The Garden - Melissa Scott [67]
"Grayrose didn't want to kill that one," Paris said, and knew he sounded defensive. "And she was glad I only stunned the other one."
Kim said, "I agree with Mr. Chakotay, the whole idea makes me uncomfortable. But I also have to say I didn't see any signs of real intelligence when I was on the planet. I was looking for it, too-specifically, to see if any of them used tools-but it never happened. And they had opportunities."
"It's not a great solution," Paris said, "but from
what Grayrose said, the Kirse have a fairly small population relative to what they control. I can see where they might not think they had any other choice. Particularly if they're metal-poor, like Neelix said." He braced himself for a cutting response from Chakotay, but the first officer said nothing. Paris glanced warily at him, but the other man's face was expressionless, unreadable. All right, Paris thought, so I've put myself outside the pale one more time. But you didn't think much of me to begin with.
In the viewscreen, the doctor cleared his throat. "I think the health of this crew-"
"Yes, Doctor, I know." Janeway laid her hands flat on the table. "All right. Mr. Chakotay, I recognize and respect your concerns, but the safety of our crew has to come first even if this weren't potentially a Prime Directive matter. We'll continue negotiating for now. Lieutenant Torres, have you finished the modifications to the transporter system?"
The engineer nodded. "I have a couple of templates to work from, all of which should give the Kirse what they need without compromising our security. I'm just waiting for Tuvok to review them."
"Good. Then, Tuvok, you'll finish that, and I'll set up another meeting with the Kirse." Janeway pushed herself to her feet, and the others rose with her. Glancing sideways, Paris thought he saw anger, or perhaps disappointment, flicker across Chakotay's face, but then the first officer had himself under control again. "Dismissed."
Janeway looked up in surprise at the sound of her door buzzer. She had expected to have some time alone, at least an hour or two before she had to return to the bridge and the anticipated transmission from Adamant responding to her first offer. "Who is it?"
"Chakotay." There was a little pause. "Captain, may I talk to you?"
"Of course." What's gone wrong this time? Janeway wondered, and hit the door release. As the panel slid back, she glanced instinctively at the status display on the side console. Everything showed green, all ship's functions well within the new limits established since their arrival in the Delta Quadrant. Of course, if they had been back in the Alpha Quadrant, some of those lights would be glowing orange, the readings unacceptable by Starfleet standards, but they had all had to make adjustments. "What is it?" she asked, and motioned the first officer to a seat.
Chakotay made a face, but seated himself. "Nothing serious-nothing to do with the ship," he said. "But I am-concerned-about the Kirse."
Janeway nodded, and sat down opposite him. "You know the situation as well as I do. If we don't get supplies here, we won't make it to another system."
"Assuming, of course, that M-class planets continue to be as rare as they have been," Chakotay answered.
"Would you take that chance with your ship?" Janeway asked, and the first officer looked away.
"I've never liked no-win situations," he said, after a moment.
Janeway allowed herself a smile, knowing it came out wry, and Chakotay matched it, reluctantly.
"What the Kirse are doing to those creatures-it goes against everything I was brought up to believe," he said. "No one, no being, has the right to make use of another like that."
"Your own people used draft animals," Janeway said. "The traditionalists among them still do, for all that machines are available to do the same work."
"It's not the same." Chakotay shook his head, more in frustration, Janeway guessed, than in denial. "We treat animals, all living things, with respect, we ask permission