Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [0]
Kim reported.
“Their shields are failing and I’m detecting overloads in several systems. The unregistered vessel’s shields are at eighty percent of maximum.”
Paris was torn between admiring B’Elanna’s success and getting her the hell out of danger as soon as possible. The shuttle mxkaneuvered easily around the larger ship, avoiding direct fire. Still, the situation could change in seconds.
“Open a channel,” Paris ordered.
“Channel open,” Lasren confirmed.
Before Eden could object, Tom said, “This is the Federation Starship Voyager to the pilot of the unregistered vessel. Do you require assistance?”
A garbled response came over the comm.
“Lasren, can you clean that up?” Paris demanded.
“Commander,” Eden said angrily.
Paris turned directly to Eden and said softly, “Captain, my wife and my daughter are aboard that ship.”
Eden’s eyes widened in surprise but she replied just as softly, “Your recently deceased wife and daughter?”
“Yes, Captain,” Tom confirmed.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
KIRSTEN BEYER
Based on Star Trek®
created by Gene Roddenberry
and
Star Trek: Voyager
created by Rick Berman & Michael Piller & Jeri Taylor
Pocket Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
[http://www.SimonandSchuster.com] www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
™, ® and © 2009 by CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This book is published by Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., under exclusive license from CBS Studios Inc.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Books paperback edition October 2009
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of
Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at [http://www.simonspeakers.com] www.simonspeakers.com.
Cover art by Michael Stetson; cover design by Alan Dingman
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4391-0398-2
ISBN 978-1-4391-2348-5 (ebook)
For Marco Palmieri
“Perfection is terrible, it cannot have children.”
—Sylvia Plath,
“The Munich Mannequins”
CHAPTER ONE
Warning. Quantum phase stability at ninety-six point seven five one percent and falling.”
“P’tak!” Miral said gleefully from the seat designated for a navigator that B’Elanna Torres had modified with a special booster attachment to secure her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter during flight.
“Computer,” B’Elanna said as her patience wore dangerously thin, “recalculate phase variance and adjust deflector control.” Turning to Miral she added, “We don’t use that word, honey.”
“Calculation complete. Modifying deflector telemetry,” the computer advised.
“Computer, calculate revised phase stability.”
“P’tak!” Miral said again, a little more ferociously.
“Phase stability at ninety-nine point nine two five percent.”
“Thank you,” B’Elanna replied. Once upon a time she never would have addressed any ship’s computer so politely, but since the computer was one of only a few adult voices B’Elanna heard regularly throughout the past fourteen months, she had come to think of her shuttle’s computer as a friend and an ally.
B’Elanna swiveled her chair to face Miral and said with less congeniality, “Miral Paris, when I