The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [11]
The voice, as translated by the computer, was completely feminine.
"We have picked up your signal, Captain Janeway. From what you say and from what we know, you are not known to the Akerians.
Dare we hope that you have come to help us?"
CHAPTER 3
Chakotay stared. It was impolite, and his father would have been disappointed in his behavior, but the first officer couldn't help himself. In his mind, the animal spirit's message thundered, and his skin crawled with gooseflesh.
Others might stare at this creature--no, this person--because of her curious appearance, her unusual combination of reptile and mammal into one being that seemed, to human eyes, bizarre yet not unappealing.
Chakotay stared for another reason entirely. He stared at the female alien's white mane of hair... hair that was braided with feathers and beads. Ornamentations that were uncannily familiar to Chakotay. He stared at the patterns on her garb, at the easy and comfortable union of natural and artificial in her surroundings.
Had it been a human on that video screen, he might have addressed her as Grandmother. Don't go attributing human characteristics to aliens, he chided himself. That's led to some of the worst incidents in Federation history. Learn about them and take them on their own terms.
Just because she's got the dignity and bearing of Grandmother doesn't mean she's old and wise.
But now Janeway was speaking, and Chakotay quickly recovered himself.
"As you must know from our message, we have no quarrel with anyone in this sector. We are not friends of the Akerians, but neither, we hope, are we their enemies. Who are your people?
How may I address you?"
"I am called Nata. I am a Viha, one of the elders of my people."
So much for incorrect assumptions, thought Chakotay with a trace of annoyed exasperation.
"We are the Verunans," continued Viha Nata. "This planet is Veruna Four." The great, lambent eyes narrowed and the snakelike head cocked to one side. The gesture sent the soft white hair flowing. The beads and feathers in its length danced. "Do I have your word, Captain Janeway of the Federation, that you have not come here on behalf of the Akerian Empire to continue their attacks on my people?"
"You do indeed, Viha Nata."
Some of the tension left the Verunan's stance. "We are a people of honor despite some of the actions to which our present situation has driven us. We take you at your word and trust that you, too, are a people of honor."
Chakotay tensed even further. He was usually good at not telegraphing his emotions, but he saw Janeway glance at him quickly, then back at the screen again. Chakotay resigned himself to talking with her soon and explaining his reactions.
He should have known better than to think he could get anything past the captain. She was too shrewd and was learning to know him too well.
"Your trust means a great deal to us," replied Janeway. "I must emphasize, in the interest of being open with you and your people, that we have not come here to assist you. We've come to explore the spatial concavity in your system. Are you aware of it? Can you tell us more about its nature?"
Viha Nata closed her eyes, as if in pain, then opened them slowly.
"How can we not be aware of the great Sun-Eater? We see it in our sky every day, a brown-purple bruise against our violated stars. Your ship boasts technology far beyond anything we have ever encountered, and we have seen many a ship in this system. You probably already know more about its scientific nature than we do."
Janeway was standing, her eyes meeting the great orbs of Viha Nata steadily. "We have seen the debris of other star-faring vessels in this area. From what I am hearing of the nature of the Verunans, you are not the ones responsible for their destruction."
And then something totally unexpected happened. The huge eyes of the Viha filled with liquid. Tears Chakotay marveled. They can weep!
"We did not fire upon