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Chakotay smiled. “I had to try,” he said.

“Of course you did. That’s part of your nature, Captain.”

Chakotay found it disconcerting to be addressed by the respectful title while he was bound and being experimented on, but that was part of Moset’s nature. Anything the Cardassian could do to pretend that they were all on the same side, working toward the same noble goal, he would.

“You’re right about one thing,” Chakotay continued. “I am curious. I know a little about the gift that the Sky Spirits bestowed on me and my people, but I’m willing to bet you know more. It looks like the Cardassians have been studying it for some time.”

Moset brightened at the compliment, then took umbrage. “The Cardassians? No, the whole thing was entirely my idea. I tell you, if people like me had led our Union, then we’d still be a force to be reckoned with in our quadrant. After my successes on Bajor and my little side trip to Betazed, I recommended that we perform a thorough analysis of every population that came under our control. It was time-consuming and expensive, but I felt it would be worth it.”

He was getting excited now, talking about himself and his shrewdness. “Successes on Bajor” indeed.

“By examining every individual, by collecting exhaustive data, we could discover who had recessive traits that might prove useful one day. We might be able to cure diseases, prevent birth defects, create ways to inoculate people against biological weapons. Who knows, we might be able to find individuals able to resist assimilation by the Borg. Now, mind you, most of those we examined had nothing of interest to offer us, other than being useful test subjects.”

Chakotay had been watching Moset intently, as if highly interested in anything he had to say, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Sekaya flinch slightly. Stay calm, Sekky, he thought. Don’t let your anger out, not yet. This could be our chance.

At the same time that he watched with feigned interest and cold calculation, Chakotay also experienced regret. This was the Moset who had so charmed the Doctor at first. Waxing eloquent about saving unborn generations from illness and destruction, his eyes shining with passion, this was a man who had once been capable of doing great good. Instead, he had let his head get in the way of his heart. He had either failed or refused to see that the cold-blooded murder of innocent people—defeated enemy or not—couldn’t possibly be excused by the discovery of a cure for the fostassa virus. Moset wasn’t as far gone as the Changeling, though; he still desperately craved approval and acceptance. Katal, for that was how Chakotay thought of the being, had no such weaknesses.

Chakotay was more than willing to exploit Moset’s.

“But there were others, like your tribe, who had something unexpected and utterly fascinating to offer us. They told me I was obsessive, single-minded, but I persisted. I knew that it would be useful to have every single one of you on file. You were worth chasing, Chakotay.”

“Good thing I went into the Delta Quadrant before you found me,” Chakotay said. “Otherwise, I never would have had my encounter with the aliens.”

“Absolutely!” exclaimed Moset.

“I know that the bonding gave us a sense of adventure, of curiosity, and encouraged our love and respect for the land and its creatures,” Chakotay continued. “But it sounds like you found something else. If my sister and I are going to die because of this, can’t we at least know what it is we’re dying for?”

Moset looked from one to the other, considering. He was clearly bursting to share what he’d learned, but at the same time was wary that somehow telling them might be dangerous. At last he shrugged.

“I do think you have that right,” he said. “It’s comforting to know that you’re dying for a good cause.”

Sekaya made a small sound and turned her head so Moset wouldn’t see the hatred in her eyes. Chakotay looked at the blinking lights set deep inside her skull and shuddered inwardly.

“Captain, you reported that you encountered storms