Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [17]
Chakotay took a deeper breath and, opening his eyes, turned his attention to the akoonah. He then carefully positioned Seven’s fingertips so that they rested lightly on the interface. Both Chakotay and Icheb joined hands with Sveta and placed their remaining free hands simultaneously on the pad of the akoonah.
Icheb was immediately conscious of a faint buzzing sensation in his head, a lightness to which he was unaccustomed, along with a disorienting wave of nausea. He barely registered Chakotay’s words as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to calm his stomach.
“Akoochimoya. We are far from the lands of our ancestors. We ask the spirits to guide us in our search for the one we know as Seven of Nine.”
Icheb felt himself moving through what felt like warm water. He clutched Sveta’s icy hand tighter until the movement stilled and he felt solid ground beneath his feet.
Opening his eyes he was awestruck by what he beheld. He stood at the base of a tree with a thick trunk and large, drooping boughs on a small land mass at one end of a long, rectangular pool. Massive buildings rose up from the white marble paved ground of the courtyard. Apart from himself and Chakotay, who he now realized stood beside him, the area appeared to be deserted.
Where are we? he asked Chakotay, who was taking in the scene with wide-eyed wonder.
I believe it’s called Erigol, he replied without moving his lips. It was/is a Caeliar city. Icheb was struck by the reality that wherever they were, they had access to each other’s thoughts. There was something familiar and comforting in the sensation.
Have you been here before? Icheb asked.
No. But Seven described it to me. She saw it during the transformation.
Above them, Icheb heard a faint rustling, followed by a childish giggle. He and Chakotay exchanged a brief, knowing glance.
Seven? Icheb called out in his mind.
Another giggle answered him.
Icheb looked up into the canopy of wide leaves and dark limbs and saw a small shape.
Hello? Who’s up there?
Go away, a petulant girl’s voice commanded.
We can’t do that, Chakotay replied.
I don’t want you here, the girl said more forcefully.
I don’t doubt that, but we’re not leaving, so you may as well come down, Chakotay insisted.
Icheb was struck by the thought that good as Chakotay’s intentions might be, he clearly hadn’t spent as much time around difficult children as Icheb had.
We don’t need her to play with us, he advised Chakotay. We can have plenty of fun here on our own. Sensing Chakotay’s approval, he searched the ground and quickly found a few loose rocks. He picked them up and began to toss them one at a time high into the air until they fell into the pool at a great distance with a satisfying splash.
I can do better than that, Chakotay said and began to search for his own rocks.
Bet you can’t, Icheb challenged, more for the child’s benefit than any desire for real competition.
Sure enough, though, Chakotay sent his first rock even higher than Icheb’s previous efforts, and both watched as it fell almost to the middle of the pool.
How did you do that? Icheb asked.
Certain rules are easier to break here, Chakotay said, smiling.
Let me try, a small voice insisted.
Icheb turned toward the girl, who somewhat resembled images he had seen of Seven when she was a child, except for certain alien characteristics.
Go ahead, he said, offering her one of his rocks.
Her tosses made Icheb’s and Chakotay