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Thelin sighed, and took a long sip of his drink. He wasn’t particularly interested in debating the wisdom of Arne Darvin’s career choices. “So…would you mind explaining why we are here?”

Darvin’s face visibly brightened. “Surely you learned all the pertinent details from my message?”

“If they were so pertinent,” Thelin replied, “perhaps you should have been less cryptic. 'Prometheus in bindings for the sins of the father. A new Genesis must dawn. Tell no one.’ Along with the current stardate and coordinates of this place.”

“I know!” Darvin grinned. “Clever, isn’t it?”

“Many things seem clever to an imbecile.”

“Oh, come now, Thelin, it’s ancient Earth mythology! I thought someone with your gifts would at least have a clue.” He leaned in closer, and raised his eyebrows inscrutably. “It’s David Marcus, Kirk’s son. He’s alive.”

Thelin’s antennae quivered, then lay back nearly prone against his skull. His eyes widened, and his hand gripped his glass tightly enough that it was on the verge of shattering. “What are you talking about?” he hissed.

“It’s true,” Darvin said, leaning back and smiling smugly. “He and some half-breed Vulcan girl are in the care of a Klingon commander by the name of Kruge. Oh, don’t try to contact him through any diplomatic channels. He’s a rogue; the Klingon High Council would surely deny knowing anything.”

“I’m sure they would,” Thelin said through clenched teeth. “What does he want?”

“Ah! See, that’s the best part,” he said, maintaining his friendly pretense. “It’s really not much at all…Not for the life of a Starfleet admiral’s son, anyway…”

Thelin angrily pounded the tabletop with both fists. “What does he want?!”

“He just wants Genesis, my friend!” Darvin said brightly, spreading his palms outward. “That’s all. Just a little friendly sharing of technology. After all, I hear it’s just used for harmless terraforming…that’s the story, anyway. I’m sure it couldn’t possibly be just a front for a secret new Starfleet defense program.”

Thelin looked away, fearing that the mere sight of the weasel seated before him would soon lead to an explosive loss of self-control. “What makes you think that either Kirk or I have any access to the project?”

“Don’t play games with me, Thelin,” Darvin said, a bit of seriousness creeping into his voice. “Kirk has been close to the project ever since the incident in the Mutara Nebula. That much we know. It won’t be difficult for a Starfleet admiral to assemble and deliver all of the scientific data regarding the Genesis program.”

“Is that all?” Thelin asked glibly.

“Just that,” Darvin replied, “plus a working prototype of the Genesis Device.”

The Andorian snarled with rage. “Are you kidding? You want us to just hand over a weapon like that to the Klingons?!”

“A weapon? I never said anything about a weapon!” He let out a gasp, feigning shock with ridiculous insincerity. “Are you saying that Genesis is a weapon?”

In a blur of motion Thelin jumped to his feet and lunged across the table, knocking both glasses to the floor. In an instant he held Darvin by the throat. At the surrounding tables, a few heads turned in mild interest, but no one seemed to find the outburst at all remarkable. “I should snap your neck right now, you miserable shax,” Thelin growled.

Darvin smiled widely, showing off his perfect surgically altered human teeth. “I know you should, Thelin.” Then the corners of his mouth began to curl upward in a confrontational sneer, his eyes narrowed, and he whispered, “What you don’t know is that I would love to see you try.”

“I am a Starfleet captain,” Thelin whispered back. “If I say that I killed you in self-defense, no one will question it.”

“Yes, of course,” Darvin replied, returning to his maddening congenial tone. “But unfortunately, Kruge is expecting my call within the next two hours. If he doesn’t hear back with your acceptance of his terms, I’m afraid that poor David won’t be coming home…alive.”

Thelin felt his pulse pounding through all of his limbs. He vividly