Marooned - Christie Golden [76]
"Great One!" Dhad snapped to attention.
"I want you to lead the next scouting expedition. Depart immediately. Find this wandering party of Sshoush-shin and eliminate them. I haven't commanded the Ja'in this long not to know subterfuge when I hear of it, and I feel certain that somehow they are either helping Janeway and her crew or perhaps it is them. How clearly did the pilots see them?"
"Ah, the usual distance," stammered Dhad. "We were looking for the shuttlecraft, not rogue Sshoushshin," he reminded Aren.
"I want them dead. I've had enough of this. Janeway and all other ties to Kes's past life must be eliminated before she will yield. I've half a mind to show her the bodies."
Dhad kept his face from registering his shock. Aren must truly be unsettled, if he would reveal the depth of his anger to Dhad in such a blunt manner. He kept his mouth shut.
At last Aren sighed. "That will be all."
"I shall deliver your instructions, Great One."
Relief flooded Kula Dhad. He bowed and turned to exit, when Aren's voice halted him in his tracks.
"You shall carry out my instructions, Kula. I want you in the vanguard to make sure none of them escapes."
Not turning around, embarrassingly aware of Aren's eyes on his wing mounds, Dhad nodded. "As you will."
This time, as he strode down the hall with a dreadful sinking feeling of apprehension, Kula Dhad was not silent when he cursed Kes.
Furball seemed to possess extraordinary healing capabilities, for by the time Neelix camped for the night the wound was closed. By the following morning, it was almost gone and the little creature was its normal, lively self.
Neelix was surprised at the relief he felt. He rubbed the animal behind its large ears with affection. "You had me worried there, little friend," he chided it teasingly.
As if in reply, Furball stood on its hind legs in Neelix's lap, reached up with a fingered forepaw, and patted Neelix's cheek gently.
Neelix melted. "That absolutely does it," he declared as Furball clambered up onto his shoulder. "When we meet up with the captain, I'm going to insist that she let me take you with us. Now," and he rose, squinting as he looked toward New Harm, "I think we can make it by the end of today. I'm feeling pretty fit, and you can fly now. Go on, that's a good fellow!" Neelix shrugged his shoulder, and Furball immediately launched itself into the air.
"I wonder if I could jog a bit?" Neelix said to himself. He certainly felt like it. He hadn't felt this good in years. "Maybe I should think of this as shore leave instead of being marooned!" he chuckled.
He decided against jogging, in the end. He didn't want to waste his energy. But he set forth with vigor and a brisk stride, the end of his quest within his reach.
After a mile or so, though, he faltered. He had no plan at all for recovering Kes once he arrived at the broken dome that served as the pirates' base. He only knew he had to try to reach Kes. Now that he thought about it, Neelix realized with a wry expression, he half thought he'd be dead by now.
"And probably would be," he said generously, "if not for my little Furball."
The creature, responding to his voice, circled his head a few times and trilled in reply.
Up ahead, to his left, something glinted in the light. Neelix's heart spasmed. He was out here with no cover whatsoever.
Shapes moved. Neelix squinted, trying to see better. They looked like Sshoush-shin. Suddenly one of them flailed. Was it dying? What The furry pelt sloughed off, and a shape that was most definitely human and most definitely female stretched and ran a hand over its forehead, brushing back tendrils of red-brown hair that had escaped from a braid "Captain!" In his joy, Neelix cried the word aloud. "Furball, we've found them. Come on!" And now he began to jog in earnest, his short little legs moving as if of their own volition. He waved his arms and his pleasure was complete when his beloved