Epachan (post)

"The facilities appear to be state of the art.  I am sure they will exceed my expectations, let alone my approval," the Sirenn, Kaiel, answered Neria's question.

Neria looked away for an instant.  Over-reliance on technology played a part in the Federation's downfall, in her future.  "Don't put too much faith in them," she said, point-blank – a friendly warning.

Beside him in the cove, Clicker squawked and clicked for his attention.  The diminutive furball proceeded to brief him on the rest of the operational procedures for their department while Neria turned her attention to Eresh'ta: The Andorian duty officer entered from the turbolift, crossing over to her.  "Captain."

Neria took the offered PADD, the daily crew report – right on time, as usual.  The duty officer was nothing if not punctual.  "What's the skinny?"

The double antennae on Eresh'ta's head twitched.  He looked at his waistline then said, "What's skinny?"

"Never mind."  Neria scrolled down, noting some of the crew additions, hoping she'd remember their names if and when she had to: Fifty-five new faces assigned, replacing those 'on loan' from the armada sent to the No'Zal Cluster.  She saw a 'Bela Koppi' listed as Assistant Chief Medical Officer.  A Bartokian medical specialist; that was interesting.  Looked like Eve had some competition.  She thumbed the PADD's print-recognition signature panel and handed it back.

Eresh'ta stared, uncomprehending.  "Captain?"

Neria waited.  "What?"

"You don't wish to... read the report?"

"Oh, I will.  Later."  She held it towards him, indicating he should take it.  He did.  Off of the Andorian's confused look, Neria said, "I'm not my father."

"Apparently not."

Neria glanced but let it slide.

"Captain, I must bring up the matter of the executive officer."  Eresh'ta made an exaggerated gesture of looking past her, to the empty XO's chair.  There was no executive officer.

"Don't get your antennae in a twist," Neria said.  "We rendezvous with the Progress in the Typhon sector to pick up the new XO.  Then it's on to Altair."

"Ah."  Eresh'ta relaxed.  "Very good."

"If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."

Eresh'ta turned away, touchtyping notes on his PADD.  He looked up at Eve Ordalani in the Ops booth.  The Andorian's blue features darkened several shades – blushing.  He hesitated, then stepped up to Ops, waited until Eve looked at him.  Chin down, he said in a low voice, "I am indebted to you, Barto – Commander.  I must apologize for my recent behavior."  He didn't meet her eyes, instead staring at her console, though he continued to 'read' her through his antennae's sensory input. It was rather embarrassing. Andorians had four sexes.  For him it was 'that time' – a very uncomfortable time, when his gender experienced a periodic discharge.  Eresh'ta always promised it would not happen next time; he would control himself – but like withdrawal from an addictive drug, it turned him into someone else, crankier, more paranoid than usual.  He couldn't wait until he changed sexes so it would stop.  "I thank you for not putting me on report."  He bowed from the waist up, then did look at her.  "Our custom dictates I must atone through repentance and action.  What can I do to earn your forgiveness?"

Behind them, Neria was giving orders: "Helm, find rendezvous coordinates for the UFS Progress and set a course."

"Aye, Captain."  Avi worked diligently.  "I have them at oh-three-four mark seven."

"Take us there – warp nine."  Neria rotated towards tactical.  "Contact the Progress, let them know we're en route."

Tueri nodded and manipulated his controls, autosending the transmission.  "Intercept in twenty-six minutes," Avi announced.

"Thanks.  I'm, uh... going to the ready room."  Neria winced at how that sounded.  Keeping others informed on the captain's whereabouts was part of Starfleet protocol, in this time – something to which she was not accustomed.  But speaking of protocols, she had to brush up on proper etiquette for meeting this new first officer.  She rose, moving towards the double red doors.  "Oh... Eve, the bridge is yours."  At the last second she turned around again.  "By the way... when the XO beams aboard – someone let me know before it gets to the bridge, okay?"  Neria bit her lip, shook her head and went in.  She sighed as the doors shut behind her, mentally kicked herself.  ~You're off to a great start.~

A short while later – too soon, Neria thought – she got the call: The new XO had been picked up and was en route to the bridge.

Neria stood beside the command chair, nervously tugging her uniform jacket.  She licked her lips and eyed the turbolift doors.

"Okay, listen up," she called out, getting everyone's attention. ~Real smooth, Neria,~ she told herself. ~Sound really like a captain.~ "Our new XO is... special.  A member of the Epachan race, and... from what I understand... royalty, on her home planet.  His.  Her.  Something like that."  She let out a nervous giggle then immediately wished she hadn't. ~Come on, Neria, get a grip...!~ She didn't want to do it – she had made a conscious effort ever since her Academy days, to step out of her father's shadow – but she had to ask herself, ~Okay, what would he do...~ She straightened and relaxed, folding her hands behind her, hoping no one noticed her fidgeting fingers.  "This is really important: When they report for duty on a new ship, it's first contact to them, with everything that implies.  Whatever happens, don't interfere... or panic.  If the XO wants to touch you... don't refuse.  If anyone here is averse to personal touch... you should leave the bridge now."

She gazed around, dark eyes flickering, hoping everyone had the balls to accept whatever came.  She suspected they would, but a couple she didn't know yet.

The turbolift doors opened and stayed open for a moment, while nothing happened.  Crew-members exchanged glances.

A pink... tentacle... appeared, sliding around one edge of the doorframe.  Then another, opposite.  Then a third, and a fourth, gripping the top of the frame.  A mass of some sort stirred within, at the edge of her sight.  From the faces of crewmen at the rear of the bridge, they had a clear eyeful of the new arrival... and it did little to ease their minds.

It emerged, tentacles shifting and undulating, adhering to the ceiling.  Neria started, at how fast it moved.  And then... it was hanging on the ceiling.  That wasn't in the database she read.  One tentacle snapped to the floor like a tree-trunk – for balance? The Epachan's main body resembled a giant, pink wad of chewed bubblegum – with eyes.  Scores of bright, yellow eyes, on all sides.  They darted, each in a different direction, capturing the bridge with a glance.  Strips of a brown leathery material girdled the bulbous center mass, between the eyes.  On one strip glistened a communicator-badge, circled by three pips in a triangle – two solid, one hollow: Lieutenant commander.  The four 'arms' extended from equidistant points off the main mass, not unlike a four-limbed starfish.  Another tentacle dropped from the ceiling, grabbed an aft console.  Ensign Montyssori tensed but stood his ground.  The other two stalks came free, and in this sequential motion it...crawled, climbed, rolled... Neria wasn't sure what to call it... towards the center of the bridge.  It moved fast, though not much faster than a humanoid would have walked the same short distance.  It went right over tactical, and Tueri, two long appendages passing to either side of him, center-body rotating as it did, eyes trailing over him.  Near Neria, it dropped to the deck, the four long limbs curling around the center mass like a snake's coils, and lifted the main body to eye-level with Neria.  All of the eyes fixed on her – and not just the creature's: The bridge crew's as well, most of them, as if she was about to be attacked... a primitive reaction, but an instinctive one.

Without a word she got down on both knees and bowed, prostrate, arms out.  The yellow eyes on that side of the creature, facing her, followed her downward.  The end of one tentacle slid out, slithering underneath, up and around, wrapping about her midsection, indeed, like a snake.  She grunted slightly as it tugged, and got up with it, a bit clumsily, almost losing her balance, but the Epachan held her.  A slit opened at the pink thing's 'top'.  Neria recalled Eresh'ta saying, 'What's skinny', as another long body part, a thin purplish tongue of some sort, unfurled into an S shape, moving towards her lips.  She swallowed, opened her mouth and stuck out her own tongue.  The purple tongue touched hers, caressing.  She jerked: A sensation rippled through her that she had not expected.  Faintness overtook her then passed, and then she felt euphoric.  The Epachan's tongue retracted as it loosed its grasp on her.  Neria smiled, ecstatic, blinking, breathing fast; she felt flushed.  She tugged at her uniform collar; what happened to the environmental controls? The faintness returned; she stumbled on her feet, but the limbs caught her, steadied her until that feeling, too, had passed.  She took several slow, deep breaths, recovering her composure, and only realized a moment later that the Epachan had lowered her into the command chair.  She sniffled twice, ran her hands over her face.  Finally, she got up, studying the XO, glancing into each of... its?... eyes.  "Your highness.  Welcome to your new home."

The creature spoke... and, surprise of surprises, it had a beautiful, melodious voice, rendered by the universal translator – a deep vocal range, almost singing each word: "Relief.  Gratitude.  Pride.  Much joy to be here."

Neria looked a little uncomfortable, still, standing there.  She hoped no one saw the wet spot she felt between her legs.  "Now that you're here... are you ready to assume your duties?"

"Ready," it sang in a one-word lilt.

"Then I leave the bridge to you.  I must... uh... I'll be back."  She waved over her shoulder as she beat another retreat to the ready room, hasty this time – just not too hasty.  "Everyone, meet the new XO."  And she disappeared through the ready room doors.