Seven of Nine - Christie Golden [4]
"Certainly. Please excuse the intrusion. You are Captain Janeway of the Alpha Quadrant vessel Voyager?"
Janeway nodded. "Yes. And you are... ?"
The alien bowed deeply. "I am Tamaak Vrs. I have a favor to ask, and a favor to offer."
"I'm listening."
"My people," and he gestured to the cluster of
'23 thirty-odd large-eyed beings who stood respectfully behind him, "are without a home. We Skedans are good citizens of the Lhiaarian Empire, and we are attempting to reach the Emperor and ask for repatriation.
You are also seeking passage through Imperial space, or you would not be here. If I can move you swiftly through all the checkpoints, will you give my people passage to Lhiaari aboard your vessel?"
"Tamaak, if you can speed up this process, I might let you pilot the vessel," said Janeway, hope lighting her face. "But I don't see how-" Tamaak turned his head and half-closed his eyes. A few seconds later, one of the heavily armored, burly, four-armed aliens who served as guards in the place trundled up to them.
"Captain Janeway?"
"Yes?"
"Your admission requirements are being addressed.
Please, follow me."
They all turned to stare at Tamaak, mouths open with shock, then hastened to follow the guard before he was swallowed up by the crowd.
Seven was unimpressed. Janeway and the others did not know of the Skedan's formidable telepathic powers. Clearly, he had "suggested" to the guard that the Voyager crew should be given priority. She followed, the last in line, pushing her way through the crowd. For a moment, she lost sight of the black-and-red uniform of her captain, and craned to see her.
A horrible scent assaulted her nostrils. It was the rank, stomach-churning stench of rotting flesh. Suddenly fear squeezed her heart, sent adrenaline spurting through her. Seven's mouth went dry.
No... not again....
Straight ahead, perched atop a scanning booth and impaling her with its yellow-eyed gaze, was an enormous black bird.
JANEWAY COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR LUCK. SHE WASN'T sure exactly what kind of connections Tamaak Vrs had, but whatever they were they were certainly welcome. They made quite a sizable group, the refugees and the delegation from the Federation starship, as they followed behind the Imperial guard. Out of the corner of her eye, Janeway allowed herself the chance for a better look at her benefactor and his people.
They were a little smaller than humans, and though they were certainly bipedal, they weren't exactly humanoid. What once must have been an elongated, cervine muzzle eons ago had compressed into a smaller version on a flatter, more humanoid face. The eyes were enormous, soft and limpid. The skull was large and protected by a covering of bone which extended down the beings' backs.
They had arms with three fingers that appeared dexterous enough, and a delicate torso flared into large hindquarters with powerful legs.
Soft, pale brown fur covered those body parts not protected by bone.
All of the Skedans carried heavy packs.
Clearly the skeletal and muscular structure, reinforced by the bone ridge down their back, made them quite strong despite an almost fragile appearance.
A soft chirp caused Janeway to glance over at another of the Skedans.
It was a female, and one of her young poked its head up out of a pouch in her belly. It was adorable, its big eyes and ears reminding Janeway of a fawn. Its mother picked it up and cradled it, murmuring, her eyes catching Janeway's and half-closing in what Janeway somehow knew to be the equivalent of a friendly smile.
Janeway smiled back, though her heart suddenly ached with sympathy.
The children always suffered the most in tragic situations like this one, but clearly the Skedans were a loving, supportive family unit.
She liked them immediately, feeling a deep and profound sense of kinship with them even though they were so unlike humans in their appearances.
"Captain." Tuvok's cool voice broke her