String Theory_ Cohesion (Book 1) - Jeffrey Lang [80]
“But we’re not sure exactly how much,” Tom said.
“Correct. It may be a very narrow opening, which is why I want you at the helm.”
“All right,” Tom said, pleased despite himself. “But if I understood everything else you and Harry were saying, there are other problems.”
“There are,” the captain said. “First, we don’t know precisely what’s going to be on the other side of the opening. It might be normal space. The ‘top of the bag’ might be the way we came in.”
“But you don’t think so,” Tom finished for her.
“No, I don’t. I think we came in through a rent in space precisely as we discussed…” The sentence trailed off. “How long ago was that? Only yesterday?” She shook her head in mild disbelief, then resumed. “I think we’re going to find ourselves somewhere else. We have a theory, in any case, but that’s not important right this second. The other factor that will complicate this process is.”
“The shields,” Tom said.
Tuvok said, “We do not have enough power to keep the shields at their current level and employ the navigational deflector as the captain described. We will be affected by the radiation. I will arrange the shields so that the bridge is as protected as possible, but we will need to program the autopilot to see us through in the event Mr. Paris cannot.”
“And what about the rest of the crew?” the Doctor asked.
“We’re moving everyone into the center of the ship,” Chakotay said. “You said earlier that you didn’t feel the effects in sickbay, so we’re going to put as many people as possible down there.”
“Lovely,” the Doctor grumbled. “Company.”
“You can sing to them, Doc,” Tom said. “That’ll keep them settled.”
The Doctor’s eyebrows shot up as he considered the possibility of a captive audience.
“And Neelix?” the captain said. “I’d like you to stay with the Monorhans. Their section of the ship is well protected, but I think they’ll feel more reassured if you’re nearby.”
“Captain Ziv said that he did not feel the effects of the radiation last time,” Neelix pointed out.
“No, but Morsa did,” Chakotay said. “Probably because he was in the shuttle hangar. The Monorhans may have some resistance to the effect, but there’s no guarantee they’re completely immune.”
“One last question, Doctor,” the captain said. “Will another round of hyronalin help?”
“It would,” the Doctor said, “if we had time to synthesize enough for the entire crew. However, with all the power going to the shields…”
“Is there enough for Tom and the rest of the bridge crew to have a dose?”
The Doctor nodded. “Barely.”
“Then do that.” The captain looked around the room and asked, “Are there any more questions? Comments? Does everyone know what they’re doing?” All around the table, heads nodded in acceptance. Tom was briefly struck by how strange it felt to have everyone acquiesce so quickly, then recalled that neither Seven nor B’Elanna was present. One of them, of course, would have found a reason to disagree. Not for the first time he wondered how the pair were getting along.
“Mr. Neelix?”
The Talaxian looked up from the padd he had been studying and was surprised to find the rih-hara-tan standing before him. Had he been so absorbed in his work that he hadn’t heard her enter the dining hall? Neelix doubted it, but he had to admit he had grown accustomed to the clamor humans made when they moved around and had forgotten that many races could be much quieter. Kes, he recalled, could walk across a sand-covered floor and barely stir a grain of sand. He sighed, remembering his lover and companion, and was then startled to realize he had not thought about her for many days. Shaking aside such thoughts, Neelix rose and said, “Yes, ma’am. My apologies. I was lost in thought. What can I do for you?”
“It is I who should apologize to you, Mr. Neelix,” Sem said, her voice low and sweet. “I don’t wish to distract you from your work, but Captain Janeway told me I should contact you if I need anything…” She hesitated, seemingly confused and a little flustered. “And there’s so much here I don’t understand. Could