Helia, holding a well swaddled baby, followed by Harry, walked out from behind the screen and across the mess hall where the Zahoran silks were raised. Both were wearing simple robes dyed in swirls of the six shades of green to match the silks.
"What are we going to see, whispered Neelix to Ennica.
"First they will show the child," replied Ennica, as Helia held up the baby and Harry unwrapped him. "Then the parents will pass the baby back and forth until they bond with one of them where they then telepathically tell that parent their name."
"How will we know when they've bonded?"
"Oh, you'll know," she said smiling confidently. "Though sometimes it takes a while. Some naming ceremonies I've been to take weeks."
"Weeks?"
"If the baby is particularly stubborn, but I don't think this one will. In cases where one parent is a different species, the child almost invariably chooses the Zahoran."
"Do they bond to only one parent," asked Neelix, thinking it must be sad for whoever the baby doesn't pick.
"Oh, no. A few months later, they connect to the other as well, though it is never as strong as it is with the name parent and then at some point before they have seven secras, or five human years, they choose a Zhab."
"Zhab?"
"Bond-parent. The closest example I can give you would be the human god parent except the Zhab has full parental rights."
"But what about..."
"We must be quiet now," interrupted Ennica gently, pointing to the front.
Helia held up the unwrapped baby for the room to see, smiling as she displayed him.
"Here is our son!" she cried proudly. The child had chubby cheeks like marshmallows and he came with all the traditional Zahoran features: a thick shock of lime green hair, a full five lobes on each ear that twitched and fanned at the crowd, and the deepest emerald eyes you'd ever seen. Ennica did take the time to whisper that those might not stay that way. Other than those features, however, even at only two weeks, the boy looked like a miniature Harry Kim, including ten toes.
A small burst of tricorder beeps erupted in the room as hundreds of replicator rations changed hands. Betting was also a traditional part of the Zhabino Giratti. Harry then took the infant to show him and repeated the words. This time the baby blew raspberries at the guests.
"He's going to be a trouble maker," snickered Lorrit.
Harry then handed the baby back to Helia who cradled him, whispering to him in Zahoran.
Ang ki zhabinari. Ang ki. Neft'ra kol metti ki kolan girat?
Helia was silent for a moment, fanning her ears at the child. The silks rustled and waved in her mental energy but the baby only gurgled at her. She passed him to Harry. He repeated the Zahoran words when he was finished he said them again in English.
To me, little one. To me. Won't you tell me your name?
Nothing seemed to happen. Harry moved to hand the baby back to Helia but then the silks started to ripple like a stream over rocks. Harry froze where he was, staring down at his son. The boy returned the intent look and fanned his ears bringing them forward. Harry's expression, which had started out as curious, soon changed to that of awe, and, as it made its final shift to joy, a warm blanket of that emotion crept around the room and touched everyone in it. Parents nestled their children closer. Friends patted each other on the back. B'Elanna laid her head on Tom's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her tight. Tuvok looked down at little Whed, still by his side and felt a protective sensation he hadn't noticed since his own children were small. He mussed Whed's lime green hair in a fatherly fashion as the child snuggled closer and began to fall asleep.
Neelix, however, was discomforted. It seemed as if something in his heart had been missing for some time now and he began to realize, that while he would always love Kes, he hadn't thought about her, not really, for years now. He glanced over at Ennica, who seemed sad as she gazed down quietly at the floor. Neelix didn't have to think twice as he reached over to entwine his fingers into hers. Ennica returned his gaze and smiled.
Harry was now holding the baby up for everyone to see again and grinning from ear to ear.
"His name," he announced proudly, "is Hos. Hos Kim."
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
Tom was quiet as he walked B'Elanna back to her quarters. She'd given up on conversation back at the ceremony. Once Hos had been named everyone seemed to retreat into their own thoughts. Now she was tired, and badly wanted her own bed. She was almost thankful for Tom's silence. Even if he did want to come in, he'd probably just want to sleep. When they got to her door, he leaned over and kissed her softly but didn't turn to go.
"Is everything ok?" she asked when she saw the look in his eye.
"I don't know," he replied. "I wanted to ask you something tonight but after the conversation earlier…" He took a deep breath. "No. This is right. B'Elanna…" Tom dropped down on one knee. "Marry me."
B'Elanna's mouth opened and closed a few times.
"Tom,' she spluttered. "I've thought about this moment so many times, but after this evening I'm worried. I don't want you to purpose just because we're under some alien influence to have children."
Tom hung his head and stood, drawing her close to him. "Maybe we are. When I saw the look on Harry's face as he held Hos, well, I can't deny it made me want that too. One thing I'm positive the baby has no influence over, though, is that you are the only one I will ever want that with."
B'Elanna was speechless. She'd wanted this for a while now herself, but unbidden thoughts of Tamaris' kiss popped suddenly to her mind.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
Tamaris paced heatedly in his quarters. He'd left his shift a little earlier than he probably should have but this was important. He was in B'Elanna's mind almost constantly now and when he'd heard this last conversation… Somewhere deep down he felt guilty about listening in on Tom and B'Elanna but the urge of Grath was full on him now and it was impossible not to give in. He could never stray too far from her thoughts without discomfort. Tamaris was sensing doubt. Tom had purposed and B'Elanna had doubted and there was…Tamaris froze where he was, hopeful like he'd never been before.
He felt her mind as her thoughts made their rounds. His face moved to the fore front. It was the kiss. She was thinking about the kiss. The moment Tom had purposed to her she was feeling… guilt. Deep intense guilt. Then thoughts of Tom flashed by, one after another. Their first kiss, dates, dances, gifts, and love. It was an overwhelming passionate kind of love, but it wasn't for Tamaris. He'd lost. It was over.
Tamaris keeled over onto the floor, brought down by the effort it took to wrench his thoughts back to himself. Severing a mental connection for one in Grath was like severing a limb. As he lay on the floor he realized he would need to go to Krestic. The thought of admitting his addiction seemed even more painful that the disconnection had been, but it had to be. He needed help. He had to do it; for her.
Maybe he could just die here on the floor. Maybe he could touch her mind just one last time. He could make her love him, if he wanted. No. Deep down she'd know and never really be happy. What was it he wanted from her anyway? What did he want? He wanted to be the one to make her happy, but that wasn't to be. Someone else filled that role. She loved Tom and she'd made her choice. She was happy.
Tamaris was overcome by a brief moment of clarity. So I've got what I really want in the end: her happiness.
Exhausted, his eyes began to slide shut. I will see Krestic tomorrow. Maybe this really was love, he thought as he let himself pass into a fitful sleep.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
Tamaris' ears were as compact as they'd ever been as he walked into Krestic's quarters. The silks were raised though somehow they seemed less colorful than they had the last time he saw them. Under the silks stood the other Zahorans from his crew but without the children. Their minds were closed to him. It was like stepping into a void; a deep silence that no one other than a Zahoran could possibly understand.
So this is my punishment, he cried out in his mind. To bear the burden of eternal silence from my people? His anger even surprised him. He had meant to be humble.
Hush, Tamaris, Preva thought, stepping forward. It is necessary for now. You are here to be healed, not punished. We do not judge. You have endured that which is a risk for all our people. Grath is a part of our minds that every Zahoran must battle everyday of our lives. You have fought that battle and had the wisdom to return to us. Now we only forgive and heal. Tamaris wasn't sure how wise he'd been in any of this but he nodded in acceptance of her words.
Come to us, said Preva gently as she guided him to the center of the silks. The other Zahorans circled around him, putting their closed fist to their shoulder, the Zahoran gesture of greeting and farewell. Tamaris smirked as he thought of its meaning: keep your thoughts close. It was a reminder against Grath. The other Zahorans closed their eyes and raised their faces. As their lobes fanned to their full extent, the silks began to move in the waves of thoughts that they sent through the room. Tamaris could feel love swirling warm and soft around him and pierce his heart. He could no longer fight back the smile that spread across his face as he lifted it to join in the chant.
Illitara, mind of minds, who awoke us from the void. Help this man's soul find him again. Help the other five facets grow strong to balance Grath. Remind him of the wisdom that must pair with the gift.
Gratitude welled up in Tamaris as the pain seeped out of him and the chant went on. Only when he was healed would they stop, but he knew he would live. He could go on another day and another and another and he was grateful for every one of those days. He smiled wider, feeling the simple joy of being alive.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
August 2378
Kathryn stared lazily at the heated rocks on the hearth. The stone fireplace was the latest addition Chakotay had made to their home, and right now she was especially grateful for it. She was past full term with their second child and this pregnancy was taking a toll on her feet. They were propped up on a cushion and absorbing the soothing warmth from the rocks.
"Amal's finally asleep," said Chakotay, coming out of the two-year-old's bedroom and settling down on the sofa next to Kathryn. She snuggled into him and made a face as she rubbed her belly. The baby was kicking up a storm tonight.
"You'd think, with how much this one is squirming around, he'd be a little more anxious to get out," she said as she shifted again.
"He'll come out when he's ready," said Chakotay laying a hand on her stomach.
"You'd be talking a lot differently if you were the one carrying him," she said. "I can tell he's not as big as Amal was, but he's certainly a lot feistier."
"Any day now," he replied comfortingly. "Have you thought anymore about what you want to call him?"
"Some," she said. "But you remember how it was with Amal. I'd like to see him first, before we decide."
The two had settled down into a hazy snooze when they heard a knock at the door. Kathryn and Chakotay were instantly awake and on alert. It was late for a simple visit. Chakotay went to see who the visitor was. When he opened the door, Anar stood on the other side looking more serious than they had ever seen the normally jovial old lady.
"Is everything, alright, Anar," asked Chakotay as she quickly pushed past him.
"Don't know," she said looking anxiously behind her. "Shut that, son, will you?"
Kathryn looked up at their friend as she walked swiftly into the living room.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"Something's happened," Anar answered. "Heard a crash from my little cabin and went down to investigate. Don't worry. They didn't see me. Didn't get too good of a feeling from these new comers though. You got one of them tri-whats-its? You know, that thing you had to scan with when we first met you. That should tell you all kinds of stuff about them, right?"
Janeway and Chakotay eyed each other. A tricorder would tell them quite a bit about a crashed ship. Anar went on.
"I expect the council is gonna be calling you up here, soon, to go have a look see at the new folks. I just thought I'd suggest you bring one."
"If they do call," said Chakotay, "I don't think I should go. Kathryn's due any day, any minute now really and I should be here."
"I'll stay with her if they call," said Anar. "I've had to deliver a few babies in my time."
"When the council convenes in the morning..." began Chakotay, but he didn't get to finish. Their Trecta com dinged softly. He went over to it and apprehensively hit the button.
"Chakotay here."
"Ah, Chakotay," said the voice of Regult. "I'm glad you're still awake. There's been an incident."
"We've heard. A crash?"
"Yes. I know this will be difficult, with Kathryn's pregnancy and all, but I think it might be important for you to come into town." Chakotay looked at Kathryn, who now seemed concerned. She nodded to him that he should go.
"I can come. Anar's here. She'll keep Kathryn company."
"That was lucky," said Regult. "See you in chambers."
"Lucky," chortled Anar, in her gravely old lady voice. "I like that."
After Chakotay set out for the council meeting, Anar fussed over Kathryn but she found she was too agitated to sleep. Kathryn hoped her friend was over reacting to the new arrivals but somehow she didn't think the elderly lady was the type. She was itching to investigate herself.
"You just calm down," said Anar. "Your husband will tell you everything when he gets home."
"I know," replied Kathryn. "I'm just not the type to sit around when there's a situation."
"I figured as much. Lemme warm this hearth up. That'll help you relax."
"Behind the stone above the mantle, the one with the knob on it, there's the…fire place tool. If you put it on its lowest setting you can use it to heat the rocks. Bring it here. I'll help you with it."
"I got it. I got it," said Anar, pulling the phaser out of the compartment. Fire place tool she snickered to herself, eyeing Kathryn with a knowing smile and shooting the stones until they glowed red again. She turned back to her friend to make sure she was settling down finally but instead, Kathryn has sat up straighter and had both hands on her stomach, eyes wide.
"Anar," she said in an apprehensive tone. "Apparently this one doesn't want to sit around either."
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
As the council walked through the forest toward the crash site, Chakotay hung toward the back of the group just on the edge of the ring of light from the torch Oropun carried. Gerrol and Fidlemere were bickering as usual, and Chakotay could tell Regult was mentally elsewhere, trying to block it out. Chakotay hoped they would get it together before they made contact but he was in no position to give orders. Off to the left among the trees, Chakotay noticed a glint of metal. He peered into the darkness and saw the looming shadow of the crashed ship. The new comers were probably camped in the clearing a little further on. He glanced ahead of him at the rest of his company. They hadn't paid him any heed for a while now. Chakotay waited until the glow of the torch had moved on a few more yards before he slipped off into the woods and lit his Starfleet issue wrist torch.
The closer he got to the ship the more he realized how large it was, nearly the size of Voyager but of no build they'd ever encountered. He began scanning as he walked around its perimeter. He got very few readings but those he did get were ominous. His face grew grim as he began scanning what he assumed was the cargo bay.
"Tic'tau!" a voice called off in the distance.
"Right here, Durah'kett," another voice yelled back, a little too close for Chakotay's comfort. He doused the wrist light and made his way further around the ship in the opposite direction from Tic'tau. Chakotay backed slowly into the trees but stayed close enough to listen as he saw the other alien's shadow approach. He couldn't get a good look at them but they seemed much taller than humans and he could make out two prominent cranial crests silhouetted in the moonlight.
"What are you doing out here?" asked Durah'kett.
"Thought I saw something," replied the other. "Gone now."
"Probably a reflection. This moon is obscenely bright. I've seen eyes reflecting in the trees too. They seem like the tiny-men but won't stay still long enough for me to get a good look."
"The tiny-men!" exclaimed Tic'tau. "But that means we're on…"
"The bug planet," said Durah'kett with disgust. "Of all the bloody haven ports we could crash on it would be this one."
"It's the last place the Amalgam would look for us."
"Maybe but we've got the rendezvous to make. We need to refit the ship so we can get off within a few days. Round up the explosives. We'll start blasting in the morning."
"We could just call Rid'hirick," Tic'tau suggested. "He could always bring us the alloy. I heard the last crew that was stranded here had to dig deep to find any. The supply is running short."
"It will take years for him to steal enough."
"After the last encounter with Tadporian it might do us well to lay low for that long. We might be losing quite a bit of profit on this cargo, but I'd rather do that than be captured by that bloody toad-man. There's an election going on in the Amalgam so he's been hard on the Azhatti as of late."
Durah'kett considered. "Very well. I'll relay a message to Rid'hirick but we still blast…what was that?"
Chakotay heard it too. It was the Trecta coming up on the Azhatti camp. He quickly fell back into the woods to quietly rejoin his group.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
"Where have you been?" asked Gerrol irritably as Chakotay hurried to catch up to the group.
"Nature called," he answered, sheepishly tugging on his ear. "What's going on?"
"Talking to the new comers."
Chakotay and Gerrol walked up to the group. Chakotay stood behind Fidlemere who was glowering at the alien while he spoke. By the leader's voice, Chakotay understood he was finally getting a good look at Durah'kett but his tone was entirely different. The new aliens had grey horned skin and two cranial crests that ran parallel from their brow-ridge to the back of their neck. Their eyes were grey and watery as well, and darted everywhere while they talked. Their appearance was hard as nails, however Durah'kett's voice had changed to silvery tones as he chatted up the Trecta and in spite of his hoary face, his smile was gold.
"Oh, I know about the virus," he said genially. "We've landed here before, though our remedies will unfortunately only work for our species. We'll be fine. Don't you worry. Tomorrow we'll need to move a few clicks to the west..."
"But the town is there," said Oropun. "Whatever you need, I'm sure we can help but..."
"Your town?" Chakotay saw the smile falter for only a nanosecond but came right back. "I'm sure things will all work out. We'll just..."
"I think you've got a fine camp right here," Fidlemere interrupted. "I think you should just stay put for now. No sense in uprooting your crew if you're leaving soon."
Good for you, thought Chakotay. Stand your ground. He leaned in close to Fidlemere and whispered, "Kathryn." Fidlemere grunted quietly and nodded.
"Furthermore," he went on, "our council will have to meet to discuss what aid we are capable of giving you. That might take a few days. One of our council members is indisposed at the moment. Once she's up and around we will be more than happy to discuss things."
"She?" smirked Durah'kett? They had women in their government? That was perfect. It usually meant weakness. "I understand," he replied smiling again. "For now we'll just..."
"For now I think it best you stay put," said Fidlemere firmly. "Our boarder is near the river, just so you know. I realize you've been here before, sir, but things have changed some as they are wont to do."
"Yes," responded Durah'kett. "I see that they have." Fine. He would play their game. It didn't matter. He would get what he wanted. He always did.
=Λ= =Λ= =Λ=
It was late by the time Chakotay walked up the path to his house. The Starfleet wrist torch cut a bright tunnel through the darkness under the trees. He mulled over the events of the night as he walked. The scans he'd taken of the Azhatti cargo bay did not bode well for the Trecta. The newcomers had arrived heavily armed and from what he could tell, the technology was not all from the same source. The Azhatti could be pirates or thieves though Chakotay assumed by the silver tongue of Durah'kett they were probably arms dealers. They seemed to know how to get off the planet as well, though he was apprehensive about just where they were thinking about blasting.
As Chakotay cleared the forest he looked up at the house. Their bedroom light was still on. He hoped Kathryn hadn't waited for him. She needed her rest. Anar would know better than to keep her up. He quickened his pace as he approached the house.