Chapter 8

Federation Colonies on the border of the Romulan Neutral Zone

Worf was still obviously alarmed by this turn of events, but conceded silently, glaring as Beverly and Tomalak walked away toward an empty mess hall. Beverly realized for the first time, as Tomalak opened the door, and stood aside with apparent politeness that with the exception of centurion Bochra who had been near death in her sickbay just months ago, she had never been alone with a Romulan person before. She felt a real sense of fear, but realized it was less about her particular predicament, and more about her fear of what was happening to Jean-Luc at that moment. Riker had told Tomalak that Picard was not on board the Enterprise, but surely that wasn't true. Unless he'd been taken into custody by security already. The very thought of not saying goodbye to him left her cold and angry.

Tomalak gestured for her to sit down at a communal table, and then sat down slowly across from her. His bushy eyebrows knitted together. "You are quite brave to accompany me alone. On my world I am known as a...moderate. However, to humans I may appear more extreme. However, all of my actions have purpose."

Tomalak's voice sounded smooth and controlled, while Beverly's voice sounded small to her own ears. Still she faced him squarely. "What do you want?"

"Jean-Luc Picard is likely not in control of his actions. His only aim is to carry out the will of someone else."

"Who?" she whispered.

"There are theories," he said cryptically. "Because I am not a religious person, I tend to be skeptical of most of the stories promoted by the spiritualists. However, one such theory, proposed by a certain group of dangerous fanatics, is that a long dead cleric and rival of the famed Surak will rise again, and bring an end to the rule of logic on Vulcan."

"I don't understand...what does this have to do with Captain Picard?"

Tomalak glared at her. "Whatever his motivation, he has fallen in league with terrorists in our society who promote a return of our people to Vulcan-one that is certain to cause bloodshed. He intends to unleash a weapon upon Vulcan, which can only mean the slaughter of countless innocents... "

"That's what you told Riker," she said slowly, trying to determine whether he was being honest or not. She admitted to herself she had no idea.

"These terrorists believe that the only way back to our ancestral land is through violence. There are some who say that Picard is just one of hundreds who came before him who will manifest that end."

Beverly found her voice again. "He would never knowingly aid people like that. I don't know where you are getting your information from, but it's wrong."

"The rumor is that he found a so called artifact down on a tourist planet."

Her skin went cold. "Are you saying that is the weapon?"

"It is certainly not a harmless piece of art."

"Well what can I do to help him?"

"Ultimately this is a Romulan matter, and must be resolved by Romulans. But as far as finding and bringing the object back, you have the advantage. Convince Riker to cooperate with me."

"What exactly are you asking me to do? Work for you? I'm a Starfleet officer!"

He leaned in confidentially. "I am requesting prudence. I am completely capable of provoking a war...but so far I have not. I am much more interested in maintaining order in my own society, than staging a war with the Federation. The terrorists must be destroyed."

"How do I know you won't use this weapon for your own ends? To kill these terrorists?"

He smiled. "Find Picard, and bring him to us alive. We are completely capable of separating him from this weapon-without causing him further harm. But if he reaches Vulcan it will be too late. If that happens, Doctor, you will have a galactic war on your hands." He stood up stiffly looking down at her with an imperious but amused gaze. "Now... you must hurry back to your ship, so as to not upset Mr. Riker."

"I'm sorry, Beverly, but he's left the sector." Will Riker sat at Picard's ready room desk, and looked up as Crusher stormed into the office. She was dusty and disheveled from her brief trip down to the colony, but hadn't wasted any time getting up to the bridge.

"Left..." She stopped short. "I heard you tell Tomalak he was gone...but I thought-I thought you were lying."

Riker steepled his fingers together. "Sadly, no. He escaped in a runabout a little while ago."

"Well...go after him!"

"We are," said a calm voice behind her. She turned to find a blonde-haired man with cold blue eyes and a security badge watching her inquisitively. The man stepped forward through the doorway, and then stood very still, continuing to watch her.

"Who are you?" she demanded after spinning around to face him.

He smiled briefly. "Adam Logan, Starfleet Security. And you must be Doctor Crusher."

"Yes." Her gaze flicked over to Riker, who looked very uncomfortable.

"Doctor, by now, as you can imagine, we know where Captain Picard is headed," said Logan. "But... given your relationship to him, we'd like to ask you some questions about why, exactly he is on his way to the Daystrom Institute, and what he plans to do there."

"What are you going to do to him when you find him?" she demanded.

Logan smiled and gestured for her to sit down. "As I just said, we know where he's going, and I've already dispatched security teams to Daystrom for the purpose of arresting him for murder. Now, your cooperation could make this go much easier for him."

"He didn't murder anyone," she objected, but found herself sitting down on the couch anyway as she glared defiantly up at him.

Logan sat down as well, and glanced at Riker. "You sound very certain of that Doctor, and yet you weren't with him at the time of the murder. Unless you'd like to clarify your original statement..."

"Have you ruled out all other suspects? The real killer could be roaming the galaxy, and you're here."

"Are you questioning my investigation, Doctor?" He glanced at Riker.

Riker rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "You are to cooperate fully with Mr. Logan, Doctor."

"Listen, Will, I have no intention of helping him convict Captain Picard!"

"Beverly, if he's in danger with this artifact, we need to help him before he hurts someone else."

"What? What do you mean?"

"One of our security officers is in intensive care. He wasn't breathing when we found him outside the Captain's quarters, Beverly. And we found the Captain's blood as well. His door was literally melted from the inside out. So, we need you to help us help him," Riker said as gently as possible. "What can we expect when we find him at Daystrom?"

She clasped her hands tightly in her lap and looked down. "I-I don't know."

"You don't know, or you don't want to know?" asked Logan.

Beverly glanced up sharply. "I arranged a meeting for him with Professor Emil Duchamps...he's an expert archaeologist at Daystrom."

"We know...we confirmed the appointment with Daystrom security. I spoke with Duchamps personally," said Logan. "They're expecting him tomorrow morning."

"You've set up a trap already," Beverly accused. "And so what exactly do you need from me?"

"We want to avoid additional violence," Riker said. "We're taking the Enterprise to Daystrom. If you and I are there...well, I'm hoping that he will be more cooperative."

"Did he say anything to you about the artifact?" Logan pressed.

She gave a small shrug. "He didn't know much yet. He did say he thought it was of Vulcan or early Romulan origin." Logan somehow didn't appear surprised.

"Thank you, Doctor," the man said getting to his feet smoothly. He turned before leaving. "Your anticipated cooperation is appreciated."

Riker exhaled and leaned back into his chair, when Logan exited. When he opened his eyes, Beverly was staring at him with a look of barely masked betrayal. He raised his palms. "What would you have me do? Trust me, I can't stand that guy either."

"You know he's not guilty of this, Will."

"Do I?" he challenged. "I thought I did...but those interrogation tapes along with the circumstantial evidence are pretty damning, Beverly." He got up and walked to the replicator. "Coffee." He glanced at her. "Want one?"

She shook her head and then dropped it briefly into her hands. "No, caffeine is the last thing I need right now. My mind is absolutely racing."

He walked back and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for all of this. But only so much is within our control. And if that artifact is somehow guiding his actions, we don't know what Captain Picard is capable of."

She lifted her chin stubbornly. "You're just not going to be able to convince me that he did this, Will. And nearly killing one of his own crew? Unthinkable!"

Riker sighed. "I'm not trying to convince you that he's guilty. But I can't do this without you. Would you rather Logan do this without us? He's all ego. I wouldn't trust him to handle the Captain with the respect he deserves. At least we can give him that."

She stared at the deck, and bit her bottom lip. "I need to tell you something Will...it's about Tomalak." She looked up at him and began to recount the story the Romulan Commander had told her.

He jerked awake, and nearly fell out of the pilot's seat. Luckily for him the runabout was on auto to his programmed destination, and the computer had no need for his guidance. "Computer, how long until we reach the Daystrom Institute?" he asked groggily.

Four hours, sir.

He stretched his arms as he stood up, and was reminded immediately that his left hand was injured, as liquid fire began in his palm and seared through his entire arm. Dizzily, he staggered to the med station on the wall, and pulled out some medications. Finding a bandage, he carefully wrapped his hand, breaking out in a sweat just through that process. He took his temperature, which read 102 fahrenheit. He drank some water and then fumbled through his bag clumsily. He pulled out a small volume of Vulcan archeological essays.

Sitting back down, he was somehow not surprised that he was now able to read the original version written in the old Vulcan language. His grasp of the Vulcan language prior to this had been minimal at best, and yet now, it seemed second nature to him. "It was an age of fire and division," he read out loud to himself. "Powerful weapons attacked the minds and bodies of millions, laying waste to entire swaths of land, destroying cities and souls. From this a desert within a desert formed. It was long taught that only Surak with his mastery of the irrational fevers of the mind was able to cross this expanse and live. But there was another. Somewhere beneath the Vulcan's anvil lies his tomb."