Hoping to keep the conversation flowing, as much as it had been anyway, Dr Zanna added, “We have plants that look similar, but are much, much smaller in size.” She held her hands about six inches apart. “They may be related. We call them dandelions and make tea from them.”
Lt. Brennan added, “And we eat their leaves in salads.” looking pleased as punch to be participating.
This seemed to relax them and the one on the left smiled while the one on the right spoke. “Ah, the kefti plant is so much more than tea, but with kefti as small as yours maybe that’s all it’s good for. It is a great medicinal plant and supports the well being of untold souls within the Web of the Saamraajy” Without exchanging a signal that Dr. Zanna could detect the elder in the center, one of the two women put an earthenware dish into one of the oven apertures in the central column. “We will brew you some of ours so you can appreciate the difference.”
While Dr. Zanna was excited, but also leery of tea made from an alien plant, something else had caught her attention, “Sorry, what kind of we-”
Before she could finish the word Sykes interrupted and gave her ‘don’t-ask’ look. “What does the kefti treat?”
Rejoining the others in a motion that would have people describe her as spry for her age the middle woman said, “Everything!” The man raised a shoulder and tilted his head, Dr. Zanna thought it might be the equivalent of raising an eyebrow based on Mor’s reaction. “Perhaps not everything, but it wards against many ailments and the kefti blades are used as surgical instruments across the galaxy.”
Sykes considered for a moment, “Could we take a sample back with us?”
Fingers flicked back and forth in gestures too quick to track, but that had at least the complexity of American Sign Language. But they partially shielded their hands too, like when you wished to show someone a note or card, but didn’t want the other party, or likely just Makari, to see. Eventually, Hira on the right asked, “What do you have to trade? To have the attention of one of the Jaasoos you must have something interesting.”
“One moment.” Sykes said, holding up a finger.
He gathered the team around him and asked Makari to stop translating for a moment. Johnston pulled off his helmet and they put prospective trade items into it. A couple MRE’s were added, Brennan’s earrings, Syke’s watch, a five dollar bill, and Johnston put in a couple bullets. There were some looks at that one and Johnston quickly explained, “I meant it as an art thing. Dr. Z, back me up on this, there’s not a lot of metal here so they might like it and how shiny it is, right?”
“Maybe.” She said hesitantly, “But they might have no use for it, might be difficult to hang as decoration.” She paused. “Also, I don’t know if that sends a good message.”
“If I met an alien race I’d want them to give me some of their weapons, seems like a good sign of trust.” Johnston contended. “Mac, what do you think?”
“Wait, what about your shades?” Brennan asked, pointing at the sunglasses hanging in Johnston’s shirt. “Those might be helpful for the people harvesting, right?” She looked between Dr. Zanna and Sykes.
Dr. Zanna nodded and Sykes beckoned for the glasses. “Hand ‘em in, that does sound like a good gift.”
Johnston grumbled, “I just got these…” but them in anyway.
“I’ll fill out a form for you, we’ll get you even newer ones.” Sykes said consolingly as he handed the helmet to the villagers.
“We’ll want the helmet back though.” He said and indicated for Makari to begin translating again, which it did, after an awkward pause.
Not that the Villagers took much notice, they were now engaged in their own huddle, going over the offerings. As they were going over the objects with care, they kept shooting glances over at Makari that Dr. Zanna couldn’t decipher. In the end they took the sunglasses enthusiastically, were bemused by the bullets, took the $5, and seemed mildly contemptuous of the earrings. Koh went outside to tell someone to put a package together for their guests, proudly wearing the new sunglasses.
“It is ready.” Mor said, and got our bowls for tea.
The teammates all glanced at each other. While Dr. Zanna couldn’t be a hundred percent confident on what those glances meant she knew that with her own she was trying to ask “Are we really drinking this foreign substance on another planet when we don’t know exactly what it is?” Sykes shrugged, took a sip, looked thoughtful for a moment, and drank again. So that was that. It was surprisingly good, though with a bitterness that many who didn’t like their coffee black would find off putting. After drinking it a peaty flavor rested on the back of Dr. Zanna’s tongue along with something else she couldn’t name, but reminded her of the feeling of Turkish coffee her mother used to make. It was as though she could taste the refining process of the brew. She sipped slowly, savoring the sensation. Also, it was very hot.
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The elder on the right said, “It’s best while almost boiling, drink it quickly and you will feel the most rejuvenation.” With that, he downed the remaining tea and the other two elders finished moments later.
Dr. Zanna took a gulp of tea and just barely managed to keep it from dribbling down her chin. Her tongue, the roof of her mouth, and her throat all felt scalded. She saw that the elders all looked content and were watching her and the team intently. This appeared to be some kind of test. To keep the appearance of stoicism while burning her esophagus she clenched her toes, a habit she’d developed a while ago when trying not to be rude to people of other cultures, or certain members of her family when the occasion called for it. The practice had some odd benefits though, and was part of how she had the strongest start in her cross country team and was capable of walking with remarkable stealth when the situation called for it. By the time she’d finished reflecting she’d also finished drinking. Her throat felt raw, but refreshed, like a layer of dead matter had just been scrubbed off. She took an experimental breath in. It felt like, though she knew this wasn’t actually how biology worked, she could feel the oxygen entering her blood. She could feel the qualities of the air in her throat more explicitly than she ever had before. It was invigorating, though not the sort of thing she’d want to do every day.
Across from her she noted the villager elders were looking on approvingly. Each team member gasped as they finished and Johnston let out, “Well f-...screw me sideways!” as he gave Dr. Zanna a sidelong glance, in what she guessed was him attempting to have manners. The elders grinned to their eyes and their lips curled. They had passed the test.
With a far more relaxed posture and kindlier tone than she’d had before, Mor in the middle asked, “You say you are out to explore, explore what?”
Dr. Zanna spoke, “We have a list,” She looked over at Sykes for confirmation that it was ok to share this. After a moment of internal debate he nodded ascent, so she continued, “of worlds given to us by Makari here.” The villagers’ posture tensed back up, and their hands flicked at each other in that guarded fashion again. None of them asked her any questions and Makari didn’t translate so she decided to keep going, “And we are hoping to make a good impression on our… neighbors.”
“Does your list include Basket that Shelters Fruit?” Hira asked.
Dr. Zanna turned to Sykes, she’d never seen the list. Sykes turned to Makari, “Mac, we have that one?”
“Yes!” It answered, “When I last checked in it hadn’t been mapped to your system yet, but it is on the list. Also, at this time, might I say that the naming conventions laid down by the Videshee will serve you better than the alpha numeric designations provided by your staff.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” Sykes responded.
“Ah, well it appears that I have. An odd function of your language I think.” It said, limbs twitching.
During that exchange Dr. Zanna had been watching the elders. A lot of expressions passed very quickly over their faces when Sykes addressed Makari as Mac. Horror like when you see someone else do something so outrageous, so impolite that you just ‘could never’ like urinating on a table at a fundraiser, shock that the horrible thing wasn’t met with consequences, and then perhaps jealousy, like you’d been secretly wanting to urinate on a table for years. Dr. Zanna thought Makari might have been incorrect about the lack of nicknames in the galaxy, and that she was missing some important piece of context, probably many pieces of context.
“We usually trade through them, but haven’t heard anything lately.” Koh said. Fingers and a few feet moved back and forth.
Mor picked up where he left off, “If you would make a good impression, and want favorable trade terms on our magnificent kefti plant go there and retrieve Ghan. She went out to discuss terms for this year’s harvest and hasn’t come back.” She looked guilty as she said, “We don’t have anyone else to spare during harvest time.” and Dr. Zanna suspected that she was not being entirely truthful. Nothing in specific told her that, it was just a sense she got sometimes. “Bring her back at all, we will give you something, bring her back alive and we’ll give you more. We would like her returned to us, whole and safe.” That last part was true, Dr. Zanna noted.
Footsteps pounded outside and another villager dashed in, out of breath and holding a package. They didn’t seem to see the foreigners and went directly to the elders speaking and gesturing rapidly. The package dropped and signs flew between the villagers.
At once, the three elders stood up and spoke over each other gesturing and talking all at once.
“Did we do something to upset you?” Dr. Zanna asked, not sure if she should rise as well.
Makari spoke without translating the exchange, somewhat to her surprise “No, they said the Clomera are coming.” It rose to a greater height and faced the team.
The elders, meanwhile, were gesturing and talking more frantically so that it was hard to make out any part of what they were saying and the translated fragments weren’t much better.
“Are these Clomera dangerous, what’s going on?” Sykes asked, standing and automatically checking his weapon.
Makari spoke, though she couldn’t tell if it was it’s words or the elders, “Yes, very, and the-”
“We can’t leave until you do, it would be rude, and we must get everyone to safety.” said one of the elders, it was hard to tell which since they were all speaking.
“We’ll draw their fire for you, get your people safe. Brennan, get the package, let’s go.” Sykes said and ushered the team out although the only one not already moving was Dr. Zanna and she berated herself.
She couldn’t tell if the villagers understood or were just hoping they would leave. Brennan grabbed the package and everyone exited the building, the elders shoving Dr. Zanna forward in their haste to deal with whatever was going on. With a surprisingly booming voice Koh gave simple sounding shouted commands, with few enough distinct sounds that it was more like the verbal equivalent of ringing a bell than full sentences.
She couldn’t see anything dangerous yet, but people were running everywhere and some were screaming.
Dr. Zanna turned to Sykes, “We’re going to draw what fire? We don't know what's coming!” she shouted to be heard over the din.
“I know we’re not leaving innocent villagers to die.” He pulled Zanna out of the path of an adult chasing a shrieking child.
Dr. Zanna shouted “We don’t know them!” and regretted it the moment the words were out of her mouth. She didn’t need the disgusted look Sykes threw her way to know that was not the right reaction.
He didn’t say anything to her, just turned to Brennan, “Lt. Brennan, give Zanna the package and get your guns out. Johnston, also guns, look in the direction people are pointing.”
With shame coloring her cheeks Dr. Zanna took the package, then resolved to at least not get into anyone else’s way. They looked in the direction that people were pointing, but couldn’t see over the hill. She could feel something though, through the ground, like something or some things large and heavy were approaching.