Free The Escape by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch Page A

digits on each hand. I would suspect that it has eight toes per foot as well." , "Keep me apprised, Mr. Tuvok," Janeway said. At the moment she didn't care if the man below had eight fingers or eighty-five.- She was just hoping he would lead her to her crew members.
    "There are underground caverns, Captain," Chakotay said, "but they're in ruins. None of them provide a clear path to the surface. I've scanned them and found no life-forms. I suspect those underground caverns were once part of this society and collapsed over time." Janeway had already come to that conclusion on her own.
    The ships on the surface were also empty. As far as her sensors showed, the single humanoid male who had arrived in the ship was the only living creature on Alcawell. "Captain," Paris said, a touch of excitement in his voice, "there art trace elements of chroniton particles around that ship." "Are you sure, Mr. Paris?" "Certain," he said. "They've slipped back in time." "How do you know that?" Janeway asked.
    "It's their turn." Janeway ignored that last. She examined the small area near the ship with her console's sensors.
    The 82 elements were there, but tiny. "Time travel? Mr.
    Ilivok, is that logical? If this culture could travel in time, then why would everything be in ruins?" "Uncertain, Captain. We do not have enough data.," "Is it possible?" Janeway asked.
    "Quite, Captain," Tuvok said. "Although we must rule out several possibilities, such as if the chroniton particles came from a source other than the ship itself." "Time travel would explain how that humanoid arrived in their ship so quickly," Paris said.
    "Chakotay," Janeway said. "Any sign of our people?" "None," Chakotay said. "Not even trace signatures. They haven't been beamed anywhere and there are no other anomalies out there." "Mr. Thvok, is our friend moving?" "No, Captain. He has reached the base of the ramp and remained there." "Good." Janeway returned her console to its usual position. She stood, touched her hair to make sure all the strands were in place, and made a deep resigned sigh.
    "Mr. Tuvok, get a transporter lock on our friend and beam him to security. Then join me there.
    I want you to accompany us as well, Chakotay.
    Mr. Paris, you have the bridge." She headed for the turbolift. That passenger would have answers. He would have to.
    One minute he was standing on the deserted station, the next he was in a room done mostly in grays.
    A bunk was attached to the wall. Three walls surrounded him. The room looked out on a large open area. More smaller rooms surrounded it.
    Kjanders appreciated the warmth. He hadn't dressed for the chill of the planet.
    He sat on the bunk with a sigh. Somehow the PlanetHoppers had transported him. Or someone had. Even though they weren't using booths, the feeling was the same, just slower.
    He only hoped he hadn't been caught by Control. The bunk was a bit short for his large frame. Sitting on the edge brought his knees almost to his chest level. The mattress was soft, though, and covered with a blanket made from a material he didn't recognize. The colors in the area were mostly, grays and silvers, dull colors that belonged only in institutions.
    They were leaving him alone here. He would have to find where to go on his own. He got up and walked to the center of the room. As he passed the two walls, a hot forcefield slapped his body. The field appeared only when he touched it.
    A prisoner.
    Control had found him.
    Then a door he hadn't even seen hissed open.
    A slender woman wearing a red and black uniform and two short men, one with dark skin and pointed ears, the other with a drawing on his forehead, hurried in. They all had small chins and wore their hair close to their skulls in a manner most unattractive (not even a tenth of a meter in height!). The red of their uniforms was dull and not even the dominant color.
    He let out a small sigh of relief. They weren't 94 Control. He hadn't had to find the PlanetHopper ship. It had found