• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“Of course!” Neelix said, pleased to be of service. His primary role during the kind of emergency Voyager was currently embroiled in was to monitor the crew and make sure they ate and rested regularly. Neelix knew he was well suited to the role, but the situation had not evolved to the point where he needed to exercise the authority the captain had invested in him, so he was, as a consequence, slightly underemployed, especially since Captain Ziv’s hara had sequestered themselves in their quarters. He was surprised to see Sem, but despite the earlier unpleasantness, he was determined to assist her in any way possible. “What can I do for you, rih-hara-tan?”

“Well,” Sem said, “first, I was hoping you could help me find something to eat. Commander Chakotay explained how the replicators worked, but I must be doing something wrong. The machine doesn’t seem to understand what I’m asking for.”

“It wouldn’t,” Neelix said, escorting her to a small table. “Especially if you’re asking for something it doesn’t recognize. What did you want?”

“A beverage. Something hot, I think. On my world, we drink a kind of infusion called nualla. It’s slightly bitter, but calming. Do you have anything like that?”

“Ma’am,” Neelix said, laughing and pulling out a chair for Sem, “thousands. We should sample some items to see if you can find something close.”

Settling into her seat, Sem emitted a small trill that Neelix took to be a sound of merriment and pleasure. “Where do we begin?”

“With some green tea, I think,” Neelix said, rubbing his hands together with anticipation. “Something mild.” Speaking to the replicator, he ordered a cup of jasmine and waited as the device assembled the beverage from its component molecules. “You understand, this won’t be as good as something I could make from fresh ingredients, but the kitchen isn’t open during yellow alerts. Too much danger of fire or…” He waved his hands vaguely. “Collateral damage.”

“I understand,” Sem said as he set the cup down in front of her. “Though I hope I’ll have the chance to try more of your cuisine before we leave. I thought the food you prepared for the banquet was quite lovely.”

“Oh, that?” Neelix exclaimed. “A banquet? That was nothing. Pretty much just cleaned out the refrigerator.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Sem said as she picked up her teacup and sniffed the brew. She jerked her head back slightly at the faint aroma, but then inched closer to it again and inhaled carefully. “This is interesting,” she said. “Not what I was thinking of, but interesting.” She took a small sip, then quickly set the cup down.

“Too hot?”

Sem nodded rapidly.

“Not to your taste?”

“I’d like to let it cool,” Sem said, then coughed slightly as if to clear her throat.

“Is there something else I can get you?” Neelix asked. He found he was feeling ever-so-slightly protective of her. Wondering if perhaps his earlier judgment had been too harsh, he asked solicitously, “Hungry?”

“No,” Sem said, then rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “Exhausted, though. It has been a trying day.”

“You should try to rest,” Neelix said. “I’m sure you’ll have a lot to do when you get home.”

“I’d like to,” Sem said. “I’ve tried to sleep, but the humming is oppressive. I don’t notice it so much when I’m awake, but when I’m trying to relax…”

Neelix regarded Sem curiously. “Humming?” he asked. “What do you mean?”

Sem clicked once, a sound of impatience, and waved her hand past her left ear. “You don’t hear it? It’s ever present.”

Neelix cocked his head and strained to listen carefully. “No,” he said. “When did you start hearing it?”

“First on the shuttle,” Sem said, her tone growing irritated. “I thought it was the engines or some piece of equipment, but then I heard it in the hangar and have ever since. You really don’t know what I mean?”

“I’m afraid not, ma’am,” Neelix said. “None of Captain Ziv’s hara mentioned a humming.”

“Really?” Sem asked, surprised. “How odd. It’s been…pervasive. I assumed you all heard it.”

“No,” Neelix said, “and I have particularly acute hearing.” This was an