They want to use our transporter?Vaughn bit back a curse at the deficiencies of the universal translator. Aloud, he said, “Whatuse?”
The D’Naali blinked several times before replying, as though it had just heard an unutterably stupid question. “With it, we too/as well may ingress/enter cathedral/ anathema, just as Ryek’ekbalabiozan’voslu informs/reports that you have done/accomplished. With your mattermover, we can resolve/finish cathedral/anathema. For now, and for evermore/eternity.”
At last Vaughn felt he was beginning to understand the nature of the obscure conflict between the D’Naali and the Nyazen. His initial anger, sparked by Sacagawea’s covert conversations with his commander, began smoldering again.
“You want to beam weapons into the cathedral,” Vaughn said. “Those Nyazen ships aren’t trying to prevent you from worshipingthe thing—they’re trying to keep you from destroyingit.”
“The Nyazen worship/revere the power/puissance of the cathedral/anathema,”the D’Naali captain said. “Its reach spans realms/worlds/universes. It is a sacred/terrible thing to them. It is a sacred/terrible thing tous— the selfsame sacred/terrible thing which shattered/ destroyed our innersystem ancient/ancestral home-world, longlonglong ago. An ancient evil/desolator, which scattered both lineages to the outervoids uncounted timeoutofmind ages/aeons past.”
Beginning to believe that something more sinister than a language barrier was responsible for the apparent obfuscation on the part of the D’Naali, Vaughn suddenly had a chilling thought. If their sole purpose all along had been to destroy the cathedral, they might be inclined to say anything to achieve that objective—even if it jeopardized the Defiant.Turning away from the viewer, Vaughn crossed to Sacagawea. Had the alien not stood more than a head taller, they would have been standing nose to nose.
“We’ve sent members of our crew inside the cathedral because youtold us that their…afflictions could be cured only there,” Vaughn said evenly. “I sincerely hope you were telling us the whole truth about that.”
Sacagawea shrank away from Vaughn, clearly intimidated. The creature’s long, graceful fingers played idly with the small antigrav units harnessed to its appendages, as though suddenly aware of its extreme vulnerability aboard the Defiant.“No prevarications/lies I told,” it said. “All this D’Naali-being has stated about/ concerning afflicted ones is correct/true/sincere. The anathema’s power/puissance is/remains your afflicted ones’ sole/final hope.”
Vaughn backed away from Sacagawea, not interested in appearing belligerent before its commander. Facing the viewer again, he said, “Your conflict with the Nyazen is none of my business. Our involvement was strictly in the interests of preventing any needless deaths.”
“Our thanks/gratitude you have earned for this,”the D’Naali commander said. “Many D’Naali live/endure because of you.”
Vaughn smiled. “I’d like you to return the favor. Before you resume your fight with the Nyazen over the fate of your…anathema, we ask that you assist us in gaining access to it. Just long enough to locate and rescue our people. Then we’ll be on our way.”
The D’Naali commander seemed to consider Vaughn’s proposal for a protracted moment before saying, “Counteroffer/proposal. Afterward/following, you will give/send us your mattermover device/machine. We will then use it to resolve/finish the cathedral/anathema.”
“I can’t do that,” Vaughn replied without hesitation. Because both of these civilizations were warp capable, however marginally, the noninterference protections of the Prime Directive did not strictly apply. But the thought of radically disrupting the delicate, aeons-old balance of power that had obviously evolved between these two peoples didn’t sit well with him.
The alien commander made a sound that evoked an image of a rusty iron gate. Vaughn interpreted it as a self-satisfied laugh. “Damaged/strained is your vessel. Much/greatly drained/depleted are your energies/capabilities. Refusal is no option/poor choice.”
“Don’t underestimate us,” Vaughn said, realizing that his earlier unfavorable appraisal of the D’Naali’s motivations now seemed precisely on the mark. “And don’t think you’ll impress us by making threats. Especially while one of your own people is still aboard my vessel.”
“You will surrender/relinquish your hostage/prisoner,”the D’Naali captain said.
“Primed/ready am I to die as a prisoner/hostage,” Sacagawea responded, folding his long limbs about himself in what Vaughn interpreted as an elaborate display of D’Naali dignity. Clearly, the alien was preparing to die.
Not on my ship.
Vaughn turned toward the tactical station. “Ensign Merimark, inform transporter chief Chao that our ‘guest’ will be beaming back to his ship immediately. Straight from the bridge.”
“Respectfully, Captain, are you sure that’s wise?” Bowers said, his wary eyes on Sacagawea. He and Shar had backed several paces away from the creature.
“Damn sure,” Vaughn said, his glare spelling out plainly that there would be no further debate. “We can still run if we have to.”
Vaughn faced the alien leader again as Sacagawea disappeared in a blaze of sparkling light. “Whatever you may believe about us, D’Naali, we’re not hostage-takers.”
The alien commander’s mouth parts moved in a manner that Vaughn could only interpret as a grin. “Defend/ protect your ship, then.”
“Tenmei, make your best speed toward the alien artifact.”
“Aye, sir.” Her hands worked the console with the virtuosity of a concert pianist.
Vaughn saw a flash of blue light originate at the D’Naali flagship’s prow just as the entire fleet fell away into the distance.
Relieving Merimark at tactical, Bowers said, “The D’Naali vessels are pursuing. But they won’t be able to catch up to us.”
“Unless we stop,”Tenmei said from the conn. Over her shoulder, she flashed Vaughn a mock-questioning look.
Vaughn favored her with a good-natured scowl as he seated himself in the command chair. “We will, Ensign. At the Nyazen blockade fleet. And let’s hope that the defenders are a little more reasonable than the destroyers.”
* * *
“Keeping station at one hundred thousand klicks from the artifact, Captain,” Tenmei said.
“No sign of weapons activity,” said Bowers. “But the blockade ships have scanned us. They seem more curious than hostile.”
“Perhaps they saw their adversaries firing on us,” Shar said from the main science console.
My enemy’s enemy is my friend,Vaughn thought. He sat in the command chair, absorbing and considering the constant reports coming from each member of his bridge crew.
“The Nyazen flagship is finally answering our hails,” Hunter said.
The round, blotchy, whitish face that appeared on the viewer struck Vaughn as a study in astonishment, though he knew he was anthropomorphizing an alien being. On the other hand, perhaps the Nyazen captain simply couldn’t believe Vaughn’s audacity in approaching with a request to parley after having been driven away so recently by the massed forces of thirteen Nyazen blockade ships.
“You wish/desire to aid/assist us against the D’Naali destroyers?”
Who are going to arrive in force any second.“As I said,” Vaughn continued, using his most patient, persuasive tones, “members of my crew are inside the cathedral at this very moment. They seek cures to the maladies that the cathedral caused.”