JP: Lt. Cmdr Katsim Peri & Ensign Roxanne Queen - Girls just wanna have fun. (Part 2)
Amanda Nordstrom
((Sicily))
As the light subsided, Rox was exuberant to see that they were not in a closet. Instead the pair stood on a long stone pier. Deep, vibrant blue water surrounded both sides with golden sand visible near the shore. On the shore, before a large hill sat a village of red tiled buildings. Church steeples were visible and cobbled streets wound up into the hills beyond. Music could be heard, perhaps played on the accordion? The sun was bright in the sky but a breeze made the air light.
The new scenery was a far cry from the ominous atmosphere where they were last. Blues and greens offered a frame for the warmer tones of the village below, the tall steeples breaking the boundaries as they stabbed at the sky.
Katsim: Where are we?
Rox: ::throwing her hand wide toward the town:: Picture it ::beat:: Sicily 1926. Two young women enjoy drinks on the coast.
Katsim: Oh.
Sicily. Peri had heard that name once, and she vaguely remembered it was in a nation-state called Italy on Earth. Since Rox had grown up there, it only made sense for her to head back to what she considered her home planet.
Rox took a deep breath inhaling the salty air. She gestured toward a pale pink building that stood part way along the shoreline.
Rox: Look there’s a Cafe right there. Let’s get something to eat and drink.
Katsim: What kind of drink?
Suspicion laced the Bardassian’s tone and it reflected in the dark gaze that shifted away from the lovely, pastoral scene to the friend at her side. It was enough for Rox to know what to say next.
Rox: Alright no booze.
Katsim: Okay.
Perhaps they would have some warm tea. If they were in the past, she doubted Rox could get her Blue Squall anyway. Following her friend, the two made their way down toward the cobblestone streets that lined the pathways. Women and men were dressed differently, and their outfits caught attention of all the other passersby.
Rox: Now we’re having fun. Come on.
Rox began walking up the pier and they were soon on the cobblestone streets. There was music drifting through the air, perhaps a guitar or a lute. Either way it was very calming and combined with the sun, the waves and the salty air, Rox wondered if they could spend the next 18 hours there.
Katsim: Our clothing stands out.
Rox looked up the street. Their starfleet uniforms were definitely not in fashion. Most of the women wore bright skirts and linen tops. They also did not have grey skin. Rox considered a moment.
Rox: This might tickle a bit, promise me you’re not going to freak out.
Katsim: I will try.
Rox tapped her nose twice. The uniforms were replaced by skirts and linen tops, but the color of Peri’s skin had also changed to the peachy pink tone of Terrans. Rox decided right away she did not care for it, but it was only temporary, a sort of an illusion.
Rox: There you go.
Glancing down, Peri first noticed her clothing, far more in line with what the other women wore. Her attention quickly shifted to something else that had changed - the hue of her skin. Lifting her hands, she turned them over and back, startled as what she saw. Glancing around, she caught her reflection in a large window near by and gasped.
Rox: Calm down, it’s temporary and it’s just an illusion. I didn’t change your phsysiolgy or DNA or anything.
Katsim: Oh.
Well, that was all right. Staring at her reflection, she found the sight rather odd. She had never imagined herself as a human before, and while the effect wasn’t unpleasant, it was still jarring. She wondered what Wes would think of such a change. Her own thoughts were mixed, but she wasn’t in a good place to ponder over them, for Rox’s time was limited, and she wanted to focus on her friend.
The pair walked to the cafe and took a table outside. They were soon served something called a granita. It was a drink with ice and fruit, but it was very icey. There was also the aroma of coffee possibly in the drink but it could have been in the air in general. A pot of tea was set between them and Rox took the opportunity to serve Peri and then herself. They sat in silence taking in the view of the quiet seaside.
Rox: Two months ago I had this recurring dream. I was in this ancient building on this planet in the Gamma Quadrant that V’Len and I found. There was an old woman there.
Katsim: An old woman?
Peri wondered if there was symbolism in Rox’s dream. Sometimes, the Prophets gave dreams to others, even non Bajorans, but she wasn’t sure if that was the case there. Perhaps she was overthinking it.
Rox: I think I took the Foxy Lady there and I don’t know how I got there in 3 days, but I think I had my powers somehow.
Rox paused thinking of the strange journey she’d taken.
Rox: When I got there, there was a dark star passing the system’s main star. It was like when we were on Gelf. ::pausing:: When I got to the surface, I found the same building and as the dark star passed over everything went dark and this man appeared.
That was a strange dream, but once again, Peri pondered the meaning of it.
Katsim: What happened then?
Rox: He said he was my father. He said he needed me to help him, but I didn’t trust him. I ran out and it seemed like without me he couldn’t leave the building. Then I woke up in the Foxy Lady back on the Ronin.
Had she sleep walked? If so, that could prove dangerous for her. Hopefully Rox had someone take a look to see if something was wrong, and she might have asked, but her friend continued.
Rox: He said I was “soifra” and he called me “Iarlais” What does that mean?
Rox paused for a moment and turned to face her friend.
Rox: What the hell am I?
Peri stared at Rox for a minute, not quite sure what to say. The poor woman had a troubled childhood, with family who was supposed to love her instead trying to use her. Reaching out, she clasped the nurse’s hands and squeezed them gently, her voice soft.
Katsim: You’re my friend.
As Peri spoke the word “friend” Rox suddenly felt a wave of relief. She’d not realized that her hands had balled themselves into tight fists as she had told of her dreams. Her spine was rigid and her muscles tight, but at the word from her friend she relaxed. She turned to give Peri a smile and realized that the sun was still out and shinning. Rox had thought it had slipped behind a cloud but this was not the case.
Rox: Thank you, for that, it means a lot. I’m just trying to make sense of it all.
Katsim: I know. Did you try searching the database for those words?
The computers on every ship had their own database that was comprised of information gathered and gleaned from centuries of exploration and discovery, and they were all connected to larger network of information. If those words existed, it was possible they could discover their meaning.
Rox: I took a look, but they made no sense. Maybe we could look together? You’re a lot smarter than me.
Katsim: Maybe when we get back, we can do that. Have you told anyone else about the dream?
Rox: No! No. The crew of the Ronin already thinks I’m nuts I’m not putting fuel on the fire.
If someone said that to her, Peri would be inclined to agree with them. Rox wasn’t always the sanest person around - but she had a heart of gold, and she was a good friend, insane or not. At times, it drove her crazy, but it was also part of what made Rox, Rox.
Katsim: Well. Maybe a counsellor then? They have to keep things confidential. It’s up to you, of course.
[TBC]
--
Acting Ensign Roxanne "Rox" Queen
Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (player)
She/Her (character
&
Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri
Chief Science Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
M239008AD0