Chapter Two
Surface Trek
"They're human, all right." Seamus whispered to the man next to him.
"Oh, yeah." Trip agreed emphatically, looking over the twenty one people gathered before them. There was certainly no doubt about the humanity of the women.
"Who are you, strangers?" The leader of the group, a human male some six feet tall, his nearly shoulder length black hair blowing in the breeze, asked. He was not a particularly tall man compared to the others or to Trip and Seamus, but he was dressed much more finely than his dozen fellows who ranged behind him in a loose knot. He was certainly dressed better than the eight women who stood among them, wearing not a thing at all to cover their clearly very human bodies.
What the men wore favored more the darker colors, and though the designs were unusual they were all synthetic weaves. The clothing the men wore ran mostly to what would otherwise be described as 'hiking clothes'. They were not armed, save with the short clubs that the Away team had already become far too well acquainted with.
"Traders, come a long way to seek certain technical supplies." Tucker answered, sticking to the original story they had concocted. It had served them as well as any, explaining their eventual need for the advanced or refined materials they must acquire.
"You are not from this world." The man did not even bat an eye as he gave this unexpected pronouncement.
"No." Tucker agreed, taken aback but not about to insult this person's intelligence with a devious story. Just a look at the clothing they wore, and the highly unusual women with them, an Asian and a golden skinned Auran, was enough to make it obvious. "We come from many diverse worlds." He admitted cautiously. "You know of space travelers?"
"Off-worlders come to trade with us. The Orions come often. The Ferengi have been here frequently. Others have as well."
How sad it was that the term 'Orion' meant nothing to the Enterprise crew, and that during the brief 'visit' of three of that avaricious race known as 'Ferengi', when they had all but stripped the Enterprise bare and had tried to kidnap all of the crewwomen, none of them had seen fit to reveal their own race's name. It would at least have then been very familiar to Tucker, and might have warned him of what to expect later.
But as it was, dealing with the completely unexpected revelation that this supposedly unknown world was quite well known to at least certain spacefaring races, he could only agree that "We may have some things to trade."
"We are returning to Negat, where you might find what you seek. If you wish, you may join us."
"Thank you. We shall."
x
Thus, using the direct addresses that they had come to learn over two brief encounters as the normal way of conversing, they managed to make themselves fit into the larger group. And not one questioned the otherwise unusual situation of two naked and 'unconscious' women who lay at their feet.
Trip, however, tried as hard as he could to forget them. The spectacular, if brief, sight of Hoshi Sato stripped naked was burned into his memory, and the awareness that she was still so, and would be for quite some time to come, was monumentally distracting. He had to push it aside – hard – for he could not allow himself to be distracted either by sight or memory. Not now.
Seamus stepped over to where Hoshi lay face down, kneeling on one knee beside her. He rested his hand lightly on her delightfully curved bottom. "Feelin' all right, darling?"
She opened one eye, finding that he was hiding her with his body, and picked her head up slowly. "You nearly clipped me." She answered quietly.
"I trusted that you'd catch on fast. How do you feel?"
"You know how I feel well enough. Now get your hand off my butt!" He grinned at her, but made no move to remove the offending hand. She pushed herself up with her right hand, her left covering her eye.
"Keep it covered for a while. They're human so far as I can see. I'm sure we were right. Be careful; it'll take about a half hour for a good bruise to work up on that eye."
She groaned. "Tell me something I don't already know."
"All right. We might just pull this thing off." With a smart slap on her bum, he stood up, turning from her and walking over to Tia, leaving Trip to handle the 'negotiations'. Hoshi followed him with her one good eye, trying to keep the resentment she felt from showing too clearly on her face.
x
Seamus, approaching Tia, had a difficult time doing so. It was hard enough being beside Hoshi, who even face down on the grass was very familiar to him. The Auran woman, lying on her back, feigning unconsciousness, was as human to him as Hoshi was, golden flesh making no difference. As he stood over her, grateful that Tucker was distracted with his negotiations, he realized he had to be very, very careful. His noticing Hoshi was one thing, and quite in order considering the last year they had spent together. To notice the golden beauty was risky in the extreme.
He recalled the outrageous incident the first day he had met her, when she had sought his aid in learning about the 'human condition', but her command of English had been so poor – not that it had improved much in his opinion – that it had led her to declare herself to a table full of people to be his 'bitch', a declaration he had barely survived Hoshi's irate response to.
Since that day he had treated his dealings with the girl very cautiously indeed.
Now, seeing her face up and naked on the grass, her golden toned flesh glistening in the morning sunlight, his concern was more for Commander Tucker's reaction to his notice of her charms. He decided that, between Hoshi and Commander Tucker, he would have to be very careful indeed.
He looked over his shoulder back at Hoshi, who was holding herself pressed up off the grass, watching him closely. He decided that this 'away mission' had all the elements of the most enjoyable one he had ever imagined, and was not going to enjoy a bit of it.
He knelt beside Tia, moving her long golden hair aside and patting her golden cheek lightly. "How do you feel?" He kept his voice barely audible even to himself, being acquainted with her hearing. He could barely hear his own whisper, but she opened her eyes and sat up with a patently fake groan, clutching her stomach with both hands.
"That you a punch call?" She whispered.
"Best stage fight technique, darlin'." He told her, keeping his eyes firmly locked on hers, fighting hard any temptation to look below the level of her chin. She was simply too distracting, but he did not know how Aurans felt about such things. He did know how humans felt, however, and did not want to have any trouble with his commanding officer. "I thought the Commander was going to burst a blood vessel, but we should make it. Well done."
"I a slave for all my life have been. Do help me not."
"I had no intention of it." He whispered, standing smoothly. "Get up!" He commanded sharply; then looked back at Hoshi. "You too. On your feet!"
x
Hoshi stood up, looking for someplace to hide. She felt Seamus' eyes on her and tried not to look at him, tried to fight the blush that threatened to redden her face. She was standing fully exposed at the top of a small rise, stark naked in the sight of over twenty men and women, as well as her friends. She felt the heat rush to her face, and she turned away to hide the blush she could not fight.
It did not help at all that Tia stepped over to stand next to her, calmly and unconcernedly nude.
Tucker had descended the low rise and was speaking directly with the leader of the group, who seemed unconcerned that their words were being translated by an electronic device, their lips not matching their words. If he was as acquainted with 'Ferengi' and 'Orions' as he'd implied, this could be significant. Tucker had stepped to the side so that the other did not face her, and his body in turn blocked Tucker's view – for now. She was infinitely grateful that his back was to her; for now. She knew, however, that this happy state would not last.
x
Noting the distinct division of labor, the other women carrying everything, Seamus stepped down to join the group, not even glancing at their supplies.
Within moments, the slightly larger band started off away from the rise, headed slowly toward the southwest, toward the rising sun. Hoshi and Tia looked after them, then at the stack of supplies, mostly rations, emergency gear, medical and scientific equipment; fortunately all on long and short straps but still a considerable bundle, and then at each other. The pile was not light.
There were a dozen things Hoshi could think of saying to the Auran, none of which would have improved matters. They looked back at the retreating group, the unclothed women bringing up the rear, burdened with whatever supplies the group carried, leaving the hands of the men free.
Seeing nothing that could help it, the pair started to divide their own burdens as evenly as they could before they would be left behind.
x
The party set and maintained a brisk pace, something Trip Tucker had anticipated considering the speed of their arrival at the rise. He looked back when the group had gone about a thousand meters, trying to take in as much in a casual glance as he could. Since none of the men surrounding him took any particular note of the women bearing their burdens, he could not either. He did note however, with a pang of conscience, that his two friends were making their way as best they could under considerable burden. He knew, having with Seamus carried the bulk of the supplies, just how heavy those supplies were; and hoped that it would not be a long trek.
He caught Hoshi's look before he turned back, and though she kept her hand covering her left eye, the glare she gave him with her right was hard indeed.
She hung back to the end of the group, supremely embarrassed. At least, bringing up the rear, no one was looking at her, but that did not make her feel any better at all.
He could also see now the bruises from the two earlier fights that she had managed to hide and disguise earlier.
The next time he glanced back, he caught Tia's expression. She seemed quite unperturbed by the circumstances. He felt especially guilty in her case, but the bright smile she favored him with when no one could see was as surprising as anything she had shown him since they'd met.
He did not dare smile back, but when he turned ahead again there was a rueful smile on his face nonetheless. She had shown him a very great deal indeed since they had met, and each and every thing she had had been a surprise.
x
Aurans do not have the same viewpoint about clothing that humans do, he knew very well. No part of the body was more significant than any other; and clothing was for protection from the elements or for warmth. Beyond that, tastes and styles varied dramatically; Tia's own ran more toward loose, flowing garments decorated in floral designs.
But to cover any part of the body more than any other had never occurred to her before she had met the humans of Enterprise, and it was of no concern to her how much she wore. She would be completely dressed if cold, or engaged in her work as a Biologist, where it was important to keep her own body from affecting or being affected by what she used in that work. But to cover breasts or crotch meant no more than to cover stomach or arms, so the fact that she was completely naked meant absolutely nothing to her. The weather was mild, the sunlight quite warm on their skin, so it was a matter of complete indifference how she was attired.
Hoshi, however, felt completely different about the matter, and he felt very sorry for her. Every time he glanced at her, he could see her utter humiliation, and the frustration that she experienced at her inability to cover any part of herself other than with the supplies she labored under.
When he realized her growing shame was because of his seeing her, even as she held back out of sight, he no longer glanced back.
Very shortly, fortunately for the consciences of the men and for the muscles of their friends, they could see signs of habitation in the distance. Trip estimated it to be about another kilometer away, less than a half hour at their brisk pace.
x
Hoshi walked at the rear of the throng, completely humiliated, supremely embarrassed, straining under the weight of their supplies. It was one thing to be naked by choice in her own quarters with her lover Seamus, entirely different to be … She had no word for it. Blushing furiously, she wrapped herself in the cloak of her own anger.
"Hoshi?" Tia whispered beside her.
"Quiet!" She snapped, her low voice searing with barely contained fury. She was still burning over the younger woman's destruction of all her clothing. She had not even given any thought; it seemed, to providing for privacy, for the times when they might be alone. She had simply destroyed everything. And the fact that she had been right in her assessment, that this action had indeed won them safe passage, only fueled Hoshi's resentful anger.
"But…"
"I said 'Quiet'!" To emphasize her point, Hoshi took one of the satchels she was carrying off her shoulder, relieved to be freed of its weight, and passed it roughly to Tia. The young woman took it without comment and added it to her already burdensome load, the addition seeming not to tax the Auran's greater strength at all.
"Realize I you embarrassed are," Tia whispered, "and sorry I am, but –."
"None of the other women are talking." She whispered harshly. "You shouldn't either!" She also couldn't shake the resentment that while the other women trudged along, uncaring that they did not wear a stitch of clothing, she saw in Tia's eyes that she too was completely unconcerned by her nudity.
"I just to be sure wanted that –."
"Shut up!" Hoshi whispered furiously, startling the younger woman and attracting brief glimpses from some of the equally naked women before them. She tried to take a deep, calming breath, but it didn't work at all. She glared at the Auran with blazing eyes. "Just shut up!"
x
"Where would you suggest we look first?" Trip asked the man next to him, Krenim by name.
"I've little use for what you seek. Rodd and Beri's, on the north side of Negat, is your only chance. They have the only stores of off world technics. They deal a lot with the Ferengi, Orions and other alien visitors."
"Thanks."
"I've a cottage on my land that you might use while you are here. It would not cost much."
"How much?" Tucker asked carefully. They did not have a lot of supplies. They had scrounged together any non-essential items they could spare in anticipation of trade, and what little they had back at the 'landing' site would be needed in repairing the shuttlepod. But if Krenim had 'little use' for technical equipment, what would interest him in exchange for this lodging?
"Don't worry, friend. I would not cheat you." He looked back at the thoroughly burdened Hoshi and Tia, as if trying to gauge the extent of their resources. "I'm sure we'll work out something fair."
Trip did not answer. In his experience, everyone had their own definition of 'fair'.
xxx
The town they entered approximated, in Tucker's opinion, that of a moderate sized rural community in the southern states of America; say around the early to mid-1900's. Certainly there was nothing blatantly unusual about it; and that in itself was the most unusual feature.
Had he walked into this town on Earth, the sight of shops and lawns and homes would have been boringly average; certainly nothing out of the ordinary – for Earth.
For Declan IV, it was unusual in the extreme; not because it was so alien, but because it was so normal.
There were too many things being laid before the Enterprise crew that confirmed their theories regarding the origin of these people. The only thing left to be explained was; how had these people gotten here?
x
People went about their business, sparing the arriving group not a glance. In fact, there were only two noteworthy features Trip could find.
One was the sharp and distinct division between clothed men and serenely unclad women, and the other that there was not a conveyance of any type in sight.
In fact, the streets they walked down were smoothed enough only to accommodate the bare feet of half the city's residents, and much too narrow for pedestrians to share with any car Trip had ever seen. There was not even a hint of an elevated sidewalk.
The observation, which he noted to Seamus, was further bourn out in the fact that there was absolutely nothing in sight that could be used for locomotion of any kind. No cars, not a moped, a bicycle or even a skate board.
Gradually the group thinned. There was no formal leave-taking that they could take note of. People simply went their own ways when it was time to do so, and in due time Trip's companion indicated it was their turn to separate from the very small band that remained.
"This is my home." Krenim informed them casually, indicating a single story structure. It was made of wood, painted an attractive combination of blue with white trim; what Trip might refer to as a 'bungalow' if he were back in Florida with his family. The two women with Krenim opened the door and entered; something Trip took particular note of. From what he could see in a fast view, it was not that the front door had been left unlocked. Rather, it did not seem to have a lock.
"This," he indicated a similar dwelling next door, "belongs to my brother, who is in Desron for a few weeks. You may use it in his absence." He led them across the manicured lawn and pulled open the wooden door.
"Thank you." Trip replied, trying to keep his thoughts from showing in his face. The casual acceptance and the cavalier way in which a brother's home was loaned to perfect strangers was as astonishing as it was impressive, especially from a culture that had, on two occasions, tried to beat their heads in.
He had to wonder just what this impressive level of 'hospitality' was going to 'cost' them.
"I do not know how much food he left, but we will have our meal in about two hours. You are welcome to share with us."
"Thank you."
With no good-bye; in fact Trip had not heard the words all the way into town; he turned and went back to his own dwelling. With a small shrug, Trip held the door open for his companions.
As soon as the door was closed, Trip pulled from his pocket the Universal Translator he carried, turning it off. He was not certain just how private this home could be in a world where locks on doors did not seem to exist, but now they could converse in privacy.
x
Most of the interior consisted of a single large room, with doors spaced to indicate two rooms to their right, and two more at the far side of the house. There was a large table just inside and to the left of the door, and upon this the women unloaded their burdens. Tia looked about the room with pleased curiosity, finding several pieces of decorative wood carvings scattered about the room; but Hoshi moved with a purposeful gait, opening each door in turn and inspecting the smaller rooms. The second she chose was clearly what she was seeking, for she strode in and emerged a few moments later completely enmeshed in a large blue blanket, carrying a folded gray one. She threw the gray one at, not to, Tia; who caught it easily but did not move to wrap herself in it. Hoshi pulled the other more determinedly about her body. "I'm chilled." She said in explanation, but the only thing chilled was her tone.
She looked at Tia, who stood with the gray blanket in her hand, ignoring it as she examined the decorative workmanship of the woodwork displayed on several surfaces about the room. "Cover yourself." She ordered brusquely. She sat down in a chair, but as she did she caught sight of Seamus. He had been looking at her, but when she had covered up she noticed he had started turning his attention to Tia. He kept glancing at Tia as she walked, unconcernedly naked, about the room. "Tia?"
The golden girl looked at her. "Daai?" She asked, the Auran word for 'yes', pronouncing it 'day-eye'.
"I told you to cover yourself!" Hoshi commanded so sharply that Trip looked up from the supplies he was sorting on the table before him.
Tia shook her head. "Do on my worth… um, 'account' worry not." Tia answered with her almost musical accent. Though she was becoming adept in English, she still occasionally hunted for words, substituted incorrect words in a manner that sometimes had her hearers struggling to school their expressions, and normally used English words with Auran syntax. "To Aurans remember a sensitivity is clothes about not. We to work or temperature according wear, and here is –."
Hoshi, watching Seamus staring at the nude Auran, leapt to her feet, her rage boiling over. "I said 'cover yourself'!" She screamed; her shrill cry startling in its unrepressed fury. Her eyes blazed with such fiery intensity that Tia dropped the blanket, backing away, frightened. Both the men were equally startled by the normally placid Ensign's wrath.
x
But the change in Tia was staggering. Head bowed and seeming to shrink into herself, she hurried to Trip and actually hid behind him. Resisting his effort to turn to face her, keeping her eyes carefully downcast, she whispered meekly "Daai, Mistress."
Covering her breasts with one hand and her crotch with the other, she came out from behind the cover of the surprised and outraged Engineer's body, sidestepped past and behind O'Cathain. Keeping her back to the wall as she moved carefully sideways, giving everyone in the room as wide a berth as possible. Her eyes locked on the floor, her manner fearful and servile, she made for the bedroom door. "Sorry I am, Mistress." She whispered timidly, her voice trembling in abject terror.
As the three Enterprise officers watched; their friend, normally so vivacious and confident, eased herself fearfully to the door of the bedroom. When she reached it she backed in, not turning from them, hunched into herself as though fearful of more than a verbal assault. "Forgive me, Mistress." She whispered meekly. "I sorry am, Mistress." She escaped into the room, shutting the door between them.
x
As soon as the door was closed Tucker turned on the Communications Officer. He had been willing to give her considerable leeway, considering the stress she had endured, until she had screamed at the younger woman, but now he gave in to the outrage he had been restraining. "Hoshi, that was completely uncalled for!"
"But – but I – I'm sorry, but – but I never …" Her stammering protest was cut off as the door opened again. Tia Anlor … 'sauntered' is the only word to cover it... out of the room. She was still nude; her golden body moving lithely. In her hand she carried a small piece of material. She virtually flounced over to another chair, which she turned toward Hoshi. She sat down primly, shaking out the material, which was revealed to be a pillowcase.
Tucking one end under her arms to hold it in place; she carefully and deliberately positioned it so that it covered the lower half her breasts, coming just high enough to cover her golden nipples to the areolas, but not a millimeter higher. The middle of the other end she tucked between her legs, carefully flaring out the ends enough to just obscure her pubes.
Then she looked Hoshi in the eye, and her voice was firmer than any of them had ever heard it. "After our talk that first day on which I you to came to English me teach; I much study what acceptable in your world is. After T'Pol's 'lecture' at Shar-les' birthday party more so." She said with heavy irony tainting real anger, an emotion they had very rarely seen from the impish young woman. "Much it was that made sense nyasi, but as rules it I took."
She waved her hands over her covered body. "See you now that covered my pringlee, even to the alyes, are." She deliberately used the Auran terms. "My sulyas none see can and my minlu I seated upon am. On Aura is distinction there nyasi. These parts are distinct nyasi, as well you know. Only distinct are they to humans. By the rules your world of legal I am, with regard for the customs of my world nyasi. Concern you show for Aura's customs nyasi, but for your world's customs alone!"
In the span of one heartbeat to the next her manner completely changed. She looked down, her entire body seeming to shrink into a cautious cringe, and when she spoke again it was in a barely audible whisper drowning in servility. "Is now acceptable my attire to you, Mistress?"
She did not move, waiting, hunched in apprehensively. Her eyes were filled with terror, and she watched Hoshi intently, cautiously, as though fearful of a beating should her alertness slip. Hoshi looked from her to their friends, her face red. Neither man showed any indication of what they were thinking. She turned back to the waiting Auran. "Tia, I'm … I'm sorry. I – I was embarrassed, and took it out on you. All I could think of, while walking out there, was that everyone was looking at me! They were staring at me, and I couldn't stand it! And I took it out on you. I'm sorry."
Tia looked up, her 'fear' vanishing and her eyes sparkled with her usual impish delight. "But they were nyasi, do see you nyasi? Watched I we as walked did. Care they did nyasi. Two more unclothed women; seen they their whole lives have. Thing special we are nyasi."
"Thanks a lot." Hoshi said wryly. She wasn't sure if she was more put out by being forced to parade nude through the town or that no one gave a damn.
x
Tia laughed gaily. "See what it have I said is? Mad you are unclothed to be; then mad you are regarded to be not. Do want you men to have look at your pringlee – your 'breasts' – look not; to seek your sulyas not; so cover you them do to them make look harder, make them want to see. Here care they nyasi!
"On Enterprise if men naked women all the time see do; bored will they become. Want to see naked women all the time and 'stiff as boards' they become."
Hoshi stared at her friend, astonished, then burst into laughter.