The Heart of the Warrior by John Gregory Betancourt

Author:John Gregory Betancourt [Betancourt, John Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Performing Arts, Star Trek Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Undercover Operations, General, Radio and Television Novels
ISBN: 9780671002398
Google: RRrg8zy7_HQC
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1996-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

SHAKEN, ODO PULLED himself away from Selann and reassumed his own humanoid form. He had never known such peace, such tranquillity, as the first time he had joined with another changeling. It had left him weak from euphoria, almost giddy.

But this time it had been different. This time it hadn’t been so novel, and he had been able to sense Selann’s thoughts as they drifted between their collective consciousness... thoughts that bewildered and at times enraged him.

Thoughts of peace through conquest.

Thoughts of bending lesser races to his will.

Thoughts of a great destiny for their people and a vision of the future which Odo did not believe in- or want to share: nothing less than the conquest of the entire galaxy.

He took a step back, then another, then a third. All he wanted to do was separate himself from Selann, to put as much distance between them as he could.

Selann regarded him solemnly from the other side of the room. “Odo-” he said.

“Leave me!” Odo cried. “I cannot face your thoughts!”

Silently, Selann left the dome. Odo gazed at the statues and the driftwood, at the rocks and the pottery assembled around him. He no longer felt like emulating any of it. He just wanted to go home.

He heard a light step behind him and whirled. Had Selann returned? No, he saw, Auron had appeared in the doorway.

“Come with me, Odo,” the changeling said softly.

Odo didn’t know why, but he obeyed. He walked out with Auron onto the curving pebble path, and they passed in silence between the domes, through the trees, then onto a beach covered in glistening black sand. Low waves lapped at their feet, and the air held a faint tang of salt and brine. Far across the water, two huge orange suns sank toward the horizon.

“You are still not happy among us,” Auron said, as they gazed into the distance side by side.

“I’m sorry,” Odo said. “I cannot accept what you’re doing. It isn’t right-”

“Do not apologize,” Auron said. “You are still young, Odo. You have not seen all the horrors of the universe. You do not understand why we must stand united against the solids. But you will, Odo, in time. We are a very ancient and very patient race. We will wait for you to change, to see things as we do.”

“It’s just that my heart tells me all of this is wrong,” Odo said. “Why can’t all sentient life-forms find nonaggressive ways to live in peace everywhere in the galaxy?”

Auron laughed. “That’s what we’ve done. All changelings live in peace. No changeling but you has ever harmed another. It’s only the solids who are a threat and must be restrained.”

Odo sighed and shook his head. His people didn’t want to understand, he realized. Perhaps they had grown too comfortable with their power, or too drunk on their success. He had to escape. He had to find some way to return and help Worf and Kira if he could. But how?

“Perhaps,” he said hesitantly, “if you could show me more of what you’ve done here, in the Gamma Quadrant.

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