Disclaimer:
Koby: *roars* [Translation, courtesy of Najen's Universal Translator: "Star Wars and Star Trek don't belong to Starphoenix."] *additional roars* [Translation: Oh, and for all of you who were confused about the droid, SU- 9's...er, condition will be explained.]
Talela: The chapter is a bit long, but there is plenty of action. Also, there is a revelation that may surprise some. May the Force be with you all!
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CHAPTER 7: BATTLE READY
"Aha!" the Romulan said from under the console. "I found the thermonycene pulse controller. Pass me a phase adjuster."
"A what?" James asked.
"Humans," Levek muttered. "Don't they teach you anything at Starfleet Academy?"
"Of course they do," James retorted.
"Just not as much as they teach us at the Romulan Naval Academy, apparently." Levek replied smugly. James was about to retort when the Imperial started shouting from the back of the room.
"You won't succeed against an Imperial warship!" Akiran cried, from behind a forcefield in the ship's makeshift "jail". "You will FAIL! You should surrender! They will let you live."
"For the two hours they torture us, maybe," Cale muttered sarcastically. "Is there some way to shut him up?"
"I could tranquilize him," James offered. "He'll be asleep for about an hour."
"That'd work," Cale replied.
"I have a better idea," K'Bhena offered, unsheathing her three-bladed knife and pivoting to face the prisoner. "Be quiet now or I shall--"
"There is no need for threats," T'Lor interrupted.
Levek laughed from under the console. "You Vulcans are no fun."
"Why don't we leave it to you then, Levek," James suggested. "I'll bet you Romulans are the masters of death threats." He glanced sideways at K'Bhena and her knife. "Second only to the Klingons, of course," he added hastily.
K'Bhena laughed. "I am beginning to like you, Human. You learn quickly."
"James," Levek called. "What will happen if I reroute power through the LTR relay conduits?"
"You'll get electrocuted," James replied seriously.
"Ah," the Romulan muttered. "Such strange systems you Starfleeters have."
"All the better to confuse Romulan intruders with." James replied smoothly, a smug grin filling his face.
"Is there any way we can use the Riata?" Cale asked suddenly. "Two ships are better than one."
"Not necessarily," T'Lor replied, without bothering to look up from her console. "Does your ship have any weapons?"
"No," Talela replied.
"NO WEAPONS?!" K'Bhena exclaimed. "Who would design a ship with no weapons?"
Cale ignored K'Bhena. "Is there any way we can help?" he pressed.
"You can't do anything, Rebels!" Akiran called from the back of the ship. "Your ship will only be useful as cannon fodder!"
"Cannon fodder." Talela muttered thoughtfully. "That's it."
"What's it?" Najen asked.
"Cannon fodder," Talela replied, making absolutely no sense.
"Huh?" Cale said.
"Well not exactly," Talela corrected herself. "But we could use the Riata."
"As what?" Cale asked.
"As a weapon. Kind of like a giant missile. We can pack the Riata full of explosives and fly it into the Imperial ship."
"That's a suicide mission!" exclaimed James.
"Incorrect," T'Lor interjected. "You have forgotten our transporter technology," she explained. "One person can fly the ship, and right before it rams the Imperials, the rest of us can beam the Riata's pilot back on board. This operation would have to be timed to the millisecond, but I believe it is feasible."
"How much damage would that cause?" James asked.
"A lot." Cale answered.
Najen grinned. They were finally getting somewhere. She turned toward Levek and James. "How are the weapons upgrades coming?"
"Better than expected," Levek replied, still working under the console. "Just wait a few minutes and I will be ready to work on the phaser beam controls."
T'Lor gave the tiniest of frowns and motioned for James and Najen to join her near the back of the ship.
"How does Cadet Levek know so much about weaponry?" she asked, glancing around to see if any non-Starfleeters would be able to hear her. The only person nearby was Akiran-and he was too busy taunting the repair teams. T'Lor would just have to take a chance.
"He's a weapons specialist," James replied. "He told me so himself."
"How does he know how to operate Starfleet technology?" T'Lor asked bluntly. "Did you teach him, James?"
"No," James protested. "He just.I don't know.taught himself, I guess."
"How could he teach himself?" T'Lor asked. "Federation and Romulan technology are very different. One cannot simply learn about one and then be proficient in working the other."
"What are you saying?" James asked.
"I am saying that Levek would have to take a very extensive course to be able to operate our technology with the level of expertise that he is demonstrating."
"Oh," Najen breathed, knowing exactly what that meant but still wanting T'Lor to say it. "And WHO would wish to take this kind of course?"
T'Lor's answer was simple, yet terrible: "An intelligence operative."
"Tal Shiar?" James whispered.
"That would be the most likely answer," T'Lor replied, confirming their dreads.
It was a terrible prospect: Levek, a member of the Tal Shiar, the feared Romulan intelligence force that had caused the Federation trouble ever since it was founded. The intelligence agency that had shown no qualms concerning lies--or outright murder. The same bureau that could be compared to the historical KGB or Gestapo--only this one was not Human, but working against humanity, and the entire Federation.
"However, it is only a supposition," T'Lor reminded them. "Do not mistake it for undeniable truth."
"It's the truth all right," James muttered. "I knew there was something weird about him."
"We can't bring it up now," Najen urged. "Like it or not: we need Levek. He's the one with the most weapons knowledge-and we can't afford to waste it."
"Great," James muttered sarcastically. "We might as well send the Tal Shiar a memo of the Federation's latest weapons systems."
"We must not repeat our suspicions to anyone," T'Lor pointed out. "James, you go back and monitor Levek's work. Watch him very closely, cadet."
"Oh, I will," James replied. "You don't need to remind me to do that." He turned around and strode toward the bow, where Levek was still working.
"I'll go and help Cale replicate the explosives for the Riata," Najen offered.
"Then I shall continue scanning," T'Lor said.
T'Lor turned to the aft console next to her, but was interrupted by Talela.
"May I speak with you?" she asked politely.
"Yes," T'Lor replied. "But make it quick. I am working."
"Everyone needs a break sometime," Talela countered. "Even Vulcans."
T'Lor was prepared to argue with that assumption-then decided that it would be more efficient to simply let the Jedi say what she needed to say and leave.
"Are there any Jedi on your homeworld, T'Lor?"
"No," T'Lor replied simply, thinking of the stupidity of Talela's interrupting important work to engage in-what did the Humans call it?- "small talk".
"There should be," Talela said cryptically.
T'Lor turned to fix the Human with a penetrating stare. "What do you mean?" she asked. "How could there be Vulcan Jedi Knights? I know of no one from my galaxy that has your abilities."
"I think you know someone," Talela replied smoothly.
"Do not joke with me," T'Lor ordered. "It is an illogical waste of time."
"I'll get right to the point then," Talela said, suddenly businesslike. "I know you will find this odd, but I feel a connection with you."
"A connection?" T'Lor asked, trying to keep the skepticism (it was an emotion, after all) out of her voice.
"Yes," Talela replied. "And you felt it too. I know you did, so don't lie to me."
"Vulcans do not lie," T'Lor replied. Except in very unusual circumstances, she added to herself.
Talela smiled indulgingly. "That is beside the point. The Force allows me to occasionally sense the emotions, or even the thoughts, of others. I try not to do this unless it is absolutely necessary, for I doubt people would appreciate a Jedi snooping in their mind. But, nevertheless, I have sensed from you an...openness to the Force."
T'Lor's doubt was so great that it began to show on her normally composed face. "If I am a Jedi," she began, attempting to dissuade Talela through reason and logic, "then why have I never demonstrated any telekinetic abilities that resemble your own? If I am a Jedi, then I should not be able to move objects with my mind?"
"No," Talela protested, waving her arms in frustration. "You are simply untrained. It is possible that, after proper training, you would be able to perform similar feats."
"I have no wish to hear more of this," T'Lor said brusquely, turning her back to the Jedi. "I must work."
"T'Lor, with all respect, you are reacting very...shall I say, emotionally."
T'Lor whirled around and raised an eyebrow in feigned disbelief. But, having analyzed her own thoughts clearly and meticulously, T'Lor knew that Talela was right.
"If there is a chance that you are a Jedi, are you not supposed to logically consider the idea until you have found an explanation?" Talela argued, sounding much like one of T'Lor's old Vulcan philosophy teachers.
T'Lor had to concede that Talela's case was logical.
"I am willing to explore the possibility. But I still believe that it is an illogical one."
"Let's start right now then," Talela said cheerfully, ignoring T'Lor's second statement.
"I need to work," T'Lor protested.
"I already talked to Najen," Talela replied, her manner poised and very self-assured. "She will take over scanning. She said you need to relax, eat, and get some sleep. You have been up for over forty-eight hours."
"Vulcans can go for long periods without sleep," T'Lor tried to explain. She was cut off by Talela.
"Nothing you say or do will discourage me," the Jedi warned. "You are the only Jedi that I have ever met--besides my parents, of course." That was not exactly true. She had been briefly introduced to a Rebel named Luke Skywalker at the base on Hoth. She had felt a brief connection with him as well, but someone had called him away before she could ask him any questions. "And," Talela said, focusing back on her point, "I am not letting this opportunity go to waste."
"I hypothesized as much," T'Lor said, with as much reluctance as a Vulcan ever showed. "I give you half an hour. What do you propose we do to disprove this theory of yours?"
"I suggest a meditation," Talela said. "I can teach you Jedi techniques."
"Meditation?" T'Lor repeated, feeling some of her chagrin dissipate. Vulcans meditated often; T'Lor had no idea that some Humans were the same. Perhaps this exercise would not be as pointless as she thought.
"So, Levek," James began, trying to sound casual. He was unable to suppress a thrill of excitement and nervousness, though--he was just like a secret agent in some old holonovel! James Peter Kirk, brave spy for the Federation, attempting to gain information from a seasoned operative of the Tal Shiar. "Do you have any family back on Romulus?"
"An elder sister, one younger brother, and my two parents," Levek replied from under the console, still repairing the beam systems.
"Oh," James answered back, feigning bored conversation. "I'm an only child."
"It is a pity," Levek muttered. "Elder siblings can teach you things that you would not learn elsewhere. Important things. Values, lessons. I suppose as a Human you would not understand."
"I understand more than you think," James retorted, fuming with anger at the Romulan's repeated arrogance. He forced his voice to remain calm as he went on:
"Well, do you have any ambitions about your future career? What are you going to do when you graduate the Romulan Naval Academy? Go into the military, the science tracks, or perhaps something a little more exotic, like THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES?"
Najen's head jerked up from her console, her hard blue eyes glaring into James's. His head lowered as he immediately regretted his mistake.
Levek's head peeked out from under the console. The Romulan raised an eyebrow quizzically. "The intelligence services? Do you think all Romulans are spies? No, I shall join the military. How could one pass up action, adventure, and the chance to blow up annoying Federation starships into nova dust?" he joked, giving a jaunty grin as he lowered his head back under the computer console. "Why would I want to sit and decipher codes all day when I could-Yaaaaaahhh!"
The Romulan shrieked, his body convulsing into violent spasms.
James jumped up in surprise, dragging the Romulan out from under the console. Levek's face was unusually gray-or was that normal for a Romulan? James couldn't tell.
"Najen, T'Lor, everybody, get over here! Levek's hurt-and I think it's bad!"
Cale glared at the Imperial, trying to control himself. Part of him wanted to eject him into space--or better yet, into a supernova--but Cale had the suspicion that neither Talela nor the Starfleeters would agree with that.
Meanwhile, Koby talked on about some technical nonsense that Cale cared nothing about. Cale grunted the occasional "oh" or "yeah" to simulate the act of listening.
"I think I know why the droid malfunctioned," Koby went on, still wearing the delta-shaped translation device that Najen had given him. "I read about this somewhere. All of the SU-class droids are malfunctioning. You see, Tektaron Laboratories tried to create droids with more intelligence and independence than average. They were trying to create semi- sentient beings. Droids that could reason, form opinions, and think for themselves--and not as they were programmed to think. The experiment failed terribly. Instead of what they wanting, the Tektaron scientists created a bunch of droids with mental disorders, much like the mental disorders that the occasional living being will have."
"Oh," Cale muttered, still focused on the Imperial.
Koby was too excited about his discovery to notice. "Some of the droids were afraid of heights, or the dark, or even of tiny spaces. Other droids were depressed and even suicidal. Still others had something resembling OCD--you know, obsessive-compulsive disorder, where people are consumed with the desire to clean themselves. I think SU-9 had that, among other things."
"That's nice," Cale mumbled.
"You aren't really listening to me, are you?" Koby asked.
"Of course I am," Cale retorted, without much conviction in his voice.
Koby put an arm on Cale's shoulder in a sympathetic gesture. "What's wrong, Cale?" he rumbled, a little too loudly. Koby had forgotten that others besides Cale--namely, a certain Imperial only a meter or so away-- could understand him now.
"Yes," the Imperial agreed, standing up and getting as close to Cale as the forcefield allowed. "What IS wrong, Rebel? You've been staring at me for the past two hours. What, you've never seen a loyal citizen of the Empire before?"
"Oh, I've seen plenty of Imps," Cale growled, moving to his feet in one swift and angry motion. "Once I even saw them come into my house and arrest my father! I saw them plenty of times after that--but I NEVER saw my father again!"
And then they heard the scream.
From a separate room at the back of the shuttle, T'Lor joined Talela in a Jedi meditation.
"Now," Talela instructed. "Reach out with your emotions. Remember, the Force is in everything--and everyone. Every plant, insect, or animal is a home to the Force. Just reach out and try to connect..."
T'Lor inwardly sighed. Vulcans kept their emotions under tight control--they certainly did not reach out with them. However, T'Lor had promised Talela that she would try. She hesitated--and then she loosened her grip on her emotions.
T'Lor was adept at meditation (the Vulcan type, at least), and found that imagery helped her concentration. She pretended that tiny tendrils were connecting her to the Force (if it was even really out there, and not some figment of Talela's overactive--and typically Human--imagination). She reached out telepathically and breathed in deeply--
And felt it. It was a presence, vast and peaceful, seeming to flow throughout her entire body. T'Lor felt a serenity (and even a "joy") that she had never known before. So this was the nature of the Force: peace and calm. It was almost...Vulcan. And yet, the Force also seemed to have compassion, and...love. An emotion.
There was also awareness. A deep awareness. T'Lor could feel the emotions of the others in the shuttle. She felt Talela's calm presence, equally aware and connected to her through the Force. Then Najen's determination as she scanned for a way out. She felt James: curious, confused, and slightly embarrassed in a strange mixture of Human emotions. K'Bhena of Qo'Nos, with a warrior's willpower. And Levek of Romulus, who was planning something...but what, she could not guess. Then Cale the Rebel, and Akiran the Imperial both...tormented. By what? A memory? An event? No, it was something else...death--a father! Two fathers. Both killed tragically and violently in the maelstrom of war. T'Lor shuddered involuntarily, jerking her mind out of her connection with the Force.
Talela opened her eyes to glance at T'Lor. "Did you feel that?" she asked.
"To which feeling do you refer?" T'Lor asked. Then she suddenly realized...something was about to happen.
A sharp shriek pierced the air.
"Is he dead?" James asked, looking at the Romulan lying sprawled on the floor in unconsciousness.
"How would I know?" Najen replied.
"Take his pulse," Cale suggested.
"I'm doing that," Najen insisted. Najen knelt over the Romulan's body. Levek was unnaturally still, his arms and legs all stiff...too stiff. Najen, trying to remember everything she had ever learned about Vulcan/Romulan anatomy (which wasn't much), reached out her hand to take a pulse...
"Hah!" Levek cried, springing upward unto his feet. He laughed upon seeing everyone's startled expressions. "You should see your faces! You look like a bunch of frightened hlai!"
It was all a joke.
"I'll show you frightened hlai," K'Bhena growled, grabbing Levek by the collar and pushing him against a bulkhead. "You made us think you were dead! Of all the cowardly, dishonorable acts--"
"It was a joke!" Levek protested. "I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
"You Romulans certainly have a weird sense of humor," James observed wryly.
"Are the weapons upgrades complete?" T'Lor asked, fixing Levek with a hard look.
"Yes, mostly," Levek replied.
"Then you had better finish them," T'Lor began, adding with the utmost calm and lack of any apprehension whatsoever: "Because the Imperial ship is only thirty minutes away."
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END OF CHAPTER NOTES:
Najen: Well, that was a surprising turn of events. Just think: there were Jedi in our galaxy and we didn't even know it. They probably lived their entire lives not knowing how or why they could do the things that they did.
Talela: Well, now you know. Be sure to review and tell us what you think about THIS.
Levek: Vulcan Jedi? Hmmm. I wonder if there are any ROMULAN Jedi...
James: *cringes* Let's hope not...
T'Lor: I believe that Starphoenix will put up the next chapter within a few days. *holds up hand in a split-fingered Vulcan salute* Live long and prosper...and may the Force be with you...
Koby: *roars* [Translation, courtesy of Najen's Universal Translator: "Star Wars and Star Trek don't belong to Starphoenix."] *additional roars* [Translation: Oh, and for all of you who were confused about the droid, SU- 9's...er, condition will be explained.]
Talela: The chapter is a bit long, but there is plenty of action. Also, there is a revelation that may surprise some. May the Force be with you all!
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CHAPTER 7: BATTLE READY
"Aha!" the Romulan said from under the console. "I found the thermonycene pulse controller. Pass me a phase adjuster."
"A what?" James asked.
"Humans," Levek muttered. "Don't they teach you anything at Starfleet Academy?"
"Of course they do," James retorted.
"Just not as much as they teach us at the Romulan Naval Academy, apparently." Levek replied smugly. James was about to retort when the Imperial started shouting from the back of the room.
"You won't succeed against an Imperial warship!" Akiran cried, from behind a forcefield in the ship's makeshift "jail". "You will FAIL! You should surrender! They will let you live."
"For the two hours they torture us, maybe," Cale muttered sarcastically. "Is there some way to shut him up?"
"I could tranquilize him," James offered. "He'll be asleep for about an hour."
"That'd work," Cale replied.
"I have a better idea," K'Bhena offered, unsheathing her three-bladed knife and pivoting to face the prisoner. "Be quiet now or I shall--"
"There is no need for threats," T'Lor interrupted.
Levek laughed from under the console. "You Vulcans are no fun."
"Why don't we leave it to you then, Levek," James suggested. "I'll bet you Romulans are the masters of death threats." He glanced sideways at K'Bhena and her knife. "Second only to the Klingons, of course," he added hastily.
K'Bhena laughed. "I am beginning to like you, Human. You learn quickly."
"James," Levek called. "What will happen if I reroute power through the LTR relay conduits?"
"You'll get electrocuted," James replied seriously.
"Ah," the Romulan muttered. "Such strange systems you Starfleeters have."
"All the better to confuse Romulan intruders with." James replied smoothly, a smug grin filling his face.
"Is there any way we can use the Riata?" Cale asked suddenly. "Two ships are better than one."
"Not necessarily," T'Lor replied, without bothering to look up from her console. "Does your ship have any weapons?"
"No," Talela replied.
"NO WEAPONS?!" K'Bhena exclaimed. "Who would design a ship with no weapons?"
Cale ignored K'Bhena. "Is there any way we can help?" he pressed.
"You can't do anything, Rebels!" Akiran called from the back of the ship. "Your ship will only be useful as cannon fodder!"
"Cannon fodder." Talela muttered thoughtfully. "That's it."
"What's it?" Najen asked.
"Cannon fodder," Talela replied, making absolutely no sense.
"Huh?" Cale said.
"Well not exactly," Talela corrected herself. "But we could use the Riata."
"As what?" Cale asked.
"As a weapon. Kind of like a giant missile. We can pack the Riata full of explosives and fly it into the Imperial ship."
"That's a suicide mission!" exclaimed James.
"Incorrect," T'Lor interjected. "You have forgotten our transporter technology," she explained. "One person can fly the ship, and right before it rams the Imperials, the rest of us can beam the Riata's pilot back on board. This operation would have to be timed to the millisecond, but I believe it is feasible."
"How much damage would that cause?" James asked.
"A lot." Cale answered.
Najen grinned. They were finally getting somewhere. She turned toward Levek and James. "How are the weapons upgrades coming?"
"Better than expected," Levek replied, still working under the console. "Just wait a few minutes and I will be ready to work on the phaser beam controls."
T'Lor gave the tiniest of frowns and motioned for James and Najen to join her near the back of the ship.
"How does Cadet Levek know so much about weaponry?" she asked, glancing around to see if any non-Starfleeters would be able to hear her. The only person nearby was Akiran-and he was too busy taunting the repair teams. T'Lor would just have to take a chance.
"He's a weapons specialist," James replied. "He told me so himself."
"How does he know how to operate Starfleet technology?" T'Lor asked bluntly. "Did you teach him, James?"
"No," James protested. "He just.I don't know.taught himself, I guess."
"How could he teach himself?" T'Lor asked. "Federation and Romulan technology are very different. One cannot simply learn about one and then be proficient in working the other."
"What are you saying?" James asked.
"I am saying that Levek would have to take a very extensive course to be able to operate our technology with the level of expertise that he is demonstrating."
"Oh," Najen breathed, knowing exactly what that meant but still wanting T'Lor to say it. "And WHO would wish to take this kind of course?"
T'Lor's answer was simple, yet terrible: "An intelligence operative."
"Tal Shiar?" James whispered.
"That would be the most likely answer," T'Lor replied, confirming their dreads.
It was a terrible prospect: Levek, a member of the Tal Shiar, the feared Romulan intelligence force that had caused the Federation trouble ever since it was founded. The intelligence agency that had shown no qualms concerning lies--or outright murder. The same bureau that could be compared to the historical KGB or Gestapo--only this one was not Human, but working against humanity, and the entire Federation.
"However, it is only a supposition," T'Lor reminded them. "Do not mistake it for undeniable truth."
"It's the truth all right," James muttered. "I knew there was something weird about him."
"We can't bring it up now," Najen urged. "Like it or not: we need Levek. He's the one with the most weapons knowledge-and we can't afford to waste it."
"Great," James muttered sarcastically. "We might as well send the Tal Shiar a memo of the Federation's latest weapons systems."
"We must not repeat our suspicions to anyone," T'Lor pointed out. "James, you go back and monitor Levek's work. Watch him very closely, cadet."
"Oh, I will," James replied. "You don't need to remind me to do that." He turned around and strode toward the bow, where Levek was still working.
"I'll go and help Cale replicate the explosives for the Riata," Najen offered.
"Then I shall continue scanning," T'Lor said.
T'Lor turned to the aft console next to her, but was interrupted by Talela.
"May I speak with you?" she asked politely.
"Yes," T'Lor replied. "But make it quick. I am working."
"Everyone needs a break sometime," Talela countered. "Even Vulcans."
T'Lor was prepared to argue with that assumption-then decided that it would be more efficient to simply let the Jedi say what she needed to say and leave.
"Are there any Jedi on your homeworld, T'Lor?"
"No," T'Lor replied simply, thinking of the stupidity of Talela's interrupting important work to engage in-what did the Humans call it?- "small talk".
"There should be," Talela said cryptically.
T'Lor turned to fix the Human with a penetrating stare. "What do you mean?" she asked. "How could there be Vulcan Jedi Knights? I know of no one from my galaxy that has your abilities."
"I think you know someone," Talela replied smoothly.
"Do not joke with me," T'Lor ordered. "It is an illogical waste of time."
"I'll get right to the point then," Talela said, suddenly businesslike. "I know you will find this odd, but I feel a connection with you."
"A connection?" T'Lor asked, trying to keep the skepticism (it was an emotion, after all) out of her voice.
"Yes," Talela replied. "And you felt it too. I know you did, so don't lie to me."
"Vulcans do not lie," T'Lor replied. Except in very unusual circumstances, she added to herself.
Talela smiled indulgingly. "That is beside the point. The Force allows me to occasionally sense the emotions, or even the thoughts, of others. I try not to do this unless it is absolutely necessary, for I doubt people would appreciate a Jedi snooping in their mind. But, nevertheless, I have sensed from you an...openness to the Force."
T'Lor's doubt was so great that it began to show on her normally composed face. "If I am a Jedi," she began, attempting to dissuade Talela through reason and logic, "then why have I never demonstrated any telekinetic abilities that resemble your own? If I am a Jedi, then I should not be able to move objects with my mind?"
"No," Talela protested, waving her arms in frustration. "You are simply untrained. It is possible that, after proper training, you would be able to perform similar feats."
"I have no wish to hear more of this," T'Lor said brusquely, turning her back to the Jedi. "I must work."
"T'Lor, with all respect, you are reacting very...shall I say, emotionally."
T'Lor whirled around and raised an eyebrow in feigned disbelief. But, having analyzed her own thoughts clearly and meticulously, T'Lor knew that Talela was right.
"If there is a chance that you are a Jedi, are you not supposed to logically consider the idea until you have found an explanation?" Talela argued, sounding much like one of T'Lor's old Vulcan philosophy teachers.
T'Lor had to concede that Talela's case was logical.
"I am willing to explore the possibility. But I still believe that it is an illogical one."
"Let's start right now then," Talela said cheerfully, ignoring T'Lor's second statement.
"I need to work," T'Lor protested.
"I already talked to Najen," Talela replied, her manner poised and very self-assured. "She will take over scanning. She said you need to relax, eat, and get some sleep. You have been up for over forty-eight hours."
"Vulcans can go for long periods without sleep," T'Lor tried to explain. She was cut off by Talela.
"Nothing you say or do will discourage me," the Jedi warned. "You are the only Jedi that I have ever met--besides my parents, of course." That was not exactly true. She had been briefly introduced to a Rebel named Luke Skywalker at the base on Hoth. She had felt a brief connection with him as well, but someone had called him away before she could ask him any questions. "And," Talela said, focusing back on her point, "I am not letting this opportunity go to waste."
"I hypothesized as much," T'Lor said, with as much reluctance as a Vulcan ever showed. "I give you half an hour. What do you propose we do to disprove this theory of yours?"
"I suggest a meditation," Talela said. "I can teach you Jedi techniques."
"Meditation?" T'Lor repeated, feeling some of her chagrin dissipate. Vulcans meditated often; T'Lor had no idea that some Humans were the same. Perhaps this exercise would not be as pointless as she thought.
"So, Levek," James began, trying to sound casual. He was unable to suppress a thrill of excitement and nervousness, though--he was just like a secret agent in some old holonovel! James Peter Kirk, brave spy for the Federation, attempting to gain information from a seasoned operative of the Tal Shiar. "Do you have any family back on Romulus?"
"An elder sister, one younger brother, and my two parents," Levek replied from under the console, still repairing the beam systems.
"Oh," James answered back, feigning bored conversation. "I'm an only child."
"It is a pity," Levek muttered. "Elder siblings can teach you things that you would not learn elsewhere. Important things. Values, lessons. I suppose as a Human you would not understand."
"I understand more than you think," James retorted, fuming with anger at the Romulan's repeated arrogance. He forced his voice to remain calm as he went on:
"Well, do you have any ambitions about your future career? What are you going to do when you graduate the Romulan Naval Academy? Go into the military, the science tracks, or perhaps something a little more exotic, like THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES?"
Najen's head jerked up from her console, her hard blue eyes glaring into James's. His head lowered as he immediately regretted his mistake.
Levek's head peeked out from under the console. The Romulan raised an eyebrow quizzically. "The intelligence services? Do you think all Romulans are spies? No, I shall join the military. How could one pass up action, adventure, and the chance to blow up annoying Federation starships into nova dust?" he joked, giving a jaunty grin as he lowered his head back under the computer console. "Why would I want to sit and decipher codes all day when I could-Yaaaaaahhh!"
The Romulan shrieked, his body convulsing into violent spasms.
James jumped up in surprise, dragging the Romulan out from under the console. Levek's face was unusually gray-or was that normal for a Romulan? James couldn't tell.
"Najen, T'Lor, everybody, get over here! Levek's hurt-and I think it's bad!"
Cale glared at the Imperial, trying to control himself. Part of him wanted to eject him into space--or better yet, into a supernova--but Cale had the suspicion that neither Talela nor the Starfleeters would agree with that.
Meanwhile, Koby talked on about some technical nonsense that Cale cared nothing about. Cale grunted the occasional "oh" or "yeah" to simulate the act of listening.
"I think I know why the droid malfunctioned," Koby went on, still wearing the delta-shaped translation device that Najen had given him. "I read about this somewhere. All of the SU-class droids are malfunctioning. You see, Tektaron Laboratories tried to create droids with more intelligence and independence than average. They were trying to create semi- sentient beings. Droids that could reason, form opinions, and think for themselves--and not as they were programmed to think. The experiment failed terribly. Instead of what they wanting, the Tektaron scientists created a bunch of droids with mental disorders, much like the mental disorders that the occasional living being will have."
"Oh," Cale muttered, still focused on the Imperial.
Koby was too excited about his discovery to notice. "Some of the droids were afraid of heights, or the dark, or even of tiny spaces. Other droids were depressed and even suicidal. Still others had something resembling OCD--you know, obsessive-compulsive disorder, where people are consumed with the desire to clean themselves. I think SU-9 had that, among other things."
"That's nice," Cale mumbled.
"You aren't really listening to me, are you?" Koby asked.
"Of course I am," Cale retorted, without much conviction in his voice.
Koby put an arm on Cale's shoulder in a sympathetic gesture. "What's wrong, Cale?" he rumbled, a little too loudly. Koby had forgotten that others besides Cale--namely, a certain Imperial only a meter or so away-- could understand him now.
"Yes," the Imperial agreed, standing up and getting as close to Cale as the forcefield allowed. "What IS wrong, Rebel? You've been staring at me for the past two hours. What, you've never seen a loyal citizen of the Empire before?"
"Oh, I've seen plenty of Imps," Cale growled, moving to his feet in one swift and angry motion. "Once I even saw them come into my house and arrest my father! I saw them plenty of times after that--but I NEVER saw my father again!"
And then they heard the scream.
From a separate room at the back of the shuttle, T'Lor joined Talela in a Jedi meditation.
"Now," Talela instructed. "Reach out with your emotions. Remember, the Force is in everything--and everyone. Every plant, insect, or animal is a home to the Force. Just reach out and try to connect..."
T'Lor inwardly sighed. Vulcans kept their emotions under tight control--they certainly did not reach out with them. However, T'Lor had promised Talela that she would try. She hesitated--and then she loosened her grip on her emotions.
T'Lor was adept at meditation (the Vulcan type, at least), and found that imagery helped her concentration. She pretended that tiny tendrils were connecting her to the Force (if it was even really out there, and not some figment of Talela's overactive--and typically Human--imagination). She reached out telepathically and breathed in deeply--
And felt it. It was a presence, vast and peaceful, seeming to flow throughout her entire body. T'Lor felt a serenity (and even a "joy") that she had never known before. So this was the nature of the Force: peace and calm. It was almost...Vulcan. And yet, the Force also seemed to have compassion, and...love. An emotion.
There was also awareness. A deep awareness. T'Lor could feel the emotions of the others in the shuttle. She felt Talela's calm presence, equally aware and connected to her through the Force. Then Najen's determination as she scanned for a way out. She felt James: curious, confused, and slightly embarrassed in a strange mixture of Human emotions. K'Bhena of Qo'Nos, with a warrior's willpower. And Levek of Romulus, who was planning something...but what, she could not guess. Then Cale the Rebel, and Akiran the Imperial both...tormented. By what? A memory? An event? No, it was something else...death--a father! Two fathers. Both killed tragically and violently in the maelstrom of war. T'Lor shuddered involuntarily, jerking her mind out of her connection with the Force.
Talela opened her eyes to glance at T'Lor. "Did you feel that?" she asked.
"To which feeling do you refer?" T'Lor asked. Then she suddenly realized...something was about to happen.
A sharp shriek pierced the air.
"Is he dead?" James asked, looking at the Romulan lying sprawled on the floor in unconsciousness.
"How would I know?" Najen replied.
"Take his pulse," Cale suggested.
"I'm doing that," Najen insisted. Najen knelt over the Romulan's body. Levek was unnaturally still, his arms and legs all stiff...too stiff. Najen, trying to remember everything she had ever learned about Vulcan/Romulan anatomy (which wasn't much), reached out her hand to take a pulse...
"Hah!" Levek cried, springing upward unto his feet. He laughed upon seeing everyone's startled expressions. "You should see your faces! You look like a bunch of frightened hlai!"
It was all a joke.
"I'll show you frightened hlai," K'Bhena growled, grabbing Levek by the collar and pushing him against a bulkhead. "You made us think you were dead! Of all the cowardly, dishonorable acts--"
"It was a joke!" Levek protested. "I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
"You Romulans certainly have a weird sense of humor," James observed wryly.
"Are the weapons upgrades complete?" T'Lor asked, fixing Levek with a hard look.
"Yes, mostly," Levek replied.
"Then you had better finish them," T'Lor began, adding with the utmost calm and lack of any apprehension whatsoever: "Because the Imperial ship is only thirty minutes away."
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END OF CHAPTER NOTES:
Najen: Well, that was a surprising turn of events. Just think: there were Jedi in our galaxy and we didn't even know it. They probably lived their entire lives not knowing how or why they could do the things that they did.
Talela: Well, now you know. Be sure to review and tell us what you think about THIS.
Levek: Vulcan Jedi? Hmmm. I wonder if there are any ROMULAN Jedi...
James: *cringes* Let's hope not...
T'Lor: I believe that Starphoenix will put up the next chapter within a few days. *holds up hand in a split-fingered Vulcan salute* Live long and prosper...and may the Force be with you...