[Galaxy] [New-Darwin] 2161.09.21- Strength and Weakness

[Kate Nicholson]

~New Darwin Center, Infirmary~
 
    The gas had finally dissipated from the common room as Carter leveled
the disruptor and stared into the eyes of the Klingon captive. Most of the
human and Daliwakan wounded had been evacuated through the hidden tunnels
back to safe site one, but the young scientist had stayed behind to look
after the former captors. Outside he could see smoke rising from the
colony's command center, an indication that the infirmary raid wasn't the
only action going on.
 
    He turned his attention back to the Klingon. His hands were tied behind
him and to another of his kind, who was seated back to back with him. The
alien glared at the young Lieutenant with undisguised hatred. Behind him,
Carter could see the bodies of several of the former captives who had been
dumped unceremoniously in a corner. His eyes returned to the Klingon, the
disruptor leveling. Kalli' had warned him to kill them all.
 
    "Wh-why did you do this?" He said, his voice shaking. "Why did you have
to kill them? What do you want from us?" Carter's vision grew blurry as the
tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to tumble forth.
 
    The Klingon smiled, revealing his sharpened teeth, giving him an even
greater appearance of savagery. "You are weak." He said simply. "We came
because you are weak. You don't deserve this planet or it's resources. Only
the strong deserve to rule."
 
    Carter shot forward, bringing the weapon up under the chin of the man.
He pressed his face closer. The Klingon continued to smile. "We don't look
so weak now do we?" He said, his voice cracking.
 
    "You are." He said in reply. "If you were truly strong we would already
be dead. You lack the courage to do what needs to be done. The woman..." He
cast his eyes toward the hallway, indicating where Kalli' had led the
prisoners. "She was right. For us there is only death or victory. No other
options exist."
 
    "Oh don't they?" Carter said, pulling away. "I can think of another
one."
 
    The Klingon looked puzzled, his smile fading.
 
    "What if we were to strip you of your weapons and send you back to tell
your superiors that you were beaten by a bunch of soft humans and former
slaves? What if we told them you weren't worth our time to kill? How would
that go over?"
 
    The alien snarled. "You wouldn't dare! We would be dishonored! Our
families would be dishonored!"
 
    Now it was Carter's turn to smile. He stepped back closer, taking one
finger and running it down the alien's brow ridges. "In ancient times, on my
planet there was a custom known as 'counting coupe'. Brave warriors would
engage in combat with their enemies and strike them, but leave them alive.
It was said that the warrior stole a bit of his enemy's strength in the
process, leaving him disgraced and humiliated, but alive. A group of
weaklings has counted coup on you and yours. If you can escape, you can
crawl back to your masters and tell them of your failure. Should you
return..."
 
    The scientist spun on the Klingon, pulling his head back by a handful of
his hair. "You will find that we now share your 'strength'." He caressed the
side of the Klingon's face with the cold metallic barrel of the disruptor,
then turned and began to walk away. Behind him he could hear the alien
struggling, a string of Klingon curses flowing freely from his mouth.
 
    As he turned, Carter saw Mane standing in the hallway, leaning against
the doorframe. The redhead smiled at him as he passed her.
 
    "I'm impressed Carter." She said, letting him pass. "I thought you were
going to let him have it."
 
    "So did I." Carter said softly. "Then I realized that if I did, I'd be
just like him." He whirled to face the Amazon, his eyes full of of tears.
"And I'm not like them Mane... not like them at all..."
 
 
Lt. (Jg) Carter Austin
Chief Science Officer
New Darwin Colony
 
            &
Elizabeth Mane Walker (NPC)
Phoenix Survivor 
 
 
 
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