The Brave And The Bold Book Two Part 21

He threw his head back and laughed. Then he turned to his second-in-command. "May it be the first victory of many this day."

The second time B'Oraq awoke from unconsciousness in Klag's shuttle was much worse than the first. For one thing, where McCoy had apparently gently laid her on the QongDaq, whoever their latest attacker was had simply tossed her unceremoniously onto the deck of the fore compartment. For another, this time the headache extended to her feet.

Once again, she awoke to Amba.s.sador Worf's face, and once again he asked, "Are you all right, Doctor?"

"No. My head feels like a targ' s running loose in it. What happened?"

Worf helped her to her feet. B'Oraq noted that G'joth was still unconscious and propped up against one of the bulkheads, and McKenna and Falce were standing and rubbing their temples, looking like they were in considerable pain.

"We were victims of a telepathic attack," Worf said. "Our captor rendered us unconscious, placed us back inside the shuttle, and reactivated the forcefield."

B'Oraq tugged on her braid. "I a.s.sume that we won't be able to cobble together another miracle device to wipe out the forcefield?"

"No." Worf masked his anger well, but B'Oraq could feel the undercurrent in his voice. She found it oddly appealing.

"So what do we do now?"

Falce muttered, "Panicking might not be a bad idea."

"Oh, cut that out, Matt," McKenna said. "There's got to be a way out of this."

A voice came from the still-open rear hatch. "Perhaps there-there is."

B'Oraq turned to see a Vulcan male standing on the other side of the hatch. After a moment, she realized that it was Amba.s.sador Spock. After another moment, she remembered what Worf had told her.

"Are you responsible for this?" she asked.

"Not-as such, no. I do not have much time. Malkus will rea.s.sert his control over me-soon."

Falce frowned. "Who's Malkus?"

"A-tyrant from many millennia ago. Are you familiar-with Starfleet General Order 16, Lieutenant?"

B'Oraq knew nothing of the regulation, of course, but Worf immediately said, "The fourth artifact?"

Spock nodded. "It was unearthed-here. Apparently, my exposure to-to one of the other artifacts made me-susceptible to Malkus's control. Three others-Dr. McCoy, Colonel Kira Nerys, and Captain Robert DeSoto-are also enthralled. And, Amba.s.sador-I must apologize for my actions against you, Lieutenant Falce, and Ensign McKenna. I was-not in my right mind at the time."

"How are you able to resist now?" Worf asked.

"I am-not sure. Possibly because my brain chemistry has-changed since I encountered the first artifact-when I died and was reborn on the Genesis Planet."

"Of course," Worf said matter-of-factly, as if people talked about being resurrected every day. B'Oraq looked at both of them as if they were insane.

McKenna saw the look, and gave the doctor a smile. "Trust me, this sort of thing is normal for those two," she said in a whisper. "Read any six random captain's logs for any s.h.i.+p named Enterprise, and you'll see what I mean."

"Malkus sent me," Spock continued, "to place you back in the shuttle and-reactivate the forcefield. I must-return soon or he will notice-that I have taken too long-or that his control is not what it should be."

Falce started fidgeting. "So why don't you just deactivate the forcefield?"

"Great idea, Matt," McKenna said. "Then we can get zapped again."

"The ensign-is correct. I had hoped that another-possibility might present itself."

Spock, B'Oraq noticed, was giving Worf what seemed to be a very significant look. Is this some kind of diplomat code or something? she thought.

Then she recalled her studies of Vulcan anatomy-particularly as related to the Vulcan brain. "You're suggesting a mind-meld, aren't you?"

"I am-not, no," Spock said. "However, it would-be a useful tool for allowing two of us to resist-Malkus's control."

Worf stepped forward. "I will volunteer."

"I don't like this, Mr. Amba.s.sador," Falce said. "I'm not so sure he should be trusted."

"Perhaps," Worf said. "But I would be the most-logical choice. I was the first to recover from the psionic attack earlier, and I have felt no ill effects from it. You are still obviously in pain, as are Dr. B'Oraq and Ensign McKenna-and G'joth is still unconscious."

B'Oraq hadn't realized that her headache was so bad that the amba.s.sador could see it in her face. "I agree with Amba.s.sador Worf," she said. "His quick recovery makes him the best choice. It means he's more likely to be able to retain his own self, and not be lost in the melding."

Spock regarded B'Oraq. "You are-familiar with the mind-meld?"

She smiled. "I studied medicine at Starfleet Academy. It included a primer on the medicinal applications of psionics, particularly as related to Vulcans, Betazoids, and other telepathic races."

"Indeed. We are-fortunate, then, that you are here to monitor."

"I'm not sure how much I can monitor without equipment," B'Oraq said ruefully, "but I will try my best."

The Vulcan amba.s.sador removed a control from the folds of his robes and pressed a b.u.t.ton on it. The forcefield fell and he stepped inside the shuttle. "We must-we must hurry. I can feel myself beginning to lose control once again. Malkus has-spread himself fairly thin, which has-aided in my ability to resist. But that ability-may weaken without the extra support-from Mr. Worf's mind."

Turning to Worf, B'Oraq put a hand on his arm. "Have you ever experienced a mind-meld before?"

"No."

"It can be a very-overwhelming experience. Try to focus on one particular thing-a favorite song, a face, an image, anything-before you start. Use that as a mental anchor."

Worf nodded. "I understand."

I hope so, she thought.

"Are you-are you ready?" Spock asked.

B'Oraq took a look at the older amba.s.sador and thought that question applied more to him. He looked horrible; the strain of trying to resist this Malkus person's control was obviously wearing on him. She hoped that this worked, because if it didn't, Spock would be in Malkus's thrall again, and they'd be back stuck in the shuttle with no way out. Or he might just decide we're better off dead....

In answer to Spock's query, Worf simply said, "Yes."

I don't like this, B'Oraq thought. Usually the partic.i.p.ants have some time to get ready-a half an hour at least, especially if Spock is going to attempt a meld as deep as I think he's going to.

Spock stood face-to-face with Worf and placed his fingers on the areas of Worf's face that were closest to the neural pathways to the cerebellum.

"My mind-to your mind. My thoughts-to your thoughts. Our minds-become one..."

Chapter Fifteen.

YOUNG WORF STOOD IN THE DOORWAY of his ancestral family home on Vulcan. His father, Sarek, demanded to know where he'd been.

"I have been in the mountains," Worf said.

"You are not to travel to the Llangon Mountains," Sarek said.

Confused, Worf started to say that Father had taken his brother Sybok to the Ural Mountains only last week.

"Come," Sarek said. "It is time."

Young Spock stood in the doorway of the Rozhenko home in Minsk. His adoptive father, Sergey, demanded to know where he'd been.

"I have been in the mountains," Spock said.

Father laughed. "We just went to the Ural Mountains with your brother Nikolai last week."

Confused, Spock started to say that Father had forbidden him travel to the Llangon Mountains.

"Come," Sergey said. "It is time."

(My mind...) "Oh, look, it's the little human boy!"

"Stinking halfbreed!"

"Why don't you go back to Earth?"

"You're not a real Vulcan!"

Young Worf was angered at the insults the other Vulcan children threw his way. He wanted to kill them all-it wasn't his fault that Mikel had died. He hadn't sufficiently restrained himself in the soccer game, but it wasn't his fault that their collision resulted in a broken neck!

"My G.o.d, he killed him!"

"Murderer!"

"Mikel's dead!"

"Klingon savage!"

Young Spock was confused at the epithets the human teenagers on Gault threw his way. He wanted to fight back-it wasn't his fault that his mother was human and that he couldn't be like the other, full-blooded Vulcans.

(...to your mind...) "Why do you reject the ways of logic, brother?"

Sybok smiled indulgently at Worf's question. "I don't expect you to understand."

"Vulcan is your home, even more than it was ever mine!" Worf cried.

"You have made this your home," Sybok said, putting a hand on Worf's shoulder. "But I never truly belonged here."

With that, Worf's half-brother turned on his heel and left the house at s.h.i.+Kahr. Worf would not see him again until many years later while serving on the Enterprise....

"Why are you leaving Starfleet Academy, brother?"

Nikolai smiled indulgently at Spock's question. "I don't expect you to understand."

"You belong here, even more than I do," Spock said calmly.

"No, this is where you were meant to be," Nikolai said, putting a hand on Spock's shoulder. "But I never truly belonged here."

With that, Spock's foster brother turned on his heel and left the grounds of the Academy. Spock would not see him again until many years later while serving on the Enterprise....

(...my thoughts...) Images of K'Ehleyr's broken, b.l.o.o.d.y form filled Worf's head as he lunged at Jim Kirk. As they tumbled, Worf wrapped the ahn-woon around his old friend's neck.

He had failed with the lirpa, but he would not fail now. As he lifted Kirk off of him and all but dragged him to the coal fire, his mind was ravaged with but one thought: K'Ehleyr will be mine forever! The needs of the Pon farr would be fulfilled.

Kirk made a last, desperate lunge, which saved him from the heat of the coals, but Worf never lost his grip on the ahn-woon. The light died in Jim Kirk's eyes.

Victory was his....

Images of T'Pring's serene face filled Spock's head as he lunged at Duras. Spock deflected Duras's tik'leth strike with his bat'leth.

He had failed to save T'Pring from Duras, but he would not fail now. As he parried another tik'leth strike and then moved onto the offensive, his mind was ravaged with but one thought: T'Pring will be avenged! The right of vengeance would be fulfilled.

Duras made a last, desperate parry, but it did him no good. Spock knocked him to the ground and then slammed his family's bat'leth into his enemy's chest. The light died in Duras's eyes.

Victory was his....

(...to your thoughts...) There were many days in Worf's life that he would have defined as happy, though he doubted he would have admitted it aloud to anyone. But to stand there on Vulcan's Forge and to marry Saavik right there with T'Lar officiating and all of his crewmates from Deep s.p.a.ce 9 present was one of the moments he would treasure until the day he died....

There were many days in Spock's life that he would have defined as happy , though he doubted he would have admitted it aloud to anyone. But to stand there in Quark's bar and to marry Jadzia right there with Sirella officiating and Sarek, McCoy, and Uhura present was one of the moments he would treasure until the day he died....

(...our thoughts...) It was small comfort as Worf stood there in the caves beneath Romulus, but at least Jean-Luc Picard was there by his side-his lone support when he was discommendated from the Klingon Empire.

It was small comfort as Spock stood there in the Great Hall on Qo'noS, but at least Jean-Luc Picard had been able to mind-meld with Spock-his last connection to his now-dead father, Sarek.

(...are becoming...) Worf had thought that studying Kolinahr on Vulcan would be the answer to what had ailed him since the EnterpriseD was destroyed on Veridian III. But then came the siren call of V'Ger, and he knew he had to go back.

Spock had thought that studying under the clerics at Boreth would be the answer to what had ailed him since he resigned from Starfleet at the end of the Enterprise 's five-year mission. But then came the orders to report to Deep s.p.a.ce 9, and he knew he had to go back.

(...one.) The news that Jim Kirk had been lost on the Enterprise-B to some kind of energy ribbon had saddened Worf more than he thought it would. At least Kirk had sacrificed himself to save the people of Bajor....

The news that Benjamin Sisko had been lost in the fire caves on Bajor had saddened Spock more than he thought it would. At least Sisko had sacrificed himself to save the el-Aurian refugees they'd rescued....