Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [59]
The Neyser wore a simple brown tunic over a flowing green skirt. It had short, sandy-brown hair and its skin was either deeply tanned or a natural bronze. Its appearance did not immediately suggest its gender.
The smaller humanoid looked like an offspring of its counterpart. Patel stepped up to Paris, informing him that they were actually two distinct alien life-forms: one a silicon-based Dulaph, and the other a bio-mimetic Irsk, who coated the surface of the Dulaph and gave it its humanoid shape. Paris wondered if this might account for the faint silver sheen of the alien’s skin that glinted in the sun.
A faint haze surrounded the body of the Neyser and flitting around within the haze was a tiny, winged creature. Patel identified the haze as the noncorporeal life-form indigenous to the system’s tenth planet. The winged creature’s DNA confirmed it was native to the third planet, as Patel had suspected.
The Neyser’s right arm was covered by what looked like a long insect, which was actually a Greech. Its body was divided into sections with its head resting on the back of the humanoid’s hand. Two long antennae sprung from its head, just above two large, orange eyes. Its body got smaller as it curved up its host’s arm with the long tail wrapped around the back of the Neyser’s waist.
A loud, discordant shriek broke the serenity of the field once Paris and the away team got within ten meters of the aliens. Kim’s hand went to his weapon, but Tom held out a firm hand, ordering Kim to stand down. Paris signaled the others to stay put as he stepped closer to the aliens.
“Good afternoon,” Paris said cheerfully. “I am Lieutenant Commander Tom Paris, of the Federation Starship Voyager . I’d like to speak with you if you have a moment.” He got no visible response.
Paris took two more steps toward the group but was brought up short as the Irsk/Dulaph’s arm suddenly extended to more than two meters in length as it delicately plucked an insect from a leaf. The arm retreated to its normal size as quickly as it had morphed and the insect was deposited into the alien’s mouth and chewed vigorously.
Maybe we’re disturbing lunch, Paris thought.
He then repeated his greeting but the aliens continued to ignore him. Reluctantly, he retreated back to the away team’s position.
“Maybe they don’t understand us,” he said, scratching his head.
“It’s possible,” Kim conceded.
“But unlikely,” Seven added.
“Why do you say that?” Cambridge asked.
“They show no curiosity about us whatsoever,” Seven replied. “If they did not understand us, but were interested in communicating with us, they would most likely at least look at us.”
“They’re ignoring us completely,” Patel finished.
“Like the Borg used to do,” Kim observed.
“There’s a less than charming thought,” Cambridge said softly.
“Which one made the screaming sound we just heard?” Sharak asked.
“The Greech,” Seven replied.
“How onomatopoetic,” Cambridge noted. When Sharak tossed him a curious glance, Cambridge explained, “The sound they make … it sounds like the name.”
“Oh,” Sharak said, smiling sincerely.
“They appear to function collectively,” Paris said.
“Without further observation, it is unwise to leap to that conclusion,” Seven replied.
“They don’t seem frightened of us in the least,” Cambridge added.
“Why is that a problem?” Patel asked.
“Because they should be,” Kim replied. “We outnumber them, and we’re armed. Their lack of curiosity, going about what looks like their normal routine, despite our presence suggests that whatever their defenses are, they are formidable.”
“Or this particular group is expendable,” Sharak suggested.
Paris said, “Let’s move on to that larger facility half a klick to the north of our position.” In the distance a large perfectly square building could be seen at the edge of the field. Tricorders indicated that seventy-two life-forms were present within.
Paris began to sweat uncomfortably as the away team walked through the field, careful not to disturb any of the well-tended crops. His step