Part 2 (2/2)

It would be so easy.

She glanced at J'emery, and then at the weapons officer across the bridge.

Mutiny. Treason. She could be put to death for this, slowly.

Or... she could not do it, and likely asphyxiate with her crew. Loyal, but dead.

Those were her choices now: ardent but extinct, or disloyal and perhaps ... well, perhaps still dead.

She chose.

”Fire,” J'emery ordered.

”Yes, Commander. We-Sir, I don't have power.” The weapons officer was incredulous, of course. Not only had Folan put her own life at risk, but his as well. If J'emery blamed the weapons officer... Commander J'emery said nothing. Yet, if focused, his glare alone could have destroyed Picard's shuttle.

”Welcome the captain aboard when he docks, and see that he's treated with respect,” the commander growled to Folan. ”I want him guarded at all times,” he added, then turned to the weapons officer. ”You're reduced a step in rank and confined to your quarters. Dismissed.” He turned to Folan. ”SubCommander!”

Nervously, she stepped forward. Did he know?

”Why?” he demanded. ”I want to know why. And you're going to find out. How did this happen to the power? And when we know who to blame, I will deal with them personally.”

”Yes, Commander.”

”Find out, quickly,” he barked.

Folan nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief as she left the bridge. She'd gotten away with a crime most high, and had perhaps slipped her neck out of a very confining noose. For now, she thought, and suppressed a shudder. Only for now.

It hadn't taken as long as Picard expected. Romulan technology was different, but not too different in the area of tractor beams and power conduits. Within thirty minutes he was on the Romulan bridge, meeting J'emery face to face. Folan, the science officer and the person who'd supervised Picard's work and aided him at times as well, had been distant, if civil. She'd complimented his plan, although he was sure to explain that, while it was his idea, the details of implementation belonged to his chief engineer. She'd nodded rather coldly at the time, but seemed to appreciate his humility. But now, on the bridge, she seemed even more detached.

”We're ready when you are,” Riker said, his image shaky and static-peppered on the Romulan main view screen.

Picard looked to Folan, who nodded. J'emery seemed curious, anxious. He expected a trick of some kind, no doubt.

”We are ready, Commander,” Folan told J'emery.

”Fine. Initiate at will.”

There was a brief countdown and then a crackling noise as the Romulan vessel shook around them.

”We are moving,” Folan said, apparently a bit surprised. ”Enterprise is drawing us toward them, and they toward us.”

Slowly at first, but gaining speed as they went, the warbird and Enterprise moved toward each other, pulling one another closer and closer until they veered apart, pus.h.i.+ng off and away.

But the tractor beams drained the last bit of power. The Romulan viewscreen went dark first. Then the control consoles. Then the lights.

The din of Romulan crew voices was too fast for the universal translator to handle. Picard turned in the dark on an unfamiliar bridge and thought he b.u.mped into a guardrail, or perhaps a guard.

Then the lights returned, as did the hum of the control circuits and panels.

The captain had b.u.mped into Folan, who was hunched over her now-active console.

”It has worked,” she said, more animated than Picard had heard her until then. ”We are clear of the dead zone and power is returning to normal output levels. Batteries are recharging. Enterprise is clear as well. Sensors are online.”

Picard's lips curled up just a touch. ”Thank you for your help. We couldn't have done this without your keen knowledge.”

”You have no idea,” Folan said, straightening, her eyes striking out toward him, lingering a moment, then looking quickly down.

Picard furrowed his brows. There was something in her tone, in that look... something that sold the idea that Picard was in her debt, and not the other way around.

”Thank you, Captain,” J'emery said. ”But we still have the matter of this treaty violation, since the new treaties have not been registered yet in our official records-”

He motioned for his guards.

”I'm sure,” Picard said, ”that will be handled in the upper echelons of the diplomatic services, Commander.” He tapped his comm badge. ”Picard to Enterprise. Beam me out.”

A familiar hum filled the air.

”Wait, Captain-” J'emery demanded.

Too late. Picard dematerialized in a wash of sparkle and light.

”He plotted that! Deceitful, manipulative Terrans!”

Folan bent over her console again. ”They've also beamed out their shuttle.” Inwardly, she smiled. Pi card did trust, but neither was he a fool. Had the situation been reversed, she might have done the same.

J'emery was furious. There was little to substantiate holding Picard or Enterprise, but he'd have done it anyway, just to see if he could learn anything new about the Federation s.h.i.+p or her crew.

Folan could see in her commander's eyes that he wanted to fire on Enterprise. She considered counseling him against it. Or for it. Whatever might put her in his good graces. Of course, she was but his science officer and not a military advisor, so no recommendation would go without punishment.

She stayed silent, as did J'emery, fuming.

Picard materialized on his own bridge. ”Status report, Number One.”

”Power is back on all levels, sir, as if someone flipped a switch. Batteries are recharging.”

”Excellent.”

”We aim to please.” Riker smiled and vacated the command chair.

”Can we get a sensor lock on the cargo s.h.i.+p?” The captain lowered himself into his command chair. ”We need to find a way to haul-”

”Captain,” Chamberlain said, ”I can barely read the cargo vessel, sir, but...” He paused.

”Lieutenant? ” Eyes darting up, Picard watched the viewer as the drifting form of the cargo hauler appeared on the screen.

”No life-signs, sir. No power.”

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