Day of Honor 3 (VOY) by Michael Jan Friedman

Author:Michael Jan Friedman [Friedman, Michael Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Star trek fiction, Imprisonment, Interplanetary voyages, Torres; B'Elanna (Fictitious character), Abduction, Women engineers
ISBN: 9780671002404
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1997-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

Iso

The doctor shrugged. "A couple of days, perhaps. Unfortunately, it would take almost that long to recover from the exposure."

"So nothing would be gained," Pacria concluded.

He regarded her. "Extremely little. I only wanted you to be aware of the full range of options."

Was that a note of sarcasm in his voice? Or a note of regret, because he hadn't found a way to heal her that she could accept? Either way, she decided to ignore it.

"I'm grateful," she told him.

"Think nothing of it," the Doctor replied. "Incidentally, I have something for you."

Returning to his office for a moment, he took something off his desk. Then he brought it out to her.

"I didn't know if it had any value, sentimental or otherwise," the Doctor explained. "And you weren't awake for me to ask, so I took the liberty of having it cleaned in one of our laboratories. It was coated with a considerable amount of radioactive debris, you understand."

Pacria took the object from him-and smiled. It was a flat, oblong broach made of platinum. The raised symbol on its face was meant to represent two birds ascending in harmonious spirals.

"My badge," she said. She turned it over in her hand. "I received it less than a year ago."

Eight months later, Pacria realized she had contracted the virus. At the time, she had wondered how her crewmates would take the news of her impending death. She hadn't expected to outlive them, even in her wildest dreams.

Running her finger over the birds rendered on the badge, she made a decision-and gave it back to the Doctor. "Here," she said. "I want you to have it. For saving my life."

He looked at her askance. "I would like to say how much I appreciate the gift. However, as I've informed you, I am si-nply a holographic program. I have no need of possessions."

"Nor do I " Pacria reminded him. "I'll be dead soon. But your program will still exist."

The Doctor frowned and accepted the badge. "Very well, then," he said. "I will keep it . . ." He paused. "On my desk?"

She nodded her approval. "An excellent choice. That way, you won't have clear,.ed it for n-" Pacria stopped ir. mid-sentence, her mind churning. "Gods," she muttered. "How could I have been so stupid?"

The Do--tor regarded her. "Stupid? About what?"

"I've got to get back to my quarters," she told him hurriedly, and bolted for the exit.

The doors slid aside just in time. She ran for the nearest turbolift as fast as she could, her breath coming in gasps from excitement as much as from exertion.

The captain, she thought. I've got to tell the captain.

No, another part of her-the scientist-insisted. First, she had to confirm her suspicions. Then she would contact the captain.

Paris was pushing some of Neelix's latest concoction around his plate when he saw Chakotay walk into the mess hall. The first officer looked as if he had lost his best friend.

Paris sighed. He knew the feeling.

As he watched, Chakotay picked up a tray and some utensils and walked past Neelix's serving area.

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