Star Trek: Voyager: Chrysalis by David Niall Wilson

Author:David Niall Wilson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671001506
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1997-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

"COMMANDER." TORRES'S VOICE WAS TREMBLING WITH barely concealed frustration. "I can't make out anything. I've reconfigured for every frequency band, every type of available modulation. I can't penetrate this thing. It's as if the life-force of the planet was bubbling up and running over. Every system we have is picking it up now-it's causing fluctuations in the computer I can't even trace, let alone filter out."

"Then Paris and Kes are on their own down there, too," he said softly. Under his breath, he added, "I hope he knows what the hell he's doing."

"Sir?" Torres asked, looking up quickly.

"Nothing, B'Elanna, just thinking out loud." Chakotay didn't want to burden her with his own concerns. She had enough to worry over with the

mounting problems in Engineering. He knew he should pull back, away from the interference, but he was holding off. It felt too much like giving up, and he wasn't in that mind-set yet. So far it hadn't affected any primary systems.

Those that had been beamed back aboard were recuperating. Ensign Fowler had assumed Kim's console and was aiding Torres in her efforts. As Chakotay stood pondering the situation, Neelix stormed onto the bridge. He was more agitated than the first officer had ever seen him, and it was obvious that The Doctor's order to get some rest had been ignored. In all fairness, relaxing while your lover was stranded on an alien planet and completely lost to all contact was hardly a popular suggestion.

"Commander Chakotay," Neelix called out, "have you located Kes and the others?"

"We can't locate anything on that planet, Neelix." Chakotay sighed. "That life-force is building up to something, something big, and we can't penetrate it with any methods or equipment we have available. It's grown so powerful that we're feeling the effects of it all the way out here. We're still trying."

"Then I demand to be beamed back to the planet." Neelix was standing, legs spread wide and a stubborn expression masking his features. "I'm not leaving her down there alone to face these Urrythan bandits."

"She isn't alone, Neelix," Chakotay reminded him. "Paris is with her. He's trained to adapt to difficult situations and conditions. They'll be fine."

"I still don't understand why she didn't beam up

with the rest of us," Neelix fumed. "She was standing right next to me!"

"She is too much in tune with the planet itself," Chakotay explained for probably the tenth time. "She was there one moment, then suddenly the computer didn't even register that there was a person next to you-not even after the administering of The Doctor's antidote. My guess is that she was trying to sense the location of the approaching Urrythans, and she dipped back into the life-force of her own volition. She's a brave girl."

"Send me down there, Captain," Neelix insisted. "I'll find her and bring her back, and if not. . ." His voice choked up, but he continued with an effort. "If not, then I'll die defending her."

"I'm not sending anyone anywhere, Neelix," Chakotay said softly.

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