As the Tycho crew re-materialized in the transporter room aboard the Tycho, Captain Ted was in an uncharacteristically upbeat mood. He turned to Donna. "Please see that Lt. Cunning is comfortably tucked away in his quarters so he can sleep off his allergies." he said with a smile.
Donna: "Aye aye, Captain!"
Ted gently placed his hand on Ken's shoulder. "Don't take this the wrong way, Ken; but I'm thankful that your culinary mishap gave us a good excuse to duck out of that boring banquet early!" The rest of the group chuckled while Ken smiled weakly with his eyelids drooping. "And now, Commanders Lee and Blankenship, I'd like you to join me for a 'new blueskin' conference in the ready room." Ted grinned at his own impromptu witticism.
In the ready room Ted's demeanor sobered as he gathered the data records previously passed on by Ambassador Kallindra. "As you know, this secret information obtained by Kallindra indicates that Andoria's sister planet, Pandoria, may be more than just the hot, rocky world that meets the eye." Ted arched an eyebrow. "And we also know from our prior survey of this system that there is a spatial anomaly situated near the outer edge of the system."
Ted straightened up and cleared his throat. "With the new analytical scanning equipment provided by Admiral Yeager, I am hoping to clarify BOTH mysteries."
"Which one are we going after first, Captain?" Dianne was brimming with enthusiasm.
"We'll have to focus on Pandoria to begin with" Ted replied. "Ostensibly we're here at the request of the Andorians to analyze some curious findings at a research outpost they have there." Ted frowned. "Their initial report made vague references to unique crystal formations and fluctuating gravity readings. However, Starfleet also has its own research facility on Pandoria located just a few kilometers away from the Andorian outpost." Ted paused dramatically. "And the secret information from Kallindra suggests there may be a conflict brewing between the two facilities. I'm hoping Guy will be able to learn the cause of this tension and advise me soon."
The ship's computer pinged and Counselor Donna requested entry which Ted readily granted.
"Well," Donna chirped, "Ken is snoozing like a baby! He fell into a deep sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow." Donna let a mischievous smile cross her face. "Did you know that Ken has a little snore?" Marchelle and Dianne glanced quickly at each other and both blurted simultaneously: "I certainly didn't know!"
After a short silence both Ted and Donna burst out laughing.
"Well," Ted said after the mirth died down, "It's nearly 22:00 hours, ship's time, and I don't want to make contact with the Andorians until I've heard back from Guy. So I suggest we all get in a little 'snooze' time."
Back on Andoria Guy was relaxing in the living quarters of Kallindra's compound. He, Kallindra and little Ahn'trax were sipping an effervescent tea distilled from Andorian zenth crystals. Due to a peculiarity of their chemistry, zenth crystals readily dissolved in hot water, but the fluid compound emitted more and more sweet-smelling bubbles as the tea cooled. Virtually any artifical flavor could be added to the tea without affecting its effervescence. The tea was mildly intoxicating; not from the fluid but from the bubbles breathed in while sipping it. Thus, the degree of intoxication was the reverse of that experienced with alcoholic beverages. The longer one took to sip the tea, the more bubbles were breathed in and the greater the 'mellowing' effect. Guy was feeling pretty mellow by the time Kallindra got around to explaining her family situation.
"I gather you were unaware before tonight that I had any children, Guy." Kallindra gave a Mona Lisa smile. "I detected a bit of surprise from you when Ahn'trax brought you back to my table."
"A 'bit of surprise' is putting it mildly, Kallindra." Guy leaned forward. "The real shock wasn't from learning that Annie is your daughter; it was from hearing her say the password phrase of a deep cover agent!" Guy looked incredulously at Ahn'trax and back to Kallindra. "Surely you wouldn't allow your own small child to get caught up in the dangerous intrigues of Section 31!"
Kallindra and Ahn'trax exchanged knowing smirks. "I didn't 'allow' her to do anything, Guy. Ahn'trax insisted on becoming involved in my activities quite some time ago. It was HER choice!"
"HER choice?!!" Guy stared in amazement at Kallindra, then Ahn'trax. "B-b-but she's just a little GIRL! You are her MOTHER!!" Guy waved one hand helplessly in the air. "How could you just......"
"Guy!" Kallindra cut him off in a low, firm voice. "Calm down. Sip some more tea. Relax." Guy slumped back onto his cushy lounge and brought his teacup up to his mouth. He didn't drink any more tea but gladly breathed in more bubbles.
"Tell me, Guy," Kallindra began again in a casual, friendly tone. "How old do you think I am?"
Guy took another deep breath and peered somewhat languidly over the rim of his teacup at Kallindra. "Wellll.. I know that the life spans of several species has increased significantly over the past two or three hundred years. I myself am about 105." Guy wrinkled his brow in thought. "It's hard to keep track of time with all this space travel. But, in any case, any human who doesn't make it to 150 or so is considered to have died young!" Guy cast an appraising look at Kallindra. "I dunno. In Earth terms I would guess you to be around early middle age."
"Ahhh.. My female vanity does appreciate that, Guy." Kallindra sipped her own tea. "I'm not sure of the exact conversion rate between Earth and Andoria, but I'm certain that in Earth years my age would be past 150."
"Well, Madame Ambassador," Guy replied; his mood expanding along with the bubbles, "You wear it well!"
"Thank you, kind Sir!" Kallindra gave an exaggerated nod of her head. "Now then," she said in a more serious tone. "How old do you think Ahn'trax is?"
"Uhhhh...." Guy's eyes popped open and he sat up straight as he looked intently at Annie. He sensed he had been lured into a trick question. "I suppose...." he began hesitantly "that she is somewhat -- older than she appears...?"
Unable to constrain herself further, Ahn'trax piped up in her sweet, innocent, child's voice: "But, Mister Guy, you can plainly see that I am just a weak little girl!" After a few seconds of wide-eyed staring at Guy, Annie broke out in peals of childish sounding laughter.
Guy started feeling like the butt of a joke. "I don't understand. Annie is so....."
"Small?" Kallindra finished for him. She gave a flip of her hand in Annie's direction. "All right, Ahn'trax. I think we have played with Guy's perceptions long enough." Annie stopped laughing and smiled indulgently at Guy. "You see," Kallindra continued, "Ahn'trax is what Andorians call: Kobsu."
"Kobsu?" Guy's face wrinkled in bewilderment.
"Yes. I believe the Earth term for this might be: 'dwarf'!"
"Ohhhh...." Guy felt decidedly tipsy; mentally as well as physically. "Yes. I'm no biologist but I think I've read that this can happen rarely with normal human parents too.. recessive genes or something..."
"It is exceedingly rare for Andorians as well." Kallindra took a casual sip of her tea. "But in Ahn'trax' case, as you Earthers might say, she is a chip off the old block." Kallindra set down her teacup and fixed Guy with a steady gaze. "You see, my husband, Kal'trax, the director of our research facility on Pandoria -- and whom your Colonel Snavely has placed 'in quarantine' -- is also Kobsu!"