Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Their shift ended and they headed down to the quarters for the Betazoid Ambassador after making sure they were on schedule for getting to Ardana. It wouldn’t take too long to get there as it was in the Beta quadrant, since New Vulcan was as well it would take hours instead of days. Jim made a mental note to have the debriefing soon and include Uhura, her information on the planet was very thorough. They reached the door to the Ambassador's quarters and requested to be let in. He opened and the door and let them in. “Good evening, Captain and Commander.”

“Good evening, Ambassador. You can call me Jim.”

The Ambassador smiled, “And you can call me Omal.”

“Spock,” he said and nodded to the Ambassador.

“I hope you do not mind but I asked the ensign you assigned to me for assistance in what we should eat tonight.”

“Not a problem, Omal. Was she helpful?”

“Very much so, Jim. A pleasant young lady. Since you both are not eating meat, I decided to have a vegetarian dinner for us.”

“Thank you,” Jim said to him.

They walked over to the table that was set for three. Omal noticed Jim looking at the table and the three settings. “My aides decided that they wanted to eat in the mess hall with the crew. The find humans fascinating and they have one that amuses them greatly, a Scotty?”

“Yes, Commander Scott. A very good man and he is engaged to our CMO.”

“Ah yes, they mentioned Doctor McCoy. They find the two’s interactions charming.”

“That is one word for it,” Jim said and Spock helped him into his seat.

“Indeed,” he said.

They started eating and Omal figured now was as good a time as any to lay it out. “Gentlemen, I am afraid that I might have made things somewhat difficult for you unintentionally with my people.”

“Really,” Jim said looking up from his soup. “How so?”

“It seems the council has taken interest in you both and wants me to find out what I can. They are upset that someone has used a Betazoid in experimentation and while I am upset as well, many on the Ruling Council see this as a way to promote our people as you are both now part of that.”

“I see.” JIm said as he set down his soup and leaned back in his seat. Spock had stopped eating as well and was deep in thought.

“Is there anything that I can tell them? I know you have no reason to trust me, but I am the last of my family. They and my fiance's family died from illness that a cure came for too late and my position is tenuous at best.” Omal laid his emotions and thoughts bare and invited them in to see the truth of his words. Jim and Spock gently touched his mind and pulled back.

“We see your dilemma. We will give you some information, we don’t have much ourselves on what was exactly done and where they obtained the DNA from the other species from.”

“Anything you can give me might satisfy the Ruling Council. It is difficult in a Matriarchal society when your house is no more. We have come a long way, where we have some males that have risen high enough through their houses to sit on the council but I was lucky enough to have this position before I lost my family. It is only because of the results I bring in pleases the council that I remain where I am.” Omal figured that being completely truthful was better than partially truthful. If he had to, he would resign his post and move somewhere out of reach of the Council. He was getting tired of being a pawn.

“Well, we were taken at the behest of the Excalbians as they have no stardrive capability. They did keep us sedated the majority of the time, so we do not know exactly what was done to us. We have most of the information from the other four captives that were taken for the experiment as well. We are part of a “grand experiment” and to “create a new world.” So what we can tell you is limited.”

“What you can will be most helpful.” Omal assured them.

Spock picked up from where Jim had left off in their explanation. “They call us ‘Bastans.’ That was the name they gave us experiments. Apparently we are no longer just Romulan, Klingon, Vulcan or Human. They took some of our DNA and mixed it with some traits from the Kintzi and Betazoid. Eventually our captors planned for all of this new race to exhibit traits from Vulcan, Human, Klingon, Romulan, Kintzi and Betazoid. They wanted to have a Telepathic and Empathic Species. According to Merrok, one of the first kidnapped, they seemed fascinated with a old Earth Goddess called Bastet, hence why they named the new species Bastans.”

“According to Starfleet, they have no known contact with anyone that would give them or let them use their starships.”

“Well, they must have or how else would they have managed to get you and other captives,” Omal said as he frowned in thought.

“Exactly, Starfleet is looking into now. It is disturbing that we are lacking this information,” Spock told him. “I conjecture that the species has the ability to rearrange matter to suit them. But without more information I can not make an accurate summation of their abilities.”

“Yes, for all you know they may more abilities hidden.”

“Correct. But to continue on.”

“Yes, please. What else was done that you can tell me?” Omal asked them.

“They pulled the ability to go into heats, telepathy, among other things from the Kintzi. They looked for the gene on Telepathy and Empathy from the Betazoids. All pairings are Dominate/Submissive, that was what they were looking for when they choose the ones for their experiments. No one knows how they were able to tell who was what though.”

“Heats? Dominate/Submissive?” Omal eyes were wide and he was completely shocked over what he heard. What was done to these men?

“I am afraid that we can not go into further detail.”

“As you will. What you have told me is greatly disturbing.”

“Indeed,” Spock said. He noticed that his mate was getting tired and starting to fall asleep in his seat. “If you will excuse us, Jim needs his rest.”

“Oh, of course. Thank you for your trust and giving me something to give the council. Perharps we can figure out where the DNA was obtained from.”

“That would be most helpful. Good evening, Omal.”

“You as well, Spock and Jim.” Spock helped Jim from his seat and Omal saw them out. Once the door closed, he went and sat back down. He had much to think on and did not want to give too much away to the council. He felt a kinship to the young Captain and he was loathe to lose that. He sighed and got ready to sleep. He would let them know tomorrow. They still had a few days until they reached Ardana and he wanted to make sure he was prepared for the talks.

**********

Omal tossed and turned in his bed. His mind awhirl with all that he had been told. He could not wrap his mind around how beings could do such things to one another and to more than just two sentient beings. He finally gave up trying to sleep and got up. He changed into some clothes and left his quarters. He wandered up and down the hall and finally went into the observation deck. He noticed someone with dark hair already seated there. They turned when they heard the doors open and it was the lovely Lieutenant Uhura. “Forgive me for disturbing you.”

She stood up and smiled, “No need. I came here to rest before seeking my quarters. You are welcome to join me.”

“Thank you,” he said as he walked over and sat down in a seat next to hers.

Uhura retook her seat and looked back out the window. “I come here when my mind is too busy to rest. Just watching the vastness of space fly by seems to help,” she said.

“I can understand the sentiment. My mind will not quiet itself.” He sighed dejectedly.

“What is the problem, if I may ask?”

“I have found out some of what happened to two of your crew and it disturbs me greatly.”

“Ah, yes, Captain Kirk and Commander Spock.”

“You know?”

“Yes, the whole ship does. He let us know as to quell all the crazy rumors that were going around.”

“Yes, those things can happen. I am shocked that one species can willfully do that to others.”

“We had a run in with the Excalbians before. They had the Captain and others go through a grand experiment then on Good and Evil. Apparently that is a concept that they do not understand. They are fascinated with our Captain and Commander, so it does not surprise me that they would go after them again.”

“I can understand what would fascinate them, they are very dynamic individuals.”

“I suppose that is one word that you can use for them.” She laughed. Omal smiled, such a lovely laugh and her intelligence shined brightly in her dark eyes.

“Will you be going to Ardana with your crew as well?” he asked her.

“Yes, I will be part of the party beaming down. I will also be in on the briefing tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it. If I may be so bold?”

“Yes, Ambassador?”

“May I ask you to dinner sometime. Your company is very stimulating and I would love to talk to you more.”

“Yes, Ambassador. I would love to have dinner with you sometime. Your company is very stimulating as well.” She smiled at him.

“Omal, please.”

“Then you may call me Nyota.” She stood to leave. “Until later then, Omal.” He rose from his seat and kissed the back of her hand.

“Until later as well, Nyota.” She smiled and left the observation deck. He felt giddy with excitement. He hoped that he would get to know her better. Her aura just called out to him. Feeling better, he headed back to his quarters and was finally able to fall asleep.