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“You have your own agenda?”

“My interests are not yours, Picard, but they are not necessarily the Dominion’s either. But for you, they are better than the alternative. Let me make things easier for you.”

“Riker to Picard. Do you need assistance?”

She stood. “We’ll talk again soon, Picard. Think about what I’ve said.” With that, the Changeling changed to liquid form.

Picard fired the phaser, but the Changeling was too fast, vanishing under the couch. He tapped the communicator. “Enter!”

The force fields on the door came down and a phalanx of security officers armed with phaser rifles charged in. At Picard’s direction, they turned the couch over and swept the wall and floor beneath it with phaser bursts. But the Changeling was gone, having somehow found some tiny crack or opening through which to send its liquid form, and Picard was faced with a difficult choice.

Could he put any trust at all in the words of an adversary whose very nature was deception?

CHAPTER 7

For the second time that day, the senior staff gathered in the Enterprise’s observation lounge. But this time things were much different. A pair of armed security officers stood guard in the corners of the room.

This time, Lieutenant Addison, or rather, her doppelganger, was not present. This time, Lieutenant Hawk stood at the end of the table nearest the captain, not quite sure what he was doing there.

Picard looked at them grimly. “The need for subterfuge has passed. We have a confirmed Changeling loose on the ship, and if there are others, they have doubtless already been alerted that we’re aware of their presence.”

His gaze traveled around the table, connecting briefly with each of his command staff. They understood the threat, and he knew he could depend on each individual.

“I’m ordering enhanced blood screenings of all personnel, and I have ordered that everyone remain in groups of two or more at all times.” He grimaced, his voice betraying the revulsion he felt as he spoke. “That won’t help us if the Changeling should kill a crew member and take their blood, though.”

He stood and walked over to the large windows along the back wall, looking out into the nebula that was both their protector and their prison. “Mr. La Forge, I want command-level security lockouts on all shuttlecraft, Work Bees, the captain’s yacht, and all other auxiliary craft.”

“Done, Captain.”

“I’ve apprised Starfleet Command of the situation. They’re sending the Al-Batani to assist us, but of course, there can be no material contact between our ships due to the risk of allowing the Changeling to escape. We’ve been ordered to stay within the star’s radiation zone indefinitely, until the Changeling is either caught, killed, or confirmed to have left the ship.”

Crusher frowned. “That could take a very long time, Captain.”

Riker leaned his elbows on the table and knitted his fingers together in front of him. “The Changeling will be counting on us to become impatient.”

Picard turned back to face his crew. He inclined his head toward Riker, acknowledging his assessment. “Exactly, Number One. So, as frustrating as this situation is, for our own safety and the safety of the Federation, we must remain here until the threat is somehow neutralized. That’s where you come in, Mr. Hawk.”

Hawk blinked in surprise. “Me, Captain?”

“I will be directing myself toward some kind of negotiation with the Changeling. While I do not believe we can afford not to explore this avenue, it creates a conflict of interest on my part.

“In order to attempt negotiation, I must try to develop some degree of empathy and trust with the Changeling. I fear it might provide a weakness for the Changeling to exploit. Normally, I would depend on security to act as my right hand, to operate on a foundation of suspicion that would offset my empathy.” Irony filled his voice as he continued. “Unfortunately, I find myself short a security chief. I would like you to fill that role.”

Hawk’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly controlled.