Caretaker - L. A. Graf [57]
It seemed the Array hadn't made many friends at all in this section of space. "This same entity has abducted two of our people," Janeway told him. He squinted at her with interest, but didn't interrupt. "We believe they might be with the Ocampa."
Jabin shrugged. "There's no way to get to them. We've tried."
As though forcible attack were the only way any sane being would approach the problem. "The entity has established some kind of subterranean barrier we cannot penetrate."
"But she got out." Chakotay gestured at the girl, who now stood close enough for them to see the color of her bright eyes, but still outside Jabin's easy reach.
The Kazon leader shot a glare at her, and the Ocampa moved a few more steps away from him, circling to stand on a line with Tuvok and Neelix.
"Occasionally," the Kazon grumbled, "some do find their way to the surface. We don't know how. But the Ocampa always seal the tunnels afterward."
Neelix spared a stiff smile for the silent girl. "Maybe she could help these good people find a way down."
"You'd be wasting your time with her," Jabin told him. "I've used every method of persuasion I know to get her to help us."
He scowled at her darkly. "She won't."
Neelix transferred his smile just as readily to the Kazon. "Then she's worthless to you. Let us trade you water for the scrawny little thing." He waved his fingers at the girl, as though she were too distasteful to consider touching.
Jabin peered from Neelix to the Ocampa, and Janeway got the impression he was trying to decide which one he hated more. "I would be more interested in acquiring this--" Suddenly, his keen eyes locked on Janeway, and he smiled coldly. "--technology that allows you to create water."
Janeway shook her head. "That would be difficult. It's integrated into our ship's systems." She was definitely never, ever going to let Neelix establish the grounds from which they negotiated again.
Jabin barked a command to a handful of the Kazon who still immersed their arms in the now half-empty water vats, sucking down great handfuls between their laughter and coarse comments.
They broke away instantly at his call, and Jabin drew them into a huddle around him so they could growl back and forth among themselves without Janeway's people hearing. Janeway drummed her fingers impatiently against one leg. He wasn't a stupid man, this Jabin. His danger lay in the fact that he still wasn't as smart as he believed himself to be.
A warm, certain thought sprang to the forefront of Janeway's brain without warning. (Do not trust them. They will never let me go.) She blinked, startled, and glanced at Paris and Chakotay for some sign that they had heard it, too. She found the Indian staring in amazement at the girl, while the Ocampa looked back with frank intensity, not at all intimidated by his attention.
Jabin broke apart his impromptu council with a wave of his arms.
"I have decided to keep the Ocampa female," he announced loudly.
Two of his companions brought their weapons to bear on Janeway, and the Kazon leader followed up with a greasy smile. "And all of you."
It wasn't as if Janeway hadn't expected some sort of treachery from this Kazon Maje. It just irritated her when small-minded dictators started acting like they could push everyone else round as easily as they did their terrorized subjects. She sighed and crossed her arms.
"Tell them to drop their weapons!"
Janeway would never have guessed Neelix could move so fast. One instant, he was glued to Tuvok's side, his eyes on the lovely Ocampa girl--the next, he was practically clinging to the front of Jabin's tunic, a small hand weapon that Janeway hadn't even known he'd carried shoved under the Maje's chin. She didn't know whether to be amused at his audacity,