Read Online The Mist by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Free Book Online Page B

take that for a yes," Sisko said. "Well, Captain Sotugh appeared on screen and said, without preamble ..."

    "Captain Sisko, we know you just sent a message to the station. What kind of trick is this? We demand to know what sort of cloaking device you are using."
    "It is no trick," I said. "Train your sensors on Deep Space Nine and stand by."
    "I cannot see why I"
    I told Nog to cut the communication, and he did. Now, remember, this is during that recent period of hostilities between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. I knew that I was taking a risk

    "Yeah, you know, I was wondering ..." A chalk-colored alien rose from his spot against the wall. Sisko tried not to blink in surprise. He had thought the alien was a line of dirt until he moved. "If you had hostilities, how come you let one of their number on your ship?"
    "Worf always was different," Cap said.
    Everyone looked at him. Sisko wondered how he knew Worf.
    "I don't care!" the Quilli said. "It's not relevant to the story. Will you please do something about these interruptions?"
    "Actually, the question is slightly relevant," Sotugh said. "But of greater relevance is the risk that Sisko took in cutting me off. I followed his instruction any good commander would, just to see what kind of trick he was playing but I also raised my shields and gave an order to power my weapons. If we had not seen"
    "What did you see?" the little creature was shaking with fury.
    Sisko met Sotugh's gaze. "I'll take it from here," Sisko said softly.
    "I think that's best," Sotugh said.
    "The station disappeared," Sisko said. "Oh, not right away. First, Dax said ..."

    "The asteroid should be passing through the station right about now."
    We knew what they were going through. I don't know about the others, but my ears rang in sympathy, my inner ear spun slightly, and a hint of dizziness returned.
    It happened too quickly, and Captain Victor knew he had sent us back too late. I could only clench my fists and hope that my first officer, Major Kira, who had fought in more tight situations than the rest of us had seen together with, perhaps, the exception of Dax would find a way out of this one too.
    And that was when the station disappeared.
    "It's gone, Benjamin," Dax said softly.
    The silence on the bridge was intense.
    I sat for one moment.
    One long moment, feeling more fury than I had felt since my wife died. Captain Victor had played us like we were his favorite violin. He had taken each string, plucking and plucking, until we became the melody he wanted.
    The melody, the chords, the over-and undertones. We had been played, and he had known what he was doing.
    I could see his smile as he beamed off our ship. Don't be so hasty in your predictions, Captain, he had said, and then he had chuckled.
    Chuckled!
    Knowing that his people were about to steal my station.
    "Captain," Nog said. "The starships around the station are going crazy. There are more hails here than I've ever seen. And the Klingons are demanding to speak to you, sir."
    I stood. I would take care of this, and then I would take care of the Mist.
    All of them.
    "Cadet," I said, "open a channel to all the Federation ships in the area of the station, and send this message directly to Starfleet headquarters. And patch in the Klingons."
    "Yes, sir," Nog said after a moment of looking very fearful. I saw Dax bend over her instruments, and move a hand, helping him. Finally, Nog said, "Channel open, sir."
    I took a step toward our screen.
    "This is Captain Sisko on the Defiant. Deep Space Nine has been taken by a rebel group of the legendary people called the Mist."
    I paused for a moment to let that surprising statement sink in to all who were listening. "My information on this takeover is limited, but as soon as I know more, I will send it to you on this channel. Please stand by."
    I had Nog cut the broadcast.
    "Sir, we are being hailed by everyone," he said.
    I ignored that. I knew my statement would provide more questions than