Dark Matters_ Cloak and Dagger (Book 1) - Christie Golden [61]
Tom swallowed hard. Behind him, Chakotay cleared his throat.
"That could have been us," said Paris softly.
"Seems like the captain was right in not choosing to beam us directly to the Shepherd's readings," said Chakotay in a calm voice, as if nothing untoward had happened.
Chakotay moved forward and began to gather the equipment. After a moment, Tom joined him, moving slowly. Unspoken were the words, What if the Shepherds aren't really here, or won't help us? How much longer will this planet remain stable? How will we return to Voyager, and what kind of nightmare will we be returning to?
The female was humanoid, with a cascade of thick, light blue hair and eyes of a deeper sapphire shade. Her pale skin, too, had a blue luster to it, like a pearl in twilight shadow. She wore what appeared to be a uniform not unlike Starfleet's, a standard one-piece garment with bold, geometric designs. Her eyes were puffy and swollen, as if she had been crying.
"Who are you?" demanded Janeway, her caution not diminished by the flicker of pity she felt for this young woman.
"My name is Shamraa Khala Remilkansuur," she replied.
"Is this your planet?"
The woman swallowed. Her eyes grew shiny. "No," she said.
"Are you one of the Shepherds?"
She looked puzzled and shook her head. "I don't know that term."
"Are you responsible for what happened here?"
"No!" she cried, outraged. "I don't know what happened, and I don't know how I-" The woman paused. "Did you bring me here?"
"No," Janeway replied, echoing the woman's earlier negatives and lowering the phaser. "But I do have a lot of questions for you, Shamraa."
A ghost of a smile touched the woman's lips. "Shamraa is a title, a ranking. My-" There was a quick series of liquid sounds before the translator caught up with the woman's speech. "My speaking-with name is Khala."
Janeway's combadge chirped. "Chakotay to Janeway."
"Go ahead, Commander."
"The equipment has been transported down- well, most of it, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"There was a malfunction. Some of the gear materialized in the air, some inside the soil. Good call, Captain."
Janeway took a deep breath. "We're on our way. Janeway out" Her blue eyes took in Khala from head to toe. "We don't know if you're a friend or a foe, Shamraa Khala. But you're coming with us until
we find out. Doctor, how are those crazy readings doing?"
His eyes fastened on his tricorder, the Doctor shook his head slowly. "I don't know what's going on, Captain. I'd like to get our new acquaintance up to sickbay and do a full scan on her."
"Believe me," replied Janeway with a hint of grim humor, "I'd love it if we could get her up to sickbay, but unless we find the Shepherds, I don't think any of us is going anywhere. Come on, Doctor. Let's rejoin the others and prepare for a good long hike."
Khala was willing, almost eager, to go along with the Doctor and Janeway. Janeway didn't blame her. If what she said was true, men she had somehow been brought here, to a dead but still dangerous planet, against her will and with no knowledge as to why. Anybody's presence, as long as it was not hostile, would be welcome, even comforting, after an ordeal like that. As they began walking back toward the rest of the away team, Janeway put away her phaser. There were more pressing matters man training a phaser on a nonaggressive, confused, and frightened young woman.
"I see you found the life-form," said Chakotay as Janeway and the Doctor approached with Khala. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Chakotay glanced at his captain questioningly.
"This is Khala. She claims that she was taken from her planet and suddenly appeared here, apparently at the same time the planet disappeared."
Chakotay scrutinized Khala, who stood straight and tall under his examination. Finally he nodded