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Healing her, to enact more torture.

"That's because it is bad," said the doctor crisply. "You were supposed to be out of here with her by now."

Out of here?

"I know, but in her state she'd just attract more attention. Jekri, listen to me." She felt him take her right hand in both of his. She wanted to snatch it away, spit at him, flee from whatever new torture he was improvising. "This is going to be difficult for you to believe, but you must You will only succeed in getting us both sent back there if you try to fight me. I grieve for what you underwent, but I had no choice. I had to make the Senate believe that I was turning you over to them, or else I would not have been able to remain free. By feigning betrayal, I was able to serve you still."

What kind of new lie was this?

"Dr. T'Lar is also one of us. One of those who believe that Lhiau has taken over the Empress's mind and is leading us down a path that will end in disaster. I know you believe this too, and there are more people than you think who were willing to help you. We had to keep up the pretense of torture, but it worked to your advantage. Had I tried to transport the energy cell with the food as I did the other materials, it would have been detected. Dr. T'Lar's transports of you to and from the examination rooms were not supervised, so she could manage what I could not. We inserted the cell inside your body, where you could easily remove it."

Jekri thought of die pain digging around in her wrist had caused, and did not think it easily removed.

"She is treating your injuries right now and rehydrat-ing you."

Slowly, Jekri became aware that her body's movements were returning to her control. She opened her eyes and gazed at Verrak.

"Jekri," breathed Verrak. The emotion in his face was almost painful to behold. His strong, angular face was soft with passion and grief. Jekri was embarrassed for him.

'I am so sorry for what you went through. I do not dare hope you will ever forgive me, but perhaps you will understand. I have procured a ship for you. The commander is prepared to defect in order that you may achieve your goal. He thinks that once you have done so, the Senate and the Praetor will listen to you. You will have exposed Lhiau's evil and perhaps saved the Romulan people. You will most certainly get your tide back. In the meantime, please. Trust me. Come with me."

She licked her lips. "I will come." There was no alternative. Perhaps it was a trap, but to what end? They had already gotten her, were able to do what they wanted to her. Unless Lhiau wanted her to dance to his tune again, and for a shot at freedom, at bringing the fvai as low as she could, at recovering the Empress's sanity, she would trust the President of the Federation herself.

Verrak's face broke into a smile, and he pressed his forehead to her small hand. "I know you do not trust me yet, but you soon will. This, I swear to you."

He eased her up, and she moved carefully, mildly surprised not to be in pain anymore. She turned to the doctor, who regarded her as coolly as Verrak did with heat in his gaze.

"How did you find me?" asked Jekri.

"The energy cell was more complicated than it appeared," replied Dr. T'Lar. "It emitted a certain signal. No one else would have detected it unless they were specifically searching for it."

"That's how we knew which tunnel you were in," said Verrak.

"Subcommander, the two of you must leave now." The doctor wasted no words. "Kaleh, you are as healed as I can make you at this moment. Change into these and with luck I will be able to walk the both of you right out the door."

Hastily Jekri slipped into the impersonal uniform worn by the doctors. She was glad to shed herself of the last physical remnants of her time in prison. Verrak, she noticed, was already wearing the off-white pants and tunic with the medical-officer insignia on the left breast. Quickly and efficiently, T'Lar handed them their props to complete