Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation

Title: New Civilizations

Summary: Riker learns what being a host means. A discussion of the problems of translation.

Chapter 7

An hour after he'd transported down, Picard called the ship. "Apparently the Kronatina like to take breaks between their ceremonies, Number One; I'll be able to make regular contact."

"What do they do for their free time?"

"Believe it or not some of them are out frolicking in the large parks that surround the main hall here."

"Frolicking?"

"It's the only word that seems to describe what they're doing. I probably wouldn't have taken notice except that I was invited to accompany them. The translator doesn't have a proper word for the translation yet, so when I was asked if I'd like to 'fuhmantarr' I demurred and asked if it was possible to just watch the first time."

"And you were hoping they weren't asking if you needed to—"

"Exactly. We went outside and had hardly descended the steps, when suddenly the pair I was with broke out running in across the great causeway and onto the park grounds. They tumbled, and leapt, and ran, with an abandon I almost envy. Frolicking, Number One; I don't think there's any other word for it. It was actually quite refreshing to see these diplomats, who have been so very staid and proper, just break out in free play."

Commander Riker decided not to ask if Captain Picard had joined in. "How did the greeting ceremonies go? Any more gifts?"

"No, not yet, anyway. They're truly excited about our being here. They've had delegations from each sector of Kron all parade by just now, nodding at us and gesturing; quite a pleasurable spectacle. I think most of them just came to gawk at the aliens from outer space as much as to be seen by us. It's a shame the Romulans have no appetite for this sort of thing. Speaking of which, have the Ferengi shown up yet?"

"No sir. Worf thinks his sensors may have detected them lurking on the far side of the outermost planet in the system but he can't be sure."

"Hmmm. I suggest sending a wide beam message saying something like, 'safe to return."

"A sort of olly-olly-oxen-free?"

Picard gave his rare friend-smile. "Yes, something like that." He pursed his lips briefly before saying, "I have some more information on what the Kronatina were implying by leaving that headdress on board the Enterprise. Simply acting as hosts is not all they desired of us. Unless the translator is entirely going wrong here, they intended that it should be worn, Number One."

Riker squirmed a bit in his seat. "Oh?"

"By someone of rank."

Riker knew the answer to the next question full well, but he asked anyway. "What rank, sir?"

"Yours, I'm afraid."

Will rose from the command seat and smiled gamely. "Well, Captain, you can tell the Kronatina, that I did put it on and that it was very becoming. I thank them for the honor and privilege."

"I'm afraid that won't do. They want to see you wearing it."

Looking startled. "See me wearing it?"

Picard turned his head from side to side as if to check for eavesdroppers. Seeing only the other members of the away team he continued, "Yes, getting to 'know' that Kronatt, apparently means wearing it."

"Now?"

"No. We're not quite sure of why but they're indicating they wish to wait a period of time, an hour or two. It is on this subject of the hat that the translator seems to be having the most problem. The translation seems to get garbled when we talk of their gift and what they expect us to do with it. They want to see you with it, but only after you've worn it for a couple of hours. Perhaps there's a knack to the wearing and can be done properly only after some practice. They keep saying they want you to have the opportunity to get to know S's'haht'a. They apparently refer to the hat by the name of the person who previously wore it. I think getting to know it means getting used to wearing it."

Commander Riker inclined his head slightly and scowled up at the view screen. "I'll put it on when they want to see me with it, but two hours? Not likely. I put it in my quarters for safekeeping so I got a good look at it. No disrespect intended, Captain, but I have a hard time thinking I'd have to wear it at all much less for two hours."

"I'm sorry, but you'd better settle your mind to it, Number One. Counselor Troi says she senses the greatest amount of anxiety from them on this subject. I see no harm in it." The Captain's voice took on the command tone. "We're here on a diplomatic mission, and if it means dressing in pink tutus and doing the tarantella to show our good will, we would have to do it. They say the headdress itself will indicate whether you've been wearing it for the proper length of time. Even with possible misunderstandings through the translator, I am fairly sure of their meaning, and I am very certain that it is very important to them. Go put the hat on and I'll get back to you. Picard out."

Seeing that his hosts had not yet returned, Captain Picard next contacted Geordi.

"Yes Sir, I'm here with Lieutenant Bundawba now. He's a computer repair engineer and minored in alien communications with the specific purpose of targeting translators. We're standing in front of the schematic displays for translation. "

"And what, Lieutenant Bundawba, have you come up with?" rang Picard's voice via the ship's communications since there was no view screen in the small room.

Unseen by Picard, the young man standing next to Geordi, was very nervous about having to talk directly to the 'Old Man' himself, and tried not to let his voice quaver. "We've only just had time for one diagnostic, and as far as I can tell, the translator is functioning normally, Sir." He paused, looked hopefully at Geordi, who nodded silent encouragement, and took the plunge. "Sir? Lieutenant Commander LaForge explained the one speech anomaly concerning the presentation of the hat, calling it by name as if it were a person, and, to tell you the truth, that isn't much to go on; is there anything else that doesn't seem to make sense?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. They're using a term that's translated as the royal 'we' but their use of it seems inconsistent, because they also use the individual 'I' in the same sentence. I think there have been a few other lapses but I can't be sure. Counselor Troi may have something to add."

Deanna who had been standing quietly beside Picard spoke up. "Lieutenant Bundawba, I'm getting a lot of confusing feedback from the Kronatina. The emotions aren't so different from what I expected and are more or less congruent with the words but the body language is just not in line with the words or with the emotions. Usually all three are synchronized unless the person is lying or is emotionally disturbed in some way. I don't think either is the case here, but I have yet to see the body language agree with either the words or the emotions.

Geordi said, "You mean the way they bounce and twitch when they talk? I thought it might be a cultural thing."

"Yes, I thought so too, at first. Every race has their own body language but there's a certain sense to it all. The puppet-like movements of the Kronatina are just not making sense; they're not in sync with their words or their emotions."

Lieutenant Bundawba asked, "Is it possible their body language has no relation to what they say?"

"I've never come across that situation before. Have you?"

"No, never, but I thought it was worthwhile asking. Can you explain further please, Counselor Troi?"

"I have a rare advantage in that I do have three points of reference where you have only two when getting the sense of what someone is saying. For instance, if you give someone some very sad news and she says she's sad and cries, her body language is verifying her words; but if you give someone some sad news and she says she's sad but doesn't act sad, you don't know if she's sad or not. When I hear someone say she is sad and see her act quite differently, I can check out her emotions and determine her feelings.

"Whether she's lying?" said Geordi.

"Or if she didn't hear the news correctly or simply isn't allowing herself an emotional outbreak. It's like a mathematical problem of triangulation, two known points can establish a third. In the case of the Kronatina I'm sensing a certain amount of anxiety, which could be normal, also a certain amount of withholding of information, which could also be normal. Meanwhile I'm hearing words of careful confidence but seeing completely disjointed body language. In between speaking, they sometimes pick at their fur, sometimes stare into space. Only occasionally do they really seem to make meaningful gestures to emphasize what they're saying. Since I'm not sure if what they're saying is being translated correctly, and since I can't make much sense of their body language, I can't add meaning to their emotions. It's becoming a very odd exercise."

Picard said, "Lieutenant is there some way the Kronatina use words that have been misconstrued? Could the original language programming be at fault?"

"Well, yes, sir. There are two stages to translation. First, the computer works out basic structure and basic words. Meanwhile the people in linguistics match up the basic translation with nuances of tone, body movement or, well, just about anything they can observe. They feed in corrections and the program develops as it goes along. This usually lends accuracy to overall translation, but mistakes can happen.

"Then assuming you haven't missed anything in the physical functioning of the translator I'd like you to get someone from the linguistics lab, to recheck the language program. You complete your diagnostic scans meanwhile."

"Good. They can check against what the Kronatina have said so far, on this mission. There may be a pattern of inconsistencies, which point out a specific bug in the software. Meanwhile I'll finish checking the hardware."

"Good. I'll check with your progress when we have our next break in the ceremonies.

Bundawba spoke, "Sir? One more point I'd like to clear up, just to be sure?"

"Yes? Go ahead."

"One other thing that comes to mind about the way they move. Could they be just so uncoordinated that they can't talk and stay still at the same time? Is it possible they have a problem of spasms?"

Picard smiled a little to himself. The feeling of luck, having people who thought, who really thought, came over him. It was a shame to have to undo the theory. "The idea had occurred here too, but I think we can safely say no. After all, I doubt that they could have developed the technology that took them to the stars if they couldn't control their bodies. Actually, they're quite graceful. The erratic movements take place only during speech, and aren't uncontrolled spasms. As for the spans of what seems to be inattention," he turned briefly to Deanna, "that's more in the Counselor's range of expertise. Perhaps, if need be, you'll be able to transport down and observe for yourself. For now, I'd appreciate all due haste on your diagnostic evaluation. Picard out."

&&&&

After his conversation with Picard, Riker had sat for some moments staring into thin air. Each of the bridge crew, save for Data and Worf, occasionally stole glances at the inert Commander. Word of the 'hat' in regard to its size and style had spread quickly and the idea of the proud and somewhat appearance-vain Riker sporting the wild headgear was intriguing.

Finally, coming to a decision, Riker stood, tugged at his uniform blouse, and spoke. "Worf!"

"Sir?" The Klingon barked.

"Take the bridge. I'll be in my quarters if you need me."

"Sir?"

"If I have to wear that thing, I'll do it in the privacy of my quarters."

"Yes sir. I am in full sympathy with you, Commander." The idea of looking ridiculous for the sake of diplomacy was ludicrous to the Klingon.

"Thank you, Worf." Riker sighed. He turned to enter the turbolift, "I suppose I should be grateful it isn't a pink tutu. I don't look good in pink."

TBC to Chapter 8

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