The Farther Shore - Christie Golden [33]
They were her beloved subjects, her precious drones, and she was their adoring queen.
Chapter 8
MONTGOMERY WAS just returning from another meeting with his staff when Kaz stopped him in the hall. Sighing, Montgomery said, “Don’t tell me, let me guess. You want a regeneration chamber for the Borg.”
Kaz glared at him. “They’re not Borg, and it’s too late for that.”
Montgomery started so violently he spilled his coffee. “What? Are they—”
“No, not yet, thank God. I’ve had both of them in my sickbay this morning and their vital signs are showing severe distress. We’ve got to do what we discussed.”
Montgomery frowned. “I don’t much like that,” he said.
“I like even less the thought of these two dying on our watch,” said Kaz.
[97] “You’re absolutely certain?”
“Stasis has its own risk, especially when the subjects are this weak. I would indeed have to feel this was the only alternative, and I regret to inform you that I’ve reached that point,” Kaz answered.
“Damn it. I don’t like the idea of them being difficult to question if an emergency arises,” said Montgomery. Kaz said nothing, almost literally biting his tongue to avoid exploding at his commanding officer. Finally Montgomery said, “We can wake them if I need them, right?”
“As I told you earlier, sir, it’s risky, but if need be, we can revive them, yes.”
“Very well. You may proceed.”
Janeway, Data, Chakotay, and Tuvok entered the correctional facility. Janeway felt she was becoming far too familiar with this place. She was getting to know all the security personnel by name. Of course, now every time she met someone, she wondered who was human and who was one of Baines’s decoys.
“Good morning, Lieutenants,” she said to Andropov and Robinson. She was almost on a first-name basis with Robinson, but Andropov was new. “I think you know who we’re here to see.”
“Indeed we do,” said Robinson, motioning them to step through. “Good morning, Commander Data. It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”
“Good morning,” Data replied. “I only regret that our meeting is taking place under such circumstances.” Everyone but he passed through the security systems. Data set off the alarm. Of course, Janeway thought, [98] calming herself. Data was a machine. The bioscanners wouldn’t recognize him as human. Lieutenant Andropov scanned him with the tricorder, after apologizing profusely, then waved him through.
He touched a pad on his console. “This is Lieutenant Andropov,” he said. “Admiral Janeway and Commanders Data, Chakotay, and Tuvok have arrived to see Seven of Nine, Icheb, and the Doctor.”
There was a pause. “I’m afraid they’re too late,” came the voice from the other end.
“What?” cried Janeway. “What do you mean?”
“Seven of Nine and Icheb are going into stasis. It’s a precautionary measure suggested by Dr. Kaz,” the voice continued.
“Put me through to Dr. Kaz immediately,” Janeway demanded.
“Admiral,” said Andropov, “if the doctor is readying stasis fields, then it’s not advisable to—”
“That is an order, Lieutenant,” snapped Janeway. She felt the blood rise in her cheeks and knew her eyes were probably bright. She only hoped that the lieutenant would take it for anger, not the apprehension she was really feeling.
“Yes, Admiral, of course,” said Andropov, visibly subdued. “Dr. Kaz, this is Lieutenant Andropov from Admissions. May—”
“Not now, Lieutenant,” came Kaz’s voice.
“Dr. Kaz,” said Janeway, “It’s Admiral Janeway. Is there any way we could talk to Seven and Icheb, or are you too far along in the process?”
There was a pause, then Kaz replied, “If you come up right away you might have a moment or two, but no [99] more. I’d advise haste, Admiral. They won’t be coherent for very long.”
“You heard the doctor,” Janeway told the two security guards. “Let us through. Now.”
The four strode briskly along the corridors. To Janeway, the turbolifts seemed unusually slow, but she was certain it was just her anxiety. Human or hologram, Andropov and Robinson had alerted the