Chapter Eleven.
Tarya threw herself onto the bed in her new quarters. She was exceptionally grateful for the new space she'd been given. Just as she was thinking about taking a relaxing shower the door chimed. "Ugggh… Come in!" She tried, but failed to say it clearly through the bed covers.
Deanna entered her quarters and wandered over to her bed. "Are you tired because you're emotionally drained, or just old?" She'd learnt over the last few days that Tarya used and appreciated sarcasm. Perhaps it was a defence mechanism, or maybe just a part of her personality, Deanna couldn't decide. Tarya rolled onto her side with a big appreciative grin.
"Both I guess. I suppose my head is spinning thinking about everything that could go wrong over the next few days. And what I've gotten myself into! I was trying to get away from this sort of thing." Deanna grew more serious.
"What sort of thing?" Tarya sighed in response.
"I'm not so sure really, being in the spot light – leading things. I don't know. I've always been seen as a sort of mother figure – to everyone; a mother figure with so many grandchildren and great, great, great, great ones. I wanted a break from all the noise."
"And now it's all returning." Tarya sighed.
"It'll be fine. I just need to order my thoughts."
"You can do that can't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Order your thoughts?"
"I'm still not sure what you mean?"
"It's hard to describe. Since you've allowed me access into your mind I've noticed it's not quite what I'm used to sensing. It's as though you can literally order your thoughts, a bit like the level of control you have over healing your body." Tarya still looked a bit quizzical.
"We can order our memories, if that's what you mean. We can choose what goes into our long-term memory and have places we can hide things we don't particularly want to think about again."
"What happens to the rest?"
"They float around in short term memory before getting forgotten or finding their way into our long-term memory, but it's not intentional."
"That sounds useful."
"Oh it can be, but you have to be so careful. For example, you shouldn't lock too many things away. Too many locked memories can cause complete mental breakdown. It shouldn't be used as a long term solution. You need to deal with everything at some point. There are occasions, if you're not careful, that something can happen which will cause a locked memory to spring out."
"That's incredible. Most species have similar memory stores, but lack the level of control you have. I can see how it could be dangerous, most definitely."
"On the other hand, it can be useful too. If you are studying, for example, you can place what you learn into long-term fixed memory. The best way I can describe it is like a book you can write in. The problem you have is the older you become, the bigger the book, the longer it takes to retrieve information. If you asked me to remember something accurately and in detail from tens of thousands of years ago, it could take me days to retrieve that level of information. It's made all the harder if you receive brain damage or scarring. When that happens it is as though someone has ripped the pages out of your book and thrown them around a room. When you repair your brain you have to remap the book in order to make sense of it again. You can't just glue the pages back together. You have to plot a new course to find them and it can take what seems an age. I do know of someone who had completely been lost to his thoughts entirely. It's a terrifying thing…" Just as they were digesting her words her communicator activated.
"Picard to Ensign Tarya - please report to the bridge."
"On my way Sir."
"I'm sorry Tarya; you didn't get a chance to unwind."
"Oh its fine, who knows, I may have just wound myself up more."
"Picard to Troi – please report to the bridge." They giggled together.
"On my way."
Tarya stroked her new friends arm and they exited her quarters together.
Upon entering the bridge, all eyes turned to her expectantly.
"Ensign, we are at the co-ordinates you provided. It's over to you."
"Thank you Captain." She proceeded to find a small device. It looked little more than a cylindrical compass. Around the perimeter were encrusted amethyst coloured stones. She placed it in the centre of the room.
"Captain, can I make a request, actually, two?"
"Of Course Ensign."
"Is it too much to ask you all just call me Tarya, at least for the first meeting or so. They won't have a clue about your structure and I think it'll be an unnecessary distraction. We are a species that literally thinks it has all the time in the world. Procrastinating and digressing are common place. They don't need the encouragement." He laughed.
"I think we can accommodate that… Tarya. What was the second request?"
"I was wondering if Deanna would like to make the initial contact with me?"
"Deanna?" Picard re-directed the question.
"I would like that captain – if it's possible?"
"Let's find out." Tarya took Deanna's hands and positioned her on the other side of her device. She then turned the dial on her device by a fraction and dropped some equanime on it, immediately returning her hand to Deanna. After a few moments the two of them disappeared.
"Where are we?" The bridge transformed into what appeared to be a small dark shuttle craft, but the walls seemed to pulse on their arrival, and within a few moments green and blue iridescent lights illuminated the area. The walls seemed to be a mixture of wooden construction and veins.
"Welcome back Tarya," came a disembodied voice.
"Where are we?" Queried Deanna.
"We are on what I suppose you would call a small shuttle or pod."
"Rude!" Replied the voice.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for remaining here."
"You are welcome." Tarya shook her head towards Deanna, indicating she should not speak about it again.
"Let's see if we can locate Doone. It looks like its approaching dusk; I hope they haven't been in the tavern for too long."
"Are they likely to get inebriated?"
"Not overly, just loud and they have the potential to lose what little inhibitions they had in the first place." Tarya activate a small watch-like device on her wrist. After a few moments she smiled and closed her eyes.
"Hello old man!"
"Dear smokey, you're not back are you? Are you alright?"
"Oh I'm fine. I've a friend here too." Doone paused for a moment. "Man or woman?" She chuckled, nudging Deanna to respond."
"Hello Doone, my name is Deanna, I am indeed a friend of Tarya's." She could instantly sense him relax. The chemistry she felt between these two was completely unexpected. She almost felt like an awkward third wheel.
"How are you Doone, how are things?"
"Honestly. Not bad. Life is getting better and we've even re-instated the annual brewing competition."
"That's wonderful. I hope you have some of the winning entry left. I'd love to try it."
"Ha, it's already on tap." Tarya rolled her eyes. Oh how she'd missed his voice.
"Are we going to keep this up all night, or are you going to come down? I assume you're in your little orbit bubble." He knew her too well.
"How do you know that?"
"It's a pride thing. I'd like to think if you came back, I'd be the first person you'd call. I wouldn't be too offended if it was Christoph though."
"Ah my friend, no, you are the first person I would contact full stop." A sudden heaviness filled the air. Deanna sensed that was a deeply personal revelation even Doone wasn't expecting.
"What can I do for you lass?" He said in a much softened voice.
"I want you to meet my new friends."
"New friends – off worlders?"
"Yes. Is the caucus still active?"
"You could say that, most of us are here now watching Starnel complete a game of Feathers that he's been playing for nearly two years?"
"Wow! Who against?"
"Himself."
"Figures."
"How do you want us to meet?"
"I was wondering if the caucus could transport to the location of this phase invertor. Not right now though - a good few minutes after we stop speaking. You will need to transport to dimension two and we will need to get back first."
"I can bring myself, Guss and Christoph - Vali and Doone are off on a pre-baby ramble. Could I bring Starnel too, he's the only other one here and it would be a shame to leave him out. He's in… fairly good spirits." Tarya looked to Deanna who just shrugged her shoulders as though it didn't matter too much.
"That will be fine Doone."
"Great see you soon."
"Doone, give us some time though – enough time to drink another morrow ale, okay?"
"We can do that. See you soon."
Tarya quickly reversed her device's dial and quickly transported her and Deanna back to the Enterprise.
"Welcome back, how did it go? Picard sounded surprisingly nervous.
"Good, Captain, where do you want the meeting to be held? We don't have long before they'll appear. We don't hold ourselves to time quite the same way you do. They'll be here in the time it takes to drink a pint."
"Right, okay, head to holodeck one." He beckoned Riker to go with them.
"Picard to senior officers, please report to Holodeck One immediately." He turned to look at Wesley Crusher. "That includes you Wesley."
Commander Riker had programmed the Holodeck to replicate a cosy British pub. In lieu of a typical bar area with a dozen table and chairs, he'd replicated six large, leather sofas so they could sit in a big square with a roaring fire as the fourth wall. It'd be cosier than the crew were used to for a formal meeting, but he was hoping it would enable everyone to be at ease. As he added a few lit candles for mood lighting, he couldn't help but wish more meetings were conducted in a more homely setting. The door to the Holodeck opened and the crew members slowly began to file in.
"Wow Will, this looks wonderful, surely we could have some of our more routine meetings here."
"Well Beverly, let's hope everyone, shares your sentiment. I'm sure the Captain could be persuaded to allow the odd meeting here." Riker turned to acknowledge Tarya enter with Deanna. He noticed Tarya walk straight to the other end of the room and place a small device on the floor which she just walked away from and headed straight towards him.
"Commander we will need to keep the area surrounding that device clear, unless someone wants to get flattened by an over-weight Landlord and his troupe." His face beamed back at her comment.
"I will inform every to hover around the bar and seating area."
"Oh," she said clasping his forearm, "this is a fantastic idea, thank you."
"You are most welcome."
They didn't have to wait very long before figures began to materialise around the device. It took a lot longer for them to stabilise and appear than it would a standard transport. Geordi was beginning to get techy, he walked to Tarya. "Does it always take this long?"
"It can do. It's not just a question of relying on pattern buffers to hold information; the information also has to cross inter-dimensionally. It can take a good few minutes."
"Does it ever go wrong?"
"It can do, then you have to hope the original device is able to re-materialise them in the original location. That's the only failsafe really. If it can't they would be lost forever.
"Seems a bit risky."
"This isn't done lightly Lieutenant." In order to not dwell on that fact, Geordi changed the subject. "So who is who?"
"The largest man you see with the tidy long beard, pot belly and wearing his favourite corduroy trousers and waistcoat is Doone. You'd think he only had one outfit to wear ever. Next to him and more slender is Guss," he looked almost like a character from a Tudor play with scraggy facial hair and long ponytail. "The Youngest man is Christoph." He had short blonde hair and was very well groomed compared to the rest. "And finally, Starnel." He seemed older that the rest more like a sixty year old human that hadn't weathered well, he was gaunt and looked to have missing teeth. Geordi released a breath as they finally managed to materialise. Tarya rushed forward to embrace her friends.
Signalling to each in turn, Tarya introduced the caucus to the crew. "Doone, Guss, Christoph and Starnel, may I introduce Captain Picard of the Federation Flag Ship USS Enterprise."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Captain Picard stepped forward and extended his hand to Doone, as he stood ahead of the others. Doone reached his arm out and the Captain introduced him to a handshake.
"That is a standard greeting on our home world – Earth. Do you have a standard greeting?" He thought for a moment.
"Hmm, do we have a standard greeting?" Doone threw it out to his friends. They all pondered for a moment before wandering around imagining themselves meeting folk for the first time. Deanna couldn't help but laugh at their motions and interactions with another; they seemed to be taking this very seriously. Tarya placed her head in her hands.
"Umm, no I don't think we do. Upon meeting someone after a long time, we'd offer a drink." He added a wink and patted Picard's shoulder, much to the delight of Riker.
"Of course." Picard gestured to the bar. "On our ships, ordinarily we use synthenol. It's basically fake beer." He caught Doone's horrified look. "Though I've been reliably informed you are a master brewer so I fear nothing we have will meet your standards. However, I have a crate of a dark bitter than I hope will befit the occasion. Geordi and Data began pouring a glass of beer for all. "I'm afraid it's just a small taste for you Mr Crusher, with your mothers permission of course." Beverly nodded in acknowledgment.
"He doesn't look much younger than me, surely he deserves at least a half?" Christoph patted Wesley, surprisingly hard on the back and looked to the woman he had just learned was him mother.
"Okay a half, but no more." Wesley smiled instantly warming to his new friend.
"I've just turned 17, how old are you?"
"I'm just over one thousand years." Wesley looked at him aghast. "Of course, physiologically, I don't think we differ that much.
"I guess not", offered Wesley.
Tarya went and sat on one of the sofa, Deanna took seat beside her. "This seems to be going well, probably the best first contact we've had in years. This was a brilliant Idea having it informal." Deanna nudged her shoulder to draw her attention to where Guss was regaling Beverley with tales of sabotage and bravely. "I think he's a bit sweet on her." She laughed.
"I don't blame him, she's beautiful. He's harmless though, somewhere beneath that boisterous exterior lays a very honourable man. All of them are. You wouldn't look at them twice, but I've fought in wars with all of them. Days on end of hand to hand combat, and they've all survived… somehow!" She added with a snigger.
Captain Picard and Commander Riker had managed to gravitate towards Doone. "Tarya seems to be very fond of you." Riker noted as he drew his attention to the fact she was staring at him. He seemed proud of this observation but turned pensive after looking into her eyes for a moment.
"Aye, we have very long history, she is a very dear friend. You seem a strapping lad yourself," Doone added, clearly changing the subject. "Someone must have your heart?" Riker smiled enthusiastically and pointed to Deanna.
"She does." Doone patted his back, again rather harshly, and almost made him choke on his beer.
"Good man, you treat her right now, you hear?" Riker was a bit taken aback by this over familiarity.
"I would never hurt Deanna. You're right, she does have my heart."
"Don't ever take that for granted lad." He said solemnly and Riker looked appreciatively at the man.
"And you Captain."
"Please call me Jean-Luc. My heart belongs to the redheaded doctor over there." Doone followed his gaze.
"Ahh, I think Guss will be most disappointed by that. He seems smitten. You do have beautiful woman sirs." They all toasted to that.
Finally, Starnel had found the company of Data and Geordi. "So you are an android you say. Tell me what that means?"
"I am essentially a mechanical man with a positronic neural net."
"Ahh, a fake human then?"
"Essentially you are correct, but I do try to become more like my human companions with each passing day."
"Why?"
"I want to experience what it means to be human. To feel what humans feel."
"Hmmm. Don't rush into that my boy. It can be overrated?"
"I am intrigued as to why you would say that? Please elaborate?"
"Data…" Geordi tried to warn his friend this may not be the best idea, but Starnel fired a round of questions before he could say anything else.
"Do you function well? Do you have friends? Do you find satisfaction in your work? Do you like to learn? Would you jump to your friends defence if you needed too?" Data quickly analysed what he said.
"I believe the answer would be yes – on all accounts."
"Then do an old man a favour, do one thing before you 'strive' to do anything else…"
"What would you suggest Starnel?"
"Learn to be content, simply that, learn to be content. I am assuming you will have a longer lifespan than any of your friends?
"Yes, that would be highly likely."
"Then treasure them whilst they are here and be content in their presence and with who you are. Let me tell you know, if you are capable of anything else it will follow. Don't rush to force emotions Mister Data – they can be destructive too." Both Geordi and Data took a moment to ponder his response as Captain Picard called order by clanking a spoon on a glass as though he were about to toast. Every turned their attention to him.
"Thank you every so much for making this first contact so pleasant. I can safely say it has been one of the most relaxed and enjoyable. Please, would you all take a seat so we can discuss the more… boring elements." They all took a seat on the sofas as Picard started speaking.
"I must say, the recent discovery of your planet and species has been an utter delight, as has meeting you. When it came to light who your Tarya really was, we were utterly stunned. The reason we felt it was necessary to reach out to you was twofold. Firstly, that is what we do, when we learn of new species we make contact and hope to forge a new relationship. Technically, in order to do that you would need to be warp capable." His guests all looked to one another quizzically. "I appreciate you won't be familiar with that word. Our technologies are vastly different, but you are aware of other worlds and in many ways explored more than we have. It was also Tarya that effectively made contact with us, therefore we felt it was akin to our principles. Secondly, and I will be honest, as we value that trait too, we are concerned that if you are discovered by other species first, your world could easily be exploited. Our technologies and that of our neighbours and every evolving and we want to ensure you are not compromised. Essentially, we would love to learn more about your species and culture. May I ask what your thoughts are on this?"
"May we have a moment to discuss Captain, asked Doone?"
"Of course Doone." Doone gestured for the caucus to follow him. "And you, you grumpy old man," he nodded to Starnel as he spoke.
"Tarya talk to us." Instructed Guss.
"What he says is essentially true. There are many other worlds out there now, he's right in that one of the next discoveries by one the species will be inter-dimensional travel. We aren't safe as it stands. The federation are closely related to us and their policies are… they're okay. They protect their friends and ultimately just want to learn and expand their knowledge. I truly think we need to ally ourselves with them. Even if we aren't discovered soon, our technology will likely fail soon. We are still reliant on ten thousand year old defences." They all considered her words.
"What about the reasons we decided to hide away in the first place?" Added Doone.
"They are still very valid, but one, these are well principled folk and two, I am genuinely worried one species or another is going to discover us soon. We need an element of control over this." They considered again.
"What would be the next move?" Asked Christoph.
"Some of the folk in this room would want to come and see our world. Spend a few days with us. We could all get to know one another a bit better, then we could decide on a further course of action. What do you say?" They looked around and into the faces of their new friends. They really did look expectant and hopeful.
"I don't see an issue with it," offered Doone. "What do you think Starnel?"
"I don't see how a small delegation coming down for a few days could hurt. Give us some more time to consider, but tell me, what do they really want?" All eyes turned to Tarya.
"Ultimately I think they'd be interested in a technology trade, though our technologies are very incompatible at the moment. It's probably fair to say they'd want us as an ally in event of a war too, though they always do their best to keep the peace."
"Hmmm." Hummed Starnel. "I still don't think them coming down would be an issue, and say you?"
"Let's do it." Said Doone. " We don't have to agree to anything yet – or at the end, ay Tarya?"
"Asbolutely!" She affirmed and with that, they all returned to their seats, apart from Doone who stood to address them all.
"We would like to offer some of you a chance to come and visit our world for a few days, if that would be acceptable. Then we can discuss anything further at a later date. Would that be acceptable?"
"Not only would that be acceptable Doone, it would be an honour. Thank you… Now, lets finish the evening in a more relaxed manor shall we. We have prepared rooms for you to stay in should you wish Doone and we could return to your world tomorrow. Would that be acceptable.
"Aye Captain. Most acceptable. Thank you." They all separated to mingle again and Picard flashed Tarya a subtle 'thank you'.