Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen - I see the light in the shade of the passing stars
CPT Arianus
(( Conference Room - Deck 1 - USS Karnack ))
There weren't many worlds Ollie hadn't already explored or wanted to explore during his lifetime, leaving only a few that had yet to spark his curiosity or capture his imagination. But one still remained—the one he longed to visit. For so many reasons… for all those stories he heard about that world, about its people, about…
Bergmen: Ba’Ku? Do you know Ba’Ku?
Imril took a moment to soak in the silence and gather his thoughts to find the answer.
Imril: It’s been a while, but yes. I recall something about a crazy admiral teaming up with some Son’a to drive the natives off the planet for some reason. ::Can’t recall the reason:: Pretty and pastoral, If I remember correctly.
Ollie's face lit up with a broad smile, filled with delight as he watched Imril’s thoughtful expression, clearly pleased with Imril's understanding of the planet that Gideon had not only been discussing but also dreaming about.
Bergmen: Yeah… ::nods with smile:: Everything is easier there. Truly beautiful. Life is simple there. You can just be yourself, and that’s enough… Maybe one day. ::looking into their eyes:: And what’s your favorite? One dream planet you wish to visit?
Imril: I want to see a Dyson sphere. An engineering marvel and a strange new world rolled into one.
Ollie seemed quite surprised by that answer. It was interesting, yet quite engineered. And it took some thought on Ollie Bergman's part to figure out in his own mind what a Dyson sphere might be like, what it feels like, to visit one.
Bergmen: I must say… that’s an interesting choice. I bet you, as an engineer, would be in your element… ::smiles::
Imril: But right now, just seeing the stars again is astounding. With you, even better.
Ollie melted deeper into Imril's warm embrace, surrendering to the soothing comfort. As he inhaled the familiar scent, the tension in his body melted away, leaving him feeling safe and loved. Happy. Content…
The moment passed in silence, watching the stars, the vastness of everything passing by. But for him, there was nothing more than them. Their warmth was his blanket, safely protecting thoughts fairing with the stars.
Bergmen: Do you think they noticed we are not there?
His voice softly broke the silence. He looked at them with understanding before turning his attention to the door and the bridge beyond.
Imril: Response
He giggled and took Imril's hand, pulling it close into his embrace as if she were the most precious thing he had. He used to think that day would never come, that he'd see the light in the shade of the shining stars.
Bergmen: No, don’t go. If they were missing us, they would have come for us by now. They don’t, so… ::smiles:: They don’t know what they are missing out there.
Imril: Response
He remained in their embrace, feeling something extraordinary—like he’s in motion, a sense of freedom. He couldn’t tell where they were going. Maybe there's just no way of knowing.
None of that mattered now, with Imril, iestêre, hanasakam…
TAG/End of Ollie
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Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1