Caretaker - L. A. Graf [61]
For now, though, the security chief seemed more concerned with the etiquette of Kes's rescue than with the girl herself. "If you had told us what you had planned," he was explaining for perhaps the fifth time to Neelix, "we might have anticipated your irrational behavior--" "Irrational?" Neelix sniffed with an indignation that didn't suit his cuddly appearance. "We got out of there, didn't we?"
The Vulcan lifted one eyebrow as though inclined to comment, but the Ocampa girl interrupted before he could actually speak.
"Excuse me..."
Every male in the place--Tuvok included--fixated on her with stunning suddenness. So much for Vulcan control. Janeway smothered a smile behind one hand.
"Don't blame Neelix," Kes pleaded, stroking the alien's head almost absently. "It's all my fault. I--" "That's enough." The hologram stepped back from her to angle a stern glare at the rest of the room.
"This is a sickbay, not a conference room." It locked a particularly irate scowl on Janeway. "Visiting hours are over. Everyone except my patient is to leave immediately--" "Computer." Janeway never broke the hologram's gaze. "End medical holographic program."
The doctor got as far as opening its mouth to protest before blinking out of existence. Janeway stepped away from the wall to retrieve the medical scanner the hologram had dropped upon its exit, and nodded that Kes should continue as she came across to stand beside her bed.
The girl offered Janeway the same lovely smile as she'd given the men.
You just don't know what you have over them, do you?
Janeway wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh.
"I never should have gone to the surface," Kes said, looking among all the faces standing around her. "I'm too curious. I'm told it's my worst failing--" "No, no," Neelix cooed against her hand. "It's a wonderful quality, your most endearing."
Kes looked down at him in obvious appreciation of his kindness.
"But it does get me in trouble. I knew the Kazon might find me--" "Those brutes--kidnapping you!"
Janeway waved Neelix into silence, then felt immediately guilty when he stared at her in amazement, as though completely unaware that he'd been gushing out loud.
"But if they hadn't," Kes went on, "I'd never have met you."
Still smiling lovingly at Neelix, she explained to Janeway, "Neelix stole water from the Kazon and gave it to me."
Which, given the situation on the surface, was no doubt the greatest act of love anyone could ever hope for. "Is it possible our crew members are being held captive by your people?" Janeway asked. She'd explained to Kes what they'd learned from Neelix and the Kazon on the way from the transporter room, but hadn't been able to get past Neelix's fretting enough to get much in the way of answers before now.
Kes tucked an errant strand of hair behind one ear, and frowned consideration. "We would never hold anyone captive. But the Caretaker has sent aliens to us who are sick and need care."
"Sick?" Chakotay came a few steps closer, open concern on his face.
"What's wrong with them?"
"I'm not sure." Kes shrugged; then her face melted into an expression as purely sad as her contrition had been sincere.
"But none of them has ever survived."
Never a good sign, that. Janeway thought again about Kim's mother, waiting patiently for her only son to return, and she had to force the image angrily out of her head. "Would you be willing to take us underground to look for our missing crew?" she asked.
Kes shook her head sadly. "Jabin was right." She sounded like she was apologizing for the fact. "There's no way to get