String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [70]
“But, Captain,” Neelix began.
“That’s an order, Neelix.”
Neelix nodded. “Consider it done.”
Crossing to Seven, she asked, “Are you able to return to duty?”
Seven hopped off of the biobed. She was pale and slightly shaken, but said, “I am.”
“Get down to engineering. I need you to find the Key.”
“Yes, Captain, but…”
“Yes, Seven?”
“I believe we are in serious danger. We must evacuate the array as soon as possible.”
Janeway nodded. “B’Elanna already gave me the broad strokes. One crisis at a time.”
“Understood, Captain.”
Seven obviously had a great deal of information to impart and Janeway hated to delay her report. But there was simply no time at the moment.
Crossing to the Doctor’s office, Janeway spent a few moments at his control panel, opened one of the storage cabinets, and removed two vials of a dark gaseous substance.
On her way out the door she turned to Harry saying, “Ensign, you’re with me.”
Harry fell into step beside her as they strode quickly out of sickbay.
“May I ask where we’re headed, Captain?”
“I think its time you met my sister” was her cryptic reply.
Chapter 9
Chakotay’s relief upon finding Tom was mitigated only by the disconcerting discoveries he had made while they were separated. Tom immediately examined Chakotay’s hand and injected Chakotay with a hypospray from his med kit, which dulled the residual pain.
“How did you get here so fast?” Chakotay asked once the kit was stowed and Tom began to lead him back down the corridor that wound away from the room of specimens and the strange sphere.
“I think I’ve discovered something about the array’s transporters,” Tom said, obviously pleased with himself.
Taking another quick turn, Chakotay saw that they were headed for a row of alcoves, similar to those they had first encountered.
“What’s that?” he asked warily.
“What were you thinking when you first stepped into the transport beam?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know,” Chakotay replied. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular. I was worried about you. But I was also wondering what the purpose of this place was.”
“And you ended up where?” Tom continued.
“I came out near a corridor with dozens of doors which lead to artificial environments… most of them unlike anything I’ve seen before.”
“When I first entered the transport, I was thinking about Tuvok… and how much I wanted to find him. I can’t say for sure, but my guess is that when Harry entered, he was thinking the same thing, find Tuvok or find me.”
“What’s your theory, Lieutenant?” Chakotay asked.
“On my way to you, I found another transport station, and I took a chance. I was thinking about finding you, and when I entered, I came out only a dozen meters from your location.”
Chakotay paused to consider this. “You’re telling me you honestly believe that these systems determine our destination based on what we’re thinking?”
“I do,” Tom replied, grinning. “Want to prove me wrong?”
“Did you bring the pattern enhancers with you?” Chakotay asked.
“I did, but I’m telling you, Commander, I know this is how it works.”
“Even if you’re right, that might only apply to areas within the array,” Chakotay suggested.
“Voyager is on board the array,” Tom said. “I wouldn’t try this otherwise. But if I’m right, we might be able to make use of it, or adapt our systems in a similar way.”
Chakotay considered Tom with a level gaze.
“Make use of it how exactly?” he asked.
Tom sighed. “We already know that coherent tetryon technology is capable of transporting huge objects great distances… far beyond the range of our transporters, or any other technology we’ve found, including the space-folding fields the Sikarians could generate.”
“You think we could adapt this technology to ours in order to get home?” Chakotay asked.
“I think we should find out. I’m willing to chance it. Keep the pattern enhancers with you,” Tom said, laying his rucksack on the ground beside the alcove controls. “Use them to return to the ship if I