Star Trek_ Generations - J M. Dillard [61]
Somehow, he managed to stay on his feet, to direct the tide of moving bodies down the corridor. Before him, the two teachers hurried, crouching over their young charges, arms spread like sheltering wings, pushing them along. Geordi found the hand of the dark-haired girl who had lost the bear and ran to the front of the group, shouting directions.
Over here! He waved toward the nearest officers quarters. This way!
He reached the entrance first and paused to let go of the little girls hand; a teacher clasped it and hurried past, to the safety of the living room, where she braced herself and the children with her against the carpet and bolted furniture. Geordi remained in the doorway, pushing bodies through, gesturing for those still in the corridor to hurry inside. Farrell joined him and began to help directing traffic.
Sarah! A desperate-eyed father swooped upon a weeping golden-haired child just before she was shoved inside the quarters, and carried her away.
Geordi and Farrell kept working until all the corridor was clear, then ran inside themselves to huddle with the crowd of adults and children. Geordi fell onto the nearest spot of bare carpet, and found himself staring over at the glistening, tear-filled eyes of the teddy-bear girl, who lay beside him. Her face was flushed, damp, her dark, straight hair tousled; but it was the misery in her dark eyes that filled Geordi with a compassion that made him forget his own fear and see only hers. He reached for her small, dimpled hand, leaned close to her ear so that she could hear him above the klaxons and the shuddering ship. Its all right. Its going to be all right. Just hang on and dont let go …
My mommy, she whimpered. I dont know where she is …
Where does she work? Geordi asked.
Engineering.
Then shes okay. He patted her silken hair. Everyone made it out of engineering. I made sure of it.
But where is she? Tears spilled onto her full cheeks.
I couldnt find her …
I bet I know where she is, he said, and almost smiled at the sudden hope on her face. He stroked her hair once more. Somewhere nearby, worrying about you.
Are we going to die? she asked suddenly, with such matter-of-factness that he was taken aback.
No, he said, feigning confidence. This is the safest part of the ship. Its going to be all right.
It was a lie, of course; whatever happened would not be all right. But there was nothing more he could do to help the children or himself; they were all entirely at the mercy of forces greater than themselves. His fear gave way to acceptance. He settled down onto the soft, shuddering carpet with a deeply weary sigh, and waited.
TWELVE
On the bridge, Deanna Troi pressed her upper body against the shaking helm console and gripped the edges with all her strength to keep from being thrown forward. The ships rocking had become so intense that she clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. Yet she felt oddly calm, detached; the dizzying sight of Veridian III rushing toward them evoked a terror so primal that it was entirely physical. Her skin was cold, damp, her pulse racing like the shipbut her mind was too numbed to register fear.
Save for the screaming red-alert klaxon and the rumbling of the ship, there was silence; all on the bridge waited as Data worked his console in an attempt to slow the Enterprises momentum. It was, Troi knew, the difference between annihilation and survival, and the tension in the androids face reflected that. She pushed herself up far enough to study his shifting expression. It was like focusing in on everyones emotions: fear, repressed panic, determination, faint hope …
She glanced behind her at Worf, who did not allow himself to meet her gaze. Troi understood; she sensed no fear emanating from the Klingon, only resolve to meet death bravely, and a stirring of pride. If death came, it would be an end fitting for a warrior. He would waste no time in remorse, but Troi could not help feeling disappointment that there might be no more time for