The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [28]
"The question is not if we will die. It is when and how. We ask that you help us to die with honor, die resisting to the last, with our stolen people brought home to be reunited, however briefly, with their loved ones. It is better to die free than to die a slave. That will be enough. We cannot and will not ask you for more."
Paris wasn't sure if the words were meant to cause guilt or to alleviate it, but he knew that he sure as hell felt guilty. Then again, it was a feeling that was no stranger to him. He'd endured that emotion often throughout his checkered career. He glanced furtively around to gauge the reaction of his fellows.
Kim looked miserable. Everyone else, with the expected exception of Tuvok, also looked uncomfortable to various degrees.
Janeway broke the awkward silence. "Then we're agreed. Very well, Viha Nata, we'll escort your ships into Sun-Eater. Now, on to other matters. First of all, I plan to transport over to the damaged Akerian vessel and see what we can glean from their computer that might help us. Mr. Kim, I'd like you to accompany me."
"Request permission to also be part of the away team," said Torres.
Her dark eyes were snapping with enthusiasm. She was never happier than when she was with her beloved engines, mused Paris; she seemed more at home with them than with people. He couldn't think of anything that would interest her more than getting her hands on a totally alien engineering system.
"Request granted," said Janeway, "but you're to report back to the Voyager as soon as you can. I need you to get everything back on-line.
And when that's done, I'm going to send you down to the planet to look at the Verunan vessels. We'll see if we can't beef them up a little bit, get them operating at peak efficiency when we go into that concavity."
Both B'Elanna and Nata expressed pleased surprise. "Captain, thank you! We would welcome Torres's expertise more than you can know."
"Lieutenant, I'd like you to go with her."
It took Paris a full five seconds to realize that she was talking to him. His gut clenched. "Me, Captain?"
A peculiar smile curved Janeway's lips. "You, Lieutenant. I want you to take a look at the ships, see what they're capable of doing. Talk to the pilots. Get to know them. When we go into Sun-Eater, I want you in the shuttlecraft leading them."
Talk to the pilots. Get to know them. Great, just great.
He didn't hide his expression as clearly as he'd hoped. A furrow creased his captain's forehead. "Do you have a problem with that, Lieutenant?"
"No, no," he hastened to reply. "No problem whatsoever."
"Good. Now, I think--" "Captain," interrupted Chakotay, "request permission to accompany Torres and Paris."
She looked at him searchingly. "I need you here, Mr. Chakotay."
"I think..." The big man glanced over at the image of the reptilian alien on the viewscreen. "There are many things about the Verunan culture that intrigue me. I'd like to learn more about it."
Janeway sighed. "Commander, we are in a rather difficult position, not to mention dangerous. I understand that the Verunan culture must be fascinating, but--" "Captain, there are many aspects of it that are similar to my own. I might know how to ask questions that generate clearer answers than ones anyone else might suggest." He paused, gathering his words. "Viha Nata, correct me if I'm wrong, but your people have a strong oral tradition, don't they? The past is preserved, passed along from person to person through tales and stories."
Viha Nata nodded. "Quite correct, Commander. There are other means of recording events, but we have found this most suitable for us."
He glanced triumphantly over at Janeway, then took another leap.
"You personify the concavity--call it Sun-Eater. But you know it's not alive, correct?"
"Of course not. But even