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By Root 638 0

in its dessicated form from when it is fresh and growing. We failed to make a proper identification because we had only the growing plant template as a basis for comparison.” “As you said, my friend,” Avren remarked jovially to Worf. “Appearances deceive.” Worf, cradling Alexander’s hamster in his hand, did not care for Ne’elatian agent’s joviality. “I am not your friend.” “N’vashal!” Ambassador Lelys was wildly elated, and it showed plainly on her face. “Then we have succeeded. S’ka’rys will live again!” She turned to Nish na’am, who was seated between herself and Ma’adrys, and spontaneously clasped the Ashkaarian’s hand with joy. “We will contact our superiors at once with the news, and as the duly designated! representatives of the Orakisan government we can invoke emergency powers to effect an independent trade agreement with you. We can also grant you instant membership in the union of—’ “We can, but will we, Ambassador?” Legate aldor said. He folded his arms across his chest. “You speak without consulting your associates, you are presumptuous. I will not allow my voice to feed your audacity.” “You would sacrifice the lives of our colonists just to teach me a lesson?” Lelys was incredulous. “We need this trade agreement with Ashkaar, and we need it now!” “To obtain a plant that grows wild on that rude planet’s surface? It belongs to no one. We could just take it.” “No, Father, we could not.” Hara’el stood up and looked down on Legate Valdor. There was no anger in his eyes, but only sadness. “Do you hear your own words? We will simply take what we desire from Ashkaar, with or without their consent, merely because we can? No. That has been done to them already, and for too long.” “Boy, you speak of things you do not understand,” aldor growled.

“Do you not yet accept the fact that I am a boy no more? And I understand too well. Your heart is bitter, Father, because Lelys holds the title of ambassador which you feel should be yours by right, by merit.

That will never be, not while you allow your own desires to distort your vision of our mission’s purpose.” “What do you know of such matters?” Valdor muttered, looking away from his son.

“I know that if you do not join your voice with Ambassador Lelys’s and mine to give something back to Ashkaar, you are unworthy of the greatest teaching I ever received: A good ambassador serves the power of peace, not the power of his own pride.” “And who filled your head with that precious thought?” Valdor spat.

Hara’el lowered his voice. “You did, Father.” Avren cleared his throat. “You know, it strikes me that I could be of a little service on the side of peace myself. I know where there are plenty of patches of shepherd’s herb—I mean n’vashal—in my little part of Ashkaar. It’s not all that easy to stumble across in the wild. Shy, I suppose.” He grinned. “It likes gullies and out-of-the-way spots with more shade than sun and just the right combination of cold and wet. I’d like to volunteer to help lead harvesting expeditions, and I can lend a hand to the propagation of more n’vashal, too.” “You would do this, Avren?” Udar Kishrit regarded his erstwhile adversary with the beginnings of a grudging respect.

“It’s the least I can do.” Avren shrugged. “Can’t exactly go back to my old line of work, now can I?” “Well, Rak Ti’ask?” Counsellor Troi inquired gently. “Ashkaar will soon no longer be the barbarous world you think it is. Orakisa and the other Skerrian daughterworlds will see to that. They will come bearing gifts, new technology, medical aid, all in exchange for what only Ashkaar can provide. In time they will teach the Ashkaarians that their world has even more resources to offer in trade than only n’vashal. The power of Ashkaar will grow. They will remember their friends… and their adversaries.

Which would you have Ne’elat be?” Rak Ti’ask took a deep breath. “Udar Kishrit,” he said, “although we cannot undo the defeat of the !

Orakisan’s proposal, could we not take another vote on a—a somewhat different proposal along those same lines?” Udar Kishrit smiled. “We can.” “I wonder