"May I present Praetor Gell Kamemor," said the proconsul. "Praetor Kamemor, this is Mister Spock, of the planet Vulcan and the United Federation of Planets, though he is here in no official capacity."

Spock bowed his head again in a show of respect. "I am honored," he said. "Thank you for agreeing to see me." From his time as a Federation amba.s.sador, Spock knew of Kamemor, though he had never met her. She had served a similar function for the Empire-at least up until the Treaty of Algeron in 2311, at which time the Romulans withdrew from galactic politics for a lengthy period.

"Tell me, Mister Spock, what do you think of this piece?" Kamemor said, obviously referring to the sculpture by which she stood.

Spock stepped forward and examined the bronze. It featured a bird of prey in flight, its talons wrapped around a serpent, which had twisted around in such a way that it appeared about to strike its fangs into the raptor from above. "With all due respect to you, the artist, and the Empire," Spock said, "I find it rather uninspiring. Both the bird of prey and the serpent are exceedingly common icons in Romulan culture, and this piece really adds nothing to the oeuvre. I can appreciate the skill of the artist, but I do not appreciate the work itself."

The praetor exchanged a glance with the proconsul. "I like it," Ventel said.

"Just another thing about which we disagree, Proconsul," said Kamemor. "I think I dislike it even more than you do, Mister Spock." As she gestured toward the other side of the room, Spock noted that she had the same unusual gray coloring in her eyes as Ventel. "Why don't we sit down and you can tell me why you wanted to see me."

Spock and Ventel followed the praetor to the other side of the room, to where a small table had been placed, along with three chairs. An elegant silver set sat atop the table. "May I offer you some tea, Mister Spock?" Kamemor asked. "It is from my home planet of Glintara."

"Thank you." Spock and the proconsul sat down after the praetor did, and then Ventel poured out two cups of the tea. Spock sampled his, and found that it had a pleasing aroma and flavor. "It is not unlike relen relen tea, from Vulcan, a personal favorite." tea, from Vulcan, a personal favorite."

"I shall have to try some Vulcan teas," Kamemor said. "Now, then, Mister Spock, for what reason have you asked to see me?"

"I wish to speak with you about the Reunification Movement," Spock said.

"What about it?" Kamemor asked. "I have seen very little from the Movement in some time."

"That is correct," Spock said. "Nearly a year ago, I pet.i.tioned Praetor Tal'Aura for the right of Romulans to publicly support and further the cause. As I'm sure you know, the praetor granted that request, but it is my belief that she did so only to advance her own agenda. When it became evident to me that she had achieved that agenda, it seemed equally clear that she would likely revoke that right. Because such a revocation could have been followed by ma.s.s arrests of citizens involved in the Movement, whose ident.i.ties had become known, my comrades and I ceased promoting our aims in public."

"I see," said Kamemor. "But I am unsure what it is you wish of me. Neither Praetor Tal'Aura nor the Senate revoked the right to openly champion the reunification of the Romulan and Vulcan people."

"I would ask you what your views on the Movement are," Spock said.

"My views?" Kamemor said. She sipped at her tea, then set the cup down. "Frankly, Mister Spock, I find the idea of attempting to bring together two cultures that diverged millennia ago not only unlikely to succeed but unnecessary. From a political standpoint, the fact that the Vulcans belong to the Federation makes the possibility of their reunification with Romulans extremely dubious-especially now that the Empire has joined the Typhon Pact. At the same time, I just do not see the point of it, other than perhaps as an intellectual exercise. The Vulcan culture and people have valuable qualities, to be sure, as is true of the Romulan culture and people. I see nothing wrong with individuals or groups of either society who wish to cross-pollinate their beliefs and customs for their own benefit, but why does it require a movement?"

Spock nodded. He had not known Kamemor's views on reunification, but he had wanted to seek an opportunity for those who believed as he did to be able to continue following their aspirations. Needless to say, he found the praetor's stance unsatisfying. "I am sorry to hear that," he told Kamemor.

"Why?" the praetor asked. "Why should your happiness . . . or satisfaction . . . require me to believe as you do?"

"It does not," Spock said, "but I a.s.sumed from what you communicated that you would not then be in favor of keeping the open discussion of reunification decriminalized."

"That seems to me less of an a.s.sumption and more of a pre presumption," Kamemor said. She turned to Ventel, who had remained quiet but attentive during the conversation. "Proconsul, how often do you and I disagree on matters of policy?"

"Um, well . . . I'm not sure, Praetor," Ventel said. "Twenty-five percent of the time? Thirty?"

"And we've only been in office twenty or so days," Kamemor said. "I have every confidence that the percentage of our policy differences will increase." She regarded Spock quietly for a moment, then said, "That's one of the reasons I wanted Anlikar as my proconsul. I'm an intelligent, experienced, well-read woman, but I don't know everything, and some of the ideas I hold true are probably incomplete, inaccurate, or wholly incorrect. I don't want people around me who will simply agree with me. I want people like Proconsul Ventel, who will disagree with me when they think I'm wrong. I want people to convince me that their way is better than my way. That is, I think, what a good leader does."

"I would agree," said Spock. "May I ask precisely what that means for the Reunification Movement?"

"It means that I have no intention and no desire to see public speech of any kind criminalized," Kamemor said, "including with respect to your Reunification Movement."

"I am gratified to hear that, Praetor," Spock said. "Thank you."

"Let me also add that your visitor's visa will remain in force," Kamemor said. She paused, then added, "At least as long as you obey Romulan law."

"I have no intention and no desire to violate Romulan law," Spock said, paraphrasing her own earlier statement.

"Very good." She stood up and said, "Is there anything else you need to discuss with me?" The meeting had clearly come to its natural end.

"No, Praetor," Spock said, rising as well. The proconsul also got to his feet. "It has been most illuminating to speak with you. Jolan tru. Jolan tru." Kamemor bowed her head, and Ventel stepped away from the table and escorted Spock back toward the doors.

Outside the Hall of State, on the avenues of Ki Baratan, Spock considered his meeting with Gell Kamemor. So early in her praetorship, he could not know what kind of a leader she would be for the Romulan people, but he thought that she would be a good one. From everything he knew of Kamemor, and from what he had just seen of her, he believed her far more thoughtful and far less militant than either Tal'Aura or Donatra. She also seemed less interested in power than in doing what was best for the citizens of the Empire. Spock suspected that would include taking a much less antagonistic posture toward the Federation.

Walking along Via Karzan, Spock headed for the home of his young compatriot, D'Tan. From there, he would contact the leaders of the city's Reunification cell-Corthin, Dr. Shalvan, Dorlok, Venaster-and inform them of what Praetor Kamemor had told him. After that, they would spread the word to their supporters across Romulus, and then to others throughout the Empire.

41.

Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, husband, father, Starfleet captain, starship commander, and erstwhile Emissary of the Prophets, paced back and forth across his quarters on U.S.S. Robinson. U.S.S. Robinson. Outside the large ports of the living area, the stars blurred into streaks of light as the ship traveled at warp. He had the lights down low, adding to the impressiveness of the display. Outside the large ports of the living area, the stars blurred into streaks of light as the ship traveled at warp. He had the lights down low, adding to the impressiveness of the display.

It had been five weeks since the crew had departed Starbase 39-Sierra and resumed its patrol route along the Romulan Neutral Zone. Five weeks since Sisko had camped along the foothills of the Ravingian Mountains, had breathed the fresh air of an almost-pristine world, and stopped thinking for a few days. By the end of his sh.o.r.e leave, he had been able to decide exactly what he needed to do next.

Sisko hadn't delayed taking action since then because of any uncertainty he felt, or because of any desire to rethink his choices one more time. He knew what he must do. He just wanted to make sure that he used the right words.

Today, finally, he thought he'd found them.

Sisko sat down in front of the companel at one end of the living area in his quarters and activated the device. The familiar Federation emblem-a starfield partially encircled by a pair of stylized laurels-appeared on the screen. "Computer, transmit file Sisko-One-Nineteen to the Incoming Records Administrator of the Adarak Courthouse, Kendra Province, Bajor." Electronic tones signaled that the file had been sent, and the word TRANSMITTED TRANSMITTED replaced the UFP sigil. replaced the UFP sigil.

"Computer," Sisko continued, "record a message to Kasidy Yates, Kendra Province, Bajor." Again, he heard the electronic tones, and then the word RECORDING RECORDING appeared on the screen. appeared on the screen.

"Kasidy, it's Ben," he said. "I know that in a few weeks it'll be a year since I left. Before I say anything more, I want to tell you that I'm sorry. I know that I've hurt you, and I've done so in a way that's probably unforgivable.

"In many ways, I know that I can't possibly understand what you've gone through, and what you're still going through. But in some ways, I can. It's not the same thing, but my first wife left me too. It's different, of course, because Jennifer died, but the truth is that after the last moment of her life I never saw her again, never got to share time with her again, and I was suddenly the single parent of an eleven-year-old boy.

"I'm telling you this because I want you to know that I do have some idea of what I've put you through. What I endured with the loss of Jennifer, I would not wish on anyone-least of all on someone I love.

"And I do love you still, Kasidy, and I imagine that I always will. And it's because I love you, and our beautiful Rebecca, that I had to leave.

"Kas, I know that you don't believe in the Bajoran Prophets, at least not in the way that I do. But I have conversed with them, I have communed with them, and they have guided me on a journey that allowed me to help, and even save, the people of Bajor. I don't regret that. I can't can't regret that. regret that.

"But I do regret how my relationship with the Prophets has impacted us . . . how it has impacted you and Rebecca. I told you before we got married that the Prophets had let me know that if I spent my life with you, I would know nothing but sorrow. And you said that it sounded like a threat. But it wasn't.

"It was a gift.

"The Prophets do not exist in time the way that we do. And neither did I in the time that I spent with them in the Celestial Temple, so I have some firsthand understanding of this. The Prophets live a nonlinear existence, but more than that, they live a continuous continuous existence. It's how they can generate accurate prophecies, how they can know the future: they existence. It's how they can generate accurate prophecies, how they can know the future: they live live in what we call the future, and in the past, and in the present. They are aware of every moment in their lives at all times. And they also see potential moments in uncountable possible timelines. in what we call the future, and in the past, and in the present. They are aware of every moment in their lives at all times. And they also see potential moments in uncountable possible timelines.

"I don't think I can explain it any better than that. But I lived that way, and even though I can't remember the details of it, of a future that was the same as my present and my past, I do remember how overwhelming it was. And I recall the nature of it . . . the reality reality of it. of it.

"My point is that when the Prophets told me that I would know only sorrow if I spent my life with you, they weren't threatening me. They were telling me what they had already seen . . . what they were seeing at that instant. They saw me marry you, and they saw my life inundated by sorrow. They also saw an existence where I did not not spend my life with you, and where I was spend my life with you, and where I was not not inundated by sorrow. inundated by sorrow.

"For you, Kasidy, for your love and because I love you, I could suffer many things. But this isn't about making things better for me; it's about saving you. you. And Rebecca. If I stayed with you, I would know nothing but sorrow, and at some point, that sorrow would include something terrible happening to you, and something terrible happening to Rebecca. That would be my greatest sorrow. And Rebecca. If I stayed with you, I would know nothing but sorrow, and at some point, that sorrow would include something terrible happening to you, and something terrible happening to Rebecca. That would be my greatest sorrow.

"In the time before I left, it had begun. Eivos Calan and Audj died in the fire. Rebecca was kidnapped. Elias Vaughn suffered a ma.s.sive brain injury and is essentially dead. My father died.

"I saw it happening. The sorrow was getting closer, and deeper. I couldn't let something happen to you and Rebecca. It was hard enough when we almost lost her the first time.

"I didn't tell you all of this before I left because I know that you don't believe in the Prophets, and I knew you wouldn't believe in the truth of their prophecy. But that's what this is: a prophecy. And unless I heed their advice, it will continue to come true.

"I love you, Kasidy. And despite what I've put you through, I suspect that you still love me too. I think it's okay for you to love me, at least in the way that I still love Jennifer. But I was eventually able to let go of Jennifer enough to fall in love with you. I think it's okay for you to let go of me in that way. When you're able, I want you to be open to love again.

"I'm sending this message to you because I think it will help you-today and, I hope, tomorrow. I hope you'll let it help Rebecca too, when she's ready to know all of this.

"Right before I started recording this message, I transmitted a pet.i.tion to the courthouse in Adarak to dissolve our marriage. It might have been the hardest thing I've ever done. But it will be the best thing for you.

"I love you. And I'm sorry."

Sisko tapped a control surface to end the recording. He didn't know if it would help Kasidy as much as he wanted it to, but he hoped so. He didn't know what else he could do.

"Computer," he said, "transmit message." Once more, he heard the tones that indicated fulfillment of his order, and the word TRANSMITTED TRANSMITTED appeared on the companel. Sisko thumbed off the device, stood up, and headed across the living area to the replicator. He needed a drink. appeared on the companel. Sisko thumbed off the device, stood up, and headed across the living area to the replicator. He needed a drink.

Before he reached the replicator, though, the door chime sounded. "Come in," he called. The doors parted and the ship's first officer stepped inside.

"Captain," he said. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No," Sisko said. "What can I do for you?"

Rogeiro held up a padd. "You wanted those figures on shortening the duty shifts and increasing their frequency," he said. "I finished them, and I was on the way to my quarters, so I thought I'd drop them off."

Sisko walked over and took the padd from Rogeiro. "Thank you, Commander. I'll take a look at what you've come up with." He leaned over to his desk and deposited the padd atop it.

"Have a good night, sir." Rogeiro turned and headed for the door.

"Commander," Sisko said on an impulse, and the first officer stopped. Sisko had no right to expect a positive response to the question that rose in his mind, but he asked it anyway: "I was just about to get myself a drink. Would you like you stay and have one with me?"

Rogeiro looked more than puzzled; he looked as though he thought that Robinson Robinson's captain might have been taken over by some errant, noncorporeal life-form. "Sir?"

"Maybe we could chat a bit, Commander," Sisko said. "Get to know each other a little better."

Sisko thought that Rogeiro would have been justified in reaching back and slugging his captain right in the jaw. Instead, he smiled. "Thank you, sir. I'd like that."

"What can I get you?" Sisko asked, and he walked over to the replicator.

42.

Alizome Tor Fel-A balanced on one of the smooth stone blocks in front of the autarch's expansive black desk. With her legs twisted around her torso and a full report stored in the data cube in her hand, she felt more comfortable in the presence of Korzenten Rej Tov-AA than ever she had before. Alizome had been summoned to his home, to meet with him on the superior floor of his office, but by herself, without even any of his advisors present. In times past, she might have grown concerned that she had been called to the autarch's residence to explain some failure on her part or, worse, to suffer a repositioning to another level or echelon because of that failure. That had never happened, though, and she thought that she had finally become accustomed to her continued successes.

And her mission to Romulus had been a considerable success.

"So your report is ready, Alizome?" the autarch asked, the deep ringing of his voice almost hypnotic. As she did each time she saw him, Alizome found his bright-red flesh stunning to behold.

"Yes, I've prepared my report," she said. Alizome reached forward-she had to unfurl one leg and brace it against the floor-and placed her data cube atop the autarch's desk. Korzenten picked up the cube but did not examine it.

"It is complete through the first twenty days of Praetor Kamemor's rule?" he asked.

"It is."

"Excellent," he said. "I've already received preliminary reports from our observers in Romulan s.p.a.ce and from my advisors, and I want to congratulate you on doing an excellent job."

"Thank you, my Rej," said Alizome.

"We may have to retest your level," the autarch said. "Results like this suggest that you just may be a double-A."

"Thank you, my Rej," Alizome said, accepting the accolade even as she knew that Korzenten did not truly intend to rea.s.sess her level.

"You posed as a trade minister?" the autarch asked.

"I did," Alizome said. "Employing the Coalition's many contacts on Romulus, I met numerous people, some of them inside the government, some of them outside it, but always making sure that they were a member of the Hundred. The Hundred are the wealthiest, most powerful groups in the Empire, who effectively control the populace through economic and governmental means.

"Through those meetings, I identified the individual best suited to lead a united Romulan Empire. I maneuvered her into place by dispatching the senator that had been representing her group in the Senate, then lobbied her group to select her as his replacement."

"How did you dispatch him?" Korzenten asked.

"I pa.s.sed a disease on to him through casual contact," Alizome said. "The disease was naturally occurring, untraceable, and not harmful to Tzenkethi. It took a month for it to incubate and cause his death.

"After that, I had intended to remove Praetor Tal'Aura and Empress Donatra from the equation, but as you suggested might happen, my Rej, Donatra was eliminated without my a.s.sistance. It was then a simple matter to pa.s.s on the same disease to the praetor, whom I met with as she prepared to bring an end to the Imperial Romulan State."

"After Tal'Aura's death, you must have had to lobby quite a few senators to have your selection voted into the praetorship," Korzenten said.

"Actually, my Rej," Alizome said, "I chose so well that I didn't need to do so. A quick poll showed me that the Romulans would vote Kamemor in on their own."

"And so they did," said the autarch. "So now we have a unified Romulan Empire, under the rule of a leader whom you believe will not attempt to control the Typhon Pact."

"That is correct, my Rej."

"And now that the Romulan Star Empire has regained its former strength and been made stable under a new regime, the Typhon Pact is in turn at its strongest and most stable," said Korzenten.

Alizome agreed. "The Tzenkethi and the Typhon Pact therefore need fear nothing from the Federation."

"Rather," said the autarch, "it is the Federation who should now fear us."