Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation
Title: New Civilizations
Summary: Several steps in the right direction are taken, much to the Ferengi's consternation.
Chapter 23
Suddenly there were two entirely different conferences going on in the magnificent hall. The Kronatin doctors were communing with the Kronatin diplomats, and the members of the Away Team were huddled around both of the communications units talking with Commander Riker on the bridge on one screen, and with Counselor Troi and Doc D'Jang on the other. Both groups were discussing the same turn of events.
Then, as if in mutual agreement, the two conference groups broke apart at nearly the same time; The five diplomats returned to their pedestals, and the three doctors returned to theirs. The Away Team stood just behind Captain Picard on the floor in front of the diplomats.
A's'kahn'a spoke first. "Oh, Picard, the news is good. We are pleased to hear our fellow Kronatt is to be returned to us in good health. I will be glad to see my friend among us again."
"Yes," replied Picard, "S's'haht'a will be transported here immediately." He paused, searching for the words, smiling slightly as he did so, bemused at the day's constant turn of events. "Apparently we've all been laboring under quite a misunderstanding."
"Is this so?" A's'kahn'a inquired. "What misunderstanding? Do you refer to the illnesses?"
Picard smiled. "I think perhaps the extent of it will be explained as soon as your friend is brought here. You see, we, of the Federation, have been making some unwarranted assumptions, and for all I know, some are still being made. Ah, here they are."
The characteristic sparkle and sound of air displacement brought both Deanna, who was holding a tray on which the Kronatt sat, and D'Jang, who looked a little like the perfect student in class, the one with all of the answers.
The Kronatin doctors immediately descended from their pedestals with slight grunts and quickly approached the tray. First, one prodded the feathers gently and then, laying an instrument on the crown of the carapace, consulted the readout hanging from the attachment on his belt. Nodding to his cohorts, he then bowed so deeply to the Kronatt on the tray that he gently touched the carapaces with his own hat. At the same time, he gently took the tray from Deanna, presenting the patient to his companions who also bowed. Finally, they stepped back a pace, turned and each gave A's'kahn'a a high sign.
Satisfied with the signal, A's'kahn'a continued his dialog. "Assumptions, oh Picard?"
"Yes, but, before we carry on, wouldn't it be right and proper for S's'haht'a to be united with the one who ordinarily wears, uh…" He motioned to the tray as he let his voice trail off.
This caused some consternation among the Kronatina. Several bowed slightly to each other, briefly touching carapaces.
Looking at his people to assure himself that they were remaining calm and in control, and to assure them that he was doing the same, Picard turned to face the group patiently.
The Kronatina conference concluded, one of them motioned to the messengers, one of which stepped gingerly from his low pedestal and then loped quickly to the group of diplomats. Picard noticed the messengers all had slightly darker fur than the doctors and diplomats and that the feathers on the headgear were somewhat shorter. After a brief touching of the carapaces on each of the group, the messenger left through a door nestled in one of the curves of the wall.
A's'kahn'a, bending over so that the eyes of the Kronatt on top were looking into Picard's face, said, "He is being brought."
A few wordless minutes later, a bareheaded Kronatt was escorted into the hall. If the halter was any indication, he seemed to be the same one who had been deprived of the hat that morning. The two with him each had one four-digit hand on the strap over the shoulder and another on belt and seemed to both guide and partially support him in the same way they had before.
Picard intervened, turning to the group of diplomats. "Please, would you indulge us for one more moment? Would it be possible for this Kronatt to stand alone and for our Doctor T'Shing to come close to him?"
Again, the Kronatina showed some consternation.
Picard put his arms out to his side, his palms up. "I assure you, she'll not bring any harm. Please?"
A's'kahn'a apparently made a command decision on his own, and without conference he said, "He will sit." He gestured at the escorts.
The two guides pushed and tugged at the bareheaded companion, forcing him to kneel, and then stood over him until they seemed assured he would remain as he was. Backing off a step, they looked expectantly at Picard. Though their subject looked myopically about, he seemed content to be on the ground.
Receiving the go-ahead from Picard, the veterinarian approached the Kronatt, squatted down on her haunches, and stared intently into the furry face. Looking back at her, he slowly blinked his eyes, and then, as if losing interest, resumed his passive glancing about the room. When D'Jang reached out and stroked his shoulder, he only glanced back at her and then leaned ever so slightly into her hand. Tentatively, she scratched his chest at the base of his neck, and he stretched his chin upwards, leaning forward ever so slightly. Pushed backwards, D'Jang caught herself just in time before falling, and though he watched, he made no effort to prevent her fall. All the while, she stared into the deep brown eyes, not saying a word. Finally, she stood up and gently slapped the broad fur covered back and nodded at Picard saying, "I suggest that the owner," she motioned to the kneeling figure, "be allowed to join with her mount." She gestured to the tray.
Catching the wording, wondering if the Kronatina had noticed, Picard turned to the diplomats. "Would it be possible for us to see these two united?"
Although the furred Kronatina remained standing quietly, the tendrils on their heads rose upwards for an instant and then shivered briefly. Then A's'kahn'a said, almost hesitantly, "F'rrn'a, please assist S's'haht'a." He motioned to one of the escorts.
Moving eagerly to the tray in Deanna's hands, F'rrn'a gently removed the curved, feathered body while the other escort squatted down and grabbed the halter of the bareheaded Kronatt with both hands. As F'rrn'a lowered the feathered Kronatt, there was a moment where the bareheaded Kronatt seemed to object to having his head covered, first trying to rise, then ducking. Held fast, however, he accepted the fit, and, as the cowl slipped onto his head, became quiet. Then the escorts stood and stepped back respectfully, while the newly be-feathered Kronatt stood with great dignity and joined the diplomats. They all touched each other.
Picard gave a look to the away team that signified that now either all was well or all hell was about to break loose and to be ready for anything. Waiting for the conferring Kronatina to reach a conclusion, he quietly asked Deanna if she sensed any hostility.
"No, sir. An exchange of information is all. Questions, answers, revelations on both sides. There is also a sense of relief."
Suddenly, one of the inner doors on the far side of the hall burst open, through which scuttled one of the Ferengi. Hunched over, running on all fours, he seemed to be absolutely terrorized, as if fleeing for his life. Perched on his head, looking odd on the bulging cranium, was a feathered Kronatt. In hot pursuit behind him came groups of Ferengi and Kronatina. The Ferengi were shouting at their companion as well as making threats to the accompanying Kronatina.
"What's wrong?"
What have they done to you?"
"You'll all pay for this!"
"You're scaring him."
"Stop!"
The Kronatina, though long legged and fast, couldn't catch the zigzagging, scurrying Ferengi. Several used broad gestures that apparently signaled the messengers, who jumping from their pedestals, avidly joined in the furious pursuit.
While most stood and watched, dumbfounded, Doc D'Jang dashed in front of the fleeing Ferengi and expertly sent him veering towards the curving walls. There, surrounding of the larger inward curves, the pursuers spread out and tried to corner the panting Ferengi. Not willing to give up, he burst through the widespread legs of a Kronatt and skittered across the hall.
D'Jang shouted, "Don't let him near a door!"
Again, they cornered him and D'Jang ordered as she came up from behind, "Close the ranks! Watch your legs! Grab him but don't let him bite!"
She could just as well have saved her breath. The Ferengi in flight made a half-hearted attempt to scale the smooth wall and then collapsed in a heaving, slavering heap. The usually yellow tinged skin had turned a sickly flat brown.
The panting group crowded in around him, and D'Jang pushed to the front. Pointing a finger at one of the Ferengi, she shouted, "No! Don't leave yet. Wait!"
The Ferengi who was signaling his ship to transport the lot of them from the hall snarled at her, "We must get out of here before these creatures attack another of us. Save yourself, human."
As if proving their suspicions correct, a Kronatt launched himself at their fallen companion, pushing the other Ferengi aside. Before they could react, he grabbed at the feathers, yanking it from the double lobed cranium, and quickly backed off. He'd hardly had a chance to clear himself from the Ferengi group when they flashed out of existence with the pop that was typical of their transport effect.
In the ensuing silence, her voice loaded with mock indignation, Doc D'Jang said, "Well!"
Again, there were two conferences, one among the humans, one among the Kronatina. The human one beginning with D'Jang saying, "I think they got mad and went home, Captain."
TBC to Chapter 24
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