Marooned Open ebook - 2002

Excerpt

He was as unrecognizable as Dhad himself was. Both nowresembled the members of the Shamari merchant class theypretended to be. There was no hint of the normal good looksof the pirate leader about that homely face now. He slippeda comradely arm about Dhad and the latter breathed a slightsigh of relief that he had remained silent. Had he confessedto the "Shamari law enforcer," his commander would haveslain him on the spot, no matter what treasure he carried.There was no room for a traitor among the Ja'in.Dhad followed as his leader guided him down the windingstreets, at last into a rundown stone building that appearedfrom the outside to be nothing more than a humble Shamari'shome. The commander nodded to what seemed to be a pair ofbeggars, dropping shu-stones into their hands and wavingaside their effusive thanks. Dhad didn't recognize them, buthe would have bet a year's haul of goods that they wereguards, and he would not have lost.Inside, in the cool darkness, was a jumbled collection ofmachines and gadgets that would have stunned the low-techShamaris. Lights blinked on and off; soft, whirring soundshummed through the room.The commander pulled off his cloak and straightened to hisfull height of just over two meters. He lounged in a chairand reached for one of the orange, spiky fruits on thetable. Biting into it, he wiped at the juice that floweddown his chin and ordered, "Show me what you have for me,Dhad."The courier hastened to obey, dropping a tiny square pieceof metal into a hologram unit and activating it quickly.Then he stepped back, hardly breathing, with a desperatehope that his master would be pleased.On the table before the commander appeared the image of aship. Its lines were smooth and sleek, the metal of its hullsoftly illuminated by tiny pricks of variously coloredlights from within.The Ja'in leader frowned. "I've seen this vessel," herumbled. "Several months ago, in fact. Your gossip is hardlytimely, Dhad, if this is all you have for me."Dhad began to feel nervous. "But--it is headed toward thissector, Great One, and our spies report that it has heardnothing of the Ja'in."The commander laughed. "What use is that to me?""With a ship like Voyager, Great One, you could conquer thewhole quadrant!""And how, pray, would I be able to conquer Voyager?" thepirate shot back. "No ship I have could bestit, and I will not jeopardize the base for it. If I havelearned one thing in my four millennia, it is caution. No,Dhad, have you nothing better to show me?"Dhad swallowed hard and resisted the temptation to brush atthe sweat that started to dapple his gray green brow."Perhaps my master has not seen the curiosities that areaboard Voyager," he said, with a ghastly attempt atnonchalance.He fiddled with the machine and images appeared. Thecommander leaned forward, his slitted eyes narrowing, theorange fruit forgotten. Hope flickered inside Dhad."This hologram was made secretly, when members of the crewof Voyager took shore leave on Tajos Prime several weeksago." Emboldened by the commander's interested reaction, headded, falsely, "Three lives were lost in getting this toyou."The commander shot Dhad a look that instantly deflated him."That, I doubt, Dhad. Who and what am I seeing?""This female," and Dhad pointed at the Rhulanoid woman whosethick hair was pulled back and clasped at the back of herneck, "is the captain of the vessel. She is from a speciesknown as human. Most of her crew are humans. This is hersecurity officer. Members of his race are called Vulcans.""Vulcans," repeated the commander, and smiled. "A pleasingname on the tongue. Oh--and this one. What is it?'?Dhad could taste the promotion. "That is a half-human,half-Klingon woman. She is the chief engineer. That funnygreen-blue one is a Bolian. And this, Great One," and Dhadtouched a button that changed the scene, "is a being calledan Ocampa."A ten-centimeter-high vision of feminine grace stood on thetabletop.Her hair was long and yellow, the golden ringletscoyly hiding ears that appeared to curl in on themselves toform a point. Slim was her body, and wise were her eyes. Shemoved with a deep grace that touched even Dhad. The pirateleader stared, as if transfixed."By the Makers," he breathed, "she's--""Beautiful?" prompted Dhad eagerly.The commander shook his head, never taking his eyes from thegirl. "No. More than that. Perfect. What is her name?""She is called Kes. And," Dhad puffed himself up, about toutter the words that would clinch his promotion, "her racelives only nine years!""What?" gasped the commander, dragging his eyes away fromthe hologram. "If you are lying to me--""No, Great One, I swear! I heard her talking. Only nineyears."The commander fell silent, watching the miniature woman, hiseyes roving over her face, her figure. "You say Voyager isapproaching this sector?" Dhad nodded. "Then we must welcomethem properly. You did right to show this to me. I think youdeserve a reward, Dhad. I think I shall enlist your aid inmy quest.""Then, you will try to take Voyager?"The commander shook his head, his gaze drawn inexorably tothe tiny, delicate girl-woman on the table."No. I will take Kes."

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