Menagerie

Neria looked away for an instant.  "Don't put too much faith in them," she said, a friendly warning.

Kaiel suppressed a smile.  Captain April was obviously a stranger to Sirenn thinking.  Sirenn had what many cultures considered a peculiar attitude towards technology.  Technology which made a task possible, where it otherwise might not have been, was a good thing.  Technology which simply made a task easier, was looked upon as unwholesome.  One who relied too much upon technology was considered to have a serious character flaw.  Kaiel did not voice this, at this time.  He had learned a little about military types, in his recent associations with Starfleet.  He understood senior officers, particularly captains, did not like to be "corrected" or "lectured" in front of other crew.  Kaiel would find ways to illustrate his relationships with technology, rather than regale Captain April with long-winded monologues.  He supposed that spared both of them considerable embarrassment.

He had little time to contemplate the matter, as Clicker demanded his attentions.  The odd tribble set about introducing Kaiel to the intricacies of the science station, and, by connections, the science capabilities of the ship.  These proved extensive and complex, and Kaiel was quite engrossed in his lessons.  He smiled frequently, however: Clicker was fascinating.  Kaiel had never seen a tribble, and certainly not one with cybernetic eye stalks.  He was additionally amazed that the universal translator managed to make cohesive sense of the little creature's squeaks and chirps.  For all his comical appearance, Clicker quickly proved himself an astute scientific mind, and a considerably adept instructor.

Kaiel was so engrossed in his studies that he was startled, when Captain April called their collective attention.  Her announcement of impending royalty coming aboard as XO struck Kaiel as most interesting.  The captain's further warnings about not panicking, or not refusing to let the XO touch them, only intrigued Kaiel more.  He had never heard of Epachans, any more than he had heard of tribbles, or Avi's people.  He was quickly finding himself surrounded by a menagerie of aliens.  This appealed to him.  His other two Starfleet ships' crews had been predominantly human.  He was going to enjoy being surrounded by non-humans, for a change.  Variety was a treasure Sirenn appreciated, and Kaiel was beginning to think he was becoming an enriched person.

Captain April stared them all down, as if trying to tell whether anyone would cut and run at her spooky announcements.  Kaiel merely smiled when her eyes touched his.  She seemed more nervous about this than he felt.  He tried to project calm, and enthusiasm.  That was difficult, since what he was feeling most of all, was curiosity.

Then, the Epachan made his appearance.

Kaiel stood, slowly, so as not to startle anyone.  His eyes were wide in open amazement, and his vipai took on a slight glow, as his active senses fired up to take the newcomer in.  His first reaction was to wonder if the Epachans were aquatic, as Sirenn were.  The "starfish" shape and locomotion lent that impression.  However, the multiple eyes and long tongue reminded him more of insects.  The creature certainly made a unique first impression.

What astounded and alarmed Kaiel most of all, however, was the captain's reaction to the Epachan.  Kaiel stared in astonishment, when April prostrated herself before the creature.  The whole idea of royalty was foreign to Kaiel, and he found this deliberate debasement business most distasteful.  To see it on display left a bad taste in his mouth.  He fervently hoped he would not be expected to make obeisance in such a manner.  He understood the concepts, and could cope with them, if the need arose.  But, the mere prospect struck upon atavistic racial disgust.  He had to consciously remind himself not to think only in Sirenn terms.

That self control nearly came undone, when the Epachan seized April.  Everyone tensed.  A silence fell across the bridge.  Only April seemed to understand what was going on.  She must have been briefed, or must have had experience with Epachans before, to meet tongue with tongue.  Kaiel surmised she must have simply been briefed, or witnessed such things: Her reaction to the tongue-touch was one of surprise, then disorientation.  That disorientation bordered on a euphoric state.  She stumbled, and would have fallen, had not the Epachan caught her, and gotten her seated, until the dizziness wore off.

Kaiel took the initiative to use his sihar and lidar to reassure himself that the captain had not suffered some injury, or toxic reaction, to the Epachan's saliva.  Whatever had happened to April, seemed temporary.  Kaiel relaxed, slightly, as she came more and more to her senses.

Your highness?  That was going to take some getting used to, Kaiel thought to himself.

He watched April flee to her ready room, then turned his attentions once again to the Epachan.  The alien had been aboard all of five minutes, and was already giving orders?  This was totally new to Kaiel's experiences in Starfleet, or aboard any ship, for that matter.  This Epachan was full of surprises, it seemed.

Kaiel glanced about the bridge, trying to gauge others' reactions to the XO.  Most people still seemed a bit hesitant, he thought.  Or, maybe it would simply take a few moments, for the awkwardness of something or someone new, to wear off.  Or, maybe someone needed to take the first step?

Kaiel hunkered down onto his heels, with his knees wide apart.  He extended his arms between his knees, with his elbows touching the insides of his leg joints.  His hands were flat, palms up, with the edges touching.  He inclined his head slightly, so as not to frighten or injure the Epachan with his active senses.