Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [4]
Finally, however, a kind of order was established. A stillness settled on the crowd. A despair.
A few moments earlier, Sel’den had seen hope in the faces of the Constantharine unificationists. After all, they were greeting a great Teacher who would take them down Surak’s path. But now those same faces were full of horror and disappointment.
Even those who had come from Romulus looked I shocked. Sel’den felt shame for them.
Looking to the Teacher, he tried to draw strength from the Vulcan’s apparent calm. He tried to emulate the precise and passionless thoughts that were the source of the Teacher’s strength and dignity.
As if aware of Sel’den’s scrutiny, the Vulcan turned to him. His gaze was steady and serene, acknowledging his student’s struggle.
In the Vulcan’s eyes, Sel’den saw no disappointment, judgment, or reproach. Only acceptance of what was— and what would be.
Meanwhile, the soldiers were securing each door exactly as Sel’den himself would have done, to make sure no one escaped. The ranking officer, a chief of security, surveyed the room with a practiced eye.
But there was more to his actions than mere efficiency, Sel’den thought. The officer was sizing up the unificationists. But for what purpose?
Suddenly, he knew. The realization struck him like a physical blow. It took every ounce of his discipline to retain his control—to keep the pounding of his heart from overpowering him—and to determine a logical course of action.
Even as the plan was forming in his mind, he was on the move, taking slow, careful steps toward the Teacher’s makeshift podium. There was enough shuffling among the assembled Romulans that his intent was not immediately detectable to the soldiers.
But that wouldn’t last long. Just a few steps later, Sel’den was by his teacher’s side.
The Vulcan gave him a quizzical look, but Sel’den could not spare any response. The security chief and two soldiers had just reached the podium as well.
Unfortunately, the Teacher’s position as speaker marked him as one in charge of the unificationists. That made him the target of a common ploy among Romulan soldiers.
To firmly establish their control over a group of prisoners—at least until a trial could take place—it was customary to identify a leader and deal with him or her ruthlessly.
Sel’den could not accept this. As long as his mentor lived, the movement had life as well. It was logical, then, to preserve the Teacher’s life at all costs.
Stepping forward, he intercepted the security chief and spoke in a level, even confident tone. “I lead these people,” he said. “By what right are you here? By whose authority?”
The pose did not trouble Sel’den. In this case, the mistruth clearly served a greater good.
Sel’den couldn’t see his teacher’s face, but he could imagine his expression. Right about now, the Vulcan was coming to understand what danger he was in and what Sel’den was attempting to do about it.
At first, the Teacher would no doubt be disappointed in him. On the face of it, at least, Sel’den’s act was an emotional one—an act of overweaning courage.
But this time, Sel’den knew that his logic was flawless. Surely the Vulcan would see that in time.
“You are their leader?” the officer replied. He turned to one of his men.
The Teacher reached out, protesting. “No, you do not—”
But it was too late.
Sel’den allowed himself a small regret: that he would not live to argue the necessity of his actions with his master. Then he heard the crack of the security chief’s voice and saw a soldier drawing his disruptor.
Giving a final mental thanks to Spock, who had honored him with his teaching, Sel’den winced at the bright flash before him.
And felt the agonizing grasp of the disruptor’s rampant energies.
And carried his gratitude to the grave.
CHAPTER 2
This was just the sort of meeting that usually put Leonard McCoy to sleep.
In fact, he’d nearly dozed off on two occasions in the past hour