String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [86]
“Fine,” Chakotay replied, “although I’d also like as thorough an analysis of the tractor net system as we can get without going back aboard the array.”
Tom nodded and smiled, “Aye, sir.”
Chakotay turned last to Neelix.
“Neelix, I want you to study the historical information collected from the Betasis.”
“What am I looking for, Commander?” Neelix asked.
“The visions that reference the Key might contain information about the Nacene. You know more about the interaction between the Caretaker and the Ocampa than any of us. I want to know if there are any similarities between the Monorhans and the god or gods of their mythology and the Ocampa and the Caretaker. If Phoebe is Nacene, Dagan’s visions might give us a clue as to where she and the captain have gone.
“I’ll do my best, Commander,” Neelix replied.
Chakotay took a moment to meet the eyes of each of his officers. Assuming the mantle of command was not difficult for him, but he’d have given anything for Kathryn’s firm reassuring presence beside him as they faced these challenges. He knew the others shared his unspoken wish.
“I don’t have to remind any of you what’s at stake here,” he said solemnly. “Let’s get to work.”
Chapter 11
B’Elanna was stumped. She knew that a few hours of sleep would revive her more effectively than the raktajino that was cooling at her workstation, but for the moment, the liquid stimulant would have to do.
She had spent more than an hour analyzing every piece of data they had been able to gather about the multiphasic life-forms and kept running up against the same solid problematic wall. The creatures were not stable. That is… they did not exist in any phase variation long enough for any weapon at Voyager’s disposal to have any effect upon them at all. She had reconfigured several phaser rifles to fire at randomized phase variances but the only way the weapons would be effective is if the phase variance of the rifle and the creature were exactly the same. She had added a phase calibrator to the rifles, but in every simulation she ran, the sensor could not detect the variance, lock on target, and fire before the phase variance of the creature shifted. She also had to face the unpleasant reality that like the Borg, the creatures might be able to adapt to randomized fire, making the highly advanced weapon she was developing practically useless.
Ensign Glenn, one of Tuvok’s tactical munitions experts, had just started her duty shift, and B’Elanna silently hoped that a pair of fresh eyes might see what she was obviously missing.
A pop and sizzle from the rifle Glenn was configuring stirred B’Elanna from her thoughts.
“Careful,” she chided.
“The sensor relay overloaded,” Glenn replied. “I’ll replicate another. Don’t worry,” she added as she crossed to the replicator. “I lost a few fingers at Menassa VI trying to deactivate a micro-mine. My biosynthetic digits are less sensitive. I didn’t even feel it.”
B’Elanna nodded as she absentmindedly pushed a few unruly strands of hair back into place.
A sonic shower and a few hours of sleep.
Instead, she reached for her raktajino and, grasping the cup, was rewarded with a quick burn on the first finger to touch it. She had ordered the beverage extra-hot and within a few minutes the mug had absorbed so much of the heat as to be temporarily untouchable. As she automatically thrust her index finger into her mouth to sooth the mild wound, she cast a glance at Glenn and reminded herself that any feeling in her fingers, no matter how unpleasant, was better than the alternative that Glenn had to live with. Only once in her life had she come close to losing normal sensations in her extremities: when she and the rest of Voyager’s crew had been subjected to a series of barbaric scientific experiments by a group of aliens who had turned the crew into unwilling lab rats. Their first round