So, Horatio seems to be settling in - but Ehliena is still cautious...
Enjoy
Lucy
Ehliena gave her cousin a hug and chuckled at her whispered comment, “Yes, thanks to you I feel a lot better and more comfortable when he’s around, but I still have to be careful.”
Deanna was confused, “Why? Has he done something that still makes you feel uncomfortable?”
Ehliena stared at her cousin, “I have to watch my thoughts and feelings Deanna – he can read me – just as easily as you can. I don’t want to influence him in any way – you know that.”
The older woman was startled, “Are you sure? I don’t read anything from him at all.” She paused for a moment a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Maybe it’s because yours was the first mind he touched – that happens a lot. You get a very strong connection with the first minds you are exposed to; goodness knows how much I could hear my mother when I was younger.”
Ehliena laughed at the look on Deanna’s face, “and your mother is louder than most… Maybe that’s what it is – but it is why I have to be careful.”
Deanna nodded, “I agree, but it will get easier as he gets more accustomed to being human and listens to his mind less – and it’s a good exercise for you – trains your telepathic control – I already feel that you are much much stronger than you used to be.”
Stepping onto the transporter platform she gave Ehliena a wink, “Make sure you keep me updated… Chief O’Brien…”
As the Chief engaged the transporter, Ehliena gave her cousin a soft smile and shook her head. Her cousin had tried to match her up with dates ever since she had become a teenager and was not above trying to be a matchmaker.
Leaving the transporter room she sighed, she wasn’t ready for that close a relationship at the moment; neither was she the type to have a casual affair these days. She had approached the time of her life when she wanted something long-term and fulfilling – and she didn’t think it would happen on the Enterprise.
&&
“So when your people decided to give up their physical form, the energy reaction knocked the whole planet out of its orbit?” Geordi couldn’t quite grasp how the situation had happened.
Horatio sighed, “Not quite, though that’s how most people interpret it. To make the change, my ancestors decided to hold a great celebration – and gathered everyone together on a large plateau in the mountains. They forgot about the tectonic plates that were underneath.”
“They had become so used to manipulating everything around them it was second nature, but they forgot one of the principle laws of Physics – that every reaction has an equal and opposing reaction. The energy that was used in the change also affected the tectonic plates, causing several subterranean chain reactions – changing the sub atomic structure of the area.”
Data nodded, “It changed the magnetic field of the planet – causing it to move off course. Those magnetic fields are what persuaded the Federation not to investigate the galaxy for colonization purposes. If they had decided to stay – we would have met your people so much sooner.”
Horatio dropped his head, “It’s probably just as well you didn’t. The Federation’s initial probing of our system was met with a little annoyance. At that time, the Symehk hadn’t quite realized that we were in serious trouble – and any contact with races termed as the ‘others’ was not wanted. Any request for communication would have been instantly rejected. About five hundred Earth years passed before our people realized what was happening.”
“We had rejected space travel – and the initial ships had been cannibalized to create homes for the early settlers, all that was left was a small shuttle – that was what we used to fly between the two planets.”
Geordi was puzzled, “Couldn’t you use your own energy for that? You managed to transport to the ship pretty well.”
Horatio shook his head – “We were afraid – we didn’t know if our energy could get us that far, so it was decided that one person would work with the old scanning equipment – and that everyone would take it in turns.”
Data gave him a curious look, “How many Sentinels have there been?”
“Altogether? Just over 300 I think, each one serving approximately a generation. I am – and would have been - the last.” Horatio fell silent, Geordi and Data exchanged glances, but said nothing further. Neither had known how close the Symehk were to complete destruction.
‘Captain Picard to Ambassador Caine’Horatio moved to a nearby communications link and acknowledged the Captain’s call,
“Please join me in my ready-room Ambassador. I have some information for you with regards to our visit to the Klingon Empire.”Horatio sighed and replied that he was on his way. His designation as ‘Ambassador’ had been a double edged sword, out of respect for his position it did keep many away – allowing him some space for himself which he valued intensely – but it also meant that he had to meet several of the Federations many allies over the last few months. The visit to the Klingon Empire thankfully, was the fifth and last ‘official’ meeting he would make. Other meetings would take place as and when the Enterprise was in the appropriate star system.
As he was heading for the turbo lift, he encountered Lieutenant Worf who was also heading to the bridge. The Klingon officer had been making one of his random security inspections of the Enterprise and was very pleased with the results.
“Your security team are in excellent shape Lieutenant – a credit to you and the Enterprise.”
Worf straightened a little more in pride, “Many are new to the crew, but they have coped well with the tasks I have placed before them. They take their jobs very seriously.”
Horatio hid a slight smile, “I only wish I was in such good shape – not having had to ‘eat’ on Symehk, I did not realize that the consumption of food could alter my physical appearance.”
Worf nodded, “It is a problem we Klingons suffer from greatly. We are a very passionate people, we love our battles, love our way of life, love our food. As we get older, retired warriors gain weight quickly as they are unable to exercise as fully as they did when they were young.”
“Dr Crusher has given me a breakdown of what my body needs, but she suggested that I undertake some form of exercise to remove a little of the excess that I have gained. I have tried some light work outs, but I thought maybe you could help me?”
Worf looked at the Ambassador carefully, “Many Klingon exercise plans are strenuous for humans, but you would be in excellent physical shape if you follow a good plan. I can offer some suggestions if you wish.”
Horatio nodded, “I would appreciate it, maybe at a low level at first – I’m sure I would just be able to cope with an exercise plan Klingon children would use?”
If Worf heard the note of amusement in Horatio’s voice, he did not react to it, merely nodding his head slightly. “You do yourself a disservice Ambassador, I think you would be able to manage a teenager’s program fairly well. I will let you have a copy of my schedule and we can arrange a time to build a program for you on the holodeck.”
As the turbo lift doors opened, Horatio thanked Worf for his time and made his way to the Captain’s ready room.