A/N: As a reminder, this weird version of Star Trek is based on my life, so there's no telling what will happen because life is unpredictable.
Ode to A Starship by Lina Shay
Chapter Twenty Seven: Eyes in the Dark
Andrannon was transferred to another department with more room for growth. At least, that's what I heard. Vause was promoted to our department head. He was an entirely different type of commander. He was animated and understanding. For our department meeting, he had us all sit on the floor without shoes and do a cooperation chant. He did require a little more work, but it almost didn't seem as bad because he didn't snap orders at you, glare at you, and say you were doing everything wrong. I guess Andrannon didn't do those things too often, but it sure felt like she did.
The captains orders were to stop by Kenchi Prime for a trade negotiation. Almost out of habit, I checked the position of the Gundam. I was surprised to find that it was near the Kenchi system. This could be it. I had thought so many times that Joel could possibly be the guy I could stand to date for longer than three months.
Sisma was assigned to head the negotiating team since whatever we wanted to trade for was medical-related. Sisma requested B'Liz, Jala and me to be on her team. I understood B'Liz and Jala since they were the Science Officer and the Security Chief, but how did she figure that I fit in the mix. I'm an astrometrics officer, a bad one at that.
We beamed down to Kenchi Prime to meet the other negotiating team. What met us in the large, stone building were four very tall creatures with flat faces and large eyes. Each had spikey hair the color of sapphire. Jala did a quick security check through the room while B'Liz scanned with her tricorder.
"There's some sort of dampening field in here," B'Liz told Sisma. "Communications will be impossible."
"Is there some reason for this?" Sisma asked the Kenchis.
The Kenchis tilted their heads as if they didn't understand.
"Forgive them," came a deep voice from beyond the Kenchis. A human pushed forward through the tall aliens. Sisma and I took in a simultaeous breath and then let out a long sigh. This guy had semi-long dark brown hair, a neatly combed beard and the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen.
"The Kenchi are very suspicious," he said. "I am Daniel Hastings, the Kenchi's embassidor and translator."
"Translator?" I asked in surprise. "What about the Universal Translators?"
"The Kenchi do not trust that technology," Daniel Hastings told me. "The dampening field has disabled them as well."
Sisma looked over the items for trade and bargained with Daniel while I just stared. I know it was rather juvinile, but I was so mesmerized by his eyes. Sisma seemed dissatisfied with most of the things he showed her.
"I could make an offer for the debenzorall, but everything else..." Sisma trailed off.
"I understand," Daniel said lightly. He turned to the Kenchis and said somethings in their strange language, and then turned back to Sisma. "What are you prepard to offer?"
I heard something and glanced around to see Jala looking at somethings on a shelf. I wasn't sure what they were but she was fascinated by them. It occurred to me that I hadn't seen B'Liz in a little while. I figured she was fine. She was Klingon and could take care of herself.
"Have you seen B'Liz?" Sisma asked suddenly, having realized what I had.
I shook my head. Jala came over in concern.
"We can't contact her," I muttered.
"Mr. Hastings, where do those halls lead?" Jala asked in a commanding voice.
"There are various rooms for kilometers," Daniel told her.
"It will take forever to search through all that," Jala announced.
"Maybe she'll just come back," I suggested.
"Mr. Hastings, is there any way you can convince the Kenchis to disable to dampening feild so that we can contact our crewmate?" Sisma asked him.
"I can try," he said. He went over to the Kenchis and chatted with them for a while. He came back over. "They said they will if you hurry and make a decision about the supplies and leave as soon as possible."
"That's nice of them," I muttered sacastically.
"Agreed," Sisma said. "I am willing to offer five kilos of trioxyendite for that debenzorall."
Daniel said something to the Kenchis and then smiled back. "They accept."
"Good, now turn off the dampening field," Sisma insisted.
Daniel went over to a large pad that looked like a transporter. He stood on it and did this strange sort of dance, and then came back over to us. "The dampening field has been lowered."
"What was that?" Jala asked.
"Oh," he began, laughing, "the Kenchis don't use words or codes to activate systems. They use movement. That little jig told the computer to turn off the dampening field."
We all stared at him.
"Interesting," Sisma said, her eyes lighting up. "I would really like to know how that works, but some other time considering the circumstances." She tapped her comm-badge. "Sisma to B'Liz."
"B'Liz here."
"Where are you?" Sisma demanded. "Are you all right?"
"I was just studying their Science database," B'Liz insisted.
"Well, you should have told us!" Sisma cried. "We've been so worried."
"I'm fine. I'll be back soon."
And she was. Within minutes, B'Liz came through the hall. We all decided to beam up and handle the exchange later. Once we were back on the ship, Sisma and I smiled at each other.
"That guy was so cute!" I exclaimed.
"I know! Did you see his eyes?" Sisma sighed.
Jala and B'Liz just laughed at us.