Day of Honor - Michael Jan Friedman [32]
But since his youth, Rahmin had merely helped train technicians. His practical knowledge was actually quite limited-and his leadership abilities, in Lumas's view, were virtually nonexistent.
Lumas, by contrast, had been a man of accomplishment, a builder. He was better suited to solving complex and difficult problems-sometimes in ways the squeamish did not approve of.
"So," he said, eyeing the image of Rahmin on the screen. "We meet again, my friend. And, as I understand it, none too soon."
The other man's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Lumas shrugged. ,rye heard you had dealings with a ship called Voyager. And that you profited by the experience."
"Who told you that?" asked Rahmin.
"Traders," said Lumas. "They had offered to take one of our ships off our hands, in exchange for a quantity of food. When I declined their offer and suggested something more equitable, tlxe remarked .y that the Caatati were not nearly as desperate as they had heard. Why, a ship commanded by someone named Rahmin had actually spurned them altogether."
He tapped his chin with a forefinger, pretending to give the matter some thought. "Now, how could a Caatati vessel reject a trader out of hand? Especially when that trader might have food and medicine, which it would be willing to exchange for spare engine parts?"
Lumas acted as if he had suddenly been struck with an idea. "Unless, of course, that same Caatati vessel had all the food and medicine it needed. And perhaps a supply of thorium isotopes as well."
Rahmin's eyes grew wide with trepidation. "You'll not get our thorium," he declared. "Even if there are three of you to our one."
Lumas shook his head. "Generosity was never one of your best qualities, my friend. But don't worry.
You need not part with your newfound wealth. All you have to do is tell me where to find this treasureladen Voyager."
Rahmin hesitated. "They treated us well. Too well to send the likes of you after them, Lumas."
Lumas flushed with indignation. "The likes of me?"
he raged. "Have you forgotten where you come from, Rahmin? Or that I came from the same place? Does the same blood not run in both our veins?" He gestured to his bridge technicians. "And theirs as well?"
The Caatati on the viewscreen looked pained by the accusation-just as Lumas had intended. Now was the time to press his case.
"We're all Caatati," Lumas said in a softer voice. "All victims of the same devastation. If we can't help each other, Rahmin, do we still deserve to survive at all?"
Rahmin swallowed. "Perhaps you're right," he replied contritely. He looked down. "Forgive me, Lumas. We've been wandering so long, living hand to mouth, I've forgotten what common decency is."
Lumas smiled. "Then you'll help us?"
The other Caatati nodded. "Yes. Of course. As you so aptly put it, the same blood runs through all of us. May you have as much luck with Captain Janeway as I did."
Turning to one of his own technicians, Rahmin said, "Transmit the coordinates where we encountered Voyager. And also her heading at the point when we left her." He turned back to Lumas. "That's the best we can do."
Lumas inclined his head. "Then it will have to be
enough."
And it would be, he thought. He and his fellow survivors would find this Voyager. And when they did, they would be as well off as Rahmin's bunch.
Maybe better.
B'ELANNA SAT IN A FUNK AT A TABLE IN VOYAGER'S MESS hall, picking at her lunch in a desultory fashion. Nothing was going her way.
And the day was still young. Who knew what horrors awaited her before it was over?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Neelix coming her way. The engineer sighed. The Talaxian was no doubt bent on cheering her up. Little did he know what he was up against.
"My, my," said Neelix. "If ever I saw a job for the morale officer, it's sitting right here."
Some time ago, the captain had given him that honorary position on the ship. The Talaxian took it seriously,