Marooned - Christie Golden [22]
"Ah, Commander Chakotay," said Aren with incongruous warmth. "They talk about you, too. Pity we couldn't talk under more harmonious circumstances. But enough of this." His smile hardened and his eyes flashed a warning. He moved forward, his face filling the screen. "The trap I laid for Kes hurt no one. I could easily have killed you, Captain, you and every member of your away team. But I let them live and I gave you the information you requested. I did this to prove to you that I bear you no ill will. I have what I wanted. And if you are as wise as the rumors say you are, you will depart Mishkara," and his voice dropped to an icy timbre, "and no one will be hurt.
That is not an offer I grant many who cross my will.
Take it, and respect my benevolence."
That was too much for Janeway. "Benevolence?
You spy on us to learn our weaknesses. You set an elaborate trap. You drug, poison, and bludgeon three crewmembers and abduct a fourth. You damage my ship when we pursue, which we have every right to do, and injure dozens more of my people. And now you hold Kes hostage by your own admission and you still have the audacity to call yourself benevolent?"
"I do," replied Aren, with a stillness in his voice and body that sent a chill down Janeway's spine.
For a long moment, neither of the adversaries spoke. They stood, sizing up one another. Unconsciously, Janeway lifted her chin and narrowed her eyesin defiance.
"We should meet," said Aren filnally. "I would have you see Kes's new home. I'm sure it will meet with your approval." Janeway opened her mouth to respond indignantly but Aren forestalled her comment with, "Save your breath, Captain. You may rail at me all you wish once we meet in person, but I tire of this distant form of communication. I'm certain my hospitality will convince you of my sincerity."
"Why should we trust you?"
"I've kept my word thus far. If I assure you that no one will come to harm during our meeting, you may take it to be the truth. We Ja'in are not wholly without honor, Captain Janeway."
"Silence audio," she ordered. When Kim nodded at her that it was safe to speak, she asked her crew, "Opinions?"
"I don't trust this guy any farther than I can throw him," replied Paris immediately.
"I don't either, Mr. Paris, I assure you," his captain said.
"On the other hand," said Chakotay, "I think Neelix was right. I think Kes really was what Aren was after all the time. There's been no attempt on any other crewmember, except to get them out of the way, and Aren does have a point. He didn't kill them when he easily could have."
"He may truly believe that once we see that Kes is being treated well, we will depart of our own volition," said Tuvok. "It seems in accord with his previously established moral standards."
"It may be the only way we can get Kes back," said Chakotay. "We could study the environment, determine its weaknesses. I really don't see that we have any better choices. We have no idea where she is or how to get to her."
"Agreed, though I don't like it. Ensign, resume audio." She turned again toward the screen. "Very well, Aren. We'll transport down immediately."
"Impossible, I'm afraid. If you have your Mr. Kim check, you'll see that your transporter technology won't be able to penetrate Mishkara's distortion field. You'll have to take one of your shuttlecrafts. I'm transmitting the coordinates now. And please leave your phasers on the ship."
Janeway didn't like this one bit. He knew far, far too much about them.
"Ensign?"
"He Is right, Captain."
"All right, Commander Yashar," said Janeway, deliberately choosing the second name and thus emphasizing the formality of the situation. "A group of us will-"
"I will tell you who to bring," and though his voice was soft, there was an edge to it. "I would like to see you, your Vulcan Tuvok,