Star Trek: The Original Series: Crisis of Consciousness by Dave Galanter

Author:Dave Galanter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

TEN

“Platforms three and four in that section are empty, Commander.”

Zhatan nodded. “Thank you, Nidal.”

“There were a few still loaded in platform two, I sent those as well.”

Acknowledging that with only a sigh, Zhatan steepled her fingers in thought. In thoughts.

“Feel no guilt.”

“He was against us.”

“Against us.”

“He would stop us.”

“Kirk would end us if he could.”

“No, he is a good man.”

“We have not killed him. Just delayed.”

“He may yet survive.”

“When he pursues again it will be too late.”

“He could die.”

“They should die.”

“They shouldn’t.”

“If Kirk is gone, Spock may not help us.”

“He will because it is logical.”

“He will not if he is aggrieved.”

“Enterprise should be destroyed for our safety,” Tibis counseled.

“No. They are of good character. We touched Kirk’s mind.”

“He would stop us.”

“He is a fool.”

“We should hope for his death.”

“We could have made sure of it.”

“No! That is not our place. He has not sinned against us.”

“Stopping us is sin.”

“He will not stop us.”

“He cannot! We must prevail,” Tibis said.

“We will.”

“We will prevail.”

“We will.”

Sighing again, Zhatan turned away from Nidal when she saw her first glancing back at her.

“What troubles you, Commander?”

“Nothing,” Zhatan said. “There is simply much to consider.”

Leaving her station, the first came up to the command chair. “Please,” she whispered. “Confide in us as you once did. We see you are torn, and we can help.”

Flicking a look at the bridge crew at their stations, then back to Nidal, the commander shook her head. “We should debate our decisions with you, here, on our bridge?”

“We aren’t asking you for debate,” her first said quietly. “We ask that you use us to help order your thoughts. You are so closed now. You never used to be this circumspect. Not with us.”

That was true. In all the years they’d known one another in their current physical forms, even before their relationship had blossomed, Zhatan had used her first as a sounding board. That was why she’d named her as first. But when Nidal testified alongside Alkinth, and used personal, private conversations against Zhatan at the hearing, things had changed.

Yes, Nidal had apologized. Yes, Zhatan had forgiven her, in word if not in deed. But the pain of that time remained. How could she now confide in one who had betrayed her?

How could the commander also keep from confiding in her first?

“We are torn,” Zhatan admitted. “As we’re sure you are also.”

Pleased at the confession, Nidal smiled. “Less so than you, we think, but yes. We can see it both ways. Kirk is a hindrance, and the Enterprise is a powerful vessel.”

“We don’t wish him dead. Most of us do not,” the commander said.

“We know that.” Nidal touched the arm of the command chair rather than reaching out for Zhatan’s hand. “You have given him a chance at life, and that is something.

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