EIGHT
"Your ship is quite comfortable," said Kos after they had gathered in the briefing room. "It was difficult to determine the exact structure of the ship from the wreckage below."
"We like it," said Archer. "She's the only warp 5 capable ship in Earth's fleet. Hopefully there will be more soon."
"You're a very ingenious race, Captain," said Kos. "I have no doubt you will accomplish your goals very soon."
"We find your race very intriguing," said Archer. "Our mission is to seek out other life forms so that we can learn from them. And perhaps we can teach them some things as well."
"There is not doubt you can teach us much," said Kos. "As I said, we have no concepts that you corporeal beings have. Love, hate, jealousy, envy, these are all concepts that hold no meaning for us. We would be eager to learn all that you can teach us about them."
"What do you call your race?" Travis asked. "You keep referring to yourselves as the inhabitants of the subterranean caverns. I've never heard you mention a name for your species."
"Again, we have no such concept for this," said Kos. "As energy beings we are able to communicate on what you would call a telepathic level. We have never found need to name ourselves. Just as we have never found the need to give ourselves individual names as you do. I suppose if we are to have any kind of interaction between our two species it will be necessary for us to have a name."
"Well we can't just say hey you," said Trip. "It wouldn't be polite."
"What about Medusa?" suggested Crewman Latrelle.
"Medusa?" questioned Kos. "That has an intriguing sound. From where does it come?"
"I'm not sure it's really appropriate," said Archer. "It's from an ancient Earth myth. Medusa was a Gorgon, a mythical creature that turned men to stone if they gazed in her eyes."
"Intriguing," said Kos. "I suppose considering what happened to the previous crews that came here it is not altogether inaccurate."
"I suppose it's as good a name as any," said Trip. "I guess they have the right to call themselves whatever they want, Cap'n."
"I can't argue with that," said Archer. "Well, if you don't mind being called a Medusan I suppose we can live with it. And I guess we can't hold you responsible for what happened to the Republic and the Valiant. From what you told us it wasn't intentional."
"No, Captain, it wasn't," said Kos. "I realize that nothing can repay you for the lives that were lost. But perhaps we can make a recompense for that loss. Some form of compensation so to speak."
"Well, I can tell you that Star Fleet doesn't ask for compensation for accidents," said Archer. "It was unintentional and they'll understand that. Accidents happen. No one can blame you for that."
"Most gracious, Captain," said Kos. "Then perhaps some exchange of knowledge and information. Our travels have been limited to those planets within our own system. We would welcome the chance to interact with another intelligent race."
"You have visited the other planets in your system?" questioned T'Pol. "We have not detected any form of technology on the planet least of all any type of interplanetary conveyance."
"In our natural form we have no need of such devices," said Kos. "As energy beings we are capable of transversing the distance between planets easily. We are able to identify and negotiate electromagnetic fields more accurately than your mechanical devices are able to do."
"Interesting," said T'Pol. "It might be possible to adapt this ability to the navigational arrays for a ship. That could make navigating between different systems more efficient."
"We would be quite pleased to help in any way we can," said Kos. "Perhaps an exchange between our two civilizations that would be mutually beneficial."
"I think that could be arranged," said Archer. "In your joined state it should be quite easy to transport you back to Earth."
"That would not be possible," said Kos. "The joining is only a mental one. And it cannot be maintained indefinitely. Eventually I would have to return to my natural form or I would cease to exist."
"Then perhaps you could use your ability to move through space to go to Earth," said Trip. "We wouldn't need to transport you at all. You could just do it yourself."
"That is also not an option," said Kos. "Our ability to traverse space is limited to what you would call sub-light travel. Not even in our natural form are we able to exceed the speed of light. It is why we have never left the confines of our own system. TO journey to even the nearest star would require thousands of years."
"Well, I'm sure something can be arranged," said Archer. "Now that we're aware of your existence we can make sure that any future expeditions to your world take whatever precautions are necessary to prevent what happened in the past."
"It may even be possible to design some form of shielding that would prevent accidental exposure," said Phlox.
"You think that's possible?" Kos asked.
"Well, if it's the lights of your true form that causes the damage," said Phlox, "I should think it would be possible to devise some form of filter that would filter out the harmful affects. It would require a great deal of research but I don't see why it shouldn't be possible. Now that I know the cause of Crewman Johnson's death I can reexamine the autopsy and his body. Something there might help."
"We would be willing to assist in any way we can," said Kos. "As well as return all of the equipment we removed from the crashed ship."
"You removed those items?" Trip asked.
"Yes," said Kos. "After the crew had died we became extremely curious about them. So we removed anything that we thought would be of use in learning about you. I shall see that all of the items are returned to you immediately including your information storage devices."
"We would appreciate it," said Archer. "What about the ionizing field at the edge of the system? Is that a natural occurring phenomenon?'
"Yes, it is," said Kos. "It has been there as long as our collective memory can remember. It is another reason we have not left our own system. We are incapable of physically passing through the barrier."
"Well," said Trip, "now that we know about it Star Fleet can send a science vessel to investigate it. There might be some way to penetrate the barrier without having to physically pass through it."
"It would seem," said Kos, "that there are a great many things your scientists have to examine here. I believe it will be necessary for them to establish a permanent encampment on the surface."
"It seems so," said Archer.
"They may use the site of the Republic as that encampment," said Kos. "I shall inform my people that they are not to go to the site unless they are joined. That should prevent any accidental exposure to our true form and prevent a repeat of what happened with the previous crews."
"We can set up a well defined perimeter around the site," said Archer. "That will prevent anyone in the camp from accidentally moving too far away and coming into contact that way."
"It seems we think much alike, Captain Archer," said Kos. "It will be necessary for me to return to my people to make the necessary arrangements. And I will arrange for the items from the ship to be returned immediately. Perhaps you could return later and we could continue our chat. I am finding it most enlightening."
"I'd be glad to," said Archer. "We need to pass through the barrier and make a report to Star Fleet Command. I'm sure they'll want to send a ship right away. Of course it may take them a while to get here. The best speed any other Star Fleet ship can make is warp 2."
"It might be possible to leave a shuttle pod with them," said T'Pol. "Then perhaps they could use the pod to leave the system and communicate directly with Star Fleet until the ship arrives."
"We have two shuttle pods," said Kos. "They were among the wreckage of the Republic."
"Well, I'll take a look at them," said Trip. "If they can be repaired they can use one of those. It should be easy enough to teach them how to operate and maintain them."
"That would be most appreciative," said Kos.
"Trip, see that Kos makes it back safely to the surface," said Archer. "As soon as you return we'll leave the system and make our report to Star Fleet Command. Then we'll come back and continue our talk with Kos."
"Aye, sir," said Trip. "The shuttle pod will be ready to leave in about fifteen minutes."
"Thank you, Captain," said Kos. "I shall look forward to your return."
"It will be my pleasure, Kos," said Archer.
Archer headed to his ready room to prepare his report to Star Fleet Command. Reporting the deaths of the two crews was not going to be a pleasant task. But at least the families would have the satisfaction of knowing what had happened to their loved ones.
And those deaths had not been in vain. Because of their sacrifices Earth had made a new friend among the denizens of the galaxy. And their new relationship with the Medusans might just prove to be very beneficial in the future.
The End
