“Nezrene,” said the large, Rigelian Chel as he towered over her, “my name is Jetanien, and I am a Federation ambassador. It is a pleasure to meet with you today.” He indicated with his massive manus the human female dressed in a Starfleet uniform who had accompanied him into the room. “This is Ensign Vanessa Theriault, who you may recall had a most memorable encounter with the Shedai on Jinoteur IV.”

It took an additional moment for the communications system’s translation protocols to convert the Chel’s words from Federation Standard to native Tholian, after which Nezrene turned her attention to the human, Theriault. “You are the one from the First World, who pleaded for the release of the Kollotaanfrom Shedai servitude?”

The human made a motion with her head, which Nezrene understood to be a gesture of affirmation. “That’s right.”

Though neither the Chel nor this human possessed even the most rudimentary telepathic capabilities, Nezrene still sensed, as she had on the First World, the female’s genuine concern for the welfare not only of Nezrene herself but also of her shipmates from the Lanz’t Tholis,who had been abducted by the Shedai and forced to serve them. It was a fascinating dichotomy, Nezrene decided, particularly given the lengths to which Tholia had gone to preserve from the Federation the secrets of the Shedai and its roots in her people’s history.

Humans are strange creatures,Nezrene reminded herself.

“On behalf of my people, I thank you,” she finally said, hoping the translation would carry with it her inflections of gratitude.

“Nezrene,” Jetanien said, “it is my duty to ask why you’ve come to us. Surely, you understand that your very presence here threatens the already fragile peace currently enjoyed by our people and yours.”

“Both of our peoples have allowed themselves to be guided by fear,” Nezrene said. “Tholians fear the return of the Shedai, and that dismay has translated into extreme xenophobia with respect to other sentient species. Your Federation senses an opportunity to avail itself of ancient technology it does not understand, while at the same time struggling to prevent your enemies from benefiting in similar fashion. None of that is of importance any longer. We must set aside our differences if we are to have any hope of preventing the Shedai from conquering us all.”

Surprisingly agile for his size and mass, the Chel began to walk around the room’s perimeter, his manus clapping together as an odd yet lyrical string of clicks emanated from his prominent proboscis. “And you are here because you wish to foster some kind of cooperation between our peoples with the goal of fighting the Shedai?”

How little these beings truly understand,Nezrene mused.

“You cannot comprehend the power of the Shedai,” she said. “Their sphere of influence once spanned star systems throughout this part of the galaxy, which they moved between as easily as you or I might traverse the rooms and passageways of this space station. The attempts you have made toward understanding the technology they once commanded are nothing, the merest fraction of the true power they wielded. And yet what you have seen—if employed in direct action against you—would be more than enough to crush your Federation and anyone else who dared to oppose them.”

Jetanien made a noise that Nezrene took to be one of irritation. “Then why areyou here?”

Continue as you have,she reminded herself, and there will be no going back. Are you prepared for what might result?

Yes,Nezrene decided, forcing away the harsh crimson flare of anxiety. The time for change had long passed.

“I offer to help you find the understanding you lack,” she said. “The secrets of the Shedai are too important to remain buried beneath the veneer of mystery and fear. My people have dreaded the Shedai’s reawakening for aeons and have no desire to return to the existence of slavery and servitude from which we sprang. We cannot act alone against our former oppressors, and at the same time, we must prevent the exploitation of the power they once held by those who also would threaten us. There are others like me who believe your Federation possesses not only the capacity to understand what we offer you but also the purity of spirit needed to utilize such knowledge with the required benevolence.”

The magnitude of what she proposed did not appear lost on either the Chel or the human. Nezrene sensed the disbelief radiating from both of them, even as they struggled to cope with the notion of equalizing the opportunities presented here with the impacts they surely would have on their own people. Nezrene knew she was navigating a treacherous slope. She also found it ironic that it would be the Federation—a body whose core principles included not imparting advanced technology to lesser-developed civilizations so as to avoid disrupting their natural development—that would benefit from what she proposed. Surely, gaining the knowledge of the Shedai would have some massive, long-term effects on whatever course of evolution and advancement the Federation currently traveled.

And the alternative? Subjugation, or destruction, not only for the Federation but for Tholia as well.

“What you suggest cannot help but be the foundation for a long-term pact of peace and cooperation between our civilizations,” Jetanien said after a moment. “However, conscience dictates that we also admit the possible risks. We are talking about a fundamental shift in our understanding of a great many subjects, many of which we are only just beginning to explore. We must work together, Nezrene, if we are to find the delicate balance needed to help both of our peoples deal with the immediate threat, as well as determining how this alliance will affect us all in the future.”

Though she did not share Jetanien’s optimism, Nezrene drew comfort from the Chel’s words. That he not only was able to consider the potential for danger represented by embracing the knowledge of the Shedai but also possessed the integrity to voice those concerns aloud caused a glow of intense satisfaction to warm her. Perhaps we have chosen wisely, after all.

Despite that confidence, Nezrene knew that this was only the first of many steps along a far-reaching path. Together, they could learn the secrets of the race that imprisoned her people so long ago.

“Then, my new friends,” she said, “let us begin that process today.”

20

T’Prynn rolled to one knee, her eyes and the numerous cuts on her face and hands stinging from the sand. Her mouth was dry from prolonged exertion, made worse by the unrelenting heat beating down on her from the harsh Vulcan sun. The side of her head pounded from the attack she had only partially managed to parry, and something wet trickled down her face. She wiped her temple with her free hand, her fingers coming away tinged with dark green blood.

The whistle of the ahn-woonslicing through the air warned her of the next attack, and T’Prynn rolled to her right just as she felt the heavy leather sling wrapping around her neck. The weighted ball on the end of the weapon struck just her chin, and she managed a single cough before the strap was pulled tight. She felt the leather contracting around her throat an instant before she was yanked backward, off her feet, and down onto the sand. Her body angled downward along the hill, disrupted sand shifting beneath her.

Clawing at the leather with her free hand, T’Prynn tried to bring her own ahn-woonto bear in a useless gesture of counterattack. Her adversary’s weapon dug into the skin of her neck, choking off her air. Then a shadow fell across her, blocking out the sun, and she looked up into the face of her enemy.