Finagling the invitation to this reception was the only way Vaughn could justify the trip to Betazed without it getting in the way of the mission he and T’Prynn were about to go on in the Arvada system. But it was something he felt the need to do now, before Arvada III, in case that mission went bad.
Vaughn wasn’t even sure what the reception was for—all he knew was that Uhura got him on the guest list.
“Well, well, well, look who’s here.”
Closing his eyes, Vaughn thought, Not him. Why did he have to be here?
Giving in to the inevitable, he turned to see the familiar smug face, irritating smile, shock of white hair, and black spots of Curzon Dax. He was dressed in an ankle-length blue jacket decorated with some kind of sun-and-moon pattern over a white shirt and black pants.
“Ambassador,” he said with a minimal inclination of his head. As Dax approached, Vaughn caught a whiff of allirapunch. Wistfully, Vaughn remembered that Ian Troi was rather fond of that stuff—in fact, it was at the reception on the Carthageeighteen years ago that he introduced Vaughn to the beverage. Seeing Dax drink it now seemed wrong to Vaughn.
“Have to admit to being surprised to see you here, Vaughn. You never really struck me as the partying type.”
“I have some personal business to take care of on Betazed.” That was as much as he was willing to share.
“Fair enough. It seems to be a day for surprises. I thought for sure that Lwaxana Troi would be present—I’m told she nevermisses a party—but she’s not around, either.” Dax hesiated, then took a sip of his punch. “Listen, I’m glad you’re here, actually. I was so caught up in the political nonsense on Qo’noS after we left the Great Hall I never had a chance to thank you.”
Vaughn almost choked on his Scotch. “Excuse me?” Curzon Dax is actually expressing gratitude? Tome ?
“Well, for your help, for one thing,” Dax said with a smile. No doubt he’s enjoying my discomfiture.“Your tracking down those records proved to be a very handy bargaining chip. I think it’s safe to say that relations with the Empire are stronger than ever.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes.” He shook his head. “I have to ask, Commander—how didyou obtain that information?”
Rather than answer, Vaughn simply stared at the older Trill.
“All right, fine, don’t tell me. I suppose it’s probably safer this way. In any case, I’m also grateful to you for seeking me out on Risa two years ago. I have to admit, I let the entire Raknal V situation get away from me. I should have been keeping a closer eye on things. Hell, I should never have proposed that solution in the first place.”
“Not that I don’t agree—” Vaughn started.
Dax grinned. “Considering that you said so from the beginning.”
“—but why do you say that?”
“I thought I understood how to make both sides talk to each other, but I couldn’t have misjudged the Cardassians more if I tried. Klingons thrive on that sort of competition, but the Cardassians think it’s their destiny to overrun the galaxy. I’m not even sure they have a conceptof competition. They just prefer to run roughshod over everything. As for the Klingons…” He smiled. “If I’ve learned nothing else over the years, it’s that the only people who can deal with Klingons are Klingons.”
“That’s very profound, Ambassador,” Vaughn said, almost meaning it.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant Commander Vaughn?”
Vaughn turned at the new voice, which belonged to a young woman with dark black eyes. “Yes?”
“Your transport is ready.”
Dax gave a small bow. “I assume this is your personal business. I will leave you to it. Safe journeys, Commander. Perhaps we’ll meet again some day.”
I sincerely hope not,Vaughn thought. Not quite impolitic enough to say that, but not trustful enough of himself to say anything else, Vaughn simply returned the bow, then followed the Betazoid woman to the transport.
Lwaxana had said she would meet him there. Deanna was not coming along, as the ten-year-old girl did not like to go to that place. Lwaxana probably left her with Mr. Xelo.
Leaving the reception behind, Elias Vaughn got into the transport that would take him to the grave of Ian Troi.
Epilogue
Giv’n to the
Strong
A World in the
Cardassian Union
The girl could feel the pull of the hevriton the line.
“That’s it,” Father whispered, a proud smile on his face as they sat in the boat in the middle of the river. The sun was out, reflecting off the crystal clear water. Father held a fishing rod of his own in his hands, but he soon set that aside to make sure that the girl would be able to bring in her catch. Father had been teaching her to fish because his own father had taught him to fish, and his mother had taught him, and her mother had taught her. Families did that sort of thing, he said. It was their second day out on the river in the small wooden boat.
“Bring the fish in,” Father then said.
Slowly, gently, she moved the lever on the control that would wind in the fishing line. The mechanism was sensitive, and she had to get the speed just right—not so slow that the hevritwould have time to wriggle off the end of the line, but not so fast as to cause the hevritto come loose on account of too much force.
“Take it easy,” Father cautioned her.
She eased the lever to a slower speed, then realized that was too slow and made it faster again. Soon she got it just right.
When Grandfather purchased the land on this world, he had invited his entire family to spend a vacation here, and the girl had never enjoyed herself more on a trip in her life. Her sister and brother could play silly war games all they wanted. She preferred spending this time learning to fish with Father.
When the end of the line with the hevritattached burst through the water with a cold splash, she grinned so widely she thought her cheek ridges would fold over her ears. With Father’s help, she removed the hevritfrom the line, where it had been attracted by the sonic vibrations emitted by the device on the end—a wonderful piece of Cardassian ingenuity. The meter-long fish was quite heavy, as big as anything she had ever seen Father, Grandfather, or Great-Grandmother catch—and shecaught it!
Father placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder and grinned. “Your first catch. I think Grandfather will be very proud of you. And Mother will enjoy something new to cook. Good work.”
The girl happily replayed those words in her mind over and over again as she and Father steered the boat back toward the shoreline. Mother and her brother and sister were waiting for them, along with Grandfather.