Seven of Nine - Christie Golden [54]
"But why, Tamaak? Seven has an idea, but I want to hear your side of the story."
"We had to get to Lhiaari. We knew the Ku were after us. We needed your protection. It is-it is all we have left, now."
"What is?"
He lifted his eyes and her heart sped up at the anger and pain in their brown depths. "Revenge, Captain.
Revenge. You have spoken to me of your Federation of Planets. It broke my heart to hear of such loyalty among such diverse worlds. We paid Tribute every single year to the Emperor. We sent our telepaths to do his errands, despite the danger and the hatred that they faced from all the other races in the Empire. We did our part, and when we learned the Borg were descending upon our helpless planet, we had faith that Emperor Beytek would do his. There are no words-please, let me-" He leaned forward, but that ancient enemy, fear, flared up in Janeway.
She didn't dare let him try to manipulate her mind again. Once burned, twice shy.
"No," she said, shortly. "We communicate with words. Find them."
"As you wish. Though they are poor things, compared to the sharing of thoughts. You are familiar with the Borg, Captain. We had been promised five hundred vessels of war. Fearsome things that would make even Borg think twice. But they never came.
The Borg ravished our world, assimilating millions.
They carved huge scars upon our planet, stealing our technology. My-my mate, my children-they are either dead or serving the Collective with the skills of their minds. It is an abomination, Captain. But worse than the Borg, who never pretended to be other than the monsters they are, was the Emperor who vowed to protect his children and, in the epitome of cowardice, never came."
"Tamaak," said Janeway, gently.
"No. There is more. Perhaps he was afraid to fight, to reveal his strength, to draw attention to his precious homeworld. I cannot condone that, but I can understand it. But after the Borg had all but destroyed us, no succor came from the Empire. We learned that Beytek had been spreading lies-telling the Empire's subjects that our planet had been devastated by plague. No one was to go near it. No one was to have contact with Skeda or her people. And then-and then the Ku came, on the orders of Beytek, trying to finish what the Borg had begun. You see, he couldn't let the rest of his Empire know. We had to be silenced-all of us. Forever."
Janeway smelled no heavenly aromas. Tamaak might be lying yet, but this pathetic tale of attempted genocide had the ring of truth and anger to it. She stayed silent, sympathy showing in her eyes.
"We fled. Only one group escaped them-my group. We have been refugees ever since. Once, we had a solemn charter regarding the use of our mental powers to influence others, but need has forced our hands. We must get to Lhiaari, and reveal the dreadful cowardice of the being who rules over ninety worlds.
The truth of what he did to us must be known!"
"I believe you," said Janeway. "And when we reach Lhiaari, I will speak to the Emperor and his advisory council about restitution. Our people believe in righting wrongs just as yours do, but not by violence."
Tamaak shook his head. "No. That is not enough.
Beytek must be punished, Captain. Surely you see that! Please tell me you understand."' "I do," she assured him. "With all my heart, I do.
But I cannot condone this, Tamaak. Judging by their love of red tape, I'm willing to bet the Lhiaarians have a complex legal system, ways to punish those who commit crimes. If the Emperor has done all that you say, then let's expose him to the Iora and let him be tried in a court of Lhiaarian law. Let him answer to his people for what he has done."
"Tried?" Tamaak leaped to his feet. "He is a god, 173
Captain! You cannot try a god! But you can destroy one, and that is what we intend to do. Help us, I beg you, or at the very least, do not interfere."
"Sickbay to Janeway."
"Go ahead."
"Seven's implants have been adjusted. She's located the Skedan weapon."