Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Shield of the Gods by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Star Books

V

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1807 CE

Skalat star system

When Daiyar’s scout ship emerged from the temporal warp, Ranjea saw a wide binary pair of M-class planets through the forward viewport, illuminated by the ruddy light of what was presumably a red dwarf star. The first thing the Tomika renegade did was to consult an instrument that Ranjea believed to be a temporal scanner. “Excellent. The drive appears to have performed as advertised: no temporal trace, no sign of pursuit. I’m grateful to your Eridian Vault staff for maintaining it in such good condition.”

“Then perhaps you will reconsider the use to which you intend to put it,” Ranjea replied. “Give me a chance to assist you in finding a healthier response to your grief.”

She chuckled. “Well, that’s one difference between you and Riroa. She was never quite so corny.”

“But I share her sincerity. And her concern for your well-being, Daiyar.”

“It’s a sweet offer, Ranjea, but I’m afraid we don’t have time. I must not have set the drive as precisely as I’d thought—I have a deadline that’s a few hours closer than I’d hoped. So we have little luxury for conversation.” She rose from her pilot’s seat beside Ranjea’s and stepped back toward the aft compartment, stopping before a covered bed of sorts that Ranjea believed to be an automated medical unit. Working controls to initialize and program the unit, she said to Ranjea, “I’m going to need you to get into this chamber. I trust you don’t mind disrobing first? I’d rather not make that part an order. I’m taking more than enough advantage of you as it is.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” he said as he began to undress. “But may I ask what you intend to do with me?”

“We need a bit of cosmetic adjustment to blend in where we’re going. The medical unit will apply the prosthetics and pigmentation, as well as making a few tweaks to our metabolic readings. It can only do so much with your Dhei’ten pheromones, though, so I expect you to keep them reined in.”

“Does it need to be such a thorough change?” he asked, now completely nude.

Daiyar was smiling at the sight despite herself. “We . . . we may be there for a while, and we need to be able to convince Aegis sensors.” She cleared her throat. “Please get into the med unit now.”

The cosmetic procedure didn’t take long. In addition to a series of injections to alter his pigmentation and metabolism, Ranjea felt the tickle of a transporter effect applying prosthetic pieces to his forehead, ears, and scalp, including what felt like a narrow strip of hair running from his forehead to the nape of his neck. Once the medical unit’s lid hinged open, he could see that his dark brown skin had been subtly reddened, with a pattern of slightly darker, mottled stripes slanting inward along his torso and converging along its centerline, as well as running nearly straight down his arms and legs to terminate at his digits.

Daiyar, now

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