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Abbis frowned-rather petulantly, Crusher thought “Curse him,” he said. “Try the other one, then.”

As the Indarrhi knelt beside him and stretched his fingers out to touch his face, the commander called on all the techniques for mental calm he’d ever known. He tried to think about something, anything, other than the true reason he and Tuvok had come…

A thick rare steak. A good beer. A hot fudge sundae with sprinkles. Kissing Beverly for the first time.

The pain in his bladder right now.

“Can you feel his emotions?” asked the Thallonian.

The Indarrhi nodded. “He’ll do.”

Abbis turned his attention to Crusher. “What do you want with Bin Nedrach?” he demanded.

The commander tried to feel irritation. “How many times do we have to say it? We want to hire him!”

The Thallonian tilted his head to one side, still wary. “Tell me who you want killed,” he said.

Fear thrust up a white wall in Crusher’s mind. Then he asked, “Why should I tell you anything before we’ve struck a deal? When you find out who it is, you might jack up the price.”

Abbis’s lip curled. “What is your relationship to this other man?” he inquired, indicating Tuvok with a flick of his wrist.

Damn it, thought the commander, he was merciless.

“He’s my bodyguard. Can’t be too careful in my profession.” Crusher forced a laugh; it sounded false, even to him. “I can see you have an appreciation for such things.”

“He’s lying,” said the Indarrhi firmly. “He and his friend are most definitely not here in search of a steed.”

Abbis approached the commander and towered over him. “If you’re not here to hire Bin Nedrach … why are you here?”

Crusher didn’t utter a word in response. He simply met the Thallonian glare for glare.

Abbis sighed. “Under the circumstances,” he said, sounding reluctant, “I’m afraid I’m just going to have to kill you both. Though I confess to a great deal of curiosity about your true mission, I can’t afford to indulge it. It would be too risky.”

Casually, he reached for a directed energy weapon at his belt. With a quick flick of his fingers, he had it in his hand-its business end pointed at a spot between the commander’s eyes.

I love you, Beverly.

“Wait.” It was Tuvok. “There is no need for bloodshed. I will freely tell you what you wish to know.”

Abbis hesitated for a second. Then he lowered his weapon.

Crusher glanced at the Vulcan, trying to keep his expression neutral. He wondered what kind of elaborate fantasy Tuvok was about to weave to throw their enemies off the trail.

“My name is Ensign Tuvok,” he said. “This is Lieutenant Jack Crusher. We are officers in Starfleet, operating under the aegis of the United Federation of Planets.”

Surprise and anger flared in the commander. What the hell did Tuvok think he was doing?

“We are attempting to find Bin Nedrach,” the Vulcan went on, “because we believe him to be responsible for the assassination of the Melacronai G’aha of Laws and Enforcements.”

The commander couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He wanted to cry out, to tell Tuvok to shut his mouth, but that would only confirm the truth of the Vulcan’s statements.

Tuvok continued gamely with his confession. “We are operating in a clandestine mode under orders from our captain. Our mission is to identify and stop those who are behind the incidents of violence on Melacron Five and Cordra Three-incidents which are propelling the Cordracites and the Melacron toward war.”

“In other words,” Abbis concluded, “you’re trying to keep this war from taking place?”

“That is correct,” said the ensign.

Hurt and anger flooded Crusher. He wished Tuvok had never returned to Starfleet. Clearly, he didn’t belong there.

“This is the truth?” asked Abbis.

“The truth,” Tuvok agreed. “If you do not believe me, you are free to have your Indarrhi friend examine Commander Crusher again. He will confirm what I have said, whether he wishes to or not.”

The commander could only stare in dismay. He wasn’t looking forward to dying, of course, but he would have embraced death if it meant carrying out their mission. After all, this