Chapter ten
Disclaimer: Nope not mine Lt. Kerasus, linguistics expert courtesy of Diane Duane.
"How long have you been on Gamma delta I?" asked McCoy as he walked round Súimúil, his medical scanner whirring.
"50.5 of your years" answered Súimúil smoothly, though he glowed between colours, puzzled at the questions and wondering why his mother had permitted the strangers to run all these tests on them. He decided that it was one more thing that he would ask his mother once the doctor had finished with him, she would, no doubt, understand far better then him.
"How do you reproduce? Do you reproduce?" McCoy's voice broke into Súimúil's reverie.
While Súimúil understood the question to a certain extent, he wasn't sure exactly how to explain, it was really too complicated for a simple answer. It was not merely a case of biology but physics. He therefore decided that his mother should deal with this question, a fact he explained to Doctor McCoy.
Accepting the Yotkings explanation such as it was Dr. McCoy continued his tests and questions " Are there any significant differences between the male and female of your species?" Súimúil noted that this question seemed to cause some embarrassment in the doctor and puzzled Súimúil was about to ask a question of his own when Costiar cheerfully came through the door accompanied by Chekov. Costiar chimed something cheerfully then introduced Chekov to Súimúil,
"Súimúil, we have been invited to join several of the crew members in a game called poker", said Costiar before pausing looking puzzled as she realised that she had no idea what poker was and what it involved. She said as much to Súimúil. "But how can we play if we don't know the rules" her voice puzzled. McCoy quickly took over "that's all right I'll show you. Come one Mr. Chekov. We are going to have to teach our guests how to play poker". McCoy pulled some chairs over to a table and motioned for the Yotking and Chekov to join him.
"I'd say sit down, make yourself comfortable but I'm not sure if you need to" was the next thing McCoy said as they joined them. "Sometimes, we need rest but not at the moment" was Súimúil's reply.
Several hours later, Costiar was still completely puzzled about the game and she said as much, "Shouldn't I have won that?" she asked as McCoy won another game.
"Maybe we should leave it there for now, you have done very well. Would you be so kind as to allow me to run some tests on you? I promise they won't hurt," asked McCoy as he gathered up the cards. "Very well"
" I have been unable to discern any physical difference between the male and female forms of their species. We only know that Séizig and Costiar are female because they identified themselves as such. In fact" continued McCoy as he looked round at the faces assembled at the briefing, "I haven't been able to discern anything at all".
"There were certain discrepancies in Séizig's explanations though I suspect that this is due more to the limitations of both our language and understanding then any attempt on the Yotkings behalf to deceive us. I believe that a lot of their concepts have no equivalent in our language" Stated Spock.
"I believe that everything about them is impossible to explain", said McCoy.
"They seem friendly," said Scotty, sort of hesitantly. "Yes but not too friendly, like our friends the Thrumz. Hmmm ", he turned to Lt. Kerasus and asked, "lt., your department has been analysing the Yotkings language?" Lt. Kerasus nodded in the affirmative. "Have you found any similarities between the Yotking and Thrumz languages?" asked Captain Kirk. "There are certain similarities though the Thrumz language doesn't rely as much on a particular tone to distinguish between certain words but then the Thrumz are basically humanoid whereas the Yotking......." and here Lt. Kerasus trailed off before finishing " obviously, we need more time and a more advanced or complex translator algorithm to translate the Yotking language more thoroughly".
"Spock, do you think it likely that the Yotking once were associated with the Thrumz? Or maybe they have an alliance and they cooperated in the attack on both colonies. Remember what Séizig said to us when they contacted us, she knew about the attack," asked Kirk as the wheels in his head whirred trying to figure out where exactly things stood.
"That is one of many possible scenarios. However, captain, I believe that the Yotking may be telepathic" answered Spock, " which would explain how they knew what had happened and how quickly they have learnt our language".
"Very well, I think we should.......... Beeeeeeeep The sound of the intercom interrupted whatever Captain Kirk had been about to say. On answering it, Lt. Buckley's voice was heard summoning the Captain to the Bridge. They had arrived at Alpha Delta VI.
Kirk had thought the devastation on Gamma Delta IV, well had been devastating but that had not prepared him for this. Nothing, he thought grimly, could prepare anyone for this. Gamma Delta IV had had a small sparse population with a scattering of settlements. In comparison, Alpha Delta VI had had a higher population who had settled in one area. He sincerely hoped that they could stop the mysterious attackers before they had a chance to attack another colony. The efficiency of this attack made him fear the results show they choose an even more populated colony and without the knowledge of whom, it would be impossible to prevent more attacks without interrupting innocent space travelers going about their business. Shaking his head, Captain Kirk returned his attention to his companions, Séizig, Súimúil and Costiar stood next to him at their own bequest. They had offered their services to help the Enterprise finds survivors. Suddenly, Súimúil said that she sensed something. Running to a spot where a building was once situated, Kirk gaped in astonishment as the debris covering the ground rose and went to a nearby hillock. He watched Súimúil lift a terrified child out of the earth. He saw the colour of anger war with the warm peach of comfort. All of Súimúils energy seemed to surround the child.
"He's the only survivor, Captain", said Costiar quietly from his side.
"Are you sure?" he asked just as quietly.
"Quite sure" was Séizigs answer, " myself and Costiar will see to the damage here while you and your people tend to the child".
""No, Séizig", said Captain Kirk with sudden strength, "I think we need to have a discussion. I think that you have answers regarding what happened here and I think many of us here would like them now" As he finished, he saw anger resurface in Súimúil but he obeyed his mothers instructions to remain still. "We are going back to the ship".
"Kirk to Enterprise" said Kirk to his communicator," five to beam up".
Disclaimer: Nope not mine Lt. Kerasus, linguistics expert courtesy of Diane Duane.
"How long have you been on Gamma delta I?" asked McCoy as he walked round Súimúil, his medical scanner whirring.
"50.5 of your years" answered Súimúil smoothly, though he glowed between colours, puzzled at the questions and wondering why his mother had permitted the strangers to run all these tests on them. He decided that it was one more thing that he would ask his mother once the doctor had finished with him, she would, no doubt, understand far better then him.
"How do you reproduce? Do you reproduce?" McCoy's voice broke into Súimúil's reverie.
While Súimúil understood the question to a certain extent, he wasn't sure exactly how to explain, it was really too complicated for a simple answer. It was not merely a case of biology but physics. He therefore decided that his mother should deal with this question, a fact he explained to Doctor McCoy.
Accepting the Yotkings explanation such as it was Dr. McCoy continued his tests and questions " Are there any significant differences between the male and female of your species?" Súimúil noted that this question seemed to cause some embarrassment in the doctor and puzzled Súimúil was about to ask a question of his own when Costiar cheerfully came through the door accompanied by Chekov. Costiar chimed something cheerfully then introduced Chekov to Súimúil,
"Súimúil, we have been invited to join several of the crew members in a game called poker", said Costiar before pausing looking puzzled as she realised that she had no idea what poker was and what it involved. She said as much to Súimúil. "But how can we play if we don't know the rules" her voice puzzled. McCoy quickly took over "that's all right I'll show you. Come one Mr. Chekov. We are going to have to teach our guests how to play poker". McCoy pulled some chairs over to a table and motioned for the Yotking and Chekov to join him.
"I'd say sit down, make yourself comfortable but I'm not sure if you need to" was the next thing McCoy said as they joined them. "Sometimes, we need rest but not at the moment" was Súimúil's reply.
Several hours later, Costiar was still completely puzzled about the game and she said as much, "Shouldn't I have won that?" she asked as McCoy won another game.
"Maybe we should leave it there for now, you have done very well. Would you be so kind as to allow me to run some tests on you? I promise they won't hurt," asked McCoy as he gathered up the cards. "Very well"
" I have been unable to discern any physical difference between the male and female forms of their species. We only know that Séizig and Costiar are female because they identified themselves as such. In fact" continued McCoy as he looked round at the faces assembled at the briefing, "I haven't been able to discern anything at all".
"There were certain discrepancies in Séizig's explanations though I suspect that this is due more to the limitations of both our language and understanding then any attempt on the Yotkings behalf to deceive us. I believe that a lot of their concepts have no equivalent in our language" Stated Spock.
"I believe that everything about them is impossible to explain", said McCoy.
"They seem friendly," said Scotty, sort of hesitantly. "Yes but not too friendly, like our friends the Thrumz. Hmmm ", he turned to Lt. Kerasus and asked, "lt., your department has been analysing the Yotkings language?" Lt. Kerasus nodded in the affirmative. "Have you found any similarities between the Yotking and Thrumz languages?" asked Captain Kirk. "There are certain similarities though the Thrumz language doesn't rely as much on a particular tone to distinguish between certain words but then the Thrumz are basically humanoid whereas the Yotking......." and here Lt. Kerasus trailed off before finishing " obviously, we need more time and a more advanced or complex translator algorithm to translate the Yotking language more thoroughly".
"Spock, do you think it likely that the Yotking once were associated with the Thrumz? Or maybe they have an alliance and they cooperated in the attack on both colonies. Remember what Séizig said to us when they contacted us, she knew about the attack," asked Kirk as the wheels in his head whirred trying to figure out where exactly things stood.
"That is one of many possible scenarios. However, captain, I believe that the Yotking may be telepathic" answered Spock, " which would explain how they knew what had happened and how quickly they have learnt our language".
"Very well, I think we should.......... Beeeeeeeep The sound of the intercom interrupted whatever Captain Kirk had been about to say. On answering it, Lt. Buckley's voice was heard summoning the Captain to the Bridge. They had arrived at Alpha Delta VI.
Kirk had thought the devastation on Gamma Delta IV, well had been devastating but that had not prepared him for this. Nothing, he thought grimly, could prepare anyone for this. Gamma Delta IV had had a small sparse population with a scattering of settlements. In comparison, Alpha Delta VI had had a higher population who had settled in one area. He sincerely hoped that they could stop the mysterious attackers before they had a chance to attack another colony. The efficiency of this attack made him fear the results show they choose an even more populated colony and without the knowledge of whom, it would be impossible to prevent more attacks without interrupting innocent space travelers going about their business. Shaking his head, Captain Kirk returned his attention to his companions, Séizig, Súimúil and Costiar stood next to him at their own bequest. They had offered their services to help the Enterprise finds survivors. Suddenly, Súimúil said that she sensed something. Running to a spot where a building was once situated, Kirk gaped in astonishment as the debris covering the ground rose and went to a nearby hillock. He watched Súimúil lift a terrified child out of the earth. He saw the colour of anger war with the warm peach of comfort. All of Súimúils energy seemed to surround the child.
"He's the only survivor, Captain", said Costiar quietly from his side.
"Are you sure?" he asked just as quietly.
"Quite sure" was Séizigs answer, " myself and Costiar will see to the damage here while you and your people tend to the child".
""No, Séizig", said Captain Kirk with sudden strength, "I think we need to have a discussion. I think that you have answers regarding what happened here and I think many of us here would like them now" As he finished, he saw anger resurface in Súimúil but he obeyed his mothers instructions to remain still. "We are going back to the ship".
"Kirk to Enterprise" said Kirk to his communicator," five to beam up".