Spirit Walk_ Enemy of My Enemy (Book 2) - Christie Golden [79]
“Activate the Doctor,” Kim ordered. “Tell him to prepare to receive injured.”
Tom had a brief disconnect. He was about to say, “The Doc doesn’t need to be activated anymore,” but realized that the new holodoctor was a slim, attractive African male with a gentle bedside manner, not the cranky, arrogant, balding, and beloved Doc he’d gotten to know.
The thought fled before the more pressing need. “Lieutenant, I’m going to lead an away team. You’re to assume command of this ship until we get back.”
Tom saw in his eyes that Kim wanted to lead the team. He was, after all, chief of security. But Paris out-ranked him right now, and he wanted Kim right where he was in case something happened out there. Kim, ever the good Starfleet officer, nodded. “Aye, sir,” he said.
It didn’t take long for the team to assemble in the docking bay. Since Kaylar and Niemann had been part of the original away team, Paris asked them to join him. They’d know the layout of the place the best. Along with Ashton, the third-shift doctor, he figured that would be sufficient.
He briefed them while they checked their phasers and equipment one last time. Tom had requested they all don special raingear and helmets equipped with goggles that provided infrared vision. The storms were still fierce, and their task was going to be hard enough without squinting in the rain. Ashton went a little pale at the mention of a Changeling, but her hands were steady as she checked her medikit.
“Our primary mission is to get Kaz and Chakotay, if he’s still alive.” Which you’d better be, you…“It’s likely we’ll encounter resistance from the creatures. Phasers on stun; remember, these things were once human and hopefully will be again. We’re going to try to lock on to human and/or Trill life signs and head straight for them. Failing that, Niemann and Kaylar will take point position and lead us to the settlement where we’ll regroup and assess the situation. Any questions?”
They shook their heads.
“Let’s go.”
The docking bay doors opened to gale-force winds. Tom lowered his head and pushed forward, trying to stay on his feet despite the buffeting and the torrential downpour. He was grateful for the protective gear.
He was even more grateful for it when something loomed up ahead of him. Something big, and red, and moving really, really fast.
Paris fired, and the creature fell to the ground. All around him, his team was emulating him. Still the things kept coming, and Tom started to taste fear in the back of his throat. Between the storms and the horribly mutated colonists attacking them, progress would be slow. How much time did Chakotay have?
Kaz didn’t dare breathe as he stared at the big cat. It graced him with a quick glance, its lambent yellow eyes seeming to see right through him.
Moset, too, stood stock still. Chakotay smiled. He seemed…different, somehow, to Kaz.
“Don’t worry,” Chakotay said. “She’s with me.” He glanced over at Sekaya, lying still on the bed. “How is she?”
“She’s fine,” Kaz said. “We’ve been monitoring her.”
“What did you…how did you…” Moset, ever curious, began. Suddenly the black panther was on its feet, its hackles raised, its ears flattened against its head. A low rumble issued from its throat. It stared directly at the door, and both Kaz and Moset shook off their shock and refocused. Their eyes met and Moset nodded.
“We’ve worked out a plan,” Kaz said, quickly telling Chakotay. Chakotay nodded. He turned to the beast that he had somehow brought back with him and their eyes met. Graciously, the big cat inclined its head. Silent as a shadow, it melted into the darkness behind a jumble of discarded equipment. Kaz and Chakotay lay back down on the beds and closed their eyes.
This has to work, thought Kaz.
Moset was excruciatingly nervous. He liked to operate openly, honestly. His work was never for nefarious purposes, but for the good of all. Now it was all going