Chapter 7 - Reckoning
"For the past three months, we have faced volcanoes, hunger, floods, and wild beasts. We have lost friends and comrades. But we have survived and we will defeat this new threat with our skills, our will and our courage."
Chakotay stood in front of his crew, as he had done many times in another lifetime, first as the Maquis leader, then as Voyager's First Officer. The rain was making its way into his eyes, but he ignored it.
"Today, we are facing a different enemy, with no other demand of us but death itself. Many of you have rightly expressed disgust and horror at what was done to Pâât's people and our two crewmen, Jonas and Poinsan. Righteous anger may be in your minds. Who would condemn you for wanting to avenge your friends?"
The crew stood stoically at attention under the constant drizzle, a mismatch of muddy and tattered uniforms, woollen ponchos, and weapons the like of which no Federation warp-capable species had used for tens of thousands of years. He wished Kathryn could see them, their heads held high despite the odds.
"But remember what makes us Voyager's crew above all, Maquis and Starfleet alike. Captain Janeway showed us the way. She showed us that vengeance is not the solution. That we do not need to behave like our enemies to defeat them. That we can rise to the challenge of whatever is thrown at us without descending into savagery. I count on you to honour her memory by not letting this planet destroy our spirit."
The crowd erupted and pumped their arms in the air. Then Tuvok stepped in.
"Team leaders, take your positions," he said, and the crew followed.
"Nice speech, Chakotay." B'Elanna winked as she walked past him. "I never took you as a man of many words, but it worked."
He smiled back. "Good luck, B'Elanna."
###
"Doctor, I know it might come as a surprise, but I am actually very glad to see you."
"Mr Paris, welcome on board. The Kazon have abandoned Voyager. The ship is yours. What is your plan?"
"Our Talaxian friends don't want to stay any longer than necessary. Hopefully, most of Voyager systems are still working despite the Kazon and the overload we caused. I'll go and check the warp drive in Engineering. I suggest you check the sensors."
Tom's gaze rested for a second on the body of Seska lying on a biobed. "It's up to us to get the crew back."
###
"Ayala, behind you!"
The man turned on his heels and squatted in the same movement, spear raised. A young ghost impaled himself at chest height, and collapsed on top of him, gurgling blood.
Ayala pushed himself from underneath the twitching body. "It's like they're on psychotropic drugs," he said, wiping his face. "They won't stop coming at us."
The battle had been going on for a couple of hours Chakotay estimated. The grey ghosts had not expected their ritual prey to be so resilient and organised. They had changed their early attack patterns after suffering heavy losses to the various traps laid in their path.
He smiled harshly. Now the ghosts hunted in smaller groups, sneaking up and trying to kill a couple of people at a time before disappearing back into the curtains of rain. So far, the crew had been able to fend them off by retreating slowly towards the cave system, but not without experiencing many injuries.
"What's your situation?" Chakotay asked, helping his friend back on his feet.
"Kieeran and Anth'Ol were injured earlier on. I evacuated them to the main cave. Patol has disappeared. I think he's done a runner. Can't blame him, I suppose. I came back here to —."
His eyes opened wide, looking behind Chakotay's shoulder. The flint end of an arrow quavered, and a red hole opened like a spring blossom between the young woman's breasts. The ghost clawed at her own throat and uttered squelchy noises before crumpling down on the white sand. Her club bounced a couple of time, finishing its tumble at Chakotay's feet.
The two men ducked under an overhang, expecting more attacks. Screams could be heard in the distance but only the rain and their own heavy breaths crowded their immediate environs.
"Somebody is looking after you, Chakotay," Ayala said, panting.
"I thought I ordered people not to take unnecessary risks. Bloody dangerous to stay up there with no cover," Chakotay rumbled.
Before his friend could stop him, Ayala crawled to the body and yanked the arrow out, picking up the club on his way back to the overhang.
Chakotay scrutinised the small ravine but saw nothing. "Better make a move and join the others," he said.
###
"What do you mean the transporters don't work? I've got three Kazon ships on long range sensors. How are we going to get the crew off this planet before they arrive?"
The Doctor rolled his eyes and mentioned the landing gear.
###
Kathryn hurried along the top of the gorge walls, her heart beating hard. The ghosts had moved quicker than she'd thought and burst onto the people, her people, before she'd had the time to alert them to the danger coming their way.
Instinctively recognising the maze of pillars for the ambush it was, she kept harassing the ghosts from her high vantage point, silent and deadly.
The deluge came down harder, threatening to spoil her aim.
###
"It's Voyager!" The words travelled like lightning among the besieged crew.
"How can we be sure it's not the Kazon coming back?" B'Elanna called over the thunder of the ship slipping through the low clouds.
A Kazon small craft wheezed past, shooting fruitlessly at Voyager's hull. It exploded, hot red shrapnel showering the landscape.
"That answers your question," Chakotay shouted, as the ship righted itself in one elegant movement, and landed behind the hill.
"Kim, evacuate the caves. B'Elanna, Ayala, keep the injured in the middle and cover the flanks with those who still got a weapon. Tuvok and I will stay behind and keep the ghosts occupied. Don't come back for us."
###
Chakotay had hoped Voyager's arrival would have scared the ghosts but their indecision had only lasted long enough for the crew to gather themselves and start the long run towards the ship.
He picked up a spear which had missed him by mere inches, and sprinted towards Tuvok. The Vulcan was shooting at the horde pouring out from between the boulders. A couple of ghosts landed at his feet and Chakotay saw him take the time to wrench the arrows out of their bodies to replenish his fast emptying quiver.
Despite his almost mechanical aim, the ghosts came coming, bent on overpowering their fleeing prey.
Before Chakotay could reach Tuvok, he felt the slight tingle of the ship's transporter. His momentum propelled him into the transporter main console. He clutched at the hard metal edge, his heart racing.
"It worked! I've got them both," shouted Torres. Her grimy face poked out from underneath the console, a large grin showing.
"Ensign Kim here. Everybody has been accounted for. Commander, Lieutenant, you were the last ones. Welcome onboard," the young voice said over the comms.
"Thank you, Kim. Do we owe our escape to a certain Tom Paris?" Chakotay asked with a smile.
"The one and only, Commander." Paris' voice replaced Kim's. "But before you promote me, you've got to know there are three Kazon ships coming our way. We can't defend ourselves while we are stuck down here."
"Agreed. Prepare for take-off. I am on my way to the bridge."
Chakotay's heart was still pounding at the sudden reprieve from sure death. "And thanks Tom."
The man chuckled. "Any time, Commander. Any time. Paris out."
Chakotay looked back at Tuvok who had not moved from the transporter platform. He was still holding his bow, an arrow nocked on the string. "I need you at Tactical, Tuvok."
The Vulcan released the tension on the bow, seemingly fascinated by the weapon. "Commander. This arrow is not one of ours."
"We've got more important things to worry about right now. Let's go."
Tuvok ignored him. "This arrow has three vanes rather than four, and the flint head is much better crafted than ours."
Chakotay approached him and snatched the bloodied weapon from the Vulcan's fingers.
"Looks similar to the one Ayala took from the body of a grey ghost who attacked us near the south post. A crew member must have been experimenting. But now is hardly the time to play detective."
They were still not out of the woods. However Paris had regained the ship, the Kazon were manifestly not willing to give up the ship that easily.
As if hearing his misgivings, Paris interrupted his thoughts. "I could really do with your help right now," he pleaded. "The Kazon will be waiting for us as soon as we reach space."
"Go to warp when we get out of the planet's gravity well, Tom," Chakotay answered as he walked towards the door of the transporter room.
"Belay that order, Mr Paris. Ensign Kim, scan for human signs outside the ship, from the landing location back to the cave system."
Chakotay whirled around, his eyes wide. "What the hell, Tuvok?"
"There is one crew member who is still missing, Commander. A crew member we never found and who prefers a three-vane fletching as she told me herself six weeks ago."
Torres was frowning, her hand hovering over the transporter off-switch.
Chakotay felt the blood leave his head. "Kim, what's with that sensor scan?"
"Running it now," came the anxious response.
###
Kathryn put an arm up to protect herself against the walls of muddy spray rising in front of her and staggered backwards, pushed away by the deep tremors and the blasts of wind.
She was too late. She'd taken too much time finding a way down to the plain once she'd seen the large bird land and the people rush out to meet it.
Except it was not a bird. It was a spaceship she realised now, watching it slowly soar into the leaden sky as if eager to shake off the planet's pull and return to its natural environment.
Once upon a time she had stood besides its crew, the same men and women who had resisted and fought the onslaught of the grey ghosts so bravely, but it did not matter any longer. For now, whatever she'd done to help them fend off their foe was of no consequence. She had squandered the opportunity to get Naomi out of harm's way and the futility of her efforts pressed heavily on her mind.
The ghosts were closing in, the rumble of their bare feet growing louder behind her.
Staff in hand, she turned to face the rushing wave.
