EIDOLON
by Avalon (avalon99@telusplanet.net)
http://members.dencity.com/avalon_online
J/C, PG-13, 4/7
EIDOLON IV
The air was warm and dry, with a faint hint of something that smelled like sage on the breeze. Janeway stood just outside the downed shuttle, staring gloomily at the landscape. Beyond the rock pillars and boulders where the ship lay was a flat, rocky expanse of desert. Small plants grew here and there in rock crevices and only the occasional stunted tree broke the horizon.
Janeway looked down at the tricorder in her hand then thumped it on the side. It gave an alarming screech but the data stabilized long enough for her to take a reading. There. To the west. About 25 kilometres... It was definitely some sort of power source. She hit the tricorder again, but it stubbornly failed to give her any more information.
"Captain." Janeway stiffened at the sound of his voice and turned to look at the man beside her.
"What?"
He tilted his head a little. "I can't see."
Janeway's jaw tightened. The cut on his forehead had almost closed, but a thin trickle of blood still ran into his eyes. Eidolon gave her a mocking smile.
"Would you mind?"
With a muffled curse, she reached up with one sleeve and roughly swiped
the blood from his eyes. The smile grew wider. "Lovely bedside
manner you have, Captain. Have you ever considered a career in medicine?"
She suppressed a growl and turned her attention back to the tricorder.
"I was planning on killing you, you know," he said conversationally.
"Yes, I know," Janeway muttered as she tried to fine-tune the device while juggling the phaser in her other hand. "Why else do you think I crashed the shuttle?"
"I thought perhaps insanity was prevalent in human females."
Janeway sighed, tucked the tricorder back into her belt, and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Only this one. Now get moving."
"As you wish." With a mocking grin, the man in Chakotay's body turned away from the shuttle and began to pick his way carefully over the rocky ground. Janeway watched him for a long moment then sighed again, shifted the phaser to her right hand, and set out after him.
* * *
Chakotay felt an involuntary surge of satisfaction when he realized how difficult Eidolon was finding it to maneuver over the uneven terrain with his hands tied. The alien, or rather his body hadn't escaped the shuttle's crash unscathed. Eidolon walked stiffly, turning his head as little as possible, and his vision kept blurring at regular intervals. Concussion, probably. Good. That should help Kathryn. Another shaft of irony struck him. It wasn't often that one was pleased at the idea of having concussion...
Kathryn. He managed to get another look at her as she crossed Eidolon's line of vision. The crash had obviously done some damage to her too. She was limping slightly, a limp that increased with every step, and it looked as though her side was hurting. Then again, there was also a stubborn glint in her eyes that he recognized. Chakotay suspected that she could outlast him and make it to the power source and back, if necessary. It seemed there was very little his Captain could not do.
* * *
Janeway called a halt several hours later when they reached a stone well with a bucket on a frayed rope. The well was old and crumbling, but, when she dropped the bucket into its depths, there was a reassuring splash. With one eye on Eidolon, she tucked the phaser into the front of her belt and carefully pulled up a pitcherful of water. She gave it a hesitant sniff then withdrew the tricorder. When it didn't respond she gave it another whack on the side. It didn't even whimper this time. The Captain clenched her teeth against the curses she was tempted to emit, and returned it to her belt. Then she took a small sip.
"Well?" Eidolon's voice was impatient.
Janeway frowned. "It seems all right."
"I'm surprised you didn't make me try it first." She looked up at him. "After all, you've already threatened to shoot me. What's a little poison between friends?"
"Shut up." She took another swallow of water.
"Certainly. After you give me some water."
Janeway sighed. "No tricks," she said, taking a step forward.
"Of course not. But this would be easier if you released my hands."
A wry smile curled at her lips. "Do I look that stupid or are you just a poor judge of character?"
The alien didn't answer but leaned forward as Janeway awkwardly tilted the bucket so he could drink. Then he watched her replace it and lean against the well, the phaser aimed unwaveringly at him.
"I want you to tell me everything about...ouch." She broke off suddenly and snatched her hand away from the stones. A small red insect scuttled back into the shadows. Janeway started then looked at her right hand. Four tiny marks marred the skin near her wrist. She looked up at Eidolon, alarm in her eyes. "What was that?"
"What colour was it?"
"Red."
"Was there a white stripe on its back?" he asked.
Janeway hesitated. "Yes. I think so." She frowned as Eidolon burst into laughter. "What?"
"Oh nothing." With an effort he suppressed his laughter but a wide grin remained on his face. "It's just that I was wrong. It seems that some things on this planet haven't changed after all." He chuckled again.
Janeway rubbed the side of her hand where a red welt was already forming. "What do you mean? And do try to contain your hilarity for a moment."
"Sorry. You probably don't find this very amusing." The grin vanished. "You've been bitten by a Gwari. They're poisonous."
"What's the cure?" An edge was beginning to appear in Janeway's voice.
"That's just it. There is none."
She stared at him. "I don't believe you."
"You should. You've got twenty, maybe twenty-five hours. No more. And then you're going to die. Very slowly. In agony."
"That's enough."
He ignored her. "I've seen it happen before. First the dizziness, fever, and nausea, then pain like nothing you've ever experienced...or imagined. Your respiratory and cardiovascular systems will fail and..."
"I said that's enough! There must be a cure." She withdrew the tricorder. Nothing happened. Janeway struggled futilely with it.
Eidolon smiled widely. "I must admit I appreciate the irony. Don't you, Captain? Almost makes one believe in Fate." Janeway ignored him. "In a few hours you'll be dead and I'll be free. So much for your plan to somehow restore Chakotay to his body..."
With a muffled curse Janeway spun and sent the tricorder winging across the desert. It hit the rocks with a clatter and she turned back to her prisoner, a dangerous expression on her face.
"Right. Let's get going."
"Excuse me? Didn't you hear anything I just said."
"Yes, and I said get going."
Eidolon stared at her, perplexed. "Why?"
"Because I obviously have less time than I thought to find your people and get you out of Commander Chakotay's body."
Eidolon did not move. "You would be wiser to go back to your shuttle and wait for rescue. Maybe your people will be able to find a cure. Let me go and I won't interfere."
Janeway shook her head. "No. Besides, you said the repairs to Voyager would take at least a week."
"Maybe I lied."
"Maybe you did. But I'm not going to take that chance. Move." She gestured again with the phaser.
Eidolon frowned, shook his head, wincing at the motion, then turned and trudged away, deeper into the desert. Janeway glanced down at the welt on her hand then squared her shoulders and marched determinedly after him.
* * *
Dying. She was dying. Chakotay's thoughts whirled inside his prison. No. He had to do something, find a way...He couldn't let Kathryn die...
* * *
The climate was harsher than Janeway had expected. As the distant orange sun rose higher, the heat became pervasive and the water from the well a distant memory. Or perhaps the first symptoms of the insect bite were already making themselves known. She brushed the back of her hand across her forehead then shivered. Despite the heat, a chill crept over her. Definitely fever. Damn. She had hoped that the alien had been lying.
She hoped that he was lying about a great deal. If Chakotay really were dead...for the first time she allowed herself to think of the implications. What would Voyager do without him? He had managed to fuse the two crews together; she had no illusions that it had been due to her own meagre efforts. No, Chakotay had decided that the Maquis and Starfleet crews needed to work together and had somehow convinced everyone else. And she still wasn't sure how he had done it. If he were truly gone...how would the crew handle it?...How would she handle it?... 'No.' Resolutely she turned her mind away from the dark thoughts. He was alive and she was going to get that damned alien out of his mind, or perish in the attempt. Of course, given her current state of being, that wasn't beyond the realms of possibility.
Some deep part of her questioned the wisdom of pursuing this course of action. Maybe Eidolon was right. It might be wiser to wait in the shuttle. But if she did...he would take her body. It was only a matter of time. True, she was no safer out here with him than in the shuttle but at least this gave her the illusion of accomplishment. She couldn't just sit and wait...and hope. As for letting him go...that wasn't an option. Janeway sighed. For a moment she wished she could turn to someone for advice...but she was holding a phaser on the only person she could ask... No, this was the only way. Janeway ignored the doubts running through her and rubbed her hand again, which had begun to itch annoyingly.
* * *
The last rays of the sun were disappearing when Janeway called a halt beside a tattered tree. She estimated they had travelled perhaps two thirds of the distance toward the energy source. Eidolon stopped and sank to the ground near a large rock. It was evident that the effects of his concussion were worsening. Of course, she wasn't in much better shape, she realized. As the shadows had lengthened, she had found her vision tending to blur if she moved her head too quickly. Bouts of shivering racked her limbs and her stomach churned in rebellion. She hadn't felt like this since the eve of her graduation when she and her friends had ended up in a pub in Kildare...
Janeway took a couple of deep, steadying breaths...and almost lost her lunch. Okay. 'Deep breaths are not the way to go...' she tried a few shallow breaths. Better. The churning in her stomach subsided slightly. She looked over at Eidolon, who was gazing at her, a faint smile hovering on the edge of his lips.
"It's started, hasn't it?" he said. "Dizziness, nausea, just as I said."
Janeway didn't answer. Instead, she turned to gather some small rocks, setting them close together. Trying to still the trembling in her hands, she aimed the phaser and sent a burst of pure energy into their molecular structure. A warm, comforting glow lit the night. Only then did she allow herself to sink to the ground.
"Are you going to untie me?" There was a note of fatigue in his voice that hadn't been there before.
"No." Janeway curled her knees up and folded her arms around them, trying to conserve body heat. The temperature was plummeting rapidly as distant stars emerged.
"My hands have gone numb."
"Chakotay's hands have gone numb."
"Fine," he agreed impatiently. "Chakotay's hands have gone numb. Can you at least loosen the ropes a little?"
"Sorry."
Eidolon scowled and fell silent. Briefly. "Is there any water?"
"No."
"I'm thirsty."
"Get used to disappointment."
"That's not very polite."
Janeway met his gaze in disbelief. "You've stolen my First Officer's body, kidnapped me, and revelled in the knowledge that I'm going to die in...let's see...about 12 hours, and you want me to be polite? And you think I'm insane?" Her voice rose.
"Just trying to make conversation," he replied defensively.
"Well, don't. The only things I want to hear from you are the nature of the power source we're heading for, how to cure this damned insect bite, and how to restore Commander Chakotay. Other than that...shut up."
Eidolon cast her a hurt look but said nothing. In the distance a wild animal cried and Janeway shivered slightly. Twin moons rose slowly above the horizon, casting faint blue shadows over the terrain.
"Captain."
Janeway sighed. "What?"
"Why are you doing this?" There was honest curiosity in his voice.
"Doing what?"
"All of this. Gambling your life on the remote possibility that this power source will somehow restore Chakotay, or that you'll be able to find my people. Believe me, if they don't want to be found, they won't."
Janeway looked across at him, at Chakotay's familiar features lit by the glow from the rocks. "How did you expect to find them, then? And why?"
He looked away. "I have my ways," he said evasively, "and my motives are my own."
The Captain's eyes narrowed. "You know what this power source is, don't you?" When he made no reply, she continued, almost to herself. "You haven't complained about this. You want to go there, don't you?" It was half-guess, half-certainty.
"How can I prevent it? My...excuse me...Chakotay's... hands are tied, I have a concussion, and you hold the only weapon. I'm no more eager than you are to die, Kathryn."
"Don't call me that," she said absently.
"All right. Captain." He coughed, then winced. Janeway's eyes flickered to his face, but she did not move. "If you're so sure that I want to reach this power source," he continued, "then why don't you stop me? End this journey now..."
Janeway debated not answering but finally decided to keep talking. At least it kept her mind off her body's increasing debility. "I don't have a choice. As you so diplomatically put it, if I don't find a cure soon, I'll be dead and you'll have Chakotay's body. I can't let that happen."
"Which brings me to my original question. Why are you doing this?"
Janeway looked away, staring out into the darkness. "He's a friend. And a crewmember."
"And you'd do as much for any crewmember..." he said mockingly.
"Yes."
"Liar. He meant something to you, didn't he?"
She whirled back to face him, anger throbbing in her voice. "Stop talking about him in the past tense."
Eidolon ignored her. "He did. You cared for him." He laughed, then coughed again. "Another of life's little ironies, eh, Captain?"
Her momentary surge of fury ebbed quickly and she re-focused her efforts on quelling the nausea within her. "Why don't you go to sleep? We have a long way to go tomorrow." She leaned back against the tree.
"Aren't you afraid I'll somehow free myself and kill you? Or do you think you can stay awake all night?"
"I can stay awake as long as I have to."
"Liar," he said again. There was another long pause in the conversation. "Tell me about him."
Janeway startled slightly. "Why?"
"I don't know. Something to pass the time. Besides, I'm curious."
"What about?" she asked warily.
"Why you would take a man who was your enemy to be your second in command. Why you would trust a Maquis..."
"What do you know about the Maquis?"
Eidolon smiled. "Considerably more than you do, given that I accessed most of his memories before he died." Janeway winced but said nothing. "For example, do you know where the name 'Maquis' originally came from?"
"As a matter of fact I do. It was the name of the French resistance during World War II on Earth."
"Bravo, Captain. And did you find that out before or after you met Chakotay?"
"What does it matter?" Janeway shifted again, trying to ignore the fact that she could see three of him at the moment and that the stars were spinning above her. Her stomach muscles clenched. 'I will not throw up. I will not...' "Why do you care?"
"I told you -- something to pass the time."
Janeway squinted slightly and the three images coalesced into one. 'Keep talking, Kathryn. Don't think about it...' "All right," she said, "My turn. Why haven't you tried to take over my body again?"
Eidolon's smile widened, and another surge of unreality swept over her. Chakotay smiled like that... 'Do not do this to yourself,' she thought fiercely. 'Do not let him get to you...'
He was speaking, she realized. She forced herself to listen. "Don't think I haven't thought about it," he said, "but at the moment I'm having too much fun watching you try to 'accomplish your mission'. Besides, numb hands notwithstanding, I'd much rather be in this body than yours, Captain. You don't look at all well." He managed to inject a cloying note of concern into his voice.
Janeway took another shallow breath. "I'm fine."
"Really? Then if I were to mention how much I'd like some fresh Aldebarian poached eggs right now, with an enormous plate of bacon and..." Eidolon broke off as she abruptly scrambled away out of the circle of light. There was a pause and then the sound of retching could be heard. He leaned back against his rock and laughed softly in the darkness.
END OF PART FOUR