Chakotay shook his head, as if coming out of a daze, and looked over at Hudson. "I'm sorry?"

"Your clothes, Chakotay. You haven't changed since we beamed up from Slaybis. And, after the multiple weather offerings we got, the ones you're wearing are pretty ripe. People want to eat in here, but thanks to you, they walk right out with a lost appet.i.te."

"I'm-I'm sorry, I'll change, of course. It, ah-it hasn't been at the top of my list."

Hudson smiled. "Wasn't at the top of mine, either. But then, I was unconscious. Last thing I remember was a piece of wall falling on my head-then I'm lying on my bunk with a bandage on my head." His hand involuntarily went up to the electronic bandage that still sat over the wound the debris had made when the lightning had shattered part of the building on Slaybis.

"That's a better excuse than mine," Chakotay said with a small smile.

"I'm not so sure about that. I a.s.sume you're thinking about Tharia."

Chakotay snorted. "Gee, how'd you guess?"

Deciding to brave the olfactory gauntlet, Hudson walked across the mess hall and sat across from Chakotay. The smell was almost overpowering, and Hudson wondered how Chakotay could stand it.

"I keep going over what happened in my head," Chakotay said, "trying to figure out some way I could've changed things. If I'd just stunned him as soon as we walked in the door-"

"And if you'd missed?"

"Then I'd have fired again." Chakotay went to take a sip of his tea, realized it was cold, then put it back down. "We could've stopped him."

"And when he woke up?"

"I don't know, but he didn't have to-" Chakotay cut himself off. "I'm sick of death, Hudson. Every time I turn around, I see people dying-more to the point, family dying. My family on Trebus, Tharia's family on Beaulieu's, h.e.l.l, even Tuvok's family on Amniphon. And it's only going to get worse."

Hudson nodded. "I know. I lost my wife, Gretchen, not long ago-not to the Carda.s.sians," he added quickly, "but-well, I wonder sometimes if I would've done what I did if she were still alive."

Chakotay stood up just as the door to the mess hall opened again. "We should've been able to save him."

"Perhaps," said the new arrival: Tuvok. "But we were not. It is illogical to dwell on that which we cannot change."

"Maybe, Tuvok," Chakotay said, "but it's just as illogical to ignore the past when you can learn from it."

"True. However, my concern is not with the past, but with the future."

Smiling, Hudson said, "You want to know if we're going to let you join or shoot you down where you stand?"

"I had a.s.sumed the second alternative to be somewhat less dramatic than you describe, but you are essentially correct."

Hudson had, in fact, been considering that very thing since he woke up. The Liberator was currently on course to the Badlands in order to make sure that they had truly shaken the Hood; then it would proceed to a Maquis safe house to off-load Chakotay's people. Torres had made noises about having to scrounge for another ship, but her grumbling had been good-natured-she seemed to enjoy the challenges of taking clappedout old ships and making them work. Of course, Mastroeni hadn't stopped her attempts to recruit the half-Klingon woman, but Torres was apparently having none of it.

That left the question of what to do with their apparent new recruit.

"We can't deny," Hudson said after a moment, "that you kept your word-and you definitely fought for our side."

"He and DeSoto were in the room alone together. That was a perfect opportunity to turn both of us in, and he didn't take it. Instead, he did everything he could to make sure we got away from the Hood safely-and gave them that d.a.m.ned artifact while he was at it." Chakotay gave a lopsided smile. "It's not like Starfleet isn't chomping at the bit to get both of us into a prison cell, after all. They tend to get self-righteous about people who 'betray the uniform.'"

"Betray, h.e.l.l," Hudson said, his expression sour. "I've done more to uphold what Starfleet's supposed to stand for since I joined the Maquis than I ever did as one of their officers."

"It is my hope," Tuvok said in a quiet voice, "to do likewise."

"I hope so, Mr. Tuvok, because unless Captain Chakotay here has an objection, I think you'd be a welcome addition to the ranks."

Chakotay shook his head. "No objections here. In fact, I'd like to offer you a place with me. After all, I-" His voice caught. "I just lost a hand at operations, and I think it'd be nice to have someone in that position who was less-volatile than he was." He turned to Hudson. "Unless you have any objections?"

"No, that's fine. I don't really have an open slot here-in fact, I'm looking forward to getting you people off here so we have some s.p.a.ce again-and I don't think Darleen's ready to serve with our Mr. Tuvok just yet."

Tuvok nodded. "I would tend to agree. Therefore, Captain Chakotay, I accept your offer."

"Bridge to Hudson," said Mastroeni's voice over the intercom. "We're entering the Badlands. Still no sign of pursuit."

"Good. I'll be right up." He turned to Chakotay. "Speaking of s.p.a.ce-will you please go change your clothes so people don't have to stand three meters away from you?"

Tuvok added with as much emphasis as he was ever likely to use, "A most apt suggestion."

Laughing, Chakotay said, "Fine, fine, I'm going." He moved toward the door, then stopped and turned around. "By the way, when we make it to the safe house, I want to have a service for Tharia. I think it's the least we can do. Will you join us?"

"Of course," Hudson said.

"Thank you." With that, Chakotay left. Hudson's nose was relieved.

He turned to the Vulcan. "You realize there's no going back, Mr. Tuvok."

"I can a.s.sure you, Mr. Hudson, I am fully cognizant of the consequences of what I have done today. The only regret I have is that we were not able to save Mr. ch'Ren. In retrospect, I should have realized that suicide was a danger. The first person to find the artifact also took her own life when confronted with the possibility of capture."

"Even if you had antic.i.p.ated it, I doubt we'd have been able to get the phaser out of Tharia's hands before he turned it on himself. Don't tell me you're having the same doubts as Chakotay?"

Tuvok's eyebrow raised. "Doubts? No. As I said, it was merely a regret. And, as I told Captain Chakotay, dwelling on regrets is illogical. If you will excuse me, Mr. Hudson."

"Of course," Hudson said.

That man's going to make an interesting Maquis, Hudson thought.

Captain DeSoto had already watched Tuvok's recording, so he instead watched Kathryn Janeway's reaction as she watched it.

They sat in the conference lounge on the Hood, the latter ship having returned to Sector 001 after a quick and fruitless search for the Maquis ship. Voyager had made it safely back to Utopia Planitia and was now undergoing repairs. Janeway had taken a shuttle to rendezvous with the Hood at Earth, where Voyskunsky, Dayrit, and a security detail had been tasked with delivering the Malkus Artifact to the Rector Inst.i.tute. In addition, Admiral Nechayev had sent a sufficiently edited account of the mission to Gul Evek, thus keeping the Federation's side of the bargain that allowed the Hood access to the DMZ.

Tuvok's message was being delivered in the corner of what appeared to be a cargo bay. "While it is true that there would be short-term benefits in turning Lieutenant Commanders Hudson and Chakotay over to Starfleet, it is my opinion that more information on the Maquis can be gathered in a long-term infiltration than any attempt at questioning the lieutenant commanders-who would not, I believe, part with any useful intelligence. In addition, with the death of Lieutenant Phifer, we have lost a long-term operative. I am the logical replacement for him, especially given the level of trust that I believe I have engendered with the Maquis. I will attempt to make regular communications to Deep s.p.a.ce 9 to apprise Starfleet of my progress. Lieutenant Tuvok out."

Janeway smiled and shook her head as Tuvok's face faded from the screen. "Typical."

"What?" DeSoto asked.

"All of it. Everything Tuvok does is proper and logical-even by Vulcan standards. Notice how he referred to Hudson and Chakotay by the rank they each had when they quit Starfleet? Not to mention calling himself 'Lieutenant Tuvok.' That's his way of rea.s.suring us-or me, at least-that he hasn't abandoned us."

"Either that or he's putting up a very good front."

Shaking her head, Janeway said, "No chance of that, Captain."

"Please," DeSoto said, "it's Bob. After over ten years in the center seat, I've gotten sick of the word 'captain.'"

"All right, Bob," she said with a small smile. DeSoto noticed that the smile didn't change her face all that much-Janeway always seemed to be alert, her eyes always probing. "And I'm Kathryn."

"Not Kate?" he said with a smile.

The smile widened, and this time it did change her face to a mischieviously vicious expression. "Not twice."

"Kathryn it is."

"In any case, Bob, I've known Tuvok for a long time-he wouldn't betray the uniform."

DeSoto leaned back. "I hope you're right. 'Cause I gotta tell you, he certainly had me fooled."

"Then he's doing his job right," Janeway said. "In any case, thank you for showing me this. Once Voyager' s back up and running, Tuvok should have gathered enough intel to make the mission a success. Then we can start solving the Maquis problem once and for all."

Remembering the chaos on Slaybis IV, DeSoto said, "I hope so, Kathryn. I truly hope so. This whole mess has gone on too long as it is." He smiled. "When are you due back?"

"Tomorrow."

"In that case, can I interest you in a tour of the ship-maybe some coffee, a meal, even a friendly game of Go?"

Janeway laughed. "Nice try, Bob, but I'm not about to get hustled by a champion Go player. Besides, I haven't played in years. And even at my best, I wouldn't stand a chance against you."

Shrugging, DeSoto said, "Well, you can't blame a guy for trying."

"Besides," Janeway said, standing up, "since I am back on Earth, there's someone I have to go see."

DeSoto recognized the glint in Janeway's eye. He saw it in the mirror every time he was able to get back to the Rigel colonies where his wife lived. Also rising from his chair, he offered his hand. "Well, have fun, Kathryn. Once my people report back, we're going to be heading off to Starbase 96 in order to take some supplies to Brackin's Planet. But I hope to get some progress reports from you on how Mr. Tuvok's doing."

Accepting DeSoto's handshake vigorously, Janeway said, "I'll do my best. Oh, and say hi to Commander Ju'les for me when you reach the starbase."

"I will."

With that, Janeway departed the lounge. DeSoto sighed. I was really hoping to get her into a game of Go. Need to find someone besides Dina to go up against...

Dina Voyskunsky returned to her quarters after she and the security team had beamed back up from Earth. The people at the Rector Inst.i.tute had been thrilled to see them-except, of course, for the wizened old Vulcan woman T'Ramir, who simply nodded. She had apparently been studying the Zalkat Union all her life, and had been trying (mostly in vain) to learn more about the Malkus Artifacts since the first one was brought back to Earth by the Enterprise a century earlier.

Voyskunsky had hoped to visit her aunt Irina in Estonia before they had to ship out again, but she only had time to send a quick message. Dayrit had expressed a similar regret regarding his sister in the Philippines.

As she entered, she asked the computer for any personal messages. She was off duty, so any official communiques could wait.

"You have two personal correspondences. One from Irina Voyskunsky and one from Lieutenant Commander Aaron Cavit."

She blinked. Then she smiled and sat down at her desk. "Put the message from Commander Cavit on screen."

"Dina, it's Aaron." The look on Cavit's face was one Voyskunsky hadn't seen in a very long time: contrition. "Look, I'm sorry about how I behaved. I wasn't expecting to see you again, and I-" He hesitated. "You were right, it was my fault. I'm the one who got cold feet on Pacifica. I guess I just wasn't ready to deal with what it might mean for both of us, for our careers, if we kept going the way we were going and good G.o.d, listen to me, will you?" He suddenly burst into a smile. "I've been in bad holonovels that weren't this overdramatic. Let me try that again." He looked right at the viewer. "I'm sorry. I made a mistake. Forgive me." The smile came back. "How's that?"

"Better than whining," Voyskunsky muttered with a smile.

"Unfortunately, I'm stuck at Utopia Planitia for at least a few more weeks, and my sources tell me the Hood's off to Starbase 96. And once we're done here, we'll be off to the Badlands to ferret out the Maquis. But once that's done, I've got some leave time coming. The way these things usually go, it probably won't be for another month or three, but maybe we can get together-on Pacifica or somewhere else-and see if we can make up for lost time." He grinned, a facial expression she wouldn't have credited him with being capable of based on his last visit. "Or, failing that, at least catch up on the last twelve years. I seem to recall your being an excellent dinner companion. What do you say? Let me know. I'll be on Mars for quite some time."

The screen went blank.

Voyskunsky stared at it for several seconds.

Part of her was sorely tempted not to respond. Let him twist in the wind the way I did on Pacifica. Three days I waited for him to show up...

Then she decided that she was too old for such pranks. Besides, much as she hated to admit it, she missed Aaron Cavit, and wouldn't mind finding out what he'd been up to.

"Computer, reply to message from Lieutenant Commander Cavit. Simple text message: It's a date."

Aidulac piloted the Sun through the Demilitarized Zone.

For the third time, she had failed. Again, Starfleet had managed to get there before her. She had no idea how or why the Hood had been able to enter the DMZ unmolested, but there it was.

At least her biggest fear-that the people who found the Instruments would use them to re-create Malkus's tyranny-were unfounded. Starfleet had, at least, managed to confiscate the Instruments before the damage they did was too extensive. Given the number of people Malkus killed during his reign, the paltry few who died on Alpha Proxima II, Bajor's moon, Nramia, and Slaybis IV were minor.

Still, the most dangerous Instrument was still out there. Somewhere. And Aidulac was quite sure that the last would prove to be by far the most dangerous.

Especially if her suspicions were true.

The one thing that was different this time was that the Instrument had been moved from where it was found. She had never been able to examine the sites on Proxima or the Bajoran moon.

But she was able to backtrack to where, precisely, the Maquis had found the third Instrument-a moon surrounding a gas giant in the Grovran system.

The Sun pulled into orbit around the moon. Her scanners showed her a most uninteresting world: rocks, vegetation, more rocks. A pang hit her as she realized that it was much like the planetoid where she had lived before Malkus took her away to have her supervise the creation of the Instruments. Like that long-dead planetoid, this moon was of no interest or consequence to anyone. That was why she had chosen the planetoid then, and also no doubt why the rebels chose this moon as a place to dispose of the Instrument.

The only thing to mar the landscape was the wreckage of a shuttlecraft.

She landed the Sun near that wreckage. A fierce wind blew through Aidulac's hair as she stepped out, but she paid it no heed. Instead, she checked the scanner she had built into her forearm, and found an area of ground that had a higher heat index than it should.

Approaching it, she found that the area had been fired upon by some kind of directed energy weapon. It was also the spot to which the trail of the Instrument led.

Her scanner found something else, as well. It was buried beneath the rock, and Aidulac needed to use her own weapon-a laser she had convinced a friend to give her years ago-to cut through the rock to get to it.

The component was small-probably too small for most eyes to see-and green and it glowed slightly. Aidulac recognized it as easily as she would have recognized a piece of her own flesh.

A segment from the weather controller.

Even her own work was subject to the ravages of entropy, it seemed. The component was a minor one, but it probably affected the Instruments'ability to interconnect.

For the first time in ninety thousand years, Aidulac smiled.

She placed the component in a pocket of her jumpsuit and walked back to the Sun. For the first time, she retrieved a part of her legacy. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the final act to start.

The third planet in the Narendra system had been part of the Zalkat Union once. It was called Horbin then, and it had been used as parkland. Few visited the world, and the parkland fell into disuse. It was an inconsequential part of the Union-which was why, when the rebels overthrew Malkus the Mighty, they chose this as one of the places to hide one of the Instruments of his rule. After all, why would anyone wish to come to this place?

After the fall of the Union, it lay unoccupied for many millennia. Until the Klingons came and put a base there.