The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [64]
Torres is working with the engineers to incorporate this new information, and it's been invaluable for the pilots. I think if the Akerians decide to come be the bullies in this playground again, they may be in for a surprise."
Janeway's voice sounded as delighted as his own must have.
"That's terrific news. Makes me feel a little better about what I plan to do."
"And that is?"
"What I want to discuss with all my senior officers," she replied, efficiently ducking the question. "We've been busy on this end, too.
Mr. Kim has discovered some rather... well, startling might not be too strong a word to describe what he's found out about the Akerians.
When can you all beam aboard?"
"You gave us five hours, Captain, and I'd like to use every minute of it. We'll be aboard Voyager at 17:00."
"Very well. Report to the conference room when you've beamed up.
Janeway out."
***
Never had the recirculated air of the Voyager smelled so sweet to Chakotay as now, as he materialized aboard after spending nearly three full days on Veruna Four. He breathed deeply and, turning, saw that both Paris and Torres were doing the same thing. He caught their eyes and grinned.
"It's a nice little planet, but I wouldn't want to live there," quipped Paris, but his eyes didn't laugh. It had been a nice little planet, once. It was no longer, and Chakotay knew that he and his fellow crew members were glad to be back aboard, albeit temporarily.
The three of them headed for the turbolift. A yawn escaped Torres, who seemed irritated at this show of weakness.
"Must be the change in the oxygen content," offered Paris. His face showed no hint of teasing, but Chakotay still suspected him.
One always suspected that Paris was joking. Clearly Torres did, for she shot him a rather nasty look.
"Must be," she agreed archly.
The turbolift doors opened, and Neelix and Kes smiled out at them.
"Welcome back, intrepid Voyagers!" punned Neelix, stepping back to make room for them. "Heading for the bridge as well, I assume?"
Chakotay nodded. The doors hissed closed, and the turbolift smoothly continued its ascent.
"I wanted to let you know, Tom, the blood samples that you took from Kaavi were very helpful," said Kes to Paris in her soft, gentle voice.
"If there's a battle, and we need to get the Verunans medical supplies, we'll know exactly what they'll require. That was very wise of you."
"Shucks, ma'am, t'weren't nothin'," drawled Paris, smiling down at the attractive young Ocampa.
"Speaking of Kaavi," put in Neelix, noting with distress the proximity of his beloved to the man Chakotay had heard him call That Walking Hormone, "I hear that you and the Dragon Lady are quite...
friendly."
Chakotay closed his eyes briefly, waiting for Paris's indignant outburst along the lines of You think a lizard and I would ever...
You're sick!
There was indeed an outburst. But the words were the last thing Chakotay had expected to hear issuing from the smart mouth of Lieutenant Tom Paris.
"Don't you ever call Kaavi or any of her kind `Dragon Lady'! The Verunans are some of the nicest, gutsiest people I've ever met, and you could learn a lot about decency from them. I'll thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head, Talaxian!"
Everyone turned to look at Paris, utterly startled. The same genes that had given Tom Paris his fair hair and blue eyes had also bequeathed him a fair complexion that blushed quite easily.
Paris was red right up to his hairline at the moment, but he met the disbelieving gazes challengingly.
For once, Tom Paris wasn't joking.
Will wonders never cease, mused Chakotay. He caught Paris's eye and gave him a small, approving nod.
When they reached the bridge, Paris, clearly uncomfortable, shouldered his way out first and strode briskly over to the conference room. The others followed more slowly.
"Now what was that all about?" Neelix