that much. You say you’re concerned about the security of the Federation, but I think there are other things at play here. The only question is whether those other things are of any relevance to me.” Before Nechayev could respond, Morgan continued on the thought. “As of this point, I have to think the answer is no. Let your motivations be your own. If Mac is truly determined to try and get rid of me, then I have larger considerations. More than anything… more than anything,” she added emphasis in order to show how serious she was, “I need to be able to go on in order to protect Robin.”
“Your daughter?”
Morgan nodded. “It is a dangerous galaxy out there, and she is alone in it. She needs me to be available to her as a resource. I’ve been trying to give her distance. She wants to make her own way, and I respect that. But sooner or later, she is going to need me, and I have to be there for her and for my grandson. Mackenzie Calhoun can be extremely formidable, and even if the odds of his disposing of me are a million to one, there is still that one that cannot be accounted for. So if some additional advantage is being presented to me, then I have to seize it.”
“I think you’re making a wise decision,” said Nechayev diplomatically.
“Oh, good. The opinion of a traitor to her people means a lot to me.”
Nechayev didn’t respond.
Morgan stopped her circling, which was of some relief to Nechayev. “So,” said Morgan, “what’s Calhoun’s plan?”
“His plan?” Nechayev echoed.
“Yes, his plan.” Morgan let her annoyance show. “You’re supposed to be helping me. So tell me his plan to destroy me.”
Nechayev shifted uncomfortably and cleared her throat. “He hasn’t told me everything.”
“What has he told you?”
“In so many words—?”
“Admiral…” Morgan said warningly.
“Nothing,” she was finally forced to admit. “He hasn’t told me a damned thing.”
“Well, that’s a lot of no help whatsoever.”
“He’s being cautious. He’s not sure who he can trust, and so he’s not trusting anyone.”
“That can’t be the case,” Morgan assured her. “Calhoun has many qualities, but a computer genius he is most definitely not. He’s going to require allies at some point.”
“As soon as I find out—”
“Do you have any reason to assume that he’s going to confide in you at some subsequent point, considering he hasn’t done so thus far?”
She was loath to admit it, but there really was only one answer to that. “Probably not.”
“Then how can you possibly be of any use to me?”
“Because,” said Nechayev, “I know people. People who can, in fact, be of great use. It is simply a matter of determining the maximum effectiveness for them. And I have a plan that will suit both our needs.”
“Do you?” Morgan sounded unconvinced but nevertheless intrigued.
“I do indeed.”
Nechayev then laid it out for her. It was a simple plan, really, as the best plans were, since they allowed for the fewest number of things to go wrong.
Morgan listened to the entire thing, and Nechayev was heartened to see her nodding. When she finished describing the plan, Morgan didn’t answer immediately. Instead she considered it for a few more moments. Knowing the speed with which Morgan’s mind worked, Nechayev had to think that Morgan was giving it an insanely deep amount of consideration, trying to see the flaws and—with any luck—finding none.
“All right,” Morgan said at last. “I’m in.”
“Excellent,” said Nechayev. “My allies and I thank you.”
“I don’t give a damn about you or your allies. Just about me and my daughter and grandson. The rest of you can go hang for all I care.”
“Be that as it may,” said the admiral diplomatically, “it’s my opinion that you are going to be a far greater ally to this office than Mackenzie Calhoun ever could be.”
“It would certainly be preferable to having me as an enemy,” said Morgan and then, with a snap of her fingers that she doubtless tossed in for dramatic flair, Morgan Primus vanished from Admiral Nechayev’s office.
Nechayev let out a low sigh, not realizing until that moment that she’d been holding her breath.
This may have been a huge mistake, she thought, but realized there was no turning back. She would just have to live with the consequences of her decisions, presuming that—by the time all of this was done—living was still an option.
Xenex
Now
It would never have happened if M’k’n’zy hadn’t been distracted. Never. His ability to perceive danger was simply too well honed