Chairman Regult surveyed the area around their crashed ship with dismay. They had been unable to take any scans of the planet before the plasma storm had come up so he had no idea if it was inhabited or not. Old Anar had been tinkering with their transmitter since they'd recovered from the crash. She'd got it working but was unable to boost the signal any further and Regult was fearful that their distress call might not reach much past the atmosphere. He turned to the wiry man with a sour expression walking quickly up to him. All Trecta had prominent brow ridges and bony nasal bridges but the Chairman had always thought Fidlemere's extra large features sticking out from his rather drawn face made him look particularly venomous. Regult sighed inwardly.
"We need to get moving on repairs," said Fidlemere. "We only have a few more days before the Weldimari rescind their permission to settle."
"We are working on them as we speak," replied Regult. "You know this. Everyone is doing what they can."
"Well they need to move faster," retorted the agitated little man. Regult frowned. While Fidlemere's hyperactivity often worked well for him in diplomatic negotiations, it rarely helped during crisis situations, although Regult was certain Fidlemere believed himself to be expediting things. The Chairman massaged his nasal crest irritably between finger and thumb.
"Fidlemere," he said finally, "have you spoken with Gerrol yet this morning? I believe he was looking for you."
"I have not," said Fidlemere, looking indignant. "Why has no one told me this?"
"Only just heard," replied Regult, hoping what he said was true. Usually it was. When those two talked it often occupied them for hours. "Will you tell him the Council is convening after mid-meal?" There, that gave him an errand. Fidlemere hurried off with a very important gait while Regult walked over to where Oropun had set up a makeshift medical tent. When he went inside he was happy to see only a few Trecta resting there. Oropun however looked exhausted.
"What is our medical status," asked Regult, clapping a friendly hand on the healer's shoulder.
"Between Dalina and I, we've made it around to all one hundred and forty three crew members," said Oropun seating himself heavily on a low cot. "There were some broken bones, but otherwise everyone is fine. All the children are in good shape too. Tough little ones."
"We were lucky," said Regult, sitting down next to Oropun. "Where is your daughter now?"
"Dalina's making one last round. I noticed something strange with my last few patients. Something that looked like a bite from a burrowing insect. There was some evidence of a virus, maybe an infection and I'd like to make sure it's nothing serious."
"Let's hope not," replied the Chairman. "You should try and get some sleep. You've been up all night."
"I just want to see this last bit of data," he replied, stifling a great yawn. "Then maybe..."
"Found ya," said the elderly Trecta lady as she pushed her head through the flap of the tent. "Wondered where you got yourself off to."
"Ah, Anar," said Regult. "Any luck with the transmitter?"
"That depends," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well we got some visitors," she said. "Natives. Heard the distress call, I think. Looks like they need some help themselves though. Marill's talkin to them."
Regult peeked out of the tent at the newcomers talking to his wife, eyeing the tattoos on the foreheads of the alien couple. The woman had a baby in a harness tied to her front. He supposed she needed the apparatus so she could continue to work in the field or some such thing. Though the Trecta had lost a great deal of technology during the occupation of their home world, he was glad they were not so backward as that.
"They look primitive," he said finally. "They seem to be communicating, though. Do you think they have some natural linguistic ability?"
Anar peeked out as well and gave a noncommittal grunt. She'd been the only one to see the family of aliens approach. They'd seemed cautious at first. The male had appeared to have been taking scans with a piece of technology as the couple circled their camp and the female had kept one hand in between herself and the baby at all times. Anar suspected the sling was as much for concealment as it was for carrying the child. The two pulled their head in the tent as they saw the group walking towards it.
"Their boy is ill," said Marill as she came through the flap.
"Bring them in then," replied Oropun, wearily getting to his feet. As tired as he was, he still managed a friendly smile for the new comers during the introductions. "What seems to be the trouble with the little man?" he asked, holding out his hands to take Amal.
"He had a fever," answered Chakotay, taking the infant from Kathryn and passing him to Oropun. Anar, ever watchful, couldn't help but notice the woman's hand that seemed to steady something behind the sling.
"I see you've gotten that down," replied Oropun, gently laying the baby on the cot. He took out an instrument and looked in Amal's ears and down his throat. "Yep, just as I thought."
"What is it?" asked Kathryn.
"Just a simple infection," answered the healer. "Not exactly one I've seen before but similar enough to what's common in this sector of space. You both probably had it too but your immune systems took care of it already. He's too little to fight it off on his own just yet." He went to a small machine at the edge of the tent and created a dropper full of tonic.
"He'll need a few more doses of this but our synthesizer is about out of energy," he said apologetically as he squeezed the medicine down the baby's throat. Amal wrinkled up his nose and kicked his feet indignantly. "I know, it tastes bad," cooed Oropun, smiling at the infant as he handed him back to Kathryn.
"We have similar technology," said Chakotay. "It was damaged in the storm. Once we get it fixed, we shouldn't have to impose anymore."
"Do you often have storms of this nature?" asked Regult.
"They're pretty inconsistent," replied Kathryn, rubbing Amal's back as he snoozed on her chest. "There's a species of small primate here that seems to be able to sense when they're coming. We try to encourage our monkey friend to stick around."
"How was your synthesizer damaged?" asked Regult. He was slightly worried about the violence of the storms. If another one hit soon, they might not ever get their ship off the ground. Chakotay sheepishly tugged on his ear.
"I'm afraid that's my fault," he said. "The weather just warmed up enough to start on the annual wall reinforcements, but I'd been spending all my time with the baby. Our kitchen wall fell in."
"Why didn't you ask your neighbors for help?" asked Marill. "For something that important…"
"Actually," replied Kathryn, "we're the only ones here."
"All by yourselves!" exclaimed Oropun. "How did you ever get into that fix?"
Kathryn laughed at the healer's surprise.
"We used to be explorers," she explained. "We traveled around on a ship called Voyager. We'd stopped here to look around and possibly replenish our food stores but Chakotay and I were both bitten by an insect that gave us a virus. It's harmless if you remain on planet but deadly if you try to leave. I tried to find a cure but much of my research got destroyed in the first storm we encountered." Kathryn saw Oropun cast a worried look at Regult.
"Only two of you were infected?" asked the healer.
"Yes," answered Chakotay. "There were several different species on our ship. That may have been a factor or something about our own immune systems. The crew had a long journey home so they had to go on without us."
"How long have you been here?" asked Regult.
"Three years," answered Kathryn.
"Three years alone with your husband!" exclaimed Marill. "That must have been tedious!" Regult shuffled his feet as he looked down at them. Kathryn smiled mischievously.
"Well, we've only been married a year, but we get on alright."
The conversation was interrupted by fourteen year old Dalina, who had entered the tent.
"Father," she said, looking around at the new arrivals. "I've finished the blood work you asked for." She handed Oropun a tablet much like a large padd. It dinged softly as he paged through the data. He frowned at what he read.
"It appears the Trecta are tastier than your species," he said to Chakotay and Kathryn, handing her the tablet. "Any of this look familiar?"
"I'm afraid so," answered Kathryn as she paged through. "But I can't tell if it affects you the same as humans. You all might be able to leave. Although, there's plenty of room here. You could always stay." Kathryn didn't say it out loud, but deep down, for Amal's sake, she hoped they would. When she and Chakotay had circled the camp, they had seen the place where the children were being minded. Many were only slightly older than Amal. Though she knew it was selfish, her heart had leapt at the idea of her little boy having playmates. There were enough of the new comers to start a colony and plenty of space on the planet for them to settle and grow.
"We'll definitely have to consider it," said Oropun to Regult. "A good deal of the Trecta seem to be infected, and I'm against risking it."
"We'll discuss it in council," answered Regult. "It'll have to be a unanimous decision but it seems to be a real possibility that we'll have to stay."
Oropun suddenly smacked himself on the arm and then closely examined the now familiar telltale red ring-like welt forming there.
"A very real possibility," he replied.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
The Trecta council convened that day after mid-meal as planned. Chairman Regult looked around the table at Oropun, Fidlemere, Gerrol, and Anar. Everyone seemed to be in a foul mood, including the elderly lady. The female human, Kathryn, had dropped off a summary of her research for them a little bit ago. Oropun had only had time to briefly review it, but it gave him little hope. Her work along with their ship's physician's had be too thorough. Oropun couldn't think of anything else to try.
"Oropun," the Chairman said they all took their seats. "What news on the virus?"
The healer sighed. He didn't like to be called on first.
"It isn't good," he replied. "From what I can tell, they were able to kill the initial virus easily enough but there is something that lingers in the bloodstream. Once an infected person leaves the planet, that lingering element turns toxic and fatal. I believe our species are similar enough that it would affect the Trecta in the same manner."
"And you can do nothing for this?" asked Regult.
Oropun shook his head. "They've tried all that I would have."
"Nonsense," said Fidlemere. "If you'd just get your experiments set up again, you're certain to find something.
"Experiments!" exclaimed Gerrol. "He's certain to blow us all up if he does that."
"I'm only saying I have confidence in our healer," answered Fidlemere. "He needs to get going at any rate. The Weldimari won't wait for us long."
"Oropun," asked Anar. "How many of us got the bug?"
"After further examination, I'd say at least 40% certainly do and who knows how many more before we actually leave."
"That many," said Regult. "Is anyone here willing to risk the lives of that many crew members to try and make it to the new planet?"
"But what about all my work with the Weldimari?" asked Fidlemere angrily. "Maybe those who are healthy can carry on."
"We are all grateful for your work," said Regult, "but many more may have to stay by the time the ship is running and you might not have enough crewmembers to run it."
"I see," grumbled Fidlemere.
"Maybe this is a blessing in disguise," said Oropun. "All we wanted was a new place to live freely. We had that on Weldimar but they only begrudgingly allowed us space. Here we're free to start over however we want. The humans seemed willing to share the planet with us so why not accept their offer."
The council was silent, mulling over Oropun's words.
"So we are all decided?" asked Regult. "We will remain on the planet?" The room was quiet as the others all nodded in agreement.
"Fine we stay," said Fidlemere. Regult thought the man almost sounded sad. "But Chairman, what in the devil will I do here?" he blurted out. "I was to be the liaison to the Weldimari. Once we got to Weldimar you know they would not want to leave us in peace. I was going to keep that peace in spite of them. I had a purpose. But now… I say again, Regult. What am I to do here?"
Regult laid a friendly hand on the councilman's shoulder, now understanding his opposition. "You'll still be on the council, of course. I have always valued your opinion and we're building a whole new way of life here. We'll need all the ideas you have to offer."
Fidlemere grunted in response but seemed soothed for the moment.
"I think you ought to include them two humans on the council too," added Anar. "I think it's time for me to step down. I'm old and tired. Someone needs to take my place."
"Yes, yes," grumbled Gerrol, "but why the humans?"
Anar narrowed her eyes at Gerrol. "Ya don't need to be so quick at agreein how old I am, sonny. And why them you ask? Regult already said it. We're settin up a new way of livin, but what do we know about that? Especially in a place like this. Back on Trector nothing was green or fresh anymore. Everything you owned was spit out of a synthesizer. Plus the Ribiddians were never for letting us think for ourselves. For the last forty years we been told what to say and where to live. I doubt any o you even know when to use the toilet without bein ordered to. We're lucky we made it this far."
The council shifted uncomfortably.
"Still," said Gerrol, not to be gainsaid. "What does that have to do with the natives?"
"What we need to do to survive in this place, well, them folks already done it. It would be smart of y'all to listen to em. They seem a friendly sort. I'm sure they'd be willing to help."
"You're probably right, Anar," said Regult.
"Course I am," the old lady answered smugly. "You ever gone wrong listening to me?"
"Never," chuckled Oropun. "Might I suggest the first thing I believe we ought to do is offer to help them reconstruct the wall of their house."
"Help them," spluttered Gerrol. "I thought it was to be the other way around."
"No," grumbled Fidlemere. "I think Oropun's got the right of it.
"Yes," agreed Regult. "By helping them, not only have we made a friend, but we learn how to build against the storms."
"Exactly," said Anar. "You all go round up some more strong backs. I'll meet you folks down by the edge of the woods. Gotta get my walkin shoes."
"Anar, it's quite a hike," protested Regult.
"Oh, hush," she answered. "I ain't that old yet. I'm in the mood for a good visit with these folks. I'm goin."
Regult knew better than to argue. Anar had always seemed to have a way of taking charge that he, even as Chairman, had never quite mastered. He nodded and with that the council got up and made their way to round up a crew.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
Kathryn had been skeptical when Anar had offered to help fix their replicator but once she had reviewed a few things from their database and went to work Kathryn had to admit, the elderly lady knew her stuff. Now Anar was kneeling on the ground head first into the guts of the replicator. Chakotay, with the help of their new friends had erected a makeshift wall to enclose the kitchen and were now quickly building a new permanent one. Kathryn had almost finished cleaning up the mess inside.
"All done," said Anar, putting the panel back on the front and getting up off the ground slowly with her hand on her back. "Old bones ain't what they used to be. Mind if I try it out and make sure it's worikin?"
"As long as you make me some coffee when you're finished," said Kathryn. She'd just fed Amal and put him down. One cup shouldn't hurt. Anar came over from the replicator chewing on the stem of an unlit pipe and put the coffee in front of Kathryn as they both sat at the kitchen table. She also had a bag of tobacco with her.
"Saw this when I was lookin up some specs on your machine. Thought I'd try it out."
"Tobacco isn't the healthiest thing for you," said Kathryn.
"Eh," laughed Anar and waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Neither is caffeine from what I could tell. We all need our vices."
"Thank you for fixing the replicator. I don't know when we would have gotten to it with everything going on."
"It's nothing, dearie, but I was wondering if I could ask you a favor."
"Name it."
"Been reading through some of your other stuff in your databases and I saw a few more things I was interested in. Mind if I download some of your literature? Been a while since I had a new story."
"Feel free—there are quite a few classics: Bronte, Dickens, Shakespeare, Dante. I'll find you a padd or two."
"I was interested in this guy," said Anar, turning the monitor over to her and pulling up her find. "Tarentino. His work seems...colorful. Lots of words that don't translate, though. He uses this one a lot: fu..."
"Anar! I have to tell you, that's a pretty strong swear word where we come from."
Anar giggled at that. "Even better! Oh, I won't use it around you and Chakotay if it offends you," she added when she saw the look on Kathryn's face, "but if I can get Gerrol riled over it, it'll be worth knowing. Don't worry, I'll check out some of your other suggestions too."
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
May 2376
Harry, Helia, and their first born child, who had come in to the world just two weeks ago were behind a large screen in the mess hall getting ready for the traditional Zahoran naming ceremony. The silks were hung at the far end of the hall. No one would be allowed to see the child until the official Zhabino Giratti had begun. There was much speculation about the baby but the Doctor was staying tight lipped on the subject.
This ceremony was much more intimate than the wedding had been; only close friends were to be invited. Tom, B'Elanna, Neelix, Ennica, and Lorrit were already sitting in the two rows of chairs in the front near the silks. They'd gotten there early to get good seats. Samantha Wildman, Nellio and Blouxe were there as well and Naomi and Whed were running, giggling between the chairs. Few people in the room took the time to check them, not that they wouldn't have sat quietly, Whed especially. His extreme reserve, beyond that of even adult composure, had followed him into his early childhood. It still worried his parents though they had yet to find a cause. He seldom laughed and never cried. Blouxe often said she'd be relieved at a good hearty tantrum. When he played with Naomi, however, he seemed almost like any other child his age. For that, and the fact that each child's parents were grateful the other had a playmate, the two were usually allowed to run wild.
Naomi and Whed were not the only children aboard Voyager, though. Over the last few years, there had been somewhat of a baby-boom. Nearly a quarter of the crew had paired off and started a family. One such couple came into the mess hall next: Joe Carey with his wife Sarah, who worked in the transporter room. He was holding their daughter, Janet, who was only a few months old.
"I didn't realize they'd be here," said B'Elanna.
"Sarah got to know Helia through Meghan and Jenny," supplied Neelix. "They're all very close."
"I'm surprised Carey married again," said B'Elanna. "I thought he had a family back home."
"Which he may never see again," said Tom. "We've still got another sixty years out here. Can you blame him?"
"I guess not," she replied.
The next group to come in was Ayala with Meghan Delaney. Their son, Salvatore, who had just turned one, was in his mother's arms, snoozing on her shoulder. Behind them came Jenny Delaney on the arm of Vorik.
"So Jenny finally snagged Vorik!" exclaimed B'Elanna. "I thought she'd at least have to wait until his Ponn Far."
"Everyone thought so," said Lorrit, "but apparently Vulcans can marry anytime they want."
"Marry?" said Ennica. "I didn't know."
"Well, they've been engaged for a while now," answered Lorrit, "but be quiet. They haven't announced it yet."
"I always thought you were interested in Jenny," said Tom.
"No," the Zahoran answered. "We've always just been close friends. Besides, you know how quiet I am. I need someone with confidence enough for both of us and she's gotta be smart but still a little naïve like me. I don't want to have to feel stupid all the time. And don't tell any of the other Zahorans I said this," he said turning to Ennica, "but I really like the blue eyes some of the humans have."
Krestic and Preva came in next and took seats with Nellio and Blouxe. They were followed by a few of Harry's security staff and the Doctor who made his way to the chair next to Lorrit.
"Hello everyone," he said genially as he held up his holo-imager. "I hope all of you will be ready to pose for some images with the baby after the ceremony."
The entire group turned on the EMH, although this time it was not out of annoyance at his ever clicking holo-imager. Besides Harry and Helia, he was the only one to have seen the baby and was soon bombarded with questions.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Do they have green hair?"
"Is it twins? I heard a rumor it was twins."
"Now, now," said the Doctor, smug in his knowledge. "I thought half the fun of the Zhabino Giratti was the surprise."
"I was told," said Tom, "that the fun part was trying to get someone with knowledge to spill the beans."
"He's right," agreed Lorrit. "What about their toes? Do they have eight like a Zahoran?"
"Forget their toes," put in Ennica. "What about their lobes? Do they have strong lobes? Even for half Zahorans, it's important that they have strong lobes."
"Doctor-patient confidentiality," smirked the hologram. "You'll get nothing out of me. I will say that the infant is a healthy happy child and you will see everything else you need to know in a few moments."
"So there is only one," said Neelix. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"And we knew the baby was healthy," added Tom.
"Of course," replied the Doctor. "My pediatric skills are getting better and better every day.
"You have delivered a lot of babies lately," said B'Elanna. All of a sudden her expression changed as if she'd just noticed something for the first time. "All of them live on deck four or at least one of their parents did and the couples chose that deck to live on when they moved in together."
"You put something in the replicated water on deck four, Doc?" asked Tom. Lorrit and Ennica exchanged twitchy-eared looks.
"No," replied the Doctor, "but I was waiting for someone to make that connection. You'll note that Whed and his family also live on that deck."
"So it is the Illito!" burst out Lorrit.
"The what?" asked Neelix.
"The baby-instinct," replied Ennica.
"Zahorans are telepathic from the time their higher brain-function develops in the womb," explained the Doctor. "The Illito most likely evolved to keep young Zahorans from wreaking havoc with their mental abilities. It generally fades as their speech improves and is gone by four or five of our years."
"What does that have to do with all the children?" asked B'Elanna.
"In adult Zahorans," explained Lorrit, "the Illito produces a caregiving response."
"Exactly," continued the Doctor. "Humans however seem to react by feeling the need to reproduce themselves. Whed's Illito had all but faded so I thought the baby-boom was over but now with this new little one..."
"Harry and Helia are on my floor," said Tom quietly, almost to himself. His forehead was wrinkled and he seemed a little confused.
"This baby isn't full Zahoran," put in the Doctor, "so we really don't know how they will affect the crew."
Tom nodded silently. The entire group turned to see the next group of guests walk in which included Tuvok, who closed the doors behind them.
"Tamaris isn't coming?" asked Neelix.
"He and Helia aren't that close," replied B'Elanna, "and someone had to watch engineering." Neelix thought he caught a smug look on Tom's face as he slid his hand into B'Elanna's.
"May I?" asked Tuvok, walking up to the group and motioning to a chair next to them.
"Of course, Captain," replied Tom. "Have a seat!"
The ceremony was about to start. Samantha and Blouxe were calling to their children to sit down and Naomi immediately went to her mother. Whed, however, crept his way over to where Tuvok was sitting and tapped on his arm. Whed stood on tip toes as Tuvok bent down to let the little Zahoran whisper in his ear.
"You may," replied Tuvok. Tom thought he saw the Vulcan's expression soften a little as Whed clambered into the chair next to him, crawled under his arm, and settled down to chew on a thumb.
"What do you think, Captain?" asked Tom. "Boy or girl?"
"We shall soon see," said Tuvok, nodding toward the front, as Harry and Helia emerged from behind the screen.