Chapter 6
�Is he still alive?� a voice asked somewhere above him.
Was he? Well, of course he was. Dead people can�t feel pain.
�Yes, Sir, he is,� another voice responded. �We merely knocked him out.�
�Then wake him.�
�Yes, Sir.� A heavy boot with steel tip dug itself roughly into his side, and Chakotay grunted, rolling over to avoid further abuse. He opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light of a single bulb that hung from the metal ceiling. That bulb illuminated a small circle in the center of the room around him, throwing dark shadows on the barren metal walls and on the faces of the two men who were in the room with him.
�Welcome to our prison, Commander.� One of them stepped into the light, and Chakotay stiffened, recognizing the blue-eyed Athrinian.
�Sedaar,� he seethed, struggling to his feet.
The latter grinned. �You are probably wondering why you are still among the living. After all, you have damaged the containment field of our generator almost beyond repair, you kidnapped my woman��
�She was NEVER your woman,� Chakotay spat out, anger flaring up in his dark hazel eyes.
�Oh, but she was, Commander, she was.� Sedaar gleamed, enjoying his reaction. �Did you know that she is an extremely good kisser?�
That was it. Chakotay jumped forward, and his hands closed in around the alien�s neck, his strength redoubled by the flaming, blinding fury that raged inside him.
Sedaar wheezed, his eyes growing wide in fear, as the supply of oxygen to his lungs was suddenly cut short. The second man rushed to his rescue, and seconds later, Chakotay was pulled off from his victim and thrown violently back against the wall.
�Temper, temper, Commander,� Sedaar heaved, rubbing his neck. �You won�t be adding much to your popularity here by such outbursts.�
�I am not interested in winning a popularity contest,� Chakotay snapped, slightly dazed from the impact.
�No, I guess you�re not.� The Athrinian bent over him, the intensity of his stare powerful enough to burn through any living thing. But Chakotay didn�t flinch, meeting the hard look of his pale blue eyes with an angry glare of his own. Sedaar smiled, seemingly satisfied with this silent display of power, and straightened up, motioning for his aide to come over.
�As I was about to explain before you so rudely interrupted me, Commander,� he drawled tauntingly, �we had every right to kill you after all the damage you caused us. However, we are a fair people by nature,� (Chakotay sneered at this remark), �and we believe in the concept of retribution and fate. We believe that each criminal can determine his own fate � whether he lives or dies, by providing a valuable entertainment for the guards at the same time.� He grinned, noticing a look of confusion on the swarthy face of the Starfleet Officer. �Don�t worry, you�ll know what I mean soon � very soon.� He nodded to the other man, and the latter grabbed Chakotay by the arm and pulled him roughly to his feet, pressing the phaser�s tip harshly against his back. �Move!�
***
The sensors screamed in alarm as soon as Voyager dropped out of warp.
�Captain, I�m picking up about a dozen smaller ships dead ahead,� Harry reported, looking up from his console. �We are being hailed.�
Janeway frowned, getting up from her chair. �Are they Athrinian?�
�Negative, Ma�am.�
�On screen.� She could barely suppress her astonishment, when, instead of some belligerent, hostile-looking creature, the viewscreen revealed a gentle face of a young woman whose only visible distinction from the human race were the eerie, almost emerald-green eyes. �I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager,� she said firmly. �Who are you?�
The woman studied her briefly, taking in the details of her uniform. For a moment, she seemed a bit distracted by it. Then she blinked, lifting her eyes back to Kathryn�s face, and said in a calm yet somewhat menacing voice: �You are entering the Athrinian space. I suggest you turn around and leave before it is too late.�
Janeway sighed. �I appreciate the warning. However, I must continue on the present course.�
�That would be unadvisable,� the woman said tersely. �Our ships are in the attack position and are about to engage the Athrinian fleet. You will find yourself in the middle of a battle.�
A warrior with a face of an angel? Janeway shook her head in disbelief.
�We have no intention of interfering with your battle plans,� she responded politely, walking up to the screen. �All we need is to retrieve our crewmember who, we believe, is being held captive on Athrin.�
Something elusive flashed in the woman�s eyes at that remark, and she glanced once again at the Captain woman�s uniform. �Your crewmember was also captured by the Athrinians? He wore the same colors as you?�
�Yes,� Janeway answered slowly, contemplating the sudden change in the woman�s demeanor.
�Your � Commander?�
Kathryn felt her heart skip a beat, and she leaned forward, nervously grabbing a hold of the railings. �H-how did you know?�
Dead silence fell on the bridge, everyone�s eyes directed toward the alien woman, awaiting her response.
But the latter merely shook her head, regret evident in her gentle features. �I am truly sorry, Kah-thryn Janeway. I hope we still have a chance of finding your Commander alive.�
�We? I��
�I will explain everything, Kah-thryn Janeway, but in private,� she threw another look at the worried faces on Voyager�s bridge and nodded as if in response to her own thoughts. �Suffice it to say for your crew that I have a personal stake in helping to rescue your Commander,� and, looking straight into Janeway�s eyes, she added softly, �Please let me come on board.�