TIMEOUT [Part 20]
by ALM_Voyager- (c) January 1, 2000
- Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
Her sister was pounding the keys of the piano . . . a haunting rhythm . . a 20th Century tune from something called 'The Piano.' She watched as Phoebe's curly hair swung down over the side of her face and smiled as her sister cocked her head to one side, shaking the tresses back and winked in Kathryn's direction. Suddenly Phoebe's fingers were pounding the keys harshly . . . . and Kathryn watched as one broke with a crack . .
"Wake up!" It hadn't been the cracking of the piano key . . . but a hand against her cheek . . . Kathryn's eyes strained to do as they were told but she had little control . . . the pain . . the drugs . . . what did they expect of her . . . to be the invincible Captain . . . her crew . . .she had to be invincible . . . crack crack crack . . . the piano keys kept breaking and she couldn't do anything about it. . . . Papa would be so sad . . . .
She had been with her father, she had been hiding under his desk again, hiding from all those broken piano keys, when strong arms had reached in and pulled her up. She couldn't imagine what Papa was doing . . . . had he already finished his work? Why hadn't he just called for her? So bright was the light as she left the shelter of the desk that she had to squint to see.
Dark eyes drew her attention, they weren't her father's . . . "Chakotay?" she could barely hear her own voice.
"Kathryn," she felt her tender body being cradled close to him, "what a sight for sore eyes."
"My eyes are sore, damnit," she tried to hit him on the shoulder but she was too weak, "not yours." She could swear that she heard a sob mixed with his chuckle but no sooner had she caught the moment then it was lost as she heard someone yell "Get down!"
She cringed as Chakotay's weight crashed onto her. If she hadn't been so battered and bruised it would have felt protective but instead it echoed previous hours of pain. Yet she was thankful for the safe haven he gave to her as phaser fire could be heard overhead. She watched, dazed, as Chakotay leaned up on one arm, still covering most of her with his own person, and aimed a phaser at some of the guards. She could make out another form, just barely, in the distance . . . a woman . . . who was fighting like a crusader.
"I'm gonna do it!" Kathryn heard the woman yell just as she threw something into the hallway.
"Hang on, Kathryn," she heard Chakotay say, as he covered her again. Suddenly the whole room shuddered and rocked from a violent explosion.
"Another earthquake?" Kathryn asked dazed, going in and out of reality and dreams.
"Another earthquake," Chakotay rubbed a tear away from her cheek.
"Communications are gone. Scanners show that everything . . . has been taken care of . . . Paris is waiting in the shuttlebay," B'Elanna finished and knelt down by Chakotay who was running a medical tri-corder up and down the Captain's form. "How is she?"
"Not good," Chakotay looked at B'Elanna. "We need to get her back to Voyager." He gathered her up in his arms and lifted her without any difficulty.
The corridors of the Raylexian ship were a mess. Electrical circuits were still sparking and exploding and black smoke continued to rise and stick in the air. The coughed and made there way through the walkways, slowly, towards the shuttlebay.
B'Elanna and Chakotay gasped for the clean air as the shuttle admitted them into its confines. "We got her," B'Elanna beamed.
"Good," Tom was already readying the shuttle to disengage from the ship, "because we've got company. Two Raylexian scout ships are within visual range."
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