Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [101]
“The have found a way to do the impossible, cure the incurable. I must know how. You must capture them and bring them to me.”
Trying to make sense of a puzzle when he had only half the pieces, Orsova paced the small chamber of the humming craft as the planet of his birth rotated outside one of the little holes.
“I have something here,” the Voice began again, “that will make the Pojjana supreme in Red Sector Even the Bal Quonott will shrink before you.”
Suspicious of such a brash statement, Orsova narrowed his eyes. “what will make spaceships bow before our planes?”
“You will have more than planes if you do as I tell you. Look in the space chest.”
Space chest… this brass case? It had a lock, but the lid opened for him anyway. He looked inside. There was only one thing in there. “A bottle?” “A medical vial.” “Poison?” “Something similar”
Orsova straightened sharply. “Is this biological war? You want me to put a plague on my own people? I won’t!” “No.” “I have no one else to poison.” “You have Zevon.”
At this, Orsova paused and grimaced. “Why should I poison Zevon? who are you to want it?”
“You’ll never know me. All these years, and I am still a stranger. You were a jail guard. You became assistant warden, but you would never have grown beyond that but for the day I spoke to you and told you to believe that Zevon could predict the Constrictor. Now, Zevon’s usefulness is coming to an end here. Give this to Zevon before he is enticed away, and the galaxy moves forward by a leap.”
“Away?” Orsova reacted. “Why should he go away? He hates his own people. We’re his people now! He says it every day.” “He is royal family. They need him. He may go.” “He’ll never leave. No one could get him to leave now” “The Federation and the Romulans both have reasons to make him want to go. If he leaves, you lose your power and I lose my chance to have what I want. The vial will end the Romulan threat and make the Pojjana strongest, because it will stop Zevon from leaving.” “Because he’ll be dead? What… what do… if I kill Zevon for you, what comes to me?”
“This will force the collapse of the Romulan Empire. When it falls, you will get Romulan ships.” “Warwings? You’ll give me those?” “And birds-of-prey, and at least one full-sized converted heavy cruiser… for the sector governor, so he will become accustomed to flying in space.” “Sector governor…”
He discovered a series of small cracks-or were they openings? seams?-in the panels ….
“You will get a Romulan fleet, enough ships to control the Bal Quonott and make the Pojjana the power in this sector. Rather than cowering before the Federation, the Romulans, or any other aliens, you will be the winner.” “Winner…” “Stop… trying… to see me! “
The cabin vibrated with the voice’s sudden rage. Whoever this ghostly person was, he would not be discovered.
Orsova felt his curiosity wane and let it go. Some things, he didn’t have to know. “Zevon’s alien,” he protested. “How do you know this will kill him? Are you an alien too? Are you a human?” “No.”
“Are you Romulan, Voice? Is that who you are all these years?” “No.” “Are you-” “Zevon will be contaminated. Then the Federation won’t have any reason to stay in Red Sector, and Zevon will have no reason to leave. Either way, I will honor my agreement with you.”
Standing in the middle of the cabin, Orsova gazed at the reflection of himself. An older man, no longer as fat as the prison guard had been, a glowing copper complexion on his cheekbones and streaks of dignified gold in his black hair. This was the leader of a planet, perhaps the leader of a whole sector of space? Dominion over the Bal Quonott, who had lorded their spacefaring capability over the Pojjana since before he was born?
Liking what he saw, he squared Iris shoulders and imagined a fur cape. The voice remained silent until he decided to ask a question.
“Every time you speak,” he attempted, plumbing for more information, “I still have no reason to believe what you say.”
“Believe because you can be in charge of this whole