Seven of Nine - Christie Golden [11]
He wanted to talk more with the Skedans, and would, but right now there was protocol to observe.
"It is required that your people be scanned for possible weapons or anything that might pose a danger. Plus, as we are not familiar with your technology, we're going to have to do a hand search of your belongings. Please don't take offense."
"Of course not. We understand perfectly and will cooperate to the fullest extent." Tamaak gestured, and the six Skedans stepped forward, handing over their Tatty packs without complaint for inspection.
"Tell me, if I am not being too forward," Tamaak said, stepping closer to Chakotay, "what is the meaning of the mark on your face? We too have ritual markings that denote our ranks and position in society," he added, showing a circle crisscrossed with stripes on his right shoulder.
Completely comfortable with the conversation, Chakotay told Tamaak of his father's people, the meaning of the tattoo, and of the Sky Spirits who had given them so much. And as he talked, it was almost as if he were back in those days of his youth. He could have practically sworn he smelled the sweet, calming fragrance of sage, the herb his father burned in purification rituals.
Lyssa Campbell gazed at the aliens. Everyone knew how helpful they'd been in untangling some of the Lhiaarian Empire's red tape. The Skedans were also refugees. Something, she didn't know what, had happened to their homeworld and they were now seeking a new place to live. It was sad, really, especially as they seemed like such decent people.
Lyssa Campbell knew all about being ripped away from a place she loved.
She had grown up on a colony that was, essentially, the frontier.
When she was only eleven, her baby sister had been killed and the rest of her family had fled for their lives. Lyssa and her parents had survived, but they hadn't even had packs, like the Skedans. She wondered, as Lieutenant Ramirez and Ensign Dawson went through the shoddy packs that had clearly seen years of hard traveling, what had happened to the Skedan homeworld.
One of the younger ones met her gaze and ambled over toward her.
"Hello," it said, peering up at her shyly.
"Well, hi," Lyssa smiled brightly. "What's your name, little one?"
"Thena," it said, its girlish voice a whisper. "Pretty buttons," it added, peering up at the console. "Can I touch?"
"Well, only the ones I tell you to, okay?" She glanced up, trying to find little Thena's mother. An elegant Skedan saw the two of them together and half closed her eyes.
Permission granted to play, thought Lyssa. "Okay, up we go!" Thena chortled with delight as, held in Lyssa Campbell's encircling arms, she reached out a single digit to caress the glowing lights on the console.
Lyssa couldn't keep the smile off her face. Her baby sister, Lara, had been entranced by dancing lights as well. The warm weight she carried filled her heart, and, for just an instant, she thought she caught a whiff of apple pie-Lara's favorite.
Luis Ramirez admired the toughness of the Skedans. They'd clearly survived some dreadful ordeal, but their spirits were undaunted. In the packs he found nothing that resembled a weapon-only foodstuffs, utensils, and other harmless items. Just to be certain, he passed a tricorder over Tamaak Vrs's pack and repeated the process with the others. The tricorder registered nothing out of the ordinary. The Skedans posed no threat.
He straightened and nodded to Chakotay. Beside him, his fellow security officer, Ensign Dawson, completed his inspection of the remaining packs.
"No weapons, sir," he told the first officer.
"I'm not surprised," said Chakotay, and smiled warmly at Tamaak.
"Ramirez, will you escort our guests to Cargo Bay One? I apologize for not offering you proper quarters, Tamaak, but for so many-" Tamaak held up a placating-hand? Paw? "No need, Commander. When you have traveled as poorly and as long as we