The Farther Shore - Christie Golden [81]
She wept again, curled up in a fetal position, until she had exhausted her tears. Then she struggled to her feet and, stumbling like a drunken man, made her way over to where Miral lay.
Horrible though the sight was, B’Elanna felt a strange comfort steal over her. This wasn’t Miral. This was simply the shape, the shell, that passionate woman had worn in life. Now that she was dead, Klingons believed the body was nothing.
B’Elanna couldn’t make that leap, not yet, but she had a glimmer of insight into how Klingons could feel that way. In the full, harsh light of day, she saw how badly her mother had been wounded, and had an inkling of the pain she was in. To have endured hours, maybe days, of living in that agony—no. Although part [242] of her screamed that what she had done was wrong, a louder part was quietly telling her that it was right.
They were to have left for the temple today, she and her mother. They were to have traveled together, telling stories and singing songs, and laughing, embarking on a new chapter in their lives. Instead, the journey back would be as lonely as the journey here, with much less hope to brighten it
Torres took a deep breath, and began to gather stones for a cairn. Klingons wouldn’t bother. But she was only half-Klingon, and her human half couldn’t bear the thought of her mother’s body becoming food for scavengers.
She was a blend of two peoples. Her mother wanted her to be proud of that heritage.
She would start today.
Chapter 22
“DEPENDING ON HOW strong she has become, it is likely that the queen will attempt to access all Starfleet systems,” said Seven. “We must alert Starfleet Command so that they are prepared.”
“Mr. Kim, patch Admiral Montgomery through to Starfleet Command,” Janeway ordered. “Ken, tell them to physically isolate Starfleet Intelligence as well. We’ve got to keep the queen and her drones inside that building. Everyone should wear envirosuits. It will offer them at least some protection from the nanoprobes.”
“I’m on it,” Montgomery said grimly.
“Should we suit up as well?” Chakotay asked. While they had been talking, the Doctor and Kaz had been preparing hyposprays. As he spoke, Chakotay tilted his neck and Kaz pressed the hypospray to his artery.
“It would offer additional protection,” Icheb said.
[244] “I would not recommend it,” said Tuvok. “They are cumbersome and would hinder our movement. And if the suit were ruptured in any way, we would be as exposed as if we were not wearing them.”
“Agreed,” said Janeway.
“According to Starfleet Command, she’s already accessed the system,” Montgomery said. He looked as if he desperately wanted to punch something. It was a sentiment Janeway shared.
“Has she locked them out?”
Montgomery was reading information as she spoke and said, “No, it looks as though she withdrew of her own accord. Now why would she do that?”
“Maybe she can’t handle that much information yet,” Icheb said.
“Lock her out,” Janeway said. “Tell them to make sure she can’t access those systems again. She’ll probably keep trying.”
Montgomery nodded and spoke to his contact.
Janeway tilted her head, felt the cold press of the hypospray. “Has everyone been vaccinated?” Her team nodded.
“May I suggest that we transport to the control room first?” Data said. “I may be able to access the computers and countermand some of her orders.”
“Good thinking,” Janeway said. “And I don’t think we want to show up in her office first thing anyway. Admiral, are you ready?”
Montgomery said a few more words to his contact, and then terminated the conversation. His face looked haggard. “They’ve apprehended Grady, and he’s spilling everything. It doesn’t look good,” he said.
[245] “I’m sure there were moments during the Dominion War when things didn’t look good either,” Janeway said, “and yet, you prevailed.”
When they reached the transporter room, Janeway entered the coordinates,