As expected the Corvellan freighter had drawn no attention entering the Eteron system, blending in seamlessly with the heavy civilian traffic around the border planet.
Tazla Star knew exactly where to find Shuun and she was certain that it would be little trouble to track him down. Convincing him to return with her however would prove a much more challenging task.
In any case it was something she would have to do on her own, that much was certain. She had dragged N’ek’too and his men down the wrong road for far too long already. She had needed them to secure the freighter and to get to Eteron. She had not revealed any part of the plan to them so that they could always fall back on the well-proven excuse that, after all, they had just been following orders, entirely unaware of their commanding officer’s rouge intentions.
The security chief might not be able to get away quite as cleanly perhaps. A remark in his file or possibly even temporary suspension was not out of the question for him but that was a price Star was willing to pay. Taking them down to Eteron and possibly getting them killed however was not.
Star had strapped on a backpack and was checking the transport coordinates one more time before she would beam down onto the surface.
It was then that the Ariolo security chief entered the transporter room, equally prepared to leave the freighter.
“Where do you think you’re going, Lieutenant?” Star barely even looked up from the transporter console.
“I am accompanying you to Eteron.” He spoke as if it was a foregone conclusion already.
The Trill shook her head. “Negative, your orders are to remain on the freighter and await my signal.”
“I’m afraid I cannot do that.”
Star finished at the console and shot the security chief a hard look. “That's a direct order, Lieutenant.”
“With all due respect, sir, I believe you have lost the privilege of issuing me with orders when you decided to act against yours.”
Star was momentarily speechless. It had been obtuse to believe of course that N’ek’too could have been fooled to think that they had embarked on a legitimate undertaking. Even the most gullible of persons would have shaken any such notion after Star had detonated the EMP mine to mask their getaway. But somehow Star had hoped that N’ek’too would have preferred to maintaine a certain amount of ignorance in the matter.
“If you no longer recognize my authority than you have no obligation whatsoever to continue to follow me.” It was a large gamble on her part. N’ek’too could have decided then and there to place her into custody for disobeying direct orders. The truth was she didn’t know the man very well and didn’t really have any idea what he was capable of. She liked him well enough, in fact he was about the only member of her senior crew - probably former now - who she thought had no ulterior motives. And yet her hand slowly drifted towards her phaser, hidden from view behind the console.
The imposing reptile moved a step forward. “You have done your research, I take it, when you chose me for this mission.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You didn’t ask for my assistance solely because I happen to be the chief of security, did you?”
She gripped the handle of her weapon. “What are you getting at?”
“You’ve learned of the loyalty pledge that every adult Ariolo must make. You’ve used an ancient cultural aspect of my people in order to assure that I would help you in whatever you’ve planned. You knew full well that I am bound by honor to you as you are my shenk’ta, my master. I must ensure your safety with my own life for as long as you remain my shenk’ta.”
He was absolutely correct. Star had counted on exactly that. It was more than a convenient cultural tradition. It was going to ensure that she could carry out Altee’s wishes. “Alright, so I did.” She spoke without a hint of remorse. “But I am no longer your master, your shenk’ta. I have obviously lost that role when I turned against Schwarzkopf. I release you from your pledge and you have no further obligations to me.”
N’ek’too took another step forward. “Obviously your research was not complete, Captain. You cannot release me from this pledge. It is too late. I remain obligated to protect you even if your status with Starfleet is now forfeit.”
Star sighed. She didn’t need this, not now. “Okay, listen, you’ve helped me when I needed you and I’m thankful, alright? But from here on out I have to do this alone. So do whatever you have to in order to remain faithful to your pledge but I cannot allow you to follow me.”
“You have decided to go down this route, Captain. There are no compromises to be made. I have to fulfill my role as much as you have to fulfill yours.”
She brought up her phaser and pointed it at the Ariolo. “I don’t have time for a debate. You stay here, understood?”
He slowly approached until the emitter cone was just inches from his chest. At this range even a phaser set on stun had the potential to be lethal. “This will not work. You cannot force me to ignore my pledge.”
“What do I have to do to keep you from doing this?”
“You can kill me.” There was no fear or spite in his voice. “It is the only other way to release me from my pledge.”
Star wasn’t all too proud of it but the thought crossed her mind. She could shoot him now and be done with it. Perchance the blast might not even kill him. And if it did, it would not have been the first time she had looked a man in the eye before killing him. It would of course complicate her mission.
“We are wasting time, Captain. Whatever it is you need to do on Eteron, I’m sure it won’t wait.”
Strangely enough he was right, she realized. She pushed the phaser forward, jabbing it into his chest slightly. N’ek’too didn’t even flinch. This surprised her. She had expected some gesture or reaction to the threat of imminent death. But an Ariolo appeared to rival a Vulcan in stoicism.
“You follow my lead and you do exactly as I tell you.”
“Of course.”
She holstered the weapon. “Activate the transporter.” She watched him slip behind the console. There was no sign of relief on his face which remained as hard as that of a stone gargoyle.
He looked up after working the instrument for a short moment. “Ready for transport.”
“Let’s go.”
Star stepped onto the small dais and the Ariolo entered a final command before joining her. Moments later they vanished from the transporter room in pillars of bright golden light and Star came to the painful realization that this had been the exact moment she had lost all control over this little operation of hers.