Tw'eak turned her back to the door as it closed behind her. "Computer, lock door, authorization Sh'abbas one-zero alpha."

"That authorization is not recognized," the computer replied.

Tw'eak nodded gravely. They'd removed her command authorization codes from the computer. "Just lock the door, then."

"Door lock engaged."

"I must admit, I'm impressed," Corbin said, the shimmering fabric of his tunic glinting with the glow of the interplexing beacon. "But then, I always was impressed with you."

"You - were dead," Tw'eak said flatly.

"I admit, things got a little... out of control for a while there, what with all the time-travelling shenanigans you started. But no, sorry. No kewpie doll for you."

Tw'eak shrugged off the urge to question what a kewpie doll was and pressed further. "What are you doing here?" She indicated the beacon. "And what is the meaning of this?"

"There's no 'meaning' to be gleaned. It's just as you see it - an interplexing beacon, sitting in your ready room." Corbin put his feet up on the desk. Clearly he was trying to get her off-side. Tw'eak forced herself to slow her breathing, because it was working. "Oh, I'm sorry." He leaned back, rubbing the desk with his sleeve as he lowered his legs. "I suppose some day when this ship's in the Fleet Museum you'll want your desk to be in pristine condition."

Tw'eak shook her head. "That's not my desk anymore. I guess you haven't been keeping up."

"With what? Your retirement? The attack on Andoria? Or the destruction of the Lukara?"

This was news to Tw'eak. "Lukara's been destroyed?"

"Oh, I guess you didn't get the message. Octavia's only letting her friends in on her little secrets, anymore." He gave a glance to the interplexing beacon. "Special delivery."

Tw'eak sat down, refusing to rise to the bait. "So what do you want?"

"Already have that. Peace! Peace is wonderful. Peace for the Federation, for its allies... peace across three of four quadrants, for now. Well, except for that little mess in Klingon space... but that'll work itself out soon enough."

"No." Tw'eak pointed. "You wouldn't be sitting here if you had what you wanted. That's how you always worked."

Corbin smiled. "Yeah, you got me there. It's a pity you're not on the team. I'd love to see that."

"What team? Yours?" Tw'eak scoffed. "Is there even room, with your ego in there?"

"For you? Always, spitfire."

The moniker was a definite irritant. Now, Corbin's feet returned to the desk. "Never was a team player," Tw'eak replied.

"See, I beg to differ. The Iconian War? Remember - that time... what was her name, went out the ceiling on the bridge of the Bonaventure... and you went after her." Corbin pointed smugly at Tw'eak's neck. "And that little scar you've got there from that Klingon assassin is hardly proof you're a loner."

"How do you figure? I was just doing my job as a security officer."

"Only because you hadn't done your job as a security officer. He never should've gotten that close."

Tw'eak smiled, and cleared her throat, irritated at being reminded of her failure. "Okay, let me guess, then. You couldn't get me onboard, but then, after my retirement, you offered Octavia this - thing - and got what you wanted." She threw a gesture towards the interplexing beacon. "Now this ship speaks Borg. And you're lecturing me about not doing my job in security - where's the security in this? How's this good for the Federation?"

"It's not." Corbin put his legs down and leaned over the desk. "You think Section 31 would be stupid enough to try something like this? Oh, I'm sorry, Admiral - do we still call you Admiral?"

"If I had my way with you," Tw'eak snarled, "you'd be calling 'uncle'."

"Ooh. That's my spitfire." Corbin tapped his chest in mock tribute. "Quick and cutting - you haven't lost a step!"

"So Octavia's not working for you, then."

"No, she followed your sterling example and refused to have anything to do with me. But then, that was always the problem with trying and living up to your example, was it? When the time comes for you to follow those protocols and regulations to the letter, somehow that's when the shine comes off. And you're lecturing me about not doing my job in security."

The intentional repetition of her own words was, Tw'eak knew, a deliberate trick. She sat back, refusing to let herself rise to it.

"After all, where would your sister Dashii be right now if you hadn't broken into that Tal Shiar - sorry, Orion - facility on Nimbus III? Would you even be Auntie Tw'eak, or whatever the Andorian equivalent would be, if you hadn't? Would there even be a Tw'eak if you hadn't snuck around Captain Corlett on the Repulse?"

"He was an Undine," Tw'eak interjected.

"He was your captain! And he was an Undine. Lucky for you, too, or you would've had a lot of explaining to do. Chains of command exist for a reason."

Tw'eak side-stepped her urge to point out the irony of a Section 31 operative bringing up the chain of command. "None of this explains what you're doing here."

"Isn't it obvious? I'm securing the future." Corbin stood up. "Peace, spitfire. Security, safety. For all those little children sleeping out there. They can spend the night snugly in their beds and wake up pure and happy in the morning. All because of what I need you to do, for me."

Tw'eak arched an eyebrow so high that it threatened to hit the upper bulkhead. "Really."

"Yes. You're the only one authorized - there's that word again - and you're in the best possible place to do it."

"And dare I ask, what task would you set me to doing?" She held off for a moment before adding, "for you."

Corbin smiled smugly before his face fell into total seriousness. "Activate the ship's auto-destruct sequence. Before any further harm is done."

Tw'eak gave Corbin a look of genuine astonishment. "You want me to destroy Warspite?"

"I know, they'll be so disappointed at the Fleet Museum, but... yes." It was Corbin's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Ironic, isn't it? For once those principles of yours come in handy."

"For you, or for me?"

Corbin ignored her question. "Tell them you found it in such a state. Like your lieutenant mentioned, Frontier Day, Admiral Shelby, 'oh, the humanity', and so on, and so on. Tell them you couldn't risk that happening again."

"That'd end Octavia's career."

"Oh. Yes, I suppose it would, wouldn't it." Corbin sat back down, feet on the desk again. "In disgrace, at that. Your commander friend said it herself - board of inquiry. Maybe a firing squad."

"We don't do that in Starfleet."

"No, I suppose not. Pity, really."

Tw'eak stood up and turned to leave. "I couldn't even get the door lock to engage." She looked back as she reached the door. "And you think the self-destruct will co-operate."

"As I understand it, if you declare yourself to be in command, use that admiral's rank of yours... authorize the commander, maybe the lieutenant if he's as repulsed by the Borg as he seems, and five minutes later... ka-boom!"

Tw'eak smirked at Corbin. "And of course, you can't just do this all yourself because... why?"

"Oh, I could. I'd love to, really. But then there would be a different kind of inquiry. One that would bring you down with it. After all, our admiral spitfire would go down with the ship in that scenario... and take a few friends of hers with her, too. Only a few months into her retirement. Such a shame. Before the narrative of 'why?' was fully written. Can't trust rogue admirals these days."

Tw'eak frowned, perceiving a threat in Corbin's words. "And how long do I get to decide, before you take matters into your own hands?"

"Section 31 never takes matters into its own hands, Admiral."

"Until you do," Tw'eak replied, finishing the sentence.

Corbin merely smiled, his hands tented in his lap. "I did so miss these little chats with my spitfire. Farewell, until next time."

To Tw'eak's surprise, the door opened behind her. She turned, shocked by its sudden action. To her further surprise, Bianca and Cordero came tumbling through the door, phasers drawn, aimed beyond Tw'eak. By the time she turned back, the chair was empty, rocking slightly in place.

"Cabrón," Cordero muttered. his phaser pointed at the empty chair.

"Are you all right, Admiral?" Bianca asked.

Tw'eak took a further breath before answering. "It's been a long day," she finally replied.