To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [65]
A mask, she thought as she placed herself between Lelys and those two for what felt like the fiftieth time.
A carefully cultivated illusion. But why?
She had no chance to think more about it. At that moment, the remnants of the group harrying the Away Team seemed to reach the same conclusion as the lone villager who had fled combat with Data alone. They were falling back, slowly at first, then more and more decisively. Avren saw this, and his hand closed convulsively on the oberyin’s wrist. He whispered urgently in Bilik’s ear.
Bilik nodded and shook off the shepherd’s grip.
With all the dignity of his office around him, he strode majestically up the slope to face Riker. He carried no visible weapon and his hands were extended, palms forward, in what might have been a gesture of peace.
When he was no more than five paces away from Riker, he brought his hands together in a clap that echoed up and down the mountain. Riker’s mouth gaped, the staff fell from his hands and rolled away down the hill. A dull film crept across his eyes and he stood immobile, as if that one crisp sound had been some sort of magic spell to turn a man to stone, That is it! Troi thought, staring at Riker’s frozen body. That is what I have been sensing here, among these people: Compulsion! That is their power. Not too strong in most of them, but in the oberyin, oh yes, it is strong in that one. I wouM not be surprised to learn it is strong in all like him. And yet, it is not boundless. I sense some limits. Still, a useful power for a leader.
Her exultation in having at last put a name to the problem that had troubled her so long was muted by her horror at what had befallen Riker.
Even as she came to understand Bilik’s power, the oberyin was giving orders to the villagers to seize the helpless Starfleet officer. Seeing their spiritual leader in apparent control of the situation gave them new zeal. Those still standing rushed to obey, and those who had been only stunned in combat revived amazingly and surged to their feet to aid their fellows.
Mr. Data fought on, holding them off. It was only a matter of time before their numbers overwhelmed him, but this did not seem to suit either Avren or Bilik. Again the shepherd tugged at the oberyin’s robes and again the oberyin stepped forward, hands raised in that deceptively peaceable gesture. The villagers fell away, giving him a clear path to Data. He was smiling as he brought his hands together in that limb-freezing clap.
His smile vanished when his intended victim stood unaffected by what must be the most impressive weapon in the oberyin’s weird arsenal. “De— demon!” Bilik’s voice trembled as he pointed one shaking finger at the impassive android. “These are demons!” He backed off quickly.
“Mr. Data, get us out of here,” Troi called. She pounced on the elusive ambassador and held her firmly. She was fleetingly surprised when Lelys did not struggle, but the immediate need for escape didn’t let her dwell on this too long.
“A strategic retreat might be in our best interest,” Data agreed. The villagers had been just as shocked as their spiritual leader by his apparent immunity to the oberyin’s power of compulsion, but this same power still affected them. Bilik was shouting orders, and the men were bound to obey, despite their fears. Some laid hands on Riker, others closed in on Troi and Lelys. In the confusion, the Orakisan ambassador broke away from Troi. There was something in her hand, something she flung far into the trees.
Data was not concerned with this. There was no need for Counsellor Troi to keep hold of Ambassador Lelys in order to effect their return to the ship. He held his ground, keeping his own assailants at bay while he pulled out his communicator and crisply said, “Data to Enterprise. Four to beam up. Use communicators to determine our coordinates and energize on my signal. Energize.” Troi heard him give the order. She saw his body waver as the transporter