The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [62]
Trembling, Nata slipped the amulet over her head, snapping the leather thong easily. With a quick, hope-filled glance at her companion, she dropped the metal shape inside.
Nothing happened.
Chakotay tasted disappointment like bile in his mouth. But...
it made sense. It had to work. Had to. It was in perfect harmony with everything he'd learned about how the K'shikkaa and their descendants thought.
"Nata, you are not the only Viha left, are you?"
"No. There are five of..." Her voice trailed off, and Chakotay knew that she was thinking what he was thinking Five Vihas. Five panels on the console. Five amulets.
He didn't have to say anything. As one, they hurried to the next console, found the indentation, and inserted the amulet. Again, nothing happened. Undaunted, they moved to the third, then the fourth.
This time, the amulet did not catch on some hidden obstruction.
This time, there was a smooth, easy click They waited perhaps two seconds--an apparent eternity.
Then, quietly and efficiently, as if the passage of millennia had been but a moment or two, the console at which Nata and Chakotay stood hummed into life. A dazzling display of colors and light intensity met their gazes. Lights twinkled and blinked.
Grinning idiotically, Chakotay and Nata spontaneously hugged each other.
"Greetings, Viha. How may I be of service?" came a voice.
Startled, the two companions whirled to locate the sound. It came from the flat field in the center of the grouped consoles.
Standing there, apparently solid, was the same Sentinel that had "greeted" them earlier. Only at this outlet, it would seem, the system worked perfectly. It seemed almost real; there was no hint of spectral insubstantiality about this one.
"Who are you?" Chakotay asked.
The hologram swiveled its delicately shaped head in his direction. "I answer only to the Viha. Vihas alone may command the computer."
"It's a manifestation of the computer," said Chakotay quietly.
"Ask it something."
"Computer," began Nata, hesitantly at first and then with growing conviction, "it has been a long time since one of us spoke with you."
"Four thousand three hundred twenty-seven years, eight months, two weeks, and four days," agreed the computer.
"We have kept alive the tales," Nata assured it, "but we have forgotten much as well. How... how did we come here? Why?"
The holographic K'shikkaa looked puzzled. "Full verbal downloading of information will take approximately two years, three months, three weeks, six days, and nine hours. Suggest narrowing question unless you wish the complete data."
"Very briefly, then," Nata continued, "why did the K'shikkaa come to Veruna Four?"
"The sun in the K'shikkaan system was dying. A supernova was inevitable. Various systems were determined to be suitable to sustaining K'shikkaan life. Veruna Four was the first planned colony.
A colony ship called the Soul was dispatched here.
Since you have reactivated the system, the colonization may be deemed successful."
"What about other colonies?" asked Nata.
"No information is available. They were scheduled to depart after the Soul departed for Veruna Four."
"A dying sun," mused Chakotay. "It seems your people have come full circle, Nata."
"What else should I ask?"
"Ask it... ask it how to operate this vessel."
Nata did so.
"Verbal downloading of information will take approximately seven months, one week, and two days. Suggest asking specific questions."
Nata clearly had no idea what to suggest and glanced pleadingly at Chakotay. "Ask them if they have detailed information about the Guardians and if they can provide an on-screen tutorial about their function."
Nata did so. The hologram froze, then nodded. "Such can be done.
Please observe."
The hologram vanished. In its place there appeared