OK, I know updates come ridiculously slowly, but please, everyone, consider this chapter a proof I will continue updating this story until it is done. And please, leave reviews, that might encourage me to translate chapters faster :)
Chapter XIII. First ventures
After spending so much time discussing the technicalities of a new informatics language, Merrrshika was ready for some action and, after their long nap, so were the shuttles. The new pilots were only too happy to come along, even if they had been pulled out of bed again.
During her second outing with the shuttles, Merrrshika tested warp speed with the male shuttle. Voyager's beta-shift pilot, Brad Murphy, was accompanying them at the helm of Neelix's vessel in case they lost themselves with the unsteady trajectory computational skills of a fledgling shuttle.
Sitting heavily in the pilot saddle to steady the male shuttle, Merrrshika guided him into an orbit at half impulse so he could warm up. After that, she pointed his nuzzle towards the empty space away from the gas giant; the air traffic controller had liberated a wide takeoff channel, having been warned that Merrrshika was doing her first attempt at warp speed with a young organic vessel. Merrrshika warned her crew to brace themselves; they all sat tightly fastened, but they gripped the armrests of their seats harder. The Mirrresh gripped the saddle smugly with her knees, grit her teeth in anticipation of the shock of effort the vessel would produce to jump at warp speed, and moved her hands slightly. Without letting go of the reins, she pushed her fists at the bottom of the holes where the reins were located; it was the pilot's way of requesting warp speed. Because it was the first time the shuttle was asked this manoeuvre, he had a moment of hesitation; he was willing to comply, but unsure what was expected of him. Merrrshika opened her hands slightly so he would feel her knuckles more sharply. He hesitated still, trying to accelerate at impulse speed, but he was encouraged and held back at the same time by her hands tightening on the reins but her seat encouraging him to go forwards. He could feel no disappointment or satisfaction for his acceleration from his pilot; he tried to accelerate again, but he was already going at maximum impulse speed. When Merrrshika lowered her knees, taking her feet away from the saddle, her weight slid forward in the saddle in a manner that made something click in his mind. On pure instinct he leaped forward through the veil of space and time, firing up a whole array of systems he had never used before. He shot into warp speed with all his will and every motor unity of his body, faster and faster, intoxicated by the feel of space washing over him, of light he raced with, of particles of dust drifting ghostly through him.
Merrrshika laughed from the sheer exuberance of her shuttle at the new sensation, and let him accelerate until Voyager's warp 8. She gently took contact with the saddle with her feet and tightened her hands slightly on the reins. She asked her shuttle to display a navigation trajectory through the pilot's helmet, but he did not respond, probably too absorbed by the new experience of going faster than light itself. Merrrshika could see his speed, though, since it was among the standard bearings always displayed in the helmet, and she knew that Neelix's vessel could not keep up with them at this speed and the male did not have a space chart of this sector in memory. If they went too far from the gas giant, they would be truly lost.
Merrrshika started pulling on the reins more firmly, but got no response. She combined the simple command with the emphasis carried by slipping her weight back in the saddle. Still no reaction. She pulled harder on the reins, pinching the sensible organs between the claws of her thumb and forefinger. He did not slow down, but at least the sensor readings flashed back on in the pilot's helmet. Merrrshika's eyes flew over the readings; they were too far from Neelix's vessel and the shuttle was still accelerating, going at warp 9.5 now.
Merrrshika tried to reach the shuttle via telepathy, but he was too concentrated on his maverick acceleration to notice her worrying thoughts.
"Hold on, guys, thish is going to be a bumpy rride," she warned her team.
She took a steadying, readying breath, and inclined her head back the farthest she could, hoping the helmet would keep her from being ejected out of the saddle. The claws of her feet went through the thin soles of her shoes to sink into the saddle's stirrups. She gripped the sensor organs of the reins with all her strength and pulled all she was worth. That managed to get the shuttle's attention, but he obstinately refused to slow down. She took a breath and held it. She gave a brutal twist of the hips to the left, pulled the reins in that direction violently, and the male was startled out of warp and fell into impulse speed doing a barrel roll. The sudden movement and the total release of internal gravity and environmental systems ripped her claws from the stirrups and had Merrrshika saddling thin air for a split second before the male reasserted his internal systems and she heavily fell back into the saddle. The male finished his barrel roll and gave a formidable braking, but he immediately started a series of barrel rolls and about-turns, rolling in all directions, completely disoriented. With her feet having lost their hold on the stirrups, even her usually steady seat and her pilot helmet could not hold her into the saddle. She went flying after one particularly nasty flip in internal gravity accompanying a particularly spectacular barrel roll. The shuttle was starting a vertical climb or an about-turn, she could not tell. The mixed-up gravity made the floor appear fifty degrees steep and slanting thirty degrees to the left. Merrrshika flew off the saddle, collided with the floor painfully and rolled down the bridge until she hit the wall marking the separation with the living quarters. She lay on the wall as though it was the floor. Her thigh screamed in pain in a way that suggested a torn ligament, her hands and arms bore bloody scratches from the male's bites in a panicky attempt not to throw her out of the saddle, and her head hurt from having hit the wall rather violently. Hopefully, the male apparently regained his senses and stopped in the middle of his vertical climb, before slowly brining the artificial gravity to its standard angle, directly beneath the floor. Merrrshika fell on her hands and knees, delicate ringing sounds in her ears. After a while she was conscious of her apprentices having unfastened themselves and flocking around her, asking her if she was alright.
She slowly stood up, wincing in pain because of her thigh, which was already swelling. She ordered her team rather brusquely to go tie themselves up again. They seemed to consider her angry tone a good sign, because they complied without argument. She went back to the front with difficulty and sat on the pilot seat side-saddled. She stuck her head into the pilot seat and had to calmly stroke the shuttle's backbone for nearly ten minutes before his guilt was alleviated and he was calm enough to display the sensor readings.
"Neelix'sh vesshel is shixteen minutesh frrom herre," she announced without removing the pilot's helmet.
"Sixteen minutes?", Mike exclaimed in obvious amazement. "How fast were we going?"
"Warrp 9.9998 at the end."
"This little shuttle can go as fast as that?" Harry questioned in disbelief.
"Yesh. Not forr long and they arre tirred afterrwarrds, but they can go as fasht as that."
There were some excited murmurs.
"The great force we feel when he is going into warp or when he gets out of it, is it normal?" Mike asked. "Why did you fall off the saddle?"
"The grreat forrche is norrmal forr young orr old vesshels," Merrrshika explained. "They arre too busy contrrolling the warrp corre to contrrol the interrnal envirronnement. I fell off the shaddle because he didn't want to get out of warrp; I had to make him 'fall' out of warrp shpeed with a hip move that got me out of the shaddle. Afterr that, the dechelerration forrche did the rresht. It happens often with young vesshels."
They started discussing the warp speed they had reached with so small a vessel, wondering how he could produce a sufficient amount of energy, and how he managed to maintain his structural integrity, and some other things Merrrshika could not care to listen to with her hurting leg. She interrupted them.
"Can shomebody take a trricorrderr and shee if therre's shomething wrrong with me?"
Kim removed his harness, grabbed a tricorder and walked up to her with concern. She glared at him with her worst-tempered look, even though she suspected he could not see it clearly because of his filtering glasses.
"Minor commotion," he announced. "Minor cuts on arms and hands. And…" He gazed at her in stunned silence a while. "…a torn muscle in the thigh."
"Can you rrepearr the muschle damage?"
"I don't have surgery instruments here, and I'm not a surgeon," Kim protested. "I can just give you first aid."
"Then, please, do sho," Merrrshika ordered, "otherrwise I won't be able to pilot back to Voyagerr."
"You're in no condition!" Kim protested.
"Arre you offerring me an alterrnative? No one but me can do it and we'rre monthsh away at impulshe shpeed!"
There was a silence. After a while, Mike asked timidly, "Couldn't you let me try?"
"No, she cannot," Tuvok declared. "You have not received a proper training. In fact, you never did try to pilot a shuttle, not even in simulation."
They turned back to Merrrshika.
"Moving is going to be painful," Kim informed her. "Generally, after such an injury you have to be immobilized for a week, at least."
She chortled.
"That'sh ok. Actually, I had figured the 'hurrting' parrt already. Please, now, give me firrsht aid."
Kim had just finished administering his first aid when Neelix's vessel dropped out of warp near them. Merrrshika, still sitting side-saddled, put on the pilot's helmet and directed the communication to the main screen. Tuvok understood her unspoken request and informed Brad of the outcome of the flight test.
After transmitting the coordinates where they could re-enter impulse speed safely near the gas giant, the other vessel cut the communication. Merrrshika transformed the coordinates in units the shuttle could understand and mentally dictated them in the pilot helmet. The male acknowledged them and was hit by the realization of how far it was. When she saddled herself correctly again, she felt his hesitation. She slid her hands down until she gripped the reins, but it was a tight conduct; the male was trying to delay the moment where he would have to try warp speed again. She ordered him to turn around and pointed him vaguely in the direction of the gas giant they needed to go back to.
When she leaned forward slightly, the shuttle already started expressing its fear and discontent. Throwing a pilot was a fearful event for all organic shuttles; throwing a pilot on the first real outing was worse. The male was scared half to death at the idea of going back to warp speed. Merrrshika reassured him lengthily at half-impulse speed. When they crossed a gas and dust cloud, she let him fill his fuel tanks and take some for the female shuttle. After that, she requested that he shift to warp speed.
She almost had to sink her claws into the warp command to push him at the appropriate speed, but he eventually did. As soon as the transition shock was over, Merrrshika took control of the reins again and pushed him with all the strength of her calves to stabilize his speed, because the male hesitated between impulsion and warp, which was extremely uncomfortable. He had learned his lesson from the first flight, however, and remained attentive to his pilot. He showed immediately upon being asked the trajectory and sensor readings. Merrrshika corrected the trajectory slightly, then let him ride on, only encouraging and congratulating him by her pilot helmet.
A safe distance from the merchant world Voyager orbited, Merrrshika sat back heavily in the saddle and pulled on the reins to request that he fall back to impulse speed. She was hanging on with her claws in the stirrups and her legs wrapped tightly around the saddle. She had to pull with all her weight for the male to drop out of warp. As soon as he was at impulse speed, the male stopped precipitously. Everyone was lifted from their seat and tightened their harness under the artificial braking force the male generated.
When she heard a voice in her pilot's helmet, Merrrshika realized she must have passed out a few seconds.
"Shorry, I misshed that, I was checking shome alerrtsh," she said. "Could you rrepeat please?"
"Clear space to Voyager, Merrshika of the lambda flyer," the air traffic controller announced jovially. "How was that flight test?"
"Awful!" Merrrshika laughed back. "The nexsht one will be betterr."
"Let's hope so! Good fly, Merrshika."
"Thanksh. Have a good day."
She guided the shuttle to Voyager; exhausted by his long venture and his adventure, he did not put up much of a fight. He parked himself up calmly in the cargo bay and emptied his reserves of gas and dust so the female could feed. Merrrshika informed Voyager not to depressurize the cargo bay for a few hours so the female could help herself to some fuel, and asked for a sight-to-sight transport for her and her three novice pilots. Once they were all in the teleportation room, she asked to be teleported directly to the infirmary; she did not have the courage to walk there.
It took a good hour to the Doctor to repair the damage due to her commotion and cuts and bruises. He was about to treat the muscle of her thigh when Harry came in. It was back to her having glasses, but not him. So she could now glare at him with her worst-tempered look.
"Thish plache is shupposed to be a private," she reminded him.
"I just wanted to know if I made the good choice using delta vib instead of alpha to rearrange your muscle tissue," Harry said innocently.
"Very good choice," the Doctor approved.
"Thank you," Kim answered with a mocking smile.
He sat on the bed next to where Merrrshika was lying.
"So. How are you feeling?" he asked with solicitude.
"My head is clearr, but my leg gives me a hell of a pain at the moment."
"I'm sorry for you," he said sincerely. "I thought maybe you would like some help to go back to your quarters, after the surgery, if the Doctor lets you go."
"He betterr let me go," the Mirrresh answered with a predator smile uncovering her sharp teeth.
The Doctor did let her go, but had recommendations, of course.
"I strongly recommend that you accept Mister Kim's help to go to your quarters, in case the surgery does not hold. You must also come back to see me tomorrow…" The Doctor paused thoughtfully. "…tomorrow or whatever day it is when you wake up, for a follow-up check on your surgery."
On the way to Merrrshika's quarters, Harry and Merrrshika crossed paths with Tom who could not help but mock his friend.
"Hey Harry, I always knew you were envious of my nurse position!"
Harry chuckled embarrassedly and went on, shaking his head. Merrrshika found him particularly thoughtful when he opened the door for her and requested minimal light to the computer. She went in her apartment and, before she seated herself, she asked if he would like something to drink. He declined and she took a seat in her armchair. Harry lingered on the threshold and scratched his eyebrow nervously.
"Would… Would you mind if I stay for a while?"
She smiled.
"I wouldn't mind at all. But not too long, it'sh been a long day forr me and I'm a little tirred."
"Of course," Harry answered precipitously, taking a step backwards into the corridor. "Excuse me I can…"
"It'sh ok," Merrrshika repeated. "Take a sheat or at leasht take anotherr shtep to let the doorr close."
Harry chuckled and took two steps forward. He sat down a little timidly into another armchair facing hers. She had a good enough idea of the reason why he was there; it was making her slightly nervous too, but not as much as him, it seemed.
"I wanted to know," she began, but stopped short, frowning at him in the relative darkness.
"Yes?", he asked hesitantly.
"Shorry, I was trrying to figurre out when my next evening will fit into one of yourr days. I was going to ashk you out forr dinnerr," she pointed out with a mischievous lift of her eyebrows.
He was more than a little transfixed by her playful smile.
"Sure!" he answered a little late.
Her sharp intake of breath made them both explode in laughter.
"You almosht shcared me."
"Sorry. I guess it's late for me too, my reflexes aren't as quick as they should be… I really should go and let you rest."
She walked him to her door, but stopped him with a hand on his elbow.
"Sho, I guessh that in fourrty hourrs it won't be evening forr you," she said with disappointment. That emotion in her voice made him feel very warm inside.
"Yes, yes, it is," he corrected, "I have a night shift tomorrow, so it's going to be evening in about forty hours."
"Ah ok," she agreed with a relieved smile. "Then I'll shee you in fourrty hourrs?"
"Yeah. I'll come here to pick you up, if you wish?"
"Ok, but I chose wherre we go forr dinerr," she declared.
There was a way she looked at him… He suddenly became aware that he was holding his breath and his head felt light. He let his breath out slowly. Merrrshika was busy herself catching back her breath, so she did not notice.
"So," Kim said, ready to step out, "see you…"
That is when she put a hand on each of his shoulders and lifted herself on tiptoe to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. She was about to repeat "see you" when she caught sight of the expression on his face and froze.
His hand floated up until it closed gently around her upper arm. Because of the feeble light, Harry could see her eyes through her glasses, and he could not stop gazing into them.
"Merrshika?"
He was getting better at rolling the "r"s of her name, she noted with a distant part of her mind. Most of her brain was busy with answering the question in his voice.
"Yesh," she whispered, taking half a step towards him.
Then he slowly lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. Still a little timidly. He felt her giggle against his mouth and pulled away slowly. She had a hand on the middle of his chest.
"You know what?" she asked, giggling.
"What?" he answered in a daze. He still held her in his arms.
"We, I mean, the Mirrresh, we don't kissh. I was shtill wonderring what it felt like."
He laughed. "And?" he inquired.
"Grrreat," she purred with a wink.
He gently held her tighter a while, before he let out a sigh, reminding himself forcefully that she was undoubtedly very tired. He kissed her on the cheek and took a step back.
"Doctor would kill me if he knew I'm keeping you from resting. Sleep well."
"You too," she answered, letting go of his hand reluctantly.
After a last smile, he stepped out of her room and the brutal light of the corridor chased her farther in her room. Her eyes were shut tightly in an attempt to keep the offensive light away from her sensitive retinas, and she almost fell over a small table in her stumbling retreat. That table, after inflicting a bruise on Harry's shin, now had a second victim: Merrrshika's knee. The door to her apartment closed at that moment, and Merrrshika opened her eyes again. She removed her glasses' mobile emitter and put it on the small table next to her bed. She fell back down on her bed, purring a little, smiling a lot. She rolled up cosily in her sheets and fell asleep.