Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [115]
“Captain Sopek? TPol said. Trip allowed himself to enjoy the flash of surprise that somehow managed to make a momentary escape to her usually stoic face.
“Small galaxy, isnt it? Trip said, not quite suppressing a small but determined grin.
“Sub-Commander TPol, Sopek/Chuihv said, nodding in her direction.
“Commander, she corrected.
The man nodded. “Ah. Im pleased to see that youve prospered. It would be a pity were you to be less fortunate with regard to the long life part of the traditional Vulcan greeting, however.
“What the hell are you talking about? said Malcolm, brandishing his weapon.
“Do you understand what the klaxon youre hearing signifies? After a pause, Sopek said, “Its our automated intruder containment system.
“Let me guess, Trip said. “Youre going to blow up the whole building.
Sopek nodded. “You have very little time.
TPol brandished her weapon. “Youre coming with us, Captain. Your presence here raises a number of questions for which I require answers. I need to determine whether you are acting here at the behest of the VShar, or in pursuit of some other agenda.
Sopek nodded, his face now a stony mask of dignified Vulcan equanimity. “Your curiosity is certainly understandable, he said as he rose to his feet.
Trip gestured toward the unconscious centurion. “We need to take this man into custody, too. A few moments later, he and Malcolm hoisted the surprisingly heavy Romulan soldier in a modified firemans carry while TPol covered the three of them with her phase pistol.
“What about the other people? Malcolm asked, tipping his head toward the table where the academics were seated. “Were not going to just leave them here to die, are we?
The question made Trip feel a slight twinge of guilt, but he suppressed it. After all, these people were allied with the craven killers who had murdered Ehrehin.
Turning his back on the academics as he shifted Terixs dead weight, Trip said, “If theyre smart enough to poach a great mans research, they ought to be smart enough to find their own ride out of here.
“What about the stolen data? Malcolm said.
“To hell with it, Trip said. “With any luck, itll burn up when this place goes boom . Thoughts of all the harm the missing data might cause in the wrong hands expunged his remaining guilt over his decision not to extract anyone other than Sopek, Terix, and his friends.
Yet another voice spoke up loudly then, originating from behind the wardrooms small dining table, directly behind Trip.
“No!
Though he was still burdened by half of Terixs dead weight, Trip turned his head and shoulders toward the speaker, who turned out to be one of the three Romulan civilians whom he and Terix had surprised when theyd arrived. It was the womanand she held a disruptor pistol that one of the Ejhoi Ormiin paramilitary people had evidently dropped earlier; Malcolm must have overlooked it when hed been rounding up their scattered equipment.
Trip sighed. Yet again, an unfailingly lethal weapon was pointed more or less straight at his head. Only now, there was no guarantee that either Terix or Malcolm wouldnt be killed right along with him should that weapon go off in the womans shaking two-handed grip. TPolwho still held her phase pistol at the readymight be able to stun the Romulan woman, but probably not before the academic released an energy discharge that would almost surely kill somebody.
“Easy peasy, there, Trip said to the woman. “Why dont you put that down? Lets talk about this, all right?
“Theres no time to talk, she said, keeping the weapon up and apparently ready. “Chuihv is our leader, and he must leave with us.
“How much time do we have? Trip said.
Chuihv/Sopek shrugged. “Perhaps enough for you to get back to your rescuers ship. If you leave now, unencumbered, that is. Put the centurion down. I promise