Picard pulled Worf back and squared off with Urosk himself. A moment more and another security team would beam down around them. Picard would have to hold them off until then.

But no shafts of light and sparkle appeared. No hum filled the hall, and Picards phaser seemed less and less adequate in his palm. He didnt want to end up with a roomful of stunned carca.s.ses. That would save Worfs life, but lose the Klingon-Hidran peace. Not exactly how his mission orders read.

He looked back at Worf, hoping the Klingon wouldnt lose his cool in the shadow of Urosks posturing.

Worf was not the only one he had to worry aboutthe remaining five Klingons came up behind his security chief, flanking him. Protection?

If so, the protection was capricious at best. With five Hidran, five Klingons, Worf and Picard, all crushed into a few square yards in the center of the festival hall, something had to give.

Picard jabbed at his comm badge again.

Enterprise!

He heard the dull electrical tone that told him the channel was blocked.

We will have vengeance!

Urosk cried, grabbing a club from one of his men and shaking it wildly in the air.

Kadar clutched at his own dagger.

We are the ones who shall have that!

Picards muscles tensed and he balanced himself against a possible onslaught. His eyes became slivers and he quickly pinpointed the positions of his few security men and Barbaras two guards. If it came down to sheer numbers, he had control. Unfortunately Klingons and Hidran could count as two apiecetheir rage turned even odds into poor ones.

Hollitt!

Picard called, Get your people out of here! Close off the hall!

The Klingons closed tighter on Worf to barricade him, yet moved forward toward their foes.

Kadar put his hand on Worfs shoulder.

We will stand with you.

The security chief pushed away.

I stand with my captain.

Picard wasnt sure if Worf was acting out of loyalty or tactics, but he heard and nodded as his officer moved out from between the cloister of his protectors. It looked bad to have Worf with them, as if there had been some conspiracy to kill the amba.s.sador.

The Hidran pushed closer, and the two groups began to square off against each other, s.p.a.ce-faring races whod clung to daggers in their l.u.s.t for death by any weapon.

The captain gestured for his personnel to surround them. He hardened his shoulders, looked briefly at Worf, then back to the throbbing ma.s.s of hostility that called itself a diplomatic delegation. Civilized pretense had been lost. A pretense he was supposed to have preserved.

Phaserson stun, Picard said, rather quietly, to Worf.

Kadar, blade in hand, bulldozed the table between him and Urosk. They were feet apart and Picard thumbed the trigger of his phaser. A brilliant orange rod of power slammed into the floor between the two adversaries. A whine of energy rang throughout the hall, and dark smoke settled onto a frozen audience.

There will be no more death today!

he thundered.

Every glare blazed rage and hate.

Indignantly, Urosk shook his knife in the air.

We have had enough of your idleness Picard! Let us fight our enemies or become an enemy yourself!

You dont want to be my enemy, Urosk, Picard barked.

I will not have this. Cease, and we will find the cause of your comrades death.

Kadar held his dagger in one hand and gestured to the fallen Klingon with his other.

Will we not see why my first officer died, Captain?

he bellowed.

Picard nodded at the bodies.

His murderer is dead. What more would you seek?

The Klingon turned toward Urosk, his blade outstretched, his voice a low, threatening growl.

More.

Urosk dived forward, crimson arms extended, cloak flowing.

Picard locked eyes with Worf and gave the slightest of nods. Worf fired, and a sizzling lance pinned the Hidran captain.

Urosk deflated, falling back into heap of groggy confusion.

The Klingons seized the moment and rushed forward.

Picard pointed, a threatening motion. His finger marked Kadar.

The Klingon commander toppled to his knees, dazed by the blast from Worfs phaser. Orange rivulets of spark grappled his form, and his knife clattered onto the stone floor.

The captain looked from dagger to dagger, Hidran to Klingon, and wondered how many other traditions they shared but would admit no common ground. Their problem was not their differences, he thought, but their similarities.

He tacked back to the remaining Klingons. Four violent, savage scowls gouged with surprise. Not only had a Starfleet ally phasered down the commander of an Imperial Battle Cruiser, but Worf had fired the blow.

Bitterness overpowered his pride in Worfs loyalty, though. The captain nodded and said: Phasers will now be set toheavy stun.

A grating hum filled the hall and pressed into them as every energy weapon sang with more power.

Shall we go at it again?

Picard asked harshly.

One Hidran officer, his furious eyes defiantly burning into Picard, exploded toward the Klingons.

Worfs phaser came up but Picard pushed the Klingons hand down and fired his own weapon.

The Hidran officer snapped forward, then convulsed and went flying back, his weapon clattering to the floor.

No one reached to pick it up.

Well, gentlemen, Picard said, pitiless, how do we get ourselves out of this b.l.o.o.d.y mess?

We demand the right to prosecute him! A Hidran court must judge this matter!

Urosk had unfolded himself from off the floor and now stood before Picard. If the Hidran captain was still feeling the effects of the phaser stun, as he should have been, he wasnt showing it. He pulled the dark cloak around his slick skin and took in a short, angry breath.

Well, Picard?

A good two feet shorter than the Hidran, Picard somehow managed a glare that lookeddown at Urosk. Worf still at his side, the captain holstered his phaser and nodded a firm chin toward the Klingon.

And then execute him, Captain? I think not.

We have our rights!

Urosk bellowed.

And so does Lieutenant Worf, Captain.

Urosk scowled at Worf and ground those sharp little teeth that flashed through his mask.

Murderers have no rights, Picard. Especially Klingons.

I am not convinced a murder has been committed by anyone other than Amba.s.sador Zhad, Picard said.

I.

a.s.sure you an investigation Investigation!

Urosk twisted away then pivoted back.

And while you act to protect your security chief, do not think I will not act on my own!

Youd better not.

Barbara Hollitt came up beside Picard. She held her own weapon, and matched Urosk glare for glare, her green to his.

Everybody in this hall is under house arrest until further notice.

Urosks face crumbled into a scowl.

By whose authority Mine, Barbara said coldly and turned to Picard.

My guards will remove the Klingon delegation to the back hall. No one comes in or out without my say-so.

Picard nodded approval, glad the Klingons would be separated from the Hidran, but uneasy with Barbaras guards doing the job. Where were his own? Why hadnt his communicator connected with the Enterprise?

What other problems were burning elsewhere?

I will not stand for this, Picard, Urosk said.

You will, Picard said slowly, darkly, whether you wish to do so quietly or not I do not care, but youwill do it.

The captain leaned closer to Urosk, over and up.

I am in control of this situation, Urosk, and if anyone else gets injured it will not be me or my people.

The Hidran captains wide florid lips snarled up into a smirk.

That we shall see, he said, and spun quickly on his heel, leaving a swirl of sour air twisting under Picards nose.

He and Worf shared a glance as the captain pounded his comm badge.

Picard toEnterprise .

Data here, sir.

There was no delay.

Where in h.e.l.l were you ten minutes ago?

Picard demanded.

In sickbay with Dr. Crusher, sir, Data said in something slightly more concerned than his normal tone.

Geordi?

Picard asked quickly.

Yes, sir, Data said.

After beaming up he collapsed on the transporter pad. He has been in emergency surgery since eighteen twenty-two hours.

Picards brow furrowed, his skin felt tight.

Surgery for what?

To have his temple implants removed, sir. A total malfunction of his VISOR bio-circuitry.

Picards gut twisted and he suppressed a shiver. His crisp hazel eyes focused on Zhad for a moment.