Precipice

He felt a surge of confidence as he turned to descend a staircase to the lower levels of the temple. Then he felt something collide with his forehead.

So much for Plan A,he thought, before he sank like a rock into the black pool of oblivion.

47

“Well, that’s not good,” Pe

Peering through her targeting scope, T’Pry

Shifting his gaze, Pe

“I think this is about to get interesting,” he said.

T’Pry

“Are you sure that’s—”

Before he finished his gentle protest, T’Pry

Bugger,he fumed, and then took aim at the half-dozen Klingons still standing on this side of the dive-bombed ancient temple, patrolling in the ruddy glow of firelight. T’Pry

The warrior lifted his rifle.

Pe

The remaining troops all drew down on Pe

Then one of the Klingons crumpled and dropped out of sight. Half a second later, disruptor shots from the downed warrior’s position struck the other four Klingons in quick succession.

With the path cleared, T’Pry

Damn,Pe

Imagining the danger T’Pry

There’s nothing between me and the temple,he realized. To hell with it, I’m going. He bolted over the top of the dune and ran toward the ruins. In his head he knew it was a bad idea, but in his heart he knew it was right. His feet felt light as he sprinted across the level sands, and the night air was cool upon his face.

With each step he took the night grew a shade colder. When his breath formed a misty plume ahead of him, he stopped and realized he was shivering. The pale glow of moonlight on the temple’s façade dimmed, and a darkness pure and terrible settled upon everything for as far as Pe

There was a hole in the sky.

A patch of black blotted out the stars and descended on the temple from directly overhead.

Pe

He had seen it before.

Qui

He opened his eyes to see the droplet land on the tip of a Klingon military officer’s boot. Then he lifted his head to see a weathered, goateed face dusted with sand glaring back at him.

“You’re still alive,” the Klingon officer said.

“That’s debatable,” Qui

Breaking eye contact with Qui

“Thank you,” said Zett, who stepped forward to take the Kling on’s place in front of Qui

When Qui

Twisting to speak over his shoulder, Qui

“Tempting,” Marqlar said. “If Mister Nilric’s methods prove unsuccessful, I will consider it.”

Qui

Zett’s cruel smile never wavered. To the soldiers holding Qui

The soldiers dragged Qui

“I’ll offer you a choice, Mister Qui

Fury hardened Qui

Leaning in close and dropping his voice to a sinister whisper, Zett continued. “But if you don’t cooperate with me, I’m going to glue your eyes open and have these men hold your head still while you watch her die. Then I’m going to kill you with ten thousand slow cuts, so I can savor every last ounce of your pain. Have I made myself clear to you, Mister Qui

“Perfectly,” Qui

“What makes you think so?”

With perfect calm, Qui

“What I know, Mister Qui

A disruptor shot struck the neck of the Klingon holding Qui

Another shot from the balcony killed the soldier holding Qui

Qui

Disruptor shots flew in every direction. Qui