Read Online Rise of the Federation: Live by the Code by Christopher L. Bennett - Free Book Online Page B

physician’s honor as it pertained to patient confidentiality, so the arbiter agreed to grant him privacy over the councillor’s objection. Phlox expected that the Council’s agents would attempt to monitor his call despite this, but he used a couple of tricks Hoshi Sato had taught him to ensure that his call to the Qu’Vat Colony would be unseen and untraced.
    The face that appeared on the monitor was broad and lined, but smooth-browed and framed by long white hair. “Doctor Phlox!” exclaimed Antaak, his eyes going wide. “It is a pleasure to see you again, old friend. To what do I owe this call after all these years?”
    Phlox spoke slowly, weighing each word. “I suspect you may already know, Doctor. I am calling from the chambers of the High Council. They called me in to perform a post-­mortem on Chancellor M’Rek.”
    Antaak looked stunned. “M’Rek is dead? I had heard rumors of illness, but they tell us little out here—”
    “Please, Antaak. Let’s not waste time with denials. I recognized your recombination techniques in the genome of the virus that killed him.” He sighed. “I felt I owed it to you to ask why before I revealed my findings to the Council.”
    “My techniques . . . ?” Antaak shook his head sadly. “Phlox, I have no access to recombinant equipment anymore. My career as a geneticist is ended. I have attempted to petition the Council to finance research into a cure for the mutation, as a chance to reclaim my honor, but M’Rek himself revoked my license.” He chuckled without humor. “I attempted, for a while, to pursue a cranial reconstruction practice, but the sentiment soon spread that such concealment of QuchHa’ status was fraudulent and dishonorable. Many still see us as unclean, contagious, even though the virus burned itself out a decade ago. They wish to ensure that we are marked as separate. Did you know they no longer allow QuchHa’ in the Defense Force to wear a warrior’s traditional armor? Or even a warrior’s mane?” he added, a hand brushing through his own long hair.
    Phlox pondered. “I would like nothing more than to believe you, Antaak. But if anything, you’re merely establishing that you had a motive for the chancellor’s murder.”
    “Never! I may have turned my back on military service, but I am still warrior caste! Whatever they accuse me of, I strive to live by the precepts of the qeS’a’. ” Phlox recognized the name of the traditional text purporting to pass down the teachings of Kahless, the founding father of Klingon civilization. “Including the Third Precept, ‘Always face your enemy.’ Had I wished to slay M’Rek, I would have challenged him properly—and probably died in the attempt, since I am a doctor, not a soldier. But slaying him from afar with a virus, attempting to conceal my killing as a natural disease—which I assume to be the case given their need to consult you, Phlox—that would be no way to regain my honor. It would only compound my disgrace, and damn the House of Antaak for all time.”
    Phlox found himself believing his old colleague, though he recognized that he was predisposed to do so. “Then how do you explain the signature I found in the viral genome? The technique is yours, Antaak, I’d swear to it. And I may have to, unless you can give me another explanation.”
    Antaak had gone pale. It was some time before he spoke. “It cannot be. I could not have failed with him so profoundly.”
    “Antaak?”
    The aged doctor gave a heavy sigh. “There is . . . one other to whom I have passed on my techniques. Who has the skill in genetics and the access to the equipment  . . . and who resides on Qo’noS. But I dare not say it unless I can be sure. Please, Phlox . . . allow me to see the genome sequence. I must know if his hand is there.”
    Phlox granted his request; it was the consultation he’d been hoping for in the first place, though under more troubling circumstances than he had imagined.