Survivors - Jean Lorrah [64]
Barb gave a derisive snort.
Sdan grinned sardonically. “Try bein’ a mix of Vulcan, human, Romulan, Orion, an’ maybe a touch of Aldebaran shell-mouth fer the stubborn streak!” he replied. “Then throw in bein’ the black sheep of the family besides, an’ you may just have a bit o’ trouble fittin’ in.”
Well, now she knew why he didn’t act like the Vulcan he appeared to be. “Did you break Federation law, Sdan?”
“Only me family’s. Hate t’study, y’see-can’t stand bein’ cooped up indoors all the time, seein’ life through a computer screen. Come from a line of mathematicians, scientists, doctors, researchers-but I’m a throwback to me great-grandad, it seems. He was a free trader, human, married an Orion woman an’ started this whole parcel of hybrid vigor.” He chuckled. “Lotsa vigor, it seems. Got me three brothers and five sisters, and the Great Bird knows how many cousins runnin’ around. Ever’ last one of ‘em a scholar’s scholar. Not me! I need adventure, or I’ll shrivel up an’ die.”
“Quiet to quick bosoms is a hell,” Poet put in.
“Did you consider Starfleet?” Yar asked Sdan.
“Too many rules,” he replied. “Rules was made to be broken-but Starfleet don’t think that way.”
“So you have joined Dare in making a career of breaking the most important rule of all.” But she was looking at her former lover as she spoke.
Dare was making a great show of concentration on peeling a piece of fruit, but at that he set it down on his plate and looked directly across the table at Yar. “For what it’s worth, I have never broken the Prime Directive. All our jobs have been strictly by invitation, and none have been on primitive planets where our presence could disrupt the evolution of native culture.”
“You mean no primitive culture has the wherewithal to pay your price,” Yar said scornfully.
Something had happened to Dare’s quick temper. It seemed to smolder rather than flame now, but its containment might actually produce greater heat.
Instead of flaring at Yar, he smiled-but it didn’t reach his eyes. “That is true. I am paid very, very well … and I’m worth every credit. But there are certain things I will not do, no matter how high the price.” The smile became a smug grin. “Think about it, Tasha: who on Treva could offer me a higher price, Rikan or Nalavia?”
“Which one actually made you an offer?” she countered.
He emitted a bark of laughter, but now there was something about his humor as artificial as Data’s. “Rikan,” he admitted.
Aurora spoke up. “We could have approached Nalavia for a counter-offer. Or, we could have refused Rikan’s as we have dozens of others since I have been with Dare. However, it became clear once we investigated the situation here that Nalavia is a ruthless tyrant who must be stopped while there is still time.”
Rikan shook his head sadly. “The time may be past. I do not know what has happened to the independent spirit of Treva’s people. The country folk still have it-but those who have succumbed to the lure of soft living in the cities seem to care about nothing except good food, soft beds, strong ale, and entertainment” He frowned. “Nalavia makes intoxicants available cheap, and people spend the time when they’re not working in a stupor. No one plays sports except professional athletes. People don’t even go to the games-they watch everything on video. Natasha, this change has taken place within only three years, after Nalavia had entrenched her powers. As she suspended civil rights, then free elections, I thought the people would rise up-but only those outside the cities seem to care. So … I sent for help.”
“Why didn’t you ask the Federation?” Yar asked.
“I no longer represent the Trevan government. In the last election I was turned out of office, along with every other legislator who opposed Nalavia’s schemes. My personal efforts to contact Federation officials met with bureaucratic stalling, and ultimate refusals. When I returned home I found myself charged with interfering with the actions of the duly-elected government,