String Theory_ Cohesion (Book 1) - Jeffrey Lang [18]
Stepping forward, Captain Janeway extended her hand to Ziv and said, “Captain Ziv, I’d like to welcome you and your hara to Voyager. I’m Kathryn Janeway. May I present some members of my senior staff?” But even as the first word was out of the captain’s mouth, the Monorhans collectively lowered their heads down to their shoulders, startled. Captain Janeway immediately froze, and Neelix watched Tuvok and Chakotay shift into stances of readiness. After a trio of heartbeats had passed without anyone moving, the captain asked solicitously, “Is something wrong?”
The Monorhan leader flinched again, but not so dramatically. After a moment, he straightened his long neck and twisted his head from side to side as if listening. Neelix heard—or rather, felt—a stream of low clicks and thrums. Watching the Monorhan carefully, he realized the sides of the captain’s throat were vibrating ever so slightly in time to the tones. A second later, his lips twitched and Neelix heard the translation through his combadge. “How odd,” Ziv said. “I hear my words in my language at the same time I hear them in yours.”
“It’s a device we call the universal translator. These badges on our shirts are networked with the translator so we can understand what you’re saying.”
The Monorhan cocked his head and studied the captain’s combadge. “Fascinating. Previously, when we spoke through the communication system, I did not experience this…” He waved his hand over his ears. “…this doubling effect.” One of Ziv’s companions lifted his head, and again Neelix both heard and felt the deep bass thrum. Ziv responded with a nod, then turned to Captain Janeway and said, “The device does not seem to work with the second speech.”
Captain Janeway grasped Ziv’s meaning. “Interesting,” she said. “This is probably because neither we nor any of the races we deal with have this ability, this second speech.”
Ziv stretched his neck to the side—Neelix interpreted this as a sign of mild surprise or amusement—then replied, “Then we both have something new to learn.”
The captain smiled and once again extended her hand. “As do I, Captain Ziv. Please allow me to welcome you aboard my ship. May I present my first officer, Chakotay?” Beside him, Neelix felt Chakotay relax as he stepped forward. Once again, the captain had skillfully negotiated a tricky moment in a first-contact situation. Less than five minutes later, the Monorhans appeared to be at their ease and understood that he and Chakotay would be their escorts for the balance of their visit.
Before they left the shuttlebay, Chief Clemens, the perpetually grease-stained deck chief, asked the captain if the Monorhans would like him to take a look at their vehicle. “Chief Clemens loves his work,” Neelix offered.
“I’d have to on this ship, wouldn’t I?” Clemens asked.
Ziv turned to one of his companions and let loose with a series of short clicks. Then he turned back to the chief and said, “My pilot says you should feel free to inspect our craft if he may later in turn examine one of yours.”
The chief grinned, obviously pleased at the prospect. “Absolutely!” he said. “I just finished patching one back together! Best you come around before they let Mr. Paris fly her, though. You never know if you’re going to see one again when he takes it out.”
“That’s enough, Chief,” Neelix said, smiling indulgently. “No reason they should be afraid of Tom any sooner than necessary.”
Looking slightly baffled, Ziv allowed himself to be led away, then fell in easily beside Captain Janeway in an odd loping, rolling gait. Three other Monorhans fell in behind the pair, followed by Chakotay and Tuvok, clearly intent on engaging them in conversation. The smallest of the five Monorhans lagged behind the rest and, when everyone else had passed, slowly knuckled over to the shuttlebay forcefield and studied the blue glow raptly. Twisting his head to regard Neelix, the Monorhan asked, “Can I touch it?”
“Yes.”