Finally they reached the corridor outside the maternity ward, where three Lumbuan guards stood, one at each of the entrances. They all kept as far from the actual ward as possible while still keeping it in sight; no doubt Ree had demanded that they keep their distance. It made it easier to pick them off one by one; Tuvok took one down with a nerve pinch while Hriss ambushed another and injected him with a tranquilizer that would leave no traces detectable to Lumbuan science.

But Tuvok’s guard let out a moan before she fell to the floor, and that drew the attention of the third guard, who came running with his weapon drawn. “What have you done?” the guard asked, his voice trembling. “What are you?”

“Your colleagues are unharmed,” Tuvok told him. “The same will hold for you if you do not interfere with us.”

“You—you’re another giant. Another monster.”

Tuvok raised a brow. “What leads you to that conclusion, sir?”

“Why…your size. Your color. And…Great Anam, you have no clarfel!”

“So are these the qualities that define a Lumbuan?”

The guard thought it over. “Well…some of them.”

“But are they not mere appearances? And cannot outward appearance be deceptive?”

More thinking. “I suppose. My supervisor says I appear unintelligent. For that matter, so does my wife. And she appeared warm and loving when I married her,” the guard added, speaking more to himself now.

“Then, as an intelligent man, you must know better than to take outward perceptions at face value. What you see could be a dream or a hallucination.”

“Oh, no.” The guard shook his head. “I’m not falling for any Solipsist casuistry. That’s Kumpen talk, and I’m as loyal as they come.”

Tuvok realized he had overreached himself. “Very well. I will stipulate that I am objectively real. Even so, the standards you employ for defining me as not Lumbuan are still in question. Is it your external attributes that define your identity? Or is it your intellect? Your self-awareness? Your ability to communicate?”

“Well, that’s what I always say,” the guard replied slowly.

“Excellent.”

“Though come to think of it, I just say that because it’s what my wife thinks. And that’s appeal to authority, right? Which is a fallacy. Besides, she’s not here, is she?” The guard raised his gun again. “Me, I’ve always been a believer in the appeal to force.”

Luckily, Tuvok had distracted the guard long enough for Hriss to come up behind him and inject another dose of tranquilizer. “I thought you had him on the ropes for a moment there, sir,” the Caitian told him.

“Thank you, Ensign. Unfortunately, membership in a philosophically driven society does not guarantee an inquisitive spirit.” He sighed. “I believe I now understand the human saying that one should avoid entering into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. Especially one who is armed in a more literal sense.”

Tuvok made his way to the maternity ward doors, which were sealed off from within. His team came in behind him, phasers at the ready. “Doctor Ree!” he called. “This is Commander Tuvok. Please respond.”

“Tuvok!” The voice was Troi’s. But before she could say anything more, the doctor’s raspy, sibilant voice emerged.

“Welcome to Hvov Memorial, Commander,” Ree said. “I’m afraid I can’t invite you in. Counselor Troi’s contractions are arriving closer together. I believe first-stage labor is imminent, and I must keep my patients safe. I assume you and your companions have weapons, and that cannot be tolerated. If you’ll please wait outside? Outside the hospital, that is. I imagine the local constabulary would gladly extend their hospitality. They’ve been trying to get me to accept their invitation all day.”

“Doctor. I understand why you are doing this. You feel compelled to protect the baby. I can assure you we all share that priority. I give you my word as a Vulcan that I will allow no harm to come to the child.”

“Forgive me, Commander, but that offer would be more credible if your identity as a Vulcan were more stable.”

Tuvok suppressed a wince. “Then I give you my word as a father.”

“A father who cannot keep his own children safe?”

That was an even lower blow. Ree’s outward courtesy masked a vicious streak in more ways than one. And if he was trying to anger Tuvok, he was coming close to success. “Can you guarantee that you can keep the child safe?” Tuvok replied with some heat.

Something heavy slammed against the door. Tuvok could see the shape of Ree’s elongated head through the frosted glass, his rapid breaths fogging it further. “You doubt me too? That is my purpose!I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks—I will not let anything happen to this child! Not again!”

Tuvok’s eyes widened. Processing this new informa tion, he began to arrive at a deeper understanding of the situation. “Doctor Ree. I would like to speak to Counselor Troi.”

“You may not enter.”

“I believe she can hear me from here. I wish only to speak. You may listen.”

Ree gave an uncertain growl. “Very well. But briefly.”

“Tuvok? I’m here,” came Troi’s voice. “Alyssa and I are all right.”

“I am pleased to hear it,” he called. “Counselor, do you have an understanding of what has precipitated the current situation?”

After a moment, Troi said, “Yes. Ree’s in guardian mode. My fear for the baby triggered it.”

“Exacerbated, no doubt, by my own enduring grief. I apologize for my role in this.”