Dark Matters_ Cloak and Dagger (Book 1) - Christie Golden [41]
The former Borg strode inside and looked around. "Are you hiding in here, Naomi? If so, please cease doing so immediately. The Doctor has requested mat you report to sickbay for a complete physical examination."
Naomi scowled. She hated being poked and prodded. She was now very glad that she was safe within Mr. Ghost's cocoon and Seven couldn't find her.
Her combadge chirped. "Sickbay to Naomi Wildman."
Naomi gasped and stared down at the betraying piece of equipment pinned to her chest. She'd heard the Doctor calling for her earlier and had simply ignored it. Now, though, it was going to get her in trouble.
Seven, too, had heard the Doctor's voice, and now her blond head whipped around and she began to move purposefully toward the cocoon. At a loss as to what to do, Naomi looked toward her new friend.
Calmly he plucked the offending combadge off Naomi's chest, placed it down, and sent it sliding along the floor so gently that it barely made any noise. It came to a stop a scant meter away from the edge of the cocoon. Naomi was flooded with admiration for Mr. Ghost's cleverness and gazed at him with a grin.
Again, the Doctor's voice issued form. "Naomi, where are you?"
Seven followed the sound and squatted down to pick up the combadge. She examined it for a moment, then sighed in exasperation. It was the most human sound Naomi had ever heard her utter.
Tapping her own combadge, Seven said, "Seven of Nine to sickbay. I am in the cargo bay, Doctor, and I have located Naomi's combadge. She is not here."
"It's mat mutated matter again," complained the Doctor. "The child probably took it off for some silly reason and forgot to put it back on again. I'll send security after her."
Seven rose, her metal-clad fingers running over the smooth surface of the badge. "Is that really necessary?"
"She's running loose without her combadge on a Starship that could break down at any moment. Yes, I think it's necessary."
Seven raised an eyebrow but did not reply. "As you wish. I am returning to Astrometrics. Seven out."
Still holding Naomi's badge, Seven left the cargo bay. The door hissed shut behind her.
Naomi exhaled loudly. "You were so smart! That was close!"
"Yes," said her new friend, his dark eyes narrowing as he gazed after Seven. "It was. Perhaps you had best report to sickbay, Naomi. It would not do for them to have security out searching for you."
"But I don't want to leave you!" The childish wail was out before Naomi could stop it. She knew she sounded like a big baby, but she couldn't help herself. Perhaps the Doctor was right. Perhaps the- whatever it was inside her-was making her act imma-immature.
He turned to regard her, his ridged, raised brow cloaking his dark eyes in shadow, making them look even darker. For the first time since he had grabbed her, Naomi felt a thrill of fear. Maybe ghosts weren't so harmless after all.
"I told you not to arouse suspicion. I have work to do. Do you want me to suffer eternal torment, unable to pass on?"
"N-no."
"Then do as I tell you, child." He took a deep, shuddering breath, and for an instant pressed his hand to his side, as if something hurt deep inside him.
"Are you okay?'
"No. As you see, the torment is already beginning." His lips were thinned against the pain and his voice was harsh. "Go, Naomi. We will play again soon."
Reluctantly, Naomi obeyed. She would pretend she had simply wandered down to sickbay to visit the Doctor. It wouldn't do for them to know that she had heard them and deliberately kept hidden.
"Okay. But don't worry. I'll come back."
Mr. Ghost did not reply. He did not look well, that was for sure. Biting her lower lip, Naomi rose, walked through the invisible magic cocoon, and went to