Pathways - Jeri Taylor [200]
Neelix saw that the process of transporting ore from underground was continuing. Even as he approached, a cloud of powdery dust materialized in the air and then sifted quietly to the ground, indistinguishable from the silt that was already there. It was a good plan.
He guided the antigrav sled to the end of a row of several others, then spent a moment selecting a replacement. As his eyes swept the row of sleds, he noticed the footprints he had left in the white dust, and then their gentle disappearance as another load of transported ore dust materialized and settled to the ground. He felt a moment of pride as he reflected on the ingenuity of his comrades, and a lifting of the spirits as he sensed that this escape plan, which had sounded so tenuous at first, was proceeding flawlessly.
He guided the second sled out of the storage area, leaving more footprints behind, and taking odd comfort in the knowledge that they would soon be covered over.
That night, after a meal supplemented by the rations Neelix had managed to smuggle from the quarries, B’Elanna made a portentous announcement.
“We have to find out whether these units will transport a person.”
This statement brought an energized silence to the group, all of whom were jammed into one of the shelters. Everyone was keenly aware of the dangers of trying to transport anything as complex as a biological organism, especially without the safety factor of the pattern buffer. The units B’Elanna and Harry had created worked just fine on psilminite, but that was no guarantee they would be able to handle the infinitely more difficult process of dematerializing and rematerializing a living person. A moment passed before anyone spoke.
“It should be me,” said Chakotay quietly. “I’m in command.”
“That’s exactly why it can’t be you, Commander,” said Tom. “We can’t afford to lose you. Besides, you’re the one with the captain’s message implanted in you. We’ll need that to complete the escape.”
There was a murmuring of agreement with that statement. “I’ll do it,” said B’Elanna. “Harry can beam me.” She smiled wryly. “I made these things. If anyone’s the guinea pig, it should be me.”
“You’re another person we can’t lose, B’Elanna,” said Harry. “If something goes wrong, you’ll need to modify the transporters. So you beam me, instead.”
It went like this for a few minutes, with almost everyone volunteering to be the first transportee, when a deep and determined voice emerged from the back of the shelter.
“I shall go.”
It was Vorik, and something in his voice made everyone stop and look at him. “It is the most logical decision. I am the least senior member of this party. Should a mishap occur, my presence will not be missed.”
“That’s not true, Vorik,” said B’Elanna instantly. She had a fondness for the young Vulcan, even though he’d given her a world of trouble when he went through the Pon farr and declared his amorous intentions toward her. “We’d all miss you.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant, but I meant the statement not in an emotional sense, rather in a practical one. I perform no essential service here and the group would not suffer my absence.”
There was a quiet moment before Tuvok spoke. “My young counterpart’s logic is unassailable.” He walked to Vorik and put his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “You do us proud, Ensign,” he said somberly, and only a few blinks of the eye betrayed Vorik’s pride in his mentor’s statement.
“I’ll want to check out all the components before we try it,” said B’Elanna, and bent to the task as Harry did the same on the second transporter. While they worked, each member of the group approached Vorik to offer words of encouragement and support. The young man accepted them stoically, but there were those who would swear they saw his eyes begin to shine wetly.
“All right, I think we’re set. Harry?”
Harry looked up at B’Elanna and nodded.
“The question is—where do we beam him? We can’t risk materializing him