Free Star Trek by Robert T. Jeschonek

side and Soloman leaped back into his chair and resumed attacking the keyboard, Fabian shrugged. “I’m pretty sure we’re about to find out what this thing is supposed to do. What do you want to bet it’s extremely dangerous and nearly unstoppable?”

Chapter
15
    â€œS ince you have failed to meet our ransom demands,” said Zhik-Wu, “we must kill our first hostage. Which one will it be?”
    Slowly, Zhik-Wu turned in a circle, pointing the tip of the long, jagged blade at Corsi, then continuing on to Rennan.
    He stopped at Carol. “I choose this one,” he said, shaking the knife in Carol’s direction. “No one can save her! She dies now, and her death will be on your head, Federation!”
    As Zhik-Wu took a step toward her, Carol shook her head. “Too over the top. And since you insist on going with the line about the Federation’s head, I’d at least make it ‘heads,’ okay?”
    â€œShe’s right!” said Mother Wu from upstairs. “Make it ‘heads’!”
    â€œAll right, all right.” Zhik-Wu looked sick and tired of being told what to do. He ruffled the heap of curly blond hair atop his head and shuffled over to Pre-Wu, who stood behind the camera.
    â€œYou know what I think? I think you’re ready to go live.” Pre-Wu grinned and slapped Zhik-Wu on the back. “You’re gonna make us rich, brother!”
    Carol’s heart beat faster as she realized that Zhik-Wu was done rehearsing his part. At her urging, he had practiced for the last hour or so, running through what he would say during each broadcast—from the initial demands to the killing of the hostages. She had done her best to drag things out, making as many suggestions as she dared and delaying the first broadcast to Starfleet—until now.
    Any minute now, the Wu brothers would shoot images of their prisoners to Starfleet Command. Everyone would know that Carol had made a dumb mistake, and that Corsi and Rennan had been caught flat-footed in a bar fight.
    At least it wouldn’t matter for long, once the Wu brothers killed their hostages, which, inevitably, they would do when the cashless society of the Federation failed to pay the ransom.
    So there was a silver lining to this whole mess after all, Carol supposed.
    â€œDo I look okay?” Zhik-Wu asked his brother.
    Pre-Wu brushed a stray curl back from Zhik-Wu’s forehead and nodded proudly. “Just relax. Reach across the link to me if you get nervous.”
    â€œWhat are you waiting for down there?” shouted Mother Wu. “Do you want me to call Starfleet myself?”
    â€œNo, Mother,” Zhik-Wu and Pre-Wu said at the same time.
    â€œThen let’s go!” said Mother Wu. “I’m getting bored!”
    The brothers looked up at the ceiling and shook their heads, then smiled at each other.
    â€œI’ve got a good feeling about this,” said Zhik-Wu, walking over to stand in front of the camera.
    â€œYou’re going to knock ’em dead,” said Pre-Wu, giving his brother a big thumbs-up sign.
    It was just then, at that exact moment, that the Wu brothers started screaming.
    They fell to the floor at the same time, writhing and clutching at their heads. Zhik-Wu knocked over the camera, which crashed down on Pre-Wu, but Pre-Wu was so completely caught up in his own agony that he didn’t seem to notice.
    Whatever affected the brothers, however, did not seem to have touched Mother Wu. “What’s going on down there? Boys? Are you all right?”
    Carol watched the twins thrashing on the floor in front of her. Just moments ago, they had been talking about killing her and her teammates, but she still felt compelled to try to help them.
    â€œThey’re in pain,” she said, shouting over the twins’ screaming to reach Mother Wu. “It seemed to hit them both at the same time.”
    â€œI’ll be right down!”