Part 16 (1/2)

”You understand what I mean, Kalor.”

The Klingon nodded, but was still staring out the window. ”We found a cure for ourselves. The virus is changed now.”

”Give me the data on how.” Picard stepped toward him. ”Give me the antidote you created.”

”You don't understand. Still. I cannot help you.”

The captain took another step closer and reached out with his hand, turned Kalor toward him. ”You're going to. Even if I have to force you.”

Kalor snorted and took a swig of his drink. ”Those are my s.h.i.+ps that have you tractored and are towing you to my planet, Picard.”

”Because I'm letting them, Kalor.” He squeezed his fingers, not that Kalor would feel it through his thick tunic. ”We could snap that tractor beam like a cobweb.”

Kalor jerked away, spilling some of his drink as he did. ”Then why don't you?”

”Because now isn't the time.”

”You're waiting to repair yourself.” The Klingon snorted again. ”But we won't give you the two days-”

”The s.h.i.+p has been repaired for twenty minutes and will be ready for warp in another ten. But if T'sart dies, it may all be for nothing.”

Kalor growled a low growl, more frustration than anger.

”Do you believe us?” Picard asked. ”About the dead zones?”

The Klingon set his drink on the sill of the window and shook his head. ”It's not a matter of believing you or not. It's a matter of what is acceptable and expected. I cannot help you.”

”I'm...” Picard hesitated. How much should he say? How much shouldn't he? ”I'm not acting on orders here, Kalor.”

”You?” Thick brows raised in surprise, Kalor almost laughed. ”We haven't time for orders, or what is appropriate. When a dead zone hits a populated area, people will die. Everyone dependent on advanced technology will die. And later, when even batteries and electricity won't work... We're talking about collapsing back to preindustrial civilization. How many Klingon cities can last without power, Kalor?”

Kalor waved his hand dismissively. ”Dramatic, but all we've had are a few s.h.i.+ps fall into these zones. A few small incidents. How am I to know that this isn't all a trick? A plot by T'sart? They will end when he does, and that will be soon.”

Ready to respond, Picard was interrupted by a comm signal.

He tapped at his comm badge. ”Picard here.”

”Spock here, Captain. We have a problem.”

”On my way.”

Kalor followed Picard onto the bridge. A security guard stood close by the Klingon as the captain strode toward the Vulcan and the science station.

”Something, Spock?”

”Based on readings I could recall from T'sart's data, I've begun scanning with a subs.p.a.ce resonance pulse. It has stopped echoing back to me.”

Picard felt his face grow cold. ”A dead zone?”

”Likely.”

”Where?”

Spock pointed toward a monitor. ”In our path, if we maintain this course.”

”Intersect point?”

”Two minutes, fourteen seconds at current speed.”

Picard swung around, pointing toward the helm as he made his way to the command chair. ”Break the tractor beam.” He slapped at his comm badge. ”Bridge to Engineering. Geordi, I need warp power now.”

”You got it, Captain.”

”Helm, full reverse thrust.”

”Aye, sir.”

”Mr. Chamberlain, raise the Klingons.” The captain pivoted toward Kalor. ”Tell them to stop, now.”

The Klingon commander hesitated. ”I-are you sure?”

”Spock?”

”One minute, forty seconds,” Spock said. ”For the lead Klingon s.h.i.+p, fourteen seconds.”

”Channel open,” Chamberlain said from tactical.

”This is Kalor. All vessels, stop!”

Chamberlain shook his head. ”They're not responding.”

”Regulations,” Kalor grumbled. ”By taking me into custody, you've negated my command. They'll a.s.sume me under duress.”

”Three Klingon s.h.i.+ps now within probable dead zone,” Spock called, bent over his scanner. ”Falling out of warp.”

”Fire phasers,” Picard ordered. ”Break that tractor! Fire!”

At Picard's command, a thin orange line traced a path toward the vessel in Part's control. There was a bright explosion, a hum in the engines as they suddenly s.h.i.+fted acceleration, and a shudder as inertia! dampers struggled to compensate.

”We're free,” Spock said. ”Decelerating from warp. We are still clear of the dead zone.” He looked up from his sensors. ”The Klingon s.h.i.+ps were not as lucky.”

”Can you raise them?” Chamberlain again shook his head.

”Probably not on subs.p.a.ce channels,” Spock offered.

Picard nodded. ”Try non subs.p.a.ce communications.”