String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [81]
“What’s that?” B’Elanna retorted.
“I do not believe that all of the Monorhans were transformed as you suggested.”
“What are you basing that on?” Chakotay asked.
“When we were aboard the Betasis, I attempted to interface with their computer core using my assimilation tubules. When I interfaced with the neural network of the ship, I discovered a presence there… a consciousness.”
“How is that possible?” Harry asked.
“I hesitate to speculate as to how,” Seven replied. “Nonetheless, it did communicate with me.”
“Don’t you mean through you?” B’Elanna demanded, obviously still irritated at Seven’s rash actions when they had boarded the Monorhan vessel.
“That might be a more accurate description,” Seven acknowledged. “The presence demanded that we leave the ship and threatened us with imminent death if we did not comply. Among the records we discovered were descriptions of Monorhan rituals that included the transfer of consciousness between certain members of the tribe. I believe that one of the Monorhans attempted such a transfer between themselves and the organic components of the Betasis. If they succeeded, then they are still alive in a manner of speaking, within the ship, and would therefore not have been infected by the parasites as the others were.”
The others pondered this possibility silently for a few moments before Neelix asked the obvious.
“Well, if one of them is still alive, maybe we should try and talk to them again. They’ll know more than we do about these creatures.”
“I do not believe they will comply,” Seven replied.
“Neither do I,” B’Elanna agreed.
“What if we could offer them something they need?” Harry suggested.
“What’s that?” Chakotay asked.
“A body,” Harry replied.
The only thing Janeway could feel as she entered the blackness was Phoebe’s firm, icy hand holding hers as if their lives depended upon remaining in physical contact. For a few disorienting seconds it seemed that the darkness around her was as impenetrable as it was eternal. She heard Phoebe calling to her, her voice echoing around her as if it were coming from everywhere at once, and not from the firm solid presence that walked beside her.
“The Beginning…” Phoebe called, over and over.
Suddenly Janeway found herself standing on the transporter pad of Voyager’s main transporter room. Admiral Patterson strode toward her, extending a warm hand as he said, “Welcome aboard, Captain.”
Janeway had automatically reached out to accept his hand when he froze where he stood and Phoebe appeared beside him.
“What is this moment, Kathryn?” she asked.
Janeway didn’t have to think to answer. It was one of her fondest and least complicated memories.
“This was my first day aboard Voyager,” she replied.
“Not the day,” Phoebe said patiently, “the moment.”
Janeway considered briefly. “This moment… when I first appeared on the transport pad… was the beginning of my life aboard Voyager.”
“Fine,” Phoebe replied. “It is a beginning. But not the beginning. Try again,” she said.
“The beginning…” Janeway said softly.
The image of the transporter room grew dim and fractured. Colors and sounds whirled into blackness as Janeway closed her eyes and forced herself to focus on the word “beginning.”
When she opened them, she found a familiar pair of blue-gray eyes staring lovingly into hers. Her arms and legs were bound closely around her, but the warmth and comfort she felt in this position overwhelmed any sense of danger at her sudden immobility. She couldn’t speak, but as she looked beyond the beautiful eyes, she caught flashes of light and sound that some dim part of her associated with her first sight. Suddenly she knew that this moment was also a memory. This was her first moment of consciousness after birth. She quelled the instinct that came from she knew not where, to begin screaming and crying. Part of her sensed the emptiness in her belly and knew she needed nourishment. But the part of her mind that was still the fully grown Janeway could also experience the memory with some detachment. She