Day of Honor - Michael Jan Friedman [51]
Paris tried to explain. "That ... if there's any way I can help you adjust to life on Voyager ... please ask me."
The Borg cast a sidelong look at him. She seemed cautious, even wary. But then, she barely knew himbarely knew anyone on Voyager. In her place, in a strange environment, he would have been uncertain about the motives of everyone around him.
But Paris was sincere in his desire to help her. He hoped Seven of Nine knew that.
"I will remember your offer," she told him.
A moment later, they reached engineering.
Tuvok guided Lumas along the corridor as gently as he could. The Caatati seemed stunned by his encounter with Seven of Nine, as if he had been dealt an actual, physical blow.
" She's a Borg," Lumas spat, and not for the first time. "A Borg. . ."
When they entered the transporter room, Janeway was waiting for them with Burleson, the transporter operator. It didn't take the captain more than a glance to see that something was wrong.
The Caatati glowered at her. "How could you?" he gasped.
How could I what?" asked Janeway.
We encountered Seven of Nine in the corridor," the Vulcan explained, regretting the incident with an intensity no human would understand. "Our guest did not react positively to her presence."
Janeway nodded. "I see."
Lumas's mouth twisted with hatred. "She's a killer, Captain Janeway. She must be destroyed."
Janeway frowned. "She's not a killer anymore. She's been cut off from the Borg collective."
"No!" the Caatati insisted, his eyes blazing in their deep, shadowed sockets. "She'll betray you first chance she gets!"
"I'll take that into account," the captain said. Then she glanced at Tuvok. "If you please?"
The Vulcan took hold of Lumas's arm and escorted
him to the transporter grid. The Caatati struggled for a moment, but soon realized he had no chance against Tuvok's great strength,
"Don't be a fool!" Lumas rasped, remaining on the grid as the Vulcan stepped back. "Don't you know what the Borg are capable of? Kill her while you still can!"
Janeway didn't comment. Instead, she turned to the transporter operator. "Energize, Lieutenant."
Burleson did as she was told. The glittering transporter effect began to appear around the Caatati.
"Kill her!" Lumas insisted, his hands clenching into fists. "Make her pay for what she did! Make her-"
He was gone before he could get the rest out.
Tuvok looked at the captain. "I take full responsibility for what happened. I should have made certain of Seven of Nine's whereabouts before I escorted Lumas to the transporter room."
Janeway returned his gaze. "You're not perfect, Tuvok. No one is."
"I am the security officer on this ship," he pointed out. "Some oversights are inexcusable."
She sighed. "You'll do better next time."
"Indeed," said the Vulcan. "You may rely on that."
Changing the subject, the captain turned to the empty transporter grid. "You know," she remarked, "I liked it better when we were saying goodbye to Rahmin. He, at least, remembered to say thank you."
It was an unfortunate way to end their dealings with the Caatati, she mused. She just hoped it wouldn't come back to bite them in the end.
WHEN JANEWAY RETURNED TO HER READY ROOM, SHE found the Doctor waiting for her there.
"I hope you don't mind," he said. "I took the liberty of transferring my program to this location."
The captain frowned. "To be honest, Doctor, I'd prefer you didn't make a habit of it. A captain's ready room is her refuge. Her sanctum sanctorum, if you will. It's unsettling to come back to such a place and find someone else already there."
The Doctor nodded. "I understand. It won't happen again."
Janeway crossed the room and sat at her desk.
"Thank you. But since you're here already, what can I do for you?"
"Are you ... er, busy?" he asked.
"No more than unusual. What's on your mind?"
"I wish to ... vent my frustrations," he said. "I
was hoping you wouldn't mind if I did it here. With you."
"Go ahead," she replied, though she had a feeling she might regret it.
The Doctor began to pace. "As you know, I've been