Picard would contact the Stargazer with a com device he had hidden on his person. And before long, both he and Demmix would find themselves safely aboard the Stargazer.

Simplicity itself.

Or so the captain expected—until he was driven backward by a blinding white, shrieking burst of energy. Before he could even wonder what was happening, he slammed into something hard, rattling every bone in his head.

Then Picard felt a second impact and realized he had stopped moving. The floor, he thought, feeling its flat, reassuring presence beneath him. I’m lying on the floor.

It was only then that he opened his eyes and saw the vision of chaos that had flattened the landscape of the plaza. There were merchants and kiosks and food strewn everywhere, victims of the savage and unexpected blast.

“Him! He’s the one who set off the bomb!”

Picard turned to see who had cried out—and, more important, to whom he was referring. To the captain’s surprise, the long, accusatory finger was pointing in a most uncomfortable direction.

At Picard himself.