Marooned - Christie Golden [86]
Better than nothing.
Kes now turned her attention to the south, and hope grew within her. This was more like it-only a few areas had collapsed. Most of the doors were still active, and there was no trace of the Ja'in energy signature to Wait.
Something was radiating from that area.
Kes frowned, for the thousandth time touched the screen, honing in on the signal. It was some kind of radiation, but it was not any of the traces she had seen connected with the Ja'in.
Blip. Blip.
It was moving. Now to the left, now to the right, circling back, stopping, moving forward again. Though it was taking a circular, strange path, it was clear its ultimate destination was the center of the base. Kes watched it for several long minutes.
Blip. Blip.
A pattern she recognized. Joy flooded her, and she put a small hand to her mouth to keep the burst of happiness from breaking free and giving her away.
The pattern in which the radiation emissions were released formed a Starfleet code. Someone from Voyager was coming to the base.
Coming for her.
Her tense muscles forgotten, Kes immediately began to concentrate her efforts on the south of New Hann, figuring out how to open doors for her unknown friend. She would not sit idly, waiting to be rescued like some princess in a tower, not when she had the controls at her fingertips.
She pressed the screen, and somewhere in the longforgotten mines of Mishkara, a door slid open.
Janeway leaned against the cool stone and wiped sweat from her brow, sparing a smile of encouragement for her large friend. Hrrrl was a comforting presence, his huge bulk and sharp claws ready to defend her. For now, though, it was work that was both danger and drudgery, phasering their way through rock, finding the right turn, and somehow, keeping their lungs going. For a brief moment, she wished she'd let the kakkik come with them. She was sure that with Furball curled around her shoulders, her heart wouldn't be pounding quite so fast, her lungs working quite so hard.
Concentrate on the task, Kathryn. Don't waste time and energy on worrying about how little air is le!It Another half a mile of twisting and turning. She glanced upward, shining her wristlight at the ceiling. Provided, of course the tunnels didn't collapse in on them. The light glittered off the spark of gemstones and veins of precious minerals, twining through the rock in almost obscene profusion. Yet the Ja'in had sealed off these branches. That must mean that what they did mine must be even richer, even easier to access. It was a staggering thought.
The tricorder showed no life signs. It didn't look as if they'd have to fight any time soon. That, at least, was a relief.
They had come to what was clearly a door, marking a differentiation between tunnels. Janeway felt along the smooth metal, searching for a way to activate it. There was nothing on the door itself.
"Hrrrl, can you check for-"
Suddenly there came a deep, groaning noise. Janeway's heart climbed into her throat as the door opened unexpectedly.
Phaser at the ready, she threw herself back into the darkness of the tunnel, flattening herself against the rock. Hrrrl did likewise, his dark fur blending smoothly into the shadows.
She waited for the rush of guards, the blast of directed energy fire. Nothing happened. She flipped out her tricorder. No signs of life for several meters in any direction.
"I don't understand," she said aloud to Hrrrl. "Someone opened the door for us, but there's no welcoming committee from Aren Yashar."
Hrrrl looked nervous as well. "It seems as if it would have to be a trap, but-"
"For right now, I'll take what breaks we can get."
She gestured with her Phaser. "But I'm not taking any chances. The only way in is through here. Let's keep moving. We have injured people waiting."
The Ja'in fired again. Aren