Homecoming - Christie Golden [60]
“I even convinced Montgomery to let him stay activated,” Janeway continued. “It looks bad for him, Tom. He did talk to Baines, and knew about the plans for a revolution. He says he tried to talk Baines out of it and thought he had succeeded. But it seems he was spotted at many places where this Baines breached security systems and accessed various computers.”
“He was baby-sitting!” Tom protested. “He’d never just leave Miral alone like that.”
“You know that and I know that, but Montgomery and the other people who are holding the Doctor don’t. This holographic strike is really causing a ruckus. They’re looking for a scapegoat, and one who isn’t human would be ideal.”
“We’ve got to do something,” said Tom.
“I agree, and I’m on it. In the meantime,” she smiled, “make the most of this precious time alone with your daughter. They grow up so fast.”
[178] “Ha ha,” said Tom, then closed his mouth with a click. “I’m sorry, Admiral, I didn’t mean—”
Janeway waved away his apology. “It’s all right, Tom, I was teasing and you teased back. On a more serious note, I hope I may rely on you for assistance should it be needed.”
“You can count on it,” Tom said.
Chapter 15
“WHOOOOO!” CRIED SEKAYA, tucking up her legs at the last minute to perform a perfect “cannonball” into the lake. While the weapon itself was obsolete, the name for that particular type of dive had lingered. She emerged laughing and gasping, and gazed at her brother with bright eyes. “Dare you!”
Chakotay was moved that she remembered the game they had played as youngsters. Although he had been the one to find this little lake tucked away in the mountains, she had been the first to leap into its welcoming depths. Now he followed her, diving instead of cannon-balling, plunging almost to the bottom of the clear, sunlit depths. As he broke the surface, he too was laughing. It felt good to be here.
He had not refused a commission in Starfleet [180] outright, but had chosen to wait to give his answer. He wanted to go home, to the land that had nourished him, to see his family again and swim in the cool sweetness of the lake. As he had known it would, the lengthy visit was slowly but surely restoring his spirit.
He suddenly coughed as Sekaya splashed him. With a mock growl, he struck out after her, but she was swift as an otter and eluded him.
“Slowpoke,” she teased. “Guess seven years on a little ship let you get out of shape!”
Sekaya dove deep. The sunlight on the water dazzled Chakotay’s eyes, and he lost track of her till she emerged and hopped up onto a large flat rock to let the afternoon sun dry her off.
They were only a year apart in age, and so similar-looking that they could easily be mistaken for twins. Chakotay had been the more “contrary” of the two, but his little sister had also eventually left the shelter of their native land. It was why Chakotay had been able to contact her when he was still back on Voyager. The tribe was still as stubborn as ever in its refusal to allow modern technology in the village. Chakotay had had to wait to talk to his mother until he could see her in person.
The night he had arrived, they had a grand feast for him. He stuffed himself silly on roasted fruits, roots, breads, alcohol made from fermented fruit juices. He had danced before the fire as if he had never been away, and slept restfully in the small hut owned by his mother. The sounds of the jungle had been a lullaby. He had had no dreams.
Today, over a month later, he and Sekaya had packed [181] a picnic lunch and left the village for the day. Their plan had been to return to their old favorite spot. As he lay next to his sister on the rock, both of them silently soaking up the warmth of the sun-warmed stone and the sun itself, he felt the last knot in his soul unravel.
“You haven’t said anything about the Borg,” Sekaya said, as if reading his mind.
He opened his eyes and looked over at her. She was lying on her stomach, her swimming sarong already dry from the warmth, her head resting