NF 07 - The Quiet Place (c) by Star Trek

Author:Star Trek [Star Trek]
Language: deu
Format: epub
Tags: \Star Trek
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2011-01-02T08:00:32.009000+00:00

IX.

THE OVERLORD WAS THE TALLEST of the Redeemers, and half again as wide. His skin was hardened and black, almost obsidian, and his eyes were deeply set and a soft, glowing red. Other races generally tried not to look directly into the face of a Redeemer; it was like experiencing a little foreshadowing of death. His clothing was as black as his skin, with a tunic that hung down to his knees and black leggings that were tucked into his high boots. He wore a large black cape draped around him, giving him—when he was in a contemplative, forward-leaning mood—a distinct resemblance to a crouching bird of prey.

“Prime One,” he called. He knew he would not have to wait long; Prime One always remained an easy summons away. Sure enough, there was a quick scuttling of feet, and moments later Prime One entered. Prime One bowed deeply and waited for the Overlord to speak.

The Overlord had been working on training the new Prime One. His predecessor had been a good and faithful servant, dedicated and with a healthy fear of the Overlord that kept him well motivated. Unfortunately, the previous Prime One had had a direct engagement with the starship Excalibur, and it had not gone especially well for the late Prime One. To be specific, the starship had outmaneuvered the Redeemer vessel, with the result that both the vessel and Prime One had been the victim of a solar flare created by a burst of energy generated by the Excalibur. The solar flare had effortlessly wiped out ship and crew, leaving the Overlord to find new help.

The Overlord, to put it mildly, had not been very happy about that. As a result, evening the score with Mackenzie Calhoun and his vessel had been uppermost in his mind. However, his summons to Prime One at this point concerned another matter.

“My understanding,” he said in that remarkably soft tone of his, which commanded attention just by its lack of volume, “is that we have located the vessel with the girl aboard. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Overlord.”

“And the ship has been captured and taken in tow?”

“Yes, Overlord.”

“Why,” asked the Overlord, leaning back and fixing a deadly stare on Prime One, “have we taken it in tow? Of what possible use is some space-fool's vessel to us?”

“With all respect, Great One, he is no mere fool. The ship's computer exhibits a sentience we did not think possible, and it also carries a Romulan cloaking device. I am not certain from whence it came, but it is functioning quite well. It is our opinion that there may be other such treasures aboard the ship, which would preclude the notion of simply leaving it derelict. Unless, of course, your greatness wishes for us to leave it behind.”

The Overlord regarded him coolly for a moment. “What do you think?” he asked.

“I think,” Prime One said with a slight bow, “whatever you wish me to think, Overlord.”

The Overlord sighed heavily at this.

Once upon a time, he had enjoyed the fact that the Prime Ones—all of them—were totally subservient to him.

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