The Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter [121]
A hush fell over the bridge as the alien ships drifted closer and closer until their fluting edges nearly touched. The assembled fleet formed the thin shell of a sphere with the Enterprise captured in the hollow center. For all its beauty, the pattern was also an overwhelming display of military strength.
“Captain,” said Worf in a low voice.
“We are being hailed by the unDiWahn flagship.”
“Establish visual communications, Lieutenant.”
Squaring his shoulders, Picard mentally prepared himself for the raising of the curtain that would reveal him to an audience. His hands tightened their hold on the Heart, the key element in the unfolding drama.
The chase would end now; the last blood to be spilled would be here, on the bridge of the Enterprise.
To the uninitiated, the gray rock was an unremarkable object, but Kierad@an knew that its plain cover masked a crystalline structure that sparkled in the dark. What could not be seen, what could only be felt, was the heat that radiated from it. If only he could warm his hands on the Dream Gem for just a few moments …
With the greatest of difficulty, the master raised his eyes to meet the Gem-Bearer’s gaze. “I am Kierad@an, leader of the Faithful.”
“I am Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Enterprise.” While the captain introduced his senior officers, Kierad@an noted that fatigue had left its marks on Picard’s face, bleaching his skin of color and sharpening the planes of his skull. His fingers were rigid with tension, gripping the Gem in a vise of bone and muscle.
As soon as the tedious formalities were concluded, Kierad@an spoke. “Captain, I request that you return the Gem to the keeping of the unDiWahn. We are its Guardians and have charge of its future.”
Picard shook his head. “With all due respect, Kierad@an, I don’t recognize your claim of ownership. The Gem remains with me.”
“Brave words for the commander of a starship far from the safety of Federation space.”
Pic ard’s first officer strutted forward, filling more of the oval viewscreen. “Our safety is of less importance than the security of the Federation.
This crew has pledged to destroy the stone rather than let it fall into the wrong hands.”
“I do not believe you,” said Kierad@an.
“No bearer would willingly give up possession of the Gem.”
“We’re going to prove you wrong.” Riker then looked back to Picard as if expecting the older man to echo this challenge. When the Gem-Bearer was silent, Riker prompted him by saying, “Captain, we agreed we must put an end to—” “No,” said Picard, sidling away from the first officer. “No, I’ve changed my mind. Such an extreme measure won’t be necessary after all.”
Riker’s arrogance gave way to dismay.
“Captain!”
“Number One, with the Heart in my possession I can defeat anyone who tries to take it away from me.” Picard’s threat was directed at his first officer, rather than the unDiWahn.
“As you can see,” said Kierad@an to the young officer, “this matter is between myself and your captain.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” said Riker.
He slapped at a metal insignia on his chest. “Now!”
All the doors to the bridge snapped open at once. As security guards stormed through the portals, the officer at the helm slid out from behind his console and lunged toward the captain.
“Data, no!” cried out Picard.
The pale-skinned helmsman had wrapped his hands around the Gem in an attempt to displace Picard’s hold. The Klingon on the aft deck tried to rush to the captain’s aid, but armed guards immediately dragged him away from the bridge railing.
It took five of them to keep the warrior’s arms pinned behind his back.
Kierad@an had expected trouble; it was an inevitable companion to the Gem’s travels.
“Daramad@an,” the master whispered, “prepare to fire at my next command.”
In the frame of the viewscreen, the two men were still grappling for dominance. The Gem-Bearer’s face was contorted by a fierce possessive rage that would have intimidated most assailants.
However, with a display of unusual strength, Data wrenched the stone