Cathedral by Michael Mangels (ebook reader color screen txt) 📕

taking care that his robes shielded her from anyone else’s view. The colonel’s feelings about her faith did not deserve to be scrutinized in public.

Shakaar paced the room, which had been emptied of all personnel. Yevir’s announcement had stunned him and had created a sensation throughout Deep Space 9, as well as all across Bajor. He could no longer stand to watch the reports on the secular or religious comnets, though they scrolled quietly across viewscreens set up on work tables near the windows.

Stalking over to the replicator, he angrily ordered a reqilof, but after taking one sip of the drink, he flung it and its container across the room. Curse Yevir and his little diplomatic coup! Shakaar moved to his desk and pressed a tiny button, opening a drawer. He pulled out a small silver box and stared at his reflection on its gleaming surface. Stroking the hasps that kept the box closed, he willfully changed his thinking. What can I do to turn this situation to our advantage?

The door chimed, interrupting his thoughts, and he quickly placed the silver box back into the drawer. He looked at the security monitor mounted near the door and saw that Asarem stood outside. “Come in,” he said.

The door slid open and she moved into the room, worry evident in her eyes. “Edon, I don’t mean to intrude, but we really should confer about how these latest developments might affect today’s signing ceremony.” Voicing an apparent afterthought, she asked, “Are you all right?”

He slumped into a couch, unconcerned about wrinkling his simple yet formal suit. “Why wouldn’t I be all right? Just because one of our top religious leaders has done the very thing we would not, and has struck a very public deal with the people who were once our greatest enemies?”

She took a seat across from him, and he realized that his tone was alarming her. He softened his voice and smiled. “Of course I’m ecstatic to have the Tears of the Prophets returned. Their significance to the people of Bajor is immeasurable. And perhaps we can use Yevir’s maverick actions to our political, as well as spiritual, advantage. Certainly, presenting a publicly supportive face will prove to all in the Federation just how well Bajor’s religious and secular authorities can work together. Everyone should be convinced of how very advanced and peace-loving the Bajoran people truly are—despite the depredations they’ve suffered for so many decades at the hands of their Cardassian oppressors.”

Asarem looked perplexed for a moment, but she smiled wanly. “I agree. To that end, let me also inform you that I have received a communiqué from Cardassia Prime. In the wake of Vedek Yevir’s surprising achievement, Ambassador Natima Lang is eager to resume high-level talks between Cardassia and Bajor.”

Shakaar snorted. “I expected as much.”

Asarem appeared ready to ask a question, but then her expression changed, as though she had decided against it. “Would you like me to schedule a time to restart the negotiations with Lang? It will certainly help us to take advantage of the surprising good fortune and good faith brought by Yevir and Cleric Ekosha.”

Shakaar waved his hand dismissively, and his traditionally calm demeanor returned, seeming to settle over him like a cloak. “No. We have other things to prepare for right now. Our biggest responsibility to the people of Bajor lies in the signing ceremony this afternoon. There will be plenty of time to deal with Lang and the Cardassians…especially once the Federation takes over responsibility for such things. With the UFP leading the charge, any negotiation can’t help but be a lot more favorable for us.”

Asarem’s brow wrinkled, but she nodded slowly nonetheless. Her lukewarm reaction made Shakaar consider giving her a glimpse into his desk drawer.

Asarem exited the dignitary suite a few minutes later. Two guards fell into step behind her, but neither of them spoke to her.

She wasn’t sure where she was going, nor with whom she should speak. Something had been nagging at her for weeks now, and this latest meeting with Shakaar only further crystallized her feelings. Something is different about Shakaar. It isn’t like him to be so angry and vindictive—even toward the Cardassians he used to fight during the Resistance. She was no longer sure that his agenda and hers matched.

At a time when the coming days should have filled her with hope, Asarem could feel only unease.

What does Shakaar really intend for Bajor’s future?

25

After Chief Chao had finished diverting auxiliary power to the targeting circuits, Shar attempted once again to reestablish the transporter lock on the away team as the deck beneath him shuddered and rolled.

“Nothing,” Chao said. “I’m resetting the targeting scanner and reinitializing the transporter relays. Let’s try this again.”

Standing behind Shar and the transporter chief, Bowers breathed a quiet curse when this latest attempt to lock onto the away team failed as well. “Any more combadge signals from the artifact?”

“Negative,” Shar said, shaking his head, his antennae curling backward. “But they’ve only been inside for a few minutes. I’m not even certain that time flows at the same rate inside the artifact as it does in normal space.”

“Resetting again,” Chao said, clearly not intending to give up anytime soon. “This would be a lot easier if we could bypass the relay network and bring the Defiant right up close to that artifact.”

The ship rumbled and shook yet again under the Nyazen onslaught. “That doesn’t strike me as particularly likely at the moment,” Shar said, trying very hard not to think about the fact that three of his friends and colleagues might never be recovered. And as with Thriss, their deaths would weigh heavily on his soul.

But he knew he had no time or energy to spare on such self-recriminations. We’re in a combat situation now. Turning toward Bowers, he said, “We have to get to the bridge.” Even in his own ears, his voice sounded hoarse, pained.

Bowers’s combadge spoke before either