Ensign Spelvan - Easy Targets for Mockery

[Tara Miner]

((Aquatic Center, Iyira, Deluvia IV))

After some discussion, the three Starfleet officers decided to visit the aquatic center. It boasted different attractions - the open tunnels, of course, that Sevo had mentioned at the beginning of their trip, but also touch pools for creatures like starfish and crabs. Also of note was a jellyfish room that promised tanks with multi-colored lights in an otherwise dark area. 

Spelvan: Does anyone have any preferences for what we shall visit first? 

Sevo: Not really. The jellyfish are nearest.

zh’Tisav: Let’s start there then.

The Vulcan glanced over at Sevo, who was still carrying her all of her packages from the mall. It would probably be best if they could figure out a place to put all their souvenirs for the time being. 

Spelvan: Perhaps we should look for somewhere to temporarily store or transport our things before we begin. 

Sevo: No, I’m okay. I’ll manage.

zh’Tisav: My bag isn’t heavy; I’ll hold onto it for now.

The Vulcan nodded and they made their way to the jellyfish exhibit. As it turned out, there were not only jellyfish in the tanks. They were accompanied by cephalopods and coral and sea anemone of various shapes and colors. Spelvan was mesmerized with how the jellyfish moved.

Sevo: Man, some of those jellyfish are *looooooong* if you include the trailing tentacles.

zh’Tisav: They’re kind of creepy looking.

Spelvan: ::He raised an eyebrow.:: Their appearance and form of locomotion may be alien to us, but "creepy" is not an adjective I would use personally. 

Sevo: I’m surprised some of the cephalopods don’t eat them.

Spelvan: I do not believe they eat jellyfish.

The Trill took a moment to read one of the information kiosks nearby. Spelvan joined her. 

Sevo: Oh, I see. They mostly feed on molluscs and crustaceans. Crabs.

Sevo's emphasis on the word "crabs" seemed to indicate a lingering distaste. Likely to do with a mission, Spelvan suspected. 

Spelvan: Yes, it appears they inject their prey with toxins to loosen it from the shell. 

The three of them enjoyed watching the creatures in the tank - even the Andorian. One of the octopuses, however, seemed to notice the group observing them - and seemed to be targeting one of their members in particular. Whether for good or for ill remained to be seen. 

zh’Tisav: That one’s looking at me funny.

Spelvan: It does seem to have taken an interest in you. 

Sevo: Response

zh’Tisav: I don’t like it. It…

The octopus' color changed and turned to a deep blue. It then lifted two of its tentacles above its head, clearly mimicking Vylaa.

zh’Tisav: Is he making fun of me?  I think he’s making fun of me!

The Vulcan felt he should choose his next words carefully, so as not to offend. 

Spelvan: We do not yet know its motivations for such an action.

Sevo: Response

zh’Tisav: That may be but I don’t see him making pointy ears or getting spotty.

Spelvan: My brother likes to say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

Sevo: Response

As if in response to Spelvan's comment, the octopus spun around and blushed into a ghostly white color, moving the placement of its tentacles to the side of its face in a clear imitation of the Vulcan. After a moment had passed, it turned a shade or two darker and gained freckled spots, like the Trill.

Spelvan began to clap politely.

Spelvan: It was an impressive performance - though whether it is mocking us or adulating us, I cannot say. 

zh’Tisav / Sevo: Response

Spelvan had heard of such underwater creatures' intelligence, but it was a special experience to see it on display first-hand. Even if Vylaa looked less than pleased about it.

He puzzled, briefly, at the idea of having a mind-meld with such an intelligence. The Vulcan understood that they had a somewhat de-centralized nervous system, with a central brain and eight ganglia, one for each arm, to control them independently. So such an endeavor may not be possible.

It would be more likely than, say, being able to mind-meld with a jellyfish, who had no brains at all.

Spelvan: ::He directed his gaze toward one of the jellyfish floating lazily by, his hands folded behind his back as he walked about.:: Did you know that jellyfish do not have brains? I believe it makes them even more fascinating.

zh’Tisav / Sevo: Response

oO And decidedly not creepy. Oo

The octopus had now decided to target Spelvan in its mockery, with two tentacles at the side of its head and two wrapped under its head behind itself. It used the two remaining pairs of arms to walk on the ground, ramrod-straight and methodical. It was also colored, once again, a chalky white.

Though ambiguity could be assigned (at least in Spelvan's mind) to the octopus' previous iterations, this was clearly a caricature of the Vulcan. Spelvan was not quite sure how to react. Did he really look that ridiculous?

At least now he understood the Andorian's previous upset.

Spelvan: I wonder if it targets everyone who visits here in such a manner... or just us. 

zh’Tisav / Sevo: Response

--- 

Ensign Spelvan
Medical Officer
USS-Gorkon
G240208S11