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{{James-Nav}} | {{James-Nav}} | ||
*'''Mission''': | *'''Mission''': Shore Leave, DS-285 | ||
*'''Ship''': [[USS Discovery-C]] | *'''Ship''': [[USS Discovery-C]] | ||
*'''Started''': | *'''Started''': 238907.16 | ||
*'''Ended''': | *'''Ended''': ??? | ||
==Information== | ==Information== | ||
Line 666: | Line 666: | ||
COGUD: [tag] | COGUD: [tag] | ||
</nowiki></pre> | </nowiki></pre> | ||
==Awkward conversation== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>((Club District, DS-285)) | |||
JAMES: So, Mr. Cogud. Tell me about yourself. | |||
COGUD: Whats to tell, I was born on a Ferengi Smuggling Vessel and lived | |||
there for the first year of my life, left for a few years and then had | |||
to go back to the Vessel, I was brought up as a Ferengi:: | |||
JAMES: Ah, that explains your knowledge of the rules of acquisition. | |||
COGUD: Oh that thing with the line, that was not my Ferengi attitude | |||
speaking, that was what my uncle taught me, people are there for you to | |||
bend to your will, morality and ethics can be dealt with at a later point. | |||
JAMES: Well, that’s a interesting way of looking at things... | |||
COGUD: James, I must of made a bad impression on you and I apologise, | |||
anyway that is enough about the glamorous life of Jorus Cogud, how about | |||
you? | |||
JAMES: Not at all, well I was born in Shi'Kahr on Vulcan and have lived | |||
there all my life... My Father is half-Vulcan, while my mother is | |||
Terran, but I was brought up as a Vulcan... At some point, we will have | |||
to talk more about Frengi culture. Its one of the few that we don't have | |||
a over-abundance of data on and it would be fascinating to learn more... | |||
((OOC: Will Backsim )) | |||
::After a conversation with James over a drink in the corner. Cogud | |||
looked up to see a the Doctor making her way towards them:: | |||
SHAGAN: Jorus, James! ::She dropped heself into James' lap and giggled | |||
into his ear. :: How are you? ::She shouted.:: It's a nice club | |||
isn't it? | |||
JAMES: Well, the architecture is fascinating and those sparks, while a | |||
major health hazard a fascinating use of Tesla's work... | |||
SHAGAN: Really? That's interesting. ::A beat.:: What did you say? Oh | |||
never mind, I'm sure it's interesting. | |||
JAMES: Are you intoxicated Miss Shagan? | |||
::Telice grabbed the half empty drink on the table and downed it in one | |||
go. She had been thirsty coming in, but now she was feeling as dry as a | |||
Vulcan. Vulcan! That was appropriate. She laughed.:: | |||
JAMES: I think that confirms my hypotheses. | |||
COGUD: I still don't get it. | |||
SHAGAN: Vulcan! | |||
JAMES: Yes? | |||
COGUD: It's not funny Doc ::Cogud smiled at the Doctor in her current | |||
state:: | |||
SHAGAN: Of course it's funny! | |||
SHAGAN: ::Pulling at the half-Vulcan's ear:: Hey James! You want to dance? | |||
JAMES: :: Light cough. :: Dancing isn't really my thing... :: James' | |||
face stiffens. :: | |||
SHAGAN: You have to relaaax. All Vulcans need to relax, seriously! ::She | |||
wriggled in his lap for a more comfortable position.:: | |||
JAMES: That may be so, but... | |||
SHAGAN: Jorus! ::She called out joyously, swivelling on James' knees and | |||
almost losing balance.:: What are you drinking? | |||
COGUD: Cardassian Kanar. | |||
SHAGAN: You want to go dancing too? | |||
:: Telice leaned forward with a hand on the table, balanced precariously. :: | |||
:: Unexpectedly, incredibly, tears filled Telice's eyes, and she groped | |||
the seats for a tissue, but the black rock remained desperately devoid | |||
of little white squares. Besides, they were moving away from her. Or | |||
were they? They were! They knocked all of the dancers out of the way, | |||
spiralled around them and herded them out cracks into the wall. In | |||
seconds, the room was empty. But it couldn't be right, could it? The | |||
noise was still there, she could hear it! Telice felt nauseous. She | |||
clung to James' neck. :: | |||
SHAGAN: I'm Alice in No Man's Land! | |||
JAMES: :: James was suddenly reminded of one of his favourite pieces of | |||
literature, slightly concerned :: Are you OK, Miss Shagan. :: To Cogud. :: | |||
Does Alcohol usually have this effect? | |||
COGUD: James, you really have never been drinking have you. Who is | |||
Alice? And what is No Mans Land? | |||
SHAGAN: Alice! Alice in-- Never mind! I'm fine! :: She cried as a fresh | |||
wave of tears streamed down her face. Through the blurr, she could see | |||
the crowd of dancers. :: | |||
JAMES: She is quite distraught, even I can feel that... Maybe we should | |||
go find the counsellor... | |||
COGUD: James, the counselor will be in a similar state, I assure you it | |||
is what alcohol does to you. ::Pausing:: James, can you do me a favour? | |||
JAMES: Yes? | |||
COGUD: Make sure I don't drink to much... | |||
JAMES: I shall, if you wish... I can certainly see why you would desire | |||
it... | |||
COGUD: Don't let me... | |||
::Cogud was looking around at the time of the sentence and saw two large | |||
Orion males entering the club.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Are they your friends? We should call them over. ::She slurred.:: | |||
COGUD: What? | |||
SHAGAN: Friends! You friends, I can go and get them. ::Her vision | |||
swam.:: In a minute. | |||
COGUD: Oh, er no thanks I will lay low here I think. | |||
:: Cogud looked up again at the Orions. They were moving closer. :: | |||
COGUD: Excuse me. | |||
::Cogud left in direction of the men's restroom. The doctor stared after | |||
him. He didn't want to see his friends. That didn't make sense. Maybe he | |||
wasn't the social type. Or maybe he had an itch. Or maybe he just wanted to | |||
pee.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::standing up on shaky legs:: James! Jaaaaames you are a nice | |||
Vulcan you know that? And I never say that. To any Vulcan. | |||
0o Wow, she must be really drunk! 0o | |||
JAMES: Erm, thanks... | |||
SHAGAN: ::bored:: Come on! ::She tugged at his sleeve ineffectively.:: | |||
We should go and-- and find out if Jorus is ok! | |||
JAMES: :: Sigh :: Because a man and a women entering the male toilets, | |||
is not going to look suspicious? | |||
SHAGAN: So pretend that's not what we're doing! Pretend we're on a date, | |||
and no one will notice I'm here! You know Terrans always do it in the-- | |||
JAMES: What! If I'm insinuating correctly, why would they do that in | |||
there... I can name at least :: pauses to calculate. :: 276 diffrent | |||
reasons why that is a bad idea. | |||
SHAGAN: Gee, sorry, didn't know you kept in your-- | |||
JAMES: Can we please drop the subject... | |||
SHAGAN: Fine! Damn it. | |||
:: They reached the bathroom door and Telice shoved it open. | |||
Fortunately, it was empty but for Jorus. It would have been quite a | |||
scene if there had... :: | |||
SHAGAN: Hi! Why are you avoiding your friends? | |||
COGUD: [tag] | |||
SHAGAN: Really? ::The door slammed open and the two Orions waltzed like | |||
a couple of crazy bears with a scent. Telice waved at them again.:: Oh | |||
hi! I'm-- ::One of the males shoved her to the side and into James | |||
roughly.:: Take it easy! | |||
JAMES: Please refrain from making further contact with us. Curtsey is | |||
only logical. | |||
:: James prepared himself to fight if necessary. He figured that a | |||
Orion's natural aggression combined with copious alcohol, would not be a | |||
very pleasant combination. :: | |||
JAMES: Mr. Cogud, do you know these people as Miss Shagan suspects? If | |||
so are they causing you any kind of emotional turmoil. | |||
0o I don't really need a response for that one, it is obvious that he is | |||
distraught... 0o | |||
COGUD: [tag]</nowiki></pre> | |||
==Never fight a engineer in a place filled with electricity.== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>:: James dropped the lose pose he had assumed. :: | |||
0o Just thought of a better way! 0o | |||
SHAGAN: Stop! ::Telice shouted. Then at the Orions:: This is madness! | |||
::She grabbed the nearest Orion's right arm and dug her heels in the hold | |||
him back. He shook his arm furiously but she gripped it desperately. Under | |||
him, someone made the most of it to escape. Exasperated, the Orion wrapped | |||
his meaty hand around Telice's throat and threw her like a rag doll against | |||
the bar.:: | |||
::Her head hit the onyx rock hard, and she only managed a gasp before | |||
darkness claimed her, her body rolling limply under the stools. James saw | |||
all of this and calculated that she was unlikely to be perminatlly harmed | |||
and that he could probably do more good by carrying on. :: | |||
WALTAS/WESTERBRIDGE/COLLIM/COGUD: [tag] | |||
:: Moving to the wall he smashes the glass covering the spark gap and pulls | |||
out a few wires. 0o Great, this should do it! 0o Using the electricity of a | |||
nearby spark gap as a soldering iron, and some wire as solder he connected | |||
the wires to the clubs power supply, the high-voltage one powering the | |||
walls. In his hands he now held a weapon with at least 5,000 Volts. :: | |||
JAMES: Please step away from my captain and co-workers. I estimate that | |||
this :: gesturing to the wires in his hand :: would not kill you, but would | |||
be very painful and would result in a few hours of unconcisness and | |||
possibly loss of muscle control. :: To emphasise his point James brings the | |||
two wires together, creating a very nice arc between them. :: | |||
</nowiki></pre> | |||
==The end of my first night out...== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>((Athunderistic, Club Scene, DS-285)) | |||
WALTAS: Well don't jusht shstand there! | |||
:: Tom took combating stance. Immediately Tom ran to confront the | |||
nearest orion KRULL, the one with mohawek. Using his Starfleet security | |||
training, Tom began to fight KRULL. Tom used hand-to-hand combat | |||
skills to fight KRULL. Tom punched and kicked the Orion, while Tom | |||
defended himself from the Orion's counter-moves. Tom kept the Orion | |||
really busy. Still the Orion was a tough customer. Tom incurred some | |||
injuries to his body. Using his improvised contraption, ensign James | |||
came to the rescue to subdue the Orion. :: | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: Thanks, ensign James. That's an interesting thing. that | |||
you devised to use as a weapon. | |||
JAMES: Thank you, I thought it would be prudent to have a weapon which | |||
could cause some harm. | |||
:: Soon an armed security force entered the club to contain the brawl. | |||
The armed security officers secured the situation :: | |||
0o They took their time... 0o | |||
WALTAS::Pointing to the unconscious Orions:: They attacked us. I need to | |||
take my people to medical on board Discovery. | |||
WALTAS::Tapping his comm badge:: =/\= Waltas to Discovery. Incoming | |||
injured =/\= | |||
WARREN: =/\= This is nurse Warren. Can you describe the nature on the | |||
injuries? There is no medical officer on shift. Doctor Morning Song is-- | |||
=/\= | |||
WALTAS::Looking at each of them:: I'll expect you all to be checked out | |||
in sickbay. =/\= Energize. =/\= | |||
:: Tom nodded. Tom watched the captain beamed first away, and then soon | |||
he beamed away from the club :: | |||
(( Sickbay, Discovery-C )) | |||
:: Tom materialized in the sickbay along with the rest of the officers | |||
who visited the club :: | |||
WARREN: ::eyes widening:: Doctor Shagan! Can someone please put her on a | |||
bed? | |||
COGUD: Yes nurse. ::Cogud grabbed the doctor lifting her onto the | |||
closest bio-bed:: | |||
WARREN: Great. Everyone please sit down and I'll be right with you. | |||
:: Tom walked to the closest biobed, and he waited until he was being | |||
treated. As he waited, Tom saw the captain walking over to Kieran, and | |||
then he glanced at the both again. Tom was wondering what they were | |||
discussing. Tom saw the captain walking toward him :: | |||
WALTAS: Lieutenant, a word please. | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: Yes, sir. I want to discuss something with you, sir. | |||
WALTAS: I'm still drunk but it doesn't take a detective to figure out | |||
you're not happy with me. | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: You must be very charming man to the women, sir. | |||
WALTAS::Smiling:: It's the hair. Chicks love the hair. | |||
:: Tom was drunk, and his emotions carried over from the fight with the | |||
Orions, that he blabbed out something on his mind without thinking:: | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: I don't think it's appropriate for the captain to seduce | |||
an officer under his command, sir. | |||
WALTAS::Mock offense:: Why Lieutenant, how dare you think I would take | |||
advantage of a.. ::His eyes moved to Collim who was stretching, | |||
revealing an alarming amount of leg and thigh:: and the security report. | |||
:: Tom saw the captain looking at Kieran again, and then the captain | |||
turned his bead back to Tom:: | |||
oO Did I just accuse the captain of impropriety. I shouldn't have | |||
accused him.. Very dumb Oo | |||
WALTAS: What was I saying? | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to accuse you of | |||
impropriety, sir. | |||
WALTAS: Right. Gentleman. Sure. Good night, Lieutenant. | |||
WESTERBRIDGE: This night has been very strange for me. Good night, sir. | |||
:: Tom saw the captain walking over to Kieran, and he took her elbow and | |||
walked out of the sickbay. :: | |||
0o Well, that looked heated... 0o | |||
:: James was uninjured which the nurse quickly agreed with. He stepped | |||
out of the sickbay and made his way to his quarters. :: | |||
</nowiki></pre> | |||
==JP-JAMES/SHAGAN: What happened on stardate 237602.19== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>(OOC: Interesting fact, James and I have been working on this JP since day | |||
one for us on the ship, but there was never a right time to post it. So we | |||
kept hoping and editing... Here it is now!) | |||
((Medical bay, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
::Telice rubbed her eyes tiredly. She stretched and heard a few pops in her | |||
back. After a night on a biobed it was hardly surprising. Putting her chin | |||
in her hand, she closed her eyes for a moment. Her office door lay ajar | |||
after Valdivia’s departure, noises filtering in from the few nurses on | |||
shift in sickbay. The sound of laughter threatened to bring back her | |||
migraine, but other than the nurses and an injured engineer the infirmary | |||
was blessedly empty. She could go and have lunch now. The Chief Science | |||
Officer had been her last physical for the day, thankfully.:: | |||
::His file was still on her desk, medical report yet unsigned. Telice | |||
grabbed her PADD and added her signature to it, then turned off the | |||
screen.:: | |||
::The doctor still felt lousy after previous day’s events. She decided | |||
against a direct visit to the mess hall and took a quick detour to her | |||
quarters for a shower. Another one. Thank god for the upcoming shore leave. | |||
She had never needed rest so badly, even though she was supposed to be off | |||
duty. She got dressed in a clean uniform and smoothed over the embroidered | |||
medical logo on chest. She liked the feel of it under her fingertips. She | |||
liked it even better now she was Lieutenant Junior Grade.:: | |||
::The morning’s encounter with Captain Waltas had been supremely | |||
uncomfortable. His attitude had greatly surprised her. She hadn’t taken him | |||
for a coward.:: | |||
::She still couldn’t believe her promotion. It had happened so fast. To her | |||
knowledge it could take up to a year before the commanding officer even | |||
noticed all of the juniors, let alone personally hand out the promotion. | |||
But then she had been busy, between the plague and the Trill symbiont’s | |||
rescue. She felt reasonably confident that their little escapade to the | |||
club wouldn’t be kept on record, seeing as to how the captain had joined | |||
the fun, to call it that. No one had to know.:: | |||
::But there wouldn’t but another promotion any time soon. Telice gave a sad | |||
glance to her room.:: | |||
::Her personal quarters were a mess. Folded clothes peeked out of her open | |||
bag and a pile of dirty uniform and underwear sat at the end of her bed. | |||
The picture of her graduation day sat proudly at the end of her small desk. | |||
She always made sure to carry it with her wherever she went, on the top of | |||
her clothes so it was the first thing out of her bag. This time it had | |||
found a more permanent position, and she felt good about that.:: | |||
::Already she felt like a veteran already.She chuckled at the thought. | |||
Everything was still muddled in her mind. McCall’s departure, the | |||
promotions... that weird fish creature! It was a lot to take in..:: | |||
::Telice's stomach grumbled loudly.:: | |||
SHAGAN: oO Right, lunch. Oo | |||
::She grabbed her PADD and put on her standard issue boots. Unbidden, the | |||
thought of her fellow crewmembers crossed her mind. It was so unlikely that | |||
they should find themselves in the same room today, or later, but it was a | |||
possibility. Telice dearly hoped she wouldn’t have to hide behind any | |||
corners to avoid embarrassment.:: | |||
::She exited her quarters and took the nearest turbolift to the ship’s | |||
exit.:: | |||
((Ensign James personal quarters, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
:: The sound of Pink Floyds’ Shine On You Crazy Diamond echoed through | |||
James’ chaotic quarters. A unusual choice for a Vulcan, perhaps but still | |||
one of James’ favorites. By the time James had finally finished last night, | |||
he was too tired to unpack properly, yet he still tried with disastrous | |||
results., hence the rooms chaos.:: | |||
I remember when you were young. You shone like the sun. | |||
:: James stepped outside of the shower and immediately started to root | |||
around the detritus for something to wear. :: | |||
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision, blown on the steel | |||
wind. | |||
0o I can’t believe I bypassed command like that... still if it helped save | |||
the life of that symbiont.. That symbiont is many and I am one... It is | |||
only logical that I placed its life above my career... Not to mention the | |||
whole 'Sabotage' thing... Still I can't beat myself up about that.... But | |||
maybe the programmer who committed the update can be... Not to mention my | |||
promotion! 0o | |||
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser, come on you miner for truth | |||
and delusion, and shine! | |||
0o Then in the same day fought off some Orions with a improvised energy | |||
weapon... Not that it had much effect... Still, I’m bringing a phaser next | |||
time I leave the ship... 0o | |||
:: James’s realised that he was suddenly quite hungry. Unusually for him, | |||
he also wanted company, to not be alone with his thoughts. Having realised | |||
this instead of just using the replicator, he headed for the Mess hall. :: | |||
JAMES: Computer, stop music. | |||
((Mess hall, USS Discover-C)) | |||
::The mess hall had been a bad, bad idea. Everyone was staring. The doctor | |||
was at loss. Then of course she realised. Curse Warren, Telice was going to | |||
kill her. She couldn’t imagine any of the officers present the previous | |||
evening spilling the beans, so any detail had had to come from the nurse.:: | |||
::Telice did her best to ignore the stares and took a tray.:: | |||
::The replicators held a variety of dishes from a number of planets, all | |||
member of the Federation. Telice realised it may look unfair that most were | |||
Terran, but she was certainly glad for it. After all a good percentage of | |||
the fleet was human. On the spur of the moment, she ordered a plate of | |||
Romulan jumbo mollusks. It could never taste as good as the real thing, but | |||
she could pretend.:: | |||
::And no alcohol. God, no alcohol. Not in a million years.:: | |||
::She turned around and narrowly avoided collision with an officer who was | |||
reaching for the replicator next to hers.:: | |||
SHAGAN: oO You have got to be kidding me. Oo James? | |||
JAMES: Ah, Mrs Shagan. How... nice to see you. Good Afternoon. | |||
SHAGAN: Good morning. ::looking around:: We do seem to make a habit of | |||
running into each other. I guess I’ll just... oO Go away go away | |||
goawaygoaway.... Oo | |||
::Telice couldn’t remember much after entering the club last night. Her | |||
memories were blurry, but a few moments remained crystal clear. She | |||
remembered sitting in the Vulcan’s lap, clinging to his neck like a | |||
groupie. Had she come onto him? On a Vulcan of all people. Just the thought | |||
made her cringe.:: | |||
::She walked to a table, put her tray down and raised her gaze. James had | |||
followed her, and although his face was as expressionless as that of any | |||
Vulcan, she got the strange feeling that he didn't know how to start this | |||
conversation either. Good god, wasn’t he the least bit embarrassed by the | |||
previous night that he would walk after her like that?:: | |||
::Had they actually... done anything? At loss, she felt her face burn with | |||
shame and twisted the napkin on her tray. She couldn’t bring herself to | |||
ask, and she doubted the Vulcan would welcome such a question in a public | |||
place anyway.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ...yes? | |||
JAMES: Do you mind if I sit with you? | |||
SHAGAN: ::defeated:: Sure, have a seat. ::she sat as well.:: | |||
Congratulations on the promotion, by the way. I don’t think I ever got a | |||
chance to say. | |||
JAMES: Thank you. Congratulations to you too. | |||
SHAGAN: Thanks. ::She started to eat, gaze cast down to her food. But | |||
eventually she couldn’t take it.:: So, last night... Did you and I...? Did | |||
we...? | |||
JAMES: Have a fun and uneventful evening? Yes, we did Doctor. Don’t worry, | |||
nothing untoward happened. | |||
SHAGAN: ::profoundly relieved:: Oh, good. Better than that. Perfect. | |||
JAMES: o0 I curse my eidetic memory. 0o | |||
::Her eyes remained hopelessly stuck to her tray lest he saw the | |||
awkwardness on her face. He was just like any other crewmember, and she was | |||
being stupid. They hadn’t done anything. She hadn’t done anything with a | |||
Vulcan, she was alright. When she looked up, James was observing her with | |||
unfathomable eyes. Vulcans, she found, all had the same bottomless dark | |||
gaze, one she was acquainted with from an early age.:: | |||
((Flashback, Starfleet shipyard, San Francisco, stardate 237602.19)) | |||
::Telice was so excited. She was jumping all over the place with | |||
excitement. Excitement was her. Finally, FINALLY she got to with her dad to | |||
the shipyard, and go inside of the huge ships. It was going so much fun! | |||
And best of all, she would get to sit in the captain's chair, as if she was | |||
the captain!:: | |||
::Red cheeked and febrile, she ran ahead of her father to the gate and | |||
straight into the security officer's arms who caught her easily. Aniam | |||
Sellick was a familiar face to the Shagan family.:: | |||
::The large blue gates and entrance yard were buzzing with activity like a | |||
newly installed hive, Starfleet officers coming in and out, mostly | |||
engineers carrying tools and folders. A few cars were patrolling the yard, | |||
each proudly displaying the Starfleet sign.:: | |||
SELLICK: You're getting so heavy kid, soon you might get past me! | |||
T.SHAGAN: ::giggling:: You are a lying liar. | |||
SELLICK: Is that so? | |||
J.SHAGAN: It is so ::Telice's father Jethro reached out and shook Sellick's | |||
hand with a smile:: Still coming for lunch tomorrow? | |||
SELLICK: Sure thing, Jethro. Tell the lady I said hi. | |||
J.SHAGAN: Will do. Come on, kiddo. Let's go. | |||
::The security officer made to hand her to her father, but she wriggled | |||
free as soon as he loosened his hold and started again towards the | |||
shipyard, her command yellow sweater flashing brightly among the red shirts | |||
walking around the entrance yard, the back tagged with a badly drawn | |||
Starfleet logo.:: | |||
SELLICK: Still a handful I see. | |||
::Jethro laughed and nodded goodbye to his friend before following his | |||
daughter. Meanwhile, Telice had reached the ship access checkpoint, and was | |||
loudly berating an amused engineer for not letting her through.:: | |||
J.SHAGAN: Don't worry Lieutenant, the bark is worse than the bite. ::The | |||
officer shook his head and returned to his duties while Telice's father | |||
grabbed her hand.:: Stay with me now, I don't want you to get lost. | |||
T.SHAGAN: I won't! I know aaaall the blueprints you left on your desk by | |||
heart. | |||
J.SHAGAN: ::sharply:: I told you not to go into my study. | |||
T.SHAGAN: You also said not to tell mum about that time we had ice cream | |||
before dinner. | |||
J.SHAGAN: ::biting back a laugh:: Oh I see, we are negotiating now. Fine, | |||
how many decks does this ship have? | |||
::They were inside now, and walked into the first turbolift. Telice raised | |||
on the tip of her toes to press the button. She could only reach the bottom | |||
one, but since it was their destination, it didn't really matter.:: | |||
::While she pondered the answer, Jethro took his combadge out.:: | |||
J.SHAGAN: =/\=Lieutenant Commander Shagan to the bridge. Coming in with... | |||
the package.=/\= | |||
::His call was acknowledged by an amused ensign.:: | |||
T.SHAGAN: ::frowning in concentration:: 24! Because... because... ::she | |||
frowned some more:: Because it's a sovereign class ship! | |||
J.SHAGAN: Well done. Maybe we won't tell your mother about that ice cream. | |||
::The turbolift's door swished open, and a young ensign in science blue | |||
uniform stepped up to greet them.:: | |||
LOP: Ensign Lop, I'm with science, Sir. | |||
J.SHAGAN: At ease, ensign. We'll be out of your hair in a moment. | |||
LOP: ::grinning down at Telice:: It's not trouble Sir. | |||
::Telice bounced down the bridge's steps, and hurled herself at the | |||
captain's chair. She climbed it, determinate, and sat facing the screen, | |||
back straight, eyes intense on the skeleton crew working the controls.:: | |||
T.SHAGAN: ::screaming joyously:: All hands on deck! | |||
::All present jumped a few inches off the ground, badly startled. After a | |||
moment of silence, a chorus of laughter ran around the bridge. Telice | |||
smirked at her father, all cheek.:: | |||
J.SHAGAN: ::Gesturing at her to come down. :: That's quite enough, young | |||
lady. We- | |||
::He was interrupted by the arrival of the future's ship first officer, | |||
Garry Rolland, a Trill he barely knew but had heard great things about, | |||
followed by two desk lackeys and a tall Vulcan in a traditional garb. An | |||
ambassador then.:: | |||
J. SHAGAN: Commander. ::A nodd.:: | |||
ROLLAND: Ah, Mr Shagan. Just the man I need. | |||
::Telice blinked at the Vulcan curiously while he father talked about | |||
boring Starfleet papers. She knew what Vulcan looked like in theory, but | |||
she had never seen one before. She slid off the command chair and sneaked | |||
closer to the tall alien.:: | |||
::Just as she had reached his back, he turned around abruptly and looked | |||
down at her. Thankfully, her father was too engaged in the conversation to | |||
have noticed.:: | |||
T.SHAGAN: You're Vulcan aren't you! | |||
T'ROK: That is correct. I am ambassador T'Rok. | |||
T.SHAGAN: Really? That's a weird name. ::The Vulcan stared at her.:: I'm | |||
Telice! | |||
T'ROK: It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Telice of Earth. | |||
T.SHAGAN: No, I'm just called Telice. | |||
T'ROK: Indeed, I was merely conveying my respect by using the proper form | |||
of address. | |||
::Now her father was turning around, having noticed that she had left the | |||
chair. Telice thought quickly to say something interesting to this alien. | |||
Maybe it wasn't first contact, but it was her first contact! She had to | |||
make it memorable.:: | |||
::An image of her brother poped in her mind. What did he always say about | |||
Vulcans?:: | |||
T.SHAGAN: ::looking straight at the ambassador:: Wow, I don't know what you | |||
just said, but you sure have a stick up your ass! | |||
::Shocked silence followed her words, the crew frozen in place. Even the | |||
comm unit stopped buzzing. After an agonizing minute, the ambassador walked | |||
swiftly back inside the turbolift.:: | |||
T'ROK: Commander Rolland, I believe I must return to my quarters | |||
immediately. | |||
ROLLAND: Ambassador, you haven't seen the ship yet. I assure you this- | |||
T'ROK: ::coldly:: Immediately, Commander. | |||
J.SHAGAN: ::rushed:: Ambassador, please accept my apologies, Telice is very | |||
young- | |||
T'ROK: That is no excuse. A Vulcan child would never utter such | |||
inappropriate word at any age. Your daughter is a poor but common example | |||
of Terran misconduct. | |||
J.SHAGAN: Now wait just a minute here! | |||
ROLLAND: Stand down Lieutenant! ::he snapped:: We'll talk about this when I | |||
come back. Wait for me outside the ship. | |||
::Only when the Commander and the Ambassador had left did the crew start | |||
working again, an uneasy silence following the incident. Telice winced as | |||
her father grabbed her hand and all but dragged her to the turbolift.:: | |||
T.SHAGAN: ::quietly:: But you always laugh when John says it. | |||
J.SHAGAN: When we're at home Telice! That's different! Besides, I don't | |||
want you saying that kind of thing, to anyone, Terran or other! Is that | |||
understood? | |||
::Telice sniffed.:: | |||
J. SHAGAN: ::severely:: Is it? | |||
T.SHAGAN: Yes! | |||
J.SHAGAN: Don't give me attitude now, or this is the only time you'll get | |||
to visit the shipyard. | |||
::They rushed out of the ship. Telice had to run to keep up, and she | |||
stumbled as they reached the ground. Her father released her hand and | |||
immediately started apologizing to Commander Rolland. The ambassador was | |||
nowhere to be seen.:: | |||
::Looking around the yard dejectedly, Telice's gaze was arrested by a pair | |||
of dark, deep brown eyes in the center of a stoic, if slightly curious | |||
face. A young boy was observing carefully from a distance, as if assessing | |||
her. Telice started to smile, but then she noticed.:: | |||
::His ears were pointy. He was Vulcan.:: | |||
::She turned her back to him, facing her the two officers arguing about | |||
proper conduct and and favors and bringing children aboard a ship.:: | |||
::Telice decided there and then that never, ever ever would she would | |||
befriend a Vulcan.:: | |||
((Present time, Mess hall, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
:: James lifted up his cup to take a drink, Tea, Earl Grey, Hot of course. | |||
Although he wasn’t sure why you had to specify the hot... Surely the | |||
replicator could work out that you wanted your tea hot! I mean, how else | |||
does one drink tea. :: | |||
::Telice observed him in silence for a moment. He sipped at his tea calmly, | |||
watching her with an air of quiet expectation. A completely non judgmental | |||
gaze. It was so far beyond what she was used to that she was at loss for | |||
words, especially after her behavior at the club. The silence stretch for a | |||
second longer than politeness would allow.:: | |||
SHAGAN : ::suddenly :: You're not fully Vulcan, are you ? oO Oh wow, way to | |||
be rude here. Oo | |||
JAMES : oO I suppose she needs to know... After all she is a doctor. Oo No, | |||
I'm only 1/4th Vulcan. | |||
SHAGAN : Ah. | |||
JAMES : Perhaps, this information will lower your hostility to me? ::He | |||
raised an eyebrow :: | |||
SHAGAN : No, I-::she paused again. :: I'm sure once I get to know you-::she | |||
let out a frustrated groan. :: Look, it's complicated. I'm sure you're a | |||
nice guy- Vulcan ! A nice Vulcan, but I don't do Vulcans. oO Especially not | |||
after last night. Oo | |||
::He gave her a blank look. :: | |||
SHAGAN : ::rolling her eyes :: I don't have Vulcan friends. Or | |||
acquaintances. ::Telice stabbed her jumbo mollusks viciously. Juice landed | |||
all over the table. She muttered quietly. :: Not since that ambassador, | |||
anyway. | |||
JAMES : oO Shagan... She isn't 'that' Shagan... is she? Oo Is this anything | |||
to do with that 'incident' that happened back in 2373, in February I | |||
believe? | |||
::Speechless, Telice stared at the Vulcan in front of her, fork halfway to | |||
her mouth. She put it back down slowly. :: | |||
SHAGAN : How could you possibly know about that ? That report was | |||
classified! | |||
JAMES : I was nearby at the time, visiting my maternal Grandmother. | |||
::Telice mulled over that statement in silence. The surrounding noise of | |||
conversation washed over her like a breeze. He must be lying, there hadn't | |||
been anyone else but Starfleet personnel at the yard that day. Or maybe | |||
someone on Vulcan had told him about. It was possible that the ambassador | |||
had told his people. In fact, it was certain. :: | |||
::Suddenly, it hit her like a freight train. :: | |||
SHAGAN: The Vulcan kid. That was you. | |||
JAMES: Please do not judge my species on that one Ambassador. To use a 21st | |||
century phrase, which appears to be useful here, he was a complete and | |||
utter dick. :: Takes a bite of his Hasperat :: He was removed from his post | |||
a few months later, you know. | |||
::That sentence in a Vulcan mouth startled a laugh out of her. :: | |||
SHAGAN : Because of me? | |||
JAMES : I think so, I'm not entirely sure... It was mostly suppressed. | |||
There was some... *interesting* rumours though... | |||
SHAGAN : Wow, I actually feel bad for the guy. I was ten after all. | |||
JAMES : He completely lost his logical detachment. His comments were very | |||
much based on emotion, not logic. While that isn't entirely a bad thing, in | |||
some circumstances, this time it was not. He behaved more like a Romulan | |||
than a Vulcan. Anyway, Vulcan children used to bully me with far worse | |||
insults than suggesting I have a 'stick up my ass'. | |||
SHAGAN: ::Telice tilted her head and considered him thoughtfully. Still, it | |||
was not an insult a Vulcan would voice lightly.:: So you don't approve of | |||
that ? | |||
JAMES : The misuse of emotion? Definitely. I was taught that, as the | |||
universe is not always logical, neither can we be. But, getting angry at | |||
the comments of a young child, shows not only poor emotional control but a | |||
very unbalanced personality. To anger from the words of a child, said | |||
without intent... it was highly illogical. | |||
::Telice's gaze wandered to the blue walls of the mess hall as her mind | |||
relieved once more the events of that day. She then thought of the Vulcans | |||
she had met at the Academy, and during training. Had she really been that | |||
prejudiced ? Had she actually been xenophobic, in a way? Ironic, for a | |||
future xenobiologist.:: | |||
SHAGAN : I...::it was difficult to get the words out. Her father furious | |||
face came forward then disappeared again. :: You're not all the same. | |||
You're just a bit... ::she smiled tentatively :: stuck up. | |||
JAMES: Well, I can admit that we can be, indeed. :: James flashed a brief | |||
smile, before returning to normal. :: If all you've had contact with is | |||
*him* though, I can see how you could be prejudiced.... and perhaps with | |||
reason. | |||
SHAGAN: Thanks. ::dryly:: You’re really not what I imagined. I think... | |||
::she grinned:: I think you and I could be friends, someday. | |||
JAMES: Yes I think we could. | |||
SHAGAN: ::she scooped the remaining Romulan delicacies on her plate with | |||
her fork and shoved them into her mouth.:: Do you have plans for shore | |||
leave? Plans that don’t involve... alcohol? | |||
JAMES: At the moment, no. I trust that you never want to see alcohol again? | |||
SHAGAN: I’m not sure... Depends on how much time we have.::She smiled.:: | |||
How long have we been on base already? We might not have time for shore | |||
leave in the end. | |||
JAMES: True... Although, I would expect us to have a little bit longer... | |||
:: Eyes lighting up. :: Anyway, I don’t think the Captain is in a fit state | |||
to leave yet! | |||
SHAGAN: ::Telice debated whether or not she would tell him about her | |||
encounter with the captain this morning, then decided against it.:: … do | |||
you think he is hiding in his quarters? | |||
JAMES: Either that or sleeping it off. He was quite intoxicated last night, | |||
did you see how he acted towards the Councillor? | |||
SHAGAN: Well, I guess it’s none of our business anyway. | |||
JAMES: Yes, I quite agree. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the | |||
Terran Sherlock Holmes series? I've heard that this ship has a excellent | |||
copy of some holodeck programs designed on the Enterprise, and holodeck | |||
programs are always more... fun, with another precipitant. | |||
SHAGAN: ::The non-sequitur brought her up short, but she soon shook her | |||
head.:: Why not. | |||
::If only because the whispers around them were driving her crazy.::</nowiki></pre> | |||
==Back on the bridge== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>((Bridge, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
:: James walked through the turbolift doors and onto the bridge. Thought his | |||
journey, he had noticed people starring at him... it was most disconcerting. He | |||
swore he heard the phrase "orgy" at least once... :: | |||
0o I must be mistaken... 0o | |||
:: He walked up to his station and brought up the interface. Everything seemed | |||
like it was within normal parameters... Some where even slightly elevated. :: | |||
0o Mmm, the refit crew did a good job... 0o | |||
:: Jorus turned to face him. :: | |||
COGUD: Morning James | |||
JAMES: Ah, good morning... Recovered from our night out? :: He wasn't sure | |||
about | |||
that... James had previously thought that much alcohol was deadly for terrans. | |||
:: | |||
COGUD: [Tag] | |||
JAMES: :: Thinking it over... :: Yes, that sounds enjoyable. We shall have to | |||
find a time when we are both free... That reminds me. Have you had any :: | |||
lowers | |||
voice :: strange looks from some of the crewmen. On my way up here it was | |||
most... disconcerting. | |||
((OCC: If anyone on bridge wants to join in this, you are more than welcome! | |||
Everyone else seems to be finding out, so we should!)) | |||
</nowiki></pre> | |||
==Meditation== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>(OOC: This takes place a few hours after departure.) | |||
((James’ quarters, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
:: James walked away pleased from his encounter with Telice, one less person | |||
who | |||
dislikes him is always a good result. Invigorated by his conversation he headed | |||
back to his quarters and started to (finally!) unpack. Just when James had | |||
finally put his last poster up, and went to bed a loud sound roused him from | |||
his | |||
tentative sleep. :: | |||
BLUEHEART: =/\= Commander Blueheart to Lieutenant James =/\= | |||
JAMES: =/\= James here. =/\= | |||
BLUEHEART: =/\= I can’t sleep. =/\= | |||
JAMES: :: Wondering why he contacted him, instead of a physician... :: =/\= Is | |||
there anything particular that happened today, that could be keeping you awake? | |||
Sir. =/\= | |||
BLUEHEART: =/\= Many, many things happened today. =/\= oO Multiple power | |||
lunches | |||
and power dinners at The Roost, a secret blown, a counseling session turned | |||
topsy turvy, departure from the base to Sigma Iotia II, … Aaarghhh!! My head is | |||
spinning! Oo =/\= I can’t seem to relax. Not even with a sedative. I’m too | |||
high | |||
strung. Can you help me with something? Like meditation perhaps? If you’re not | |||
too tired of course. =/\= | |||
0o Well... I guess I’m not that tired... 0o | |||
JAMES: =/\= Of course, Sir do you want to come over here, or should I go to | |||
your | |||
quarters? =/\ | |||
0o And more importantly, where did I put my meditation stuff... 0o | |||
BLUEHEART: oO Too much goings on in my quarters! The Dachlyd babies scaling the | |||
drapes. Em strutting about half naked. No way. Oo =/\= I’ll come over. Thanks, | |||
James. Blueheart out. =/\= | |||
::Blueheart slipped on a Starfleet beanie in addition to his casual clothes and | |||
headed out to Lt JG James’ quarters.:: | |||
((Three minutes later)) | |||
((Lt JG James’ Personal Quarters, USS Discovery-C)) | |||
::After precisely half a chime, the door hissed open.:: | |||
BLUEHEART: ::nodding:: Lieutenant. | |||
JAMES: Sir, please make yourself comfortable. | |||
BLUEHEART: Thank you. ::He stepped inside the officer’s abode and instinctively | |||
looked around.:: But you haven’t unpacked. | |||
JAMES: I haven’t had much time.... I did the majority of it today... Still, I | |||
think I will probably not completely finish for a while.... | |||
BLUEHEART: Yes. The last mission drained everyone of precious time amongst | |||
other | |||
things. Nevermind. We are officially on shore leave, so that should give you | |||
sufficient time to unpack and place a piece of artsy pottery or two in some | |||
corner. oO Em would love to suggest decorative pottery pieces. Oo | |||
JAMES: :: looking around the room and noticing the sparsity of the decoration. | |||
:: Oh, yes. | |||
BLUEHEART: ::looking around again:: May I sit on this.. crate? My back is | |||
killing me. | |||
JAMES: Of course, I would offer a chair but... Last time I tried replicating | |||
one... It didn’t go down well. I may need enginering to look at it. It *can* | |||
however handle liquids with some competency. Would you like some kind of | |||
beverage. Tea, coffee? | |||
BLUEHEART: Oh, none for me, thank you. | |||
JAMES: Sir, you mentioned that you were interested in Vulcan meditation, but | |||
you | |||
didn’t specify what kind. Do you want me to go through some of them, then if | |||
you | |||
want to try some I should have the right equipment. | |||
BLUEHEART: ::sitting cross-legged atop the crate, attentive::Yes, please do. | |||
JAMES: Ok, There are three that I know of, however the third Wh’Itri is the | |||
oldest and most difficult technique. I am not too knowledgeable on this one | |||
however it involves a Vulcan meditation lamp. | |||
BLUEHEART: ::nodding:: And the other kinds? | |||
JAMES: The first is known as Kithira which translates approximately to | |||
structure | |||
of harmony. Kithira aims to restore control and order in a mind full of chaos. | |||
It is one of the earliest techniques taught, due to its simplicity. It requires | |||
the use of different shaped blocks, which you use to build a structure while | |||
meditating. While meditating you should hold the structure you wish to build in | |||
your mind and slowly, form the structure out of the surrounding chaos. Some | |||
also | |||
hold various mantras in their mind while meditating. The one I was taught as a | |||
child is Structure. Logic. Function. Control. A structure cannot stand without | |||
a | |||
foundation. Logic is the foundation of function. Function is the essence of | |||
control. I am in control. I am in control. | |||
::Blueheart nodded in silence and eagerly anticipated the explanation of the | |||
second kind of Vulcan meditation.:: | |||
JAMES: The second, and the one I prefere, is known as Tiltra. Tiltra is | |||
slightly | |||
more advanced, but has the benefit of requiring no equipment. It attempts to | |||
focus thoughts and the mind and also had the side effect of improving memory. | |||
This is the technique I used while we were raising the Achilles. The most basic | |||
form of Tiltra requires you to keep a number in your memory for a time. All | |||
thoughts must be focused upon it, until you can see the meaning of the number, | |||
its beauty and its simplicity or complexity. Beginners should start with a | |||
short | |||
number and gradually increase the number. More complex forms use multiple | |||
numbers and sequences, but these are harder to maintain while completing tasks. | |||
I personally use a pattern of numbers, increasing the sequence by one each | |||
time. | |||
For instance on the bridge I use the sequence 1 over root 5 times phi to n plus | |||
1, which I believe is known as the Fibonacci sequence on earth. At the moment I | |||
am using n equals 168. | |||
BLUEHEART: You almost won me over with the improving memory bit. Then you | |||
scared | |||
me with complex mathematical sequences. ::He chuckled.:: What do you recommend | |||
for a novice like me? | |||
JAMES: I would suggest Kithira, it also has the benefit of being very | |||
relaxing... Although, the Tiltra can be too, it doesn't have to include | |||
complex | |||
maths... Anyway, the Kithira is the most logical choice. | |||
BLUEHEART: Then we shall go with that. | |||
JAMES: Ok, I should have my blocks here somewhere... | |||
:: James starts ruffling through a nearby box. :: | |||
BLUEHEART: What do I do first? Does it involve weird contorted sitting | |||
positions? Because I’m not as flexible as I used to be. oO Though Em would beg | |||
to differ. Oo | |||
JAMES: Sit down in a position you find comfortable, then clear your mind. | |||
Imagine it is a blank space, moldable to your control. When you can feel | |||
control | |||
over your mind please nod. Speaking can break the concentration needed. | |||
BLUEHEART: oO Blank space... Like a dark-matter pocket? Oo | |||
JAMES: 0o Ah, there they are! 0o | |||
::Blueheart focused on the dark-matter pocket and imagined it being folded and | |||
molded by the sheer power of his mind. He nodded, almost subconsciously.:: | |||
:: James removed the blocks and set them in front of Blueheart. Upon seeing him | |||
gently nod he placed them nearby his hands. :: | |||
JAMES: Ok, now imagine a structure in your mind. It can be as simple or as | |||
complex as you wish. When you can clearly visualize it use the blocks near you | |||
hands, to build it. To form order from your internal chaos. Oh, and if you are | |||
thinking how you can build without knowing details of the blocks, use all of | |||
your senses, build a picture of them and from there apply that to your internal | |||
landscape. | |||
::Blueheart envisioned the grand Aztec pyramid at Teotihuacan. He reached out | |||
and groped at the various solid objects scattered around him, just within reach | |||
of his hands. The first object he touched was a smooth sphere.:: | |||
BLUEHEART: oO Rats! Oo | |||
::Never one to give up easily, Blueheart persevered and grasped for other | |||
objects and used his imagination to place them at different positions on his | |||
growing structure, which he remembered well. So engrossed was he in his | |||
endeavor, he hardly noticed the tip of his tongue peeking out the side of his | |||
mouth.:: | |||
:: James watched as slowly, the disorder of the blocks slowly formed into a | |||
tangible structure. For a first attempt it was very well made... 0o I wonder if | |||
he does a lot of things in the dark... 0o After a few minutes he seemed to | |||
falter slightly... :: | |||
JAMES: If it helps order your thoughts, try reciting some kind of mantra. The | |||
words, often, have little meaning. They are there to order your thoughts, to | |||
help retain control. | |||
BLUEHEART: oO But speaking breaks the concentration, you say. Do I recite | |||
without speaking then? Oo | |||
::He decided to speak anyway, to seek answers to these perturbing questions.:: | |||
JAMES: It often helps to speak them in your mind. | |||
BLUEHEART: Ah. So I recite the mantra non-verbally. Got it. ::inhaling and | |||
arching his back:: oO Dryad Blueheart d’Squamos... Vayu Blueheart d’Squamos... | |||
Essk Blueheart d’Squamos... Dryad Blueheart d’Squamos... Vayu Blueheart | |||
d’Squamos... Essk Blueheart d’Squamos... … … Oo | |||
::Almost magically, Blueheart felt, with his hands, the erected miniature | |||
pyramid. A smile slowly crossed his face as his hands no longer grasped any | |||
remaining block.:: | |||
JAMES: Well, Sir. How did you find the Kithira? | |||
BLUEHEART: ::opening his eyes:: I thought it would be a nightmare challenge, | |||
but | |||
right now I feel weirdly calm. Like the calm one feels after running a | |||
marathon, | |||
but without the sore muscles or throbbing head. | |||
JAMES: Yes, it is strangely relaxing. I’ve heard that on earth a similar kind | |||
of | |||
therapy was practised with small, usually 4 by 4 blocks with odd cylindrical | |||
prongs which can be used to reinforce a stacked structure. I believe it was | |||
called Lego therapy or some sort...? Anyway, as you can see, while it does | |||
excel | |||
at bringing balance to a mind, it is a bit... cumbersome. This is why the | |||
Tiltra | |||
tends to be favored. Also it can’t help that it is practised regularly in all | |||
academies due to its benefits for memory... | |||
BLUEHEART: Indeed. How soon can one graduate from the Kithira to the Tiltra? | |||
JAMES: Well, its not so much of a graduation, but a natural evolution. Some, | |||
still prefer the Kithira, but as you learn greater control, it helps to learn | |||
the Tiltra. | |||
BLUEHEART: Oh, but I’m a slow learner. I don’t want to stress my neurones too | |||
soon. | |||
JAMES: That might be a good idea. Tiltra does require extreme concentration so | |||
would be better to learn fully awake. | |||
BLUEHEART: ::stifling a yawn:: oO Wow. I’m sleepy already! Oo You were | |||
exceptionall, James. Brilliant! ::He flexed his neck to the left and to the | |||
right.:: So when is our next lesson? | |||
JAMES: :: Slightly surprised :: Well, whenever you like, Sir! 0o I must say | |||
teaching is quite enjoyable... 0o | |||
</nowiki></pre> | |||
==JP-SHAGAN/COLLIM/JAMES: Back in the saddle== | |||
<pre style='font-size:12px;'><nowiki>((Somewhere on Sigma Iotia)) | |||
::The track was layered in dust. Under a clear blue sky and warm afternoon sun, | |||
the stray country road was silent but for the constant zing-a-zing-a-zing of the | |||
cicadas, hiding in the tall yellowing grass growing around and in the middle of | |||
the path, pushing through cracks in the worn blocks of schist littering the | |||
region’s lowlands. A sharp curve led out of the thick conifer grove and into | |||
the plain, stretching all the way to the mountains and leaving the city a few | |||
miles behind.:: | |||
::The sudden roar of a powerful four-cylinder engine shattered the insects’ | |||
and butterflies’ moment of grace as an old camaro appeared at the bend and | |||
raced on, jumping up and down the track’s bumps at full speed. It shot through | |||
the cloud of dust like a spaceship out of a planet’s asteroid belt, specks of | |||
brown and grey clinging to the flashy red paint with its large black stripe | |||
running from the metallic buffer to the plate, thick windshield mucky.:: | |||
::The car drove on faster than safety would allow and reached a downward slope | |||
hidden by the grass, leading to a large wooden arch reading the name of the | |||
driver and her passengers’ destination: Ranch Iotia. The camaro skid across | |||
the gravel in a barely controlled slide to land in front of an old ranchers home | |||
looking slightly the worse for wear, and as dusty as the car who had brought its | |||
passengers to the isolated location.:: | |||
::The car’s doors opened hesitantly, creaking in protest, to let out three | |||
young Starfleet officers, one of them looking infinitely more satisfied than the | |||
other two, and a bit smug as well. Doctor Telice Shagan release her hair from | |||
its tight ponytail and shook her head.:: | |||
SHAGAN: That was fun! I never had a chance to drive a real car before! Hovercars | |||
are really not the same. | |||
JAMES: Doctor... I think I may be ill... Could you drive a little... slower next | |||
time? | |||
COLLIM: ::clapping him on the shoulder:: You can have the back seat next time. | |||
SHAGAN: ::tsking:: Where is your sense of adventure? | |||
COLLIM: I have a good sense of adventure... ::she teased:: That's why I'm | |||
driving back. | |||
JAMES: :: Mumbles :: Please be gentle... | |||
::The ranch house looked like a squashed rectangular box covered in batten pine | |||
wood, the roof crooked and worn and having opinions of it own regarding the | |||
angle it should stand at. Nonetheless, there was homely feeling to the | |||
comfortable looking rocking chair waiting in front of the curtained windows, the | |||
cheery blue shutters and the old truck parked to the side, dwarfing the slick | |||
camaro, and the dog’s house guarding the stables.:: | |||
::The door opened a moment later to let out a tall man dressed in shaggy riding | |||
pants and brown, muddy leather boots, a white long sleeves shirt clinging to his | |||
skin, collar held tight by a black string bolo tie displaying some sort of | |||
pressed silver coin, it details faded with time. His face was round and open but | |||
his eyes keen and searching. They were wandering eyes, ready to seize the | |||
opportunity, and Telice Shagan disliked them instantly. Still, he smiled and his | |||
face lightened up, dimples bringing an air of youthfulness to otherwise old | |||
features. Short, unruly black hair peppered in gray sat atop the man’s | |||
head.:: | |||
::A cigar was hanging from his mouth, and was half smoking, half chewing on it. | |||
His teeth, both medical officers noticed, were almost black.:: | |||
JUMPER: Ya’ll the folks from the city? I’m Jumper, I own the place. | |||
SHAGAN: Yes, I called you about renting three horses? ::Telice’s hand | |||
disappeared in Jumper’s large, meaty handshake.:: | |||
JUMPER: That right. ::His cigar swung to the other side of his mouth while he | |||
examined the officers critically.:: Ya ever been on a horse before? | |||
SHAGAN: I have, but my friends haven’t. If you had two quiet horses at least | |||
that would be great. | |||
::Kieran smiled, hiding what she was thinking and feeling. She didn't like the | |||
way the man looked at them and even more she didn't like what she was sensing | |||
from him.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::placing her hand on Telice's shoulder and leaning into her:: Where's | |||
your sense of adventure? | |||
SHAGAN: ::raising an eyebrow:: Is that a challenge? We can do fast horses, but I | |||
don’t think you’ll like it. | |||
JAMES: Fast.... Not again.... | |||
JUMPER: We got some nice fellows in the back, ya don’t need to worry about | |||
that ::he grunted.:: Now about that payment. | |||
SHAGAN: ::resisting the urge to roll her eyes:: Of course. James, would you mind | |||
getting our bag? It’s in the back. | |||
JAMES: Of course. | |||
:: James walked towards the back of the car, suppressing his new found aversion | |||
to the mechanical monstrosity. James picked up the bag noting its weight 0o How | |||
can they carry this much around?! 0o and brought it back to the group. :: | |||
::Telice shoved the credits in the rancher’s hand, hurried to get rid of his | |||
insistent, greedy gaze, and tapped her foot on the ground while he counted the | |||
bills and coins. He counted every last one and took his time too, nimble fingers | |||
bending the corner of each counted bill and grazing the marking on each coin.:: | |||
JUMPER: All’s there. ::He almost seemed surprised about it.:: Ya’ll can go | |||
to the stables there behind the dog’s house. Tack room is in the back. ::The | |||
Starfleet officers nodded.:: Cherry and Billy are good boys... Nice quiet | |||
geldings for your friends ::Jumper told Telice.:: You can take any, mind Duster | |||
though, that bastard got his name after throwing three of my lads. | |||
SHAGAN: Ok... well thanks. | |||
COLLIM: Thank you. oONow go away.Oo | |||
JAMES: Thank you... 0o Don’t vomit on his shoes, don’t vomit on his shoes... | |||
0o | |||
::Jumper turned around and walked back to the house, coins clashing with a sharp | |||
noise in his pockets. Some of the dry mud on his boots came off the supple | |||
leather as he climbed the steps up to the door. It banged close behind him.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::huffing:: Charming. | |||
COLLIM: Ferengis are charming. He's creepy. | |||
JAMES: … I didn’t notice. | |||
SHAGAN: ::clapping her hands once:: Alright then! Let’s get this show on the | |||
road. | |||
::Telice had helped Kieran replicate a few choice of clothes suited to horse | |||
riding with guilty pleasure. Indeed her friend looked good in riding gear that | |||
molded her forms advantageously, the muted colors matching her long plaited | |||
blond hair The doctor couldn’t help sliding a possessive hand on Kieran’s | |||
lower back for the nth time this day. She grinned.:: | |||
::James was already unloading their boots and the bag full of snacks and water | |||
from the truck. Warry of his Vulcan excellent hearing, Telice bent to whisper | |||
into Kieran’s ear.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Good thing we are not in my quarters anymore. | |||
COLLIM: ::grinning:: Maybe you can show me why later. | |||
SHAGAN: You have no idea. | |||
::Telice herself was outfitted in her best riding clothes, navy blue pants and | |||
short sleeves yellow shirt, a knotted scarf bringing a lighter touch of pale | |||
blue around her throat, leather belt holding soft fabric to her hips. She had | |||
gotten the clothes on Earth, and to wear them again reminded her of her first | |||
riding competitions, and of days long gone. How could she regret any of her | |||
choices though, when she had met Kieran, James, and space?:: | |||
JAMES: I trust this isn’t going to go horrifically wrong? | |||
COLLIM: Relax, James. It'll be fun... no drinking, no Orion's, no drunken... | |||
anybody. | |||
SHAGAN: Get ready to get your hands dirty. ::Telice winked.:: | |||
::They struggled to pull their boots on, brand new leather resisting their | |||
efforts, then grabbed the bags and walked into the stables. Curious heads | |||
appeared at the stalls’ doors. Telice took in the animals. The horses were | |||
well fed, coats shiny with health and muscles heavy with exercise. A large black | |||
dog barked and ran at them, tail wagging madly.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::kneeling and offering her hand before petting the dog:: You're a | |||
friendly guy. Nicer than your master. | |||
JAMES: :: Awkwardly stroking the dog :: You are indeed, friendly. | |||
::Telice took out her camera, small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, and | |||
and snapped a quick picture of her friends kneeling in the dirt in an old barn, | |||
petting a dog, on Sigma Iotia. She wanted to remember this moment in a few years | |||
time.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Come on, let’s get the horses ready. | |||
::It was the work of a moment for the experienced rider to put a halter on the | |||
two recommended horses and attach them in front of their respective stalls so | |||
Kieran and James could brush them. She demonstrated first on her own horse, a | |||
small solid bay she selected from the back of the stables, near the tack room. | |||
His name was Luck, as his stall’s plate revealed to the doctor. Luck stood | |||
patiently while she showed her friends how to clean their horses’ hooves, as | |||
if he knew his role.:: | |||
JAMES: 0o Its quite fun getting the horses ready... 0o | |||
::In the interest of security and getting in the saddle as fast as possible, | |||
Telice saddled the three horses herself, looping the thick leather straps in the | |||
allotted ring on the left side of the saddles. She was surprised to notice they | |||
were almost identical to Western style saddles on Earth, but pleased too, | |||
because these were easier and more comfortable for beginners. Worst case | |||
scenario, if something scared the horses James and Kieran could hold onto the | |||
pommel.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Ok, now to get on. ::Telice said after leading the horses outside. She | |||
put the reins of her own horse on her arm, and he followed as she moved.:: | |||
Kieran, come here. You can take Cherry. ::She patted the bay gelding on the | |||
neck.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::looking leary:: Why that one? | |||
SHAGAN: Because I said so. ::She laughed:: First, take both reins in your left | |||
hand. Then, put your left foot in the stirrup. | |||
COLLIM: ::moving closer, she took the reins:: I can do this. | |||
JAMES: Is it as difficult as it looks? | |||
SHAGAN: ::smirking at the Vulcan:: Don’t worry, your turn is coming. ::To | |||
Kieran:: Ok, now push strongly on your foot and swing your right leg up. Be | |||
careful not to hit his rump. | |||
::Kieran shifted both reins to her left hands and put her left foot in the | |||
stirrup. Looking at Telice to see if she was doing it right, she took a deep | |||
breath. Her heart began racing and a tiny throbbing started in her head. Biting | |||
her lip, she pushed herself up with her left leg and started to swing her right | |||
leg over when the horse shifted suddenly. She fell forward, her foot slipped and | |||
the next thing she knew, she was flat on her back gasping for a breath.:: | |||
JAMES: Are you alright? :: Moves to help her up, although Telice gets there | |||
first. :: | |||
SHAGAN: ::offering her hand:: Well, that happens. ::She dusted the counselor’s | |||
shoulders and her back, and maybe made the most of it to dust lower still.:: | |||
COLLIM: I think you enjoyed that a little too much. | |||
SHAGAN: Me? Not at all. ::She held the horse’s reins out to Kieran.:: Now, he | |||
moved because while getting on you stabbed his side with the tip of your boot. | |||
The trick is to hold your foot parallel to his side. I know it’s not terribly | |||
comfortable, but otherwise you are actually asking him to move. | |||
COLLIM: ::reluctantly taking the reins, she muttered:: You'll be the death of me | |||
yet. | |||
::Once again, holding the reins in her left hand and putting her foot in the | |||
stirrup, she twisted her leg making sure the tip of her boot didn't prod the | |||
horse. Saying it was a little uncomfortable was an understatement. Clenching her | |||
teeth, she pushed up and swung her right leg over. This time falling down onto | |||
the saddle. She leaned forward just enough to keep herself on the horse as he | |||
shuffled to the side.:: | |||
COLLIM: Make him stop moving. | |||
SHAGAN: ::chuckling:: Stop moving yourself, and he’ll stop. | |||
COLLIM: I'm not... ::deep breath and she tried to stop moving.:: Ok. Ok. | |||
oOPlease horse. This is not impressing the girlfriend.Oo ::sitting up straight | |||
showing a confidence she did not feel:: I'll just sit here and wait for you | |||
two. | |||
JAMES: I suppose its my turn now... | |||
:: James approached the horse, slightly nervously. He took hold of the horses | |||
reign, put his foot in the stirrup and swung his leg over, hitting the saddle | |||
far too hard. Billy was a tall gangly dappled grey horse. Long legs gave him the | |||
appearance of a racer but the short line of his back told another story. | |||
Unperturbed by the sudden landing on his back, he only moved slightly to the | |||
left.:: | |||
JAMES: 0o baktag... 0o | |||
SHAGAN: You ok? Try not to do that next time... Although they are very strong | |||
horses are not in fact made to carry people and it’s important to preserve | |||
their back. | |||
JAMES: :: Strained :: I am quite alright... Well I suppose we should get | |||
going... | |||
SHAGAN: Absolutely. ::Telice stepped back to hold both riders in her sight.:: | |||
Basics. If you need to slow down or stop, shorten your reins. And for the love | |||
of god do not pull your horse’s head back like you want to snap his neck. If | |||
you do that, you can walk back. ::She waved a finger at them threateningly. This | |||
was the most common mistake beginners made.:: | |||
COLLIM: Walking back will be an option? | |||
JAMES: I suspect it will more be carried back, unconscious. | |||
::The doctor gathered the reins of her own horse and easily swung into the | |||
saddle without using the stirrups. Since she had no mounting block, this was the | |||
next best thing not to pull on the animal’s back while getting on. It was even | |||
better in fact. She demonstrated a few other basics manoeuvres, mainly how to | |||
turn and control the pace, then patted her saddle bags to check that the | |||
mandatory contents were there.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Alright, let’s go! ::She cheered.:: | |||
::They left the ranch at a leisurely pace. The horses’ hooves beat a peaceful | |||
rhythm onto the ground, parting the tall strands of grass. Purple flowers peeked | |||
above the sea of yellow and green on tall stems. To their left, the bosquet | |||
thinned and eventually reluctantly gave up the chase with a short trail of | |||
smaller trees. From time to time one of the horses shook his mane to get rid of | |||
the few bugs clinging to their neck. Soon, the ranch was out of sight, and the | |||
mountains seemed closer with the vast empty stretch in front of the three | |||
riders, looming on the horizon.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::patting her horse’s neck:: It’s very peaceful here. | |||
::It had taken Kieran a little while to relax and feel halfway comfortable atop | |||
the horse. Once she allowed her muscles to relax, she noticed the horse seemed | |||
to relax as well. It was an odd feeling really but she didn’t give it too much | |||
thought. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.:: | |||
COLLIM: I could get use to this quiet. ::she was referring more to the lack of | |||
emotions she was sensing. It was easier to block one or two people than it was | |||
hundreds. Glancing at James.:: Feeling better now? | |||
JAMES: Yes, actually. It’s quite... relaxing riding horses. | |||
SHAGAN: ::beat:: You think if we stay out here for a month or two people will | |||
forget we ever got drunk with the captain? ::She chuckled.:: | |||
JAMES: If only... 0o I once again curse my eidetic memory... 0o | |||
COLLIM: If only we could be so lucky. ::That was one night she really wished she | |||
could forget.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::bending to check the girth with the confidence of a long time rider:: | |||
We’d be living on berries and sleeping with the horses. ::She laughed out | |||
loud.:: | |||
COLLIM: If there was a waterfall around here, it might not be so bad... but | |||
I’d miss a nice hot shower and my nice warm bed. | |||
JAMES: Yes, I agree. Not to mention the replicator... | |||
SHAGAN: I’d miss it too... But I have to say, it’s nice being on planet once | |||
in awhile. | |||
JAMES: Thats true, too... | |||
COLLIM: I think you both would love Betazed. It’s beautiful and quiet like | |||
this outside the cities and away from my mother. Though cooler. | |||
SHAGAN: ::glancing at Kieran:: Your mother? | |||
COLLIM: ::nodding:: She drives me crazy. Non-stop... a million and one questions | |||
about everything. | |||
SHAGAN: Oh. | |||
::The horses lowered their heads and slowed to a careful trudge as the ground | |||
suddenly disappeared into a rocky depression, the path twisting between scree | |||
and brambles covered in wild berries. The rocks had a particular pastel shade | |||
that reminded Telice of Brice Canyon. Lower still, the run ended in a natural | |||
bowl filled to the brim with clear water, like the sudden breaks in mountain | |||
reliefs back on Earth, surrounded in bright green vegetation, roughly twice the | |||
size of the Discovery’s bridge.: | |||
::Doctor Shagan reckoned the pond must be alimented by groundwater. The perfect | |||
spot for an afternoon snack in the sun. The sparse tall bushes would provide | |||
some shade for the horses while the riders lazed about.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Bend back here, let the horses do the work. Hold your pommel if you need | |||
to. | |||
COLLIM: You make it look so easy. | |||
JAMES: Experiance always does. You must have spent a great amount of time | |||
riding. | |||
SHAGAN: Since I was born, almost. | |||
::Kieran did her best to mirror Telice’s movements by bending back but not too | |||
far. The last thing she wanted to do was fall again, this time while moving | |||
downhill with rocks to land on.:: | |||
::Thankfully the ride down was smooth. Telice jumped to the ground lightly, and | |||
immediately unloaded her saddlebags, then proceeded to unsaddle her horse, | |||
running her hands on the gelding’s coat out of habit, checking for any | |||
scratches or injuries. Looking up, she realised Kieran and James were both still | |||
straddling their mounts.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::snidely:: It’s easier to get down then up you know. | |||
COLLIM: ::frowning:: Sure it is... | |||
::Taking a breath, she tried to do exactly as she had seen Telice do it. Of | |||
course, she wasn’t nearly as graceful. Legs sore from the ride, she stumbled | |||
as her feet hit the ground. She managed to catch herself by grabbing the saddle | |||
without pushing the horse too hard.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::patting Cherry’s neck:: Sorry. ::biting her lip:: That... uhm... | |||
hurts. | |||
JAMES: Are you alright, Councillor? | |||
SHAGAN: ::Dismissively:: She’ll be fine, it’s just a few bruises. Here, | |||
I’ll take care of the horses, you guys put all the gear and bags in one spot. | |||
::The saddles were heavy, hand crafted pieces, and though Telice’s hands flew | |||
other straps and buckles automatically she wasn’t used to the saddles’ | |||
weight anymore. Besides, she had mostly ridden with English style saddles back | |||
on Earth, and to grab the gear off the horses’ back now was a bit of a | |||
struggle. She managed at the price of a few drops of sweat and shoved them into | |||
James arms.:: | |||
::While James took care of the saddles, Kieran grabbed the bags. Moving stiffly, | |||
she took out two small blankets from the bags and spread them out next to each | |||
other just far enough from the water not to get wet. She then sat the bags at | |||
the edge of the blankets before joining Telice to help her.:: | |||
::A quick brush down later, all three were pulling off their boots to put their | |||
feet in the deliciously cool water.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::laying back on the grass:: Best shore leave ever. | |||
::Kieran just nodded in agreement as she stretched out her back, propping | |||
herself up with her hands. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her | |||
mind was completely clear except for the faint awareness of Telice. Since James | |||
was half-Vulcan she could only feel him if she specifically tried and right now | |||
she definitely didn’t want to try.:: | |||
JAMES: This is our first shore leave, we don’t have quite enough data to state | |||
that. 0o The water is *so* nice...! 0o | |||
SHAGAN: Best first shore leave ever! ::She shielded her eyes against the sun | |||
with her hand.:: Sore? ::She asked Kieran.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::nodding:: Yeah, a little. oOA lot.Oo | |||
SHAGAN: Here. ::Telice rolled up smoothly and sat behind the counselor, legs on | |||
either side of her hips. She pushed strongly with her thumb against the muscles | |||
of Kieran’s lower back.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::trying not to flinch:: Ow.. easy, Doc or you’ll be carrying me back. | |||
::Grinning as she leaned forward a little.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Don’t worry, I won’t break you. ::Telice smirked at Kieran’s | |||
back.:: Not when the horses can do it. | |||
COLLIM: Uhuh, that feels better. ::Looking at James, not wanting him to feel | |||
left out.:: I’m glad you decided to come with us. It gives us all a chance to | |||
get to know each other better. | |||
JAMES: Yes, its actually been quite fun. :: With his mouth slightly curved :: | |||
Its nice to have a outing where I’m not attacked! | |||
SHAGAN: ::moving back to her spot on the grass and lying on her front:: James | |||
and I actually go way back. | |||
COLLIM: ::interest piqued:: Oh? Further than the Academy? | |||
SHAGAN: Oh yes, but not how you think. And we only found out recently. | |||
JAMES: It turns out I actually met her during one of my trips to Earth, to see | |||
my Grandmother as I child. | |||
SHAGAN: Exactly. And I was there for my birthday. ::She nodded at James.:: I | |||
don’t think I ever told you that part, did I? My father is an engineer at the | |||
San Francisco base... I got to visit a ship being outfitted for departure for my | |||
birthday. You know that ended. ::She waved an insistent butterfly away.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::Leaning back onto her hands:: I know. ::She wanted to say more but she | |||
didn’t want to ruin the fun they were having.:: | |||
::Moving again, Telice rested her head on Kieran’s lap, laying on her back. | |||
She soaked the sun rays, stretching luxuriously and settling back with a deep | |||
sigh. Above them puffs of white drifted away from the sun slowly in an otherwise | |||
blue sky. Telice closed her eyes.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::smiling, Kieran brushed Telice’s hair back with her finger:: So, do | |||
you like to swim, James? | |||
JAMES: Yes, swimming is a very enjoyable activity. Although it is not one I get | |||
to indulge in often. Vulcan is a desert planet after all, although I did live in | |||
a oasis there never seemed to be many pools... What about you? :: Gesturing at | |||
Telice and Kieran :: | |||
::Eyes closed, Telice missed the gesture completely.:: | |||
COLLIM: I love swimming. There are waterfalls and a lake not too far from where | |||
I grew up. I spent as much time there as I could get away with. ::looking down | |||
at Telice with a smile:: What about you beautiful? Are you as good in the water | |||
as you are on horseback? | |||
SHAGAN: Hm? ::she opened an eye:: I’m alright. We have the sea where I live. | |||
Where I lived. | |||
COLLIM: Maybe we can go for a swim ::looking toward the water:: If the water’s | |||
safe. | |||
SHAGAN: It should be. ::But she made no move to rise.:: | |||
JAMES: I should have brought a tricorder... It would have been simple to run a | |||
analysis... | |||
COLLIM: ::leaning over as far as she could, Kieran kissed Telice’s forehead:: | |||
Come on. You can sleep later. Right now is time for some fun. | |||
SHAGAN: ::she made a noise of protest:: Ok, ok. I’ll get up. | |||
::Telice was not embarrassed to swim in her underwear. One of the many | |||
advantages of living at the Academy for three years with a bunch of | |||
adventure-starved cadets was the dramatic lowering of one’s inhibitions. Plus, | |||
having a roommate did not leave much room for modesty. Besides which Telice had | |||
never been body shy to start with. She unknotted the scarf around her neck and | |||
let it drift to the ground. She pulled off her polo off and unbuttoned her | |||
jeans, toed off her boots and peeled off her socks, laying them beside the rest | |||
of her clothes.:: | |||
::Kieran pushed herself up, trying not be too obvious about watching Telice. She | |||
hesitated, seeing James move out of the corner of her eye. But it was her idea | |||
to go swimming besides, until the dress, she’d never been shy before. The | |||
counselor in her made a mental note to dig deeper and figure out why she had | |||
been so self-conscious that night. Quickly pushing that thought to the back of | |||
her mind, she kicked off her boots and stripped down to her underclothes, | |||
revealing scars, tattoos and all.:: | |||
JAMES: In the future I should pack for all eventualities... | |||
:: As James quickly stripped. Being rather unconscious of themselves was one of | |||
the Vulcan’s strong points... Or weak points depending on your point of view. | |||
Anyway, he mused, there is hardly anything to be embarrassed about. :: | |||
::Telice dived in. The water was cool, perhaps a bit too much, but the medical | |||
officer was used to Earth’s oceans cold currents Looking up, she wondered if | |||
James was Vulcan enough that he could regulate his body temperature. She | |||
didn’t remember reading anything to that effect on his file. Sun rays | |||
reflected on the surface like glittering diamonds, creating interesting shapes | |||
on the pale, pink rocky bottom. An array of colourful fishes scattered as Telice | |||
paddled their way.:: | |||
::Kieran dove in right behind Telice. Arms in front of her, she arched her back | |||
just before touching bottom, pushing her arms out and back to propel herself | |||
back to the surface. She emerged just behind Telice, a grin on her face as she | |||
moved to wrap her arms around the doctor, pulling her back against her chest. | |||
Seeing James still on the bank, she kissed Telice’s neck and pushed herself | |||
away. Backstroking just out of the doctor’s reach.:: | |||
COLLIM: ::looking at James:: Come on in. The water feels great. | |||
SHAGAN: ::under her breath:: Not just the water. | |||
JAMES: I shall now. I’m just trying to estimate the waters temperature. :: | |||
James dipped his hand into the water. :: 0o Mmm... About 290 Kelvin... Warm | |||
enough. 0o | |||
:: James dived in, clearing about 1.2 Meters. He then swam out to the others, | |||
underwater by breaststroke. While swimming, he saw a few oddly shaped creatures, | |||
vaguely cylindrical and coloured the same as the sediment below. :: | |||
::Diving under the surface, Telice kept her eyes wide open, and observed the now | |||
blurry profiles of intriguingly shaped fishes, long as trouts but round and flat | |||
like cyclides. Reassured that the swimmers were no predators and lacking hiding | |||
places -- though a few disappeared in the cracks littering the pool floor, | |||
Telice noticed -- the creatures undulated around them in a beautiful rainbow.:: | |||
SHAGAN: I’ll get my camera. | |||
COLLIM: ::smiling:: Good idea. I can send copies to my mom. oONot.Oo | |||
JAMES: That is a good idea... I would be interested in finding out what kind of | |||
creatures these are. | |||
::Telice gripped the edge of the slippery rocks surrounding the pool and hoisted | |||
herself up, only long enough to grab her camera, then let herself fall back into | |||
the water. She had paid quite a bit of money for this device, but was fully | |||
satisfied with its supposed bombproof qualities. Neither water nor fire would | |||
break it.:: | |||
::Her models by now were almost completely unperturbed, and swam calmly around | |||
like fishes out of the National Geographic, a nature and science magazine that, | |||
if the rumours were true, was centuries old. It was comforting to think that no | |||
matter their technological advancement Terrans took an interest in nature. | |||
Telice took a few more snapshots of the wild life, then directed herself at more | |||
tame life with Kieran and James.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Come on, smile! ::She gestured at them to get closer to one another.:: | |||
::Kieran swam closer to James but didn't touch him.:: | |||
JAMES: :: Looking slightly uncomfortable. :: | |||
SHAGAN: James, the fish bite. Kieran doesn’t, I swear. | |||
COLLIM: ::grinning:: At least not very hard. | |||
JAMES: Ah, I think one of the creatures was swimming in between my hallux and my | |||
first phalange... | |||
::Shaking her head with a smile, the medical officer took the picture and handed | |||
the camera to James.:: | |||
SHAGAN: And I want one of Kieran and me! | |||
JAMES: 0o Ahh, I haven’t tried photography in so long... 0o | |||
:: James took a few seconds to familiarise himself with the device and disengage | |||
as many automatic functions as possible. He then carefully lined up the shot, | |||
adjusted the exposure, metering off the bight water and set the shutter speed. | |||
Looking through the viewfinder, he wasn’t completely happy with the angle, so | |||
he set about finding a slightly better one. :: | |||
::Telice waited for James to adjust the angle, then, when his hand steadied and | |||
his finger pressed the button, she grabbed Kieran’s face and kissed her full | |||
on the mouth. The loud bip went unheard by both officers. When they separated, | |||
Telice grinned apologetically at James.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Thanks. | |||
COLLIM: ::releasing her breath and smiling:: hmmm yes, thank you. | |||
JAMES: It was no problem. 0o Is that slight overexposure... no, just a | |||
reflection... 0o :: After resetting the camera, he handed it back to Telice. :: | |||
SHAGAN; The sun is almost on the mountains. ::Telice suddenly noticed.:: We | |||
should go before it gets dark. | |||
COLLIM: ::letting out a groan:: Not looking forward to the return. | |||
JAMES: No... Please drive more carefully when we get back... In fact I could | |||
drive if you want...? | |||
::All three pulled themselves out of the water and started getting dressed. The | |||
low buzzing of the cicadas was now a dull murmur under the breeze that shook the | |||
girls’ hair, blowing wild strands gently out of their faces. The horses were | |||
grazing steadily around the bushes as far their lunge would allow. Barefoot, | |||
Telice strapped back the saddles to their backs, then attached the saddles bags. | |||
Once she was satisfied everything as in order, she put on her tight boots and | |||
mounted.:: | |||
SHAGAN: Good to go? ::She asked her fellow officers.:: Oh wait, let’s do a pic | |||
with three of us. | |||
::Kieran managed to get back on Cherry without falling or hurting herself. | |||
Taking a breath, she prayed the ride back would be smooth and painless. Though | |||
somehow she doubted the painless part since she was already feeling the hurt.:: | |||
::Telice hanged the camera on the tallest bush with the little hook hidden in | |||
its case, and set the timer. She turned her horse back and went to stand beside | |||
her friends. Taking Kieran’s hand, she smiled at her, then at the camera. | |||
Seconds later, the shutter closed and opened with a distinctive sound.:: | |||
SHAGAN: ::gathering the camera and sliding it into her pocket.:: This time | |||
we’re good. | |||
COLLIM: ::nodding:: The sooner we get back the better. o0I’ll kill for a nice | |||
hot bath.0o | |||
JAMES: Although, I would like to insist that we not get back *too* fast. | |||
SHAGAN: Let’s ride into the sunset. ::Telice grinned.:: Slowly.</nowiki></pre> | |||
[[Category:James]] [[Category:SIMs]] | [[Category:James]] [[Category:SIMs]] |
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