Marooned - Christie Golden [26]
Against such a background, Kes's simple loveliness might have been expected to fade. Instead, she shone more radiant than anything crafted as she stood beside the long table, clad in her simple rust-colored jumpsuit, her small hands tightly laced together, blue eyes peering out of a pale, taut face with a mingled expression of hope, fear, and determination.
"Kes," breathed Janeway, and took a step toward her.
Her movement was halted by a feathery touch on her arm. She flinched away from it and glared at Aren Yashar, who had seemingly manifested from nowhere; she refused to be dazzled by the change in his appearance.
He was still handsome, though Janeway now saw the smile as cruel rather than welcoming. He had unbound much of his hair and it flowed over his shoulders in an ebony wave. A strand of jewels encircled his throat and his forehead, and dangled from his ears. His robes were soft as silk, green as tender young shoots of grass, and revealed hints of a strong, muscular body beneath their shifting shadows. He seemed taller than he had on Oasis, taller and more in control.
Janeway straightened and stuck her chin out in defiance. "We have come as you requested. Let us go to our crewmate."
"Oh, by all means, enter, make yourselves at home!
Kes is." Janeway glanced over at the Ocampan, and Kes most certainly did not look at home. A few quick steps, and Kes was in her arms. Janeway embraced the girl's shivering frame and whispered into her pointed ear, "We'll get you out of here, Kes." Then the others were there, anxious to reassure themselves that she was all right-Tuvok assessing her with a speculative gaze, Paris hugging her, 13okk and Torres smiling reassuringly, and Neelix, poor Neelix, looking lost and forlorn until Kes turned and hugged him tightly. Janeway turnedaway from the expression on the Talaxian's face as Neelix returned the embrace.
"Now, let me see," said Aren, his voice almost bubbly. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at the crew. "Lieutenant Tuvok. A Vulcan. Suppresses emotion and relies on logic to solve all his problems. That's not a fun way to live, is it? And the ears-at first I thought they were like Kes's, but I see now they're different. Absolutely fascinating."
Tuvok's face did not move a muscle, but his eyes snapped fire. "Ah, ah, Mr. Vulcan-as Neelix likes to call you-you look as if you're getting annoyed with me!" Aren wagged a finger an inch in front of Tuvok's face and moved on to another target.
"And a Bolian. Such lovely skin. You quite match the carpeting, Ensign!" Aren threw back his dark head and laughed, a free, ringing sound. The Voyager crew remained stonily silent. Heavy-set Bokk shifted uncomfortably and glanced over at his captain for reassurance. "And the ridge. Is it solid or pliable?" He reached out a hand as if to find out for himself, when Janeway's voice halted him.
"We are here to negotiate for Kes's release," she said in a cold tone, "not to serve as creatures for your amusement."
"Wrong on both counts, Captain-but what a poor host I am. Please, sit, and let me get you something to drink." When no one moved, his eyes narrowed. "That was not a suggestion.
The crew turned to Janeway and she nodded, taking a seat herself at the long black table. The rest of her people complied, though no one sat