Read Online Star Trek by Christie Golden - Free Book Online

hailing frequency. Attention, alien vessel. This is Captain David Gold of the
U.S.S. da Vinci
. We mean you no harm. Let’s open a dialogue.”
    At once, a metallic voice echoed throughout the bridge. “Omearan Starsearcher 7445 to the
da Vinci
. You have my pilot. Return her at once, unharmed. Then we will open a dialogue.”
    Dear God
, thought Gold,
he doesn’t know she’s dead
.
    â€œCaptain,” said Gomez softly, “I don’t think Friend will respond too happily if we beam that body over.”
    â€œAgreed,” said Gold. “Wong, mute. Suggestions?”
    â€œLet me attempt to link with it,” said 110 at once.
    â€œ110,” said Gold wearily, “that ship might just as soon crisp you as talk to you.”
    110 lifted his head and regarded Gold evenly. “As we—as I have told you, Captain Gold, I am already linked with it, though it is not a two-way communication. Its pain is my pain. The only way I will lose that pain is if I can speak with it. And that is the only way Friend will ever accept what has happened to Jaldark. The news must be given to him gently, in a way he can understand. Otherwise, he will attack in anger. When he crashed into the planet—it wasnot an accident, Captain. He was in despair, and could not engage his self-destruct mechanism.” He winced a little. “Please. This is the only way.”
    â€œ110,” Geordi said gently, “there’s no guarantee that you will be able to form a proper link with the computer.”
    The little Bynar smiled at that. “There is, as you humans like to say, only one way to find out.”
    Geordi and Gold exchanged glances. Gold reached a decision. “Gold to Dr. Lense. Would it be possible to adjust 110’s brain and body in order to render him able to link with the ship?”
    â€œI think so. If you’d wanted to do this with a human, the answer would be no, but the Bynar brains are much better candidates for such a link. And, judging by his brain-wave patterns, I’d say that there seems to be some kind of connection established between them already. It would take some surgery, but I—”
    â€œ110, get to sickbay right now,” ordered Gold. At once, 110 scampered to obey. “Wong, reestablish link. Attention, Omearan Starsearcher 7445. We would like to send an ambassador to your command center to speak with you.”
    â€œReturn my pilot. Then she and I will speak with your ambassador.”
    Gold took a deep breath. Time for a little white lie. “Your pilot is unwell.” It was true. Dead was about as unwell as one could get. “She is currently in our sickbay.” Also true. “We have boarded you previously.”
    â€œI remember.” The metallic voice was angry now.“When you kidnapped Jaldark.”
    â€œWe brought her to our ship, yes. But while we were aboard you, while you were inactive, you established a link with one of my crew.”
    Silence. “Yes,” said the ship, haltingly. “I remember.”
    â€œWe think we can further adjust him so that he may link with you. We can explain everything to you most efficiently in that fashion.”
    A long silence. Gold felt sweat gather on his brow. He let this ship take its time.
    â€œI will permit such a contact,” said the ship after what felt like an eternity. Gold briefly closed his eyes in relief. “You should be aware that your crewmember will be vulnerable. If I do not like what I hear, I will not hesitate to kill him.”
    Was it a bluff, or the truth? Either way, it seemed as though this was something 110 was intent on doing. And, much as Gold hated to admit it, it seemed as if it was their only hope. The
Enterprise
herself would have a hard time fighting an opponent that was virtually indestructible. And the little
da Vinci
was certainly not equipped to handle it.
    â€œWe are explorers, not warriors,” said Gold. “We have