Текст книги "Summon the Thunder"

Автор книги: Dayton Ward

Соавторы: Kevin Dilmore
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Текущая страница: 24 (всего у книги 30 страниц)

“I’ll be damned if I understand any of that,” Diamond said. “Where’s it going?”

Shaking his head, Xiong pointed down the corridor. “Back down to whatever chamber it appeared in earlier? There’s no way to know without following it.”

“Thanks,” Diamond replied. “But, no.”

“The dampening field’s working,” al-Khaled reported as he pulled himself to his feet. Holding up his tricorder, he added, “It’s only about five kilometers in diameter, but it seems to be enough to cause a localized disruption in most communications signals within its radius, with the exception of two frequencies I was able to screen out so we could contact the Lovellor the Endeavour.”

“So,” Xiong said, “we’ve not neutralized the technology at other points around the planet?”

Moving to stand next to al-Khaled, Ghrex shook her head. “No, sir, though we’ve blocked the ability for anything to interface with those sites so long as they remain within the dampening field’s perimeter.”

“Great work, you two,” Diamond said, wiping sweat from her forehead. “I owe you dinner when we get back to the station.”

“A real dinner from one of the restaurants?” Ghrex asked. A wide, long smile brightened the Denobulan’s features. “Deal.”

From where it was situated in an upper pocket of his parka, Xiong’s communicator chirped. Extracting the device and flipping open its antenna grid, the lieutenant said, “Xiong here.”

“ This is Captain Khatami,”replied the voice of the Endeavour’s commanding officer. “ Our sensors are registering the presence of the dampening field at your location, Lieutenant. It seems to have had the effect of disrupting the weapons taking shots at us. We show the other sites as still being active and in contact with each other, but all contact with your location appears to be severed.”

Everyone in the corridor released cries of relief and victory at Khatami’s words, and even Xiong felt the irrepressible need to smile at the welcome news. “It’s had other effects down here, as well, Captain,” he said, eager to share the landing party’s own discovery. “That same signal seemed to affect the creatures attacking us. When the switch was thrown, the one coming after us tucked tail and ran.”

“ I suggest we not push our luck, Lieutenant,”Khatami said. “ Get to the surface and stand by for beam-out. We’re already transporting the people at the base camp. I don’t want anyone down there until the situation is secure.”

Behind him, Xiong heard a brisk series of beeps and tones and turned to see al-Khaled consulting his tricorder. Xiong started to ask what was going on but the words died in his throat as he became aware of a low, ominous rumbling coming from…somewhere. “What is that?”

“Massive power buildup,” al-Khaled replied. Everyone in the corridor regarded him with nearly identical expressions of confusion and worry as he consulted his tricorder. “Whatever it is, it’s huge. This is more power than…”

Even as the engineer stopped talking, realization chose that moment to smack Xiong across the face.

“Oh, damn,” Diamond whispered.

“Don’t tell me,” Xiong said, already knowing what al-Khaled would say.

The engineer nodded. “It’s like Palgrenax. Something’s initiating an immense geothermal buildup. If left unchecked, it’ll blow a hole in this planet half a continent wide, with us at the center of the whole thing.”

39

The Shedai Wanderer had failed.

Her mind still racked with a pain she could never before have imagined, she raced away from the Telinaruulwho tormented her, her consciousness guiding the movements of the Sentinel to carry her deeper into the temple, away from those whose suppression should have been child’s play but instead had proven themselves to be a devious adversary, if not a worthy one.

She had been weakened by the need to divide herself among three Sentinels, and the pain that had washed over her had come as if from nowhere, nearly driving her consciousness into the void which existed beyond the safety of the Conduit. It had taken all of her remaining strength to withdraw the tendrils of her mind from two of the servants she had pressed into service. Only with supreme effort had she been able to retain control of the lone remaining Sentinel, driven as she was by her obligation to protect the Conduit and the temple at all costs.

The lesser beings had somehow managed to sever her mental link with the rest of the planet’s assets as well as her ability to commune with the Conduit. No longer could she access the global defense system—which she had spent a great deal of time improving after the last encounter with the Telinaruulvessel. She did not comprehend how such a feat might be possible, nor could she spare the time or energy to investigate. The Wanderer could do nothing so long as she was trapped within the confines of this physical shell. She required direct access to the Conduit.

There was little time, she knew. Her connection to this shell was fading, and her consciousness was at risk of becoming completely disassociated for eternity—from the Sentinel as well as the Conduit—if she could not find a means of escape. Also, the Telinaruul,no doubt emboldened by their limited success, would be coming. Consumed by the desire to possess what was not rightfully theirs, they would follow her, their goal one of greed, or of lust. It mattered not what propelled the interlopers, for it would not be enough to protect them from the final defensive option at the Wanderer’s disposal.

Entering the Conduit and attempting to access various points around the planet’s information network told her that the efforts of the Telinaruulhad been more comprehensive than first surmised. Only assets at her location were available to her, though much of those connections also had been compromised. Sending forth tendrils of purpose and determination, the Wanderer activated the final protocol, the only option remaining to her that might safeguard at least some of the secrets of the Shedai.

Interfacing with the Conduit via physical contact was a sensation that existed only in her earliest memories. It was a rudimentary approach, typically useful only in teaching children the fundamentals of navigating the thoughtspace until such time as a Shedai’s latent abilities manifested themselves.

Now, it was the only option the Wanderer possessed.

Her joy at carrying out her duty was short-lived, as she felt the drain upon her consciousness. The assets she required floated in and out of her grasp, her capacity to control them limited by her impeded ability to extend herself through the Conduit. Her strength and life ebbing with each passing moment, the Wanderer felt the momentary glow of energy pouring forth from the belly of the planet, racing upward and outward to do her bidding, but the next instant it was lost, fading into nothingness as though it never had existed.

Protecting the interests of her people was no longer within her power. Reaching out with one of the few surviving tendrils available to her, she sensed the approach of the Telinaruul. Capture was unthinkable, though she suspected she would not survive even if she allowed such a repulsive action to take place.

No, the Wanderer decided. There was but a single course to follow. She must survive in order to continue the fight. The Telinaruulmight celebrate their victory here today, but such triumph—in keeping with their simple existence—ultimately was fleeting. The Shedai had waited uncounted generations for their chance to return to their rightful station as rulers of all that was known.

They could wait a while longer.

40

Diamond was the first to enter the chamber, stepping over pieces of fallen rock and through the ragged hole in the stone wall, the phaser rifle she had taken from one of her security officers leading the way. Xiong followed on her heels, his hand phaser also out and aimed ahead of him. Carrying his tricorder in his free hand, he studied the unit’s display screen once more before tapping Diamond on the shoulder. He pointed toward an archway carved out of the stone wall, from which filtered feeble, wavering lighting.

“That way.”

Upon realizing that the region of Erilon on which they stood was not, apparently, in any danger of blowing up, and pausing momentarily to offer up a measure of thanks—to those deity or deities who might be listening for the stroke of immense good fortune they had chosen to visit upon the landing party—Xiong immediately had convinced Captain Khatami to allow a search party to remain on the surface.

“Are you tempting fate, Lieutenant?” Khatami had asked, finally relenting to the request after retrieving the balance of the landing party. Though the captain might not possess all of the knowledge pertaining to the Taurus Reach, she knew enough to understand that whatever risk might be involved, the stakes warranted it—particularly given the appalling costs that already had been incurred.

Sensors had registered new power readings emanating from another location far beneath the ancient structure’s long-dead control room—the same spot that he had detected earlier. Xiong at first was confused how such a reading could be possible, given his understanding that nothing but solid rock existed beneath the chamber, which had been the focal point of his research on this planet since his initial exploration of the alien artifact.

“Like I said before,” the engineer offered as the trio followed the readings from Xiong’s tricorder deeper into the millennia-old ruins, “appearances can be deceiving.”

Following the path of the retreating creature into the depths of the artifact with the only illumination provided by handheld lights to guide them, the Starfleet officers could not admit surprise when they came across the hole leading through the rock wall of the passageway. Obviously not created in the same meticulous manner that characterized the corridors and chambers throughout the artifact, this opening appeared to have been blasted from whatever lay beyond. Evidence of the unrefined work lay all around them, fragmented chunks of stone and dirt littering the floor.

With al-Khaled following behind them, Diamond led Xiong toward the illuminated entryway. Drawing closer, Xiong could make out a low, droning hum coming from the chamber, the source of whatever was generating the power readings he tracked with his tricorder.

I can’t believe it. We’re finally here.At last, he and his companions were about to come face-to-face with what he had sought since first discovering the vast storehouse of mind-numbing technology.

“Faint life signs,” he whispered, reaching up to adjust one of the tricorder’s controls. “I’m barely picking it up, and it’s fading fast.”

“Dying?” Diamond asked, her expression itself posing the same question.

Xiong nodded. “I think so.”

Motioning for him and al-Khaled to hug the wall behind her, Diamond inched toward the entryway. She aimed the barrel of her phaser rifle through the opening, slowly sweeping the room before exposing herself to possible attack. A moment later Xiong watched as her body stiffened and she even recoiled a step before turning to him. “Look at this.”

She entered the doorway, and Xiong and al-Khaled followed. Xiong stopped as his eyes took in the sight before him.

“Oh, my,” was all he could whisper as he beheld what at first appeared to be the mirror image of the control room far above them. What distinguished this chamber from that other room was, of course, the buzz of activity and life permeating the atmosphere here. The chamber’s far wall was dominated by an array of control consoles all but identical to the ones Xiong had studied for weeks, save for the fact that the equipment here was functioning. Status monitors depicted graphics and text in a language the lieutenant had no hope of understanding. Rows of multicolored indicators flashed in irregular sequences and at varying frequencies, offering no clue as to their function.

Standing before all of it was the creature.

Instinct brought Xiong’s weapon hand up, the phaser training on the dark, stationary figure, but he did not fire. Only then did he realize that the thing was not so much standing before the collection of control mechanisms as it was sagging against it.

“Let’s end this,” Diamond said, stepping forward and pulling the stock of her phaser rifle to her shoulder.

Placing a hand on her arm, Xiong called out, “Wait!” Even as he offered the plea, his attention turned back to where the creature had remained since their arrival, offering no hint that it even was aware of their presence.

“What’s it doing?” al-Khaled asked, and Xiong noticed that the engineer had exchanged his own phaser for the tricorder slung over his shoulder. “I’m picking up massive power readings. Not just here but even farther down below us.”

“The self-destruct?” Diamond asked, her voice holding an anxious edge.

Al-Khaled shook his head. “No, this is new, and different. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s as though…”

His remaining words were consumed by an intense rumbling that seemed to come from the walls, the floor and ceiling—everywhere. The illumination offered by dozens of indirect sources embedded into the stone walls flickered as if in response to an immense energy drain, though it did not seem to affect the chamber’s banks of computer screens and consoles.

“What the hell is happening?” Diamond asked, her words a hoarse whisper as she—like Xiong—watched the scene unfold with ever-widening eyes.

The lieutenant’s communicator beeped and he retrieved it from his belt to flip it open. “Xiong here.” He had to hold the unit close to his ear in order to hear the reply.

“ Khatami here, Lieutenant. We’re picking up new power surges from your location. What’s going on?”

“I wish I could tell you, Captain,” Xiong replied, shouting to be heard over the rising din. “We’re watching it happen.”

Standing motionless before the rows of consoles, its arms resting atop two panels, the creature seemed unaffected by anything as the crescendo continued to increase with each passing second. Many of the graphic displays accelerated their scroll of vibrant colors and alien text into a turbulent, unrestrained frenzy. Xiong’s efforts to cover his ears and muffle the disharmonious wail were futile as the noise storm rising up around him began to induce actual discomfort.

Then, as he and the others watched, the creature fell away from the consoles. The instant it broke contact with the smooth, featureless surface, everything stopped, stilled as though a simple switch had been flipped. The only sound in the chamber was the clatter of the humanoid figure as it crashed to the stone floor, collapsing into a lifeless heap.

The silence was so sudden, so encompassing, that Xiong all but staggered back a step at the abrupt shift. “My god,” he said as he stared, openmouthed, at the unmoving form. Activating his tricorder, he held it before him in order to capture detailed readings from the motionless figure. “It’s dead.” Frowning, he added, “At least, I think it is.”

“It did this,” al-Khaled said, holding his arms open to indicate the entire room. “Everything we saw, everything used to attack us. That thing controlled it all from here.”

“One life-form, controlling everything on this entire planet?” Diamond asked. “Including the attack on the Endeavour? That seems pretty far-fetched.” Turning to look around the room for a moment, however, she nodded. “Of course, far-fetched seems to be the order of the day around here.”

Al-Khaled nodded. “The dampening field. It’s possible that it cut off access to the other power sources. We might even have cut it off from whatever it was using to initiate the self-destruct procedure.” Looking around, he exhaled a sigh of profound relief. “Whatever happened, we got damned lucky.”

“Lucky?” Diamond asked. “I didn’t think engineers believed in luck.”

“I do today,” al-Khaled replied.

His focus riveted on his tricorder and the corpse of the alien lying before him, Xiong ignored the banter. According to the readings he was getting, the creature’s physiology was as much crystalline composites as it was living tissue, with one mutual component working to blend the two disparate substances into a seamless, balanced whole.

The meta-genome.

As with the samples he had studied both here and on Vanguard, Xiong easily identified the primary sequence of genetic data common to every sample of the magnificent DNA. Beyond that, his tricorder was registering hundreds of thousands of new components, orders of magnitude more complex than anything they had yet encountered.

It’s all here– waiting.

The force of the revelation was such that it took every ounce of strength and discipline to maintain his composure, lest he offer too much information to al-Khaled and Diamond about his true reason for being here. If his guess was right, if his theory about biometric interfaces being necessary for access to the artifact’s collection of ancient technology had any merit, then the evidence to prove that hypothesis was right here, having been all but dropped into his lap.

With the alien dead, however, validating the idea would still prove a challenge—if indeed it was possible at all.

Xiong could not wait to find out.

41

All things considered, Reyes decided that Desai was reacting well to what she had just been told.

“You son of a bitch,” the captain repeated for the second time, rising from her chair in front of Reyes’s desk and beginning to pace the width of his office. “I can’t believe you’ve been keeping this from me all this time.”

“I had my orders, Rana,” Reyes said, slouching back in his own chair. “You know how that is.”

Waving her hands to indicate the office and—by extension—the rest of the station, Desai said, “So, all of this is nothing more than a sham? That’s why we’re here, to put on a show for curious onlookers? We keep everyone’s attention focused elsewhere while you send out ships to look for who the hell knows what? And what about the Bombay? Did the Tholians destroy it because we were trespassing into their territory?”

“No,” Reyes countered, holding up his right hand and pointing upward for emphasis. “Everything about this station and its role to support new colonization and exploration efforts is absolutely legitimate. The Bombaywas delivering supplies to the Ravanar IV outpost when it was attacked without provocation. That’s the truth.” Of course, it was not the entire truth, but Reyes had already decided that while he needed Desai to know certain facts in order to effectively do her job without making his own responsibilities more difficult, that did not mean he was prepared to lay out every single detail for her. Not today, at least.

Desai stopped her pacing, turning to glare at Reyes as she placed her hands on her hips. “Of course it is. The more truth you mix in with the lie, the easier it is to tell the lie. What’s worse is that I’m part of that lie. Officially, I discontinued the Bombayinquiry because it was determined that the Tholians’ attack was premeditated, but we both know it wasn’t unprovoked. They attacked that ship because they felt threatened by its presence near that planet, and now you seem to be telling me that their actions may well have been justified.”

“It’s not that simple, Rana,” Reyes said, his voice coming off louder and harsher than he had intended. Pausing a moment to clear his throat, he continued, “We don’t know what it is we’ve found here, who’s responsible for it or what other technology they might have created. If what Xiong and his team have managed to figure out is any indication, the possible impacts to science as we understand it are staggering. It should also go without saying that whoever’s behind it all, assuming they’re still around, has the potential to upset the status quo of this part of the galaxy.” If Xiong’s latest report from Erilon was any indication, that statement had taken on an enormous new meaning.

“You’re talking like a soldier again,” Desai said, her hard expression unchanging.

“Because it’s the kind of talking that’s required right now,” Reyes countered. Leaning forward, he locked eyes with her. “Rana, you’ve seen what Fisher discovered in the lab. Now, imagine if that level of sophistication were applied toward the creation of some kind of weapon. If that sort of technology is lying around out there, just waiting for someone to find it, would you rather it be us, or the Klingons, or perhaps someone worse?”

Desai released a sigh of exasperation. “I don’t know, Diego. It’s all a bit much to wrap my head around just this minute.” She closed her eyes, reaching up with her right hand to pinch the bridge of her nose as if fighting back a headache. After a moment she raised her head to regard him once more. “You said you think there’s a connection between the Tholians and this…thing…you’ve been chasing. Do you think they might be protecting this—ancient technology?”

Reyes shook his head. “Xiong doesn’t seem to think so, but we have no way to be certain right now.” The revelation that the energy signatures from the ancient power generators on Erilon bore some connection to current technology employed by the Tholians—if only on a most basic level—made for a compelling reason as to why the Tholians had reacted in the manner they had toward the Bombay. Despite that, the commodore’s gut told him things simply did not add up that cleanly.

For one thing, it still did not explain the initial incident on Erilon that had claimed Captain Zhao and his party as well as the Corps of Engineers team there, nor did it offer any insight into what the Endeavourand the Lovellhad experienced during their return visit to the planet. So far, the only thing that seemed to lend credence to any sort of shared heritage between the Tholians and whatever might be responsible for the meta-genome was what Dr. Fisher had found during his autopsy of the Denobulan victim brought back from Erilon.

Crystallizing that poor bastard’s DNA? Why?

It made no sense for the oddly xenophobic race to be doing anything that might bring them into prolonged contact with other species, but as Fisher had reminded him on more occasions than Reyes could count, science did not lie. It might mis-speak due to lack of information or offer answers to questions as yet unasked, but it never offered untruths. Reyes knew that eventually science—perhaps with the aid of no small amount of luck—would provide understanding for those answers.

What he did not know was if he could afford to wait that long.

“Maybe that corpse recovered on Erilon will shed some light,” Desai said after a moment.

“Hopefully on a lot of things,” Reyes countered. It was a test of will to keep from marching down to the morgue this minute and watching over Fisher’s shoulder while he and Lieutenant Xiong conducted their examination. What secrets did the body of that unknown alien hold?

In addition, Dr. Gek and his research team down in the Vault were poring over the new collection of data collected from the planet, in the hopes of learning more about the newly discovered technology storehouse. Would they find some concrete link between Erilon and Palgrenax, and perhaps even Ravanar IV and any number of other planets throughout the region? For the first time since they had begun this extended scavenger hunt, Reyes felt that his people might just be on the cusp of unlocking at least one new door that led deeper into the maze of mystery the Taurus Reach seemed to represent.

Desai said nothing for several moments, folding her arms across her chest and allowing her gaze to drop to the carpet. Her thoughts elsewhere, she seemed oblivious as Reyes watched her jaw clench, recognizing the expression as one she adopted whenever she was trying to work out a problem while weighing the need to handle things herself rather than ask for help. It was a rare instance that she appeared vulnerable to any degree and, then as now, she appeared absolutely radiant.

Finally, she looked back up to him. “Diego, why now?”

“Why what now?”

Her eyes narrowing, Desai replied, “Why tell me all of this now, after everything that’s happened?”

“Because of everythingthat’s happened,” Reyes replied, rising from his chair. “After what you’ve seen and heard, you can’t be expected to do your job if you’re still in the dark about various important details.” Stepping around his desk, he moved to stand within a few paces of her. “A lot’s going on in the name of duty and security, Rana, a lot of it unpleasant and some of it questionable: morally, ethically, legally. I need someone I can trust to guide me through some of the rough spots I know are coming.”

“What about Jetanien and T’Prynn?” Desai asked. “T’Prynn can give you all the logic you’ll ever need, and if there’s someone better qualified than Jetanien to counsel you on the military and political minefield you’re crossing, I’ve never heard of them.”

Reyes shook his head. “This is different. I need someone I can talkto,” he continued, “who’ll let me work things out while giving me perspectives I might be overlooking.”

“You mean like the colonies you try to draft as Starfleet supply depots?” Desai asked.

Despite himself, he released a tired chuckle that did much to ease the pressure he had been feeling of late. “Exactly,” he said, extending his arms toward her. “Somebody who’s not afraid to tell me when I’m wandering off course.” While it was true that Jetanien already had proven to be an invaluable source of insight into how best to deal with the Klingons and the Tholians, and T’Prynn’s particular talents were also of enormous benefit—despite the questionable methods she had employed to date—neither of them seemed suited to provide the sort of moral compass he had decided was necessary if he was to be successful going forward.

Holding her ground, Desai cocked her head as she regarded him. “Have you told me everything there is to know?”

“No,” Reyes answered without hesitation, dropping his arms back to his sides.

While it was true that they both shared deep respect for ethics and justice, Reyes knew that Desai simply would not accept as defensible some of the actions that had been taken to preserve the security of Vanguard’s true mission. If she were to learn of such things, she would be legally and ethically obligated to conduct an investigation and report her findings to higher authority—no matter what the consequences might be to the secret he and his handful of trusted confidants were laboring to protect.

That’s why you need her,Reyes reminded himself. The end has to justify the means, otherwise, what the hell are you doing here? She’ll help you see it through.

“There are also some things I probably won’t ever tell you,” he said. “I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it has to be. I can’t promise you that it won’t happen again going forward, either. There’s simply too much at stake, and for now some secrets are necessary. I won’t lie to you, or feed you disinformation, but there will be times when I can’t tell you something. You’re just going to have to trust that I’m doing it for the right reasons.”

“I do trust you, Diego,” Desai said, “which is why I terminated the Bombayinquiry. I felt it was the right decision at the time, based on what had been revealed about the attack and because I believed you hadn’t done anything negligent or illegal.” Cocking her head to the left, she glared at him. “That was before the whole mess with Tim Pennington fell out. At first, I thought he was an incredibly crafty son of a bitch who just got overeager and didn’t check his facts, but I think we both know it didn’t happen that way. He was deliberately set up to take that fall, and there’s only a handful of people on this station who could have made that happen. In fact, I’d wager there’s only one person who could’ve done it.”

Reyes said nothing.

Holding up a hand, Desai continued, “I understand operational security, Diego, but even that requires accountability. If I thought I could prove T’Prynn broke regulations, I’d have already hoisted her from the nearest yardarm. You need to know that I’m not done looking for that proof, either.” She pointed a finger at his chest. “Don’t put me in the position of having to file false reports or participating in any further cover-ups. I know you need some leeway here, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to violate the law.”

Reyes kept his expression fixed. “You’re sexy when you take a stand, you know that?”

The joke had its intended effect, as he noted the ghost of a smile play across her lips before she clamped down, driving it away. “I mean it, Diego.”

Nodding, Reyes replied, “I know you do, and frankly I expect no less from a Starfleet captain. I won’t prevent you from doing your job or following your orders, but you need to know that I’ve got my orders, too, and one of them is that operational security here has to be maintained.” Looking down at his feet, he released a sigh. “If there’s going to be any lying or covering up, I’ll be the one to do it.”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, both of them looking at each other and contemplating the ramifications of his words. Reyes saw in Desai’s eyes the burden of what she had learned here today.

“Don’t let me catch you,” Desai said, her voice softer now as she stepped closer. “I’d hate to have you court-martialed.” She moved to where she could lay her head against his chest, and Reyes felt her arms wrap around his back, pulling him tight against her. He returned the embrace, resting his chin atop her head and reaching up to stroke her dark hair with his hand.

Holding her, Reyes could feel the tension in her body. He imagined he could sense a struggle already beginning within her, as though her unflinching devotion to the rule of law and her ability to understand the need for latitude when dealing with the unknown already were taking up arms against one another. Those forces were readying for battle, preparing for the day when, inevitably, Desai’s convictions would be put to the test as a consequence of what she now knew.