Picard shook his head. "For the moment, Number One, I am afraid there is nothing we can do. Valak is rapidly closing off all of our options."

They entered the turbolift, which took them to the bridge.

"Ah, Captain Picard," said Valak, "and Mr. Riker. I trust that you are feeling better, Captain?"

"Spare me the false pleasantries, Valak," Picard said tersely. "Where are you taking my people?"

"A portion of the Enterprise crew is being transferred to the Syrinx," Valak said, "where they will be well treated as long as they behave themselves. You have my word on that."

"Your word?" Riker said scornfully. "You can't even trust a dead Romulan."

Valak smiled. "Very good, Mr. Riker. I like that. You can't even trust a dead Romulan. I must remember that."

"What a.s.surance do I have that you will keep your word?" Picard asked.

"You are hardly in a position to demand any a.s.surances," Valak replied. "However, I can understand your concern for your crew. You will be going with them. We shall leave the Enterprise in Mr. Riker's capable hands, under Romulan supervision, of course."

"This is still my ship, Valak," said Picard, "and I demand-"

"Demand all you like," Valak interrupted him impatiently, "but you will do as you are told. You can be delivered to the Syrinx conscious or unconscious. The choice is yours. I have already instructed your navigator to plot a course for Hermeticus Two. And I have advised your bridge crew that my men have been trained to antic.i.p.ate any tricks. For each instruction not explicitly complied with, a hostage will be executed, so I would advise you, Captain, to urge your bridge crew to cooperate fully."

Picard scowled. "Do as he says, Number One."

"Understood, sir."

"We shall get under way in a moment," Valak said. "For the record, Captain, slightly better than half of your engineering crew is already aboard the Syrinx, as well as half of your security crew and other essential personnel, in addition to hostages taken from your family quarters. Dr. Crusher will be allowed to a.s.semble a medical kit, under careful supervision, and join them. Your communications system has been modified to allow only ship-to-ship communications, so you can forget about attempting to send out any distress calls to Starfleet. As you can see, I have taken everything into account."

"Apparently so," Picard said grudgingly.

"Good. Then we understand each other."

"I understand you only too well, Commander Valak," said Picard. "You have asked me to take your word that my crew will not be mistreated. Perhaps you will accept mine when I a.s.sure you that there is no Federation base on Hermeticus Two or anywhere else in the Neutral Zone. I swear it on my honor as an officer and a gentleman."

"I believe you, Captain," Valak said.

Picard frowned. "Then why-"

Valak held up his hand. "I should say I believe that you believe there is no Federation base hidden in the Neutral Zone. However, I have my orders. And even if there is no Federation base on Hermeticus Two, I have been instructed to discover exactly why the Federation is so anxious to conceal any information about that planet. It is a matter of Romulan security, Captain. As an officer, I am sure you can appreciate that. We simply cannot afford not to know."

"Valak, listen to me," Picard said. "The designation Cla.s.s H-Hermeticus signifies a quarantined world. I do not know why Hermeticus Two was placed under quarantine, but the fact that it was can mean only one thing: there is grave danger there, either from indigenous life-forms or from the environment. Leaving aside any considerations for the Enterprise, if you care for the safety of your own crew, then I urge you in the strongest possible terms-"

"Save your breath, Captain," Valak said. "My orders are explicit. If you place yourself in my shoes, as you humans say, then you will appreciate that I have no alternative but to complete my mission. My warriors will escort you to the transporter room. I shall join you presently."

After Picard was beamed over to the Syrinx, Valak permitted him to visit the hostages. They were all gathered together in one of the warbird's shuttle bays, where they could easily be guarded. Bedding and other comforts had been provided for them. As Picard entered the shuttle bay, the Romulans allowed him to go forward and speak with his crew members while they remained behind, watching and guarding the doors with their weapons drawn. As his crew members surrounded him, Picard quickly filled them in on what he knew.

"What happens after we get to Hermeticus Two, Captain?" Deanna Troi asked.

"I have no idea, Counselor," Picard replied. "Regrettably, by erasing the file to deny the Romulans access to the information we denied ourselves access to it as well. We have no way of knowing what we may be getting into."

"Captain," Worf said, "I have organized some of the men. I believe that if we create a distraction, we can rush the guards and-"

"Negative, Mr. Worf," Picard said. "I cannot risk it. Even if you managed to surprise the guards, it would take Valak but a moment to open the outer bay doors and cancel the forcefield. You would all be killed. I am certain he allowed me to come here so that I could see for myself the dispositions he has made to secure his hostages. It would seem that he has thought this all out very carefully."

"But we must do something, sir!" protested Worf.

"Indeed, we must, Mr. Worf," Picard agreed, "but now is not the time. We must await the right opportunity."

"Captain," said Deanna, "I sense in Commander Valak a strong desire to compete with you and to impress you. He wishes to win your respect. He seems to regard this situation as a challenge-in a way, almost as a sporting proposition."

Picard nodded. "Yes, Counselor, that is consistent with my own observations. Valak is highly intelligent and very capable, but his ego is his weakness. He never should have allowed me to be present on the bridge when he attempted to access the cla.s.sified files in our ship's computer, but he wanted to show off. His constant quoting of human aphorisms is another way of flaunting his knowledge about us and our culture, as if to prove that he has done his homework and is fully prepared for anything we might attempt to do."

"It may be something that we can use against him," said Deanna.

"Perhaps," Picard said. "He is young and seems eager to prove himself. His arrogance is tempered by insecurity and an ambition that seems to drive him. There may be a way to turn that to our advantage."

"What would you have us do, Captain?" Worf asked.

"For the moment, Mr. Worf, nothing. Keep your eyes and your ears open, and see what you can learn. We know little about this new cla.s.s of warbird. There may be a design weakness we can exploit, or something in the crew's routine ..." He shook his head. "For the present, Valak has left us with no viable options. However, this isn't over yet."

"It is maddening to feel so powerless!" Worf said furiously.

"We are not powerless, Mr. Worf," Picard said. "We are merely at a disadvantage for the present. Have patience."

"There is one thing that we have not yet admitted to ourselves," said Dr. Crusher. "What Valak has done is a flagrant violation of the treaty and const.i.tutes an act of war. He cannot allow the Federation to find out about it."

"Which means that he cannot allow any of us to live," Deanna said grimly.

"We are not dead yet, Counselor," Picard replied.

"The ship is getting under way," Worf said as the sound of the drives filtered through the walls of the shuttle bay.

"Have courage, all of you," Picard said. "Valak is smart, but he is not infallible. We shall all get out of this somehow, I promise you."

When he rejoined Valak on the bridge of the warbird, the Romulan commander said, "I trust you have a.s.sured yourself that your crew members are being well treated, Captain?"

"If being confined within a shuttle bay like animals in a corral is what you consider being treated well," Picard replied.

"A regrettable necessity," said Valak. "We have no brigs aboard our ships because we do not take prisoners, and disciplinary measures aboard Romulan vessels are too draconian to allow for mere incarceration. However, at least I can provide comfortable accommodations for you, Captain. You will occupy my first officer's quarters while he remains aboard the Enterprise. You will find them somewhat Spartan, as humans say, but reasonably comfortable."

"I would prefer to remain with my own people," said Picard.

"I am sure you would, Captain," Valak replied, "but I cannot allow that. It would not be prudent, if that is the appropriate word. Your people will be managed more easily if they are deprived of your leadership skills."

"You seem to have thought of everything," Picard said, playing to the Romulan commander's ego.

"I have tried to antic.i.p.ate all possibilities," Valak said smoothly.

"You cannot antic.i.p.ate what may happen when we reach Hermeticus Two," Picard said.

"True," admitted Valak. "However, I have planned what we shall do if we find-as I suspect we will-a Federation base there."

"And if you do not?"

"Then, as you humans say, I shall play it by ear," said Valak.

"You seem fond of quoting our expressions," said Picard. "That is a most un-Romulan trait."

"True," Valak said again. "Few Romulans have made the effort to learn as much about human culture as I have. Few consider the subject worthy of serious attention."

"But you do," Picard replied. "I am curious to know why."

"In part, because I believe in knowing my enemy," said Valak. "However, there is also another reason, Captain. Your Federation will someday be a part of the Romulan Empire, and humans will be governed more easily by those who understand them."

Picard raised his eyebrows. "So you have political ambitions. And rather lofty ones, it would seem."

"I do, indeed, Captain. And you will help me realize them."

"Yes, I suppose the successful completion of your mission would provide quite a feather in your cap ... as we humans say."

Valak seemed amused. "It will indeed," he said, "but more than that, Captain, you and your crew will provide a valuable a.s.set to me when we return to Romulus."

Picard frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You are surprised?" said Valak. He seemed pleased. "You thought I planned to kill you all when this was over?"

"Do you expect me to believe otherwise?"

"I cannot be held responsible for what you choose to believe, Picard," Valak replied, "but while disposing of you all would certainly be one way to prevent the Federation from discovering what we have done, it would also be a grievous waste of an invaluable resource. I do not plan to execute any of your crew unless I am forced to do so. I intend to take you all back to Romulus as prisoners. That will, as you put it, provide an even finer feather in my cap, not only for all the valuable intelligence your people can provide, but also for the opportunity it will present our scholars to make a firsthand, intimate study of human behavior and of the behavior of the nonhuman members of your crew. I intend to claim the right of possession by conquest. Your crew, Captain, and your ship will be my war trophies. That alone should win me a position as a prefect on the council."

"I see," Picard said, looking at him with a respect he did not truly feel. "You plan to use us as a tool for your political advancement. And we shall live out the remainder of our lives as slaves to the Romulan Empire."

"To a large extent, Captain, that will depend on you," said Valak. "Those of you who choose not to cooperate will be forced to do so. Those who survive will be sent to the slave markets. However, if you cooperate, I shall have considerable influence over your fate. As you humans say, you scratch my back, and I shall scratch yours."

"If you expect me or any of my crew to voluntarily turn traitor to the Federation, then you know far less about us than you think," Picard said harshly.

"We shall see," said Valak. "You have not yet been exposed to Romulan methods of interrogation. Allow me to a.s.sure you, Captain, that you can be broken. Anyone can be broken. Why subject yourself and the members of your crew, some of whom are merely children, to needless pain and suffering when the end result will be the same no matter what you do?"

"I see that I have underestimated you," Picard said coldly.

"If it provides any consolation, Captain, you are not the first to underestimate my ability," said Valak.

"It is your savagery, not your ability that I underestimated," said Picard. "Now unless you require my presence on the bridge, I would just as soon retire to the quarters you have set aside for me."

"Very well, Captain. I have no use for you at the moment. You may go." Valak turned to the warriors guarding Picard. "Take Captain Picard to First Officer Korak's quarters," he said, "and keep a close watch on him."

Riker stood on the bridge of the Enterprise, trying to settle himself and keep his anxiety from mounting. Inside, he was seething. The captain, Deanna, Worf, Dr. Crusher, and a large complement of the Enterprise crew were being held aboard the warbird as hostages, while on the Enterprise itself, Romulans were in key positions everywhere. And he could do nothing.

As soon as the ships had engaged their warp engines, the Syrinx had cloaked itself so that any Federation ships that happened to be in their vicinity and picked them up on their scanners would detect only another Federation ship. By the time they discovered their error, it would be much too late, and there was no way for Riker to warn them. Fortunately they had not encountered any other vessels, so Riker was thankful, at least, for small blessings.

Valak's warriors were watching every move he made. They questioned even the slightest unfamiliar action, in case it was an attempt to trick them. And it was the same all over the ship. The strain was building.

Although Commander Valak was well versed in the finer points of Federation vessel design and Starfleet procedures, his warriors were unaccustomed to the Enterprise and its routines; they were suspicious of everyone and everything. Riker was faced with the unenviable task of trying to run a ship while almost every single thing he did had to be cleared by the Romulan first officer Valak had left in command on the bridge of the Enterprise. At one point, Subcommander Korak had allowed Riker to communicate with La Forge when a call came in to the bridge that they were having trouble down in engineering.

"Commander, I just can't run engineering like this!" La Forge had said, with exasperation. "They've taken away half my crew, and I can't make a move down here without somebody looking over my shoulder and demanding to know what I'm doing!"

"I know, Geordi, I know," Riker had said, trying to calm him down. "We've got to put up with the same sort of thing up here. Just do the best you can. Riker out."

"Do your people always complain so?" Korak asked him.

"No, not really," Riker replied tensely. "Just when we've got Romulans underfoot everywhere we turn."

"On my ship, my subordinates never complain," said Korak. "They simply do their duty. You humans are weak."

"We're strong enough that you Romulans couldn't simply run right over us, as you did with the other races you've subjugated."

"When the time is right, said Korak, "your Federation will be swept away, and you will be able to offer no more resistance than your crew did when we took your ship."

"We chose not to resist," Riker said, "so that lives would not be risked needlessly. Unlike you Romulans, Federation officers value the lives of the people under their command."

"You merely play with words," the Romulan replied with a sneer. "There was nothing you could do. No human could ever be a match for a Romulan warrior in combat."

Riker gave Korak a hard look. "Care to put your money where your mouth is?" he asked the Romulan.

Korak frowned. "I do not understand. Why should I wish to put money in my mouth?"

"It's an old human expression, Korak," Riker said. "Translated loosely, it means would you care to wager on it, to prove your a.s.sertions through action?"

Korak stared at him. Data and Ro watched the interchange with interest, as did the other Romulans on the bridge. "Are you seriously challenging me to physical combat?" Korak was obviously astonished.

"Why not?" Riker said. "You said no human could ever be a match for a Romulan warrior in combat. I stand ready to prove you wrong. Unless you are afraid to have your nose rubbed in the dirt by a mere human."

"That expression I understand!" Korak said angrily. He looked ready to launch himself at Riker right then and there, but then he hesitated, taking control of himself with an obvious effort. "I could show you whose nose would be rubbed in the dirt, human," he said, "but you will not so easily distract me from my duty."

Korak had almost lost his temper, Riker realized. Follow up on that weakness, he told himself. Exploit it. "What is there to be distracted from?" he asked in a mocking tone. "The course has already been locked in. No new command functions will be required until we're ready to come out of warp speed. We've got plenty of time to go down to the holodeck and put your empty boasting to a test."

Korak gazed at him intently. "If you seek to try some sort of trick, human, it will never work. My warriors will watch each and every move your bridge crew makes in our absence."

Data glanced at Riker. "Sir," he said, "with all due respect for your abilities, I feel I really should point out that, according to all known studies, the average Romulan is physically far stronger than the average human of equal weight and size, owing to such factors as greater muscular density and bone ma.s.s, in addition to the genetic-"

"That'll do, Mr. Data," Riker said.

"Your android is correct, Riker," Korak said with a smug, superior look. "I could crush you like a slime beetle!"

"Talk is cheap," Riker said.

"Very well, human. I accept your challenge. You will soon wish that you had never issued it."

"After you, Korak." Riker indicated the doors to the turbolift.