For Piotr's Sake

Chapter 26

"Captain," Communications officer Roger Blackwing announced just before they were going to go to warp, "The Destiny is hailing us. Your brother says he has an urgent message for you."

"Put him on screen" Chekov ordered, a bit puzzled and anxious as they all were ready to return to their own universe. Dr Petrova had just announced that Miss Lincoln had not been harmed. However, Pavel had ordered the chief medical officer to keep her in sickbay until their safe return home. None of them were comfortable about staying in this universe any longer than they had to, and sickbay was the most protected part of the ship if they were to come across any hostile forces. Even though the Halkans were an extremely peaceful race, it was better to be safe than sorry. Roberta was from the distant past, and if something bad happened to her, it might disrupt the time line. Pavel watched as the face of his identical twin brother appeared on the main viewing screen. He still was amazed that he had a brother, having been raised as an only child.

"Greetings, Pavel. Let's cut to the chase. I would like to escort you back to your own side. The Deep Space Nine station on this side might try to fire on you. Intelligence reports indicate that they have found a way to detect Tantalus fields."

"It's a gracious offer, Piotr, but why would they want to fire on us? We did nothing to them. Besides, we turned the M6 off."

"Your Tantalus field is always running, Pavel, and is not connected to the M6. Also, Sulu just told me that they reactivated it to pinpoint the dampening field on the planet. We killed Intendant Kira before coming here to Halka because she enslaved our people. Her minions might detect you, even if you are cloaked and mistake you for us. About the M6... I think it would be wise to uninstall it and let us have it. After all, you will have no use for it once you make it back. I know your Starfleet would not let you keep it."

"Yes, I agree. They wouldn't. Also, they have just established a ridiculous treaty with the Romulans on our side, banning cloaking devices on Federation ships.* I think it's a dirty shame that my former captain risked his life to obtain cloaking technology, only to have it banned by Starfleet." Pavel sighed. "If we were to return with one, and if we use it, we would be technically in violation of that treaty."

Piotr smiled with amusement. Once he had deciphered the encrypted message to Rasmussen, he had been impressed by his brother's clever deception of transmitting their mother's recipe for borscht, instead of the instructions to fix the time pod. She was going to be happy to have it back, for it had been lost over time. Piotr was also happy and astounded that Sulu was still alive. Smiley had asked to become a part of his crew, and he gladly accepted, knowing how short-staffed he was. O'brian was now their chief engineer, replacing the one who had died when the Tholians attacked.

"There is no such ban on our side, but I think you should keep it and use it to escape detection by the Bajorans on this side. If the people on Terok Nor try to fire on you because of your Tantalus device, we will be able to extend our shields to protect you. As you know, the M6 could obliterate the station."

"I thank you for your kind offer, brother, and we accept. However, I hope you don't have to destroy the station. There are probably still newly emancipated human slaves aboard. I would hate to see any of them killed. Also, we are eager to get underway over here on the Defiant and I want to get this ship back in one piece."

"I understand. I will beam over some of our technicians shortly for the M6."

"I will have Lt. Commander Masters coordinate the task of removing the unit from our ship." He paused for a moment in thought. "Of course, you must also understand that there will be security people present in the transporter room when they beam aboard." Pavel added with a serious expression on his face.

"That is a wise precaution, Pavel, even though we have no hostile intentions. You are my brother, and I care very much for your safety and that of your pretty young friend from the twentieth century and your crew. However, I would not be surprised at the sight of your security personnel. That is a common procedure on this side as well."

Pavel had thought of returning to their own universe through the Tholian sector, but then reconsidered. If the Tholians were still in that area where they had attacked, they would very likely open fire again. He knew his crew would not be prepared to engage such a hostile enemy, since they would be hopelessly outgunned and outmanned. Going home via the wormhole was the lesser of the two evils. Also, they stood a better chance of making it back in one piece with the ISS Destiny crew defending them.

Intendant Kira was still alive. She very much regretted having to use her favorite body double while she was down on Bajor, taking a much-needed vacation. When she returned and learned that someone had used a Tantalus device on her servants, she was understandably very upset. Her favorite body double was named Iliana, and Kira had learned from her personal spy network that she was really a Cardassian who had transformed herself into a Bajoran. When she had been caught, she had been formally charged with espionage, and as a punishment, was forced to double as Intendant Kira in her short absences from Terok Nor. It was a shame that she was killed, though. Kira rather liked her. She ordered sensor sweeps of the surrounding area. Soon, they detected not one but two Tantalus fields...

* See "The Enterprise Incident" and "The Pegasus" for details.