Deep Space Nine: Unity by S.D. Perry

Author:S.D. Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

11

VAUGHN WOKE FROM A DREAM OF PRYNN, A VERY YOUNG PRYNN WHO shouted meaningless, angry sounds at him while he tried in vain to speak. For a second after he opened his eyes, he could still see her, just a child, could feel a wisp of hope that it wasn’t too late to mend things . . . and then someone was signaling at the door, the sound that had pulled him from his dream. He scrambled to remember where he was, and why.

Parasites. Bajor.

“Come,” he managed, sitting up on the cot, feeling achy and mildly feverish. He’d slept in his clothes. Again.

At Vaughn’s acknowledgment, Lenaris Holem stepped into the field shelter, a look of strain around the general’s eyes as he smiled. A wash of daylight came with him, brighter than it should have been.

“Commander,” Lenaris said, and though his tone was warm, the pinched look didn’t diminish.

Vaughn swung his legs to one side of the cot, blinking at the timepiece on the wall. Was that right? He’d slept well into morning, hours past when he normally rose. Why hadn’t anyone come for him?

“I thought you were at Rakantha,” Vaughn said, willing himself to stand up, finding that he couldn’t work up the enthusiasm. He stayed seated on the edge of his cot, feeling a first note of alarm at Lenaris’s presence as the irregularities piled up. Late morning, Lenaris back at Hedrikspool, the look on the younger man’s face . . . “New outbreak?”

Lenaris shook his head, his smile fading. “Nothing like that.”

Something in his tone . . . Vaughn instinctively thought of Prynn, but said nothing, drawing the straight face that he’d spent so many years perfecting . . . and was able to tell by the thread of concern in the general’s gaze that it wasn’t so perfect anymore.

“Have a seat, General,” Vaughn said, keeping his tone mild. “Mind telling me what’s going on?”

Lenaris moved to one of the wall benches across from him and sat down, leaning forward. “You need a break. I’m sending you to the monastery in Ashalla for a few days, to get some rest.”

Vaughn stared at him. “Are you kidding? We’re in the middle of a major operation. I don’t have the time or the inclination to ‘rest.’ In case you hadn’t noticed, things are getting worse around here.”

Lenaris nodded wearily. “I’ve noticed. But last night’s scans say you’re not up for it.”

Damn doctors. Vaughn remembered thinking that the routine visit had been longer than usual.

“Your serotonin levels have continued to drop, and now your blood pressure is up,” the general continued. “You’re overtired. I’ve already discussed the matter with Colonel Kira, and both she and Akaar agree.”

“This is ridiculous,” Vaughn said, feeling himself flush, disconcerted that conversations had been carried on about his medical status. “There have been seven new cases reported in the last two days—”

“Eleven,” Lenaris interrupted. “Remember? The four at Hill, yesterday morning.”

“Right,” Vaughn said, but felt his self-righteous windup winding back down. He’d forgotten. “I’m perfectly capable of doing my job, and .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.