Disclaimer: Still don't own any Starfleet characters (they belong to Paramount), but all Adili and Salindais characters are mine. Some people that you may not remember are included in this story. Novakovich, Cunningham, Hutchinson, Baird, and Tanner do not belong to me. Nor do I own the Akaali. Remember them from Season 1, "Civilization"? Yep, those are the Akaali. Chef does not belong to me, either, but since he has absolutely no character development, his personality and appearance is my own creation.

Note: 'MSS' stands for 'Military Salindais Ship'. Also, I think now would be a good time to tell y'all how to pronounce some of these names.

Salinda: Sa-linda

Salindais: Sa-lin-day

Retula: Reh-toul-ah

Geido: Geye-doe

Bynaul: Bih-nall

Satyle: Sa-teal

Adili: Ah-deal-ee

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Colonel Geido looked up as the port door that separated the two ships opened, revealing a golden haired human with sky blue eyes with a dark haired, stiff-backed man. The golden haired-man held out his hand with a small smile. His eyes darted about the Colonel, as all alien species do upon first contact, stopping a moment on the tattoo of script and fanciful flames that ran around his neck, matching his eye colour of a light red.

"I'm Commander Charles Tucker, and this is Lieutenant Reed, tactical officer." He said, pointing the other man out to him. They shook hands as well; their opposite coloured skins were a contrast.

"As you know, I'm Colonel Geido of the MSS Satyle, and this is Counsellor Bynaul." He gestured to his son, a slim young man who was in his late teenage years. Dark red hair was a tangle of flames on his scalp.

"Shall we?" Tucker said, gesturing with his hand down the corridor. Geido nodded and the four headed off towards the Captain's ready-room. "So, tell us more about your people." Tucker said with a curious smile.

"Of course, Commander. We, the Adili, are a military sector of Salinda. We patrol the system and protect Salinda from dangerous species, war, danger, crime, or anything else that threatens our people. We are a peaceful people, and sometimes learning from our mistakes doesn't help anyone. So, the Adili were created for the reasons stated." Geido explained.

"What does the word 'Adili' mean?" Lieutenant Reed asked.

"The basic translation is 'spider', but among the different tongues of the Salindais, it can translate as 'snow spider' or 'eight-legged'." Bynaul put in.

"So that's why your ship is shaped like a spider." Tucker concluded.

Geido chuckled. "Yes, it was a clever idea to shape our ships that way." He paused for a moment, contemplating the fact.

"So, why were the Salindais getting attacked?" Lieutenant Reed questioned.

"Alien species took advantage of our hospitality. They would steal from us, kidnap, even murder people sometimes. We had to put an end to it." He shook his head regretfully. "Enough of this gloomy talk", he added, just as they entered the bridge. A young, dark-skinned man turned around in the Captain's chair to face them.

"Colonel Geido, Counsellor Bynaul; Ensign Mayweather, our helmsman." Tucker said, introducing them.

"Pleasure." Mayweather said, smiling.

"Likewise." Geido replied with a small dip of his head. Bynaul gave the young Ensign a friendly smile, which was returned.

"This way." Tucker said, going into a small room off to the side of the bridge. The other three men followed.

"Counsellor," Geido said to his son, in a tone that told him all he needed to know.

Lieutenant Reed caught on, and hesitated only a moment before saying "Permission to return to my post, Commander." Tucker nodded, and he and the Colonel disappeared into the tiny room.

- - -

Tucker sat down on the chair behind a metal desk, casting a quick glance at the stars out the window. Geido sat down on the chair his side of the desk.

"Enough questions for me." Geido said before Tucker had the chance to open his mouth. "I must ask you some."

"Of course." Tucker said in agreement.

"I ask again, what is your business in this system?" Geido had asked the same thing when they had detected the Earth ship heading for the Salinda system.

"We're explorers. Our mission is to make contact with alien species, see what other races we share the galaxy with. I assure you, we are not a threat." Even with Tucker's assurance, Geido didn't seem 100 assured by his accented words.

"What was the first alien race your people made contact with, and when?" Tucker seemed, for a moment, confused by the question.

"The Vulcans made first contact with us in 2063, after the first warp flight into space. Why do you ask?"

"First contact can greatly affect the way a race views the rest of the galaxy. If you had made first contact with Klingons, for example, you would probably be wandering around with weapons armed and ready all the time." Geido explained.

Tucker chuckled. "That is probably true."

At that moment, the door chime suddenly chirped.

"Come in." Tucker called, and to his surprise, Chef stepped inside, fully dressed in his cooking clothes and apron. "Chef?" He said in disbelief.

Chef paused a moment, glancing at the black-skinned alien and giving him a nervous smile. He turned to Tucker, and his smile was filled with confidence and determination. "Oh, not to worry, Crewman Cunningham has taken my place in the Mess Hall for a moment. Erm, I have a request, Commander." He said, smoothing his apron down in a fit of nervousness.

"What do you need?" The look on Tucker's face switched from shock to amusement.

"I would like permission to go down to Salinda." He blurted.

"Why?" Geido demanded before Chef could finish.

Chef glanced at him, his eyes a definition of tense. He looked back at Commander Tucker before answering. "I would like to try some alien cuisine, for once. Every time we make first contact, it's always about diplomacy and 'are these aliens hostile?' and 'can I understand your language?'." He said, speaking the quotes in a semi-mocking voice. "I never get the chance to explore alien food!"

Geido smiled and chuckled at Chef's situation. Tucker shared his smile.

"Of course, Chef. The Captain's party comes back in an hour. Another party will be going down three hours after that. You're welcome to go along." Tucker was most definitely amused.

Chef's round face brightened and his eyes seemed to glow. His hands stopped smoothing down his apron. "Thank you! Sir. I couldn't be more grateful!" Patting Geido on the shoulder, the jolly man wandered out onto the bridge.

There was a short pause before either of them spoke. Finally, Geido spoke up. "Your landing parties are interestingly spaced."

Grin barely fading, Tucker answered "It gives us time to review what we learn from the first landing party. This means that the second landing party will have an idea of Salinda custom, which will make it easier to learn more."

Geido nodded suspiciously. "What do you hope for the future of exploration?"

Tucker had to think about this one before answering. "I hope that Earth will make some valuable friends and allies, and that we are more aware of how the galaxy works."

"You are a true explorer, Commander." Geido complimented.

- - -

Malcolm relieved Ensign Tanner from tactical and sat down. He kept a suspicious eye on the alien counsellor as he looked at the people manning the bridge, who returned his stare. Travis got up from the Captain's chair and relieved Ensign Hutchinson as he took his place at the Helm.

"Nice tattoo." Crewman Novakovich said, who was manning the science station.

Counsellor Bynaul looked down at the tattoo on his neck. It was a large, fancy ring of Salindais script and what appeared to be fire. It matched the colour of his eyes perfectly: a soft, pale yellow. Bynaul's white pupils dilated slightly.

"Thank you." He answered. "The Salindais people get it after they complete Universal schooling. Males have script and flames, while females have script and flowers."

"Universal schooling?" Crewman Baird asked. He was filling in for Hoshi at Communications.

"After primary schooling, children have the choice of receiving secondary schooling or Universal schooling. In Universal schooling, children learn about the galaxy, alien species, how to work a ship, make good command choices, and so on. It's schooling for those who do not wish to remain on Salinda all their lives." Bynaul explained. "I haven't quite finished Universal schooling myself. I graduated, but I want to go back to learn more, as I don't want to remain my father's counsellor forever."

"Colonel Geido is your father?" Travis asked, and Bynaul nodded.

Malcolm found that hard to believe. Colonel Geido's hair was as brown as Travis's skin, with streaks of grey here and there. Bynaul's hair was a shock of deep red. Bynaul was also much slimmer than Geido, and taller. Bynaul could almost be father to Geido. Appearance-wise, anyway.

"And he made you his counsellor?" Novakovich asked in disbelief.

Malcolm sent him a look that told him not to get too carried away.

Bynaul smiled and leaned against the science station. "Lots of people think it strange that my father would pick me as his counsellor, but I'm fresh from Universal schooling. He thinks that young minds think clearest, and are not clouded by the affairs of adults. When I was younger, I always surprised him by giving a clear, obvious solution to his problems. Adults always make their problems more complex than they need to be." He let out a chuckle before adding "No offence." Travis chuckled, and Novakovich and Baird smiled.

Malcolm had no debate for that. Children with obvious answers were often more valuable then experienced adults when it came to decision making. Sometimes a child's innocence was just as powerful as an elder's wisdom. But bringing a teenage kid along to advise you when making first contact? He wasn't sure he was ready to try it.

At that moment, Chef came in through the turbolift, dressed fully in his cooking clothing, including his food-stained apron.

"Chef?" Malcolm asked disbelievingly.

Counsellor Bynaul turned at the sound of the lift door opening, and met Chef's curious eyes.

"Oh, my…." Chef said upon seeing the alien. "If you ever get hungry, sir, just stop by the Mess Hall and try some Earth foods."

Bynaul grinned at him. "Thank you for the offer. Maybe I will sometime."

Chef bobbed his head happily.

"What can I do for you, Chef?" Malcolm asked.

Chef smoothed his apron down, seemingly unaware of his doing so. "I wish to speak with Commander Tucker."

"Commander Tucker is speaking with Colonel Geido. Perhaps when he is finished, you can talk with him."

Chef did not look pleased. "I wish to speak with him immediately. Please. Sir." He wrung his hands together nervously.

Malcolm raised an eyebrow curiously. Bynaul, Travis, Novakovich and Baird watched them the same way Archer watched water polo.

"I wish to join the next landing party that goes down, Sir. I seek Commander Tucker's permission." Chef blurted slowly.

Malcolm grinned. This was probably the boldest thing Chef has ever done. Debating with himself for a moment, he finally nodded. "Commander Tucker is in the Captain's ready-room." He leaned back in his chair and watched as Chef pressed the door chime, then disappeared inside.

"What can a cook do on a first-contact away mission?" Baird asked.

"Perhaps he wishes to learn about Salinda foods?" Bynaul pointed out.

"That seems reasonable." Travis replied.

Bynaul seemed confused. "Has he never before explored alien cuisine?"

The officers and crewmen glanced at each other. "Not to my knowledge." Malcolm answered.

Bynaul gave a single shake of his head in disbelief. "Does your seamstress not get the chance to explore alien clothing?" He said rhetorically.

That wasn't entirely true, Malcolm knew. The quartermaster provided clothes when they made an undercover first contact. Hoshi looked charming in the clothes the quartermaster made for when the away team visited the Akaali people. Though he supposed making clothes when all you have is a few images and a Vulcan database for a guide wasn't quite as much fun as learning first hand by the alien who wears the actual clothes.

"Interesting point you make." He said finally. "I may pass it on to the Captain." He knew that he certainly would want to make alien contact to learn about the alien's viewpoint of his career. That is, if he were something other than tactical officer.

Glancing at his shipmates, he could see that they were all deep in thought, too. Except Travis seemed to have a negative expression on his face. Malcolm supposed that there wasn't much difference between the human way of piloting and an alien's way. Science and linguistics, on the other hand, were two important parts of alien contact. And weapons were, too… sometimes.

Bynaul nodded and looked as if he had won half a million bucks. He should, too, for meeting and affecting aliens so quickly.

"So, how long have you been Colonel Geido's counsellor?" Novakovich asked, ending the moment of silence.

"Two Salinda years, now. He hired me when I was 16 years old."

Baird whistled. Malcolm could see why. If he had a counsellor, he certainly wouldn't want him to have raging teenage hormones. "16!" He said doubtfully.

Bynaul gave him a confused look. "It may be odd from your point of view, but not mine. Salindais mature at a young age. There is most likely a difference between the ways our two cultures age." Malcolm nodded.

"If you already graduated from Universal schooling," Travis said thoughtfully, "wouldn't that mean that children start primary schooling when they're very young?"

"Children start primary schooling when they're two Salinda years old, and start secondary or Universal schooling when they're ten." The alien counsellor explained.

Malcolm could hardly believe it. Salindais children must mature incredibly fast.

Suddenly Chef hopped out of the ready room, a big grin painted on his face.

"Did you get permission?" Baird asked, mirroring the cook's grin.

"Oh, I got permission!" Chef was nearly bouncing off the walls. He pranced gleefully into the turbolift and disappeared.

Something on Travis's console began to beep. Pressing a few buttons, he figured out what was happening. "There's a ship on sensors… the shuttle is coming back."

"They're requesting permission to come aboard." Baird said as his console began to beep as well.

"Granted." Malcolm responded. "Open the launch bay doors when ready."

"Aye."

Counsellor Bynaul seemed to be enjoying watching the Humans run the ship. He looked at each man as events presented themselves, watched the screens at the stations from where he still leaned against the science station.

Malcolm pushed the comm. panel on the top corner of his station. "Bridge to Commander Tucker."

There was a slight pause. "Tucker here."

"The Captain's landing party is arriving."

"Acknowledged. Out." Tucker ended the conversation and soon came out of the ready room, followed by Colonel Geido.

"Counsellor, you're with us." Colonel Geido told his son. He nodded, and the three men disappeared into the turbolift.

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Here ends chapter two! Please review!