"At least in part," Sisko said. "It made my leaving easier for her. It's hard now, but she will get over it."

"Maybe if you did try to explain-"

"It wouldn't matter," Sisko said. "But . . . would you go to her, Nerys? You can't tell her what I've told you, but you can comfort her."

Kira slowly nodded her head. "I will," she said. "But what about you?"

Sisko shrugged. "I'll live my life," he said. "Go back to what I know."

"Starfleet?"

"Yes."

Kira walked back over to him and reached a hand toward his right ear. He put his own hand up to stop her. Kira looked him in the eye, and he felt selfish for not trusting her. He dropped his hand, and she touched his ear. He waited for her to tell him that his pagh pagh was strong. She didn't. was strong. She didn't.

"Your pagh pagh is . . . wounded," she said. is . . . wounded," she said.

Sisko nodded. He had no doubt of it.

Kira stepped back. "Benjamin, please be careful. If-"

Sisko saw movement past Kira, somebody coming around the bend in the path. The figure wore a hooded, loose-fitting robe, brown in color. Kira turned to follow Sisko's gaze, and as they both watched, the figure pushed the robe's hood back.

"Vedek Kira," she said in a high, musical voice. She stood quite tall, with a body covering that resembled a silvery, fluidic armor more than it did flesh. Fluted around the outer edges, her large golden eyes seemed to melt into her metallic skin. "Forgive the intrusion, but you asked to be notified when the time came for your meeting with Vedek Garune."

"Thank you, Raiq," Kira said. "I'll be there in a moment. Would you please wait for me by the entrance to the arboretum?"

"Yes, Vedek," Raiq said. She pulled her hood back into place, then disappeared around the bend in the path.

When Kira turned back to Sisko, he said, "It was good to see you, Nerys. I'm sorry to have burdened you, but thank you for listening."

"It's no burden, Benjamin," she said. "If you ever need me, to listen or to help in any other way, I'm here for you. I'm usually at the Vanadwan Monastery in Releketh."

"Thank you," he said again. They hugged, and he watched her go. He felt deeply grateful for her friendship, and for her offer of future a.s.sistance. Of course, he could never avail himself of her friendship or her help again. He could not risk putting her in danger.

He must walk his path alone.

18.

Alizome Tor Fel-A, special agent to the autarch, arrived well before her scheduled meeting with the Tzenkethi leader and several of his advisors. Though Alizome had visited Autarch Korzenten's residence on numerous occasions, and though she had entered the home in a considerable number of its different configurations, she liked giving herself as much time as possible to locate the entrance. That had meant allotting herself less time earlier to satisfy her other responsibilities, but she'd managed to shave enough moments from each of her other tasks that day and still complete them.

The automated hovercraft alighted on the outskirts of Tzenketh, the capital city of Ab-Tzenketh, the homeworld of Alizome's people. The door rolled upward inside the cabin, and she stepped down onto the enclosed security platform, where a quartet of guards stood watch. Having been through the procedure often enough, Alizome knew what to do without being instructed. As she moved to the center of the s.p.a.ce, the door behind her rolled shut.

Alizome placed the only item she carried, a data cube, atop a scanner. She then splayed her fingers and laid her hand palm-down on a standard DNA sequencer. Though she could not feel the process, she knew that the device removed an epidermal sample from her hand, then extracted and a.n.a.lyzed her DNA in order to confirm both her ident.i.ty and her echelon.

Once that verification had completed, she stepped forward and held her arms out to the side. She contracted the sacs lining her arms and slipped quickly out of the top of the tight, black jumpsuit she wore. Making her arms rigid once more, she contracted first her left leg and then her right, removing the lower half of the flexible suit. One of the guards retrieved her outfit and took it to a scanning and inspection station, while another guard examined her fully exposed body, both visually and with a portable sensor. Finally, the leader of the security squad returned her clothing and data cube to her.

"You are cleared, Tor," the guard said, employing her t.i.tle.

Alizome quickly dressed, then headed for the door on the far side of the platform, which rolled up at her approach. She walked through it and out into the evening air. Both moons had already risen, one in full phase, the other in crescent. As always, their reflected light reached the surface of Ab-Tzenketh hazily, partially obscured by the virtual sh.e.l.l of artificial satellites ensphering the planet. Those satellites, Alizome knew, contained a wealth of different equipment that performed a wide variety of functions, from weapons platforms and external sensor grids, to communications arrays and global-positioning systems, to transporter management and weather control. They also provided an effective multipurpose defensive shield for Ab-Tzenketh, making sensor scans of the planet surface, and transport down to it, extremely difficult.

Following a narrow, winding path, Alizome pa.s.sed through a copse of phosph.o.r.escent trees, their dazzling golden leaves a lingering echo of the day's sunlight, and a close approximation of her own flesh tone. When she emerged from the grove, the grand house spread out before her. Its shimmering metal skin admitted of no straight lines, its rigid form twisting and flowing like the frozen waves of a great silver sea. To the right, the walls bowed outward, the roof above a range of moderately sized swells. Deep troughs and high crests marked the central portion of the structure, with shadows enclosing the lower regions. On the left side, the roof swept up to its highest point, its convex outline suggesting a tidal ma.s.s about to crash down on sh.o.r.e. The house possessed no discernible openings, or even potential openings, of any kind.

On none of Alizome's previous visits had the building been so arranged. She stopped and studied it, attempting to puzzle out both the logic and the artistry behind the new design. Mathematical terms rose in her mind and tried to pa.r.s.e themselves into equations that defined the architecture. Various styles of creativity and construction superimposed themselves on the edifice. The intellect and personality of the autarch suggested possibilities. But even after Alizome considered her destination for a while, its new configuration did not confess its secrets to her.

The path she'd taken from the security platform and through the trees led across an uncomfortably open s.p.a.ce to a paved area that surrounded the home, permitting visitors to walk up to it at any point. Alizome could approach the building anywhere she chose and tap on an exterior panel, and it would either prove to be the entrance or not. She could only make a certain number of unsuccessful attempts, though, before the autarch's staff would appear and either invite her inside or ask her to leave. With her record of successes as an agent of Korzenten, she did not believe that failing to find her own way inside would lead to her dismissal and recategorization, but at the very least, it would sow doubt in the autarch's mind about her abilities.

Alizome paced the final length of the path and over toward the midpoint of the structure. Though she often a.s.sumed other t.i.tles and echelons for her a.s.signments-such as on her mission to Typhon I as a vik vik, a speaker, in the Tov Tov echelon of government leaders-she was actually a echelon of government leaders-she was actually a Fel Fel, a problem solver, and not one of just moderate apt.i.tude, but a level-A Fel. Since she had completed her pre-placement education half a lifetime ago, she had failed only a handful of the everyday tests of ability that all Tzenkethi confronted within their natural disciplines. And since she had been elevated to the position of Since she had completed her pre-placement education half a lifetime ago, she had failed only a handful of the everyday tests of ability that all Tzenkethi confronted within their natural disciplines. And since she had been elevated to the position of Tor Tor, special agent to the autarch, she had failed none at all.

Having time to spare before the meeting, Alizome circ.u.mnavigated the house. She examined the curve of each arc, and related it not merely to its context within the current design but to the iterations of designs past. Like Tzenkethi bodies, the fluidity of the structure allowed for great adaptation, but also faced limitations. Theoretically, the entrance could open anywhere, but in practice, the set of reasonably possible locations should narrow her search.

As Alizome looped around the building a second time, she began to take better note of the shadows. With the movement of Vot-Tzenketh and Lem-Tzenketh across the sky, some areas of the house's previously unseen exterior became visible, while others remained in the darkness still enfolded within the wavelike elements of the roof. Alizome wondered if those constant regions of blackness formed a progression of any kind.

She had time enough to make a third ring around the house, but as soon as she started to do so, she saw it. She continued walking, reading the string of shadows and fitting them neatly into a mathematical series based on their relative distances from one another. When she'd gone a third of the way around, she felt confident that she had broken the code.

Reversing course, Alizome strode back to the transitional s.p.a.ce between the crests and troughs of the middle section and the tidal wave of the left-hand section. She reached forward, the golden glow of her flesh reflecting in the silver metal of the building's exterior. Without hesitation, Alizome placed the flat of her hand against the house.

A mechanical hum began at once. Where no seams had shown, they now appeared, delineating a roughly elliptical depression in front of her. The oval withdrew into the structure, until light poured out from around the edges. Eventually, enough of a gap formed to permit her to enter.

Inside, Alizome felt immediate relief, not only from having solved the entry puzzle, but also for the comforting closeness of the floors that now enclosed her. She stood in a foyer tastefully decorated with furniture and artwork she recognized from previous visits. All of it had been arranged traditionally, displayed for the appreciation of visitors situated on the inferior floor. She doubted that the foyer even contained more than its single, natural gravity envelope.

As the door closed behind her, one of the autarch's many servants greeted her. With a pale-orange glow and matching eyes, Narzen Nok Ren-A had always looked blind to Alizome, as though he had been born with empty orbits in his skull-sac.

"You are expected," Narzen intoned. Without awaiting a response, he turned and headed down a large elliptical hall that advanced forward out of the foyer. Alizome followed.

On the way to the autarch's office, Narzen led her past several open doorways, the rooms beyond showing off the autarch's vast fortune. Alizome stole glances into an enormous library, a parlor, an art gallery, and a gymnasium. Ahead, at the end of the hallway, the autarch's sigil garnished a large door. As she neared it behind Narzen, the servant veered left, his feet stepping onto the curve of the lateral floor. Alizome followed, feeling the slight shift in gravity as an artificial envelope supplanted the natural gravitational field of Ab-Tzenketh. Narzen continued moving left, through another alteration in gravity, until they had traveled one hundred eighty degrees and stood on the superior floor, upside-down relative to where they'd started.

At the door, Narzen said, "Alizome Tor Fel-A to see you, Autarch." Alizome did not see any communications hardware, but a moment later, the door irised open. Narzen moved aside, and she walked past him into the autarch's office.

Korzenten Rej Tov-AA sat at his sprawling desk. As always, Alizome found his bright-red skin breathtaking, his golden eyes shocking in their contrast to the rest of his face. Tall even by Tzenkethi standards, he cut a striking figure.

As one of only a small number of AA AA levels in Tzenkethi society, Korzenten also held a cla.s.sification as a Tov, the echelon of governmental leaders, making him one of only a handful of individuals qualified to serve as Rej, Autarch of the Tzenkethi Coalition. His genetic composition derived from that of the previous Coalition ruler. Upon her death during the last Tzenkethi-Federation War, Korzenten had succeeded her, his superior DNA makeup remaining unsurpa.s.sed through all the years since. levels in Tzenkethi society, Korzenten also held a cla.s.sification as a Tov, the echelon of governmental leaders, making him one of only a handful of individuals qualified to serve as Rej, Autarch of the Tzenkethi Coalition. His genetic composition derived from that of the previous Coalition ruler. Upon her death during the last Tzenkethi-Federation War, Korzenten had succeeded her, his superior DNA makeup remaining unsurpa.s.sed through all the years since.

"My Rej," Alizome said as she approached the ma.s.sive block of polished black stone at which he sat. Though the house had been reconfigured since her previous visit, the office looked virtually identical to how she'd last seen it. Glancing up at the inferior floor, she saw the inverted contents of the luxurious sitting area, where, presumably, the autarch entertained visiting dignitaries. The superior floor, on which she stood, had been set up as a working office, with the desk, several computer interfaces, a communications panel, and a large viewscreen. Parts of the lateral floor had been utilized as decoration for both the inferior and superior floors, with artwork such as tapestries and paintings placed for the appreciation of people in both the sitting and office areas. The rest of the lateral surface functioned as a transition zone, allowing individuals to traverse from the inferior to the superior, and back again.

As Alizome stepped forward, she acknowledged the two advisors present, who sat opposite the autarch, the polished stone blocks of their seats smaller versions of the desk. Velenez Bel Gar-A and Zelent Bel Gar-A both glowed a pale yellow, the former with green eyes, the latter with orange. "You wished to see me," Alizome said. She hadn't seen the autarch since reporting to him after her mission to Typhon I, where she'd taken the t.i.tle of amba.s.sador and finalized the agreement defining the Typhon Pact. That agreement subsequently had been ratified by the Tzelnira Tzelnira-the government ministers-and endorsed by Korzenten.

"Yes, Alizome," said the autarch. Typical of Tzenkethi culture, he began their conversation without greeting or preamble. "Now that the Coalition has consented to be a part of the Typhon Pact, we must ensure that the new alliance serves our needs." Korzenten's voice rang out in low tones, resonating like the tolling of ba.s.s bells.

"Of course, my Rej," she said. "How can I a.s.sist?"

"That is what we are trying to determine," said Velenez. "The Typhon Pact carries with it some obvious advantages, chief among them the ability to provide a check on the Federation. We want to ensure that none of the Pact's deficiencies compromise that advantage."

For an instant, Alizome grew concerned. Though she had been provided guidance by the autarch and his advisors, the responsibility for negotiating the details of the Typhon Pact had fallen to her. Despite approval by both the Tzelnira Tzelnira and the autarch, if the treaty agreement failed to provide for the best interests of the Coalition, Alizome would answer for it. and the autarch, if the treaty agreement failed to provide for the best interests of the Coalition, Alizome would answer for it.

As well I should, she thought. But any anxiety she felt quickly vanished. Not only had she been bred for the specific duty she performed for the Tzenkethi, but she also knew well all of the elements contained in the final accord.

"Forgive me, my Rej," Alizome said, "but it is unclear to me what possible deficiencies there could be in the Typhon Pact. Indeed, the terms are quite favorable for the Coalition, including the exceptional agreement by the Romulans to install their cloaking technology throughout our s.p.a.ce fleet."

"We are not discussing the provisions provisions of the Typhon Pact," said the autarch, "but its of the Typhon Pact," said the autarch, "but its members. members."

"Our chief concern," said Zelent, "is the new balance of power with respect to the Federation."

The declaration did not surprise Alizome. The United Federation of Planets had vexed the Tzenkethi for a century, forcing them into more than one shooting war and maintaining tense political standoffs against them the rest of the time. The Federation continuously sent out starships far beyond their borders, always in the name of exploration, but often resulting in expansionism and imperialism. The number of star systems and the volume of s.p.a.ce annexed by the UFP since the Tzenkethi first made contact with them approached the size of the entire Coalition itself.

Compounding those problems, there could be little hope that the Federation would ever change its ways. Almost inconceivably, it functioned-or mal malfunctioned, Alizome thought-as a republic, and not just as a republic but as one with an unregulated gene pool. The notion that a society would allow all of its adult members, including the vast majority of those of moderate or lesser intelligence, to choose their government officials seemed beyond absurd. Giving such power to the inferior components of a nation could only produce inferior results. Those mediocre and substandard minds-uneducated, self-centered, avaricious, prejudiced, chauvinistically patriotic-would ultimately bring about the downfall of their society, but until then, they would continue to export their failures to the rest of the galactic neighborhood.

"Surely the Typhon Pact will provide a counterbalance against the Federation and the Klingons," Alizome said.

"I would agree," the autarch said, "if not for the Romulan schism."

"Tensions continue to run high between Praetor Tal'Aura's old Romulan Star Empire and Empress Donatra's new Imperial Romulan State," Velenez explained. "With the recognition of Donatra's new nation by the Federation and the Klingons, those tensions are likely going to increase. If fighting breaks out between the two Romulan states, it will destabilize the region and weaken the Typhon Pact."

"So a united Romulan Empire would redound to the benefit of the Pact," Alizome concluded, "and therefore to the benefit of the Tzenkethi Coalition."

"Yes, but not enough," said the autarch. "Under the wrong leader, the Romulans would attempt to control the Typhon Pact."

"So we need to find a way to bring their empires back together," Alizome said, "and ensure that an appropriate person leads them." ensure that an appropriate person leads them."

"As we understand it from well-placed observers within Romulan s.p.a.ce, several competing attempts to unite the Empire are already under way," said Zelent. "What we need is to find the right person to be praetor, and to ensure that they are maneuvered into place."

"And that is where I turn to you, Alizome," said the autarch.

Alizome suppressed any outward display of emotion, but she felt a flurry of excitement. Her DNA provided her a set of skills that made her best suited to this sort of work, and satisfying her genetic heritage fulfilled her. "I understand," she said.

"Good," said the autarch. "Then prepare for a long stay on Romulus."

II.

Blood Brimmed the Curse I am gall, I am heartburn. G.o.d's most deep decree Bitter would have me taste: my taste was me; Bones built in me, flesh filled, blood brimmed the curse.

-GERARD M MANLEY H HOPKINS

19.

The applause did not thunder through the auditorium, but that it arose at all satisfied Spock. He stood at a lectern in the center of an otherwise-empty stage, having just concluded his remarks, the last of six speakers that afternoon. Gazing out across the house, Spock estimated that the rally had filled three-quarters of the Orventis Arena. One of Ki Baratan's primary entertainment venues, it seated fifteen thousand. Just seven months of peaceful public dialogue, with no reprisals from the Romulan government, had increased attendance at Vulcan-Romulan reunification events by two orders of magnitude. The heightened interest manifested not just within the capital city but across the face of Romulus.

"Jolan tru," Spock told the audience. Then, raising his hand in the traditional Vulcan gesture, he said, "Live long and prosper." Amidst renewed applause, Spock collected his data tablet from atop the lectern and headed offstage. The five other members of the movement who had spoken at the rally waited in the wings, as did Dorlok and D'Tan, charged with overseeing security for the event. Spock told the audience. Then, raising his hand in the traditional Vulcan gesture, he said, "Live long and prosper." Amidst renewed applause, Spock collected his data tablet from atop the lectern and headed offstage. The five other members of the movement who had spoken at the rally waited in the wings, as did Dorlok and D'Tan, charged with overseeing security for the event.

"Congratulations," D'Tan said at once, the young man clearly pleased with the success of the rally.

"Thank you, D'Tan," Spock said. "Do we have any reports from other cities?"

"We do," Dorlok said. "There are significant turnouts in many places. The venues in Rateg, Dinalla, and Ra'tleihfi have had even larger audiences than we have. In Villera'trel, there are-"

"Spock!"

Following the sound of the voice, Spock peered through the backstage darkness toward a rear entrance to the arena. There, he saw T'Solon racing toward him, escorted inside by a member of Dorlok's security team. Captured and imprisoned a year earlier by Romulan Security, T'Solon had been released, along with Vorakel, after the repeal of the antiReunification Movement law. Small in stature and well into her middle years, T'Solon normally projected an inconspicuous profile. Calling out and hying toward him, she looked more agitated than Spock had ever seen her. She carried a data tablet in one hand.

Moving through the group bunched around him, Spock met her as she came up. "Mister Spock," she said. "I need to speak with you."

Upon her initial discharge from prison, T'Solon had been wary of returning to a position of leadership within the Movement, or even to rejoining the Movement at all. With a husband and two children, she had not wanted to risk being separated from them again. Despite her freedom and the legalization of her beliefs, she had been reluctant to trust Praetor Tal'Aura's government.

As the Movement had grown, though, and as the government had continued to refrain from interfering, T'Solon had drifted back to it. Because of her prior experience with the Romulan comnet-she had worked as a technician all over the planet-Spock had asked her last month to a.s.sist T'Lavent with a research project. She had agreed, and Spock could only surmise that her obvious anxiety related to that, and he asked her as much.

"Yes," she confirmed. "T'Lavent and I-"

"Not here," Spock said. Although the praetor had agreed to meet him, had listened to his appeal, had pushed through the revocation of the antiReunification Movement law, and had granted T'Solon and Vorakel their liberty, he did not trust her. As long as Tal'Aura's aims coincided to some degree with his own, he hoped to continue his efforts on Romulus, but he suffered no illusions that the situation could change at any time. He also recognized that just because the government allowed the Movement to thrive, it did not mean that Romulan Security had suddenly closed its eyes and ears.

Spock started to lead T'Solon outside, intending to use the rear entrance, but Dorlok stopped them. The security chief insisted that Spock take an escort. Once the rest of the security team arrived for the other speakers, Dorlok and D'Tan accompanied Spock and T'Solon.

Outside, Spock walked up Avenue Renak and led T'Solon several blocks to Cor'Lavet Park. There, he directed T'Solon to an unoccupied bench situated within a large greensward. Dorlok and D'Tan took up separate positions nearby.

"You may proceed," Spock told T'Solon.

"As you know, Mister Spock, T'Lavent and I have been researching the death of the Reman who tried to kill you," T'Solon said. "Because you didn't want us breaking any laws, it's taken us longer than it might have otherwise."

"As long as the Romulans are permitting the Movement to exist legally," Spock explained, "we must do nothing to jeopardize that."

"I understand," T'Solon said. She held up the data tablet for him to see, and then she touched a control. "Do you recognize this man?"

Spock studied the face, which belonged to that of an older Romulan. He had strong, weathered features and a steely countenance. Gray hair dusted his temples. Spock recalled him at once. "That is R'Jul," he said. "He was the protector at the Via Colius security station when I attempted to turn in the Reman."

"R'Jul is still the protector there," T'Solon said. "At least we believe he is. He was spotted entering the station as late as two days ago."

"And why is he of interest?"

"Because of his background," T'Solon said. "Over time, we've a.s.sembled a roster of the personnel a.s.signed to that security station." She tapped at the tablet, and a list of Romulan names scrolled down the screen. "We then searched public news accounts, unshielded comnet entries, and any related, decla.s.sified material we could find. We came upon no detail, no connection, that drew our attention."

"Obviously until today," Spock said.

T'Solon found R'Jul's name on her list and selected it. A dossier appeared on the small screen, comprising a series of photographs and doc.u.ments. She chose a comnet article, which enlarged to fill the viewable area on the device. The headline read: LOCAL MAN TRANSFERRED TO WARBIRD LOCAL MAN TRANSFERRED TO WARBIRD. A picture of R'Jul adjoined the text. "We found this from before Shinzon's coup," T'Solon said. "R'Jul served in the Imperial Fleet as a security officer, mostly on transports, until he received this a.s.signment to the Mogai Mogai-cla.s.s warbird Valdore. Valdore."