Li Ann was intrigued by all the faces she saw around her. It was as clear as day that the people clustered all around and above her, were humanoids. Upon seeing their unreadable expressions, she believed that their evolutionary patterns clustered with the humanoids in alpha quadrant. As they shifted, she noticed the subtle changes on their skin caused by the sunrays, which were filtering through the wood and leaves. As they talked, she noticed the smooth wavelengths they emitted, matching in serenity the dust swimming in the light. No, their evolutionary patterns resembled more the patterns within Omega-plion. How could she have thought otherwise?
She would have liked to ask questions, oh so many of them. However, she was there with a purpose. Chief Phera was sited across from her and asked all the questions for the benefit of the Council. She had to answered in a way they would understand, as clearly as possible. Li Ann sweated, and her heartbeat became faster. She was a horrendous public speaker and even worse science communicator. She felt that she created even more confusion than helping as she progressed with her talk. Their questions looped back to previous claims, asking to explain again or question a new thread. Sometimes they would ask something forward in the project, which required a long explanation. Usually they had no time to listen to it and interject a thousand new comments. All of them left her confused, upset, angry and drained.
None of the Council members was listening to her anymore. They were rather firing at her questions and comments all at once. She was not trained for public speaking in a setting like this. In panic she looked around the room, till she caught yellow and blue and red among the sea of people.
The Captain must have read her uneasiness, the plea for help on her face, because he sprang on his feet. He was not considered a tall man among the Earthers and he was even smaller among the Tree Flock People. Still, he commanded the room and slowly; it turned silent all the eyes on him
"How do you expect to understand anything, if you do not spend time listening to her? Are your people so set in their own ways? They argue their points before listening to the point it has to be made. What kind of narrow-minded attitude is this?"
All eyes were fixed upon him. His face was glistening with sweat, fire and condemn was written all over his posture. She was relieved that her Captain came to her aid. However, she was horrified of how brutal he could get. Her eyes slid to Mr Spock, his usual expression of silent contemplation and aloofness was there, a fact that calmed her down. He would have been more worried if Captain Kirk was stepping out of his line too much, right?
She could not really tell with Vulcans.
The room was quiet, all the black eyes pointed to Kirk. The room was so silent that a falling pine needle could be heard. Li Ann held her breath. Were they safe? Were they not? By an invisible cue all the eyes turned to the Chief. All expectations were now placed upon the leader of the place, the words uttered next would determine the mood of this summit.
Loud voices reached them. They were accompanied by a lot of moving feet, and clanging weapons. A lot of locals entered the room, in their midst was drugged someone who could not be anything else but a prisoner. Li Ann moved out of the way and managed to get a quick glimpse of the prisoner's face; one of the eyes was red.
Li Ann got pushed towards the side, her talk and all the objections towards her completely forgotten. All the council now fired questions and comments towards the newcomers, none of them was truly audible in the sea of voices. Spock leaned towards Kirk to say something, Kirk frowned but nodded in acknowledgement. The Chief was an island of stillness among all of them. The newcomer's leader separated from the group and kneeled in front of the Chief, a movement which was effective in restoring order in the room.
"What did you bring me, Thera?" The Chief asked in a passionless voice.
"I brought you an attacker".
A lot of loud protests rose, but all were hushed as soon as the Chief raised a hand. It was the Captain who spoke though. "I was led to believe that all of them were apprehended".
"Do you have an answer for Captain Kirk?" The Chief's voice was calmer than the Captain's.
Thera pulled forward the prisoner and forced his face to turn towards the Captain and Mr Spock. "See? The red eyes were caused by contact with your weapon" Thera moved a step towards Kirk. "I am not sure how that attacker left prison. I had made sure that the Royal Guards apprehended and brought all of them to you, my Chief. I am sorry for failing to deliver all of them to justice". Thera bowed deeply.
"I accept the apology". Kirk's expression and tone did not match his words; he seemed to be increasingly annoyed. "I fail to understand why the man was brought here, however".
Thera shot a quick look to the Chief asking for permission. They must have taken it without Li Ann realising it, or maybe, Thera found the carriage within her to go on. After all, it was not as if the Council followed any typical procedures including asking for permission.
"The prisoner tried to abduct one of your men. He had taken custody of Mr Sulu".
"I brought him to you!" This was the first time the prisoner spoke. Someone from Thera's group moved forward and struck the prisoner across the face.
"Morti, enough". Morti stepped back and Thera took the floor again. "The Prisoner brought to me the Enterprise's helmsman; it is true. But I believe it was by accident. He intended to find Captain Kirk and lure him away to a remote location and kill him".
Whispers rose across the room. Most council members seemed to share the same sentiment as she: surprise. Kirk and Spock exchanged a meaningful glance.
"What proof do you have?" Li Ann was surprised that the Captain rose to the man's defence.
"Their intentions of harming you have been clear from the start!" Thera rose her voice, causing Li Ann's bones tremble. "They attacked you, they spoke in prison of hate towards our way of life. They wish to prevent us from fixing our problems, they wish us to lose our beloved trees!"
The shocked voices filled the air, the emotion in their voices caused the whole structure to vibrate. Li Ann's head starting hurting, her bones and muscles as well. She lost her balance and fell to the ground; all sense of orientation was gone with increasing panic.
"I believe it is in my authority to ask when, where and how the prisoner will be judged. Chief Phera's voice cut through the increasing chaos. "We will calm ourselves for the shake of our people and our guests".
Slowly silence came to be in the hall again and Li Ann's sense of orientation came back. The pain was gone, only dizziness and a faint pressure over her body remained. She looked up to find Lt Opal on the floor, next to her. During the upheaval caused by the entry of the guards and their prisoner, she had not realised when the Security officer came close to her.
"Morti," Phera called out for the guard who had hit the prisoner. "Please escort the Starfleet officers to their medical officer".
