Chapter 3

Visitor Processing was another one of the buildings located around the foot of the base tower. It served as a sort of "customs office," providing security and medical checks for new arrivals. It even had a shuttlepod landing pad on the roof for occasions where immediate decontamination was required, and their latest guests had been brought in this way.

As North and Vaughn entered the reception area of the building, they found it conspicuously empty of anyone, including the staff. Both men looked at each other in confusion.

"Maybe they all took a break at the same time?" Vaughn offered.

A thought occurred to North. "I think I have a more likely explanation…" He headed towards the decon area.

A long observation corridor ran between two rows of decon chambers, with viewing windows spaced along either side. North found the security and reception staff, all male, clustered around one of these windows.

Standing behind them, North saw that they were watching two scantily-clad Orion women in the chamber, liberally applying decon gel over each other in an obviously exaggerated display. He couldn't help thinking of teenage boys peering through a hole into the girls' locker room.

He cleared his throat loudly, causing the men to jump and turn.

"Commodore!" said the senior-most officer, a lieutenant. "We were just, uh…"

North spared him the indignity of finding an end to that sentence. "Back to your posts," he ordered.

As the others scattered in embarrassment, North stopped the lieutenant, gesturing to the Orion women who had provided such an entertaining distraction. "Why are they using the gel? Are they infected?"

"Uh, no, sir," said the lieutenant. "They just started… doing that."

North sighed and nodded for the lieutenant to leave. He shook his head at Vaughn, who was blushing bright red and trying desperately not to look in the viewing window. At least some of his officers had some self-control.

"Has Doctor T'Ling-?" North started to ask.

"Finished her examinations?" Vaughn pre-empted. He studied his padd intently. "Um, I don't know, sir. She hasn't made a report."

North walked to one of the wall monitors and hit the comm button. "North to T'Ling." The doctor rarely left the main tower - due to her advanced age and Vulcan physiology, the climate of Berengaria VII was much too cold for her - and usually had her medical staff transmit her any important data in instances such as these.

Dr. T'Ling's angular, silver-topped features soon appeared on the monitor, from her comfortably warm office in the Infirmary. "T'Ling here."

"What's the status of our guests, Doctor?" North asked.

"I presume you are referring to the medical condition of the recent Orion arrivals, Commodore?"

North stopped himself frowning in frustration. He favoured precision, but T'Ling excelled in it. "That's right."

"Some are still undergoing examination. So far, there are a few minor injuries from physical altercations, but nothing life-threatening. No signs of infections either."

"And what about pheromones?"

"Low to none," T'Ling said without an ounce of surprise. North compensated for that in his reaction.

"None at all?" This was contrary to old spacer rumours, as well as official reports from the NX-01. The latter had revealed that Orion women often acted subservient while chemically manipulating males for their own purposes.

"Evidently, not all Orions have that feature. Not to the alleged degree of intensity, at least," T'Ling reported with her usual calm. "According to the interviews my staff conducted, those who do not emit strong pheromones usually become genuine slaves, as opposed to those merely masquerading."

North nodded, processing this new information. "You said there were low levels?"

T'Ling consulted some off-screen data. "No more than a mild aphrodisiac. Certainly nothing that would impair judgement or cause aggression." She glanced at North again. "Although Humans are prone to such behaviour when aroused, regardless of any external factors. You will all have to be vigilant."

North gave her a wry smile. "Thank you, Doctor, but I think I'll be alright, at least. I'm not so susceptible to… feminine wiles."

"Orion males also emit pheromones, Commodore, albeit much less potent. And there has not yet been any study on the effects of Orion pheromones on non-heterosexual individuals."

"Well… I'll try to adopt a detached, Vulcan approach."

T'Ling raised an eyebrow. "That would be advisable in most situations."

"North out," he said with a hard-set expression, closing the channel.

As North made his way to the waiting area of Visitor Processing, he couldn't help thinking about Patel's display in his office. He was still stunned at such a prejudicial attitude coming from one of his officers, especially one exposed to other species from an early age. Space boomers were usually the enlightened ones among Humans.

While he didn't share Patel's distrust of the Orions, North would remain cautious. He would keep the refugees separate from the rest of the base for as long as possible until their asylum request was processed. Then they, and the political quagmire they represented, would likely be moved on elsewhere whether it was granted or not.

North was not unsympathetic to their cause - slavery was an abhorrent practice and he wished them the same freedom and safety entitled to all sentient beings - he just didn't think that he was the best person to preside over such an important matter.

There was also the "distraction" factor. If the crewmembers in the decon chamber were any indication, the presence of almost 200 sensual Orions was sure to disrupt base activity, pheromones or no.

Those supposedly low-level pheromones hit him like a wall when he entered the waiting area. The effect was undoubtedly magnified by the number and proximity of the Orions, with several of them congregated in the large room. His body betrayed him with an involuntary reaction to the stimulus, making it slightly more difficult to maintain his gait. Judging by the wide grins and wider eyes on Vaughn and the security personnel (male and female this time), he wasn't the only one.

He cast his eyes over the sea of green before him. Most of the refugees were sat in the available seats, chatting away to each other, with some sitting on the floor or just standing around. Every conceivable shade of green was visible, ranging from sickly pale to a deep viridian, and North was even surprised to see a few who were a ruddy yellowish-brown or light grey. Very little clothing was visible, no matter the colour.

He waved over one of the security officers and enquired as to the whereabouts of Vyla, the leader of the refugees. The officer quickly found her and brought her to North.

Vyla was a striking woman. Tall and solidly-built, she still managed to present a womanly figure. She wore more than most of the others; a low-cut, tight-fitting top that left her arms, stomach and cleavage exposed, while similarly tight pants accentuated her legs.

She smiled at North, and he found himself returning the expression. "Commodore! A pleasure to meet you face to face at last." She was practically shouting over the din of conversations.

"Indeed," he said, matching her volume. "Shall we talk somewhere quieter?"

He led her into one of the interview rooms, quickly shutting the door before Vaughn could join them. For some reason, he felt compelled to speak to Vyla alone.

"I can't thank you enough for taking us in," said Vyla, leaning against the desk in the room. "You may just have saved us all."

North smiled again, then tried to reign it in as he switched to a more serious tone. "Don't thank me yet. This may just be temporary. Our ambassador will forward your asylum request to the United Earth government, but the ultimate decision will be up to people well over my head."

Vyla nodded, taking on a sombre expression. "Of course. But we're grateful for any aid you can give us."

"Yes, well… On that note, I'm afraid that your access to the base will be restricted until an outcome is reached. You will be provided with food, medical care, and anything else you may need, however."

Vyla smiled again. "I understand. It's still better than what we're used to. I'd like to discuss the asylum terms with your ambassador as well, if possible."

Her acceptance filled North with a warm feeling, and he felt the urge to please her further.

"Perhaps… you would care to join me and Ambassador Mamao'lani for dinner this evening?"

He had no idea where such a notion had come from, but he felt a strange rush of satisfaction when Vyla accepted his offer.