Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [138]
Picard had said they were to attempt to capture the shapechanger, but to defend themselves as necessary. Kira saw that as Starfleet cowardice, a typical unwillingness to do anything unpleasant unless it was absolutely necessary.
But this thing had just killed more than a dozen good people, and Kira wasn’t about to let it get away with that.
Thumbing the phaser to the highest setting, she fired. The creature’s screams grew more shrill, and overpowered the steady hum of the phaser beam that struck it. Kira kept on firing until the Founder had completely disintegrated, its screams finally cut off.
Kira dropped the phaser, the wind seeming oddly quiet. She attempted to crawl out of the bedroom, but the knives of pain that sliced through her belly told her that was a bad idea. Reaching down with her left hand, she felt blood gushing out of the wound and soaking into her tattered shirt. Her legs were starting to go numb, and spots started dancing amid the snow in front of her eyes.
Can’t…fall…unconscious… she thought. It would be at least another six hours before the Defiant would be able to scan the surface of Romulus. The destruction of the wall would mean that they would be able to detect Kira’s Bajoran life signs, likely unique on this world, and then they could perform the near-warp transport.
She just had to stay conscious.
Her body shivered, as much from the blood loss as from the cold air that probably filled the entire retreat by now. It had been late afternoon, local time, when they beamed down, which meant it would be night soon, so the temperature was likely to drop significantly. She needed to stay alive if for no other reason than to make sure Worf learned that the Founders knew that they had exposed the false Jaresh-Inyo, knew that one of their own was dead, knew that they were coming.
Have…to…stay…awake…
As the darkness claimed her, she thought about Odo, and wondered what he had really intended to say to her.
20
U.S.S. Enterprise-E B’hava’el System Cardassian Union
“Coming out of warp,” Ensign Perim said from the conn.
Jean-Luc Picard found that he had the armrests of his command chair in a white-knuckled grasp. He let go of them and tugged down his uniform jacket.
From the chair to his right, his new first officer, Lieutenant Commander Ro Laren, asked her own replacement at tactical, “Status of cloak?”
Lieutenant Linda Addison, Ro’s former deputy and now security chief, said, “Still functioning within normal parameters.”
Picard looked at ops. “Lieutenant Kadohata, any signs of pursuit or scans?”
The raven-haired woman shook her head. “Nothing so far. We-” Then she cut herself off. “Sir? I’m detecting an antiproton scanning wave.” She turned around to look at Picard. “It’s originating from Bajor-specifically, from Bajoran orbit.”
Turning to his left, Picard looked at Odo, who had taken Troi’s usual seat for the duration of this mission. Troi herself had been temporarily reassigned to Starbase 96. The counselor assigned to that base was overworked and had requested assistance. Given the nature of the Enterprise’s mission, Picard felt he could spare her.
He asked the shapechanger, “Does Terok Nor have such scanning capability?”
“I don’t think so,” Odo said, “but I didn’t concern myself with technical issues.”
“Sir,” Kadohata continued, “Starfleet’s been experimenting with antiproton scans as a way of detecting cloaked ships. We haven’t been able to make it work, but if the Cardassians have…”
Ro finished the ops officer’s thought. “They might be able to see us.”
Picard considered his options. “Perhaps. Until we have proof, however, we will proceed as planned. Mister Odo?”
The shapechanger nodded and said to Perim, “Input course 289 mark 17.”
“Aye,