Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [55]
"I see. Sounds sweet."
They faced each other in silence for a moment. Chakotay didn't want it left like this. He knew there was more he wanted to say.
And he couldn't say for sure she wasn't right.
"You are key to so much of this," he finally added. "You have to work with them. As chief engineer, you could at least try to keep an open mind."
She closed her eyes, then opened them and looked up at him again.
"Maybe things just aren't happening soon enough."
"I know, but they will. This is your Klingon blood talking, I think.
I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to it; we both know it will always be a part of you, that you need it, but... maybe you should try listening to your human side, for now."
B'Elanna took a breath. "My human side feels the same way," she said.
"And, Commander, since you are acting as captain, you could also try to keep an open mind."
She turned away. This time when the door opened onto the bridge, she stepped through and kept going. Chakotay watched her leave, then found Tassay standing there, waiting for him to come toward her. She was lovely, and highly skilled as a negotiator, and very, very friendly.
It was almost too good to be true...
CHAPTER 10
An indirect approach seemed wisest. Janeway led the way around the south end of the Drenarians' extensive planted fields, following a line of trees and brush that bordered the field.
Finally the three of them drew within sight of the knoll where the shuttle had landed. They crouched lower among the bushes, using them for cover. Ash and soot had covered them from head to toe, blending them in with their surroundings almost completely.
Nan Loteth had given them lengths of cloth to tie bandanalike over their noses and mouths, which helped them to breathe. These had proven quite effective.
Janeway's first concern was that any Televek present might have infrared sensing equipment trained on them. Tuvok kept watch with his tricorder. He ran a fresh scan, and decided that, so far at least, they had apparently not been detected. Kim continued scanning the planet itself. Earthquakes were often preceded by a sudden jerk that was easily detectable. That wasn't much, but some warning, at least, would be helpful.
The morning sun was already growing uncomfortably hot, and their brisk, obstacle-fraught hike had made them sweat, causing ash to cling to their skin. The cool shade provided by the trees felt good, as did the gentle breeze.
When they neared the site, they dropped down into a shallow ravine, keeping their heads low. As they drew up approximately parallel with the shuttle's location, Janeway dropped down on all fours, then waited while Tuvok and Kim did the same. Then they crawled up and forward through the thick, natural hedge.
From here the shuttle was plainly visible just over one hundred meters away. It appeared largely untouched, though the main hatch had clearly been opened, and just as they had feared, the shuttle was now well guarded. Half a dozen figures clad in black-and-white uniforms stood about, visually scanning their surroundings. At this distance details were difficult to discern. Still, Janeway was sure, as she shaded her eyes with one open hand, that she could see long white hair peeking out from under their squat helmets. Televek, certainly. Or Drosary.
Or whatever they were calling themselves this morning.
"Captain," Tuvok said, raising his tricorder and tapping at it once more, "the bioscans of the Televek guarding our shuttle are precisely the same as those of the Drosary advocates aboard Voyager."
"You read my mind, Mr. Tuvok."
The Vulcan tipped his head toward her. "I have done no such thing, Captain."
"Then I guess we just think alike."
"I'm getting the same readings, Captain," Kim said, duplicating Tuvok's scans. "Doesn't this mean that we've been had?"