JP: Cmdr Teller & Amb. Vataix: Meet the Neighbors (Part 2)
Geoffrey Teller
((Shuttlecraft Völuspá))
Vataix: I think we picked up a friend…
Geoff’s head snapped around.
Teller:...a what?
An incoming comm call echoed through the shuttle cabin from Lt. Commander Lidia Ivanova aboard the Independence-B.
Ivanova: =/\= Independence to Shuttlecraft Völuspá. Is everything all right? That looked like a nasty hit. =/\=
Teller: =/\= This is the Völuspá...we’ve had a collision with an unknown spaceborne organism that the sensors barely detect. You happen to know anything about these critters? Specifically, do they like the taste of shuttlecrafts? =/\=
Ivanova: =/\= We encountered a herd of them during our patrol of the asteroid field. They were pretty docile, though it seems one wandered back with us. Do you need assistance? Is anyone hurt? =/\=
Geoff looked over at the Ambassador who, aside from being mildly disheveled, shook her head.
Teller: =/\= Negative on injuries, Indy, but this critter doesn’t seem interested in letting go of us. There’s no way I can land the shuttle with it still attached. Be advised, I have Ambassador Vataix aboard. I’d like you to get a transporter lock on her just in case. =/\=
Ivanova: =/\= Already on it. We can beam you both out whenever you need. =/\=
Vataix: I’m fine, Commander. Really.
Teller: Respectfully ma’am, you're my responsibility while we’re in this shuttle and I’d be negligent if I didn’t try to protect you from whatever...is currently suckling on our bussard collector.
Geoff scowled out the viewport, trying to interpret the actions of a creature as alien as anything he’d seen. It was vaguely similar to a small gormagander he’d seen once on an ill fated sightseeing cruise, but a fraction of the size and with none of that creature's flowing grace. In comparison, this creature was bulbous and oddly segmented.
Vataix: I understand that. And I’ll leave if you think it best, but maybe I can help you on getting this little-- ::She glanced back at the creature’s belly visible against the transparent aluminum:: ...well, not-so-little fellow back home.
Geoff felt a knot of tension forming in his shoulders and hoped he wasn’t making a career ending decision for the both of them.
Teller: Fine, but the first…::Geoff glanced at the damage report from the diagnostics::...well, the second or third sign of trouble and I’m ordering the Indy to beam you out.
Coming from a matriarchal society, Rivi found it both amusing and endearing to witness a man exude such assertiveness. Especially as it had been a number of years since she’d last seen Teller on the Veritas, where she’d first thought he was a helpful porter.
Vataix: I must say, this is an interesting side of you to see, Mr. Teller. Very matronly. ::smiles earnestly::
Geoff blushed slightly and busied himself at the controls.
Teller: Kind of you to say, Ambassador, but don’t think for a second that you’re sweet talking me into staying aboard a second longer. Speaking of…=/\= Teller to Independence...you mentioned getting some sensor readings on these creatures. Can you pass anything relevant over to us?
Ivanova: =/\= Sure, we’re sending you what we have. =/\=
Geoff rotated in the pilot’s chair to one of the primary sensor displays, skimming the mountain of data the Independence considered a summary. Clearly somebody aboard had either been very through in their duties or deeply enamored with the oddly...cute creatures. The comprehensive visual records from the Indy showed the creatures cavorting in a large group in open space near an asteroid belt at the outer edge of the system and Geoff had an idea.
Rivi turned her attention back to the large animal blocking her view. Unlike the work bees that had been flying around the outpost, she didn’t see any robotic arms or other tools on the outside of the shuttle.
Vataix: How are we going to get it to release the shuttle?
Geoff had considered polarizing the nacelle or popping off a low yield burst of the shuttles phasers but something deeply disarming about the creature stayed his hand and he opted for the least direct action he could justify.
Teller: Ambassador, how would you feel about extending the scope of our tour a bit...say, as far as this system's kuiper belt. Independence saw a pack of the things floating around out there and I think we should try to drop it off with its pals.
Rivi looked back over her shoulder at Teller, furrowing her brow.
Vataix: You mean with this creature still attached? Is that safe?
Geoff checked and rechecked their readings and found that, beyond the relatively minor impact damage from the collision, the shuttle was perfectly intact and showed no ill effects from their passenger. The impulse engines were clear and so long as they didn’t go to warp, Geoff was reasonably sure the creature wouldn’t be harmed.
Teller: I believe so Ambassador but if you have even an iota of doubt, I’d be happy to have the Independence take you back to the station. It’s your call, ma’am.
The Betazoid woman nodded. She trusted him.
Vataix: Okay, is there anything I can do to help?
Geoff smiled as he rotated the seat forward and brought the impulse engines back up to power.
Teller: Yes actually...that panel to your right is the long range sensors. I want you to keep an eye out for anything that resembles our hitchhiker. My hope is that once it's back among its kind, it’ll get bored of us and head back home.
Rivi looked over the sensor panel, familiarizing herself with the controls. Fortunately, Starfleet’s colorful user interface was pretty intuitive.
Vataix: Got it.
She played with the various buttons, noting how to zoom in and out and tag various objects. Their new friend for instance was labeled a bright blue.
Geoff nodded and got the shuttlecraft under way. The view forward swung away from Amity and outwards, where rippling lilac bands of coherent gas seemed to wrap the entire system in a protective shroud. Within that shroud an unusually dense shell of asteroids enveloped the system and were home to the great treasure that Amity was charged with protecting. A naturally occuring field of regenerative benemite crystals, the very heart and soul of the Quantum Slipstream Drive. It was very simply described by one Federation cosmologist as ‘The Motherload.’
Teller: It’ll take us a few minutes to make it out to the belt at this speed but our passenger seems alright. Anything on the sensors yet?
As they began moving, the creature began tapping its right fin against the cockpit, a dull thud reverberating through the cabin.
Geoff glanced over in surprise at the sudden thumping and tried to interpret the gesture, but quickly dismissed the idea. He had absolutely no frame of reference for ‘Delta Quadrant Space Cow Body Language’ and making an unfounded guess while escorting a VIP would look pretty stupid at his pending court-martial.
Teller: Uh, Ambassador...you did say you wanted to open relationships with the locals. I think this is your first chance. Don’t suppose your Betazoid ::Geoff made a gesture that was somewhere between spooky fingers and magic waves:: gifts could help us out?
The ambassador chuckled as she glanced up towards the sound of the thumping.
Vataix: I haven’t heard them referred to as “gifts” before.
Despite most non-Betazoids’ fears, Betazoid telepathy was less like “hearing” someone’s thoughts as it was perceiving an additional sensory dimension. Fortunately in this case, then, it meant that the lack of a common language wouldn’t be an insurmountable challenge.
Vataix: It’s… jubilant.
She looked back at him smiling.
Vataix: It’s enjoying the ride!
Geoff was relieved and decided to indulge the creature. With a few taps of the controls the shuttle went into a slow longitudinal roll, the view ahead gently rotating as they spun. His hands were practiced and steady at the controls and Geoff found he was genuinely enjoying himself, in spite of his long and painful relationship with shuttlecraft. His time aboard the Thor, most especially the time he spent with Sern, the Vulcan katra which had been lodged in his brain, had left a massive and mostly beneficial impact on him.
Rivi watched as Teller skillfully flew the shuttle, his fingers dancing across the console like a concert pianist.
Vataix: You’re quite the pilot, Mr. Teller!
Teller: Thank you Ambassador. Wasn’t always the case...in fact there was a time you couldn’t get me in one of these things without sedatives. Damn things had a tendency to explode near me. Fortunately I seem to have shaken that off over the years. But probably better not to tempt fate.
Geoff slowed their roll to a stop and stabilized the shuttle. His passengers inside and outside the shuttle both seemed to be enjoying themselves and Geoff found himself smiling. Rivi’s presence had a surprisingly buoying effect on his mood, a sort of natural radiant charisma that Geoff found somehow gratifying. Teller began to see how the woman might be a success in the diplomatic arena.
Vataix: This is a real treat for me as well, I must admit. To see you in your element, enjoying yourself.
It wasn’t too long of a trip before they had reached the edge of the asteroid field. At first, it didn’t look like there was anything else out there besides lifeless rocks of minerals. Then, a couple blue dots lit up on the sensor map Rivi was watching. Then a few more. Five. Eight. Twelve.
Rivi smiled as she turned back to Teller.
Vataix: I’m picking up at least 32 of these creatures ahead. They look to be mostly congregated between those groups of asteroids.
She highlighted the area on the map and sent it to Teller’s console.
Geoff changed the shuttle's heading and began reducing their speed gradually, not wanting to startle or drive away the very creatures he was trying to find.
Teller: Sensors say they’re ahead, about 2500 meters, but I can’t see a thing. Is there anything on the…
The shuttle whumped slightly as the creature detached itself and began undulating away from the shuttle, completely unharmed by the journey. Before drifting away it seemed to flap the same appendage it had used to strike the viewport. Geoff wouldn’t say it out loud, but the damn thing looked like it was waving at them.
Looking forward through the windows, the obstructed view was finally lifted as the creature let go of the shuttle and began coasting ahead towards the rest of the herd.
Vataix: It looks like it found its family.
Following their passenger Geoff’s eyes were able to pick out the black on black profiles of several more creatures, each looping and whorling around themselves and the nearby asteroids. It reminded Teller of a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’ staged by the ship’s Cetacean Ops team last year.
Teller: Congratulations Ambassador...I think you just met the neighbors. May have even made your first friends.
After letting her gaze linger on the younger creature and its brethren, Rivi turned to Teller.
Vataix: Thank you again, Commander, for the flight today. This has been the best introductory tour I could have asked for.
Geoff thought back to the young woman he’d met aboard the Veritas who had mistaken him for a bellhop. The memory put an odd smile on his face. He pantomimed lifting and replacing a small cap then brought his hands back to the conn.
Teller: As always, ma’am….I’m at your service.
And with that, Teller brought the shuttle around, beginning their trip back to Amity Outpost.
---
Commander Geoffrey Teller
Executive Officer
USS Thor - NCC 82607
Commodore A. Kells, Commanding
V239509GT0
&
Ambassador Rivi Vataix
Chief of Mission and Commanding Officer, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
I238705TZ0