Marooned - Christie Golden [85]
But there was also a good chance it wasn't. What would I do in this situation? Chakotay thought, his mind racing.
Why not show us all of them? It would be effective, wouldn't it, to show us all the wounded, to drive the point home. He hasn't got them, that's why. Somehow, he's only managed to get Paris.
A few years ago, that wouldn't have meant much. But Paris had changed, and so had Chakotay, and seeing the lieutenant in such bad shape Chakotay made his decision. Yashar was bluffing about having the others.
And he was bluffing about killing Paris. He still needed him, if things took a turn for the worse.
Chakotay shrugged his shoulders, made his face nonchalant. "Kill him. He means nothing to me."
"Gee, thanks," gasped Paris.
At once, the screen went dark. Aren's face vanished, to be replaced by the image of the three Ja'in vessels closing in in what was clearly attack formation.
"Commander-" Chell's voice betrayed his dismay.
"He was bluffing," Chakotay snapped. "I know it when I see it. I've done it often enough myself. Shields up, red alert!"
Chakotay had a perfect view as red energy built up on all three of the Ja'in ships, swelled, and was released. Voyager shuddered beneath the first volley. At least, I hope he was bluffing ... HUNGER GNAWED AT KES, BUT SHE IGNORED IT. SOMETHING was going on. She feared the worst when Aren told her he would be unavailable. Something told her that she couldn't spare a moment away from the computers, not if she were to be able to free herself and perhaps help the Voyager crew.
The computers were activated and operated by touching the screen. Kes's fingerprints had been keyed in as acceptable, and working one link at a time, she'd been able to enter where she ought not to have been. She licked dry lips, her eyes roving over the screen, touching, connecting, moving.
There were many ways out of this major building in which Aren had her imprisoned. Unfortunately, all but the main entrance were sealed off with the highest priority security codes. She'd need more time if she were to be able to work her way past these, and time was suddenly very important. She could sense it. If she hurried too much, though, Kes knew she'd eventually make a mistake and expose her presence in restricted areas. And that would eliminate all access to the computers.
So, instead of concentrating on the most obvious exits, Kes had begun exploring some of the older areas of New Hann. There was a labyrinth of tunnels beneath and extending from the base area itself. Many of these were still active. Kes touched the screen and picked up signals: traces of directed energy technology used to bore through the rock here, the signal of a communication device there. Far too active, then, for her purposes.
Again she touched the screen, tracing the twining path of the mines. The area in which the Ja'in seemed to be concentrating on harvesting was to the west of the base. There was a great deal of activity there. She guessed a full shift was hard at work right now. Touching the screen, Kes investigated to the north. Nothing. Further probing yielded the disappointing news that, though there was no Ja'in activity occurring at this site, it was because there was no site at all. The tunnels here had long since collapsed. Any exits and entrances were afted by tons of rock. No security code she could enter would make those doors functional again.
Kes gnawed her lip in disappointment. She shrugged her tense shoulders, their stiffness indicating that hours had passed. Kes allowed herself to rise and stretch, luxuriating in the feeling, then sat back down to work.
She had done enough investigating to realize that at this point, the mines were the only way she could 'bly escape. She directed her attention to the east. possi A possibility