Naomi climbed. The ladder was designed for the long arms of the Astrudians which made the rungs uncomfortably far apart. While standing on one rung, the next rung was just below her chest. The only way to climb was stand on her tip toes and reach up as far as she could to grasp the rung above her head. Once she had one hand on it, she could reach up with her other hand and hang from it while she pulled her legs up. Getting her feet under her, she could push with her legs so that the rung in her hands was once again at her chest and start the process over again. It was exhausting. In the pitch blackness it was impossible to see how far she had climbed or how much further she had to go. It was hard to keep pulling herself up the rungs and her arms ached. She kept banging shins against the rungs while searched for them with her feet.
Wrapping her arms around the rung at her chest to rest, she paused to catch her breath. Every part of her tiny body hurt. With painful effort, she reached up to the next rung. First one hand. Then the other. She awkwardly pulled her legs up one at a time onto the next rung and gathered her feet under her. She let out a determined grunt as she pushed to stand up and promptly banged her head.
She let out a sob as she pressed her hand onto the top her head where it hurt. Two fat tears rolled down her cheeks. With her lip trembling, she reached up to feel the hatch above her. There as no control panel, but an indigent shove made it swing open easily.
A burst of adrenaline had her up out of the shaft and running down the street before she realized that she didn't know where she was going. Slowing to a stop, she looked around. Night had long since fallen and the street was dark and empty. Gravel and debris littered the ground. The buildings on either side looked as if they were sagging from exhaustion. They were obviously deserted. Ensign Kim had told her to find someone from Voyager. But where would they be?
"Hello? Is anyone there? I need help!" She trotted down the street hoping someone would appear, but nothing moved. As she neared the end of the street, she felt a growing rumble. Gasping, she braced for another tremor. Instead, a low flying transport shuttle slowly passed overhead. Naomi watched with her mouth hanging open as the blinking lights of the shuttle lumbered above her. She realized it must be landing somewhere close by.
Breaking into a run again she tried to chase after it. The sound of her footfalls rang through the empty street as she struggled to keep up her clumsy sprint. Reaching the end of the road, she turned left, then right, then left again. She zig-zagged her way in the direction the shuttle had been flying. She could hear muffled sounds and there was faint glow above the buildings in the direction she was heading. Turning another corner, she found herself on the edge of a large plaza.
Naomi stood panting and stared at the scene. The transport shuttle had landed at the far end. Emergency lighting rigs had been set up around it and people dashed around moving equipment and loading people into the shuttle. Her heart leap when she spotted a couple of Starfleet uniforms in amongst the Astrudians. She took a deep breath and dashed towards the staging area.
"Help! Help! I need help!" She yelled as loud as she could, but she was out of breath and noise from the organized chaos of the landing site easily drowned out her tiny voice. She reached the outer edge of the stacked equipment. She tried to catch the attention of some passing Astrudians. "Excuse me!" They walked passed without noticing her. She wandered farther towards the shuttle. People carrying wounded rushed by her. She called to them. "Excuse me!" Despite the lighting rigs, it was still dark and she was small. She wasn't seen. In amongst the crates of supplies and equipment, Naomi couldn't see the Starfleet uniforms that she had spotted from the edge of the plaza. "Excuse me! Please!" Everyone was so busy that she couldn't get anyone to pay attention to her. She started to panic and her breathing grew rapid. Tears welled in her eyes.
"Naomi Wildman."
Naomi whirled around to see a tall blonde woman staring at her impassively.
"Seven!" Naomi rushed up to the console where Seven of Nine had been working and wrapped her arms around her legs. Nonplussed, Seven stood staring down at her young friend.
"Naomi Wildman, are you damaged?"
Naomi shook her head, then grabbed Seven's hand. "Seven, you have to come. He needs help!"
"To whom are you referring?" Seven of Nine allowed herself to be pulled along by the little girl.
"Ensign Kim. He's hurt and couldn't climb. We have to help him!"
"Ensign Kim was with you?" Seven knew that Harry was one of the last crew members not yet accounted for. "Do you know his location?"
"Yes," said Naomi. "It just over…" The pair reached the edge of the lighted area of the plaza. Naomi looked at the different streets leading from the plaza and wavered. They all looked the same. That one, she thought, taking a step towards it. No, wait, that one. She hesitated. Realization slowly bloomed in her mind that she didn't know which one she had come from, or what turns she had taken to get here. She was lost and couldn't bring back help for Mr. Kim like she had promised. She dropped Seven's hand and let out a wail.
"Naomi Wildman." The girl paid no attention to Seven. "Naomi Wildman! Please communicate your problem." It was no use, Naomi continued to yowl hysterically.
Bewildered, Seven of Nine looked around for assistance. She spotted two Starfleet command uniforms standing beside the transport shuttle. Scooping the child up into her arms, Seven marched over to the pair.
"Commander."
Both Chakotay and Paris looked up from the PADD they were studying.
"Naomi?" Chakotay stepped forward to look at the sobbing child.
"She is undamaged," said Seven, speaking over the loud crying. "I believe she as information regarding Ensign Kim's whereabouts."
Chakotay indicated to Seven that she should set her down. Crouching down himself, he brought himself to eye level with the little girl. Her face was screwed up into an ugly grimace. Her eyes were puffy and snot from her runny nose mixed with her tears and dirt. "Its all right Naomi, you're safe now." The girl paid no attention to him and continued to bawl. "Naomi, please look at me. It's going to be all right. What happened to you after the quake?"
Naomi coughed between sobs, but couldn't answer. Chakotay took a deep breath. "After the quake, was Ensign Kim with you?" Naomi didn't look at the Commander but nodded her head between hiccups. "And what happened? Where is he now?"
Chakotay gave a startled jump as Naomi let out an anguished howl. "I *sob* LOST *sob* HIM!"
"Lost him? How did you lose him? Where did you last see him?" Chakotay used all his self control to keep his voice low and even.
Naomi rubbed her bloodshot eyes and hiccupped again. "In the… sewer."
Chakotay scooped up the child and added her to Tom. "Put her on the transport, Lieutenant, then grab a med kit. Seven," he turned to the Borg. "Let's do a sub-terranean scan for human bio signs." Together the pair made to move to the console where Seven had been working.
"Commander!" Chakotay turned back to see Naomi struggling in Tom's arms. Tears still streamed down her face, but she had stopped wailing. "I can't go! I have to help Mr. Kim! I promised!"
Chakotay stepped back towards her and put his hand on her tiny shoulder. "You have, Naomi. We'll find him now, thanks to you."
Her lip trembled. "He was hurt really bad. I was supposed to bring back help."
"We'll find him," he said again. Chakotay turn and rushed after Seven of Nine.