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CHAPTER 2

IT WAS A COMFORTABLE CELL. CAPTAIN KATHRYN JANE-WAY had to give the Kwaisi that. But a cell it was, nonetheless, and she was in it, and she had to get out.

She paced back and forth like a caged animal, the repetitive movement helping her mind to focus. She couldn't believe she had been so easily captured, and even with a security-guard escort! She hadn't expected the Kwaisi to react in such a fashion, or else she'd have been more alert. After all she and her ship had done to help them, too.

With an uncharacteristic bitterness, Janeway recalled her first encounter with the Kwaisi. Sensors had picked up eight heavily armed vessels, riddled with mutated dark matter. It was a wonder they weren't falling apart right before her eyes. The leader of this fleet was one Captain Ulaahn, a deluded, suicidal being who was will convince the Kwaisi to release the captain. Our mission is far more dire than any of us realized."

"If you would tell me what you learned from the Shepherd, I will consider your request."

"I told you, it is for the captain's ears only!"

"As the captain is not present," said Tuvok, "then your information must needs remain unheard."

"Veruul!" cried Telek, and stormed off the bridge. He was shaking, with fear and anger combined. "Deck Two," he instructed, and the turbolift hummed into motion.

He tried to calm himself, clasping his hands in an effort to stop their trembling. Tuvok was right, as far as he knew. To him, it would indeed be folly to simply allow Telek to beam down and himself be captured by the trial-hungry Kwaisi. But Tuvok didn't know what Telek knew, and the Romulan feared he could not convince the Vulcan chief of security with mere words.

Alone in his quarters, Telek lay on the comfortable bed, his body tense and his mind racing. What to do, what to do? How to convince a stubborn, emotionless Vulcan that-

Yes. It was the only way.

'Telek R'Mor to Commander Tuvok."

"Go ahead, Doctor."

"I would appreciate it if you would meet me in my quarters immediately."

"You are hardly in a position to make requests, Doctor. Our captain has been kidnapped. My place is on the bridge, orchestrating a rescue attempt."

"Your place is to protect the security of this vessel and its mission. Please, Tuvok. Come to my quarters. After that, if you do not agree with my suggestions, I will make no more of them and stay out of the way."

A pause, perhaps the longest in Telek R'Mor's life. Then, "Very well. But this will be brief, Doctor."

/ don't know how brief it will be, thought Telek, but I will wager you will stay longer than you think.

Young Ensign Kim was a reliable officer. Tuvok did not hesitate to leave the bridge under his temporary command. Kim knew enough not to do anything drastic without consulting nun first. Still, the Vulcan felt the faintest tendrils of annoyance creep through him as he stood in the turbolift en route to Telek R'Mor's quarters.

Gently, he pressed down the unwanted emotion. Dr. R'Mor had obviously learned something of great import when the sphere had spoken to him with the Shepherd Tialin's voice. As the entire purpose for being here hinged on Tialin's request, Tuvok was inclined to pay attention to what she said. That Dr. R'Mor, as fine and logical a non-Vulcan scientist as Tuvok had ever met, was as agitated as he was by this unknown message was not dismissed by Tuvok. He was prepared to listen with full attention to what R'Mor had to tell him.

He exited the turbolift, strode down the corridor to R'Mor's quarters, then stood at the door, waiting to be invited. "Come," called Telek.

The door hissed open. "I assume you are prepared to tell me what Tialin told you?" asked Tuvok.

"No," said Telek, surprising Tuvok. "But I am prepared to show you."

It took a second for Tuvok to realize what R'Mor was proposing. He did not like it. The Vulcan mind-meld was not something to be used like a tricorder, as a mere diagnostic tool.

"I do