Distant Shores - Marco Palmieri [65]
“I… detect levels of neural damage in my neocortical processor,” she said thickly, “Isolytic leakage in my bioregulation moderator and preomenor.”
“Ah,” said Neelix, in what he hoped would be a calming, of-course-I-understand sort of way. The tricorder beeped as its diagnostic cycle ended and presented him with the same report, albeit phrased in terms the Talaxian could better grasp. “Your leg is broken in two places,” he said gently, “and there’s some internal bleeding.” He forced a smile. “I’m sure your nanoprobes will be on the job! You’ll be fixed in no time!”
Seven’s gaze was unfocused. “I was struck directly by several large stones,” she said, in a matter-of-fact tone, “I require- ” Without warning, her head lolled, like a sleeper on the edge of a doze. The tricorder chirped out a warning, but in the next moment she was awake again. She pointed into the gloom. “There is a medical kit in my equipment case.”
Neelix found the backpack and the blue plastic box embossed with the Starfleet caduceus, recovering a hypospray and a vial of anti-infective. Seven’s ragged breathing eased as he discharged the injector at her neck. “I’m going to try to contact the captain,” he told her, gathering up the torch and getting to his feet. Neelix swept the lamp across the breadth of the cavern, tapping the communicator on his breast. “Away team to Voyager.”
The combadge made a desultory click and stayed silent. He tried again, his face forming a frown as the torchlight illuminated the entrance vent they had used to descend to this level. The rock tunnel was gone, hidden beneath a mound of stone and earth that even hand phasers would be ill suited to breach. He tapped the badge over and over, rephrasing his message as if that might somehow help it get through to the starship orbiting high overhead.
“You are wasting your effort,” Seven said flatly. “Signals will not penetrate the strata of this area.” She indicated the rocks. “The veracite ore and yurium present here block all energy transmissions below- “
“Yes, of course,” snapped the Talaxian, irritation flaring inside him. He smothered the feeling quickly and gave the former Borg drone a wan smile. “Not to worry. I’m sure Captain Janeway is aware of the situation. If you just sit tight and wait- “
“I have little choice,” Seven responded. Her hand strayed to her head and she blanched. “I will require medical assistance quite soon.”
“I’ll do the best I can.” Neelix rooted inside the medkit and recovered a handful of devices; he’d taken the Doctor’s emergency first aid refresher course just like the rest of Voyager’s crew, but half the gear in the case was alien to him. You’re the wrong man for this job, said a voice in the back of his mind. She’ll die if you don’t get her out of here. He forced the thoughts away with another smile and gave the drone another dose of detoxin and stimulant. “This should help you.” He glanced at the tricorder and hesitated. “How… how long do you think you can, uh…”
When Seven replied there was a line of anxiety in her voice that Neelix had never heard before. “My internal diagnostics indicate that neural shutdown will occur in less than nine hours. Brain death will commence approximately ten to sixteen minutes after that.”
“Oh,” he said. “Some doctor I am, asking the patient for the diagnosis, eh?” The attempt at levity was as weak as his grin. Neelix touched Seven’s hand and gave it a warm squeeze, the metal of her implants cool against his skin. “Don’t worry, Seven. We’ll get out of this long before… I mean, we’ll be all right.”
“Your optimism is appreciated, if not actually beneficial.”
He fumbled inside the backpack and recoiled when his fingers touched something damp and mushy. “The ration packs were crushed…. They’ve all burst open and spoiled.”
Seven eyed him. “I think it unlikely that we will starve to death.”
“That’s it!” Neelix replied, “Think positive!”
“We are more likely to perish in another earthquake before that occurs.”
“Well, those Starfleet edibles are poor excuses for food, anyway. ‘MR-E,’ Meals Ready to Eat indeed. Do you