The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [66]
Tevren pushed to his feet. “You have only one chance to defeat that many troops.”
Deanna stared at him, her stomach queasy with the knowledge of what he was about to suggest.
“Have Dr. Crusher remove this damned inhibitor from my brain,” Tevren said with a pleasant smile, “and I’ll take care of them for you.”
Data continued to scan the countryside. “Once the Jem’Hadar reach the mountain paths, the steep terrain should slow their pace.”
Deanna furrowed her brow. “I can’t think of a strategy to improve the odds between a hundred enemy troops and the three of us. Suggestions, Data?”
“Ascending the mountain might buy us time,” he replied. “However, if we take Commander Vaughn, he will die from his wounds. If we leave him, the Jem’Hadar will capture or kill him.”
“Any response to your transponder signal?”
“None.”
In the growing darkness, the counselor paced the rocky ledge, their rendezvous point with the Defiant, a ship that might no longer exist. Her personal survival was the least of her worries. Her orders were to deliver Tevren to the resistance, and, in addition, whatever decision she made would determine whether Elias lived or died. The more she deliberated, the more her options narrowed to the one she least wanted to consider.
She left Data and Tevren on the ledge and entered the small cave where Beverly knelt, watching over Vaughn. “How is he?”
“I can keep him comfortable,” Beverly said softly, her voice heavy with frustration, “but I can’t keep him alive much longer without a medical facility.”
“Tevren’s psionic inhibitor.” The words were gall in Deanna’s mouth. “How long would you need in order to remove it?”
Beverly had studied the device in preparation for this mission. “A few seconds.”
Deanna nodded grimly. The time factor, at least, would work in their favor.
The doctor sat back on her heels and stared at Deanna. “Is that your plan, for me to remove the inhibitor so Tevren can kill the Jem’Hadar?”
“If you can think of a better one, I’d be eternally grateful.”
Beverly shook her head, then frowned. “But what if he kills us, too?”
With a grimace, Deanna stiffened her spine. “We’ll be no less dead than if the Jem’Hadar get us.”
Beverly’s gaze met hers, and her friend nodded in tacit agreement. She reached for her medical kit and began rummaging through its contents. “Send him to me. I’d better get started.”
Deanna returned to the ledge where Data stood calmly with his tricorder. His composure was a balm to Deanna’s frazzled nerves.
“The first wave will be upon us in approximately ten minutes,” Data announced.
Tevren stepped from the shadows of the rocks. His psionic inhibitor prevented her from reading his emotions, but she could sense his eagerness in the tension of his muscles and the anticipatory flick of his tongue across his thin lips. “You’re going to let me do it, aren’t you?”
Deanna’s eyes bore into him. “A hundred Jem’Hadar are approaching out there. How many can you prevent from reaching our position?”
Pride glowed on his sallow features. “All of them.”
“And us?” Deanna asked.
“How could you even think such a thing?” Tevren appeared offended. “I consider you my friends.”
From a man who had taken great delight in torturing and murdering his own parents, Deanna found his assurances unconvincing. “How close do they have to be for you to have an effect on them?”
“They’re close enough already,” Tevren said.
“Go to Dr. Crusher. She’ll remove your inhibitor. Data, roll these large boulders in front of the cave opening. We’ll need them as a protective barrier in case any Jem’Hadar get too close.”
Data handed her the tricorder, and she monitored the advance of the Jem’Hadar while the android fortified their position. Suddenly a mixture of joy and hate washed over her, so powerful it almost dropped her to her knees. Beverly had disconnected Tevren’s inhibitor, and emotions emanated from him in a strength she’d never felt in another Betazoid.
Footsteps sounded