String Theory_ Cohesion (Book 1) - Jeffrey Lang [24]
“I do not know, Captain, but something has profoundly affected the texture and density of subspace in this area. The energies required to do such a thing are…I would like to say ‘inconceivable’…”
“Except here we are discussing it,” the captain said. “Do you think this represents a threat to the ship?”
“I have been pondering that very question, Captain, but so far I have come to only one conclusion: The Monorhans have collectively placed themselves in a situation of great risk to escape this system.”
Captain Janeway responded, “And there may be wisdom in their decision.”
Seven nodded.
“All right then. Thank you, Seven. Continue working on this problem. I would like to know a little more about what we’re seeing here, though I’ll gladly do it from a distance.”
“There’s more, Captain,” Seven said. “I believe I understand why we did not see the Monorhans until we almost collided with them.”
Before the captain could respond, her combadge beeped again. “Captain Janeway to the bridge, please,” Commander Chakotay said. “We’re ready to move.”
After responding, the captain asked, “Is that information critical to our current situation?”
“Perhaps. I believe the extreme folds in subspace are affecting the curvature of space-time in our continuum.”
“Which means?” Harry Kim asked.
“Which means, Ensign, that when the ship begins to move, we will likely be in for a rough ride.”
Janeway permitted her guests to move around the bridge escorted only by Neelix. Now that they were all together again, the Monorhans seemed to prefer to remain no more than an arm’s length away from each other, all except for the youngest, Diro, who seemed more easygoing than the others. She wondered what else Chakotay had observed about their guests in the time they were together, but knew she could not leave the bridge for a private consultation. Catching her first officer’s eye, she indicated he should join her near Tuvok’s station. “Tell me what you think of our guests,” she said.
“If I were speaking as a xenologist,” Chakotay remarked, wearing a small grin, “I’d say that we should spend a year with them. We’ve encountered some fascinating species since we’ve come to the Delta Quadrant, but I’d have to put them near the top of the list.”
“They are quite something, aren’t they?”
“Have you noticed how they orient themselves around the captain, how he’s always in at least their peripheral vision?” Chakotay asked, some academic fervor creeping into his voice. “And the subvocalizations? I don’t think they even realize they’re doing it sometimes. The sounds are as subconscious to them as a blink or finger twitch to us.”
“Why can’t the translator understand them?”
“Because they’re not using words, Captain,” Chakotay said softly. “The sounds are expressions of emotion. And there’s something else going on, too. I’m not sure what. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“Pardon my intrusion, Captain,” Tuvok said, leaning forward slightly. “But I believe I have something to add.”
“Go ahead.”
“I have a headache,” Tuvok said.
Janeway and Chakotay looked at each other, both struggling to maintain neutral expressions. Janeway turned back to the security officer and prompted, “And?”
Tuvok pointed at his temple. “Here,” he said. “My frontal lobe. Typically, this part of my head aches whenever I overtax my psionic abilities. On several occasions when I worked with Kes, I experienced this unique form of pain. And I experience it whenever the Monorhans communicate subvocally.”
Chakotay asked, “You think they’re communicating telepathically?”
Tuvok shook his head. “Not necessarily. But the Monorhans possess some form of psionic ability, and it is related to their subvocalizing.”
Janeway pondered this for several seconds, then offered, “A hunting language?” Tuvok’s eyebrow shot up. “Just something I was thinking about on our