In the transporter room, Juliette found that Dr. Fenna's skill with Uwda disguises had improved. Instead of her fellow crewmen, she saw a quartet older, gray-haired Uwda. The doctor had even remembered to add varicose bulbs to the ends of their ears. They wore clothing suitable for their age - garish, but not as extreme as those worn by younger generations. While the Uwda disguises fooled Juliette's eyes, her mind quickly identified Syvok's disciplined thoughts next to the brilliant and strong presence of her fellow Betazoids - Ensigns Borin, and Telanta. The last she identified as Lieutenant Angh. Juliette recalled Angh's people - Napeans - were powerful empaths and doubled her defenses. Angh, still unused to the Uwdan disguise, plucked uncomfortably at his ears until he sensed Juliette's chagrin. He abruptly stopped and looked at her sheepishly.
I apologize, they make my head itch terribly, he thought to her.
Never do that in public. Ever.
She approached the quartet, her bare hands clasped politely in front of her as she greeted them in Uwdan. Their replies were passable, but their accents alarmed her.
"I cannot place your accent. Do I know your homeland?" Juliette asked.
They looked uncomfortably between each other until Ensign Telanta, her long hair pulled back in a thick ebony braid, carefully asked, "Have you heard of the Talok Canton?"
Sri shook her head gently. "Even if I had, I don't know why you would talk about me. As I am the center of my world, I am the center of my words. When I talk, I talk about me, or how things are to me. I only speak of you as a sign of great respect. For example, if I were your child or your servant, I would speak of you, instead of me.
Ensign Telanta nodded curtly. "I'm sorry. I will remember to do so. Perhaps I should have practiced Uwdan more."
Juliette felt the ensign's worry and insecurity. She smiled and encouragingly patted Telanta's shoulder - careful to avoid her bare arm. "I can practice with you at the station. I am confident things will go well." She added in standard, "You'll do fine, Ensign. You look very convincing."
Telanta smiled back tentatively, connecting the moment their gaze met. She let the ensign feel nothing but her confidence and let her draw from it freely.
Syvok, his facial hair waxed to a small point on his pale chin, dryly interrupted. "You will have to indulge in your support network later - our time is short." He looked directly at Juliette. "I trust the captain has briefed you on your role as advisor in this operation?"
Juliette kept her expression pleasant even as she felt Ensign Telanta's mood sour, "Of course, Commander."
Syvok nodded curtly and announced, "Remember everyone, our objective is to get a tricorder reading on one of the Sklan. However, your tricorders are to remain hidden on your person. You will only need to get within ten meters of a Sklan for the tricorder to activate itself and get a more detailed scan. Once it has completed its scan, it will vibrate, which is your signal to return to the Oppenheimer.
"To improve our chances of finding a Sklan, we are transporting to one of their transportation hubs - a train station. The station's layout should not differ from our holodeck simulations. There, we shall stay near the central hub and wait for a Sklan. If there are no questions, let us proceed." He waved them to the transporter pad, where they took their places.
"Syvok to bridge. Is our destination free of nearby Uwda?"
There was a brief pause before the bridge responded. "Sensors indicate you're clear, Commander."
Syvok nodded to the transporter chief and said, "Proceed."
ooOOoo
In seconds, the transporter room was replaced with a dim hallway covered with yellowed tiles that served as a lonely causeway between a secondary hub and a seldom used terminal. The causeway was interspersed with panes of smudged glass that ran along the walls, ceiling, and floor. They allowed a view of the winding track and trains below and provided sunlight from above. Between each pane squatted a row of uncomfortable chairs. As the trains below prepared for the day's run, the smell of petroleum wafted into the station despite the heavy thrum of circulating fans. The footfalls of the earliest commuters echoed distantly against the tiles of the station as the metal wheels of trains screeched against metal tracks.
Syvok murmured in standard, "At this time of day, travelers carry beverages, similar to coffee or raktajeno. Sri, go with Angh and purchase some."
Juliette looked to Syvok, and asked in Uwdan, "Am I to get beverages for everyone?"
"I would prefer it so."
"I will do so, then," Juliette said, smiling conspiratorially to Telanta as she turned to walk with down the corridor. Syvok's accent was even worse than Telanta's. To her credit, the ensign kept the smile off her face, but not out of her thoughts.
Ensign Angh followed Juliette down the hallway to a sparsely attended rotunda. A few of the earliest Uwdan commuters listlessly loitered as they waited for the first trains. A beverage vendor's ornately decorated cart was on the other side of the concourse. Juliette ordered a suitable beverage for everyone on the away team – a hot, mild stimulant with added sweeteners called klok. For herself, she ordered what was described on an overly-decorated sign as a 'flavorful, yet relaxing tea.' The vendor offered Juliette a cup as she started brewing the klok.
Shouldn't you have ordered a klok like everyone else?" Angh thought to Juliette as she handed over her identity card to pay.
Not everyone drinks klok, and no one will know what's in the cup anyway. I cannot drink stimulants or depressants. Besides, I have yet to try Uwdan - She noticed a small tag that hung from the side of the cup. She waved the cup and tag at the vendor, "I do not recognize this."
"I heard you order tea. I gave tea. Hot water is over there" the vendor said, indicating a row of carafes.
Juliette pulled on the small tag. It was connected to a tiny pouch that imprisoned a collection of crushed brown leaves and dust. Barbarians, she thought bitterly when a sudden sensation of alarm and worry from the vendor made Sri and Angh exchange glances.
"Is there something wrong?" She asked the vendor who fought not to look flustered.
"Oh no, no, not at all. I-I need to check on something," The vendor said as she quickly turned and jabbed her finger against a communication device.
Juliette looked back at Angh whose expression of alarm told her he had felt the klok vendor's lie as well.
What happened? The merchant is very nervous. Angh fiddled with his long hair as he pretended to wait for the klok merchant.
I don't know yet. You should go. If you are asked, you were just chatting me up. She gave him a broad smile. "I am glad I met you. I'll catch up, okay?"
Angh nodded a little, then more as comprehension dawned. "Yes, yes of course." His gaze darted to the merchant, who was thankfully too busy to notice his terrible grammar.
Juliette felt Ensign Borin's tense push to communicate with her. Lieutenant Commander, Tran says he was monitoring the station's security system. They have been alerted your identity card is a fake.
She immediately turned away from the klok stand and briskly walked toward one of the side exits. She heard the merchant say, "Wait, stop!" and felt the attention of a few of the loitering Uwda. She met each curious gaze with one of her own and planted a realization in each of them.
My train is late; my boss will fire me.
My stock options are failing.
I left my convection cooking device on.
One by one, their neatly arranged worlds were in chaos, with no time for a panicked klok merchant. With their worry came a surprising rush of energy she used to break into a run.
Lieutenant Commander Sri. Syvok's connection was weak - he'd never been a good ranged telepath.
She concealed the energy bubbling inside her. Yes, Commander Syvok? I am a bit preoccupied avoiding capture, sir.
Are you at a safe place you can be transported back to the Oppenheimer?
She settled to a brisk walk down a service corridor, straightening her hair. I am not, sir.
You are to proceed to a secluded place so that you can be extracted.
That was the plan, was it not, sir? She exited the corridor to the parking lot. The sun was rising. Sleepy commuters were coming to the station. In less than an hour, the station would be crammed with tens of thousands. She had to be gone before then.
Yes, the contingency plan if the mission was compromised is to—
Not that plan sir. The beverages. You had me buy them. I paid, and my identity was compromised. Were you worried I'd interfere with your agenda?
Agenda? Of course not. I do not worry, Lieutenant Commander.
I imagine you do not, Commander. There is a first time for everything. She shoved Syvok away easily and left him fumbling as she pulled her com badge out of her satchel and disabled it with a twist. She considered tossing it away for good measure but shoved it back in her bag. Along the roadway that wound alongside the terminal exit, she found a vehicle with a waiting driver wearing a neatly pressed gold suit. In his hands, he held a large placard with a name written in careful script. She nudged the driver to recognize her.
"I was to be met at the side entrance, now I'll be late," she chided the driver. His sudden worry made him easier to push, and he subserviently held the door open for her without question. Soon, the transit station was a rapidly diminishing cluster of buildings in the vehicle's' rearview mirror.
ooOOoo
Bridgeway entered the holodeck. It always felt a bit – recursive.
"Computer, play program Sri-41."
"Lieutenant Bridgeway detected. This program requires a passphrase."
He frowned. She had put an identity lock on the program already. A passphrase was redundant unless she was keeping the program from someone - someone who could duplicate him. The thought only increased his unease.
"The passphrase is: 'Death shall have no dominion.'"
"Access granted."
The program was a hologram- a frozen moment from the staff meeting a week ago. They were all seated around the table - Captain Tilmana, Commander Syvok, Lieutenant Commander Sri, Dr. Fenna, Lieutenant Tran, and himself. The moment Juliette had captured was when Syvok had reached toward her to help with the memories from the contact with the Sklan. Juliette had recoiled - everyone had assumed - from Syvok. James felt a growing apprehension as he realized she had not recoiled from Syvok.
A passable holo-sculptor, Juliette had added a pale, eyeless figure that stood next to Syvok – one that only she had seen.