Mosaic - Jeri Taylor [24]
Neelix sniffed. He couldn't understand the culinary preferences of humans. Leola root, prized everywhere as a rare delicacy, went unappreciated by Voyager's crew. And this new fruit, while perfectly acceptable, seemed ordinary to Neelix. There was no accounting for taste. The group of ten had seemingly gotten over their initial disappointment in not going with the archaeological group, and were collecting the foodstuffs earnestly, talking and laughing with irrepressible good spirits. Greta Kale was energetic and good-humored; she set a standard for the others, and Neelix was grateful for her presence.
He was scanning the fruit grove aimlessly, wondering if there was any purpose in moving into its dark depths, when he noticed something disconcerting. On the tricorder there were ever-so-faint but unmistakable life signs emanating from within the grove-an animal species, from first indications. They might be harmless, but it was one more argument against venturing into the dark and foreboding forest. He turned to tell the others to start collecting the fruit when he detected yet another life-sign reading-this one far more disturbing. Ile hit his commbadge.
"Neelix to Tuvok."
"I'm here, Neelix."
"I'm reading humanoids on the planet. A sizable group, no more than two kilometers from here, and moving toward us."
"I read them, also."
"Perhaps we should return to Voyager to be on the safe side."
"That would be the prudent course. But we have lost communication with the ship."
This was disquieting. Was there damage to the comm system? Or did the humanoid presence on the planet indicate that Voyager was under attack? Neelix hoped Tuvok had been thinking of the problem and already had a plan in mind. He was not disappointed.
"Mr. Neelix, do you have a fix on our location? I believe we should unite our groups."
"I have your coordinates, but we'll be taking an indirect route. A direct line to you would take us through a thick grove of trees I'd prefer not to wade through."
"Understood. Bring your group around it."
And that's what Neelix intended to do. But almost as soon as the group had been collected and given their orders, that possibility was snatched from them. Ensign Kale moved toward him, freckles standing out on her pale face. "Mr. Neelix, my readings show that if we move in an easterly direction around the trees, we'll run into a deep ravine. It'd be pretty tough to get across-maybe impossible. If we go in a westerly direction we'd be moving directly into the path of the humanoids."
Hesitating before making a decision, Neelix scanned in the direction of the humanoids once more, didn't like what he saw, and checked his readings again. Now the life signs could be read clearly: they were Kazon, and they were moving quickly. Neelix stared into the tenebrous depths of the copse of trees, ominous and foreboding. He pointed. "This way," he said, and instantly trotted into the murky, tangled corridor of trees before he could think better of it.
CHAPTER 6
KATHRYN RACED THROUGH THE HERB FIELDS, HEART POUNDING and lungs burning. How could she have lost track of the time? One minute the morning had been fresh and cool, sun low in the sky and dew still clinging to the herb gardens. What seemed like minutes later the sun was overhead and beating mercilessly down; hours had gone by and now she had only minutes to get ready and meet the team at the transport site. She clutched the padd in her hand as she ran. That's what had betrayed her, of course. She'd gone out to her favorite study spot, a hilly knoll between herb fields, with a willow tree that cast delicate shadows on the ground below. Kathryn had climbed the tree several years ago, when she was nine, and discovered a comfortable "chair" of tree limbs, against which she could sprawl comfortably and read, study, or just daydream. She loved the tree. If she was troubled, she came to it. If she was faced with a problem, an hour in the tree frequently provided the solution. If she faced