THE BRIDGE OF the Defiant was once again filled with people, all with a mixture of desperation and hope in their eyes. Sisko's glance took in the crew: Kira, preparing the weapons, which would most likely be needed; Odo, hunched over his panels, scanning and rescanning their path; Dax, concentrating on piloting the ship toward the ever-closer Hive O'Brien, fiddling as ever with his equipment—nothing ever seemed to work quite up to the chiefs expectations. Only Dr. Bashir was missing from the regular crew; Sisko had judged the doctor's treatment of refugees back on Deep Space Nine more important. One of his medics was filling in for him on the Defiant.
Standing beside his command chair were Tork and Sahna. Both looked just as tense as the Defiant's crew. It couldn't be easy for them, Sisko knew, to have faced the reversal of so much that they had always believed in. But now they were totally committed to saving Bajor. It looked as if Yarka had been absolutely correct: two had converted.
He could only pray it would be sufficient.
"Anything?" he called to Odo.
The shapeshifter glanced up. "Plenty," he growled. "One Hive is now stationary in the Darane system for some reason. The other is—" He broke off and grunted. It was impossible for Odo to look paler than he did, but Sisko could almost swear he managed that miracle. "The other Hive is gone."
"Gone?" Sisko echoed. Everyone turned to stare at Odo, who fidgeted uncomfortably under the group stare. "I'm reading an immense amount of radiation," he reported. "And a growing cloud of debris and plasma. If I were to take a rough guess, I'd say that the Cardassians managed to destroy the Hive that was aimed for Cardassia Prime. They also seem to have been destroyed themselves. I'm reading nothing but radiation and a spreading cloud of plasma and dust."
Sisko turned to Tork and Sahna, who were both stunned. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "You must have had friends and relatives on that Hive."
"It is only fitting," Tork said, choking. "We destroyed Darane. It is only right that we suffer." He looked distraught, however. "So many, gone."
"We must prevent the same fate befalling the remaining Hive," Sahna said firmly. She was fighting back the pain she obviously felt. "If one can fall, then both can."
"Agreed," Sisko concurred. He glanced over at Kira. "Any luck in raising the Hive?"
"They're receiving us," Kira responded. "They're just not answering our hail, for whatever reason."
Sisko rubbed his chin. "They may have seen what happened to their sister Hive. Tell them they'll be next if they don't listen to us."
"Worth a try," muttered Kira, bending to her task. A moment later, she announced, '"Grand Master Dron coming through." She patched it onto the main screen.
Dron's face scowled out at them. Sisko could see from the pain on it that he knew about the other Hive. "Sisko," the Grand Master growled. "What do you want?"
"It's not what I want," Sisko replied. He gestured at Tork and Sahna. "It's what your own people want. Call off this attack on Bajor while there's still time."
Dron grimaced. "Bajor must be absorbed, now more than ever. He glanced away from the screen and then back. "You must have seen that the other Hive has been … destroyed by a suicide attack. Only we remain to implement the Great Design. Despite any setbacks, it will proceed."
"This is insanity, Dron," Tork said angrily. "It is not the Bajorans who are insane: it is you. Call off the plan, now. It is not the true Great Design."
Dron simply shrugged. "So, you have discovered the truth?" he asked. "It does not matter. I assume that the late Hosir betrayed the secret?"
"Partially," Tork admitted. "But there were many clues to give it away." Then he started, as the meaning of Dron's words sank in. "You knew the Great Design had been changed?"
"Of course I did, you idiot," Dron snapped. "All Grand Masters since the Two Hundred and Third Hive have known that. So have many of the Hivemasters. The original Great Design was changed because it was unrealistic and unworkable. The rebels saw that, due to our agoraphobia, the original Great Design was impossible. The new one is our only hope for survival."
"By theft and murder?" Tork was appalled. "How could you condone this, and support it? You were chosen because you were supposed to be the best. The sanctity of the Great Design was your responsibility. The welfare of the Hive was your first concern."
Dron's snout wrinkled in amusement. "Do not be so naive, Tork!" he sneered. "Surely, if you know so much, then you should know it all. The Determination is just as bogus as the Great Design. The comps merely fasten their decision on what they feel you want the most. It is no more infallible than any. I reached my position because I desired it, and worked for it, not because it was fated for me."
Tork was reeling under this additional betrayal. "All of it?" he gasped. "It has all been a lie?" "Near enough," agreed Dron. "I am too weary to debate with you on this matter now. Captain," he said, turning his attention back to Sisko, "I admit that I am surprised that you actually returned Tork and Sahna instead of holding them hostage, but I thank you. You may deposit them and then leave. You are no longer welcome here."
Sisko grinned. "I always keep my word, Dron," he replied. "I told you they'd be returned safe and sound, and they are. But I'm not leaving."
"If you do not, you will be destroyed," Dron informed him.
"They're launching attack ships," Odo called out. "I count ten of them."
"Red alert," Sisko said calmly. "Raise shields. Weapons to full strength."
"Dron!" Tork called. "This is insanity! There is no reason to attack this vessel. It means you no harm."
"Idiot," muttered Dron. He moved to cut off the communication.
"Wait!" cried Tork, frantically. "You must restore the original program and complete the real Great Design."
"Never," said Dron with finality, and the screen reverted to stars.
"Well," said Kira brightly, "that could have gone better." Sisko turned to face Tork and Sahna. "Now what will you do?" he asked gently. "Dron knew the truth all along, and has no intention of allowing it."
Tork thought for a moment. Sahna rubbed his shell supportively. "I will follow where you lead," she said simply.
Tork nodded. "Captain, this transporter of yours. Could you use it to put us aboard the Hive?"
"Not with our shields up," Sisko answered. "And not through the Hive's shields, either. We need to get inside them."
"I understand."
"We can't drop our shields while we're being attacked,"
Kira pointed out. "We'd be sitting ducks if we did."
"Do not worry," Tork informed her. "There is an option." He crossed to her panel, and studied the screens. "The ten attack ships will close in shortly. We must deactivate them."
"Right!" agreed Kira, sarcastically. "And how do we do that?"
"I am a Hivemaster," Tork informed her simply. "I have all security clearances." He started to tap commands into the communication panel. "We shall simply transmit a signal that will shut down their weapons and propulsion."
A wide grin split Kira's face. "You're my kind of guy, Tork," she enthused. "Go to it."
Sahna turned to Sisko. "If we can get aboard the Hive," she said, "the propulsion unit is controlled from a command deck near the Council quarters. Would it be possible to transport into that?"
"I'd need coordinates," Sisko replied. "Chief, do you have the ones for the Council chambers?"
"Aye, Captain." O'Brien smiled. "And if Sahna knows how far away the control deck is, I can juggle the figures a bit and try to get them closer."
"Excellent." Sisko nodded to Sahna, who scuttled over to O'Brien's station.
The main screen showed the remaining Hive growing as they approached it. Sisko couldn't see the ten interceptors, but the sensors were tracking them. He hoped that Tork could get the commands ready before it was necessary to fire on the enemy. It was getting harder and harder to think of the Hive dwellers as the enemy now. It was clear that only the Hivemasters had really been in control of what had happened at Darane. The bulk of the population of the Hive was oblivious to what had been done.
Closing," Dax murmured.
"I'm reading the attack ships," Odo growled. "They're powering up their weapons."
Sisko glanced across to Kira and Tork. They were both crouched over her panel with intense expressions on their faces. They glanced at one another, and then Kira slapped her hand down on the controls.
"The vessels are losing power," Odo reported. "Their weapons systems are also standing down."
"Good work," Sisko said. That was one less problem to worry about.
"Incoming call from the Hive," Kira reported. "You want to acknowledge it or ignore it, Captain?"
"Put it on the main screen," Sisko decided. "Perhaps Dron wants to talk."
The Grand Master's face filled the screen again. "You have betrayed the Hive!" he screamed, focusing on Tork.
"No," Tork answered calmly. "You have. Restore the original programming now."
"No," Dron hissed. "You do not understand what it will mean. Whatever you do, you cannot succeed."
"We can and we will," insisted Tork. "'You must cease this futile struggle now."
The screen went dead.
"I think we can take that as a no," observed Odo.
"What did he mean?" asked Sahna, worried. "He said that we do not know what we are doing."
"He's bluffing," guessed Kira. "He's just trying to get you to stop."
"Perhaps," agreed Tork. "In any event, it does not matter.
We shall go through with our plan. It is the only way to save my people from the lies, and to save Bajor from destruction. We have no other options. We must trust that the First Hive knew better than Dron thinks they did."
"Approaching the Hive," Dax called. "Their shields are up." .
I'm reading an energy buildup," Odo added. "It looks as if there's some weaponry being trained at us."
"Laser defenses," Tork answered briefly. "My next command will override both them and the airlock controls. Once we are inside the Hive, the transporter should function." He tapped in a command.
"They're bound to be trying to change the codes," Sisko observed. "Let's hope they can't do it quickly enough to stop us."
"Shields dropping," Dax confirmed. On the screen, they could see a gap appearing as the airlock Tork had targeted began to open. "Taking us in." She flipped the Defiant through a roll, and into the capacious airlock. Thrusters brought them to a momentary rest, hovering, as the outer lock closed and the inner one cycled open. As soon as she had the room, Dax boosted the Defiant through the gap and into the Hive proper.
This was the first sight of the interior of the Hive from most of the crew. There were several gasps of surprise and delight and an admiring "Lovely technology!" from O'Brien. Dax concentrated on piloting the Defiant down the main axis of the Hive. Thankfully, most of the smaller air traffic had been cleared.
"The away team had better get down to the transporter room," Sisko said. "Tork: you, Sahna, Dax, Odo, and Kira. O'Brien, scan the target zone again. We don't want them materializing inside a wall." He took over the pilot's seat as Dax relinquished it. "I've always wanted to fly this thing," he told her with a grin. '
"Don't damage it, Benjamin,'" Dax answered, winking.
"It's our only ride home."
"I'll be careful."
As the away team left the bridge on a run, Sisko concentrated on taking them as close to the transport zone as he could.
O'Brien cursed, and glanced up from his panel. "Captain, I'm reading energy discharges close to the target zone. It looks like there's some kind of a fight going on down there."
"Well, that might explain why the Hive is stalled in space," Sisko replied. "You'd better put the away team down outside the region, and warn them to have their phasers ready. We may have come in on the start of a civil war."
As soon as she materialized, Kira had her phaser in hand, scanning the corridor in which she found herself with the rest of the team. Odo was beside her, his own weapon at the alert. Dax scanned with her tricorder. "Seven Hive dwellers ahead," she announced. "They seem to be assaulting the control deck."
"We should join them," Tork said, eagerly. "Perhaps they are trying to stop Dron themselves."
"Maybe," growled Odo. "Maybe not. Let us go first. You and Sahna follow behind. We're more used to this sort of thing than you are." He led the way down the corridor, as Kira kept up with him.
'They emerged into a plaza that fronted on the control deck. Shutters were over the windows, and the seven aliens Dax had detected were staying behind barricades, firing at the shuttered area.
"An assault," muttered Odo. "But which side?"
Tork glanced over his shoulder. "That's Master Raldar," he exclaimed. "And six of his men. They're definitely on Dron's side."
"Then we take them out," Kira announced. "Whoever they're after must be on our side." She stood up and fired two sharp blasts from her phaser. Odo and Dax joined in. The six security men collapsed, without even knowing what had hit them.
"Did you kill them?" asked Sahna, anxiously.
"Stunned," Kira replied tersely. Raldar himself had escaped the first barrage, and, alerted by the phaser sound, dropped into cover. "Damn." She fired again, but succeeded in only hitting the barrier Raldar was behind.
"We'll not get past him easily," Dax commented. "He's in a good position, and he probably called for backup."
"But he's not prepared for me," Odo commented. He tossed his phaser to Kira. "I'll be back."
Then he melted into a puddle.
Sahna gasped, and jumped back. "What …?"
"He's a shapeshifter," Kira explained. "Let's hope that Raldar has the same reaction." She grinned and watched from cover as Odo flowed across the metal floor toward the barricade. Raldar popped up briefly to fire his gun at them. It created some form of electrical discharge that singed the wall beside Kira, She ducked back, then fired again as Raldar vanished.
Peering out, she saw that the Odo puddle had vanished. Then, rising behind the barrier, she saw Odo re-form. There was a squeal from Raldar, and then silence.
"All clear," called Odo. "He won't be bothering us for a while."
Kira led the charge toward the barrier, as Odo pulled Raldar out of the way. "Now what?" she asked, flopping down beside him.
"We'd better contact whoever is inside," Dax suggested, as she, Tork, and Sahna reached them. "We have to get in there, and I don't really want to go in phasers blazing. We might damage the computers."
Kira nodded, and then called, "Hey in there! This is Major Kira. We're here to help. We have Tork and Sahna with us!"
After a moment, a voice called out, "Prove it!"
Standing, Tork replied, "I am here. We are safe and with friends. We must gain entry to the control deck."
There was another brief pause, and then the main door cracked open. "Come on," the voice called out. "Quickly. Security reinforcements are on their way."
Tork led the sprint for the half open door. As soon as the small party was inside, the door was closed and barred and equipment was pushed back against it. Kira was astonished to see that the person who had let them in also wore the security badge affixed to his shell. "What's going on?" she demanded.
"Over here," called a slightly cracking female voice from the computer banks.
Sahna gave a delighted laugh. "Bree! What are you doing here?"
"Leading a revolt," Bree answered gleefully. "Dron is furious, of course, but the truth is getting out about the murders on Darane. It is causing tremendous unrest."
"If you think that caused trouble," Kira told her, "wait till you hear what else Tork and Sahna have discovered."
While Sahna and Tork filled their colleagues in on their discovery, Kira contacted the Defiant. "We're in the control room," she reported. "It's being held by friends of Sahna's, so it looks good for now. How are things up there?"
"Fine," came back Sisko's reply. "They're taking a few halfhearted potshots at us, but it's nothing we can't handle."
Kira returned her attention to Tork, who had finished his explanations. "Hosir left this data for us," he explained. "It will set in motion the real Great Design. It does not call for the destruction of any inhabited worlds. But we do not know what it will do instead."
"Then why are we standing around talking?" demanded Bree. "Feed it to the computers, and let's see what happens." She led the way to the main navigational panel. "Tirhe, start up the engines again," she ordered. "We must head for the closest desolate world."
As Tork started to download the information from his comp, the communicator chimed on the panel. Dimas checked the call and looked up frowning. "It is Dron," he reported.
"Accept," said Tork, passing the comp to Sahna. "Continue," he told her. "I must try again to convince Dron." She nodded and went on with the data transfer. Tork stood before the screen. "What do you want?" he asked.
Kira saw that there was shrubbery behind Dron's face this time. He was out of his office, and moving. It wasn't hard to guess where he was heading. She nodded to Odo. "Another assault on the way."
"Then we'd better be ready," he answered. He glanced at Dimas. "Trouble."
"I expected it," Dimas admitted, hoisting his tingler. "We had better stand by the doors again."
Kira listened to the conversation as she sought out a good spot to defend. She settled beside one of the shuttered windows, phasering a small hole to see and shoot out of.
"You must give up this insanity!" Dron demanded. "You have no idea what you are doing."
"I am completing the Great Design," Tork informed him placidly. "Whatever happens now is what should happen."
Dron cursed. "Did it not occur to you to ask yourself why we changed the Great Design?" he questioned. "The original one was unworkable. It had to be modified."
"The First Hive built the Hive," Tork stated. "They knew what they were doing. I am willing to trust their judgment."
"Do not be such a fool!" pleaded Dron. "Their plan was to abandon the Hive and return to living on a planet. You know that this is unworkable. Our people cannot live in open spaces. You yourself are proof of this."
Tork shook his head. "I am proof that we can survive it if we must. If the Great Design is that we return to life on a planet, then so be it. We shall adapt, if we are worthy of survival." There was a gasp from one of the security guards in the room, but Tork ignored it.
"You are insane!" Dron exclaimed. "The aliens have warped your mind."
"No," said Tork coldly. "You wished to warp my mind. You and those like you lied to us systematically for generations. You tried to split Sahna and me. You had Harl framed for sabotage and murder. You have suppressed the Great Design, and even now you are willing to lie and murder to achieve your goals. You do not care about the welfare of the Hive. All that concerns you is your own power. And that is now finished."
"Not yet, it isn't," snarled Dron. "Surrender and stop your foolish plan now, or else suffer the consequences."
"We have nothing more to say to one another." Tork broke the contact. Then he glanced nervously at Kira. "I suspect he still has some plan in his twisted mind."
"You're right," Odo interrupted. He gestured out at the plaza. "Take a look at this."
Tork ran to join Kira, and they both peered out at the empty, barricade-strewn area. From one of the side streets, there came a grinding sound, and then the snout of a large machine. Running on large tires, it simply moved along, crushing whatever was in its path. The device was about twenty feet long and eight high. It had a large blade at the front, with a small nozzle protruding.
"A repair drone," Tork said, worried. "Used for demolition work."
"And I have a nasty suspicion that it's aiming to demolish us," Odo muttered.
There was a loud crack, and the muzzle spat flame in their direction. The three of them and the security guards threw themselves to the floor, just as the whole wall fell on them in the blast of a heavy explosion.