“It was only two nights!” Gowron said.
“As a warrior, I’m in my right to claim any woman I want,” Garcia said. “Kitara approved and endorsed it. I sent the little Ferengi packing. Of course, he does fairly well with a bat’leh, so I understand why no other warriors tried to subdue Grilka before I came along.”
There were a few rumblings in the crowd at Garcia’s suggestion that there were no warriors willing to tame Grilka. Gowron turned his back to Garcia, and then turned sharply to Grilka.
“You want control that badly?” Gowron asked her.
“It’s mine. I know of no warriors who wouldn’t squander my wealth,” Grilka said.
“Then you shall have your wish, Grilka. I recognize your right to control all that is yours,” Gowron said.
“Then I will give the Ferengi a divorce,” Grilka said.
“It was an insult to our species that you married him to begin with!” Gowron said.
“You forced my hand,” Grilka said. “I did what any warrior would do to save ground.”
“You want to act like a Warrior, then be prepared to defend your wealth, like a Warrior,” Gowron said. “You will wish you had married a Klingon.”
“You forget, the most dangerous creature in nature is a woman defending her property and children,” Grilka challenged. “I will defend what’s mine, and like any warrior, I will make and keep my own alliances.”
“Hey, I thought this was about me?” Garcia asked.
Gowron returned to his position of power. The Duras sisters did not look pleased. He winked at them. B’Etor, the younger, reached for her dagger, but her older sister Lursa stayed her hand. She whispered something to her sister and her sister smiled. A chill went down Garcia’s spine.
Gowron faced Garcia. “For your final challenge, you will take the Starship you brought here and go against three of my war ships in a war game exercise,” Gowron said.
Garcia didn’t bother to hide his anger. “I will not,” Garcia said.
Gowron’s eyes went wide at Garcia’s rebellion. “Are you forfeiting?!”
“The New Constitution is not a warship,” Garcia said. “Its crew is not warriors. Your challenge will be directed at me, or there is no challenge.”
“Your challenge is a war game exercise,” Gowron said.
“I’ve already done this exercise,” Garcia said, approaching the High Counsel. “Against him,” Garcia pointed at Admiral Sheaar. “And I kicked his ass! So, either you come up with a fresh challenge for me, or I’m out of here.”
Honor Guards made themselves visible on the floor, bat’lehs ready.
Kitara stepped up closer to Garcia. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Stand down,” Garcia told her, his voice clearly audible to everyone in the room. No one observing had any doubts that he was in charge at that moment.
Kitara nodded and took a step back. Her hand went to the hilt of her knife. Garcia stepped closer to Gowron. “Either give me something new, dismiss me, or kill me, but don’t waste any more of my time in this repetitious nonsense.”
“You have not gone up against one of my ships,” Gowron said.
“Admiral Sheaar is your man, and therefore I have gone up against one of your men, and he came with three ships!” Garcia said. “And, I know that you and the High Counsel are privy to the data concerning those battles.”
“There is evidence that those data chips may have been altered,” Gowron said.
“So you’re calling me a liar?” Garcia asked. “You also have no doubt heard of several other space battles I have been in, and all of them had no fewer than five ships against me. I have proven myself in this arena, so your war game exercise is an insult, and a waste of time. Why are you stalling?”
“Stalling?!” Gowron repeated, getting right in Garcia’s face. “I will tear you apart.”
“And that would make a great third challenge,” Garcia said. “Just give the word.”
Admiral Sheaar came forwards, drawing his d’k tahg.
“Stand down,” Gowron pointed at him, his eyes not leaving Garcia’s eyes.
“He has forfeited,” Sheaar said. “I will have his life and that traitorous P’tak he claims as his mate.”
“Oh, please,” Garcia said. “Gowron just saved your life and you know it. Everyone hears knows I’ve beaten you, both in hand to hand combat, as well as ship to ship.”
“If one warrior of repute who has been in battle with you would come forwards to vouch for you, I will consider your request,” Gowron said.
Captain MaHt stepped forwards. “Gowron. Garcia has beaten me in battle. In addition to beating me, I was in a position to witness Admiral Sheaar’s defeat at Garcia’s hands, in both of the instances Garcia has mentioned.”
“I do not remember any hand to hand combat…” Admiral Sheaar tried.
“That’s because you were the first one rendered unconscious,” Captain MaHt said. “After beating me in a fair contest, he commandeered my ship in order to conclude a business arrangement which Admiral Sheaar himself initiated. I’m not privy to those details, but I suspect you know what I am referring to.”
“How dare you?!” Sheaar said.
“This man has played and beaten us at our own games,” MaHt said. “He has fought with honor and has not flinched…”
“Well, maybe a little flinching,” Garcia said, trying to soften it a little.
“He has earned his respect and I will fight beside him,” MaHt said. “If there must be another war game exercise, to prove conclusively that he is what he claims, then I surrender my new ship to his command, and will fly as his First Officer. I am that confident in his abilities. And I am telling you now. You can bring five of your best war ships against us, and you will be looking for new crews, and your ships will be in space dock for months.”
One of the High Counsel members tapped Gowron on the shoulder, and they all withdrew out of ear shot to have a private counsel. MaHt stepped over to Garcia.
“I must admit,” Garcia told him. “I did not expect that from you.”
“I will not be able to have my revenge against you if you are dead,” MaHt said.
“Fair enough,” Garcia said, and grasped his arm by the wrist. “May all our fights be honorable.”
“I will fight beside you,” MaHt said.
“I hear. What about Sheaar?” Garcia asked.
“I have learned about the Starburst weapon,” MaHt said. “Had I known prior to you beating me, I would have killed Sheaar myself. I do not believe Gowron is privy to this information. I believe he only thinks you to have a ship that is transwarp capable.”
“Before this is over, Gowron will know,” Garcia said.
“You would risk war between our two nations?” MaHt said.
“For better or worse, Gowron is your leader, and he deserves to know what sort of people are lurking in his shadows,” Garcia said.
“I stand with you, no matter what the outcome,” MaHt assured him.
Gowron and the High Counsel returned and Gowron did not look pleased.
“The High Counsel has recognized your petition to accept previous battles and war games as merit,” Gowron said. “Further, standing up to me, knowing full well that I could kill you, counts as your third and final challenge. You have passed the Klingon Academy’s Challenge and have earned the right be called a warrior, with elite status and privilege. I accept you as my own.”
“No!” Sheaar screamed.
“Be silent,” Gowron said. “You recruited him.”
“I demand the last challenge be a fight to the death, against me,” Sheaar said.
“Accepted,” Garcia said, quickly before anyone might put an end to it.
Gowron grabbed Garcia by the arms and growled. “I just commissioned you!”
“And he just publicly challenged me,” Garcia said. “How will it look if I back down, after just being appointed?”
“Kitara has taught you well,” Gowron said, almost singing it.
Gowron backed off, signaling everyone to clear the floor so that Garcia and Sheaar could fight. “The challenge has been made and accepted,” Gowron said.
Sheaar had his d’k tagh already out, battle stance. Kitara whistled, offering Garcia hers. Garcia shook his head no, his eyes staying with Sheaar.
“Your time has finally come,” Sheaar told Garcia, circling.
“Are you going to talk me to death?” Garcia asked, goading him into his attack.
Sheaar charged. Garcia blocked the knife arm, stepped past, and put a boot in the back of Sheaar’s knee. He went down hard. Garcia waited for Sheaar to get back on his feet. Sheaar stood, favoring his left leg, but advanced again. Again Garcia blocked the thrusting arm, only this time he grasped it and jerked forwards. At the same time, he stomped on Sheaar’s thigh, breaking the bone and sending him to the floor. Garcia twisted Sheaar’s arm as he went down, breaking the arm. The knife fell to the floor. Garcia collected it, made a thin cut on Sheaar’s cheek as he lay there gasping in pain, and then walked away. He approached Gowron, wiping the blood of his new knife on his sleeve, before slipping it under his belt.
“The fight was to the death,” Gowron said.
“There is no glory in killing him” Garcia argued. “You all saw that it was not balanced.”
“I said finish him,” Gowron said.
“I have!” Garcia said.
“It was to the death!” Gowron repeated.
“If he wants a glorious death, he can go play mRocK!” Garcia said. “I will not kill a useless old man. His life belongs to me and I have spared it because there is no honor here. Besides, you all know that I have killed some great warriors in the last two days. Do not sully their deaths by asking me to kill someone who cannot even stand up.”
Gowron pulled his disruptor from his holster and pointed it at Sheaar. Garcia didn’t flinch or protest. Gowron smiled and pointed the weapon at Garcia’s face. Still, Garcia did not flinch or protest. Gowron nodded, flipped the disruptor over, and handed it to Garcia.
“This ship you commandeered from Sheaar was transwarp capable,” Gowron said. “You are currently engaged in a battle against the Cardassians at Sherman’s planet. Your first duty to the Empire is to hold the Cardassians at Sherman’s planet. Do not let them gain another inch of territory, but also, do not let them flee.”
“You’re asking me to lose?” Garcia demanded.
“I’m ordering you to hold!” Gowron said. The High Counsel gathered around. “It is called strategy.”
“Well, your strategy sucks,” Garcia said.
“You are just a Captain. We have the bigger picture to worry about,” Gowron said.
“Even if you consider attrition, I will eventually be victorious,” Garcia said. “But if you send some ships now, I could end it sooner than later, and render medical aid to those in need. I can’t help near enough people if I am concentrating on holding.”
“By holding them at Sherman’s planet, they will be forced to withdraw from several other fronts,” one of the High Counsel said. “Maybe even retreat from Bajor.”
“Gowron, I really don’t think you have clue of just what the big picture is,” Garcia said.
“I will not tolerate insubordination,” Gowron said. “Do you fly for me or not?”
“May I have a word with you in private?” Garcia asked. “Please?”
Gowron took Garcia aside, leading him by the arm. They entered a small adjoining room reserved for private meetings. Gowron closed the door. “What is it that is so pressing?” Gowron asked.
“You don’t know the full extent of Sheaar’s duplicity,” Garcia said. “I know he recruited you to root out Romulan spies in our midst,” Gowron said.
“Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Garcia said. “Do you remember the Genesis device? Well, he and Admiral Pressman, a rogue Black Ops agent, recreated that weapon as a defense against the Borg.”
Gowron grabbed Garcia by the arm and neck and pushed him up against the wall. “You lie?!”
“You’ve not heard about the Tel Kiar planet I blew up?” Garcia asked.
“Rumors!” Gowron said.
“Sheaar has the intel. I can give you a copy of it myself,” Garcia said.
“Who else in the Federation knows about this?” Gowron demanded.
“President Fos has just recently been informed, and she’s conducting an investigation into the Federation operatives that I have revealed to her,” Garcia said. “Because we have reason to believe my ship may not be the only one, I am forced to play along, a double agent if you will. I don’t know how many people are working in collaboration with Sheaar and Pressman. That’s why I can’t kill him. I have to find out how deep this cancer goes.”
Gowron released Garcia. “President Fos is a fool! And you are, too, if you believe for a moment she is on your side. She’s nothing more than a puppet. I should take an Armada straight to Earth and blast her office from orbit!”
“That’s not all,” Garcia said. “We have a functioning phasing cloak.”
“Do you know what sort of fire you’re playing with?!” Gowron demanded, pushing him back into the wall.
“I understand how necessary it is for us not fight each other,” Garcia said. “There’s too much going on, too much at stake for us to not to remain allies. Kitara is loyal to the Empire. I am, too. The Federation and the Klingon Empire are good together.”
“For now,” Gowron said, cursing under his breath. “But it will not always be this way. You are not warriors.”
“We are not warriors like the Klingons, no, but the Human species fights with honor,” Garcia said.
“When you actually do fight!” Gowron said.
“And we’re trust worthy,” Garcia said.
“Apparently some more than others,” Gowron said.
“There are rogue elements in the Human population, just as there are in the Klingon Empire,” Garcia said. “Not everyone shares your vision. At least the Federation has not interfered in how you govern your people. How many worlds have you conquered that have offered you that sort of loyalty?”
“The Norsicaans,” Gowron said.
“Okay,” Garcia said. “I’ll give you that. But they will also stab you in the back if you show weakness. With Humans, you don’t have anything to prove. You can let your guard down and know you won’t be attacked. I believe the Federation is stronger because of the Klingon Alliance. I will not jeopardize that.”
“You will one day have to make a choice, which side you will serve,” Gowron said. “You best choose wisely.”
Gowron stormed out of the room. Garcia followed Gowron as he marched right up to a guard, took his disruptor, preceded towards Sheaar who was only presently being put on a stretcher to be removed. “Betrayer,” Gowron said in Klingon and shot him point blank. Admiral Sheaar dissolved away before their eyes, screaming for as long as there was breath and muscle to push that sound.
“Garcia! Kitara! Front and center,” Gowron shouted.
Garcia and Kitara arrived together, standing at attention.
“Your mission continues as it was given to you, to seek out the enemies of the Klingon Empire and Federation,” Gowron said. “You will both report directly to me. Do you understand?”
They agreed.
“Kitara, you are a Warrior, recognized by me and the High Counsel. You can have command of a ship, if you want it,” Gowron said, not meeting her eyes.
“I wish to stay where I am,” Kitara said. “I think I have more to offer in my current capacity.”
“I agree,” Gowron said, his eyes meeting hers with approval. It was apparent in his eyes that he had newly found respect for her because of her statement. He looked at the ashes that were once Sheaar. He stepped forward, not looking at Garcia, but putting a hand on his shoulder. “Officially, I must ask you to hold. I cannot sanction any additional ships to aid a colony that declared independence from the Empire. But if you can beat the Cardassians, I would be very appreciative.” He got even closer, whispering so only they could hear. “You have lived with these secrets this long, you will have to carry them a little longer. I cannot have the Empire torn apart in another potential civil war. I want the names of every individual complicit in this illegal operation.” Louder, he said. “You’re dismissed.”
CHAPTER THIRTYSIX
Garcia turned to Kitara as Gowron walked away. “We’re done?”
“You’re entitled to a ceremony,” Kitara said.
“Is it compulsory?” Garcia asked.
Kitara shrugged. “It’s your right to have it if you want it,” Kitara said. “You might enjoy the revelry. Lots of women, songs and drinking. That is the order you prefer, isn’t it?”
“I think you and I should get back to our private little war,” Garcia said. He activated his comm. badge. “New Constitution, two to beam up.”
Garcia and Kitara arrived on the transporter PADD of the New Constitution.
“I’m glad that’s over with,” Garcia said, coming down from the Transporter alcove. “One less thing to worry about.”
Owens entered the Transporter Room, seeming a little tense.
“Captain,” Owens said. “We had a medical emergency. Doctor Jurak was called back to handle it. He’s in Sickbay now. It’s Tama Orleans.”
Garcia didn’t have to hear any more. He was on his way before the door could close. Kitara followed.
“You can’t just go in there,” Kitara said.
“I know,” Garcia said. “But I’m going.”
They arrived and Jurak was waiting for him, a hypo spray in his hands. Garcia presented his arm.
“Let’s talk first,” Jurak said. “I’d like you not to take this. There’s nothing you can do for her at this moment. She’s sleeping. You need a few more days without taking the antidote, and, since I know you’re not going to wait, I would like to ask you to at least wait until she has awakened.”
To both Kitara and Jurak’s surprise, Garcia seemed willing to listen, as opposed to jumping in head first, demanding the medicine regardless of their recommendations.
“What happened?” Garcia asked.
A crew member was passing, so Jurak took Garcia by the arm and led him across the hall to a secondary medical room where they could speak in quiet. Kitara joined them, knowing she was welcomed. After all, Garcia’s family was her family. As she observed him, she realized that the Klingon Academy’s challenge had definitely affected him. He had the light of quiet resolve in his eyes, the kind seen in only the greatest of warriors. Garcia was a new man, whether he knew it or not. She felt flush with heat and she was suddenly very aware of her heart beating.
“I told you she has some issues,” Jurak said. “Bulimia nervosa is one of them. She had an episode of binge eating.”
“And someone caught her purging?” Kitara asked, trying to distract herself with the sound of her own voice. She was amazed at herself. She had told herself that her affair with Garcia was pure military strategy, not just a way to bond with him but a maneuver to advance her career and his, and set him up for a fall if she ever had to kill him. It was the Klingon way. Sheaar had ordered her to kill him, but even she had known it wasn’t the right time, and the moment she killed him, she would have to start watching her back as Sheaar maneuvered someone else in to kill her; they weren’t going to let a ‘female” run the show… But now? Her voice sounded distant to her. “Or did she take a drug?”
“She binged on holodeck food,” Jurak explained. “Probably thinking she could eat as much as she wanted and when she left the holodeck, it would just go away.”
“The holodeck creates all consumables with real matter, ensuring they’re eatable,” Kitara said.
“Not if you turn off the safety protocols and disable that function,” Jurak said. “Unfortunately, she remained on the holodeck long enough for sufficient digestion to occur. When she finally left the holodeck, a portion of the artificial matter had already been incorporated into a sufficiently large enough number of cells that…”
“How bad was the cellular damage?” Garcia asked.
“I’ve repaired all the damage,” Jurak said. “I had to sedate her due to the pain.”
“You should not have sedated her,” Kitara said. “Pain is invaluable for teaching lessons.”
“I agree. I’m confident she’ll not do this particular stunt again. We do, however, need to start her on a treatment plan to change her behaviors. If we don’t intervene, she will continue with this bent for self destruction,” Jurak said.
“I’ve just been busy,” Garcia said.
“This is not an indictment. I’ve been busy, too, and I can’t stay here with her considering the amount of work I have planet side. I have the ship’s counselor monitoring her for now and a nurse will remain behind,” Jurak said. “Persis is in there, too.”
“Kitara, lock out all computer functions to Tama Orleans,” Garcia said. “She’ll have to start earning those privileges. I want the crew to be more attentive around her. We’re all going to work with her towards her health. I’ll tell Persis about our medical strategy. No more private meals for her. She has to eat in the galley, with people. And I don’t want her to be alone for at least an hour after she eats. I want her entire day planned and regimented, think military school style training. Lessons, exercise, meditation, biofeedback training every odd day, neural feedback trainings on the even number days. Doctor, you’re going to have to improve my antidote. I need to spend a lot more time with her.”
“I can’t promise you that,” Jurak said. “The fact that the drug is working at all is a modern medical miracle. You’re lucky nausea is the only noticeable symptom. It’s taking a toll on your body. I’m thinking once a week is too much.”
“Then find an alternative,” Garcia said. “Kitara, I’m going to the Path Finder. You can join me there once the NC is en route to Sherman’s planet.
“Aye, Captain,” Kitara said. “As per your instructions, Torres was allowed to leave the ship. She has not returned.”
Garcia nodded. “I suppose we’re on our own,” Garcia said.
“We can use Grilka’s ships,” Kitara said.
“Tell them to approach, but remain outside the system, cloaked,” Garcia said. “Unless I can neutralize the Kelvan scout ship, they’re no good to us.”
“Aye. I’ll explain that to them,” Kitara said. She saluted and went about her business.
“Doctor, you’re with me,” Garcia said.
“Aye,” Jurak said. As they returned to the Gateway, Jurak filled him in on the medical situation on Sherman’s Planet. It was every bit as bad as Garcia had imagined. Radiation burns, physical burns, torn flesh from flying debris, and exposure to the elements were just some of the things they were dealing with. And the more serious cases were still too far from Club Bliss to render the necessary care. Most of the Health Care Facilities between club Bliss and the impacted zones were being overwhelmed by people, and short on supplies. The T’Pau’s, the Tempest’s, and the Path Finder’s replicators were pumping out medical supplies and emergency food rations as fast they could, but it was simply not enough. Some of it was being beamed directly to the sites most needed, but there were many areas where they were forced to drop them from orbit in capsules due to the Cardassian’s blocking transporters. “The Little Blue Grays, though, are like nothing I have ever seen. They have tech that seems to amplify their psionic healing abilities. They have brought patients that I wrote off as dead back to perfect health. There’s just not enough of them, and they’re starting to show signs of fatigue.”
Garcia opened the Gateway. The Path Finder was just on the other side and he could see Losira there waiting for him, eager to meet him, as if he had been gone for years. In computer time, it was probably like centuries for her. “Can we put the Blues on a sleep rotation cycle?”
“As long as there are injured around them, they will not rest,” Jurak said.
“It won’t do us any good,” Garcia began on the New Constitution, stepping through the Gateway. “If they drop dead from exhaustion,” he finished on the Path Finder. “Losira.”
“Captain,” Losira said, grasping him by the wrist while stepping in closer to him. She kissed him. “Glad to see you’re still alive. I felt several impulses to come to your rescue.”
“I’m glad you resisted,” Garcia said.
“Doctor, tell Okuda that if it is necessary for the Blues to rest that they should come up to the ship so that they’re far enough away from wounded that they won’t feel the compulsion to remain active,” Garcia said. He touched his shoulder. “Thank you. For everything.”
Jurak touched his shoulder. “I will fight beside you. Losira, open the portal back to Club Bliss.”
The Gateway recycled and revealed the Office in Club Bliss where Garcia had had the Gateway installed. He began to wonder if he should have put it somewhere more convenient to higher traffic volumes as he watched Jurak return to the planet’s surface. The Gateway cycled off and Garcia proceeded down the corridor, noting the crew working. Most of them were hustling supplies about, moving them from replicator sites to the torpedo launch tubes where they were packed and launched. The torpedoes casing protected the goods from the heat of re-entry and after a certain point in the descent parachutes would deploy. He had an impulse to climb into one and launch himself down to the planet where he might put his medical skills to use, but it was just a fleeting thought which was easily ignored.
Losira followed, quietly, watching him think. Together they took the lift up to the Bridge. Still she remained silent, noting his breathing, measuring the dilation of his pupils, watching the throb of his pulse in his neck. The lift slowed, maneuvered horizontal in order to connect to the main lift tube that would shoot them straight to the Bridge.
“You’re much calmer than when you left,” Losira finally noted.
“Well, let’s see, I beat the Klingon challenge, I think I’ve finally pushed through the chemical imbalance due to my recent Pon Farr episode, I discovered I didn’t kill Kelly’s child, and…” Garcia didn’t know what the ‘and’ was. He looked at her. “And I’m home? I don’t know. I still have lots on my plate to attend to, but I think I pushed the threshold of my ability to cope so far in the last few weeks, that I’m actually feeling better about life. Content, actually. That sounds awful, given the situation.”
“No,” Losira said. “No matter where you are, somewhere in the Universe there is chaos and all hell breaking lose, and you can’t worry about it all. You first take care of yourself, and then you bring up those around you. I’m glad you’re coping better.”
The Lift arrived and Garcia stepped off onto the Bridge. He really did feel like he was home.
“Captain on the Bridge,” Trini alerted.
“Carry on,” Garcia said.
“Welcome back, Sir,” Trini said.
“Thank you. Contact Captain Glor of the Pa Nun, secure line,” Garcia instructed. “I’ll take it in my Ready Room.”
Garcia rode up to the Ready Room, Losira still accompanying him. He gave her a look and she allowed some space between them.
“Would you prefer the illusion of privacy?” Losira said.
“I know you’re always with me,” Garcia said. He touched her shoulder. “Stay.”
Losira seemed immensely grateful for the contact and gesture, but she maintained a professional distance, knowing full well that he had business, and she needed to be ready to assist him, not to distract him.
Captain Glor appeared on his monitor just as he came to his desk. Glor laughed heartily. “So, it is official. You are a Klingon Warrior.”
“Yeah,” Garcia said. “It’s good to be Klingon. Still, I don’t feel any different.”
“What may I do for you, Brother?” Glor asked.
“You’re still cloaked?” Garcia asked.
“I am,” Glor said.
“I want you to make a transwarp jump to Cardassia prime and pick up a guest for me,” Garcia said. “I’m sending you the information now. Contact me via your Losira agent as soon as you arrive.”
“I’ll be there in a few,” Glor said. He closed the channel.
“Losira, ask Brock if he’s finished the task I wanted him to do,” Garcia said.
Losira looked up and to the right. There was already another Losira agent at Club Bliss, coordinating relief efforts on the ground with the ship, but she generated a second one to query Brock.
