Ens Chevalier - Science of Sadness
CPT Arianus
(( Rakantha Province, Bajor ))
The first set of scans and readings was completed. Approved and assessed by Lieutenant Jovenan, both young ensigns engaged their brains to find the answers. They are prepared to continue their training in scientific research and using scientific instruments, and they are thinking about their next steps.
Chevalier: I recommend taking samples gradually as the terrain increases. It would be good to get measurements from a place not directly exposed to the flood mentioned.
Savel: Agreed, we will seek out a suitable location shortly.
Lieutenant stepped away, spoke with the second team over combadge about their discoveries, their science. But she returned after a short moment, informing Savel and Jaseb about her next steps.
Jovenan: Gnai and Renirs have found a cave they want to study, so I’ll be joining them now. You can carry on with your plan.
As much as this sounded more fun than what Jaseb could expect from their trekking over all the hills of Rakantha Province, he wouldn't trade places with them. Sun was over their heads; the air should be cleaner than what he expected when he heard about this scientific training expedition through the site of chemical, poisonous attack, and sounds of nature, ou my, how those were beautiful…
Savel: Very well, Lieutenant. ::short pause:: I have no doubt you and Ensign Gnai will take precautions, but I am worried about the reckless nature I have observed in the crewman who wished to eat the dirt. Please, do be careful.
Chevalier: If she does - based on the toxic measurements we made - we will have a couple of hours still to get her into the hospital before her biological function ceases due to the poisoning. A hospital and our shuttle are closer than that. I am not worried about her.
The Lieutenant bid farewell and made her way towards the other study group, which was fortunate enough to be situated nearby. As she walked away, Savel turned his attention back to Jaseb.
Savel: We should find an area with a higher elevation than here. Somewhere we can safely assume the flooding did not have much, if any, of an impact. It will also save the area closest to the water, and the other team, until the end of our exercise.
Jaseb: Agree, Mr. Savel. Good point.
With their preparations complete, they set out on a hike towards the most conspicuous peak in the area. A steep hill loomed in the vicinity, although it would lead them away from the rest of the team. Nonetheless, it seemed the furthest they would have to travel from the shuttle unless they encountered something more alluring atop the summit.
As they began their trek, Savel appeared lost in thought, even more so than usual. Jaseb understood why. Their previous missions had taken a toll on all of them. The mission before that wasn't much better. Artemis slowly became a ship of night terrors. And Savel had served on board longer than Jaseb, and who knows what they might have experienced even before their time together.
The silence was deafening. Jaseb wanted to say something, anything, but he struggled to find the right words, and small talk seemed just… inappropriate. Absurd.
So, when Savel spoke, he felt happy—just happy.
Savel: Ensign Jaseb. ::feeling less formal using his first name, even with the title:: It would be accurate to describe your first two missions aboard the Artemis as unusual. Have you been content with the experience, or did you find them troubling?
Jaseb took a deep breath before answering, and…
(( Begin Flashback ))
(( Jem’Hadar shuttle, somewhere near CloQ universe Medara - Betazed, circa 2376 ))
The sound of the left engines filled the cockpit, desperately trying to make up for the loss of their right counterpart. Flickered with urgent warnings, each message appearing to be a final farewell. The entire vessel groaned and creaked under the strain of the damaged hull as if it, too, was screaming in unison with the warning systems.
Jaseb closed his eyes, knowing he would die…
((End of flashback))
(( Rakantha Province, Bajor ))
...opened his eyes.
Jaseb: Me? More content with the experience…
(( Begin Flashback ))
(( Facility KTF-031 | Medara | Betazed, circa 2376 ))
He saw his blood. As he lay on the ground, he saw blood, a streak from the place where he fell to him to the place where he lay. He couldn't breathe. Pain. Crippling pain squeezed the last remnants of life out of his skull. He didn't want to die. He couldn't die. Why did you just play the hero? Why?
((End of flashback))
(( Rakantha Province, Bajor ))
Jaseb: …what we experienced on Betazed was no different from a simulation. This around us, this is real. That…no. Not real.
Chevalier turned to Savel and forced a smile to calm him down, although he was feeling suffocated himself. The mere mention of Betazed made him feel helpless, and his chest tightened. What he saw in front of him was Savel bleeding from a wound on his forehead - the wound he suffered during the crash landing. The eyes were empty, clouded, lifeless. The shoulder turned black as the Jem'Hars hit it during an ambush after the shuttle crashed. Savel's body opened its mouth and hissed as if trying to say something.
Jaseb blinked, and when he looked at Savel again. He was alive. Well. The memory was gone.
Savel: Our previous missions have certainly been rather unique, even before your arrival. As an investigator, I have been trained to recognize patterns and to anticipate their repeating. Therefore, I believe we have only just started a series of unusual adventures with this ship and its crew.
Jaseb: There is no adventure in dying, Savel. We are all dying alone.
After a few more moments of hiking, Jaseb and Savel finally reached the top of the hill. Jaseb stood next to Savel while both took a moment to soak in the stunning view the spot provided them. Although the area was still in the process of recovering from the devastating effects of poison, there was still something breathtaking about the vantage point they had now reached. Trees, river, cave, shuttle. Pure nature was offering a picturesque sight that was difficult to forget.
But this wasn't a vacation. They had a task and a purpose. They needed to take measurements and scans for their training. Savel was the first to remind this to Jaseb.
Savel: Perhaps you would like to be the one to take the first reading here, Ensign Jaseb? Then we can compare our results as we did before?
Jaseb: Yes, let me take the readings and samples first this time.
Ensign Chevalier kneeled on the ground and carefully placed his backpack beside him. He then reached inside and retrieved his tricorder, which he used to take precise measurements of his surroundings, scanning the area for any anomalies and toxins. Once satisfied with his readings, he retrieved a sampling set from his backpack and used it to collect multiple samples of the local soil from around him. He carefully labeled each sample for later analysis.
After finishing his science, he came back to Savel holding a tricorder in his hands.
Jaseb: So, Mr. Savel, what’s your measurements? Did you find something interesting?
Savel: Response
TAG/TBC