Spirit Walk_ Old Wounds (Book 1) - Christie Golden [67]
Softly, Astall added, “Nor does Fortier. He wants to believe they’re still alive, of course, but…” She blinked quickly.
“Ellis took Kim, Patel, and a security team with him. We can’t transport because of the electrical storm, so he took a shuttle. He will assess the situation and report back. If it turns out there is an emergency, we can get another shuttle down there quickly enough.”
Kaz stood. “Very well, sir,” he said, adding quietly, “I hope you’re right.”
They stepped out of the ready room onto the bridge. Campbell, who had been sitting in the captain’s chair in Chakotay’s absence, yielded it gracefully and returned to her station.
“Thank you, Captain,” said Kaz.
“Any time,” Chakotay told him and Astall as they headed for the turbolift.
He turned to Campbell. “Any word yet from Commander Ellis, Lieutenant?”
“Negative, sir.”
Chakotay nodded, and stared at the screen thoughtfully. The storm still swirled.
“Campbell,” he asked slowly, “what do you make of this?”
She shook her head. “Truthfully? I don’t know, sir. It’s unusual, but we’ve still seen nothing to indicate it’s artificial. Perhaps Commander Ellis will be able to get us more data.”
“Has it changed at all?”
“Negative, Captain.”
“That’s unusual for a storm, isn’t it?”
Campbell regarded him with intent blue eyes. “Highly,” she replied.
“Highly unusual,” he repeated, more to himself than to her. He’d seen something like this before, in the Delta Quadrant. A storm that seemed peculiarly localized and inconvenient. Why couldn’t he remember which mission?
Because you’ve been on a few thousand, he thought, both amused and annoyed.
“Campbell, search the databanks and see if you run across anything similar. I’ve got a strange sense of déjà vu about this.”
To his surprise, she said, “I’ve got that same feeling, sir. I think we’ve seen this before. I’ll see what I can come up with.”
“Commander Ellis to Voyager.”
“Go ahead.”
“We’re about to enter the storm system, sir. Lieutenant Patel wanted us to get some concrete readings before we enter the system. She seems to think it likely that we might lose contact.”
“Lieutenant Patel,” asked Chakotay, “what are your thoughts about this storm?”
Devi Patel’s voice replied, “Captain, it’s my opinion that—”
There was a sharp burst of static, then silence.
Patel had been right—they had lost contact with the shuttle.
Chapter
18
“CAPTAIN, it’s my opinion that—”
Kim never did learn Patel’s opinion. At that moment there was a terrible noise and the shuttle bucked like a wild horse. The small Patel was thrown from her seat. Kim, Ellis, and security officers Brendan Niemann and Kathryn Kaylar barely managed to hang on to theirs.
Ellis, grim-faced, struggled with the controls in an effort to keep the shuttle stable. Not for the first time on this mission, Kim wished they still had the good old Delta Flyer at their command. The sleek little ship designed by three friends was, as far as he knew, still at McKinley Station being picked apart. He wondered it if would be the same when they got it back.
Another round of turbulence shook the little vessel. As he picked himself up off the floor, Kim wondered if he’d be the same.
“Altitude five thousand meters,” he said, easing quickly back into his seat.
“Decreasing speed to seven hundred twenty kph,” said Ellis. He didn’t sound at all perturbed. “Entering terminal approach phase.”
“Visibility still zero,” said Kim, glowering at the viewscreen, which revealed nothing but swirling gray. “Switching to enhanced terrain scanning.”
Ellis nodded. “Touchdown site scanned,” he confirmed. “Continuing descent.”
Through the haze of clouds, Kim could finally start to make out the ground approaching.
Fast.
“Hang on!” Ellis cried.
They landed roughly, but the shuttle appeared to be still intact. The emergency lighting went on as the crew picked themselves up. Kim flexed his hand and grimaced; he had probably sprained his wrist. Other than that, he seemed to be intact. He glanced around, trying to assess any injuries. Kaylar was rubbing a knee and wincing, but the