String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [56]
“Very funny,” Harry replied, to Tom’s feeble attempt to lighten his mood.
At several points along the walls of the bay, black power cables were wound and stored in their places. As their eyes adjusted to the dim blue lighting, Voyager, suspended by four large docking clamps, cast large looming shadows all around them. The bay seemed to pulse with energy. It could have been tension, the seriousness of their mission combined with the strangeness of their surroundings. Though Harry didn’t voice his thoughts, he was struck by the almost palpable currents running through the air, as their boots whispered softly across the floor.
Data was streaming into Harry’s tricorder faster than his processor could organize it.
“Commander,” Harry murmured, overwhelmed.
“Yes, Ensign?”
“I’ve pinpointed the location of the tractor net system. There are generators present every hundred meters or so along the outside of the array, but they are routed to a central processor located in what looks like an engineering center.”
“That’s fascinating, Harry,” Tom jibed, “but what about the life-form readings?”
“I’ve still got a lock on Tuvok. He’s stationary, approximately twenty-five hundred meters from our present location.”
“So he might be injured,” Chakotay offered.
“And there’s another problem,” Harry added.
“Of course there is,” Tom said with obvious dismay.
“What is it Harry?” Chakotay asked.
“Tuvok isn’t in this section of the array. His life-form readings are coming from the other ring.”
“So how do we get there?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know,” Harry answered. “There are no direct access points anywhere on this level. The rings move independently of one another. There’s no physical connection between the two as far as I can tell.”
“But we know that ring is filled with living quarters, don’t we?” Chakotay asked.
“Among other things, yes,” Harry replied.
“So if these are the only docking bays, there has to be a way,” Chakotay said firmly. “Tuvok’s shuttle, or what’s left of it, is currently housed in this ring. He must have found a way onto the other ring. I suggest we make our way to the engineering center. If they have transport technology it might be there, or at the very least, point us in the right direction.”
“The engineering hub is located approximately twelve hundred meters from our present location,” Harry said.
“Then we’d better move fast,” Chakotay replied.
As Tom slung his rifle over his shoulder and began to quickly ascend the ladder, which was easily a hundred meters high, Harry thought he caught a flicker of movement in the shadows to his left. Dropping his tricorder to the ground, he instantly fell into a crouch and aimed his phaser into the darkness.
Chakotay followed suit, but after a breathless second it seemed they were both jumping at shadows.
“What is it, Ensign?” Chakotay asked.
“I thought I saw something, Commander,” Harry replied, still crouched.
Bending gingerly to retrieve Harry’s tricorder, Chakotay leveled it toward the darkness. The readings showed a data-transmission junction with a large cable attached to its base.
“It’s a dataport. I’m not picking up any life signs, Harry,” Chakotay said gently.
Swallowing hard, Harry rose and confirmed the readings. As he holstered his phaser and tricorder to begin his own climb, Chakotay clapped him on the shoulder saying, “But you can’t be too careful.”
“Are you guys coming?” Tom panted from above.
“Right behind you,” Harry called, hoping the exertion of the ascent would dissipate some of the adrenaline pounding through his system and willing himself to get a grip. He relaxed a little more when he saw Chakotay standing with his back to the ladder and his rifle leveled, covering him and Tom as they climbed.
Several minutes later, all three had gained the top. As they directed their steps toward the heavy door that stood between them and the rest of the station, they took a moment to catch their breath over the spectacular