Ghost of a Chance - Mark Garland [58]
"Reset," Janeway said. She put her phaser on full, then fired again, aiming high, letting the beam strike a large spike of rock just beyond the shuttle and causing the rock to explode. Kim chose a young tree ten meters to the left. It burst open when the heat of the beam seared its trunk. Smoke and steam curled from the split pieces.
"Now let's send them an invitation," Janeway said. She stood up and fired once more, making sure she was seen. Kim grimly did the same.
Much of the dust that had covered their clothing had fallen off. On the ridge, against the drab forest background, the two officers made an excellent target. The Televek immediately tried to fire on their position, but Janeway had already turned and leaped out of the way.
Kim followed.
A little too close, Janeway thought, though she didn't let her opinion show. She signaled Kim, and they moved back from the edge and waited, silent. Soon enough they heard the Televek guards coming out of hiding, firing preemptive shots at the trees where Janeway and Kim had just been, then moving toward the bluff. She heard them calling to one another as they climbed up the loose hillside.
"Let's not make it too easy for them, Mr. Kim. You go, that way." He did as he was told. When the first Televek peeked over the edge, Janeway fired. She aimed and hit a fallen tree, a warning shot that landed just inches from the Televek's head, then turned again and sprinted deeper into the forested area.
Kim was just ahead of her now. She was catching up, but she could hear the Televek right behind her, also catching up. Her plan was working--perhaps a little too well.
***
Tuvok raised his head up far enough to get a clear view. He held there, carefully watching the shuttle. He saw only one Televek remaining, crouched in a defensive position behind the starboard nacelle, concentrating on the tumbled-down hill as the guard's comrades scrambled up the loose dirt and fought their way over the top. They all disappeared, chasing the captain and Kim.
Tuvok dropped back down and began to crawl more quickly, though he was careful not to kick up too much dust.
A few meters ahead he reached the dead Drenarians, who had probably been killed the night before, Tuvok surmised. They lay stiff and cold, their waxen faces oblivious to the heat of the midday sun. He crawled past them, toward the shuttle, keeping a steady eye on the one remaining guard.
The position of the guard and the open hatch forced him to circle the shuttle so as to use the ship itself for cover. When he finally reached the hull he was near the bow. He set his phaser on stun, then rose, stepped around the bow, and fired, taking the partially hidden guard completely by surprise. The guard slumped silently to the ground. Tuvok rushed on, past the nacelle, certain there was no time to waste. He paused beside the hatch, then took a deep breath and charged in through the opening.
Another helmetless Televek stood tinkering at the main control panel, apparently hurrying to get some particular task accomplished. He was holding a blunt energy weapon in one hand while he attempted to use some type of probe with the other.
When he looked up, Tuvok fired.
Tuvok moved forward, stepping over the Televek's still form, and began examining the work the intruder had been doing. A number of circuits had been patched or rerouted.
"Thank you for your assistance," the Vulcan said out loud, nodding to the figure at his feet. "You have saved me a good deal of time."
He put away his phaser and dragged the Televek just outside the shuttle. Then he slipped back inside, activated the emergency lighting system, and manually closed the hatch,