Marooned - Christie Golden [80]
The earth and rock quickly surrendered to three phasers used in conjunction. As the phasers sang out, a smoking hole began to emerge beneath the powerful rays. A little less than six minutes later, they had penetrated to the mines beneath.
"This is the shallowest point," said Janeway, "But it's still a good eight-meter drop." She stepped forward and shone her wristlight into the dark depths. "Seems solid enough." She backed away from the heated hole. "Still damned hot, though. Let's take a break and let it cool down while we prepare for descent."
"Captain!" Neelix's voice was strangled. "We don't have time. Five ships are approaching."
"Quickly!" snapped Janeway. "Put on the skins!
They may think this is some kind of natural volcanic activity." Tomes knew it was a slim chance, but it was the only one they had. Hurriedly they flung on the cloaks and bowed down. Seconds ticked by.
They heard the rumble of the scout ships, closer than they had ever come before. Then suddenly, a rock a few meters away exploded.
The scout ships were firing on them!
"Let's go!" cried Janeway. "Hrrri, you first. Get the packs and the skins down there. It'll help break the fall. Let's move, let's move!"
Another explosion, this time closer. Torres risked a glance skyward and her heart leaped into her throat. They were right there! She flung her pack and skin down into the still-smoking hole and raced back for Paris. He was curled into a tight ball, almost catatonic, but he didn't struggle as she scooped him up into her arms and carried him toward the hole.
There was no climbing down. The mouth of the just-blasted entrance to the mines would bum at the touch. They'd be lucky if the soles of their boots held. As she ran, she saw Hrrrl leap into the entrance, followed by Tuvok and then Neelix. The little kakkik fluttered down next to his friend.
Janeway was there, calling out something, but Torres was deafened by the scream of energy weapons and the explosion of rocks and soil. One hit too close and knocked her off her feet. Paris didn't even move to catch himself and hit the earth hard. Nearly blinded by dust, Torres scrambled to her feet and tried to grab him.
Paris squirmed out of her grasp, his eyes wild. Baring his teeth in a savage growl, he turned to her and landed a solid punch to her jaw. Tomes was taken utterly by surprise. She staggered backwardand fell into the mine.
Kula Dmd COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
It had started so well. The Voyagers had perhaps once been careful, but they had been caught without their Sshoush-shin disguises and even if they had not been, Dhad would have obeyed Aren's orders to slay the Sshoush-shin.
Dhad had once held a palmful of a strange material called luris, a substance that naturally occurred on several worlds and that had strange properties. He could hold the liquid-solid in his palm, but it was impossible to pick up, and if he tried to tighten his gnp on the peculiar substance, it oozed defiantly through his fingers, slowed only by the webbing.
For all the success he was having in taking care of the Voyager crew, they might as well have been fashioned of that damnable substance. As he watched, dismay twisting his features, they dove, one by one, into a crevice they had opened in the earth. Frantic, he fired randomly before they all disappeared, and his companion vessels did likewise.
Charmed lives, these Alpha quadranters led. Before a minute had passed, they were all gone. Dhad opened his mouth to order a cease fire, but before he could utter the words, someone had fired on the crevice, causing it to cave in.
Dhad swore violently. What was he going to ten Aren? He thought yearningly of his little vessel, big enough only for two, and his carefree days as a simple Ja'in courier.
He pulled up and came in for another run, just to