Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, don't make money off 'em.
Notes: Sorry about the delay in updating this. Real Life's been busy lately. (And I haven't forgotten "Bird in the Cage". Promise! :-)
Yeah, these Iz(Cluck)Yeen seem to be really perceptive about our heroes. Maybe too perceptive in some ways. A mix-up of cultural proportions could derail this First Contact.
Rating: T
Pairings: TnT and R/S
Please R&R. Thanks!
Edit: In this story, Hoshi's still an Ensign. Working on multiple stories where she got promoted to Lieutenant and where she hasn't been promoted yet. . (Sorry. Fixed!)
Three
Hoshi stood at the edge of the pavilion with a glass of golden syrup in her hand. The "rah(click)" beverage gleamed in the overhead lights. She gave it another cautious sip; it tasted somewhere between pineapple and cranberry, and Eee-yenia told her it was made with the purest ingredients. The sense of warm bliss uplifted her spirits. She hadn't felt this relaxed since...well, she couldn't remember.
High above her, the flickering colors of a nebula decorated the sky. The Iz(cluck)Yeen hated enclosed spaces, so their architecture reflected that need. The huge pavilion took up most of the summit of the mountain, with a transparent bubble roof that could be retracted at will. The guests flew from ground to a series of perches built directly into the mountain.
"Yaaahoooo!" Travis's joyous shout echoed as he hung on for dear life on the back of an Iz(Cluck)Yeen. Hoshi involuntarily ducked as they swept overhead in a turn that went into a barrel roll. Travis's bright orange fez tumbled from his head and fell straight down. She reached out and snagged it before it hit the pavilion.
Her mouth dropped open as a second Iz(Cluck)Yeen flew past with an ecstatic Jonathan Archer on its back. She had never seen the captain like this, as if he was a little boy up early for Christmas presents. She grinned and returned his wave as the Iz(Cluck)Yeen arced up and out of sight again.
There was a series of squawks from the assembled people, then a pair of Iz(Cluck)Yeen took to the skies just as enthusiastically. One of them picked Trip up, literally by the scruff of the neck, deposited him on its back, and launched into the skies. Trip yelled as he grabbed onto the Iz(Cluck)Yeen for dear life.
"Boys will be boys," Eee-yania commented from behind Hoshi. "Someone will need to make sure they do not break their necks."
"Bloody hell," Malcolm swore as skidded to a stop next to them. "What's got into them?"
Eee-yania swiveled her head around to give him an appraising look. "Will you accompany me, Shadow-dancer, to supervise their antics? I know you do not approve of their reckless maneuvers, and they unsettle your stomach, but I would be more at ease if there is a watchful eye among them."
He hesitated for the briefest of moments before he nodded. "Thank you, First Henn."
"Climb onto my back, Shadow-dancer. I will try to be mindful of your comfort." She helped him climb onto her back and with a powerful beat of her wings, followed the others.
Hoshi heard Eee-yania's voice in her head, I will be gentle with him, Star-searcher. His sense of honor and the need to protect those close to him override his potential wariness.
Thank you, Hoshi thought back. So the Iz(Cluck)Yeen were telepathic as well as empathic. They reminded her of the Betazoids, but less, well, sophisticated. No, not sophisticated...less pretentious.
"Indeed," T'Pol agreed. "They appear to be more complex than at first glance."
Hoshi turned to her in surprise. "Are you reading my mind, Commander?"
She didn't quite smile, but Hoshi felt her humor nevertheless. "No, but it seems that this environment enhances latent telepathic abilities. It is fascinating...but also unsettling."
"They seem to be quite perceptive and very accommodating to our needs."
"Yes." T'Pol's eyes took on a faraway look, as if she was seeing something that wasn't there. "Ensign, what is a 'roller coaster'?"
Hoshi blinked at the apparent non-sequitur. "A...'roller coaster'?"
She was silent for a minute, then said in an uncanny imitation of Trip's Southern accent, "This thing reminds me of a roller coaster...I just hope I don't upchuck what I just ate! The Cap'n and Travis are absolutely nuts!"
Hoshi's eyes widened at the words coming out of T'Pol's mouth. It sounded exactly like Trip, down to the accent and the cadence. She automatically reached for T'Pol's arm, but stopped when she remembered that Vulcans were touch-telepaths. Somehow, the Vulcan was mind-linked with Trip; Hoshi had heard that it was possible among Vulcans, but she'd never seen it to this degree.
"Commander?" she asked carefully, for she wasn't sure to whom she was addressing.
"Hosh? Hey, what're you doin' up here? I just saw Malcolm comin' up with the First Henn, so I guessed you might be right behind him. The Cap'n and Travis are showin' the younger ones some acrobatics. I've never seen the Cap'n so carefree before...it's pretty nice to see him not be so responsible once in a while. I'd better make sure he doesn't break his neck, so I'll check back with you later. Oh, and I'll be careful, t'hy'la, don't worry. Ssazh-clicky here won't let me do anything stupid."
T'Pol blinked rapidly, then staggered a step back. This time, Hoshi grabbed her arm before she ended up on the pavilion. "Commander? T'Pol? Are you all right?"
"I am...functional," T'Pol whispered. She took a deep breath, but still looked shaken. "In Surak's name..."
"What happened? Did Trip just talk...through you?"
"It appears that we were...mind-linked for a moment, entwined so deeply that I could not tell where one of us ended and the other began. I've never experienced such-" T'Pol broke off and stared at her hands. "It is quite unsettling."
Hoshi stared at her for a long moment. "We'd better get you some help."
"It took me unaware...I only need a moment to center myself, Ensign." T'Pol closed her eyes and allowed her breathing to become slow and even. Hoshi knew that the brief contact had shaken her more than she was willing to admit.
Another voice interrupted them. "She is distressed. Is there anything I can do to assist you?"
Hoshi turned to see a fiery red-orange peacock, with a plume as long as her arm. The bright golden eyes bore into her with all the force of a strong personality. She felt a sense of surprise and immediate contriteness, then the pressure eased, as if it had turned off a switch.
"Forgive me, I am Kawak-sssh(kuk), but you may just refer to me as Kawak. I am the equivalent of a mind-Healer. I suspected that some of you may share our ability to sense, but not to such degree." Kawak gave T'Pol a look, then nodded as if in silent agreement and left her alone. "Unexpected contact can cause damage to the mind, but it appears your friend is recovering by employing techniques, with which I am not familiar."
Hoshi nodded. Kawak reminded her strongly of Phlox, both in speech and temperament. "Her people are more sensitive to empathy and telepathy, Kawak, and have procedures in place to protect themselves."
He inclined his head in curiosity. "You are also sensitive to such things, yet you two look nothing alike."
She shrugged. "The talent is variable among my people. Some of us don't have it at all, and others are more attuned."
"Ah, so it varies among individuals, just like our people." Kawak turned back to T'Pol with a slight frown. "Her dak-shek...he must have some talent as well, but no training. That is dangerous, especially when incidents like this occur. Such strong personalities must learn to keep themselves in check, for their dak-shek's sake."
Hoshi shivered, despite herself. "Dak-shek?"
Kawak's eyes didn't leave T'Pol, who was still deep within meditation. "Her...I suppose it would translate as mind-mate in your language. Among our people, such bonds are common, and we mate for life. The dak-shek-tukk can be wondrous, but harrowing at the same time. It runs so deep that when one dies, the other does as well."
"Like a mind bond?" she carefully asked.
"Indeed. Our very environment strengthens and enhances it." Kawak was silent for a moment. "In times of danger, one mind-mate can lend their abilities, emotions, thoughts to the other in assistance. But that is risky...it can damage the mind beyond repair. Which is why I am concerned about her, and her dak-shek. If she is affected so deeply by him, and him by her...it may prove disastrous to both."
T'Pol finally opened her eyes, her features serene. "I have erected my mental shielding, Kawak, and such incidents should not happen again. His presence took me by surprise; I will be more prepared this time."
Kawak didn't seem convinced. "If you would permit me...?"
T'Pol hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Proceed."
Neither touched the other, but Hoshi could feel the whisper of currents between them, like the slightest of summer breezes. Less than a minute later, Kawak nodded in approval. "Very good. If you require any help in shoring up your mental defenses, please ask me. I wish to serve."
"Thank you, Kawak. I will keep the offer under consideration." T'Pol glanced at Hoshi, and added, "When Trip and the others return, it will be prudent to warn them of this. Kawak is correct in saying that most Humans have no training in mind defense. Perhaps such training would be wise before others visit the Iz(Cluck)Yeen."
Hoshi nodded; it sounded reasonable. "Good precaution, Commander. It would prevent more problems."
Kawak relaxed his feathers and folded them out of the way. "I am glad we are in agreement here. Ah-I believe your intrepid flyers are returning to the nest."
The sound of wings beating the air punctuated his statement. Hoshi glanced up to see several Iz(Cluck)Yeen gliding in for a landing on the pavilion. The grassy moss cushioned the impact as they skidded to a stop. Travis clambered down from the Iz(Cluck)Yeen's back and was immediately surrounded by several younger members of their group. The youngsters squawked and clicked excitedly about the flight; two of them danced around in glee. Hoshi couldn't help but smile at their antics.
"Children," Kawak said with a touch of humor. "They see the good in everything and everyone."
Travis laughed and scratched the jowls of a blue-green Iz(Cluck)Yeen. "You'll have to teach me that move. I've never seen someone stop in mid-air for a second, then change direction ninety degrees. That takes skill. I think Captain Archer was impressed."
As if summoned, Archer and a second wave of fliers landed nearby, followed by Trip and another clutch, and finally Malcolm, Eee-yania and a fourth group. Archer slid down, nearly bounced off the feet when he hit the moss, and grabbed the nearest Iz(Cluck)Yeen for balance. Trip wasted no time disembarking from his and made his way towards Hoshi and T'Pol. He gave Hoshi a look of surprise, as if he hadn't expected to see her back on the ground so soon, then he brought his attention back to T'Pol.
"T'Pol, you all right? I had the weirdest thing happen to me up there-"
Several of the Iz(Cluck)Yeen hissed and placed themselves between Trip and T'Pol. Their eyes blazed with anger and their claws upraised in an offensive posture. Trip, startled, took a step backward and raised his own hands. Malcolm reached for the knife at his side, but the nearest Iz(Cluck)Yeen pecked him on the arm. He swore vehemently and dropped the knife, which bounced and rolled out of reach.
Hoshi winced in sympathy as she felt a stab of pain through her right arm. "No, wait! It's all right!" she shouted.
T'Pol looked up at the biggest Iz(Cluck)Yeen in her way and said in a firm tone, "He is my Dak-shek. Scan our dak-shek-tukk, if you wish. You will see it is true. You cannot keep me from him." She looked around and met the hostile gazes all around her. "None of you will keep me from him."
"Hoshi," Archer said in a low voice. "What the hell's going on?"
"It's complicated, sir," she replied, "but apparently, Trip and T'Pol have a mind bond between them that's enhanced by the Iz(Cluck)Yeen's presence. Something happened while you were flying...and now they're concerned Trip will harm her."
"Commander Tucker would never harm Commander T'Pol," Travis said, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"No, he wouldn't. We know that, but they don't." Hoshi took a deep breath as the tension around them became almost too much to bear. Then it lifted slightly, like a heavy velvet curtain, and allowed her to breathe again.
"Hoshi?" Malcolm asked hoarsely. He reached for her with his good left hand and just like that, she felt his concern and dread, held back behind a tightly constructed wall. She understood why he kept those feeling locked away, for if he allowed them loose, they would rage out of control, like a forest fire.
The Shadow-dancer has the power to hurt as well to heal. Suddenly, Eee-yania's words made perfect sense. Hoshi accepted Malcolm's hand and thought directly at the Iz(Cluck)Yeen: Yaak-klak(click)squaa-squaa-dak-shek-tukk. Ne-hek-nak-(cluck)-ik-ikkak.
Kawak reared his head and produced a two-toned screech that cowed all the Iz(Cluck)Yeen present, except for Eee-yania. The First Henn opened her beak and produced a set of tones that burst into a full-fledged song. The dulcet sound struck Hoshi like a physical blow; she stumbled and found herself sitting on the mossy ground, with Malcolm's arms around her, supporting her.
"Wow," Travis breathed, and the captain could only nod in response.
And bright colors erupted from all around them, and flowed over the pavilion.
