Three - Michael Jan Friedman [46]
The lieutenant considered Ejanix’s words. He had never known his mentor to be unstable. But the way he was speaking, contrary to everything Vigo had ever understood or believed in ...
“It doesn’t matter,” he told Ejanix finally. “Even if what you say were true, it doesn’t give you the right to betray Starfleet. You took an oath just as I did.”
Ejanix’s mouth twisted. “And for a long time, I felt bound by that oath. Then I learned the truth.” He leaned closer to his former pupil, his eyes blazing with [136] righteous indignation. “How could I remain loyal to Starfleet when it was part of the system that was holding me down? When it was a critical component in the machine of Lesser Caste oppression?”
There was no such oppression, Vigo insisted inwardly. But it was obvious that Ejanix didn’t want to hear that.
“So you’ve thrown in with Kovajo,” he concluded, “and others who think as he does. And you’ve discarded the Virtues for a nobler ideal.”
“That’s right,” Ejanix told him, putting his hand on Vigo’s shoulder. “And I want you to join us.”
The weapons officer hadn’t expected that. “That’s why you’re here,” he said as realization dawned. “To try to turn me against Starfleet as well.”
And then to find out what I did to your shuttle, he added silently.
Ejanix shook his head. “You’re looking at it all wrong, Vigo. You won’t just be turning away from something. You’ll be turning toward something—the kind of justice that Pandril has never known.”
Vigo turned his head so his mentor could see the bruises on his cheek. “Take a good look, Ejanix. Is this justice? Do I deserve the punishment Kovajo was so quick to mete out?”
Ejanix frowned, but he didn’t seem to have an answer.
The weapons officer pressed on. “Or is it possible,” he asked, “that Kovajo isn’t as interested in justice as he is in being on top for a change?”
Ejanix’s frown deepened. “It’s not that way at all. Kovajo is working on behalf of all of us.”
[137] “All of us?” Vigo echoed. “Or all of the rebels who follow him toward his idea of a better society?”
His mentor looked frustrated. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me to understand,” said Vigo. “Tell me what Kovajo plans to do with the technology he’s stolen.”
Ejanix glanced at the doorway and the guards who were standing there. Then he looked back.
“He’s not going to build any weapons himself,” the engineer said in a conspiratorial tone. “He’s going to sell the designs to raise money for the revolution.”
“Even if that’s true,” said Vigo, “he’s putting weapons in the hands of those who may wish to hurt innocent people. Sentient beings will die on some planet you’ve never heard of so Kovajo can finance his rebellion on Pandril.”
Vigo’s mentor looked surprised. Obviously, he hadn’t thought about that.
“And will it be a bloodless rebellion, Ejanix? Is that what Kovajo has told you—just as he said your venture here on Wayland Prime would be bloodless? Or will lives be sacrificed on our homeworld as well?”
Touching his fingertips to the cut above his eye, the weapons officer showed his friend the thin, wet smear of gore on them. “Kovajo seems willing to spill vast quantities of this to get what he wants. Are you?”
The older Pandrilite looked as if he had been slapped across the face. For a moment, it seemed to Vigo that Ejanix was going to respond to his protégé’s charges.
But he didn’t. Without speaking a single additional word, he turned around and walked back across the room. He didn’t even acknowledge the guards at the door as he went past them and disappeared from sight.
[138] The weapons officer felt a pang of disappointment. For a moment there, he had believed he was making progress. It was clear to him now that he had been mistaken.
Ejanix was too set on rebellion to listen to reason. If Vigo were to stop Kovajo from getting away with his scheme, he would have to find another way.
As Gerda entered sickbay, she was relieved to see that all the biobeds were empty.