Lt Jania Nis - Footloose
Jania Nis
((Far beneath the surface – A lonely transit hub – Liminal Station, Marohu III))
Nis: Well, Sam, shall we dance?
There was a vibrating treble in the air for a moment that crescendoed into a fast, skipping beat. She laughed at the silliness of it all. Too bad these people were extinct; she was beginning to like them. The music had a jangly element to it. Some sort of horn instruments, perhaps?
Woolheater: No way! So weird! I hear this music in my head, and then it plays it.
The grin still on her face, Jania turned to him. She was glad someone else was controlling this room, and things were going a lot better than they had with the creepy statues.
Greaves: They sound like Earth instruments, and I swear I recognize this song. Or at least the style. It must be pulling from your memory Sam.
Nis: So that’s Human music? It doesn’t sound anything like the Beastie Boys.
Sam also seemed to be having a good time, and he snapped his fingers to the beat he was apparently creating. The music swelled, surrounding them, and a soft glow of distant lighting chased back the shadows in the massive room.
Greaves: Doctor, I think you might be on to something with the dancing idea.
Jania shrugged and approached Sam.
Woolheater: Aww… hell’s yeah. I can play any music in my head, and this’ll recreate it?
Sam took Jania’s outstretched hand, and they stepped out from behind the table. The lights formed on the tracks behind them.
She thought of the last mission they’d had together. The way her blood had dripped from his hands as he desperately tried to fix her arm. To have this moment together felt healing. Still, it took her time to get used to the rhythm of the Earth music. She was used to dancing to Trill deepwave music in clubs, and this certainly was not that. She had to let go of the rules of dancing she knew and let Sam lead the way. He brought her close before stepping away and spinning her again. They moved fast, he setting an energetic pace. Her feet pounding, hips swaying, smiling at Sam’s eyes.
Nis: You’re pretty good, Sam!
Greaves: (Shouting over the music) The inscription said something about dreaming too.
Nis: Huh?
Dancing had been a fun enough distraction that she’d forgotten about the dream part …
Woolheater: Response
The rhythm of the song ran together; the drums turning into a single vibration, as the train tracks glowed green. Jania slowed, then stopped, staring at it in awe. She was almost sad to end the dance, but the shock at seeing the tracks, which seemed to stretch off infinitely in both directions, drew her toward the pods.
Greaves: (Shouting) It’s working.
Thasho: Watch out!
The power was on, yes, but 90,000 years had taken its toll. A burst of bright white sparks shattered the soft lighting, blinding Jania and forcing her to step backward and cover her eyes.
Nis: Ah!
Woolheater: Response
When the pod doors hissed open, she could barely see the interior, but it appeared to project an amberish light from inside. As her eyes cleared, she made out black panels and rows of seats.
Greaves: Looks like that did it!
Wes scanned the entrance to the pod with his wrist-mounted tricorder. The readouts flashed in shades of subdued green. Stable power, breathable atmosphere, no dangerous radiation. The system was running on energy levels consistent with a shuttle or large vehicle, but with no clear data on destination or route.
Nis/Woolheater: Response
Greaves: It’s powered and safe, but I can’t tell where it goes or how to start it yet.
Nis: What about the dream part? That’s the part we haven’t done.
Greaves/Woolheater: Response
Nis: Maybe if Sam thinks of the … closest egress to the surface, it’ll start up the machinery. If we can get it turned on, maybe we can start to see some route maps.
Greaves/Woolheater: Response
Thasho: There’s no way of knowing if we could get back here after we leave.
It was a good point. Jania gritted her teeth, unsure of what to do. They needed a way out, but they also needed to get back to the wounded.
Nis: If you think it’s worth the risk, maybe we should bring the wounded down here. We can all board together …
Jania wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, either, but at least if she put it out to the group, it could be workshopped.
Greaves/Woolheater: Response
Lieutenant Jania Nis
Chief Medical Officer of Physical Health
USS Octavia E. Butler NCC-82850
O240108JN2