Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [100]
“Don’t you mean more out of hand?” Cambridge asked too cheerily to be taken seriously. “Captain, is the Galen equipped with emergency escape pods?”
“Of course, Counselor. Why?”
“Just asking.”
Eden sat in her ready room, waiting for further word from Commander Glenn. She trusted Glenn’s assumption that if Seven had been injured on the away mission, Chakotay would have wanted her evaluated by the Doctor. It would explain the team’s request to transport to the Galen . Of course, it was also possible that Chakotay might know that his time was running short and intended to use the Galen to further his own ends.
“Bridge to the captain.”
“Go ahead, Ensign Lasren,” Eden replied.
“Galen has broken formation and is headed toward unknown coordinates at high warp.”
Eden instantly came to her feet and hurried to the bridge. As soon as she arrived, Eden ordered, “Hail the Galen. ”
After a moment, Commander Glenn’s tense face appeared on the viewscreen.
“What’s happening, Clarissa?”
“We’ve lost control of the helm. Our engineering specialists are working on it, but for now, we’re at the mercy of whatever or whomever is controlling our ship.”
“Do you know where you’re headed?”
“Lawry has plotted several possible destinations, all of which are deep in the heart of what used to be Borg space.”
“ Helm, lay in pursuit course,” Eden said. “Lasren, advise Captain Itak to hold position here until we make further contact.” Turning again to Glenn, she said, “Captain, at Admiral Batiste’s request, I am ordering you to take Chakotay into custody.”
“I don’t understand …”
“Confine Chakotay to secure quarters,” Eden cut her off.
“Aye,” Glenn agreed.
“ Voyager out,” Eden said, closing the transmission. “Ensign Gwyn, stay with them.”
“Yes, Captain,” the helmsman replied crisply.
As she took her seat, Eden found her thoughts turning inexplicably to the first day of her honeymoon. At the time, she had pretended to enjoy herself. Years later, she realized that it had been an exercise in lowering expectations. The very first day, when she had planned a tour of Delgara’s botanical gardens, Batiste had insisted on remaining in their suite, working.
Analyzing encrypted Cardassian intercepts.
Perhaps these memories pestered her now because it had been the first in what would become a long line of disappointing days with Willem. It was during that lonely week that Eden had first confronted the reality that Willem was a very good liar.
It was there, right in front of her. In one version, Chakotay had worked daily to undermine her position since he had come onboard. Their report of the Indign threat was one of many red herrings meant to throw Eden off. He had to be responsible for whatever was now going wrong on the Galen. In a few short hours, Eden knew she would be proven right. Her only concern now was making sure her ship and her crew survived what was coming.
The Doctor checked Seven’s vital signs and found to his great relief that she seemed to be stabilizing. The inflammation of the tissue surrounding what had once been her cortical node had subsided and her electrolyte levels, organ functions, and blood count were all, once again, within normal ranges. He considered injecting her with a stimulant to wake her, but decided against it. Commander Glenn had ordered the Doctor to report on Seven’s communication with the Neyser as soon as possible. He thought it best that she continue to rest until she regained consciousness. His attention was diverted from her by the entrance of two security holograms, a Klingon and a Gorn. They were carrying the unconscious form of Reg Barclay.
“Report,” the Doctor ordered as they placed Reg’s body on the nearest biobed. The Gorn hologram responded in perfect Standard, “He was found in the holographic research lab. His body had been hidden beneath the deck plating, which had been forcibly dislodged. Our scans suggest mild concussion of his occipital lobe.”
“Thank you, gentlemen,” the Doctor replied