Leonard had promised Spock he wouldn’t take another stimulant. Now he sorely regretted that rash decision.

Dosing himself with more fever-reducer, the doctor bent over a modern-day centrifuge and fumbled with the placement of the test tubes. His body was experiencing a bone-deep ache that made it painful to move. He didn’t know which was worse: the constant joint pain or the insufferable heat of his fever which made him crave an arctic blast of air. At one point, he had contemplated giving up, had dropped his forehead to the table top and counted out thirty seconds before rallying back to work. He was both anxious and full of dread. If this next version of treatment didn’t at least show signs of slowing the infection down, he would be back to square one. He started the machine, prepared the analyzer for the results, and turned his attention to the other problem awaiting him.

The latest readout from the cortical monitor attached to Leta’s son by itself was interesting. Now he had another data set to compare it to. Under Giotto’s watchful eye, he had attached a monitor to Kirk and taken measure of the man’s brain activity. It had been an unpleasant experience before Kirk’s sedation took effect, listening to their captain threat to harm them if the bed restraints were not promptly removed. Leonard was grateful he had endured that experience. The monitor provided valuable information. There was something telling about the patterns from both the monitors, something that niggled at his memory. He had been methodically working through the various counteragents for mephredone poisoning but it seemed whatever concoction Tappan had used on his people and Kirk was not the standard black market fare. Still, that familiar something could be the key to the antidote. Leonard clung to the hope that he remembered what it was before he was truly incapacitated by his own illness.

He heard the lab door slid open across the room and remarked, as he fiddled with a notation in his medical log, “I thought I told you to stay with Jim.”

“Dr. McCoy.”

Leonard looked around, then, and smiled somewhat sheepishly. “I apologize, Sandeep. I mistook you for Mr. Spock.”

Sandeep didn’t return the smile. “Doctor, you’re needed out front.”

Leonard’s good humor faded. Pressing his mouth flat at this news, he reached for his tricorder. “Which patient?”

Sandeep shook his head. “Not in the ward, sir. We’re under—”

Irritation bubbled up, prompting Leonard to interrupt. “If nobody’s dying, then can’t you see I’m busy? Damn it, Sandeep, I don’t have time to—”

“We are going to die!” the other man snapped back.

Leonard was momentarily shocked into silence.

“Tappan is coming,” Sandeep continued as the doctor stared at him, “with an army.”

Leonard squashed down a surge of panic and hurried around the counter separating them. “What do you mean ‘an army’? When? How?”

Sandeep suddenly looked much older than a man his age. “He released the colonists, Dr. McCoy. We’re outnumbered, exhausted, unwell, and practically defenseless. So, sir, I do think I’m justified in saying this night might be our last.” Sandeep took a step backwards through the open door of the laboratory, settling a hand on his phaser. “Giotto wants you at the front line, but you don’t have to come. We all know the priority is to save the captain.”

“It’s important to save all of you,” Leonard countered, moving to join him. “I have time to spare. Let’s go.”

To himself, he thought grimly, Damn you, Tappan.

It would be pointless now to find a viable treatment. They would die at the hands of a mob long before the infection killed them.

John stood immobile at the fork in the corridor, arms crossed and stance wide. Impassively, he watched Mr. Spock stride from the control room, Olivares on his heels. From the opposite direction, through the ward, came McCoy and Sandeep.

Spock and McCoy halted when they saw each other. Something passed silently between them. Then, side by side, they came to him.

How many times he had seen them approach Captain Kirk in the same way, almost shoulder to shoulder, ready to stand with or against Kirk as they saw fit? And what did Kirk think of, feel, when he saw them coming?

It had to be respect, tinged with admiration. That was what Giotto felt now. Only a fool didn’t acknowledge how strong a team Spock and McCoy made when they united for a common cause.

He hoped it would be enough. Otherwise, they were—all of them—lost to the enemy waiting for an opportunity to destroy them.

After acknowledging each man, he said, “Commander, the Enterprise has been notified of the change in threat level. They are ready to receive your orders.”

“That news is welcome, Mr. Giotto. I will contact Mr. Scott following certain deliberations. For now, the building has been secured. I estimate the two generators can sustain the shield for three hours and twenty-nine minutes. In approximately half that time, portions of the shield will begin to deteriorate in integrity. My suggestion would be that we find a way to control the routing of energy so that we are able to protect the entrances and power units until the shield fails completely.”

Kolarski, who had been, listening along with Giotto’s team, stepped forward. “I can help with that,” he offered. “If you let me look at the generators, I might be able to rig an alternate energy feed to them—keep them running longer to support the shield.”

“Lt. Joran is off life support now,” McCoy added. “You can tap into the ward’s power reserve if you need to. It would be on a separate grid.”

Mr. Spock gave a slight nod. “Proceed as you deem necessary, Lieutenant.”

Kolarski accepted the charge with a grave “Aye, sir” and left.

“I already have a feel for this building,” said Giotto, “but I’d like a look at the technical schematics. In all likelihood, Tappan will hold off his attack until we’re running low on power but the more I know, the better I can anticipate his next move. If he gets just one man inside this building it could compromise our defense.”

Spock looked to Olivares. “The PADD.”

She came forward and handed it to Giotto. “Mr. Spock downloaded the schematics for you.”

For an instant McCoy’s gaze touched upon each of them, seeming both sad and weary. Then he walked around their group to the main doors. Automatically, Spock followed him. Giotto decided not to, guessing that they needed to have a private conversation. Before he gave his attention to the blueprints, he ordered Olivares and Sandeep to do a security sweep of the building. It was a chance for them to do something, as it was apparent doing nothing would make them feel far worse.

He activated the screen and began to read.

By a window, Security Officer Danson acknowledged Leonard’s approach without looking away from his post. Leonard patted the man’s shoulder as he passed by and went to the opposite window. From there, he saw nothing but empty walkways, darkness, and stars. A pang of longing struck him as he looked at the sky.

Spock joined him and observed the same scene.

Leonard sighed and broke the silence. “Should I lift the quarantine?”

“You understand the risks of such an action better than I do, Doctor.”

“I can’t lift it,” he concluded, already knowing that answer but not wanting to have stated it so baldly to begin with. Still, to voice it, made him feel awful.

Spock continued to stargaze. “There could be no other choice.”

“Despite that I just condemned us to die?”

“The needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few or the one.”

Leonard harrumphed softly. “Sounds like something you would say.”

Spock lifted an eyebrow as he looked to Leonard. “I did say it.”

Leonard met the Vulcan’s gaze. “Have I told you lately what a menace you are?”

“Forty-one minutes and seven seconds ago, to be precise.”

“At least you’re a menace I can stand.” He tilted his head in the direction of the grounds beyond the facility. “What’s out there is far worse.”

“Your point?”

“Tappan is unconscionable. He’s proved that beyond a doubt. Do you really think he will wait patiently until our shields give out? I don’t. I think you should be prepared for his tricks. If he tries to lure us out, if he tries to negotiate with you, promise me that you won’t do what he wants.”

“Because, in the end,” Spock finished softly, “what he wants is Jim.”

Leonard nodded. “We wouldn’t be in this situation otherwise. Jim is more valuable to him alive than dead.”

“I wish I had more clarity on that point,” the Vulcan admitted.

Leonard fell silent, took a quick look around them. Then he touched Spock’s arm as warning of his intention before he stepped in until they were nearly chest to chest. Spock’s placid expression never changed but his gaze sharpened.

“Tarsus,” Leonard said quietly.

The Vulcan’s stare intensified.

“It has to do with Tarsus IV—which only you and I know is of significant connection to our captain.”

“You must explain.”

“The rotting grain isn’t a fluke, Spock. There’s evidence that contaminant comes from Tarsus IV.” Leonard knew he didn’t have to say more than that. He moved out of Spock’s personal space, then, to wait in silence while Spock came to his conclusions.

“I do not normally indulge in conspiracy theories, Dr. McCoy, but even a theory contains some facts. If the intent is to exploit Captain Kirk based on his past, to what purpose?”

“I haven’t had time to think of those answers.”

“Then I shall do so for the both of us, for we must have a plausible explanation to consider the matter any further.”

“That’s a logical answer, Spock. I expected nothing less of you.” Leonard rubbed at his collarbone. “I meant to tell you this development earlier but I lost myself in my work. I’m sorry.”

“Eventually you must give up your bad habit, Doctor. Has the Captain not discussed this with you?”

Leonard offered Spock a dry smile. “I have plenty of bad habits. Apologizing is hardly the worst, and Jim knows it.”

“Then I should undertake the task.”

Coming from Spock, that almost sounded warm. The Vulcan was certainly being strange again. Leonard had yet to figure out why.

“I think this notion of ‘imminent demise’ is finally affecting you, Mr. Spock.”

“You affect me, Leonard, in ways which I am only beginning to understand.”

Leonard swallowed whatever teasing remark he had been planning to say next. Then he noticed that Danson was looking at them like he had never seen them before. The lieutenant was muttering, “Holy mackerel he was right!“

Leonard grabbed Spock’s arm, intending to drag him away before anything else embarrassing happened, but just then Danson glanced out the window, stiffened, and cried, “Mr. Giotto! I have a visual!”

Stomach plummeting, Leonard turned to look.

The darkness was moving, writhing, slowly shaping into human-like forms. The first man to become visible was in the lead. His eyeglasses reflected light. It was Augustus Tappan.

Spock drew Leonard back from the window with the order, “Return to the lab.”

Leonard drew his tongue across his bottom lip nervously and shook his head. “I should stay, Spock.”

“Negative,” the commander insisted. “I will join you there later if I can.” Spock paused, then, and tilted his head ever-so-slightly in a meaningful way before he said, “If there is a way to return the Captain to us, even for a brief period, it would be of great help.”

Leonard understood. Spock wanted Jim awake and aware for a purpose he didn’t want to disclose, and he depended on McCoy to make it happen.

Time was running out, Leonard thought, but he would try anyway. “I’ll do what I can,” he said and returned to the depths of the building.

The claim preceding the man into the Ready Room was “Reconnaissance was a success, sir.”

Scotty brought his conversation with Uhura to a halt and turned towards the newcomer. “Mr. Sulu, it sounds like you’ve brought us good news.”

Sulu approached the desk were the engineer and the communications officer were already seated and propped a hip against its edge. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Mr. Spock was on point with his targets. We’re fairly certain of the three we identified the right one.”

Uhura looked at Scotty. “Monty, you didn’t let Chekov go along, did you?”

Sulu smirked. “Mr. Scott knows investigations work best with one good cop and one bad cop. Chekov likes to play bad cop.”

Scotty groaned. “You’re supposed to restrain him, lad! If we have to explain another incident like with the Klingons to the Capt’n, he’ll be in a tizzy!”

Sulu lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “The target tried to run. Chekov had to punch him.”

Scotty groaned again.

“If it’s any consolation, Pavel’s bark is usually worse than his bite. When I left, he was explaining in gory detail what happens to traitors in Russia. The idiot looked like he had a weak stomach. He’ll crack.”

As if on cue, the desk intercom came to life. “Ze prisoner has confessed!“

Sulu congratulated Chekov, “Good work, partner!”

“Oh dear,” commented Uhura when they heard crying in the background. “I’ll tell Chapel to put together some sedative packets.”

“He iz baby,” Chekov complained. “I did nothing painful.“

“Or permanent?” Scotty questioned hopefully.

“Veeell…“

“Never mind, laddie,” the engineer decided, remembering his own claim that ignorance was bliss. “What did he say?”

Chekov’s tone sobered. “Hiz orders were from ze Admiral as suspected, sir, but he never met with ze Ambassador. He vas to report on her movements and on ze Keptin’s.“

“So no level of trust there,” Sulu remarked.

“Not with Leta,” Scotty agreed, “which means she was ordered to take Kirk planet-side but not necessarily trusted to do as she was told, or someone else was communicating with her and the Admiral is unknown to her.”

“A patsy?” Uhura suggested.

“Could be.”

“There’s more,” said Chekov. “All ze Keptin’s orders from ze planet vere to be reported immediately.“

Sulu wanted to know, “Did he give any specifics what the Admiral was looking for?”

“He vas told specifically to report ‘any orders made by Kirk which are against law and order and against mankind.‘” Sounding angered, Chekov added, “Ze Admiral claimed our keptin vas a bad man!“

“Bollocks!” cried Scotty, unable to help himself.

Sulu’s mouth became a thin line.

“Something against mankind,” a disturbed Uhura echoed. “I don’t like this. If the ‘Fleet wants revoke Kirk’s captaincy, there are far less convoluted ways to go about it. What if,” she said, “this isn’t about Kirk at all? He’s a pawn like Leta. As such, he is being used to create a set of events which otherwise wouldn’t happen.”

“For whose gain?” Chekov wanted to know.

“Yes, that’s the sticking point,” she mused. “If the Captain acts against ‘mankind’, which I take to mean Tassos III, they become the victims and we, Starfleet, their aggressors.”

“Command would do everything in their power to insulate themselves against blame,” Sulu pointed out.

“By laying the blame on Kirk as someone unfit for duty.” Scotty snapped his fingers. “Wait, that’s it! Who would be responsible?” At his companions’ blank looks, he explained, “There was some talk about why Leta would need to represent Starfleet on a sponsor-owned colony. Say there is a deal in the works between the sponsor and Starfleet, so we’re sent out to engage the colony with their sanction, except in the end we damage the colony—or nearly damage it, whether by blunder or malicious intent. Who takes responsibility for that?”

Sulu’s face lit up. “We do but, more importantly, so does the sponsor. Tassos III has the makings of a case against them.”

“A petition for independence,” concluded Uhura. “Any court would rule in the best interest of the colonists if there is sufficient evidence of abuse of trust or privileges by the corporation who, according to law, should be supporting them. What a clever plan!”

She and the two men looked at one another.

“I think ze plan sounds insane.“

Sulu sighed. “Pavel has a point. The part I really don’t understand is why anyone pick Captain Kirk. Of the ‘Fleet’s captains, he is one of our most upstanding. He isn’t going to endanger the lives of the people of Tassos III, much less try to cause them harm to the point that the Federation has to place them in a non-interference zone.”

Scotty sighed softly. “Everyone has a breaking point, Sulu.”

“But ze Keptin…“

The Chief of Engineering shook his head. “I’ll nae disagree that Jim Kirk is a fine captain, but he’s human like the rest of us. He can make mistakes, and we’ve all seen the ghosts that haunt ‘im.”

Sulu said firmly, “I would still rather serve under Kirk than anyone else.”

“We all would. That’s why we take our duty seriously to help him make the right choices for ship and crew.”

“And for every life which we are bound to protect,” Uhura added. She clasped her hands in front of her. “I wish I could help him now.”

Scotty clucked and draped an arm over her shoulders. “You’re helping plenty, lass. Besides, the Capt’n isn’t alone.”

Sulu agreed, “He isn’t alone. Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy are watching over him.”

“Mr. Spock would never let anyone use our keptin!” claimed Spock’s protégée.

Those in the Ready Room all nodded in unison, for it was a fact that no one cared for Jim Kirk more than the two officers who went in search of him.

Scotty lifted his arm away from Uhura. To her, he said, “I’d like to talk to the Commander.” Then to Sulu and Chekov, “In the meantime, you lads make certain our rat doesn’t jump ship.”

Over the comm, Chekov chuckled darkly. “I can do zat.“

Leonard’s hands shook with excitement as he transferred the culture from the analyzer to the microscope. He had to see with his own eyes that the bacteria on the slide was inert. Once he did, he backed away from the counter, took several deep breaths, and broke into a grin. What had been created wasn’t a cure by far—”But by god it will do the job!” Leonard finished aloud. Now he just had to make certain it worked inside the human body like it did through simulation.

Leonard was busy putting together a hypospray when Spock arrived.

“I think I found something,” he began, his tone still buzzing with excitement. Holding aloft a small glass bottle, he explained, “This will neutralize the contagion, which should the immune system a chance to build up its own antibodies.” Leonard grinned broadly. “And all thanks to you!”

Spock came forward, asking gravely, “Why thank me when you created the solution, Doctor?”

“Why, you inspire me, Mr. Spock.” Leonard’s blue eyes twinkled. “Or at least your hardy Vulcan genetics do. I had the thought: if only the human body could be as aggressive as a Vulcan’s, we would have stopped this nasty infection in its tracks! So I did,” he concluded. “Now I have to test it to know for certain.”

Spock’s gaze dropped to the hypospray in Leonard’s hand. “I would assume you have an appropriate test subject—”

“Of course!”

“—which is not yourself.”

Leonard lost his grin. “I’m not trying out an untested treatment on one of my patients, Spock.”

“You are one of your patients,” pointed out the Vulcan.

“Don’t be absurd!” Leonard returned to preparing the hypo. “I’ll take this, and I’ll be as good as new. Then it’s a simple matter of replicating the serum.”

Spock plucked the hypospray out of his hand.

Leonard gaped for a moment, then launched himself across the counter.

The Vulcan glided smoothly out of reach, saying as he went, “Your emotions blind you to reason, Dr. McCoy. The one individual whom this team cannot afford to lose is you.”

Leonard chased after him. “Give me back that hypo, you blasted hobgoblin!”

“I will find a suitable test subject.”

“Like hell you will!”

Spock left the lab anyway.

With a curse, Leonard grabbed his tricorder, looked wistfully at a few cartridges of sedative which he would love to pump into his Vulcan commander but couldn’t, and left the lab at a run.

Spock was, apparently, quite quick on his feet when he needed to be. By the time Leonard caught up to Spock, the Vulcan was already among the patients petitioning for volunteers.

“I’m a volunteer!” Leonard snarled, stalking up to him.

Spock ignored him. “Dr. McCoy has synthesized what he believes to be a successful treatment of the spreading infection. Unfortunately I must ask one of you to take it, as the treatment is viable only for a human.”

Sandeep, who had returned to the ward to check on patients for the time being, stepped away from a biobed. “I’ll do it.”

The patient in the biobed raised himself up on his elbows. “Better let me,” he croaked. “I’m already down for the count.”

Joran raised a hand. “How about me?”

“You’re not even infected, Lieutenant!” Leonard snapped. “Lie back down, both of you!”

Spock approached the first bed-ridden lieutenant.

Leonard tried to block his path. “This is going too far, Mr. Spock!”

“On the contrary, Doctor, I believe it is mutiny.”

Spock handed the hypospray to Sandeep, who in turn injected its content into the volunteer’s outstretched arm.

Leonard experienced a few, very indecisive seconds of rage. In the end, he desire to rip into Spock for running roughshod over his authority didn’t outweigh his duty to care for his patient. He went to the side of the biobed and ran a full body scan over the fool who had taken his concoction.

“It should be thirty minutes, more or less, before you feel any effects,” he said unhappily. “Sandeep, from this moment forward, don’t take your eyes off this man.”

“But, sir…”

“I don’t care if we have zombies climbing the walls!” Leonard barked. “That’s an order!”

“Yes, Dr. McCoy,” Sandeep agreed meekly.

Leonard turned on Spock. “I have some words for you.”

“They will have to wait,” Spock replied in a calm tone. “What is it, Lt. Olivares?”

The woman, whom none of them had noticed enter the ward during the ‘mutinous’ event, spoke very formally, as though afraid of drawing Leonard’s attention (and therefore his temper) upon herself. “Mr. Spock, Mr. Giotto would like to see you.”

Spock walked away without a word.

Leonard gripped his tricorder hard so he didn’t give into the urge to throw it after the Vulcan. “Joran!” he snapped, catching a movement out of the corner of his eye, “I told you to stay in that bed!”

“Sir, I’m feeling much better. I should return to duty.”

“That phaser blast must of fried your common sense! I’m the doctor around here! You’re better when I say you’re better!”

Joran drew the bedcovers back up to his chest and didn’t offer a protest. Olivares hustled forward, sat on the edge of Joran’s bed, and leaned over to whisper something to him. After a few seconds, the man nodded.

She stood up. “Lieutenant Joran will not leave the ward, Dr. McCoy.”

These damn kids were making Leonard’s headache worse. He returned his attention to the patient with a counteragent running through his veins, scanned him again and, frustrated to have no immediate results, went to visit the only two patients who couldn’t give him any trouble. He checked Walken’s vitals before dismissing him. With Leta’s son, he lingered a while longer, refreshing his tricorder with new data from the cortical monitor.

Then Leonard went to see Jim. His anger faded as he tucked an extra blanket around his captain.

“There’s no one to sit with you, Jim-boy,” the doctor murmured sadly. “Things have gone quite pear-shaped, haven’t they? I wish I had made more of a fuss about you leaving with Leta. If I had, you wouldn’t be like this.” With gentleness he touched the side of Kirk’s face. “You wouldn’t have suffered this way. I’m sorry.”

To Leonard’s surprise, Jim turned his face into his hand and exhaled deeply.

“Are you dreaming?” Leonard wondered. “I hope they’re good dreams.”

The scrape of a boot against the floor broke the moment and made Leonard look up.

“When did you get back?”

“Mr. Giotto had a simple request. I—forgive me, I did not mean to interrupt.”

“Nothing to interrupt,” Leonard said, moving away from Jim’s bed.

Spock watched him approach the doorway but did not move aside.

Leonard returned his stare.

“Will you wake him?” Spock asked.

“Is that a request?”

“A necessity.”

“Tell me why.”

“Mr. Scott contacted me not long ago.”

It seemed Spock was changing the subject but Leonard didn’t say anything, just listened.

“He has new information which indicates Jim’s actions on this planet are under intense scrutiny. It could be that he is the key player in creating an opportunity for Tassos III to make a bid for independence.”

“We knew Jim was part of someone’s master plan, but is that the crux of it? Independence? I thought Jim said Tappan wanted him to order the destruction of this colony.”

“Consider this, Doctor: the possibility of what might have occurred is often more frightening than what has occurred,” Spock said. “If Starfleet did not prevent—or nearly so—another genocide like Tarsus IV, it could create severe unrest in those of the Federation who look to this organization for protection. With such leverage and the damage it could do morally as well as politically, who would dare deny Tassos III what it wants?”

Rubbing a hand against his forehead, Leonard said, “I see your point, Spock. Frankly it lines up too well with the fact that Jim is the by-product of that kind of trauma. It’s been said that people sometimes become the thing they hate most. In a trial, even Jim would doubt himself if he had given an order as terrible as Kodos’. He would beg us to lock him up.” Leonard sighed. “That said, is it wise to wake him up?”

“Even should we fail to protect him, Doctor, the worst crime would be to leave him in ignorance.”

Something came back, niggled at Leonard, and so he eyed the Vulcan. “But you asked me to do this before you had your talk with Scotty.”

Spock shifted his weight slightly. “I admit, there is an additional reason I wish to speak to Jim.”

“And that reason is?”

Spock said, after a long silence, “We could use a diversion to escape.”

Leonard almost didn’t understand—until suddenly he did. He exploded, almost literally, and pinned Spock to the wall.

“Doctor,” gasped Spock.

Leonard braced a forearm against Spock’s chest. “Why you, you heartless, cold-blooded—I don’t even have a name horrible enough for you! How dare you think you have the right to sacrifice Jim to a monster!”

“You misunderstand—”

“Over my dead body, Spock! I’ll never let you!”

“I was not suggesting we use the Captain to distract Tappan,” Spock countered, a shade of anger coloring his voice. “You gave me no chance to explain.”

“Oh, I know how your blasted logic works.”

“Obviously you do not.” Spock ordered, “Release me.”

After a long minute, Leonard backed off. They studied each other in cold silence.

Finally Spock said, “You have become incapable of impartiality where the Captain is concerned, Dr. McCoy. Until this moment, I made an allowance for your behavior because it did not hinder my ability to command.”

“So what? Keep my mouth shut and let you make a decision that could destroy a man?”

“I do make the decisions on this mission, whether you have faith in those decisions or not,” Spock said. “Wake up the Captain, Doctor. Time is of the essence.”

Leonard said nothing. He turned around and left the private exam room.

“Doctor!” Spock called after him.

Never, Leonard thought. Jim, I’ll protect you if it’s the last thing I do.

But why, he wondered, did it hurt his heart to walk away from Spock?

“Augustus, it’s dark. Why are we out here?”

“Patience, love.” Tappan pointed to the glowing building ahead of them. “Therein lies our salvation.”

Karen reminded him, “Ramses must come to no harm.”

“Of course not.”

“And you’ll save the doctor?”

Tappan frowned. “We can find other doctors to treat our son. In fact, in a matter of days, we will have dozens of them flocking to us.”

“But everyone knows Dr. McCoy is the best practitioner in frontier medicine. He’ll cure Ram, I’m sure of it. We just have to bring him around to our side.”

The man next to Karen gave a soft laugh. “Do you think any of Kirk’s crew can be bought?”

“Then force him!” she snapped. “I don’t care how, but I will have him for my son!”

“Our son,” Tappan corrected, frowning again.

Karen followed his gaze. “What is it?”

“One of my men,” Tappan said absently, “was supposed to sabotage the power system. I suppose he didn’t have the chance. The shields are up.”

“Oh, this waiting is giving me a headache,” the woman complained. “I’m going back.”

“As you wish. I will send a messenger to you once we have Kirk.”

Karen started to walk away, but Tappan called to her a moment later.

“Be careful of who you offend, my dear. As you can see, no one is in a particularly friendly mood this evening.”

Karen shuddered at the reminder. She was well-aware of how dangerous it would be to make eye contact with any of the colonists roaming around. There was, after all, somewhat of a premonition of murder in the air.