Spirit Walk, Book Two Read online

  Something flickered in Moset’s eyes, something haunted and unspeakably sad. Elation shuddered through Kaz.

  “I really was trying to save lives,” Moset whispered. Suddenly his face crumpled and he began to sob. “I’m a healer…I’m not a butcher…I want to make things better for everyone….”

  Kaz pressed the phaser in more firmly and tightened the trigger.

  “Do it,” gasped Moset, tears streaming from his eyes down into his ears. “I don’t want to look inside anymore…I don’t want to see this….”

  Jarem Kaz braced for the inevitable. He had known what he was doing when he surrendered the Kaz body to Gradak; had known that the man was out for revenge—Moset’s life for Vallia’s. That Jarem would have to live with the consequences. He’d accepted that, and waited for the sound of phaser fire.

  It didn’t come.

  Gradak Kaz spat in Moset’s face and rocked back on his heels, still keeping the phaser trained on the Cardassian. Moset blinked and tried to focus.

  “You’re—you’re not going to kill me?” he whispered.

  Grinning, Kaz shook his head. “I came for revenge,” he said, “and I got it. I held up a mirror and you finally caught a glimpse of the monster that you are. And now you’re going to get to live with that, Crell Moset. No, I’m not going to kill you in cold blood. That would make me like you, and there’s nothing I can think of that would dishonor my wife’s memory more than that.”

  Suddenly frantic, Moset made a grab for the phaser. “No, please—”

  Kaz fired and Moset collapsed, unconscious. Gradak had never set the phaser to kill, only to stun.

  Take the body back, boy, Gradak told a shocked Jarem Kaz. I’ve done what I wanted to do.

  You didn’t kill him. You never intended to kill him.

  I did something better, and Gradak’s joy was fierce. I broke him.

  Chapter 24

  B’ELANNA COULDN’T SLEEP. Her dreams were painted in good Klingon shades of red and black, fraught with the sounds of shouting and the clash of bat’leths. She awoke feeling exhausted, as if she had no sleep at all.

  She had just reached for Miral, who was squalling her hunger to the world, when a slight movement caught her eye.

  Someone had slipped a piece of parchment under her door.

  Moving quickly, cradling her daughter in one arm, B’Elanna leaped from the skins on the floor and tugged the heavy door open. She glanced left, then right. Nothing, not even the sound of echoing footsteps. Frowning, she closed the door and picked up the paper, awkwardly opening it with one hand.

  She went cold as she read the words.

  You and the Kuvah’Magh are in danger.

  That was all; no sense of where the danger might lurk, what form it might take. How very cryptic, she thought, focusing on her annoyance in an attempt to diminish the fear that rushed through her.

  She thought about contacting Tom, but decided against it. This was Klingon business, taking place on a Klingon world. She would get to the bottom of this alone, and as she angrily crumpled the paper and held her daughter protectively to her breast, she made a vow:

  “No one will hurt you, Miral Paris. I will keep you safe. By the human and Klingon blood that flows through both our veins, by the love of the man who is father and husband, by every ounce of strength I have in my body—I will keep you safe!”

  Sekaya opened her eyes to see Jarem Kaz smiling down at her. “Welcome back,” he said. “Looks like you had quite the journey.” He tapped his combadge. “Kaz to Chakotay. Someone’s awake and would like to see you.”

  “On my way,” Chakotay replied.

  Memories of her spirit walk flooded back to Sekaya. She reached for her stomach, but Kaz caught her wrist gently.

  “It’s healed, but you shouldn’t touch it right now. Let your body recover a bit.”

  “What happened?”

  Kaz filled her in on the fight and the injury she received. “You should have died, Sekaya.”

  Though she was still drained, her lips curved in a smile. “You sound disappointed.”

  “No doctor is disappointed when a patient that should have been a corpse is alive and well,” he replied, “but we do get puzzled when it goes against everything we know to be true.”

  Sekaya thought of Blue Water Dreamer. She would see him again one day, she knew; he kept his promises. But she also knew that she was willing to wait for that ultimate meeting.

  “It’s a long story,” she said. “Maybe later.”

  Chakotay strode swiftly into sickbay and reached for her hand. “Well, hey there,” he said.

  “I’ll be in my office if you need me,” Kaz said.

  The two siblings nodded, but their eyes were for each other.

  “You were amazing,” Chakotay said.

  “No, it is you who are amazing,” Sekaya said. “Telepathy, telekinesis, phasing in and out of time—can you still do it?”

  He shook his head. “Even I, prepared as I was, couldn’t hold it without you supporting me. It’s going to be some time before humans can safely handle that kind of mental power.”

  “So they all faded? Your abilities?”

  He hesitated. “Well, there is one thing. I don’t need to use the akoonah to spirit-walk anymore. I can just close my eyes and I’m there.”

  “Maybe the rest will come back to you. When you’re ready for it.”

  He shrugged. “Right now I don’t care about Sky Spirit powers. I’m just glad that my sister and I are all right.”

  “Kaz said you brought back Black Jaguar. How did that happen?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think that part of my powers permitted me to manifest help. She exists in the spirit world, in my mind. I wanted Her there with me, physically, and She came.”

  “What about Moset and Katal?”

  “We’ve got Moset. He’s in the brig right now. Something happened to him—he’s a wreck. Astall is trying to talk to him, but he’s just babbling incoherently and crying.”

  Sekaya felt shamefully pleased. “I know it’s not kind, but I’m glad. He killed so many, Chakotay, on Bajor, on our world, on Betazed. He should suffer for it.” She smiled a little. “But I understand Astall. She tries to see the good in everyone.” She paused. “You said you got Moset. What about Katal?”

  Chakotay grimaced. “Unfortunately, he escaped. We think he had a cloaked vessel, as we detected nothing. We’ve transported the colonists aboard Voyager, and my friends Seven and the Doctor already have some ideas for how to help them.” He hesitated. “I was able to reach them, Sekky. I was able to touch their minds, to remind them that they’re human. They can’t communicate verbally, and of course I don’t have the ability anymore to understand them mentally, but they seem…different. More rational.”

  Sekaya’s flesh erupted in goose bumps. “Then they’re halfway home,” she said softly. “Once they begin to see themselves as people again, most of the hard work will be done. It will just be a question of physically disentangling the DNA.”

  Chakotay laughed a little. “Yes, just that,” he said.

  She punched him playfully, but weakly. “You know what I mean.”

  He sobered. “Yes,” he said, “I do know.” He bent and kissed her forehead, on the tattoo that they both wore. “Get some rest. Everything is all right now.

  As she drifted into slumber, Sekaya heard a gentle voice saying, Yes, everything is all right now.

  Marius Fortier stared at the large, red-furred creatures who had once been his friends and family. Tears filled his eyes. “May I…can I have some privacy?” he asked of the security guard.

  “Certainly,” the guard said quickly. “I’ll be right outside.”

  The animals behind the forcefield had become aware of his presence. They turned to look at him steadily. Marius’s skin prickled when he saw intelligence in their black eyes. They were no longer monsters; they were people, trapped in this form.

  “We’ll get you back,” he said softly. “I don’
t know how, but we’ll get you back. I swear.”

  One of them lumbered forward, stopping just shy of the forcefield. It looked over at the controls, and then back at Marius. Knowing he shouldn’t be doing this, but also knowing at a deep level that it was all right, Fortier lowered the forcefield.

  Slowly the big creature stepped forward. Clinging to it was a smaller one, a younger one.

  “Guillaume?” Marius whispered. “Paul?”

  They nodded, and reached to embrace him. Marius Fortier began to weep as he held his brother, who shuddered and clung tightly to him. He couldn’t understand Guillaume’s thoughts, but the feelings that washed over Marius were clear: Guillaume was in torment, and had no desire to return to the place where such atrocities had been performed.

  “I understand, my brother,” Marius murmured, awed and humbled that he did. “We will make you whole, and then we will make a new beginning.”

  Two weeks later the old friends were back in Sandrine’s on a quiet Thursday evening, shooting pool, downing drinks, and soaking up the atmosphere. Janeway couldn’t help but reflect how much had changed since she was last here with Kaz and Chakotay. Then they had been discussing Chakotay’s first mission as captain, the upcoming conference, and what a shame it was that Tom Paris couldn’t have been first officer.

  Now, while the bar itself was almost exactly the same, and the drinks in their hands were similar, and Janeway continued to beat the pants off of everyone at pool, nearly everything else had been turned on its ear.

  “I heard from Seven and the Doctor today,” Janeway said. “The progress they are making with the colonists is extraordinary. The documentation you retrieved from Moset’s lab was key, as was Sekaya’s willingness to work with them. She’s a remarkable woman, Chakotay. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet her.”

  The ball obediently went into the side pocket.

  “You’ll get a chance one day,” Chakotay said. “We’re definitely going to be better about staying in touch.”

  “Will she still be working with the colonists?”

  “Yes, for a time. Since Fortier has decided that they won’t be returning to Loran II, Sekaya will stay with them until they select a new site.”

  “Understandable. The Federation will help them find another world. They can make a fresh start.” Janeway called her shot, then sank the ball. “How are you doing, Jarem?”

  “Counselor Astall has pronounced me fit for duty, and my thoughts are my own again,” Kaz replied. “Gradak finally seems to be appeased with Moset’s capture and breakdown.”

  Janeway shot him a penetrating look. Kaz had acted on his own initiative in transporting down to Loran II and taking Moset prisoner by himself. Moset had displayed no signs of rough treatment, and heaven knew that he’d piled up enough dark deeds to finally collapse under the weight of them, but something about the doctor’s explanation didn’t add up. Still, a mass murderer was in custody, Kaz was himself again, and the colonists were going to be all right. Janeway decided not to probe further.

  “I spoke with Deirdre Ellis today,” Chakotay said rather solemnly. Janeway paused to regard him.

  “How did that go?”

  “As well as could be expected. They divorced several years ago. She said that although she was shocked to learn that Ellis had been impersonated by a Changeling all these years, she wasn’t actually surprised. Said he had returned from a mission drastically changed. Not like himself at all. She told me that she felt he had died a long time ago but it was only now that she could really mourn him.”

  “I suppose we should have caught on, all of us, long before,” said Kaz. “That whole cookie-dough bit was just too over the top.”

  “Actually,” Chakotay said, smiling again, “the real Ellis did love to eat raw cookie dough. Cake batter, too. Deirdre said Andy was a stickler for the rules—that was what the Changeling latched on to—but he was a loving husband and father and a lot of fun.”

  “Andy, huh?” mused Kaz. “I like that nickname a lot better than Priggy. Wish we’d known the real Ellis.”

  “We don’t have to have known him to grieve him,” Janeway said quietly. For a moment they were all silent. Janeway moved to the other side of the table, lined up the shot, sank the ball, and heard Tom Paris, new first officer aboard the U.S.S. Voyager, sigh heavily. Smothering a grin and grateful for the change of topic, she asked, “How did B’Elanna take the good news?”

  “She was very happy for me. Told me to keep an eye on Vorik for her.” He hesitated. “She seemed a little distracted, though.”

  “See what you’ve done, Tom?” Janeway teased. “You’ve set her off on that whole Kuvah’Magh path. There’ll be no stopping her now.”

  “It’s going to be great to serve with you again, Tom,” Chakotay said, clapping Tom on the shoulder.

  Paris grinned. “Likewise,” he said. “Somebody’s got to keep you guys in line.”

  Sandrine stepped up beside Janeway. “Pardon, Madame Admiral,” she said, “but there is a message for you. Would you like to receive it, or shall I say that you are far too busy to be interrupted?”

  “Don’t tell me you told Starfleet where you were tonight,” Chakotay chastised.

  “Actually, no, I didn’t, and I’m wondering who had the tenacity to track me down. Apparently, Starfleet simply cannot function for an evening without me.” Janeway sighed and handed the cue to Chakotay. “I’d better take it,” she said. “I’ll make it quick. Play nice, gentlemen.”

  She stepped into a private room. As the door closed, the sound of singing and laughter from the bar disappeared. Admiral Montgomery’s craggy face appeared on the viewscreen.

  “Well, hello, Ken,” Janeway said. “I might have known you’d be the one to hunt me down on my evening off. If you wanted to come play pool with us, all you had to do was ask.”

  “I wish it were about pool, Janeway. And you know I’d normally let you be. But I thought you’d want to take this one.” He hesitated. “It’s Amar Kol. Kerovi is withdrawing from the Federation.”

  “Damn. I had so hoped…you were right, I do want to take it. Put her through.” Janeway felt a pang as Merin Kol’s pleasant face appeared on the viewscreen.

  “Amar Kol,” she said. “From what I understand, this is perhaps the last time we will talk.”

  “Officially, yes,” said Kol. In a voice laced with regret, she added, “Most likely unofficially as well, I’m afraid. Despite my personal fondness for you, Admiral, I cannot in good conscience allow my people to continue to be a part of the Federation.”

  “We’ll miss you,” Janeway said. “Kerovi has always been a highly regarded member.”

  Kol’s wide mouth stretched in a sad smile. “This is truly the best thing for us, Admiral. I hope you can respect that decision.”

  “Of course I respect it, and I respect you. I only wish things had turned out differently.”

  “As do I. I wanted to say a special thank you for your crew’s assistance in safely recovering my friend and adviser, Alamys. I had no idea that he was being impersonated by a Changeling for so long. It’s a frightening thought. Too bad you weren’t able to capture him.”

  “Indeed,” said Janeway. “But at least we’re aware of him, and we know that he’s only able to impersonate humanoid males. That limits the damage he can do.”

  Kol shuddered. “I earnestly hope so. Farewell, Admiral Janeway. Getting to know you has been one of the few bright spots in a difficult time for my world. The decision wasn’t made lightly, as you must know.”

  “I do know that, Amar. I wish you and Kerovi all the best. I hope your decision is indeed the right one. And don’t forget,” she added, “you can always rejoin. We’d love to have you back.”

  “Thank you, Admiral. But that won’t be happening.”

  “Good-bye, Amar.”

  Janeway tried not to feel a sense of failure as Kol’s image was replaced by the Starfleet insignia on the screen. She didn’t succeed.

  Amar
Merin Kol sighed, tossed long red hair, and let itself change back into the form it was most comfortable with—Andrew Ellis.

  Wearing the face of a dead man, the Changeling reflected that it was an unfortunate thing that Moset had turned out to be so untrustworthy.

  The Cardassian’s research was really starting to get somewhere.

  About the Author

  Award-winning author CHRISTIE GOLDEN has written twenty-four novels and sixteen short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

  She is best known for her tie-in work, although she has written several original novels. Among her credits are the first book in the Ravenloft line, Vampire of the Mists; a Star Trek Original Series hardcover, The Last Roundup; several Voyager novels, including the recent bestselling relaunch of the series, Homecoming and The Farther Shore; and short stories for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel anthologies. Sales were so good for Homecoming and The Farther Shore that they went back for a second printing within six weeks of Homecoming’s publication.

  In 1999 Golden’s novel A.D. 999, written under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel. Golden has just launched a brand-new fantasy series entitled The Final Dance through LUNA Books, a major new fantasy imprint. The first book in the series is entitled On Fire’s Wings and was published in trade paperback in July of 2004. Look for the second in the series, In Stone’s Clasp, in 2005.

  Golden invites readers to visit her Web site at www.christiegolden.com.