me much to think about on the way here," she said as she glanced at him. She seemed to be waiting for a reaction. Soval set his chin and suppressed a frown. He was aware the situation was unusual; however it did not merit what he perceived as levity from T'Pau. She seemed to pick up on his displeasure.
"I was merely alluding to the peculiar nature of these Humans. They are far more unexpected than I realized. They have given me much to think about," she said.
"Indeed," he said before sitting down again at his desk. He was well aware of the propensity of others to prematurely underestimate Humans as a species. However there was only one that continued to confound him and that was Constance.
"Are you sufficiently prepared for the conference tomorrow?" T'Pau asked as she took a seat across from him. She was referring to the conference that was being held to informally discuss the possible formation of an alliance, or rather coalition, of planets. There had been several such conferences in the past, however all ended unfavorably in regards to the proposal. However, this one was to be different as Starfleet was planning on parading the crew of the Enterprise around in an effort to stir more interest in the idea.
"Yes, Nathan Samuels will be in attendance and is planning on speaking as well," he said. Nathan Samuels was a United Earth government official and he was very keen on the idea of forming an alliance.
"Well, as Ambassador you know where Vulcan stands on the issue," said T'Pau evenly. Soval nodded. T'Pau sat back in her chair as she changed the subject. "Now, in regards to the situation you now face– your bond with a Human… This is quite unprecedented," she said. He pressed his lips together.
"I am aware it is… irregular, however as you are well aware we have little choice with whom we form bonds with," he said stiffly. He found it quite uncomfortable to be speaking so openly about such intimate matters. Bonding was the one aspect of their culture where Vulcans could not apply logic.
"Yes, this is true. However, I am still at a loss at how this could have happened with a Human. Although in light of recent events–," she stopped and sighed. "Who is she and what is her name?"
"Her name is Constance Corcoran. She works for Starfleet Intelligence," he said. She raised an eyebrow in response.
"We must tread carefully. Unfortunately, Earth is not the only place where xenophobia resides." He opened his mouth to reply, but at that very moment a white hot, searing pain overcame him and it was all he could do to keep himself from falling out of his chair and onto the ground. It was coming from the bond in his mind. It felt as though it was ripping apart and his head was splitting in two. He swallowed thickly holding back the nausea that followed. He gripped the desk for balance. T'Pau quickly moved to stand.
"Ambassador," she said rushing over to help him sit up. Her face was unmoving, but he could hear the concern in her voice.
"There's something terribly wrong," he choked.
"The human," T'Pau said as though she knew. She was more intuitive that he realized. Soval only nodded. Disruption in a bond often signified something quite grave.
"She's… injured. I can feel–," he started. He closed his eyes as he attempted to regain composure.
"I have seen this before. Try to concentrate," said T'Pau straightening. She gripped his forearm in an effort to steady him. "Do you know where she is?"
"What do you mean?" He was clenching his teeth.
"Try to reach out to her mind," she said calmly. Soval closed his eyes as he touched the bond in his mind. He had spent so much time trying to avoid it that it seemed strange to be examining it now. He imagined he was in his mediation space and he simply needed to find her. He looked around. There was nothing, but endless, blinding whiteness. And pain. It was growing. He continued further through the whiteness. He was getting closer. He continued to feel his way across the threads of the connection. She was still alive. He could her heart beating faintly. He could almost smell the air around her and the acrid smell of blood. He felt his way further and into her mind – into the recesses of her memories. After a moment Soval opened his eyes.
"I know where she is," he said.
Vosik drove the hover in near silence. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. No doubt he was now regretting his posting as the Ambassador's aide at that moment.
"It is imperative that you drive faster," Soval said trying to keep the edge out of his voice.
"I am driving at the exact rate of speed as prescribed by the speed limit sign that we just passed," he said. Soval closed his eyes and set his teeth. He wanted to ring Vosik's neck. T'Pau sensed his control was slipping.
"Vosik, you will drive faster as necessity outweighs the risk at this moment," she said. Vosik looked at T'Pau through the rearview mirror, and then back at the road as though he was weighing the logic behind her words. The hover picked up speed. They were entering the outskirts of the city.
"Turn left," Soval said. They were headed for a particularly secluded area of town. There were hardly any streetlamps and hardly anyone out for that matter. They passed several streets before Soval spoke again. "Now, take a right." The hover turned into a side street. They drove a little further. He began to recognize the area from Constance's memories. He abruptly opened the door as the hover continued, but Vosik stopped it as soon as he realized Soval was attempting a moving exit.
Soval jumped out and continued on foot a ways until he made it to a street corner. Looking around he could see a crumpled figure lying on the pavement across the street. It was Constance. He ran over and knelt on the ground beside her. She was lying in a strange position. He gently rolled her over.
"Soval?" she whispered as her eyes focused on him briefly before closing. There was crimson blood everywhere. T'Pau appeared at his side a moment later.
"Help me get her jacket off," he said. T'Pau moved to cradle Constance's head as Soval removed the jacket as gently as he could, but it did not stop Constance from groaning in pain. T'Pau glanced at Soval.
"She looks badly injured," she said. The white shirt she was wearing was stained bright red, but Soval could see that it was not uniform. It seemed to be originating from her one of her arms. He ripped the shirt back from her shoulder to inspect the injury. Her skin was paler than usual and when he made skin contact he immediately was struck by her emotions. There was overwhelming fear, but it was dissipating, followed by pain, relief in seeing Soval, and then overriding exhaustion.
"The injury appears to be contained to her shoulder, but she's lost a lot of blood" he said. He took off his robe and began shredding it apart to create a makeshift bandage. He mind briefly flickered to the memory of Admiral Forrest when he lay bleeding out before him. Soval suppressed the memory and began wrapping her shoulder. When the makeshift bandage was secured he positioned his arms under her and lifted her gingerly. Constance winced through her teeth, and Soval could feel her pain flare through the bond.
"We need to take her to one of their… healing centers," said T'Pau walking quickly to keep up.
"It's called a hospital," he spat. He climbed into the hover and instructed Vosik to head in the direction of the San Francisco Medical Center. Once they were securely in the hover Vosik began driving, but as they headed further into the city they encountered heavy traffic. Uniformed police officers were directing hovers to an alternate route. They began noticing that more people lined the streets. Several were chanting about a coalition. It was hard to tell if they were for or against it.
"What is going on?" T'Pau asked looking around.
"It looks like some sort of gathering. It appears to be in reference to the conference tomorrow," he said. Soval looked down at Constance. "She's not going to make it to the hospital under these conditions. It will be quicker to return to the Consulate. Vosik, change course," he said.
"Soval," T'Pau said his name in caution. Vosik looked in the mirror briefly before turning the hover around.
"The healers there have a proto-type re-generator," he continued.
"The Humans don't have that type of technology yet. To expose them to it would be highly inappropriate and unwise–"
"Then what do you suppose we do? Wait for her to bleed out further and then deliver her to one of their sub-par medical facilities where it will be too late?"
"We should not interfere," she interjected.
"I see that you are adopting the same policy as that of the High Command," he said. T'Pau shifted uncomfortably. Soval could see he struck a nerve. "Does not Surak teach us that all life is precious? You've seen the Kir'Shara. Besides, we have already interfered," he said. T'Pau pressed her lips together and remained silent. Soval looked down at Constance. She stirred and opened her eyes. For a moment a look of surprise crossed her features and she began moving in an effort to sit up.
"Starfleet– loose ends–," she murmured. There was a slight slur to her words before she lost consciousness again. It seemed that the blood loss was starting to affect her cognition. Soval's concern was building. A hint of a frown crossed T'Pau's features as she glanced at Constance and then at Soval.
"To what do you think she was referring?" T'Pau asked.
"I'm not sure, however I will contact Starfleet as soon as we arrive at the Consulate," he said. T'Pau pressed her lips together. Within ten minutes Vosik pulled up to the compound. It was nearly midnight, and thankfully most of the inhabitants were likely asleep. T'Pau and Soval climbed out of the hover and into the darkness. Soval transferred Constance to T'Pau's arms before issuing an order to Vosik.
"Vosik, go with T'Pau, wake one of the healers. I need to contact Admiral Gardner and Admiral Washington," he said. Just as he turned to leave in the opposite direction something caught is hand. It was Constance. Her fingers entwined in his for a moment.
"Soval… I–," she murmured before her hand dropped and her head rolled back against T'Pau. Constance did not finish the sentence, but Soval knew what she was going to say. He had felt her thoughts when she had touched his hand, and he realized he could not lose her. T'Pau quietly witnessed the exchange, but said nothing.
"I will take her to the Healer now," said T'Pau. Soval nodded.
"I will return once I speak with Starfleet," Soval said. T'Pau nodded as Vosik led her through the door. Soval watched at the three of them disappeared inside before he turned to head toward his office.
A/N: Looks like I'm three for three this week! Thanks for reading and for the reviews, follows, and favs. I'm quite humbled. Working on the next chapter; so stay tuned!