"Sono" Part Two
Disclaimers in part one.

The entrance to the hogan was set low and hung with a leather covering. Malcolm pulled it aside and ducked inside. Hoshi dipped her head a few inches, while Malcolm had bent his head down completely. Malcolm gave her a wry smile and Hoshi let slip a wicked chuckle.

Inside, it was warm with the humid closeness of a hundred people gathered close together. The heady smell of alcohol and something else, meat roasted over a fire, Malcolm realized, strong and spicy, hit them the moment they entered.

They picked their way through the assembled party lounging in comfort on cushions. Two children ran past them, screeching with laughter.

Hoshi touched his arm and when he turned to look at her she nodded to the right and he followed it to see a little girl and her father sharing an intricate string figure. The father picked a string and the lattice collapsed into a mess of knots.

The little girl laughed and said a few words that Malcolm couldn't pick up. The father replied with composure, picking the knots loose. Hoshi said, "She just said she's better than he is and he said it's because her mother never lets him play."

They shared a smile.

"Commander."

They both turned their heads to see Archer seated beside the Regent.

Archer said, "Sit down, Malcolm, Hoshi."

Regent Tolias echoed the sentiment, motioning to a spot on the other side of him.

Hoshi and Malcolm both inclined their heads, careful not to meet the eyes of the Regent. They touched a hand to their right shoulder and extended it toward the Regent, who reached out to touch their fingertips, in turn.

Hoshi sat down and tucked her legs beside her, reclining back on the large plush cushion she pulled towards her. Malcolm sat down beside her, bringing one knee to his chest and extending one leg out, an arm draped across the upright knee.

Hoshi looked around, making no effort to disguise her delight. Her face was alight with joy, undisguised and beautiful to behold.

Malcolm leaned closer to her and whispered, his mouth close to her ear, "Amazing to think they have warp technology, isn't it?"

She turned her head toward him, unfazed by his closeness. "Yes," she admitted, "they live so simply."

T'Pol had called the Epa-in a peaceful people, with her characteristic flair for understatement. Her next statement made it clear that the Vulcans considered the Epa-in one of the more 'enlightened' they had contacted.

When they had contacted Enterprise, the small ship had expressed their delight at encountering a race that resembled them so closely in facial features, and even more delighted to find that humans, unlike Vulcans, were more inclined to express their emotions.

Regent Tolias, aboard the Ecowun, fascinated by the information concerning Earth, had invited the crew of Enterprise to visit his homeworld.

Captain Jonathan Archer had been more than pleased to take him up on the offer, considering that it gave his crew a chance to take some much needed shore leave, as well as a chance to build a relationship with the Epa-in. A win-win situation. An opportunity too good to pass up.

When Captain Archer had introduced his bridge crew to the Regent, explaining each of their functions aboard his ship, a smile of comprehension brightened the Regent's painted face.

He'd said, "So he" and he nodded past Archer at Reed, "is the u-ardan of your ship and she" his gaze moved across the bridge to settle on Hoshi, "is your sey-na."

Archer looked quizzically at Hoshi, hoping she had a translation for those words. She shrugged and Archer looked back to the viewscreen as Regent Tolias continued, "And you, Archer, are the Regent."

Archer had let loose a gust of amused laughter, and said, "I'm just a Captain, Regent, nothing more."

"Nonetheless." The crew watched as Regent Tolias touched his hand to his right shoulder and then extended the hand towards them. He said, "Come. Visit us, you, your u-ardan and your sey-na. Until we touch."

And with that they had cut communications. Archer had looked at the view-screen with eyebrows raised, making no effort to hide his astonishment, and then turned his gaze on T'Pol.

T'Pol offered, "He has acknowledged you as an equal, Captain. It would be rude to decline his offer."

Archer smiled and looked around at his people. "Looks like we have a visit to make."

So they were here, Archer, Reed, and Sato, invited to spend their time with the Regent. This feast was a welcome for the Regent and for Captain Archer. A means of establishing a peaceful ground for future talks and of more importance to both crews, a rest from the grind of space travel.

Malcolm wasn't immune to the effects of what Hoshi had described. There was peace in this compound of the Regent's. He could feel it, the contentment of people who had come to terms with who they were, where they were going, what their purpose was. They did live like a primitive culture, but he'd seen the evidence of technology that was equal to Earth's. Somehow though, the Epa-in hadn't let it overrun their lives.

Hoshi said, "I stayed once, at a settlement in New Mexico. This reminds me of it."

Malcolm nodded. The Epa-in were very like the Native Americans, some of whom had never adapted new technologies. The similarities were striking--the ceremonial paint, this residence they were now in, the tribal closeness. It was an inviting, almost seducing atmosphere. To live like this would be a refreshing change of pace.

But not for long. Not when there were other cultures, other planets, others like the Epa-in out among the stars.

Hoshi had lapsed into silence again, and was watching the others around her. Her face was at rest now, contemplative, motionless. In that moment Malcolm could see that same sadness he always saw, as if she were weighed down by something, but it was gone seconds later.

He blinked at the bright smile that now graced her face and wondered if he had even seen that momentary melancholy. She said, "Food's here."

He looked away from her to see that several Epa-in had come in, bearing wooden trays heaped with meat, fruit, and bread, followed by others that carried wineskins. They all knelt in front of the Regent; those that had gathered around him moving aside to clear space on the ground.

Both Malcolm and Hoshi watched as the servers made the gesture of respect, avoiding the eyes of their leader, then settled back among the rest of the gathered court. A hush had fallen across the crowd and the Regent nodded to the young man beside him, the man whom he had introduced as his u-ardan, and this time the UT translated it as 'bearer'.

He was clothed in grey, black marks like tears from his eyes to his jaw-line and a line of black dots across his forehead. He stood and gathered food upon an empty wooden plate, bringing it to the Regent and kneeling in front of him.

All eyes locked on him. The quiet was the all-pervading hush of held breath. The u-ardan ate a little of each dish and then sat still. No one moved.

Malcolm felt Hoshi jump beside him when the u-ardan clapped his hands, the sound echoing. He then stood, leaving the plate in front of the Regent, who took it and began to eat.

The crowd erupted into chatter again. Malcolm heard Captain Archer ask Tolias, "Why not just scan your food? I know you have the technology to do so."

Tolias answered, "We do and we use it, but this is the way that it is done. Take food, Archer."

Hoshi murmured, "Much more impressive than saying grace."

Her dry tone startled a shout of laughter from Malcolm.