Pathways - Jeri Taylor [30]
He was halfway through the bottle when he felt movement and a presence at his side. Before he could look up, he heard a silky voice in his ear, cool as a mountain rivulet. “Hello, Chakotay. It’s been a long time.”
Recognizing the voice instantly, he whirled to find Sveta, the Ice Maiden of Russia, sitting next to him. She was as otherworldly as ever, remote, poised, confident. And incredibly beautiful. He felt his pulse quicken and heard his voice stammer as he spoke.
“Sveta! What—why are you—I can’t believe you’re here!”
She smiled in that serene way and laid a dainty hand on his arm. “I’m here because you’re here,” she said, waving off the bartender, who had approached with a questioning look. “I heard you were touring Bajor and I set about finding you.”
He eyed her clothing, which was civilian. “Aren’t you in Starfleet anymore?” he queried.
“No. I served eight years and then I got married. We settled in a colony on Riva Prime.”
Chakotay felt himself grow immediately somber. Riva was one of the planets most devastated during the war, subject to repeated attacks by the Cardassians. He was silent, waiting for Sveta to tell him more.
“My husband was a farmer. He loved the process of planting, growing, reaping. It was an almost holy occupation to him.” Her voice had taken on a faraway quality as she seemed to move back in memory. “We had two children, twins—a boy and a girl. We thought we had everything . . . we used to wonder how it was we were so fortunate. We loved each other, we had a perfect family, we had an occupation that gave us pleasure.”
She looked into a mid-distance for a moment, and Chakotay had the feeling he didn’t want to hear what was next.
“You know that Riva was a prime target during the war. Starfleet did its best to protect us, but the Cardassians were determined to occupy our planet and mine the valuable pergium ore there. Eventually, there was no letup.” Another silence ensued, and Chakotay could sense her trying to find a way to continue. She looked up at him with sad eyes.
“You know what’s coming. There’s no point in embellishing anything. The Cardassians attacked our settlement while I was away trying to procure medical supplies. My husband and my children were killed when our settlement was wiped out by an orbiting battle cruiser.”
Chakotay didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry” was inadequate. He’d heard countless stories like this over the past years, and he never knew how to respond, so usually he simply kept quiet. Sveta turned her gaze directly to him, and stared at him with those unsettling pale eyes.
“That tragedy ignited something in me, Chakotay. I swore to avenge them, and that cause has given me a reason to live.”
“But it’s over now.”
Something hard and flinty happened on her face. “Don’t be naive. It’s just beginning. Do you think Cardassia has given up just because there’s a treaty?”
“Of course not. But Starfleet’s out of it.”
“Good riddance, as far as we’re concerned. We’ll make more progress without them.”
“Who’s ‘we’?”
She glanced around carefully, then leaned in toward him. “A group of freedom fighters is beginning to band together. We’ve even taken a name—the Maquis.”
“Maquis?”
“The name of ancient French resistance forces during a conflict on Earth known as World War Two.”
Chakotay had studied ancient Earth warfare, but was unfamiliar with the French name. The whole thing had a faintly adolescent sound to him. But Sveta was leaning even closer, her voice clear and intense.
“We intend to defend our homes. It’s obvious to us