KEEPERS OF THE TRUST
Book IV
They did it to me again… Robert Wesley thought sourly to himself. The Enterprise had been gone for days, checking on the planets Marisan, and Nova Chalcedon. If Janner's on either of these planets, Jim, and his crew, might not come back...
Kirk had all but ordered Wesley to beam over to the Excelsior and wait there until they returned. Now, Wesley, with nothing to do until Enterprise returned, felt he might go out of his skull. Fortunately, he had brought his Shao Sword, and its accompanying practice-blade. Every day, he went down to Excelsior'sGym, and worked out with the practice blade.
That was where he was now, stripped to the waist, practicing Sword Forms and shadow sparring, letting the sheer physical work of it all clear his mind of all the tension of the last several days. After thirty minutes of this, he lay the practice blade down and picked up a towel. As he wiped his face, he heard Captain Sulu just behind him.
"Very Impressive. I've only seen Sword Forms like that among the Japanese Traditionalists."
Wesley dropped the towel, sat on a bench to catch his breath.
"The Japanese sword is called a katana? "
"One of them," Sulu nodded. "The Shao style is very similar. And the hand-foot combinations are very similar to the Kung Fu of Ancient China and Korea"
"I suppose all humanoid societies must have similar things," Wesley commented. "That's why so many people are fascinated by the Vulcan, Klingon, and Romulan cultures. They're like us, only… not like us…"
"Yes," Sulu said. "The sword of yours is a prime example. It's not like a katana. It's a two-handed broadsword. That should be as clumsy as hell to work with, but the Shao adapted their technique to work with a sword like that. And the hand-foot combinations… Did J'Taal teach you those too?"
"I already knew some," Wesley's voice was dry. "But J'Taal taught me quite a bit more."
"J'Taal must've been serious about you taking that training."
"Tell me about it," Wesley got to his feet, draped his shirt over his shoulders, holding the sword in one hand, and the towel in the other.
"Any word from the Enterprise, Captain?"
"Yes, Ambassador," Sulu replied. "That's why I came down here. They'll arrive in about an hour. Admiral Kirk says they didn't find anything."
"That's probably better luck than Jim is entitled to," Wesley muttered. Then, he spoke more loudly.
"I assume I'll have enough time to shower before they arrive?"
"Yes, sir. Plenty of time."
…….
By the time the Enterprise met up with the Excelsior, Wesley was on the bridge, standing next to Captain Sulu, Shao Blade on his back. When Kirk's face appeared on the view screen, Wesley thought he looked disgusted.
"Well, Bob," Kirk said. "You ready to beam over?"
"You bet I am," Wesley replied.
A few minutes later, Wesley was back on the Enterprise, in Kirk's Ready Room with the rest of the Dream Team.
"I gather you didn't find Janner?" Wesley took an empty chair as he spoke.
"No, we didn't" Kirk replied. "Frankly, I don't know whether to be disappointed, or relieved."
"I think relief would be the more…logical…of the two. So, Jim, You go to Avalon now?"
"It's the only planet left, Bob. If Janner's not there, we're totally without a clue."
"Okay," Wesley leaned forward. "Suppose he is there. What are you going to do? Try to imprison him? Try to kill him? I saw what he did in that little park at the housing complex. Phasers were nothing to him."
"We'll play it by ear when we get there," Kirk replied. "Our Quest is to protect Khan. We can't do that if we don't know what Janner is."
"Right now, I don't know that it matters whether we know what Janner is or not. Jim, you're a fool to try to go this alone. If Janner's on Avalon, you're going to need both Enterpriseand Excelsior."
"Bob, I know what you're leading up to, but-"
"Hear me out, Jim" Wesley faced Kirk. "You've been throwing Jan's death in my face ever since we found his body. But the same thing could happen to all three of you, and will, if you're not careful. If you can't let me beam down with you, at least let me assemble an emergency team so you'll have backup in case anything does go wrong."
He patted the sword's hilt, over his left shoulder, and then continued.
"For some odd reason, this sword does give me an advantage of sorts. Remember, it was my sword that stopped Janner that last time. When the phasers had no effect on him at all. I'm pretty sure I'll know what to do if I see Janner."
"And Janner will have a pretty good idea what to do if he sees you, Bob. That might be a good way to get yourself killed."
"And you three are different from me in what way?" Wesley asked. "Last I knew you guys are just as mortal as I am."
Kirk sighed. Wesley was right, of course. Kirk had read the eyewitness accounts of Janner's attack in the Park…
He took several direct hits. Hits that should've reduced him to hot ash, and he didn't even bat an eye at it, until Bob charged him with that sword. What is it about Bob's sword? How did Bob do what he did?
"All right, Bob," Kirk said, at last. "Avalon's about a week away from here. You'll have that long to assemble your team. If Noguchi ever learns about this, he'll probably bust me down to an ensign so quickly my head would spin."
"I don't think he'd do that, Jim."
"Unless you got yourself killed, Bob. In which case, I would certainly be held responsible."
"Not really," Dr. McCoy drawled. "If Ambassador Wesley were killed by Janner, I don't think you'd be all that far behind him."
Kirk shook his head.
"I distinctly remember you calling Bob Wesley a real bundle of joy. I'd rather you didn't emulate his performance." Leaning forward, Kirk Commed the Bridge.
"Commander Uhura, pass the word to Captain Sulu. We're going to Avalon. Warp four."
"Aye, sir."
Sanctuary alliance
"Hang on, my lord," Joachim spoke. "Let me help you with this robe. It's the one with the neuro-net."
Khan struggled to find the neck of the robe. It had arrived just that morning. Now, with Joachim's help, he finally got the robe pulled over his head and arms. He stood, feet rooted to the floor. He could see…
Well… Sort of…
Looking at Joachim, he saw the other man as if he were a CGI image. And it was Joachim, without a doubt.
An incredulous gust of laughter shook Khan. This was so unexpected.
"My lord," Joachim was smiling. "Would you like a tour of this place?"
"I believe I would," Khan replied, trying to look everywhere at once. "But, first I want to see the people who brought me here, Keilan, Jaim, and Halan."
"They're at the Lounge."
Joachim led the way to the Lounge. Khan followed behind, looking around. The architecture was like nothing he had ever seen before, an odd combination of Greek, and Japanese beauty, mixed with modern utility. Though the effect was odd, it was nonetheless, pleasing to the eye.
The Lounge was a comfortable-looking place with chairs, sofas, and over-sized cushions scattered everywhere. Khan stood there, enraptured by his new sight, be it however strange. He didn't notice the three people walking up to him. They, Keilan, Jaim, and Halan, were quite happy to stand back, let Khan enjoy those first few moments of sight. Finally, Keilan spoke.
"Enjoying the sights?"
"I…" Khan turned to her. "It feels good to see again. Where do we go?"
"Over to one of the nooks," Jaim spoke. Khan turned to look at him, looked up…and up…and up...
Khan had known the Dinnetarans were large, but he'd had no idea they were thatlarge…
"Ah…fine," Khan looked over to Halan. He was even larger than Jaim. Joachim chuckled.
"Let's find some seats," he said.
The group sat down, mostly talking of little things. Khan didn't say much. He was too busy looking around. As the others spoke of friends, alive and dead, Khan noticed a man walking up. He wore long robes of blue and green, and a sword, very similar to ambassador Wesley's sword, hung across his back, crystal hilt poking over his left shoulder. Khan realized he had seen the man's face before, during that dream he'd had just after getting shot in the face by that neuronic blaster; a man with long black hair, and golden eyes. That very same man was here now, standing right in front of him.
"Ah…" the man said as he looked down on Khan. "So you finally see us. I am Keir J'Taal, and I, too, have seen you in my dreams. A long road you took to get here, and a hard one. Perhaps, now, we can see the beginnings of the end of it."
Khan felt a pit open up in his stomach.
"I had a dream a while back," he said. "About a King."
"I believe that can wait a while," J'Taal sat next to him. "I would rather talk about you."
The Shao reached out, touching Khan's medallion.
"A lovely heirloom, Khan. From your parents?"
"Yes," Khan replied. "They died when I was very young."
"How old were you when they died?"
Khan sat back, remembering what Stavros Keniclius had told him.
"My father died before my birth. My mother died when I was born. Why do you ask?"
"Because I know that medallion. I have seen it before."
Khan came to his feet. "Where?" he demanded.
"I knew your parents," J'Taal said.
"You knew…" Khan's voice trailed off. He began again. "You've been to Earth?"
"No," J'Taal shook his head. "I met them elsewhere."
"Elsewhere," Khan repeated the word, just a little chilled at the notion. He decided, right there, to change the subject.
"I've had the pleasure of meeting one of your students recently," he said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. His name is Robert Wesley."
"Ah, yes… Ambassador Wesley. How is he?"
"He was fine when I saw him last," a thought occurred to Khan. "Something happened with him, however. Something that I think you should know about. Before we left earth, he and I were attacked by Janner."
"What happened?" J'Taal studied the other man intently as he spoke.
"It was rather odd," Khan remembered the attack in the park. "Janner isn't human."
"I know that," J'Taal waved a hand. "What of Robert?"
"He attacked Janner with nothing but that sword."
"Wait a minute!" Jaim interrupted. "Someone attacked Janner with a sword, and survived it?"
"Please, Jaim," J'Taal's voice was patient. "Khan?"
"Janner fired at him with his hands, and the Ambassador's sword caught the fire, flinging it back. Do you know what it was that Ambassador Wesley did?"
"Something I should've expected, Khan. When I taught him, I sensed possibilities in him. Did the crystal hilt flare?"
"Yes, it did."
"Ah…" J'Taal looked at his hands. "Even among the True Born Shao, it is a rare thing to find men, or women with the Talent in their blood. To find such among those who are not of the True Born…That is almost unheard of. I will want to see Robert again. I do not think I quite expected this of him."
"Neither did the Ambassador," Khan replied. "Dr. McCoy said he almost electrocuted himself."
"That strong, was he?" J'Taal was surprised. "I'd better take the time, when this is all done, to make sure he takes the full Training."
J'Taal looked up to see a young man, a COMMSECOPS from the look of his uniform, running up.
"Kier J'Taal!" he saluted. "We've word on Enterprise, and Excelsior. It's possible they may have found Janner on Avalon."
"Are you sure?" Khan asked.
"Not really," the man said. "But our operatives believe there's a good chance he could be there."
"If Kirk and his people find Janner, I don't think their chances would be all that good," Keilan commented.
"Not good at all," Halan agreed.
"J'Taal?" Khan was perturbed. "There are two Starships involved in this."
"And those two ships might not be enough," J'Taal replied. "Janner would take great pleasure in killing them," he frowned. "Especially Robert."
Khan rose to his feet.
"There must be something we can do. They might be going to their deaths."
J'Taal seemed to be looking off into the distance, seeing things nobody else could see.
"It is as it was meant to be," he said. "Halan?"
"Yes?" the Dinnetaran stood.
"Ready Danae. Tell her to arm, and cloak, herself."
Halan and Jaim turned away, heading for the nearest transporter to take them to Danae.
J'Taal turned back to Khan.
"We're going to do our best to help them. Now, come. We have much to do now…"
With that, he turned for the transporters, Khan, and the others, Joachim, and Keilan, following after him.
Avalon
The Enterpriseand the Excelsior settled into orbit around Avalon about six days later. Kirk stared at the view screen. It was a peaceful-looking world. But, if Janner's there, it isn't as peaceful as it looks…
Avalon was an Earthlike world with an aboriginal population existing at the level of the Dark Ages in Europe on Terra. All in all, a perfect place for someone like Janner to live in.
Ambassador Sarek had taken Spock's position at the Science-Station, was bending over the console. Presently, he straightened.
"This is most unexpected," he said.
"What is it, Sarek?" Kirk asked.
"Admiral," Sarek turned to face him. "I am getting power-readings that are inconsistent with the level of civilization Avalon's population has achieved."
"Bingo," Robert Wesley spoke softly. Sarek turned to him.
"Ambassador Wesley," the Vulcan said. "The presence of an undoubted alien artifact on this planet does not automatically presuppose the presence of Janner."
"There's an old saying where I come from," Wesley replied. "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck."
"Gentlemen," Kirk stood up. "We've got work to do. You're with me Sarek. Bob, your team ready?"
"We're ready, Jim" Wesley adjusted the sword in its scabbard. "I'll be waiting on the Excelsior "
He turned to leave the Bridge, was stopped by Kirk's voice.
"Remember, Bob, your team goes into action only if you lose contact with us. Also, if you must do this, wear a disguise."
"Will do," Wesley stepped to the turbo lift. "I hope all of this is un-necessary. Good luck down there."
Kirk nodded.
"If we do wind up in the soup, we all could die," he said. "I've already given orders for Enterprise and Excelsior . If they lose contact with us, they are to beam you, and your party, down, and then get the hell out of there. You do understand you could end up stranded here?"
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it," Wesley waved a hand, walking into the turbo lift.
Kirk looked after him. Whatever Bob thinks, I hope he and Janner don't meet. He'd lost Spock, was it only seven months ago? The thought of losing another dear friend was not to be borne. But here he was, planning to send himself, and two other very dear friends, into possible oblivion… No choice … He Commed Sickbay.
"Are you ready, Bones?"
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," McCoy replied from the other end. "I hate walking into danger."
"I'm not too fond of it myself, Bones. We'll just have to keep our eyes and ears open. Be at the Transporter Room in five minutes."
Switching off, Kirk turned to Sarek.
"Ready, Sarek?"
"Yes, Admiral," if Sarek felt any unease, he certainly hid it well
…..
The landing party, Kirk, McCoy, and Sarek, materialized at a spot very close to where the power-readings originated. The ruins of a demolished castle stood nearby.
"How close are we to the power-Readings?" Kirk asked Sarek.
The Vulcan scanned the immediate vicinity.
"We are virtually on top of it, Admiral," he said. He nodded to the castle. "There seems to be an entry inside the castle that goes deeply underground."
"Well…" Kirk headed for the castle. "Let's go ring the doorbell."
The three men stepped forward. Abruptly, they found themselves in a deep cavern, the place brilliantly lit by overhead lights. Even as they drew phasers, looking for cover, a phaser bolt streaked out, striking Sarek. Kirk returned fire, running over to where Sarek lay. Sarek was alive, much to Kirk's relief, only stunned. McCoy said:
"I think we're surrounded, Jim."
Kirk knew they were surrounded. It was all a trap
Several guards came up, led by a short, slender man with a thick mane of black hair tied back at the neck. The man surveyed the trio.
"Excellent," Janner pronounced. Then, he said, "My office would be best for this meeting, I think."
Then, they were all in Janner's office. Janner had quite an advanced Transporter system in this place. The guards collected all of the landing party's phasers and communicators, then lifted Sarek and placed him on the sofa. Again, Janner looked the three over.
"One of your number is missing," he said. "Where is the man with the Shao sword?"
"Whom are you talking about?" Jim asked, feigning innocence. "I don't know any man with a Shao Sword."
"One more lie like that one, and you may not live to regret it," Janner cautioned. "Where is he?"
"Not with us," Kirk said.
"Obviously not," Janner agreed. "We can't have that, can we?"
Janner pressed a button…
…..
On the Excelsior's Bridge, the young man at Communications said:
"Captain Sulu, we're being hailed."
Sulu glanced at Ambassador Wesley, standing right behind him as he sat in his Captain's Chair.
"Put him on, Lieutenant Harper," Sulu turned to the view screen.
A man appeared on the view screen. Sulu heard Wesley's barely suppressed gasp. The man looked at Sulu and Wesley, sardonic amusement glinting in his eyes.
"I have some grave news for you," Janner announced. "The men who beamed down are in my custody. I see the man with a Shao Sword is here. What are you called?"
Sulu watched as Wesley stepped forward.
"I'm Robert Wesley, Ambassador for the United Federation of Planets. How are my friends?"
"They're alive and unhurt," Janner assured him. "One of them, a Vulcan, I believe, was stunned by my men. But, he is well, as of now. But you want to know why I have called you; is that not so?"
"I think I know what you want."
"Ah…" Janner beamed. "Of course you know. Be on Avalon's surface in one hour, alone or your friends will die. Horribly. Do we understand each other?"
"I think so, Janner. Enjoy it while you can. Something tells me you're in for one hell of a fall."
"Too bad you won't be around to see it. Remember. Nobody else is to be with you, or all of your friends shall die. I shall be scanning for extra beam-downs, so I will know of it."
Janner switched off. As Wesley stared at the blank screen, Chekov got to his feet.
"Captain," he said. "Please let me get the team together-"
"Belay that, Chekov," Sulu replied. "Janner said he'd kill Kirk, McCoy, and Sarek, if we send a team down."
"But we can't let the Ambassador go down there alone!" Chekov protested.
"Oh, yes you can," Wesley turned back to face them, smiling slightly.
"But he'll be looking for you. He'll be expecting you!"
"But I've got an hour, Hikaru. Contact Uhura. Tell her I'll need that God of war gear. Have her beam it over here."
"Aye, sir," Sulu hesitated. "You're going to do what this guy said?"
Wesley gave a crooked grin
"Not exactly," he said. "Personally, I think it's high time someone got serious with Janner."
…..
Unbeknownst to anyone, the Danae , heavily cloaked and shielded, had dropped out of warp, coming to a stop nearby. Jaim had listened in on the conversation between Janner and Wesley.
"There's bad news," the Dinnetaran informed the others. "Janner has Admiral Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and ambassador Sarek, and he's just demanded that Wesley surrender himself."
Khan came to his feet. " I will beam down," he said.
"Khan!" Keilan protested. "You can't! If Janner caught you, death would be the most merciful thing he could do to you."
"But Janner doesn't know I'm here."
"Keilan's right," J'Taal laid a hand on Khan's shoulder. "But not for the reasons she gave. You're not ready yet. I know you want vengeance, but that time is not yet come."
"Somebody has to go down," Halan advised. "Kirk, McCoy and Sarek have already been taken, and Janner's using them to force Robert Wesley to come down too."
"I know," J'Taal replied. "I will go down."
"J'Taal," Khan said. "What makes you think-"
"It will all work out," the Shao said. "Joachim shall accompany me."
"Of course," Joachim got to his feet. Just before the two left Danae's Bridge, J'Taal spoke to Danae .
"As soon as we beam down, you are to take yourself, and all aboard you, away from here. Come back in one Standard day. Understand?"
…..
"You get that, Sulu?"
"Aye, Sir," Sulu replied. "You're to be beamed down one kilometer away from the original beam down point. When you're down, Enterprise , and Excelsior are to warp out of orbit and return in twenty-four Standard Hours."
He looked at Wesley; unrecognizable in that God of War disguise he'd worn such a short time ago. That red wig, with its riotous curls all but covering his eyes, had completely changed his features. The Ambassador, Shao Sword in its proper place, bent to pick up a heavy hooded cloak, dropped it over his shoulders, hiding the sword's hilt.
"Remember, Captain," he said. "If you can't hail us when you return, you are to assume that we are all dead. In that case, you are in command of Excelsior and Enterprise . You are to take both ships home."
"Aye, Sir. Be careful down there, will you?"
"Of course I will," Wesley turned to Chekov. "Do you have what I asked for?"
Chekov held up a backpack.
"They're in there," he said.
…..
J'Taal, and Joachim, materialized in front of the ruins of a castle. The two looked at each other, then back at the castle.
"Do we enter?" J'Taal wondered aloud.
"Not us," Joachim said. "Just me, at first. If there's a trap, it will spring on me alone, and you'll be all right."
"Joachim…" the Shao began, but the younger man promptly strode forward, abruptly disappearing in a flash of light. J'Taal stood there for a moment. Then, he briefly sampled the Temporal Winds …
Nothing I can do now. Nothing but hide and wait…
The Shao Priest moved away from the castle, heading into the nearby forest.
Joachim knew what had happened, was grateful he was the one to take that fateful first step. He was standing in a brilliantly lit cavern. Several guards stood near, phasers trained on him.
It was a trap…
"Ah…Robert Wesley. A bit early, I see."
Joachim turned to face the man who had spoken. He found he remembered him.
The man who attacked us on Ceti Alpha. Janner…
Janner raised an eyebrow.
"You're not Robert Wesley!" he exclaimed. "Where is he?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know any Robert Wesley," Joachim apologized. "I'm an archaeologist. I was simply trying to study the castle."
"What about the man who beamed down with you?" Janner demanded. "Where did he go? And you must have seen two Starfleet Cruisers in orbit."
"Well…" Joachim lied. "My friend might've panicked, seeing me disappear like that. He probably beamed back to his ship and got out of here. We didn't see any other ships coming in."
Janner tilted his head, considering.
"That's odd," he commented. "Scan the area," he instructed the guard who was standing at a console. The guard immediately obeyed his orders.
"There's nothing here, Boss," he said. "Scanners show nothing. Not even at the edges of the planetary system."
"Hmm…" Janner thought that over a bit. "The admiral probably left orders for his people to leave if anything went wrong. But I could've sworn that Robert Wesley would've… Never mind."
"May I please go now?" Joachim kept to the role he had assigned himself of hapless archaeologist.
"Don't be hasty," Janner scolded him. "You wanted to see the castle, didn't you? You're in the castle right now. You can stay with the others, in one of the dungeons. That should be an interesting experience for an archaeologist."
Waving a hand, he motioned a guard forward.
"Put him with the others," he said. "He can die with the others when the time comes."
Joachim didn't bother fighting the guards who now surrounded him. There were too many even for the product of a genetic breeding program. They took him through a bewildering array of passages, down several stairs, until they came to a series of dank dungeon cells. In spite of the seeming ancientness of the place, there were several modern conveniences, including a force field to keep the occupants of the cells from getting out. Three of the guards drew their phasers, keeping aim on the three men already in the cell. The force field was briefly turned off, and Joachim was shoved into the cell. As the force field was switched back on, he turned to look at his new companions. He found he remembered two of them.
"Captain Kirk? Dr. McCoy?"
"You know us?" Kirk turned to look the stranger over. Come to think of it, he did look familiar, somehow…
"I am Joachim. I was with Khan Noonian Singh on the Botany Bay .
"Ah, yes…" now Kirk remembered him, a gangly sixteen-year-old, the youngest crewmember on the Botany Bay .
Joachim looked over to Dr. McCoy, who was bending over an unconscious Vulcan.
"Is that Spock?" Joachim asked, remembering the Vulcan's relentless logic.
"No," Kirk replied. "His name's Sarek. Bones?"
"He's coming around now, Jim," the doctor kept his eyes, and his Sight on the Vulcan. Sarek opened his eyes, looked around.
"I take it I was stunned?"
"Yes, you were," McCoy nodded, holding up a hand. "How many fingers do you see?"
Sarek squinted at McCoy's hand.
"Three?" he said.
McCoy looked at his raised index and middle fingers. "Oh boy…" he muttered.
Kirk ignored them, turned back to Joachim.
"Do you know if Bob Wesley came down?"
"No," Joachim shook his head. "At first, Janner thought I was he. Then, after discovering I wasn't, he found out that your ship was gone. Who is Robert Wesley?"
"Someone Janner wants to kill," Kirk replied. "But, if Enterprise , and Excelsior are both gone, maybe Bob used his brains and took them back home."
…..
Robert Wesley had beamed down a goodly distance from the castle. The extra walking this entailed was not a problem for the Ambassador. Caution was everything now. He knew that Sulu had taken both ships away now, not to return for twenty-four hours.
It's all up to me now…
Moving as quickly, and quietly, as possible, he made his way to the castle. Still some distance away, he scanned the area with his tricorder. There was an area, in front of the castle, that served as an automatic Transporter Platform. All you had to do was step on it, and away you'd go…
Wesley stepped up to the edge of the thing, dug into the backpack for a bit, brought something out. It was an innocuous-looking little boxlike object. It didn't look dangerous at all…
But looks can be deceiving…
Wesley activated the thing and tossed it onto the point of no return. It landed, then disappeared…
Several guards waited in the caverns, presumably for Robert Wesley. They saw the boxlike little thing materialize on the Transporter Platform. One of them walked up to it and bent over it. It seemed to be making a rather odd little noise.
Bleep…bleep…bleep…
"You know…" one of the guards said. "I've got a bad feeling about this…"
The device exploded, with more force than one might expect form such a small thing. It was an Implosion Mine , and it took the entire cavern down…
"What the hell was that?" McCoy asked. All four men had heard, and felt, the impact of the explosion. Sarek sat up, still slightly lightheaded.
"I believe it was an implosion device," he said. "Admiral Kirk?"
"Yes," Kirk was looking up at the ceiling. "It's Bob."
Janner's Security people were busy digging the others out of the mess that had been a cavern. Even the Perimeter Guards were involved. Nobody noticed the red haired barbarian who had stepped, very carefully , around the automatic Transporter Spot, and entered the castle…
Wesley brushed red curls out of his eyes, studied his tricorder. The stairs went down a long way, a very long way…
It took a long time to reach the bottom of the stairs, Wesley moving as silently as a mouse, scarcely daring to breathe. Finally, he reached the bottom of the stairs. Looking around, he saw dim lights set in the wall. Not torches. These were artificial lights.
And artificial lights need a power source…
Smiling, the Ambassador followed his tricorder readings to the power source. Fortunately, the explosion at the cavern had created quite a diversion. He didn't see anyone until he came to the main power station; and there, at least, he saw the guard before the guard saw him…
Wesley quickly stuffed the tricorder under the tunic covering the breastplate, adopted the manner of a barbarian seeing modern technology for the very first time…
He saw the guard pick up a communicator, heard the two-way conversation…
"You're not going to believe this, guys. One of those barbarians finally got the courage to enter the castle. He came all the way down here."
"Are you sure he's a barbarian?" the other voice asked.
"Yeah. He's got the look, all right. All that hair and stuff…"
"Okay," the other voice sighed. "Just escort him back up the stairs, will you? We can't help. We've got problems of our own."
The guard put his communicator away, tried to adopt a reassuring attitude. The red haired barbarian didn't really seem all that frightened. But these barbarians were like that, the guard recalled. They would look, and act, calm right up to the last minute. Then, they'd come up fighting…
"Easy there, big fella," speaking calmly, the guard slowly held out both hands, showing he was unarmed, that his intentions were peaceful.
The barbarian stood there, red curls all but covering his eyes. Then, strangely, he smiled and came up to the guard. It all seemed to happen so quickly…
One moment, the barbarian had taken his hand in a gesture of friendship. The next moment, the guard was slammed against a wall, stunned breathless, thoroughly searched, and divested of phaser and communicator. Then, a pitying look in his eyes, the barbarian gave him a clout at the back of the head. The guard didn't know anything after that…
Wesley eased the man to the floor, looked over the items found when he had frisked the guard, a phaser, a communicator, and a passkey…
The passkey would let him into the area that housed the power station.
Taking a deep breath, loosening his sword under his cloak, he inserted the card into the door-slot. It opened, and Wesley dashed in. Nobody was there. Carefully, he placed two Implosion Devices where they would do the most damage, dashed out again, retrieving the card. Dragging the still unconscious guard as far away from the site as possible, he triggered the devices.
The explosion was a very satisfying one, destroying the power station completely. All the lights, and force fields, went out immediately, leaving only a very few, and very dim, lights which were served by an emergency backup generator…
…..
"Captain," Joachim announced. "The cell's force field just went down."
"I know," Kirk helped Sarek to his feet. "I think Bob hit the power station."
"A commendable objective," Sarek said. "We should start moving."
"Agreed. Bones, you ready?"
Dr. McCoy was standing next to Joachim.
"I thought you would never ask."
The four men snuck out very quietly. But nobody was looking for them. A red haired barbarian had found his way into the castle, and was now spreading death and destruction. He appeared to be armed with a phaser and Implosion Devices…
"Could that be who I think it is?" McCoy asked.
"It would have to be," Kirk smiled. "Maybe Janner bit off more that he could chew this time. Okay, the coast is clear."
They moved on. When they came to a corner, Kirk had them stop.
"Someone's coming," he whispered. They could all hear the footsteps. Sarek listened.
"There is, I believe, only one," he spoke very quietly. Kirk nodded, motioned the others back against the wall. Then, he waited.
I wish I had my phaser…
The footsteps drew nearer. Kirk waited until the last minute. Then, he leaped out…
…Only to be caught, and held, by a barbarian with long, red, and curly hair. Kirk relaxed.
"Bob?"
"Were you expecting someone else?" Wesley glanced around. "We'd better head back up the stairs. Beaming anywhere is out of the question now."
He tensed, a bit, looking at Joachim.
"Who is that?"
"Joachim, a friend of Khan's," Kirk replied. "Where are the stairs?"
"Follow me," Wesley led the way to the stairs.
It was a rather long walk up the stairs, and everyone-with the exception of Joachim-was at least a little winded by the time they reached the top. But they hadn't run into anyone on the way up.
"You must've hit them hard, Bob," Kirk commented. "I'd have thought they'd be hard on our tails by now."
"Hopefully, Janner's buried alive down there." Wesley spoke earnestly. "Okay everyone. Into the woods just in case we need cover."
The small group moved into the forested area, walking quietly, ears alert for anything dangerous.
"Did our ships get away?" Kirk asked.
"I believe they did, Jim" Wesley replied. "But I can't be sure. If they did, they'll be back in twenty four Standard Hours."
"But we don't have communicators," McCoy spoke up. "They won't know we're alive and free."
Wesley smiled, holding up his right hand. He was wearing a Wrist-Unit.
"I came prepared," was all he said.
"Why the cloak, Bob?"
"To hide my sword, Jim."
"Dare I ask what you've got in the backpack?"
"Implosion Devices, Jim. There are still quite a few left too…"
Just then, phaser bolts streaked out, narrowly missing Wesley. Everyone threw themselves down, flat upon the ground.
"You all right, Bob?" Jim hissed.
"Yeah," Wesley dug into the backpack, pulling out three hand phasers, tossing them to Kirk. The Admiral handed one to the doctor. McCoy glared at him.
"I'm a doctor, Jim! Not a-"
"Shut up, Bones. This is an emergency," Kirk handed the second phaser to Sarek. "I know you have profound inhibitions against the taking of life. But our situation is extreme. Will you use it if you have to?"
"Sometimes, there is no logical alternative," Sarek replied. "As deplorable as it is to me, this seems to be just such an occasion."
Wesley loosened his sword, kept his own phaser in hand. He smiled grimly.
"How much money would you like to wager that Janner's out there?" he said.
"I'm not a gambling man, Bob," Kirk ignored McCoy's muttered Ha! . "Especially at those odds. I don't think they've surrounded us yet. It's going to be a fight, people."
Everyone steeled themselves. Then, at Kirk's muttered order, they began to move…
A phaser bolt streaked out, Wesley, and Kirk, returned fire, bringing two guards down as McCoy, Joachim, and Sarek made their retreat. It was a running phaser battle, the guards chasing after the escapees, firing phasers incessantly.
Kirk's party was almost surrounded a few times, but Wesley's Implosion Devices-thrown with unerring precision-dispersed the attacking party each time, leaving devastated bodies in their wake.
But Janner, as contemptuous of human life as he was, apparently thought little of sending thousands of guards out to attack them. Eventually, he would succeed. That fact was becoming inevitably, painfully clear to everyone…
Kirk stood, looking over his companions. McCoy was exhausted, and sick at heart as well, for all the guards killed that day. Sarek was maintaining a calmness and equanimity that was heartening to see. But the Vulcan, too, was exhausted, the effects of the stunning not entirely gone. Only Robert Wesley, Joachim, and Kirk himself, could be considered truly battle-worthy. And Kirk knew he, at least, was tired too.
"This isn't good," he muttered to himself. Wesley heard, strode up to him.
"Jim," he said. "One of us is going to have to make a last stand so the rest of you can escape."
"Bob," Kirk began, but Wesley cut him off.
"Yes, Jim," he said. "I know its suicide. But I don't think there's any other way to save the group. What was it you said Spock said during the battle with the Reliant ? The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?"
"Or the one…" Kirk finished the quotation. He hated this. Wesley was right. Someone would have to sacrifice himself, make that last stand. And Wesley, with that sword of his, was the only one who had a chance of fighting Janner.
Kirk stared at Wesley, committing the man's features to memory, knowing this was the last time he would see him alive.
"The deep part of the forest has unusual trees, I'm told," Wesley said. "It appears they block scanners, it seems. If you can get the Dream Team into the forest, Janner won't be able to track you."
"Bob…"
"I know," Wesley said. "This isn't exactly something I want to do. But we simply don't have a choice here."
Wesley turned away from Kirk, surveying the area.
"Get your people out of here, Jim" he said. "Godspeed."
Kirk stared at his back.
"Gentlemen," he addressed McCoy and Sarek. "Ready phasers."
"Jim," McCoy started to protest. "We can't leave-"
"Shut up, Bones," Kirk looked at the tricorder. "The guards are gathered at twenty degrees east, and thirty degrees west," he pointed in those directions. "Let's go. Good luck, Bob."
Wesley heard them leave. He stood there, hidden by overhanging branches, waiting for Janner's guards to make their appearance. Holding an Implosion Device in his hand, he watched, and waited.
Finally, a group of guards appeared. Wesley gauged distances, and numbers, waiting until the two groups united and began to move forward. Janner was in the lead…
Finally, the group was in range. Wesley primed the device, and threw it into the middle of the troop, throwing himself down to the ground as the explosion rocked the ground. Then, he arose, sword in one hand, phaser in the other, searching for Janner, and any guards who might've survived the blast. Only a few guards had survived it, and those ran off, their courage finally undone. But Janner remained, and Wesley felt brief pity for those guards who had run off. They would soon experience Janner's vengeance, he was sure…
Wesley dropped the phaser, knowing it would be of no use at all in confronting Janner. He remembered Jan Freburg's death, knew he didn't want to die like that himself. But the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one…
"So you are the red haired barbarian," Janner's voice spun him around.
"Hello, Janner," he said, doffing the red haired wig, and then held the Shao Swordmaster's Blade in readiness. "You wanted to see me?"
"I wanted to see the only Terran who ever dared to face me in combat. Do you even know how you did what you did? Do you think you shall be able to do it again? Only one way to find out…"
Janner attacked, multiple bolts of coherent energy springing from his fingers. Wesley brought his sword up to block it, felt something draw all that energy to the blade. The energy whipped around Wesley, coming back at Janner. The man's eyes widened as he tried to leap out of the way. Too late…
He was thrown back several feet, lay motionless for a moment. Then, he sat up.
"Very interesting," Janner commented. "Once might be a coincidence. But, twice? There must really be something to you after all. But, what is it? Are you a Shao Priest? Do you have the blood of the True Born in your veins to do what you have done? Another Age, another galaxy, the Shao Priest who found you would've gleaned great glory merely for finding you. Quite odd to find a True Born among Mortals, amazing actually."
Then, he attacked again…
…..
Kirk led the others deeper into the forest. Except for one brief skirmish with the guards at the beginning, all was quiet. In spite of the successful escape, all Kirk felt was grief.
Spock saved the Enterprise, and died for it. And we are alive now because of Bob…
He remembered how David Marcus had said he had never truly faced death before.
True. I never liked losing. Every time a member of my crew died, I felt it as a personal failure. I cheated on my third try with the Kobyashu Maru…
But there were the living to consider. McCoy stood there, scowling at the ground. Sarek was sitting on a large rock, seemingly at peace with himself, but Kirk knew this day weighed heavily on him as well. Joachim was the only one who still looked fresh, not surprising, as he had come out of a genetic breeding program. He was very nearly as strong as Khan. Sarek had long ago handed him his phaser, and now, the young blond man was keeping lookout, listening for anyone who might discover their location.
"Damn it!" McCoy muttered. Then, he spoke more loudly.
"Did he really have to die?"
Bones feels it too…
"We didn't have a choice, Bones," Kirk replied. "Bob was the only one who had even a remote chance of heading Janner off. That sword of his somehow gave him an advantage of sorts. One that the rest of us simply didn't have."
Everyone fell silent then, until Joachim stirred.
"Someone's coming," he announced.
Everyone tensed, Kirk coming forward to stand by Joachim's side, hoping-in spite of the apparent futility-that it would be Robert Wesley. The man who appeared, however, was one he had never met before. He was tall, lean, with jet-black hair, coppery skin, and fiery golden eyes.
"Keir J'Taal!" Joachim relaxed, turned to Kirk. "This is a friend."
"Ah…yes," Kirk faced the newcomer. He remembered Wesley talking about the Shao Priest who had taught him…
"You're J'Taal?" Kirk asked. "Robert Wesley's teacher?"
"Yes," the Shao turned to him. "You must be Admiral Kirk."
He looked at the group, counting heads.
"Robert's not here," he noticed. "Where is he?"
"He stayed behind to cover our escape," Kirk explained, seeing the appalled look in J'Taal's eyes. "There wasn't any choice," he added.
"Of course there wasn't," J'Taal replied. "I'm going to find him and bring him back."
"If he's dead…" Kirk began.
"Admiral," J'Taal raised a hand. "I'll deal with that if it comes to that. I'll be back when I can. I think it best if the rest of you stay here."
With that, he was off, heading back to the castle, and its immediate vicinity…
…..
It couldn't last much longer. Robert Wesley knew this. Again, and again, Janner had sent bolt after bolt of energy at him. Again, and again, something repelled the attack. But the Ambassador felt himself beginning to weaken.
Whatever this power was that he had, it seemed to be much like the shields of a Federation Starship. Eventually, the shields would dissipate under such concentrated fire…
Eventually, he would die…
At least he had the somewhat dubious comfort of knowing that Janner wasn't exactly unscathed from this encounter. He had taken a few hits too, during this battle, and was looking somewhat the worse for wear…
Please let my friends have gotten away…
Wesley didn't want his death, a certainty now, to be in vain…
Then, Janner put everything he had into a last-ditch attack, energy streaking across the short space between him and Wesley. The Ambassador managed to block most of it. But not all of it…
The force of it hurled Wesley against a large rock. He collapsed to the ground, sword lying a few feet from where he lay. Janner stared at the other man, lying face down on the rough ground.
"Finally," Janner breathed, sinking to his knees in utter exhaustion. "What an unpleasant surprise."
He had wanted to spend a little time, and imagination, on killing Wesley. No such luck.
I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way, I suppose…
He crawled over to where Wesley lay, pulled out a dagger. Then, he leaned over to turn Wesley over onto his back. As he shoved Wesley over, stars exploded inside his skull, then darkness swiftly descended…
Wesley dropped the rock he had been holding, shoved Janner's body off. Right now, he wasn't really all that capable of conscious, rational thought. Get up, get moving , was all he was capable of right now. He pushed himself to his knees. From there, he tried to stagger to his feet. But his legs weren't working quite right…
"My sword," he muttered, looking around, wondering if the world would stop wobbling and let him find his sword.
There it was, lying by a tree. Wesley crawled over to the tree, picked the sword up. Then, using the tree, Wesley hauled himself up to his feet. It didn't seem that standing was a very good idea right now. The world was wobbling even more, and beginning to tilt a little as well. After that battle with Janner…
"Janner," he remembered. Turning his head slowly, fighting vertigo every inch of the way, he looked around until he found where Janner lay. The body disappeared right in front of his eyes.
"Robert?"
Wesley slowly turned to face the voice. He knew that voice.
"J'Taal?"
"Yes," the Shao looked him over, more than a little worried. Wesley's appearance was frightening, blood dripping from a nasty gash over his left eyebrow, dribbling down his cheek to mingle with the blood dripping from his nose. He looked dazed, stunned…
"Robert," J'Taal asked. "Can you walk?"
It alarmed him that Wesley had to stop and think that one over…
"Where are we going?" Wesley asked after a moment.
"Admiral Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Sarek, your friends. Do you remember them?"
"Yes. Are they-"
"They're fine," J'Taal assured him. "Sheathe your sword."
"My sword…" Wesley stared at the sword he was holding as if he had never seen it before. "Oh, yeah…"
He tried to slide the sword into the scabbard three times. Finally, J'Taal had to help him, taking the sword and sheathing it himself.
"Thanks, J'Taal," Wesley said. "You know, I don't feel very good…"
J'Taal was half-expecting this, was ready for it when it happened. When Wesley's legs buckled, J'Taal caught him. Quickly, he slung the unconscious man's body over his shoulder and headed off…
…..
Admiral Kirk was pacing back and forth. He wondered what J'Taal would see when he found Wesley. Images of Jan Freburg's death came back to plague him. He knew he would never be able to forgive himself if Robert Wesley died like that…
He looked at the people with him. Dr. McCoy was sitting, hunched, against a rock. Joachim was keeping lookout. Sarek was walking up to him.
"How are you feeling, Sarek?" Kirk was worried about the Vulcan as well.
"I am fully recovered from being stunned, Admiral," Sarek studied him intently. "You must not feel that you are to blame for Ambassador Wesley's death. That we are alive and free is most certainly attributable to his actions. Even if those actions result in his death, he could do no less."
"Yes," Kirk agreed. "Bob sacrificed himself for the many. But, I'm afraid, Sarek. We all saw what Janner did to Jan Freburg. I can just bring myself to understand that Bob had to die to save us all. But to die like that…"
Sarek tilted his head.
"You speak," he said. "As if you have seen Ambassador Wesley die. Please remember, Admiral, that Ambassador Wesley's death is not a foregone conclusion. Of us all, he is the one man who might actually have a chance, admittedly a slight one, of surviving this."
Kirk was about to say something like, yes, when pigs fly, when Joachim cleared his throat.
"Someone's coming."
Everyone tensed, McCoy getting to his feet. J'Taal appeared, carrying a man's body over his shoulders. Kirk and McCoy moved up to relieve the Shao of his burden.
Robert Wesley…
McCoy looked at him, using eyes and Sight. His eyes saw an alarming picture. Wesley's face was streaked with blood, beginning to dry. Holding the unconscious man's head gently, he thumbed the eyelids open. The eyes were rolled up into the sockets, only a bit of iris showing…
"He's in shock, Jim. My medical bag is somewhere in that base."
"Are you using your Sight ?"
"Yeah, Jim. He's in shock, and if I can't treat it, he will die."
"Do what you can, Bones," Kirk turned to J'Taal. "What happened? Why didn't Janner kill him?"
"Because he was in even worse shape," the Shao replied. "Robert managed to knock him out."
Kirk felt his jaw drop at that. J'Taal went on.
"Janner's body disappeared as I was coming up, so I don't know how badly he was hurt. But Robert did, indeed, hurt Janner."
"Bob messed him up that badly?"
"It certainly looks that way."
Just then, Kirk's Wrist Comm beeped. A smile of pure relief lit up his face.
"Kirk to Enterprise . Come in."
"Uh…" the voice on the other end replied. "We're not the Enterprise. This is Captain Freed of the Nosy . Do you require any help?"
"Yes," Kirk replied. "We're a party of six, and one of our number is injured. Seriously, I think."
"Okay," Freed replied. "We're going to beam you directly to Sick Bay. Hang on a bit."
The Transporter took them directly to Sick Bay.
"All right," Joan Garner saw the unconscious man.
"Get him on the bed," she ordered.
Joachim and McCoy lay Wesley upon the bed. Garner stared at the readouts as she undid the tunic.
"He's in shock," she said as she worked. "What happened to him?"
"It's too involved to get into now," Kirk replied. "How is he, apart from the shock?"
"I'll let you know when we get there. Hey!" Garner exclaimed. "He's wearing a breast-plate. Why the hell is he wearing an idiotic thing like that?"
McCoy helped her get the breastplate off. When it came off, both doctors stared at Wesley's bare chest in surprise. From shoulders to waist, he was a mass of bruises...
"What hit him?" Garner demanded. "An elephant?"
"You don't want to know," Kirk assured her. "Is anything-"
"No, Jim" McCoy replied. "Nothing's broken. But he'll be sore for a while."
As they talked, Garner injected Wesley with a hypo, keeping an eye on the readouts. Life-signs were beginning to stabilize.
"All right, guys," she said. " I've got work to do."
Kirk, and the others, left Sick Bay. Garner looked after them, and then turned back to her patient. He was beginning to come around. He stirred, opening his eyes.
"Where am I?"
"You're on the Nosy ," Garner replied. "You're in sick Bay, and all your friends are safe and sound with us as well."
Wesley relaxed a bit.
"They're all right?"
"Kirk, and all the others are completely unhurt," Garner said. "You look like you tried to play tag with a herd of wild elephants. What happened?"
"A fight."
"No shit Sherlock. How do you feel?"
"Strange," Wesley looked up at her. She had taken out a hypo. "Do I need that?" he asked.
"Yes," she said simply. "You do. You almost died back there. Sleep is the best medicine for you right now."
She injected the hypo, sending Wesley into immediate sleep.
Almost immediately, he found himself back in Starfleet Academy Park
Okay, Matt's probably going to want to chew me out for trying to take Janner down…
"As if you had a choice, Bob," Wesley turned, found Matt Decker standing right next to him. "As a matter of fact, Bob, you did take him down. As in all the way down. That rock caved his skull in."
"Then, it's over," Wesley marveled. "Khan's safe."
Decker was shaking his head.
"I really hate to burst your bubble like that," he said. "But just because you killed him doesn't mean he's dead."
"Uh…" Wesley paused. "Please explain that for me. I seem to have fallen off a galaxy or so behind."
"It was a clone, Bob. What you need to do is rescue Dr. Janner."
"Rescue …" Wesley found a nearby bench and sat down, "Please forgive me if I'm a bit slow in the uptake. We have to rescue the man who killed Admiral Morrow, all those children in the park, tortured Jan Freburg to death, and almost killed me? Are you out of you ever loving mind?"
Decker sat down next to him.
"Please listen, Bob, and don't say anything until I'm done. This might take a while."
"Don't worry about time, Matt. Dr. Garner gave me a hypo. I'll be here a while."
"Okay," Decker nodded. "Here we go… You do know that the Khan who died on the Reliant was a clone? Good. Just before Khan was kidnapped, there was another kidnap victim. This was Stefan Janner. His capture was covered up by a faked accident resulting in the destruction of the ship he was traveling on at the time. It was the Sahara , Bob."
"The Sahara ?" Wesley felt a brief blaze of rage course through him. His wife and son had been on that ship when it was destroyed. "Janner was responsible for that? He killed my wife and son?"
"Bob," Matt was grim. "You've got to understand one thing right now. Janner isn't Janner. The being that did this did it so he'd have a body to use for cloning purposes. He uses the cloned bodies the way we would use vehicles. That's what the Janner you killed was. Just a vehicle for the being who drove it."
Wesley was appalled.
"What else do you know?"
"Well…" Matt looked at Wesley. "Stefan Janner and Joan garner are cousins. She knew him quite well. If you want any information of the real Stefan Janner, she's the one you'll want to talk to."
"All right, Matt. Now, do you know the being that's responsible for all of this?"
"Yes," Matt said. "Part of why he chose Janner is because of the phonetic similarity of their names. The being's name is Janah. Tell J'Taal what I just told you. He knows all about Janah. Now, if you want to really inconvenience Janah, you need to rescue Stefan Janner. That will reduce Janah's ability to move around with ease. People tend to notice man size tarantulas. So, would you care to guess where Janah's keeping Janner?"
"If he's on Avalon, it might be too late," Wesley replied. "I did bring much of Janner's-Janah's-base down."
"Relax, Bob. He's being kept on Juno. Pretty much the same way Khan was."
"Good grief," was all Wesley could think of to say. Then, he remembered something Janner had said to him earlier…
"What are the True Born ?"
"Who said that, Bob? J'Taal?"
"No, Matt. It was Janner. He said that I was like the True Born Shao, or something along those lines. He said they were even rare among the Shao, and unheard of for them to appear among Terrans. What are the True Born?"
"The True Born are the elite among the Shao. Janner was merely commenting on the rarity of someone with characteristics of the True Born turning up in a species of people that age. The people of Sanctuary Alliance-Vani, Dinnetarans, and Shao-don't age."
"They don't age?" Wesley was startled.
"No, they don't, Bob. They can die of accident, illness, and plain, old-fashioned violence. But they don't die of old age. I was wondering when you'd get around to that."
"Why, Matt?"
"Weren't you adopted, Bob?"
"Uh…Yeah. My father told me my biological parents died in an accident in space."
"Yes," Decker leaned forward. "Did you ever learn who they were?"
"You know they sealed the documents, Matt."
"Of course," Decker nodded. "I just wanted to tell you they were Vani."
Wesley laughed out loud.
"Come on, Matt!" he shook his head again. "That's ridiculous!"
Decker smiled as Wesley laughed.
"Well… I did try to tell you," he said. "Just bear one thing in mind. What you did with Janner makes you more powerful than many Shao Masters. You did this not once, but twice. How many Terrans that you know of can claim that particular honor?"
Wesley shook his head again. Decker was right about that, at least.
I went up against Janner twice, and I'm still alive…
"Do you have any other questions, Bob?"
"No," Wesley looked at Decker who was staring back at him with amusement.
"What is it, Bob?"
"Dr. Joan Garner," Matt smiled. "I think she likes you. She's a Vani too."
Decker disappeared. Wesley shrugged ad the dream dissolved around him, becoming just a regular dream that all sleepers have…
The Morning After
The next morning found Admiral Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Captain Freed in the Captain's office, sipping coffee.
Kirk took another sip of coffee, made a face.
"This has got to be the most ersatz blend of coffee I've ever had," he said.
"I'm sorry, Admiral," Freed grinned. "The Nosy's a good ship, but an old one."
"Count your blessings, Jim," McCoy scolded. "We're alive, and that should count for something."
"Yes," Kirk nodded. "One question, Dan. How did you know we were on Avalon?"
"This guy turned up out of nowhere," Freed said. "He told us you guys were stranded here."
"Who was he?" Kirk asked.
"He said his name was Will. That's all the name he ever gave us."
Kirk took another sip of "coffee".
"Enterprise and Excelsior should be here any moment," he added.
""We're keeping an eye out for them," Freed said. "We'll hail them as soon as they arrive."
Sarek came up.
"Admiral," he said. "May I have a moment of your time?"
"Certainly," Kirk stood, quite happy to leave the now-cold coffee on the table. "What's up?"
"I was granted one of those dreams during meditation," Sarek hesitated. "It concerns Janner."
"I know," Kirk replied. "I had the same dream too. I think Bob's still asleep. But, I'm willing to bet he had the same dream as well. Unless his condition precludes him from it."
"It would be best to visit Sick Bay in order to ascertain Ambassador Wesley's condition."
"Agreed," Kirk and Sarek were about to head for Sick Bay when Forrest's voice sounded over the intercom.
"Enterprise and Excelsior are here. There's another ship here as well. It's not Starfleet. They're looking for Joachim, and J'Taal."
"Good," Freed stood. "Let's get our act together."
He Commed Sick Bay.
"Joanie," he said. "Is your patient able to travel?"
"Yes, Dan," Garner's voice came over the Comm. "He's awake, and feeling better. He wants to talk to Admiral Kirk and Ambassador Sarek."
"He can do that on the Enterprise . Are Joachim and J'Taal there?"
"Yes. They're both with Ambassador Wesley. Dan, I need to ask a favor of you."
"Sure, Joanie. What is it?"
"Could we tag along with them? Ambassador Wesley told me something about my cousin, Stefan Janner."
"Bingo," Kirk whispered softly. "Bob had the same dream."
Freed glanced at Kirk.
"She told me he was killed around sixteen years ago," Freed said.
"Some sources have informed us that this might not be the case," Kirk replied. "There's enough room in our Main Bay for the Nosy "
"Okay," Freed nodded. "She loved her cousin very much. When his death was announced, it very nearly killed her too. Admiral… Did you ever meet up with a guy called Martin Santirez?"
"Yes," Kirk replied. "Where did you meet him?"
"On Juno, Admiral. He'd been kidnapped off Ceti Alpha V just after you got him, and his people settled there. Did you help him find his people?"
"I couldn't. They were all dead."
"What happened, Admiral? When we got to Ceti Alpha V, the place was hell on earth."
"I don't know what happened, Dan. All I know is that they're all dead, and that particular story is to complicated to get into now. But thank you for saving Mr. Santirez's life."
"Speaking of Martin, where is he?"
"We don't know," Kirk admitted. "Someone going by the name of Janner has been trying to either capture him, or kill him. Santirez has been taken to an organization calling itself Sanctuary Alliance. I wish I knew how he was too."
"He is on the Danae ," J'Taal's voice brought them around. The Shao stood with Ambassadors Wesley and Sarek…and Joan Garner.
"We have decided that it will be safe enough for him to rejoin the Enterprise crew. Joachim will, of course, accompany him."
"And you?" Kirk asked.
"I, too, should like to accompany you. I have my own reasons."
J'Taal glanced meaningfully at Wesley as he said this.
Wesley looked almost fully recovered from the close call of the day before.
"How are you feeling, Bob?" Kirk asked.
"I'm fine, Jim" the Ambassador replied. "Just a case of pulled muscles."
"At least that will keep you out of trouble for a while," Kirk looked his party over. Let's go back to our ships and get the hell out of here. Then, the first order of business will be a meeting off all of us who know who Martin Santirez really is."
"I presume that Martin Santirez is also invited to this meeting?"
"Of course he is," Kirk nodded. "He's the whole reason for the meeting, isn't he?"
A Meeting on the Enterprise
The group met in the Enterprise's main Conference Room. Even Commander Chekov attended, although Captain Sulu thought Chekov was merely attending as Sulu's representative, Sulu too busy scanning space, near and far, for anything that might be a danger…
Everyone was quite happy to have Khan Singh back with them, although his attire excited a few comments…
Kirk had seen that sort of clothing before.
The Medusan Ambassador…
A blind woman who interacted with her world as if sighted, she had worn a neuro-net woven into her clothing…
Once everyone had taken their seats, Kirk called the meeting into order.
"Lieutenant Santirez," he said. "I'm glad to have you back with us. I'm hoping you'll stay with us for a while."
"Thank you, Admiral," Khan bowed slightly. "From what J'Taal tells me, I just might be able to stick around this time. But what's this I hear about Dr. Janner?"
"Just the question I'd like to ask," Kirk turned to Wesley. Bob, Sarek and I both…were visited by our respective sources. We were referred to you. What did your source say?"
"Matt said Janner isn't really Janner. The Janner we've been facing, the one who kidnapped Khan from Ceti Alpha V, is a clone. The real Stefan Janner is being kept on Juno, in almost exactly the same way Khan was being kept there. The clone is operated-much like we operate a vehicle-by a being called Janah. Apparently Janah endows these clones with his abilities."
"Janah?" J'Taal paled at mention of the name. "That is his name?"
"Yes," Wesley turned to him. "What's wrong, J'Taal?"
"He was the slayer of a legendary King of ours, a man called Ar Jeyal."
"Ar Jeyal isn't our problem," Kirk spoke up. "Janah is. What else did Matt say, Bob?"
"He said we would have to rescue him," Wesley shook his head. "There's only one way I can figure to pull this off. One of us will have to go undercover. As a patient."
McCoy snorted.
"Now, who would be stupid enough to volunteer for a mission like that?"
Khan stirred.
"At the risk of being labeled stupid," he said. "I think I should be the one to go there. I was a patient there, you might recall."
"Hold on a bit there," Kirk interposed. "There are two reasons why you shouldn't. You're blind, and you won't have access to your neuro-net. Also, even though Janner-Janah, I mean-might still be keeping an eye on the place. If you appear there, he'll probably trash the place to get to you. Whoever goes there will need to be able to defend himself from Janah…"
Kirk paused, abruptly realizing what he was saying…
"Oh, no …"
Wesley laughed.
"So, it's me again," he said. "There's only one problem. I'm not really sure I know how to fake insanity."
"What are you talking about?" Khan glared at Kirk and Wesley. J'Taal laid a hand on Khan's shoulder as he explained.
"It's this way, Khan. We need to place a spy in the Juno Research Center, to locate where Stefan Janner is being held. Robert Wesley is the best choice for two reasons. He is, after all, the only man who has ever beaten Janah in combat; and he did this twice. Also, if we do this right, even if Janah is keeping an eye on Juno, there's a chance he might actually leave Robert alone if he thinks Robert's there because of neurological damage done by the last fight."
"I don't quite follow," Khan tilted his head. "Neurological damage?"
"Let me explain," Wesley said. "Janah probably wouldn't know whether I survived or not. I'm sure he's got the hates for me by now. If I were to suffer irreparable brain damage, however, I think he'd be satisfied with that, and leave me alone. But fooling him into thinking I'm harmless now will require all sorts of fancy work."
"That can be done quite easily," J'Taal assured him. "If you're willing, Robert, I can make you really insane for this mission's duration. But we would also need help from Sick Bay, and Dr. McCoy. We'll need implants to fool any medical scanners, to show neurological damage where there is none. But, we'll also need to use cosmetics rather heavily too. Fake scars and blood, and bruises too. That sort of thing…"
"I looked that bad?" Wesley asked.
"You don't want to know," J'Taal said. "I was certain you were going to die. We'll also arrange transport for you to steal."
"Steal?" Wesley raised an eyebrow.
"Admiral Kirk," J'Taal smiled at the group. "You will report Ambassador Wesley lost, and presumably killed. Robert, I will have Danae release one of her warp-capable shuttlecraft to you, and I will report that stolen by persons unknown. If you move quickly enough, you should reach Juno before the authorities catch up with you."
"I believe you plan will work," Sarek commented. "But, I do have one question. How shall you make a sane man insane?"
"I'm a Shao priest," J'Taal said. "I have been trained in the mysteries of the mind and body. I will Link with Robert, with his permission, and deliberately derail the way his mind functions. Are you willing to do this, Robert? If we do this, you will be insane, and no pretending about it."
"Ah…" now that he thought about it, Wesley liked his marbles just fine as they were. But…
"We don't really have any choice, do we?" he said. "If we can rescue Stefan Janner from Janah's clutches, it might not stop Janah completely. But, it will slow him down some. Besides, how can we knowingly leave an innocent man in there?"
He paused, and then went on.
"You will be keeping an eye on me?" he asked J'Taal.
"Of course, Robert. I'll be Mind Linked to you through the whole thing, keeping you on track with your mission as well as keeping you insane. You won't be alone in this."
Wesley let out a breath.
"Thanks," he said. "I feel much better about that."