Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [76]
In all his years Spock had witnessed many examples of human fidelity and found he appreciated them all. At first he had looked down his nose at such demonstrations. Later he had learned to accept them with some curiosity, and even to accept that part of himself.
Spock moved to stand near Stiles, to make sure he had all the attention he needed.
“You and Zevon were friends,” he began. “I deeply appreciate that. You depended upon each other in the worst of times. Today you still understand what happened to you, the forces that worked upon your lives. Time has not dulled your decency. Today, as I watch you in your effort and your torments, I cross yet another barrier to fondness. I enjoy the humanity I see in you, this childlike sense of justice that defies all forces. Like a whirlpool you draw us all into your devotion. We will go to save the Romulans, yes. But because of you will we go also to save Zevon.”
McCoy watched them both with a charming softness. Spock noticed the doctor’s gaze, but did not meet it.
Stiles clearly battled the pressure of tears behind his eyes. Solemnly he murmured, “Every time I see you… you rescue me in some way.”
A swelling sensation of completeness satisfied Spock deeply. While before this there had been only a duty, a mission, now there was a quieter and more profound purpose. Crossing the quadrant to save a nation had its appeal. Crossing to save a friend had even more.
“Well, Spock” McCoy interrupted, “you and I seem to have a mission in Po’jjan space.”
Stiles came abruptly to life as a balloon suddenly fills with air, apparently afraid that they would make some other choice for some reason he failed to see. “Let me take you! We’ve got a thick hull, nonaggressive configuration, support registry-completely unprovoking in nature, just a big industrial muscle. We’ve got full regulation defensive weapons, and we all know what that really means. Let me take you through Romulan
space in the CST. It’s perfect! It’s a good option. And I know the way!”
McCoy raised his frosty brows. “Imagine never thinking of that. Silly us.”
Stiles took that as a threat. “If you don’t clear me to go with you, I’ll go anyway.” McCoy looked at Spock. “Remind you of anybody?”
Chapter Fifteen
” O RSOVA. “
“What do you want now? Why do you bring me to space this time? You always call at bad times for me! I was busy!”
“The Pojjana lion of science. Genius savior of the planet. Engineer of the Constrictor meter. Conqueror of the Constrictor. Still amazed to see open space. You know nothing about science.” “I know everything. I have power now” “You have Zevon now.”
Picking himself up from the strange carpet where he had fallen after the dizzying effect of a transporter beam, Orsova bristled and tried to appear confident. “Zevon works for me.”
“Zevon does all the work you take credit for. I know the difference. I helped make it happen. Now I want something from you. A Federation ship is coming your way,”
“Federation? Why! This is Red Sector! How can they come here!”
“They have new business here. They have visited Romulan space.”
“Romulan? Why would they go there? They have no treaty! Have they… ?”
As the Voice summoned him again, Orsova felt the sting of being completely out of touch with the space-active civilizations of the quadrant for so many years. All this time Red Sector had been a huge favor for him, a sanctuary where a prison guard could rise to power if he ‘knew how to play on public opinion-and if he had a Voice to tell him each step.
That had been easy. Play to the hatred. The Pojjana had been ready, eager, to despise and distrust. The Voice was right. Orsova had used that. Found it easy. Surrounded himself with those eager to hate most, happy to have theft distrust bring them also to power, and learned how to nurture the distrust even when there was no one around to hate anymore.
Making them accept Zevon, an alien… that had taken time.