Chapter 6: Pursued
Things were going smoothly. Too smoothly. So far the away team had seen no evidence that the Runarians were in pursuit. The passage they were in appeared to have been abandoned for years. Smaller passages branched off of the wider one but it was decided to stay on the more obvious main passage. They still heard and felt the distant and not so distant fall of rocks. Rocks littered the floor and blocked the way occasionally, but these were easily moved aside.
Suddenly, around another bend, the floor sloped more sharply upwards. Janeway and her team felt that this was a good sign. Their excitement and energy climbed as sharply as the slope of the floor. Their hunger and thirst were forgotten in the sudden spurt of hope that the top was near.
Moving quickly, the clatter of their feet was loud in the passage. Neelix, who was bringing up the rear, suddenly stopped.
"Stop. Be quiet!" He barked.
They stopped as one and turned to stare back at the little Talaxian.
Neelix was frozen in place. His head was cocked to one side and he held a hand up to cup his ear.
"Do you hear that?" he hissed, the long yellow hair that ran down the center of his head was standing on end.
Everyone strained to listen. And very faintly they could hear what sounded like dogs barking.
The realization of what they were hearing hit Janeway all of the sudden.
"Vattors!" She whispered.
Six heads whipped around to stare at their Captain.
"What are vattors?" asked Chakotay in a hushed voice.
Janeway frowned. "I think they're a vicious dog-like animal." Janeway explained. "Tunar, the officer I escaped from, said that they feed their prisoners to them."
Uneasy glances were exchanged between the crewmembers. Neelix gulped loudly and raised his hand.
"Uh, Captain," Neelix stammered. "Do you think they're coming after US?"
All eyes were focused on Janeway. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, Neelix, I think they probably are. We need to find a way out of here soon or find a way to defend ourselves if they catch up to us." She turned to her crew. "If anyone has a suggestion, now would be the time to speak up."
Ensign Parsons held up the rifle he held. "I can shoot them," he said.
"That might be our only option, Ensign." Chakotay observed. "But we don't know if the Runarians are with them and how many there are. Also, the sound of the shot would alert them to our position."
"Not to mention the vibrations could set off a cave-in," warned Tom Paris.
"Good thinking, Tom." Janeway nodded her head. "So," she said, rubbing her chin with her thumb, "we don't dare try hiding in these smaller passages. We could become trapped with nowhere to go. But, even if we make it to the top before they catch up to us, we don't know what awaits us there."
"Captain." B'Elanna Torres spoke up. "We could move up the passageway as fast as we can and when they get too close, we can shoot at the ceiling and start a cave-in between us and them. In fact, we can cause the cave-in now and stop them from following us."
The other team members looked around at each other and nodded their heads.
"Hold on a minute," cautioned Chakotay. He raised his eyebrows causing his tattoo to scrunch up. "We don't know that this passage leads to the top. If we caused the cave-in now, we could be trapping ourselves. I think that we should move as fast as we can and only cause the cave-in if we have no choice."
"I agree, Commander." Janeway decided. "People, we'll move out double time. Ensign Parsons and Ensign Harlow, keep your weapons ready at all times. Mr. Neelix, stay back from us a little way so that you can hear what's coming up behind us. If you hear them getting closer, give a whistle. Let's go!"
The away team started running as silently as possible up the passage, all but Neelix that is. He stood where he was until the rest of them disappeared around a bend. Then, putting both hands up to cup his ears, he started walking backwards after the team.
Janeway and her crew moved swiftly. Soon the side passages gave way to doorways spaced every hundred meters or so. At Captain Janeway's direction, Ensign Harlow and Tom Paris slowed down long enough to try the latches. Every latch they tried was locked but that did not discourage them. The doors presented another possible option in their journey to the surface.
After an hour of fast walking, Janeway called a rest break. She sent B'Elanna sprinting back down the passage to return with a gasping Neelix in tow.
Sitting on the floor with their backs against the walls, the away team caught their breath. Janeway queried Neelix about the sounds behind them.
"Well, Captain," Neelix reported. "The barking is closer. I think they are gaining on us. My guess is that they have been held up because they have had to run up and back every dead-end passage that we tried. But," he cautioned, "as soon as they reach the wider main passage, their progress will be accelerated. It won't take them long to catch up with us. I have been listening very, very carefully, just like you asked me to, and I think there are two dogs, or three, maybe four at the most. I haven't heard any sounds that could be the Runarians. No, no, I think it is just the dogs." Neelix sat back, his yellow side-whiskers fluttering as he vigorously nodded his head.
"Good work, Mr. Neelix." Neelix grinned proudly as Janeway continued. "Okay, people, it sounds as if we're running out of time. Now, Ensign Paris has a report on the doors we've been passing. Ensign."
"Captain, Commander," began Tom Paris. "Ensign Harlow and I think that we could break open one of these doors pretty easily. The only problem is, we don't know what's behind it and we don't know if it would lead us to the surface."
Commander Chakotay cleared his throat. "We can't pass up the option of finding another way out of here. I think that the fastest runner among us should go through one of the doors, check out what's there and then run back to us to let us know what he or she found."
All eyes moved to rest on B'Elanna Torres.
"What?" She frowned, glaring at the group.
Captain Janeway held up her hand. "B'Elanna, didn't you tell me once that you were on the Academy's sprint team?" At her nod, Janeway continued. "I want you and Tom to break the lock on the next door we come to. Listen at the door carefully before you enter. Go in and check it out and catch up with us as fast as possible. But don't take any chances. Ensign Paris, as soon as B'Elanna is inside, come back here. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain." B'Elanna said. Paris just nodded.
****
At the very next door they came to, Tom and B'Elanna stopped and started working on the door's lock. The rest of the team pushed on. Neelix had stayed back, but not as far back as before, and resumed his rearguard duties.
"That's got it." Tom exclaimed. "It's open."
"Okay, Tom, you catch up with the team. I'll go in, look around and be back with a report in about fifteen minutes."
B'Elanna turned her back to Tom and put her ear to the door.
"Wait!" Tom whispered. "Give me a kiss."
B'Elanna turned back towards him with a very exasperated look on her face. But, seeing the extremely concerned and worried look on Tom's face, she smiled, leaned forward and gave him a loving kiss.
Tom returned the kiss with enthusiasm.
Reluctantly stepping apart, Tom cautioned her. "Be very careful." he said, running his finger down her cheek.
"I will." promised B'Elanna.
B'Elanna turned back to the door and, again, put her ear to it. After listening carefully, she opened it slowly and silently slipped inside.
Tom watched her go and then, sighing, started back up the passage.
He had gone only a few steps when he heard a loud crash behind the door B'Elanna had just closed.
Without stopping to think, Tom reacted. He ran back, pulled the door open and disappeared inside.
****
Janeway, Chakotay, and the two Ensigns walked on. Their eyes and ears where focused forward but their thoughts were focused backwards. After five minutes, Janeway looked behind her, expecting to hear or see Tom Paris right behind them. After ten minutes, Captain Janeway had everyone slow down. After fifteen minutes, she called a halt.
"Where is he?" Janeway fumed.
"Something must have gone wrong." Chakotay said, shaking his head. "One of us will have to go back and see what happened. I'll go."
"NO!" Janeway shouted, grasping his arm.
Wide eyed, the Ensigns stared at their Captain.
"I mean.you can't go alone," she stammered. Then assuming her command voice she continued, "Ensign Parsons should go with you. Ensign Harlow, Neelix and I will continue to the top. Harlow," Janeway ordered, "double time it down the passage and bring Neelix back here. Get started."
"Aye, Captain," Ensign Harlow replied smartly. She slung her rifle over her shoulder and set off briskly down the corridor.
"Ensign Parsons, stand guard here and await Harlow's return. Commander, I would like to speak to you before you go." Janeway pointed up the passage.
Janeway and Chakotay walked ahead until they were out of sight of Ensign Parsons.
"What was that all about?" Chakotay demanded angrily.
Kathryn hung her head. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Chakotay. It was just that. suddenly I couldn't bear letting you out of my sight again."
She started pacing, fists on her hips, her head shaking back and forth.
"Damn it, Chakotay. I knew this wouldn't work. We can't be any more than Captain and First Officer. I lost my objectivity. I put you in a terrible position. Okay, that's it," she declared as she pounded her right fist into her left palm. "We can't love each other."
She stopped pacing and, lifting her very determined chin, glared at her Second-in-Command.
Chakotay went from being angry to being worried to being amused.
"Did you say that you love me?"
"I said that I can't love you."
"But, if you could love me, you do love me, right?"
"Chakotay, we don't have time for this." Janeway said in exasperation.
"I know. Now, come here and give me a hug." Chakotay held his arms out wide.
Janeway glared at her First Officer for a long moment. Then she slowly shook her head; shrugged her shoulders; breathed out an exasperated puff of air; and stepped into his embrace.
Chakotay, resting his cheek against the top of her head, said, "Kathryn, you didn't do anything wrong, you just spoke how you felt. This is new to both of us. We'll work it out. I promise you, we can do this."
Kathryn, locked in Chakotay's embrace, mumbled into his chest, "You're right, we can't go back now. We've got to make this work." She pulled back and looked up at his beloved face. "With my determination and your patience, how can we fail?"
"That's my Captain." Chakotay laughed and pulled her back into a bone- crushing hug before letting her go.
"Chakotay, seriously, be very careful. Try to find Tom and B'Elanna and get back to us. If you think that you can't catch up with us, get to the surface as fast as you can. I have a feeling that if the Runarians are not pursuing us, it can only mean that bigger things are keeping them occupied."
"I agree, Captain," Chakotay said soberly. "I'm worried that the Runarians have given up on us and are waging an all out attack on Voyager." Chakotay's expression hardened. "We'll do everything in our power to rendezvous with you here and, if that is not possible, then on the surface. If we don't meet up, each team is on its own to find a way to get back to Voyager."
"Very well. Let's get going."
Feeling satisfied with both of their plans, the Captain and First Officer headed back down the passage to rejoin their crew.
****
When Janeway and Chakotay returned to Ensigns Parson's position, they were just in time to see Ensign Harlow and Neelix coming around the corner.
"Report," Janeway ordered, wasting no time.
Puffing slightly, the stocky Talaxian answered. "The vattors are getting closer. I think they will reach the main passage in just a few minutes. Captain," Neelix hesitated, "are you sure these "dogs" can harm us. After all, there are more of us and we do have weapons?"
Chakotay answered for her, "Neelix, have you ever seen pack animals in action? As Neelix shook his head, Chakotay continued. "If these vattors are like the wolves or coyotes on earth, they will work as a team. They'll try to surround us and weed out the weakest member. They'll keep doing this until out whole team is gone. Defensive measures won't work. We'll have to go on the offensive and wipe them out before they get to us."
"The weakest member?" Neelix gulped. He looked around at the rest of the depleted team and moved closer to Chakotay.
"How do you want me to help?" he bravely asked.
"Commander Chakotay and Ensign Parsons are going back to find Tom and B'Elanna and then try to get back to us. In the mean time, I want you to keep one of the sharpened stones that Parsons made handy in your pocket. I'll do the same. Ensign Harlow will carry the rifle. We can still cause a cave-in if necessary. We aren't entirely defenseless," Janeway reassured him.
Realizing that time was getting short, Chakotay, with a private wink at his Captain, motioned Parsons to follow him and they both ran back down the passage.
****
Keeping her remaining two team members moving at top speed up the passageway, Captain Janeway mentally reviewed their options. Despite what she had said to Neelix, she knew that they were no match for three or four vicious animals. Causing a cave-in might keep the vattors trapped in the passage, but it would also keep the rest of the team from catching up.
With a sigh of resignation, Janeway realized that Chakotay was right. They had to go on the offensive and neutralize this threat from behind them.
"AHOOOORAH, AHOOORAH!"
Suddenly, they heard the sounds of the vattors close behind them. Janeway called a halt and frantically looked around. She saw a large fall of rock beside one of the mysterious doors. Quickly barking out orders, she had her team pile up the rocks to form a wall that they could stand behind. They also piled up some smaller stones to throw at the animals. Ensign Harlow, an excellent shot, set her rifle barrel on top of the wall and aimed down the corridor. Janeway and Neelix pulled out their makeshift "knives" and set them on the wall near at hand.
A plan was forming in Janeway's mind. It might work if there were only three vattors. If there were four, then they were in trouble.
"Ensign, you shoot the first one that comes at us. Reload as quickly as you can. The second one will be close behind. Neelix and I will take it out with stones or, if it gets close enough, we'll use our knives. Then, you shoot the third one. Reload and help Neelix and me if we are having trouble. Any question? All right, get ready."
The team finished their preparations just in time, for ferocious howling and growling came from around the bend in the passage.
As the vattors came into view, Janeway, Neelix and Harlow were momentarily frozen in astonishment. With all the talk of the vattors being like dogs, their actual appearance was shocking.
True, they walked on four legs, but there the similarities ended. The animals were small, a meter long and almost a meter high in the front. The head, chest and forearms were massive whereas the hind legs were low to the ground but long, thin and well muscled. The massive jaws opened to reveal long, sharp teeth with overlapping incisors at least six centimeters long. The four legs each ended in a clawed foot. Each claw was curved and made a clicking sound as the vattor moved up the passage. But the most riveting features were the eyes. Large, round and bulging, they protruded from the sides of the face and swiveled to give a view from all directions.
The three vattors stopped and crouched down, growling menacingly. Their eyes swiveled towards the three humanoids behind the rock wall. Harlow aimed her rifle at the leader. Janeway and Neelix hefted a stone in each hand, their knives resting on the wall within easy reach.
The frozen tableaux lasted for but a moment, then the lead vattor leapt, pushing off the ground with its powerful hind legs. It sailed through the air straight towards Voyager's crew. The second vattor leapt seconds after the first one.
A shot rang out. The first animal fell to the ground, shook herself several times and then leapt again. Harlow with truly amazing speed, reloaded the rifle, aimed and was able to fire again almost straight overhead, hitting the vattor in the chest. This time when it fell, it didn't get up again.
Ensign Harlow quickly reloaded again. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Janeway and Neelix were having a hard time defeating the second animal. They had driven him back with the stones but he was leaping forward and back, snapping his formidable jaws and growling deep in his throat. His eyes were swiveling between Janeway and Neelix looking for a weakness, an opening to strike.
Meanwhile, the third vattor was in the middle of his leap. This time, Harlow was ready. She knew just where to hit him. She pulled the trigger but at that very moment, the animal twisted in mid-flight and the shot struck him in the eye. With an earsplitting howl, he fell to the ground. Harlow, taking no chances, reloaded and fired again. He stopped moving.
Janeway and Neelix had run out of reachable rocks. All they had left were the two sharpened stones. They were both backing up, waving their "knives" at the vattor, who appeared to be playing with them now that he knew they were his. Growing tired of his game, the animal reared back, preparing to leap upon one of his victims. Just as he was ready to spring, a gunshot resounded through the tunnels. The vattor blinked his huge eyes and toppled over, a bloody hole appearing in his chest.
Harlow stood up, the rifle clattering to the floor. Neelix let out a whoop and wrapped his arms around her in a big Talaxian hug. Janeway clapped her on the shoulder.
"Well done, Ensign. Well done."
"Oh, Captain," Harlow breathed. "I was so afraid I wouldn't hit him. That was my last shot. Thank the Spirits your plan worked."
"It only worked because of your incredible shooting. Neelix and I wouldn't have made if it weren't for you. I'll be putting you up for a commendation, Ensign." Janeway enthused.
"Thank you, Captain," Harlow blushed. "I just wish I hadn't had to use all of the ammuni."
She didn't get a chance to finish her sentence because just then, a loud, familiar howl reached her ears.
Three heads whipped around to see a bloodchilling site; two vattors were crouched on the other side of the wall preparing to leap!
Janeway pushed the other two behind her. Then all three began backing up towards the wall behind them. Frantically, Janeway tried to think of a plan. Nothing presented itself. They were out of stones, out of knives, out of ammunition, and out of luck.
The vattors seemed to know that victory was theirs. They howled in triumph. They feinted back and forth, teasing their victims. Long, purple tongues slithered out of their mouths and curled up to lick their lips. The three looked on in fascination, their backs flat against the wall.
As if by agreement, the vattor stopped their antics. They backed up a step, planted their back feet and leapt.
The animals were airborne when, without warning, the door behind Janeway opened, and the three crewmen were pulled inside. The door slammed shut just as the horrible creatures, unable to stop, smashed into it.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 7 coming soon
Things were going smoothly. Too smoothly. So far the away team had seen no evidence that the Runarians were in pursuit. The passage they were in appeared to have been abandoned for years. Smaller passages branched off of the wider one but it was decided to stay on the more obvious main passage. They still heard and felt the distant and not so distant fall of rocks. Rocks littered the floor and blocked the way occasionally, but these were easily moved aside.
Suddenly, around another bend, the floor sloped more sharply upwards. Janeway and her team felt that this was a good sign. Their excitement and energy climbed as sharply as the slope of the floor. Their hunger and thirst were forgotten in the sudden spurt of hope that the top was near.
Moving quickly, the clatter of their feet was loud in the passage. Neelix, who was bringing up the rear, suddenly stopped.
"Stop. Be quiet!" He barked.
They stopped as one and turned to stare back at the little Talaxian.
Neelix was frozen in place. His head was cocked to one side and he held a hand up to cup his ear.
"Do you hear that?" he hissed, the long yellow hair that ran down the center of his head was standing on end.
Everyone strained to listen. And very faintly they could hear what sounded like dogs barking.
The realization of what they were hearing hit Janeway all of the sudden.
"Vattors!" She whispered.
Six heads whipped around to stare at their Captain.
"What are vattors?" asked Chakotay in a hushed voice.
Janeway frowned. "I think they're a vicious dog-like animal." Janeway explained. "Tunar, the officer I escaped from, said that they feed their prisoners to them."
Uneasy glances were exchanged between the crewmembers. Neelix gulped loudly and raised his hand.
"Uh, Captain," Neelix stammered. "Do you think they're coming after US?"
All eyes were focused on Janeway. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, Neelix, I think they probably are. We need to find a way out of here soon or find a way to defend ourselves if they catch up to us." She turned to her crew. "If anyone has a suggestion, now would be the time to speak up."
Ensign Parsons held up the rifle he held. "I can shoot them," he said.
"That might be our only option, Ensign." Chakotay observed. "But we don't know if the Runarians are with them and how many there are. Also, the sound of the shot would alert them to our position."
"Not to mention the vibrations could set off a cave-in," warned Tom Paris.
"Good thinking, Tom." Janeway nodded her head. "So," she said, rubbing her chin with her thumb, "we don't dare try hiding in these smaller passages. We could become trapped with nowhere to go. But, even if we make it to the top before they catch up to us, we don't know what awaits us there."
"Captain." B'Elanna Torres spoke up. "We could move up the passageway as fast as we can and when they get too close, we can shoot at the ceiling and start a cave-in between us and them. In fact, we can cause the cave-in now and stop them from following us."
The other team members looked around at each other and nodded their heads.
"Hold on a minute," cautioned Chakotay. He raised his eyebrows causing his tattoo to scrunch up. "We don't know that this passage leads to the top. If we caused the cave-in now, we could be trapping ourselves. I think that we should move as fast as we can and only cause the cave-in if we have no choice."
"I agree, Commander." Janeway decided. "People, we'll move out double time. Ensign Parsons and Ensign Harlow, keep your weapons ready at all times. Mr. Neelix, stay back from us a little way so that you can hear what's coming up behind us. If you hear them getting closer, give a whistle. Let's go!"
The away team started running as silently as possible up the passage, all but Neelix that is. He stood where he was until the rest of them disappeared around a bend. Then, putting both hands up to cup his ears, he started walking backwards after the team.
Janeway and her crew moved swiftly. Soon the side passages gave way to doorways spaced every hundred meters or so. At Captain Janeway's direction, Ensign Harlow and Tom Paris slowed down long enough to try the latches. Every latch they tried was locked but that did not discourage them. The doors presented another possible option in their journey to the surface.
After an hour of fast walking, Janeway called a rest break. She sent B'Elanna sprinting back down the passage to return with a gasping Neelix in tow.
Sitting on the floor with their backs against the walls, the away team caught their breath. Janeway queried Neelix about the sounds behind them.
"Well, Captain," Neelix reported. "The barking is closer. I think they are gaining on us. My guess is that they have been held up because they have had to run up and back every dead-end passage that we tried. But," he cautioned, "as soon as they reach the wider main passage, their progress will be accelerated. It won't take them long to catch up with us. I have been listening very, very carefully, just like you asked me to, and I think there are two dogs, or three, maybe four at the most. I haven't heard any sounds that could be the Runarians. No, no, I think it is just the dogs." Neelix sat back, his yellow side-whiskers fluttering as he vigorously nodded his head.
"Good work, Mr. Neelix." Neelix grinned proudly as Janeway continued. "Okay, people, it sounds as if we're running out of time. Now, Ensign Paris has a report on the doors we've been passing. Ensign."
"Captain, Commander," began Tom Paris. "Ensign Harlow and I think that we could break open one of these doors pretty easily. The only problem is, we don't know what's behind it and we don't know if it would lead us to the surface."
Commander Chakotay cleared his throat. "We can't pass up the option of finding another way out of here. I think that the fastest runner among us should go through one of the doors, check out what's there and then run back to us to let us know what he or she found."
All eyes moved to rest on B'Elanna Torres.
"What?" She frowned, glaring at the group.
Captain Janeway held up her hand. "B'Elanna, didn't you tell me once that you were on the Academy's sprint team?" At her nod, Janeway continued. "I want you and Tom to break the lock on the next door we come to. Listen at the door carefully before you enter. Go in and check it out and catch up with us as fast as possible. But don't take any chances. Ensign Paris, as soon as B'Elanna is inside, come back here. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain." B'Elanna said. Paris just nodded.
****
At the very next door they came to, Tom and B'Elanna stopped and started working on the door's lock. The rest of the team pushed on. Neelix had stayed back, but not as far back as before, and resumed his rearguard duties.
"That's got it." Tom exclaimed. "It's open."
"Okay, Tom, you catch up with the team. I'll go in, look around and be back with a report in about fifteen minutes."
B'Elanna turned her back to Tom and put her ear to the door.
"Wait!" Tom whispered. "Give me a kiss."
B'Elanna turned back towards him with a very exasperated look on her face. But, seeing the extremely concerned and worried look on Tom's face, she smiled, leaned forward and gave him a loving kiss.
Tom returned the kiss with enthusiasm.
Reluctantly stepping apart, Tom cautioned her. "Be very careful." he said, running his finger down her cheek.
"I will." promised B'Elanna.
B'Elanna turned back to the door and, again, put her ear to it. After listening carefully, she opened it slowly and silently slipped inside.
Tom watched her go and then, sighing, started back up the passage.
He had gone only a few steps when he heard a loud crash behind the door B'Elanna had just closed.
Without stopping to think, Tom reacted. He ran back, pulled the door open and disappeared inside.
****
Janeway, Chakotay, and the two Ensigns walked on. Their eyes and ears where focused forward but their thoughts were focused backwards. After five minutes, Janeway looked behind her, expecting to hear or see Tom Paris right behind them. After ten minutes, Captain Janeway had everyone slow down. After fifteen minutes, she called a halt.
"Where is he?" Janeway fumed.
"Something must have gone wrong." Chakotay said, shaking his head. "One of us will have to go back and see what happened. I'll go."
"NO!" Janeway shouted, grasping his arm.
Wide eyed, the Ensigns stared at their Captain.
"I mean.you can't go alone," she stammered. Then assuming her command voice she continued, "Ensign Parsons should go with you. Ensign Harlow, Neelix and I will continue to the top. Harlow," Janeway ordered, "double time it down the passage and bring Neelix back here. Get started."
"Aye, Captain," Ensign Harlow replied smartly. She slung her rifle over her shoulder and set off briskly down the corridor.
"Ensign Parsons, stand guard here and await Harlow's return. Commander, I would like to speak to you before you go." Janeway pointed up the passage.
Janeway and Chakotay walked ahead until they were out of sight of Ensign Parsons.
"What was that all about?" Chakotay demanded angrily.
Kathryn hung her head. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Chakotay. It was just that. suddenly I couldn't bear letting you out of my sight again."
She started pacing, fists on her hips, her head shaking back and forth.
"Damn it, Chakotay. I knew this wouldn't work. We can't be any more than Captain and First Officer. I lost my objectivity. I put you in a terrible position. Okay, that's it," she declared as she pounded her right fist into her left palm. "We can't love each other."
She stopped pacing and, lifting her very determined chin, glared at her Second-in-Command.
Chakotay went from being angry to being worried to being amused.
"Did you say that you love me?"
"I said that I can't love you."
"But, if you could love me, you do love me, right?"
"Chakotay, we don't have time for this." Janeway said in exasperation.
"I know. Now, come here and give me a hug." Chakotay held his arms out wide.
Janeway glared at her First Officer for a long moment. Then she slowly shook her head; shrugged her shoulders; breathed out an exasperated puff of air; and stepped into his embrace.
Chakotay, resting his cheek against the top of her head, said, "Kathryn, you didn't do anything wrong, you just spoke how you felt. This is new to both of us. We'll work it out. I promise you, we can do this."
Kathryn, locked in Chakotay's embrace, mumbled into his chest, "You're right, we can't go back now. We've got to make this work." She pulled back and looked up at his beloved face. "With my determination and your patience, how can we fail?"
"That's my Captain." Chakotay laughed and pulled her back into a bone- crushing hug before letting her go.
"Chakotay, seriously, be very careful. Try to find Tom and B'Elanna and get back to us. If you think that you can't catch up with us, get to the surface as fast as you can. I have a feeling that if the Runarians are not pursuing us, it can only mean that bigger things are keeping them occupied."
"I agree, Captain," Chakotay said soberly. "I'm worried that the Runarians have given up on us and are waging an all out attack on Voyager." Chakotay's expression hardened. "We'll do everything in our power to rendezvous with you here and, if that is not possible, then on the surface. If we don't meet up, each team is on its own to find a way to get back to Voyager."
"Very well. Let's get going."
Feeling satisfied with both of their plans, the Captain and First Officer headed back down the passage to rejoin their crew.
****
When Janeway and Chakotay returned to Ensigns Parson's position, they were just in time to see Ensign Harlow and Neelix coming around the corner.
"Report," Janeway ordered, wasting no time.
Puffing slightly, the stocky Talaxian answered. "The vattors are getting closer. I think they will reach the main passage in just a few minutes. Captain," Neelix hesitated, "are you sure these "dogs" can harm us. After all, there are more of us and we do have weapons?"
Chakotay answered for her, "Neelix, have you ever seen pack animals in action? As Neelix shook his head, Chakotay continued. "If these vattors are like the wolves or coyotes on earth, they will work as a team. They'll try to surround us and weed out the weakest member. They'll keep doing this until out whole team is gone. Defensive measures won't work. We'll have to go on the offensive and wipe them out before they get to us."
"The weakest member?" Neelix gulped. He looked around at the rest of the depleted team and moved closer to Chakotay.
"How do you want me to help?" he bravely asked.
"Commander Chakotay and Ensign Parsons are going back to find Tom and B'Elanna and then try to get back to us. In the mean time, I want you to keep one of the sharpened stones that Parsons made handy in your pocket. I'll do the same. Ensign Harlow will carry the rifle. We can still cause a cave-in if necessary. We aren't entirely defenseless," Janeway reassured him.
Realizing that time was getting short, Chakotay, with a private wink at his Captain, motioned Parsons to follow him and they both ran back down the passage.
****
Keeping her remaining two team members moving at top speed up the passageway, Captain Janeway mentally reviewed their options. Despite what she had said to Neelix, she knew that they were no match for three or four vicious animals. Causing a cave-in might keep the vattors trapped in the passage, but it would also keep the rest of the team from catching up.
With a sigh of resignation, Janeway realized that Chakotay was right. They had to go on the offensive and neutralize this threat from behind them.
"AHOOOORAH, AHOOORAH!"
Suddenly, they heard the sounds of the vattors close behind them. Janeway called a halt and frantically looked around. She saw a large fall of rock beside one of the mysterious doors. Quickly barking out orders, she had her team pile up the rocks to form a wall that they could stand behind. They also piled up some smaller stones to throw at the animals. Ensign Harlow, an excellent shot, set her rifle barrel on top of the wall and aimed down the corridor. Janeway and Neelix pulled out their makeshift "knives" and set them on the wall near at hand.
A plan was forming in Janeway's mind. It might work if there were only three vattors. If there were four, then they were in trouble.
"Ensign, you shoot the first one that comes at us. Reload as quickly as you can. The second one will be close behind. Neelix and I will take it out with stones or, if it gets close enough, we'll use our knives. Then, you shoot the third one. Reload and help Neelix and me if we are having trouble. Any question? All right, get ready."
The team finished their preparations just in time, for ferocious howling and growling came from around the bend in the passage.
As the vattors came into view, Janeway, Neelix and Harlow were momentarily frozen in astonishment. With all the talk of the vattors being like dogs, their actual appearance was shocking.
True, they walked on four legs, but there the similarities ended. The animals were small, a meter long and almost a meter high in the front. The head, chest and forearms were massive whereas the hind legs were low to the ground but long, thin and well muscled. The massive jaws opened to reveal long, sharp teeth with overlapping incisors at least six centimeters long. The four legs each ended in a clawed foot. Each claw was curved and made a clicking sound as the vattor moved up the passage. But the most riveting features were the eyes. Large, round and bulging, they protruded from the sides of the face and swiveled to give a view from all directions.
The three vattors stopped and crouched down, growling menacingly. Their eyes swiveled towards the three humanoids behind the rock wall. Harlow aimed her rifle at the leader. Janeway and Neelix hefted a stone in each hand, their knives resting on the wall within easy reach.
The frozen tableaux lasted for but a moment, then the lead vattor leapt, pushing off the ground with its powerful hind legs. It sailed through the air straight towards Voyager's crew. The second vattor leapt seconds after the first one.
A shot rang out. The first animal fell to the ground, shook herself several times and then leapt again. Harlow with truly amazing speed, reloaded the rifle, aimed and was able to fire again almost straight overhead, hitting the vattor in the chest. This time when it fell, it didn't get up again.
Ensign Harlow quickly reloaded again. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Janeway and Neelix were having a hard time defeating the second animal. They had driven him back with the stones but he was leaping forward and back, snapping his formidable jaws and growling deep in his throat. His eyes were swiveling between Janeway and Neelix looking for a weakness, an opening to strike.
Meanwhile, the third vattor was in the middle of his leap. This time, Harlow was ready. She knew just where to hit him. She pulled the trigger but at that very moment, the animal twisted in mid-flight and the shot struck him in the eye. With an earsplitting howl, he fell to the ground. Harlow, taking no chances, reloaded and fired again. He stopped moving.
Janeway and Neelix had run out of reachable rocks. All they had left were the two sharpened stones. They were both backing up, waving their "knives" at the vattor, who appeared to be playing with them now that he knew they were his. Growing tired of his game, the animal reared back, preparing to leap upon one of his victims. Just as he was ready to spring, a gunshot resounded through the tunnels. The vattor blinked his huge eyes and toppled over, a bloody hole appearing in his chest.
Harlow stood up, the rifle clattering to the floor. Neelix let out a whoop and wrapped his arms around her in a big Talaxian hug. Janeway clapped her on the shoulder.
"Well done, Ensign. Well done."
"Oh, Captain," Harlow breathed. "I was so afraid I wouldn't hit him. That was my last shot. Thank the Spirits your plan worked."
"It only worked because of your incredible shooting. Neelix and I wouldn't have made if it weren't for you. I'll be putting you up for a commendation, Ensign." Janeway enthused.
"Thank you, Captain," Harlow blushed. "I just wish I hadn't had to use all of the ammuni."
She didn't get a chance to finish her sentence because just then, a loud, familiar howl reached her ears.
Three heads whipped around to see a bloodchilling site; two vattors were crouched on the other side of the wall preparing to leap!
Janeway pushed the other two behind her. Then all three began backing up towards the wall behind them. Frantically, Janeway tried to think of a plan. Nothing presented itself. They were out of stones, out of knives, out of ammunition, and out of luck.
The vattors seemed to know that victory was theirs. They howled in triumph. They feinted back and forth, teasing their victims. Long, purple tongues slithered out of their mouths and curled up to lick their lips. The three looked on in fascination, their backs flat against the wall.
As if by agreement, the vattor stopped their antics. They backed up a step, planted their back feet and leapt.
The animals were airborne when, without warning, the door behind Janeway opened, and the three crewmen were pulled inside. The door slammed shut just as the horrible creatures, unable to stop, smashed into it.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 7 coming soon