Ens. Gnai - Vulcan Meditation for the Soul
Lich
((Bajoran Temple Entrance, Promenade - Deep Space 9))
After returning from Bajor, Gnai was wired. The stress of the training mission’s failure was weighing heavily on its mechanical shoulders, and all it wanted to do was search out the most secluded corner it could find on the station and just sit a while by itself. The Artemis was too full of people who’d probably already heard about the catastrophe, and even though its quarters would be empty, it felt wrong to go sit and hide in them while Ens. Chevalier was abed with injury in the Rakantha Province Hospital on Bajor.
Fighting through the crowd on the Promenade, Gnai found a brief space next to the entrance to the Bajoran Temple where it could pause, just briefly, and plan out its escape to some calmer part of the station. Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately) Lt. Cmdr. Salkath was exiting said temple at the same time as Gnai sat, peering through the bodies across the Promenade. His greeting caused Gnai to nearly jump out of its suit, but it managed to recover decently well. At least it thought that much.
Gnai: The temple? What drew you there?
Salkath: Vulcans are a spiritual people, and when you add a drive for knowledge to that, it means that when one gets to visit a planet with known, tangible deities, one pays their respects.
Ah, there was that Vulcan eyebrow raise again. Its meaning escaped Gnai then, and it flashed in muted confusion.
Gnai: Ah. ::bobbing in agreement:: Yes, of course.
It supposed that made sense. Religion wasn’t at the forefront of Gnai’s curiosity most times, but to each their own.
Salkath: The crowd is starting to thin out. Would you walk with me for a while?
Gnai looked out again, turning away from Lt. Cmdr. Salkath. He was right, the initial flux of people that Gnai had ridden through the Promenade was starting to peter away. It wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of strolling around with another officer (or anyone at all), but the Vulcan was a friend - or as close as one could get with just a few meetings and minimal emotions shared. It’d be somewhat rude, it thought, to refuse his offer and then go hide on its own anyways.
Gnai: Yes, that sounds good.
And it seemed that he hadn’t a clue about what had happened on Bajor. Or… he was politely ignoring it. That might be more likely. Either way, Gnai wasn’t planning to bring it up unprompted. If they just didn’t talk about how Gnai had failed when given just the first crumb of command, maybe a companion on its stroll wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Salkath: The Prophets are a fascinating juxtaposition. Are you familiar with them, or the Bajoran faith at all?
It slightly shrugged the arms of its suit - a gesture learned and borrowed from a roommate back in San Francisco. Gnai’s imitation of such a motion was strange, joints jerking through the motions and not quite getting it all right. But close enough for almost anyone to recognize the sign of confusion for what it was.
Gnai: Only just a small amount. There was a brief overview of major religions in Federation species at the Academy.
The bar ahead simmered with commotion, and Gnai’s attention drifted to it momentarily. Through an opening in the wall - presumably placed in the perfect position for the proprietor to promote their products to the passersby. Perhaps. It was through this window, past the corner of the bar and all the colorful drinks upon it, that Gnai could see a small fight breaking out; two humanoids disagreed over something and were starting to shove each other around. But soon after they entered Gnai’s sight through the window, they passed behind the wall again and it turned its attention back to Lt. Cmdr. Salkath.
Salkath: I do not know if Galadorans are a spiritual people like the Bajorans or Vulcans, but there is much to be said for the associated meditation and introspection to help clear one's mind from... distractions. If you would need someone to join you in such exercises, I am often available.
Gnai: In a sense… but there is not much spirituality on Galador. Just an appreciation for the past and attempts to keep it alive. ::tendrils flare out, and then pull back in:: But meditation sounds… useful? To learn more about. Of course.
Salkath: Response
The sights and sounds of the Promenade were more intrusive with fewer people to block them out. It certainly didn’t seem like a place that would be good to consider meditative thoughts - no, this wouldn’t do at all. As they neared a staircase, spiraling up to the less noisy second floor, Gnai gestured towards it.
Gnai: Perhaps this conversation might be better suited for the upper level? ::pause, then a flash of inspiration - literally and figuratively:: The wormhole might make a good view.
Salkath: Response
Gnai clambered up the stairs, leading the way for the two Starfleet officers. As its tank peered over the top of the stairs, it knew that this had been the right decision. It wasn’t vacant - the Promenade probably never was - but the crowds were even thinner up here. There was a bit of a gradient, increasing as they made their way towards the prime viewing area for the wormhole, but that hardly said much.
One of the windows had a suboptimal view it seemed, as there was a free bench opposite it that Gnai pointed out, and headed to.
Gnai: ::breaking the silence of their walk:: So, you think that this could work to calm one’s worries? ::pause:: Do Vulcans have worries?
Gnai needed to clear its own mind, that much was evident even to itself. That’s why it had come to the station and planned to wander. It wanted to run from the thoughts of its crewmates lying injured on the teleporter pad - they kept popping up when it was trying to think about anything else.
Salkath: Response
A shimmer of purple passed across the stars outside the window, and a hush fell over the others standing around. Something was going in - or coming out - of the wormhole, too small to see at this distance. Gnai felt itself slightly distracted from Lt. Cmdr. Salkath’s words, drawn into the magnetism of space.
Gnai: ::pulling itself away from the sights briefly:: This would like to learn then, at least a little.
Salkath: Response
As the wormhole gently tore open the fabric of spacetime, throwing strands of verteron particles across the night in a dazzle of cool tones, Gnai sat on the bench across from such wonders bobbing along attentively to Lt. Cmdr. Salkath’s words. It wasn’t certain that this would be what it needed to resolve the worries that it had, but it was at least worth a try. The beauty of the wormhole danced across the stars, helping along in its own little way to unfray Gnai’s nerves.
End of Scene for Gnai :)
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