Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [32]
Thank the Elements. “You’ve made the right choice, Norvid.”
“I’ve made no choice yet, Commander. You are bound for Artalierh, yes?”
Another fact that was not well-known but obviously transmitted to Horrhae’s fleet by a spy on Valdore. “That is our destination.”
“Good. Our communications systems are not strong enough for real-time communication with the Two Worlds from here, but Artalierh has communication amplifiers and relays that allow such. We will escort you there and determine the source of the commander’s orders.”
Donatra wondered, And what happens when the truth of the orders comes out? She suspected that, even if Tal’Aura or one of her lackeys had been responsible, Donatra’s having survived the attack would cause the praetor to deny giving the order, especially with the convenient scapegoat of the deceased Commander Horrhae. If she does deny it, I can then count on Norvid’s support. Donatra smiled. Every little bit helped, after all.
“I agree to your terms, Subcommander. We will proceed as soon as my other vessels arrive.” Donatra made sure to emphasize the possessive pronoun. These weren’t just other ships of the same class; these were vessels whose commanders had sworn fealty to Donatra. It didn’t hurt to remind Norvid of that.
“Commander!” Liravek’s voice sounded strained.
Not happy at the interruption, especially while the channel to Elieth was still open, Donatra said, “What is it, Subcommander?” She placed enough emphasis on Liravek’s rank to remind him that she had promoted him recently, and what Donatra had bestowed she could also take away.
“The other ships in the fleet—Commander, they’re gone!”
Donatra stood up. “They haven’t cloaked?”
“No, Commander—and we’re detecting something where the ships were.”
“Put it on the viewer.”
Liravek did so, and what Donatra saw was eerily familiar yet different. It reminded her all too much of the roiling energy that was left in the wake of the Scimitar’s destruction. Her people had dubbed it the “Great Bloom,” though Donatra preferred to think of it as Shinzon’s Folly. Or, perhaps, Romulus’s Folly, given that it was those left behind who were paying for Shinzon’s actions.
This, however, was more chaotic even than the Bloom. “Analysis,” she said.
Shaking his head, Liravek said, “I can provide none, Commander. Sensors cannot penetrate the object. We know it’s there only because we see it.”
Turning toward Liravek’s station to her left, Donatra said, “That’s impossible.”
“And yet, Commander, it is true.”
“My science officer is telling me the same, Commander,” Norvid reported. “We see this strange energy, but we cannot detect it. It does, however, appear to be growing.”
Looking back at the viewer, Donatra saw that the phenomenon was indeed getting larger.
“It would seem,” she said slowly, “that we have more than one thing to report to Romulus when we arrive at Artalierh.”
“Indeed,” Norvid said. “I suggest we leave immediately.”
Donatra looked at the pilot, a young decurion who had been promoted up from engineering last week. “Set course for Artalierh and execute immediately.”
“Yes, Commander.”
FIFTH INTERLUDE
The Continuum
Six years before the end of the universe
HE SAT WITH Q AND THEIR SON, Q, AND HE HAD TO admit to reveling in the child’s company. Having a son had been a means to an end at first, a way to curtail the civil war that had erupted in the formerly complacent Continuum.
It had all been the philosopher’s fault. Well, to be honest, it had been the humans’ fault. Somehow, they’d found their way into what they referred to as the Delta Quadrant and then stumbled onto the philosopher’s prison. Worse, they freed him.
He went to deal with it, of course, as the Continuum instructed. He was the Continuum’s dutiful little boy now, cleaning up all their messes. First Trelane, now the philosopher. It grew tiresome.
But he did as he was told, biding his time. When he could, he continued to prepare Jean-Luc and the others. He had lied to Jean-Luc—hardly the first time—and told him that the anti-time test was administered