Death of a Neutron Star - Eric Kotani [67]
It then became clear that Captain Janeway was now defending the Qavok homeworld from Xorm attempt to alter the neutron star's path. It had not occurred to Qados that the Xorm would even try such a thing. Yet, in hindsight, he should have expected it. Such a monstrous thing was in the Xorm nature.
"Captain," his communications officer said, using the signal of complete subservience. "Voyager approaches. Hails us."
"On the main," Qados said. He stood and stepped forward, so that Captain Janeway could not see the destruction behind him. No point in letting an enemy know any more than they needed to know. Even though this enemy had just defended his homeworld.
"Captain Janeway," Qados said as the pale, sickly human face of the captain appeared on the screen. "Your actions in defense of the Qavok homeworld have been noted."
"Good," Janeway said. "Then you won't mind my taking your ship, will you? We need to run a few errands."
"What?"
"I have no time to debate," she said, baring her teeth at him. "Stand by. You will be held in a safe place until we can transport you to the Lekk homeworld, where they will do with you as they please."
"We will fight to the death to defend our ship," Qados said.
Janeway just sighed and cut the connection.
"Stand ready to be boarded," he shouted.
At that moment the bridge around him started to shimmer, as if he were looking at it through three eyelids instead of two.
Then it faded to black.
He opened all four eyelids, but it remained black for that instant.
Then around him a new room shimmered into being. Metal walls, and a damaged shuttle sitting on one side of the room. Ten humans with weapons stood around the area where he had appeared.
He, and the rest of his crew.
All without weapons.
He patted his chest, searching for his gun to cut the humans down. His guns were also gone.
He roared and charged the closest guard.
Only to smash hard into a forcefield and go down on his back.
His third eyelid closed, then his fourth.
And around him the nightmare faded to black.
"Got them all," Kim said, looking up and
smiling.
"Mr. Tuvok, are the prisoners contained?" "They are, Captain he said, his voice coming clear through the comm from the shuttle deck.
"But it seems we have violated a cultural taboo by depriving them of weapons. They are cowering in comers."
"Wait until the Lekks get a hold of them," Jane-way said. "I have a sneaking hunch this will seem minor."
Near the door to the bridge Lieutenant Tyla nodded and smiled.
"I agree," Tuvok said.
"How much time do we have, Mr. Kim?" Janeway asked, turning her attention away from the thought of over a hundred cowering lizards and back to the task at hand.
"Using the Qavok warp core, five minutes and ten seconds."
"Tyla," Janeway said, "think you can fly a Qavok warship on thrusters, at least well enough to send it down into that binary?"
"I would gladly sacrifice my life to do so," Tyla said, her face firm, her back straight.
"I have no intention of sacrificing your life," Janeway said, making* sure she did not smile. "Or mine. I'm going along with you."
Lieutenant Tyla looked puzzled, but said nothing.
"Transporter," Harry whispered. "Remember?"
Lieutenant Tyla's face brightened and she nodded.
Janeway tapped the comm. "Seven, are you ready?"
"Standing by," Seven said.
"Mr. Kim," Janeway said. "We have no time to go to the transporter room. Site-to-site transfer. Put us on the bridge of the Invincible and keep a computer lock on us at all times."
"Understood."
"You have the bridge, Commander," Janeway said.
She smiled at the worried look on her second-in-command's face, then said, "Energize."
B'Elanna crawled