This chapter takes place in the present aboard Deep Space 12. We also learn something interesting about the Kieru.

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Luke Miko sat with his four brother and five sisters in the cantina of Deep Space Twelve. Owen Paris, Autumn Harrow, T'Lali and Rowen Kim sat with them.

"Can you believe how many kids she had?" a voice whispered somewhere behind him.

"She never sounded like the mothering type," another voice stated doubtfully. "Are we sure she was really the mother?"

"Genetic testing says yes, but that many? What was she thinking? You could practically colonize a planet with that lot."

Luke locked eyes with one of his womb brothers, Jasen. The message was clear: I know that you want to teach them a lesson about talking trash about our mother, but don't.

Jasen glared at him, but held his peace.

Luke sighed, partly in relief - the last thing they needed was the ill will of the Federation that picking a fight could cause - and partly in discomfort at the rowdy atmosphere. He hunched his shoulders as the sounds around them intensified. The air was thick with tension. Poor Rowen Kim was looking pale.

Most all of his companions winced at the sound of a bottle being smashed followed by the sound of fists connecting with flesh. The volume of the crowd had risen and taken on a decidedly dark tone. Luke exchanged disapproving looks with his table-mates at the lack of discipline on the station. None of them quite dared to leave, not wanting to abandon their oasis of calm and pass through the sea of violence blocking the exits.

Suddenly a chair smacked into Shannon's head. Luke, Jasen and Eli flew from their chairs. No one hurt their womb sister. No one.

He was vaguely aware of Raven, Jade, Suki, Tara, Micah, and Ayden joining in. While Owen, Autumn, T'Lali, and Rowen made sure Shannon had taken no serious injury. He noted at some point that they had joined the fight as well, but he was too intent on the battle before him to have noticed when they joined in. His people were slow to fight, but when they did, they fought to win.

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Admiral Paris was on his way to the cantina to ask Captain Miko about the ship specifications he had been studying when the sound of a fight came from inside.

Frowning, he entered to see a fight going on. He was preparing to shout for order when he saw a perplexing sight: a lieutenant pinned to the deck by what appeared to be nothing at all. Still, it did not deter him for long. He may not have seen this particular phenomenon before, but any Starfleet admiral had dealt with at least a few bizarre occurrences in his career. "What is going on here?" he demanded.

The fighting stopped so abruptly that he might have thrown icy water on the group. Admiral Paris smiled grimly. One never forgot that voice once he had learned it. Captain Miko appeared over the lieutenant, his foot pressed firmly into the man's back. He looked somewhat embarrassed, but did not release his grip immediately.

Around the room, the Captain's siblings were suddenly there. As Captain Miko released his captive, the members of his crew took his lead, stepping away from their adversaries and forming up behind their leader. The non-Kieru in the party looked somewhat the worse for wear, with bloodied noses and lips and a few eyes beginning to blacken, but it was clear that the crew of Deep Space 12 had fared worse.

Admiral Paris kept his expression neutral as he addressed Captain Miko. "Would you and your crew members please wait for me in my office?"

"Of course, Admiral Paris." Captain Miko bowed formally and gestured. His people fell in behind him in an orderly manner. As soon as the door shut behind them, Admiral Paris gave the assembled officers the tongue-lashing they deserved, then demanded an explanation. As expected, the majority did their best to minimize their involvement in the incident. Still, they had little loyalty toward each other, so it was quickly clear who the responsible parties were.

Admiral Paris dismissed the majority of the crewmen and officers, making mental notes to reward the honest ones. At last he was down to the core group that had started this whole fiasco. He had a security team take them to the brig. He would let them reflect on their choices overnight.

Only then did he allow himself to indulge his curiosity. Since the Voyager crew did not currently hold Starfleet rank and had not started the fight - though they had most decisively ended it - there was little he would need to do in the way of disciplinary action. A strong lecture should be sufficient.

He stepped into his office to find the crew standing to attention. "Admiral Paris, sir. As captain of this crew, I speak for all of us. Although we did not begin the violence, we are responsible for our part in it, no matter the provocation. For that we apologize for the trouble this may have caused you, our hosts, and for the injury done to the crew of this station. If possible, we wish to make amends in whatever manner you or the captain of this station deem fitting." Captain Miko said.

Admiral Paris kept his face neutral with an effort, wanting more than anything to grin. This was what the crew of this station lacked. He wished the crew had seen this. "Apology accepted. As I am not your commanding officer, I can do nothing more than express my disappointment in your lapse of discipline, however, if you truly wish to make amends, I believe the cantina staff would appreciate your help in cleaning up the mess."

Captain Miko nodded solemnly.

"I should also note that if problems continue to persist between crews, we may have to cancel your shore leave privileges until the matter is resolved." He sighed. He would have to remember to inform the captain of the station that all alcoholic beverages had been removed from the cantina menu. He did not look forward to the conversation.

He stumped over to his chair and sat. "Now that we have dealt with that matter, perhaps you would like to explain how you disappeared and reappeared. Is this some sort of Delta Quadrant technology like the impressive shields on your ships?"

Captain Miko blinked and shifted nervously.

His siblings were talking softly to him. "We don't have permission to share that!" "He already seen us." "And mom said we could trust the Federation. If we lie . . .' "Mom is going to kill us when she finds out." "Mom is going to kill us? Dad is going to kill us! Kieru do not get into fistfights with their hosts."

Finally Captain Miko whispered something too softly for Admiral Paris to understand, but it silenced his siblings. Then he looked right at Admiral Paris.

"My siblings and I have no need of shields or cloaking devices." Captain Miko explained. "It is a natural ability of the Kieru people. We can disappear at will or when we and frightened or startled."

"It has come in handy," one of Captain Miko's sisters agreed. As she continued, her face took on a wicked smile. "Though our mother often found it trying, especially at bedtime."

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