Seven of Nine - Christie Golden [55]
EVEN OF NINE STRODE DOWN THE CORRIDOR. IIER HAND held a phaser, set, by Janeway's orders, on stun. Her head was high, her whole mind and being focused on the task at hand. Behind her, seen only in her peripheral vision, flew eighteen black birds. Quite the crowd, now.
Quite the unkindness....
Despite their presence, which probably meant that there were still unresolved issues lurking in her subconscious, Seven felt more herself than she had since first encountering the Skedans. She knew her enemy, finally. Now that the Doctor had adjusted her implants, they could no longer harm her by manipulating her mind, making her see and smell and feel things that were not there.
Seven was furious at the intrusion into her private thoughts. She remembered the feel of the blessingstone's sharp edge against the soft, fragile skin of her inner wrist and had to repress a shudder. What if the birds had not distracted her?
What if Annika had not been more sensible, harder to reach and toy with, than Seven of Nine?
But there was no point in what-it's. Disaster had not happened, and she, Seven of Nine, was in control.
It felt... good.
The two security guards Janeway had posted at the entrance to the cargo bay door nodded as she arrived.
"Captain Janeway has briefed you on the situation?"
"Yes," replied Ramirez. His face was creased in a frown. Seven detected rapid breathing. That and the way he held his body indicated anger.
"You were among the victims of the Skedans?"
He did if t meet her steely pre. "I was one of the ones assigned to search through their things. I must have gone right past-whatever this weapon is and not even noticed it."
"Do not berate yourself. You were not aware the Skedans were telepaths. Even if you had been, and knew that your mind was being manipulated, it would have been impossible to see anything they did not wish you to see."
He shifted his weight. "Still-11
"Attaching blame where there is none is inefficient and illogical," she said crisply, forestalling his comment. "Now. I will be unaffected by their telepathic attacks. Are your weapons on stun?"
"Of course," replied Ramirez.
"Good. Then if the Skedans trick you into shooting one another, there will be no lasting harm done."
She ignored his glare and stepped inside.
Tamaak Vrs was still with Captain Janeway, but the other Skedans turned to look at her inquiringly.
She noticed a few of them reacted when they realized it was she-the woman they had been deliberately, subtly attacking over the last several days.
"Any attempt at controlling my thoughts will be ineffective," she stated. "I have fully recovered my memories and have adjusted my implants accordingly. I suggest you surrender and turn over your weapon immediately."
They exchanged glances. One of them, Imraak, stepped forward. "What do you mean?" he asked, the very picture of innocence.
"It is foolish to continue the pretense," she snapped.
"If you do not cooperate, I will search through your belongings myself.
Starfleet protocol dictated that I present you with the option of compliance, but it is not necessary."
She could sense it. Once the Doctor had completed his task, she had immediately recopized the unmistakable energy signature that anything connected with Skedan mental energies emitted. It was in a pile of sacks in the corner. Without another word she moved toward it.
Imraak launched himself with a savage snarl. The impact of his compact, lean-muscled body sent her sprawling. Anger warred with fear-she should have expected this. The guards continued to stand at the entrance to the door, looking sullen.
They saw nothing. Imraak didn't want them to.
With a grunt, Seven summoned her strength and rolled over. His claws slashed at her face, tearing the flesh. Pain crashed through her as she tried to free her hand from beneath his heavy body. The pinned hand still clutched the phaser, even though her long fingers were being crushed by Imraak's heavy body.