Chapter 25

Jon lead Trip...Galen down the hall. "You can use Trip's quarters for the week. I'm sure he won't mind."

Galen tugged a few times at the collar of the uniform he was wearing. "These...clothing. Not very comfortable. I notice these are different from the others. Why is that?"

Jon stopped an ensign that was passing by. He gestured to her uniform. "These are the uniforms we usually wear. They are our daily duty uniforms. A bit more comfortable. Thank you Ensign. Carry on." She nodded and walked away. Jon gestured to the uniforms that the two of them were wearing. "These are what we call dress uniforms. We wear them for special occasions. You're right. They're not very comfortable. They're made to look good, but that's about it."

They started walking again. "Special occasion? You dawned these garments for us?"

Jon chuckled. "I hope I don't insult you but the truth is no. When you revealed yourself to us we were...engaged in a special celebration." He opened the door to Trip's quarters, being sure that Galen was aware of how to open the door for himself.

"Oh. I apologize for disrupting your celebration. Tell me. What event was it?"

"A wedding."

"Wedding? What is...wedding?"

"Uh...when two people, who care about each other, come together to...how to put this? Come together to share their lives with one another. Making a commitment to each other...because they love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together."

Galen thought for a moment then shot his brows up. "Ah! A Timka'sork't. A union ritual of mates."

"Yeah. I guess that sounds right." Jon pulled out one of Trip's duty uniforms for Galen to change into.

"Who are the mated that have vowed themselves?"

"Uh...Trip...and myself."

Galen crinkled his brows. "Are you not male gender?"

"Yes. I am." Jon felt a little uneasy as to where this conversation was going.

"And this body? This is not male gender?"

"Yes. Trip is also male."

"Is this how your species procreates? Two of the same gender?"

"No. With humans it takes a male and female to...um...procreate."

"Then this is some ritual to commit to your leader...you?"

Jon smiled and shook his head. "No. Trip and I love each other. We want to share our lives together. Uh...among our species, majority of the time males and females are attracted to one another, but there is a percentage of us that are attracted to those of the same gender, and another percentage that are attracted to both genders. Trip and I fall into the latter percentage."

"Oh...you are ca'hnnca'ntdouulah."

"I'm sorry...I don't understand."

That is our word for what you describe. One who is sexually attracted to those of both genders. When we were corporeal, we had those among us. What is your word for it?"

"Bisexual."

"Bisexual...much easier to speak."

"Yes. I would have to agree." Jon chuckled.

"And your species condones this?"

"Well...at one time no. But we have evolved and have learned to accept people for their sexuality. What about your people?"

"It saddens me to admit...before the time of our enlightenment, it was not condoned. Those who were as you and your Trip are...were put to death."

Jon's heart began to pound and he started to panic for Trip's safety. Galen seemed to sense Jon's concern and quickly amended himself. "You do not need to fear for your Trip. Those of us who evolved beyond our corporeal beings were able to do so through enlightenment. That includes acceptance. Your Trip will be safe." He inclined his head to Jon. "Your Trip? He said his...name is Charles Tucker. Why do you call him by this other?"

"It's a nickname. Uh...something friends and family call him."

"Why?"

"Uh...that might take some explaining. We have an entire week for all this. Why don't you change clothes, put on something more comfortable, I'll show you around the ship and I'll tell you about his nickname along the way."

Galen looked down at his clothes, then looked at the clothes Jon laid out on the bed. He gave Jon a questioning look.

"You don't know how. Do you?"

"I remember clothing when I was in your form...but they were not like these. I am sorry."

Jon helped Galen change clothes, showing him how buttons and zippers worked. Then took him for a tour of the ship, explaining along the way of Trip's nickname. During the tour Jon had made an observation. "It's funny hearing a different voice coming from Trip."

"I do not understand Captain. It is still his body. How is the voice different?"

"Trip has an accent that's gone now, it just seems a little strange to me, that's all."

"Accent?"

"The way he speaks and pronounces his words. For example, when you speak you say "Captain". Trip's accent clips the word into "Cap'n", and the way you pronounce the word "you" while Trip's pronunciation would sometimes be "yer" and sometimes "ya" depending on the phrasing. It's no big deal really."

"If you allow me to hear a recording of his voice, I can try to approximate his accent."

Jon chuckled and shook his head. "No, really it's alright." They ended in sickbay. "It's just standard procedure, Galen."

"Yes. I understand. You wish to ensure that no damage is being done to your Trip's body."

"I'm glad you understand. This is Phlox, our doctor. He will perform the exam."

"Hello Galen. I can assure you that this won't hurt a bit." Phlox smiled at him.

"You are different from the others."

"That is correct. My species is called Denobulan."

"Yes. We have observed your species before. You are not worthy."

"Oh? I hadn't realized that Denobulans had ever been to this nebula...Nexus as you call it. And why are we not considered as worthy? Hmm?"

"It was over, what you call, one hundred years. You are war people."

"My people were involved in a war around that time, but it's been over since I was even born."

"Hmm...perhaps. You...Denobulans are evolved now? Now in peace?"

"That's correct." Phlox scanned Galen as they had been talking. "Hmm. This is odd." He narrowed his eyes at the scanner. "I'm sorry Galen, but I'm going to have to ask you to remove your pants so that I can take a look at something."

"Something wrong?" Jon asked.

"I'm not sure. Galen, if you wouldn't mind."

Galen dropped his pants and Phlox turned him around looking under the boxers as Jon moan. Jon hadn't thought of that.

Phlox started laughing. "The Commander has an Enterprise tattoo on his buttock? This wasn't here on my last physical."

"Yeah...ok Phlox. I got one too. Seems Admiral Takei is quite the artist...not to mention a prankster. He did this to both of us at our bachelor parties."

"I can remove them from both of you...if you'd like. Hmmm?"

"Uh...we'll see." Jon wasn't about to tell Phlox how much Trip enjoyed the view of Enterprise on the strategic location of his body, especially how much he enjoyed Trip enjoying it.

"Is this something dangerous? Should I be concerned for my individual or the Nexus?" Galen asked worried that "tattoo" might be a word for some sort of disease.

"No. A tattoo is a permanent drawing in the skin. It's nothing dangerous." Phlox set his mind at ease. "Other than the tattoo, Commander Tucker's body is healthy and there are no adverse side effects to Galen's presence, as are the others."