Spirit Walk_ Enemy of My Enemy (Book 2) - Christie Golden [26]
“You have access to hyposprays!” Moset protested.
“It would look suspicious if equipment began disappearing from sickbay, wouldn’t it?” the Changeling countered.
Moset sighed. “Remember, since you’ve just had an injection, you have to wait at least an hour before you can take the reversal formula. Stay away from anything that could scan you at that time.” He didn’t know why he was giving the Changeling all this helpful advice. It might be convenient if “Chakotay” was caught—it could leave Moset free to work in peace.
It was just part of his inherently decent nature, Moset supposed.
“Right, thanks for reminding me.” “Chakotay” shouldered the bag. “How are our guests doing?”
For a moment, Moset was tempted to gush about the exciting discovery he’d made regarding Chakotay’s DNA. He loved to share his discoveries, bask in the glow of impressed regard and comments of “Moset, that’s amazing!” But not this time. Better that the Changeling not know. He might change his plans—again—and decide he wanted to stay here.
“They’re fine,” Moset said after the briefest of hesitations.
“Just fine? I went to all this trouble—”
Hastily Moset said, “I’ve only just begun examining them! You must have patience, my friend. I’m sure they will prove to be worth every risk you took.”
“Chakotay’s” dark eyes flashed. “I have been locked in Solid form for seven years, Moset. You have no idea what—” His voice broke. “I have been patient long enough. I want results.”
“You’re getting them!” Moset’s own voice was high with strain. “You were almost able to take on Sekaya’s form just now!”
“Almost is a very big word, Moset. Don’t forget that.”
Moset swallowed nervously. He’d seen the Changeling murder with a casual ease before, and he had no desire to be next in line.
“You know I am doing everything I can,” he said. “I’m certain that with just a little more time I will make great progress.”
Suddenly, strangely, the Changeling smiled. “By leaps and bounds,” he said.
Relaxing slightly, Moset smiled as well. “Yes,” he affirmed. “By leaps and bounds.”
As he watched the large, powerful form of Chakotay stride back down the hall, Moset sagged in relief. He turned to regard the creatures sitting in their cell.
“Soon,” he promised them, “it will just be us.”
The Changeling stepped out of the holographic boulder, lost in thought. He didn’t like what he was starting to see in Moset. It was a good thing he had taken all the available amounts of the formulas. Moset would make more. There’d be enough for the Cardassian to continue his work on the creatures, which, too, was for the Changeling’s benefit. But his need to be cured came before the creatures’ need to be perfected.
Now that the fruit of ultimate victory was dangling within reach, the Changeling felt almost panicked. He thought he had grown used to living in a Solid body during the many years he had spent locked into the form of Andrew Ellis. But then he’d freed Moset and, after a year or so, he’d been able to change his features, feel, however briefly, like a true Changeling again. The elation that had surged through him at that moment was akin to nothing he’d ever experienced, and he realized he’d only been fooling himself if he thought he could learn to be “content” living as a Solid.
Another year, another development. By this point he could look like any male human of a certain height. And then, just last year, he’d been able to shift sufficiently to broaden his range to other males of humanoid species. That ability had broadened his options, but was not enough.
He wanted to feel again what