Redemption
Chapter 11
Disclaimer - Paramount and Viacom own the characters from Voyager, although they didn't often treat them right. The story line belongs to me.
A special thanks to: My friend and editor of all my stories, Mill3rs.
"Are you sure we're heading in the right direction, Greg?" Chakotay asked as he stumbled for the second time in a few short minutes.
Ayala put his hand on Chakotay's shoulder and motioned for him to put the stretcher down. "Look, Cap, you're tired. Let me take over." He helped Chakotay to sit down on the soft ground. The wind had picked up and their eyes were red from the swirling sand. "Where are the hypos?" Ayala asked in a soft voice, the concern for his Captain coming through.
"I'm fine, Greg. I want to save the hypos for Paris." Chakotay said as he pushed Ayala's hands away. "Let me just catch my breath and I'll take the point." He closed his eyes and leaned his head forward on folded arms across his knees.
Ayala sank down to sit next to him. "What's the deal with Paris, Cap? You need the hypo more than him. He's probably going to die anyway. Why do you care about a traitor?
Chakotay raised his head, glanced over at the stretcher and Harry sitting next to it, and looked back at Ayala. "We were wrong about him Greg."
Ayala's eyes flashed angrily at Chakotay. "How the hell were we wrong? He sold us out his first mission, and then got sent off to a rehab colony. He probably sat around reading those old bound books, about the sea, that he used to talk about on the Liberty."
"No, Greg. He told me that Starfleet was waiting for him when he came out of the nebula, just as if they knew exactly where he would exit." He raised his hand when Ayala started to protest. "I know it sounds like a story he'd tell, but I believe him. He wasn't the first of our cell to be setup. There was someone feeding info to the Federation. He told me about Aukland and it was no picnic, especially for someone like him." At Ayala's questioning look, Chakotay continued. "Think about it Greg. He's young, inexperienced, and his father help write the treaty between the Federation and the Cardassians. He was an easy target for both sides. He was also sentenced to ten years; not exactly a slap on the wrist."
Ayala shook his head at this news and looked over to Tom again. Harry was talking softly to him, although it looked like Tom was unconscious. "I'm still not sure about him, Chakotay."
"Remember, he pulled your butt out of the fire several times when he was with us. He also came back for me on Ocampa. He didn't need to do that." Chakotay said as he closed his eyes again and rested his head on his arms. After several more minutes, Chakotay struggled to his feet and, taking his phaser in hand, began to trudge through the sand. Ayala grabbed the front of the stretcher, indicating to Harry to pick up the back and start out. Harry looked down at his friend's face. A fine sheen of sweat was on Tom's too pale face and he was deathly still. Harry had quietly checked to be sure he was still breathing while Chakotay and Ayala had been talking.
Two hours later, they came to a slight ridge and could see the bright sunlight bouncing off the Kazon's shuttle. It was tilted sharply onto its right side with the front crushed in. Ayala and Harry lowered the stretcher and pulled out their phasers. "Cap, you stay here with Paris. Kim and I'll check it out." Ayala said and placed his hand on Chakotay's shoulder in reassurance. Chakotay nodded as he sank down to sit next to Tom.
Harry and Ayala circled around the shuttle but found no signs of life. The hatch was down and they walked up slowly and entered. The stench reached them as the saw two bodies already starting to decompose in the stifling heat. Harry lurched back outside and began to retch in the sand. Ayala rushed out after him drawing in deep breaths of the relatively fresh air. "Look, Kim, we have to get Chakotay and Paris inside so help me get those bodies out of there." Harry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, nodded at Ayala and moved back up the ramp. They pulled the two Kazons out of the shuttle and dragged them about 20 feet away.
Returning to the ridge, they found Chakotay slumped in the sand with his eyes closed and his phaser clutched in both hands. "Cap, the shuttle's clear." Ayala said quietly. Chakotay's head snapped up, his hands swinging his phaser around in a wide arc. Blinking rapidly he nodded at Ayala and began to stand. Ayala moved to his side and helped him up. "Can you make it on your own?" Chakotay nodded and moved off towards the shuttle. Ayala and Harry picked up the stretcher and followed him to the end of the ramp. "Cap, it's pretty bad in there. They left two of their own inside, dead."
"Do you think you can clear the air inside? The wind's getting pretty bad out here." Chakotay asked as he sat down at the bottom of the ramp.
"I'll see what we can do." Ayala replied. "Come on, Kim, let's check it out." He and Harry set down the stretcher and headed back up the ramp.
Back inside, Ayala turned to Harry. "Do you think you could get Environmentals up?"
"I'm not sure but I'll try. I don't have much experience with Kazon technology. What are you going to do?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed at being ordered about by Ayala.
"I'm going to scavenge for any food, water, or medical supplies." Ayala answered as he began to pull open the cabinets along the undamaged wall. "Success!" Ayala shouted and as Harry turned around he caught a chunk of dark bread that was thrown to him. "At least their food looks alright. What I can find of it." Ayala then moved to the front of the shuttle clutching a bottle of a dark red liquid. He took a sip, grimaced and swallowed gingerly.
"What is it?" Harry asked as he tore off a bite of the bread.
"I think it's wine." Ayala said, taking another swig from the bottle. He then held it out to Harry.
Harry shook his head and put his hand out.
"Look, Kim, we're all dehydrated. You need to drink it. There's no water on board or anywhere near here." He held the bottle out again.
Harry took it this time and taking a small sip, he immediately spit it out. "Damn! Even their wine is awful. It tastes like vinegar." Ayala scowled at him and he quickly took another small drink and then handed the bottle back to Ayala. He turned back to the console he had been working on and suddenly a soft whirring sound was heard. A grin appeared on Harry's face as he looked up at Ayala towering over him. "Environmentals are online."
Slapping Harry on the back, Ayala returned the grin. "Not bad, kid, not bad. Now let's get Chakotay and Paris onboard." They moved down the ramp, Ayala helped Chakotay inside and led him to one of the two undamaged bunks in the back of the shuttle. He went back, helped Harry pick up the stretcher and moved Tom inside to the other bunk.
Harry moved to Tom's side and, taking the tricorder that Chakotay handed him as he passed, he scanned Tom. "His fever is climbing but his breathing is pretty steady. His pulse is still strong." Moving back to Chakotay, he began to scan him.
Chakotay pushed Harry's hand away. "I can tell you Ensign, the pressure's up in the back of my skull and my vision is quite blurry. And there's not a damn thing we can do about it now."
"Cap, there's one last hypo." Ayala stated as he turned from checking out the weapons array.
Chakotay shook his head. "I told you before, Greg. Paris is in worse shape and he may need it." Chakotay closed his eyes signaling that the conversation was over.
"I'll see if I can get a message beacon out to let Voyager know where we are." Harry announced as he moved to the communications console. "I hope I can figure this damn board out." He muttered to himself.
* * * * *
"Captain, we are approaching the coordinates that Lieutenant Paris sent along with his message beacon." Tuvok announced from his station. Looking down at the Captain as she sat with her eyes closed, he shook his head slightly. He couldn't understand how the humans on the crew would stay up for hours neglecting to rest while waiting for news when there was nothing they could do. "There are no signs of the away team at those coordinates."
Janeway looked back at the tactical station with a resigned look on her face. "Just as we suspected, Tuvok. Scan for any life signs in the area. They couldn't have gotten far on foot, especially with Commander Chakotay injured. Also, scan for any signs of water. If they were indeed stranded on the planet's surface, they would need water."
The captain stood and approached the helm. "Lay in a course for a synchronized low orbit." She instructed the pilot. "I'll be in my ready room." She moved to the doors and, once inside, sat down at her desk and turned to look out the viewport. The planet loomed dark and barren beneath her. She hoped, as they came around to the sun's side, that it would look less threatening. Addressing the communications system, she called sickbay. "Captain to sickbay. Is Kes there?"
"Yes, Captain, I'm here. What do you need?" Kes's voice came through the speaker.
"Kes, when we find the away team, they may need medical care. Please pack a medkit and prepare to meet me in shuttle bay one."
"Yes, Captain, right away." Kes responded.
"Janeway out." She sat and rubbed her temples as she slowly stood and moved to the door. Moving towards the turbolift, Janeway nodded at several crewmembers as they passed. She entered the lift and turned towards the door. "Engineering." She ordered and closed her eyes as the lift proceeded to its destination.
* * * * *
Once in engineering, Janeway moved to the Chief's office and, walking through the open door, approached B'Elanna. The engineer sat at her desk absorbed in a PADD in her hand.
B'Elanna looked up as she felt the presence of someone at her side. "Captain, I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in." She started to stand but was waved back down by Janeway.
"At ease, Lieutenant." She gave B'Elanna a tired smile. "I came to request your presence on the rescue team. I also need a recommendation of someone who can maneuver a shuttle down to the planet's surface. With both Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris on the surface, I need a qualified pilot. Are there any of the Liberty's crew that you feel would be able to fly through the ion storms and land on the planet?"
"Other than Ayala, who we used in a pinch, possibly Hamilton. He's flown us through some rough parts of space before and has experience with ion storms." B'Elanna answered; worry for Chakotay and Ayala was apparent in her voice.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Put together whatever scanning equipment you think will help us find the away team and prepare to meet me in shuttle bay one." Janeway turned and walked slowly through engineering. Please let us find them in time and let them be alright. I can't afford to lose anymore people. The doors to engineering slid closed behind her as B'Elanna left her office and began to pull equipment out of one of the storage lockers on the lower level.
to be continued…