The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [69]
In stunned surprise, Lwaxana accepted the bowl Sorana handed her. “But this is your entire day’s water ration.”
“I regret it’s all I have to give.”
With a cry of gratitude, Lwaxana wet her almost dry cloth and sponged her toddler’s searing flesh. Then she tilted Barin’s head for a long drink.
“The doctor is gathering his medical kit,” Sorana said. “He’ll be here soon.”
She turned to leave, then hesitated in the opening. “It’s not good to be alone at such a time. If you wish, I’ll stay with you.”
“Please.” Lwaxana gestured toward the niche’s only chair.
With a nod, Sorana took the seat, her presence surprisingly comforting.
“We’ve had our differences,” Lwaxana admitted. “Why are you here now?”
“Because we also have shared tragedy,” Sorana said. “Like you, I lost a child when I was much younger, but one does not forget the pain.”
Lwaxana gazed at Barin, lying too quiescent on his tiny cot. “I’ve lost one child,” she said fiercely. “I refuse to give up another.”
Chapter Fifteen
“D ATA?” D EANNA CALLED in a loud whisper.
Her voice echoed eerily off the rocky ledge, but she received no reply. Without combadges, which had been deemed too risky, she had no way of contacting Data and no idea why he had left without informing her of his departure. She wondered if he had picked up movement of more Jem’Hadar troops and gone out with Tevren to meet them, until her foot struck something on the ledge.
Bending down, she retrieved the object: Tevren’s psionic inhibitor in the sterile pack where Beverly had placed it after removal. Deanna’s blood ran cold at the sight of the inhibitor implant, apparently ground beneath someone’s heel into the red stone until only fragments remained.
With terrible foreboding, she scanned the forest nearest the rendezvous point, fearful Tevren had somehow disabled Data and abandoned him. She saw two sets of footprints on the path leading up the mountain, one made by Data’s boots, the other the distinctive tread of soft, prison-issue shoes.
Their departure made no sense. Even with his emotion chip, Data was unlikely to be susceptible to Tevren’s psychological manipulations, especially in so short a time, so how had such a powerless little man overcome Data? And if Tevren hadn’t somehow gained control of the android, why hadn’t they returned yet? Could the Jem’Hadar be closer than they’d thought?
She had to find them both quickly. Data possessed their only means of signaling Worf, but more than that, he was her friend, and she ached at the possibility that he might be hurt or even killed while trying to help her homeworld. Besides, she was responsible for Tevren, and the last thing she wanted was his running amok among the unsuspecting citizens of Darona. Bad enough that they had to endure the Jem’Hadar occupation without adding a serial killer to their problems.
When Deanna stepped inside the cave, Beverly glanced up from her patient, her expression hopeful. “Did Data receive a response?”
Deanna shook her head and handed the doctor the remains of the inhibitor. “Data and Tevren have disappeared.”
Beverly’s eyes widened at the sight of the ruined inhibitor. “Dammit,” she whispered. “We have no way to control him now.”
“Finding him is my first worry. In the meantime, until I return, step onto the ledge at irregular intervals and fire your phaser into the air. If Worf returns, he’ll scan this location and will recognize the Starfleet weapon signature. The sooner you can get Vaughn aboard the Defiant, the better.”
“And the Jem’Hadar?” Beverly asked.
“We’ll hope the Defiant homes in on your phaser fire before they do.” Deanna checked the setting on her phaser rifle and released the safety.
“Be careful,” Beverly said with a bittersweet smile.
“You, too.”
Deanna hurried up the mountain path above the cave. Tevren was quick to tire, and she hoped to catch up with him before he could travel far. But she doubted she could take him by surprise. When Beverly had removed his inhibitor, Deanna had been astounded by the