Foreign Foes Part 21

Youre talking bigotry, Data, and I cant believe it. Youre not being rational.

Geordi, it is not bigotry to see the historical fact that the Klingons are not trustworthy. And it is not bigotry to see the historical fact that Worf would murder because of his nature as a Klingon. I need not remind you that Lieutenant Worf once refused to donate his ribosomes to save the life of a Romulan prisoner.

Every muscle in Geordis back was tense with frustration and fatigue. He had awakened into a dark world where everything had changed.

Data, Geordi said between clenched teeth, there is a big difference between refusing to sacrifice for someone who you dont believe deserves it and murdering someone in cold blood.

Death for any reason is permanent. The Hidran might say that Klingon neglect is murder.

Geordi pulled in a deep breath and tried to settle his emotions. If Data had said Worf was not to be trusted and had backed that up with facts that would have been one thingbut this seemed so ... un-Data: poorly conceived, not fully thought out ... every argument was logical, but all were built on a foundation of confused quicksand.

Data might be damaged. That would explain much from the absurd notions about Worf and the Klingons to forgetting that Geordi couldnt see a nod.

Data, I think Id like to have Engineering check you out, run a series of diagnostics.

For what reason? I run a self-diagnostic twice daily.

Yeah, and Ill bet a months pay that somethings wrong there too.

Just indulge me, huh, Data?

I am afraid I do not have the time at present.

Why?

I will be leading the away team that is to board the Klingon battle cruiser.

Bolting from his seat, Geordi pressed himself against Datas desk and leaned down to the android. Maybe he couldnt see, but Data could and needed to be sure Geordi was serious.

You cant, Data! Its unprovoked. Captain Picard would never authorize that.

Indeed, he did. His direct order was do what you must to get to the bottom of the situation.

The sigh of Datas chair cus.h.i.+on signaled the android had risen.

And I will do what I must.

Data had been gone a good five minutes. Hed insisted on escorting Geordi back to his quarters, but Geordi couldnt shake the feeling that it was because somehow hed lost the androids trustas Worf had.

Quiet thought had done nothing for that sense of paranoia.

There was something wrong with Data, he was sure, but had nothing but a subjective feeling to go on.

Subjective feelings were nice to look at and consider, but only told someone how theyfelt about realityfeelings told nothing about reality itself. And that was what Geordi had to be sure about: the reality of the situation. Did somethingseem to be wrong with Data, orwas there something wrong with him?

There was an enormous difference.

To be sure, he had to talk to someone else about what had happened while he was out of commission. At the same time he could confirm that Data was definitely doing what the captain wanted where the Klingon s.h.i.+p was concerned.

He found the desk communicator.

La Forge to Captain Picard.

He was met with the dull tone of a closed frequency and furrowed his brows.

Computer.

Ready.

Why cant I get an open comm-channel to the planet?

This station is not authorized for access.

Override. Security access: La Forge Gamma three-four.

Access denied.

Denied?

Geordi pounded his fist on the table.

What do you mean denied?

The computer began to bleep, formulating an answer.

Belay that. Who can give me access?

Access authorization required from Lieutenant Commander Data, acting captain,U.S.S. Enterprise.

Geordi balanced his elbow on the desktop, holding his forehead in his palm.

Well, looks like thats my objective evidence, isnt it?

Insufficient data.

He let out a short, bitter chuckle.

You can say that again!

Whatever fool designed this building,Urosk thought,should be killed . He had not noticed before, but the light was harsh and the dryness of the walls and floor were more than annoying.

But it was not a mindless architect who truly burdened the Hidran captain. It was Picard who was the real fool. And he should be treated as fools are treated: with a firm fist and little patience.

The entire Federation was made of fools, Urosk decided, from those that had offered to help to those that brought him here. Dullards all.

And he, for believing that any good might come of this, was the most foolish. Before coming here the Hidran had only been on the brink of a skirmish with their foreign foes. Now they were on the brink of war.

It was obvious. The Klingons had planned this from the beginning. They would have done anything to a.s.sure that Hidra was left helpless enough to be re-conquered. And this time the Klingons would not leave the people alive. The Hidran were a million thorns in the Klingon Empires skin, and these pseudo-negotiations had been nothing more than a complex maneuver by the Empire and its Federation allies. It was all some scheme to force Hidra back into a war they knew she would lose.

Defeat ... only one casualty and he was thinking of defeat! A shameful thing to think of such loss, but it was realistic and Urosk had spent too much time the last few days believing that peace was possible. He was through with such far-fetched ideas. Yet the humiliation weighed on him. Such disgrace was what the Klingons desired for the Hidran people, and they had even succeeded in dishonoring Urosk with his own thoughts.

He could not let that happenhe would not. There would not be another war if Urosk was of any worth to himself and his nation.

He straightened, smoothed his long robe, loosened his muscles.

He closed his eyes a moment, and when they blankly reopened onto the desert of the corridor, he knew what he had to do.

His heartbeat quickened at the thoughthis strength both mental and physical seemed rejuvenated. There was a chance to thwart the enemys plans, but that would take great skill and care to achieve: Every Klingon on the planet ... and above in orbit ... would have to die. Once more it would have to be proven that there were extreme risks to warring against the Hidran.

Urosk would have to take the mask of warrior that he wore, and transfer it to action. Perhaps for his last time.

And if Picard and his Federation interfered Hold a minute, sir, the Starfleet guard said to Urosk, jolting him from his thoughts.

Aware of his surroundings and the guard again, Urosk surveyed the empty corridora vacant hall where there should have been another guard.

If there was to be an opportunity, this was it.

Connors to MacKenzie.

The Starfleeter was quick to activate his communicator, and opportunity faded.

The Hidran captain turned back to face Connors.

Strange politeness to be called sir by him. These humans could usher someone to a cell for so-called diplomatic protection and yet treat their prisoner as if taking them on a garden tour.

There was no answer to the Starfleeters call. His guard friend was either gone by his own volition or was inside the cell with Urosks comrades. Either way, he was not around. One on one ... the odds were better than even.

Unfortunately, there was no way of knowing if the humans call to his absent colleague would be carried to every communicator.

The comm channel would have to close before opportunity materialized again.

The Starfleet guard tapped his badge again, and Urosk thought that was his signal to move. Before he could, the Terran spoke once more.

Connors to Picard. MacKenzie isnt at his post and I cant raise him on the comm, sir.

Understood.

Picards voice spat from the small speaker.

Remain there. Im on my way.

Blast! Picard would be on his way now. Opportunity faded once more, even as this one called Connors turned off his communicator.

Captain Urosk, the human said, Ill ask you to hold your position with me, sir.

Urosk nodded and quickly glanced at the Earthers phaser. Ripe for the taking ... A phaser against all those defenseless Klingons.

That would make the statement he wanted. A statement that said something about the Hidran and the price one would pay for choosing the path of war.

There was little time in which to decide Urosks muscles tensed and he waited for the Earthers eyes to drift away even slightly. He balled his fingers into a fist and paused. One good blow should be enough.

Wait ... wait ... the Earther still had the phaser ...

A sound, some creak in the structure of the building somewhere, forced the Starfleeters eyes to dart away.

Urosks long arm reached out and struck against the Terrans head. The man was sure to be knocked unconscious.

The human stumbled back and the Hidran captain swung again, knocking the weapon across the hall.

Connors shook his head clear and twisted toward Urosk as they both tried to get a tack on the phaser that had gone sailing. Suddenly the strong thin rods of the Starfleeters legs were around Urosks knees. He struggled to free himself, but unbalance tossed him forward onto the hard stone floor.

Pain tried to force the Hidrans eyes closed as the two of them pinched together, limbs digging into each other.

Suddenly the human was on his feet again, looking down at Urosk, ready. How? This small being was no match! There should be no contest!

Urosk jumped up, pus.h.i.+ng the ache from his torso as he tried to eye where the phaser had fallen.

Obviously the human would seek out the weapon as well.

Urosk had to reach it first.

One more good jolt of Hidran strength should make acquiring the phaser academic. He Two consecutive flashes of agony exploded into Uroskin his stomach, in his neckFrom where? Why was the Earther not down?

Fall!

Urosk grunted to himself.

Urosk swung his large boom of an arm again and the Starfleeter caught it and spun him away. Another bolt of pain smashed into him. Feet! The human was jumping and kicking like some crazed monkey.Klingons had given up sooner.

Urosk let out an angry gasp and lashed back at the Starfleeter. Both fists clasped together into a club of bone and muscle, he swung hard against the humans shoulder.

Connors went tumbling down to the ground with a hard grunt.

Finally, he was unmoving.

Urosk stooped to reach for the phaser. Another limbhe didnt know whichwhacked him in the gut and sent him sprawling onto the floor.

The Starfleeter, on his feet again, leaped at Urosk, punching and jabbing and scratching.

Urosk felt one of his eyes swelling shut and he could feel the metallic taste of blood in his throat.

Dredging his frustration into strength, he looped his arms around the Earther. If he could not beat the gangly human he would crush the breath from him!

Arms pinned at his sides, feet dangling at least a half meter off the ground, the Starfleeter struggled and grunted his breath away.

Finally Urosk felt the strength drain empty from his opponents body. To be sure he crushed his arms together three more times. He would not be fooled again.

When he released him, the Earther crumpled into a heap, a spent log collapsing into an amber bed.