String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [133]
“Send Seven and Neelix,” he said quickly. “But let me stay,” he said.
“This isn’t up for discussion, Commander,” Janeway replied. “Assylia activated her ship’s self-destruct mechanism. This entire place will be destroyed in the next six minutes. Tuvok is dead. Tom and Harry are missing. Voyager needs you more than I do right now.”
She was right and he knew it.
But he couldn’t force himself to accept it.
“Now, Chakotay,” Janeway commanded.
There wasn’t time to think of all the things he wanted to say to her. The truth was he had never allowed himself to imagine saying goodbye to her. With an emptiness in his heart that threatened to suffocate him, Chakotay turned to Seven and Neelix and nodded for them to join him in moving quickly toward the exit. The creatures cleared a path, and within seconds the chamber was behind them as they ran as quickly as they could toward the waiting pattern enhancers.
Phoebe moved closer to Janeway, saying, “I have done as you wished. Now put the Key away.”
“Tell me one thing first,” Janeway demanded.
“What is it?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the Monorhans?”
There was another pause as Phoebe considered the best way to answer this question. There wasn’t a truthful answer that was going to get her anywhere, but as she tentatively pushed herself into Janeway’s mind, searching for an alternative, she saw all too plainly that there was also no point in lying. The exiled Nacene who were not already here were still en route to the array. By the time they arrived the array would be destroyed, but neither Phoebe nor those already present would use the conduit until their number was complete. That left precious few options but one.
Janeway would have to die aboard the array.
Her death would further destabilize the gateway, but the Key would remain intact to be used in another time and place.
Phoebe was spared the need to explain this to Kathryn as a high-pitched screech filled the chamber. Every head in the room snapped toward the far entrance where the soulless creature, the unknowing one, floated forward, propelled by its ragged, misshapen wings, heading straight for Janeway.
Chakotay’s team had no difficulty reaching the pattern enhancers they had set up near the chamber. Clayton transported them from the array directly onto Voyager’s bridge. Rising from the captain’s chair, B’Elanna rushed forward.
“Chakotay, what happened?” she demanded. “Where’s the captain?”
There was, unfortunately, no time to answer her question.
“Chakotay to transporter room three,” he barked.
“Go ahead Commander,” Clayton replied over the comm.
“Do you have a lock on the captain?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
Finally, some good news.
He debated calling for an emergency transport right that second. But Kathryn had asked for five minutes. If they were his to give, he would.
“Computer,” he called, checking the time on his armrest console. “Begin a four-minute countdown with audible confirmation every sixty seconds, starting now.”
“Countdown enabled,” the computer replied.
Turning to B’Elanna he asked, “What’s our status?”
“All systems are standing by, Commander,” she replied. “Impulse engines are online, shields and inertial dampers at maximum. Our interface with the array’s docking controls is stable. We’ve plotted a course that skirts the edge of the singularity’s event horizon and we’re ready to depart.”
“Excellent,” Chakotay replied. “Seven, you’re on tactical. B’Elanna, take the helm.”
“Aye, sir,” they replied in unison, taking their stations. Chakotay took half a second to appreciate that it was the first truly harmonious moment they’d shared