Lt Vylaa zh'Tisav: Scrapee Scrapee
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Andrew B
Dec 3, 2025, 8:59:00 PM (2 days ago) Dec 3
to Gorkon IC
((Aquatic Center, Ilyira, Deluvia IV))
At first, the laissz-faire movements of the jellies and their tankmates were hypnotic. They almost made Vylaa forget she was at the bottom of the ocean. Then she noticed a medium sized octopus perched on a lump of coral, both it’s eyes staring, un-moving, at the tall Andorian. The creature’s skin seemed to shimmer, finally settling on a deep blue. He then lifted two antennae high over it’s head.
zh’Tisav: Is he making fun of me? I think he’s making fun of me!
Spelvan: We do not yet know its motivations for such an action.
Sevo: *snicker* It’s mimicking you.
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.
As if understanding Spelvan, or as Phase II of Operation: Troll The Bipeds, the octopus twirled and shifted to a pale white in one movement then lifted two tentacles to imitate pointed ears. A moment later it’s color shifted again, a few shades darker with very Trill-esque spots.
Amusement, for Andorians, was indicated by their antennae turning towards each other. They did not naturally smile; that was a mimicked behavior most did around other species. In this case Vylaa’s curled so far to the center they actually crossed.
Spelvan clapped politely.
Spelvan: It was an impressive performance - though whether it is mocking us or adulating us, I cannot say.
Sevo: I found it fascinating. People really underestimate the intelligence of nontrillioid life.
Vylaa quirked an antenna. “Nontrilloid” included herself and Spelvan...
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.
Sevo: At least none we understand.
zh’Tisav: Brainless, sounds like a Ferengi businessman who broke about dozen Andorian environmental laws about twenty years ago…
The octopus reverted back to it’s Vulcan costume. Vylaa was quite relieved to not be it’s focus anymore. Except now it straightened it’s body and walked stiffly along the sand like your typical Vulcan.
Spelvan: I wonder if it targets everyone who visits here in such a manner... or just us.
Sevo: *cackling* W-who knows?!
zh’Tisav: He’s kind of a d…
Before she could finish, the cephalopod swam away, wiggling one tentacle in a “follow me” motion. The Trill in their midst did so, followed by the Andorian and Vulcan. It started tapping on the glass behind a small temporary holo-sign:
[I am Doctor Jax'lin; an employee of this Science Center. I apologize; the tank’s translator is malfunctioning and I cannot communicate verbally.]
Sevo: I’m sorry, we didn’t know! Was the mimicking your way of trying to get our attention?
zh’Tisav: He’s a Doctor?!
Spelvan: Response
The octopus, Jax’lin, tilted it’s head, lifting two tentacles in a very good imitation of a human shrug then tapped toward the sign, a little more hurriedly this time.
Sevo: Maybe there’s something we can do. Can we fix the tank’s translator? Or rig the holosign to translate to text?
Vylaa ran slim blue fingers around the translators panel.
zh’Tisav: Looks like a Mark XI from Quark Industries. Yeah, it’s fixable.
Spelvan: Response
Sevo: I know I’d go insane if I was trying to communicate with other beings and they couldn’t understand me. It’d drive me nuts.
Spelvan: Response
While the octopus watched, Vylaa pulled a small, rolled bundle from her pocket, then unrolled her “Never Leave Home Without” kit on the ledge surrounding the tank. Inside was a selection of small tools.
zh’Tisav: Keep an eye out for me, I’m pretty sure they only let employees do this.
Sevo / Spelvan: response
With one last check their surroundings, Vylaa slipped a small prybar under the translator and popped it free. The Doctor, or rather, Octor, watched intently, his face pressed to the glass and big eyes focused downward.
zh’Tisav: This looks like just some corroded connections. Not really surprising with the proximity of so much salt water. It won’t take long.
Sevo / Spelvan: response
At first, the laissz-faire movements of the jellies and their tankmates were hypnotic. They almost made Vylaa forget she was at the bottom of the ocean. Then she noticed a medium sized octopus perched on a lump of coral, both it’s eyes staring, un-moving, at the tall Andorian. The creature’s skin seemed to shimmer, finally settling on a deep blue. He then lifted two antennae high over it’s head.
zh’Tisav: Is he making fun of me? I think he’s making fun of me!
Spelvan: We do not yet know its motivations for such an action.
Sevo: *snicker* It’s mimicking you.
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.
As if understanding Spelvan, or as Phase II of Operation: Troll The Bipeds, the octopus twirled and shifted to a pale white in one movement then lifted two tentacles to imitate pointed ears. A moment later it’s color shifted again, a few shades darker with very Trill-esque spots.
Amusement, for Andorians, was indicated by their antennae turning towards each other. They did not naturally smile; that was a mimicked behavior most did around other species. In this case Vylaa’s curled so far to the center they actually crossed.
Spelvan clapped politely.
Spelvan: It was an impressive performance - though whether it is mocking us or adulating us, I cannot say.
Sevo: I found it fascinating. People really underestimate the intelligence of nontrillioid life.
Vylaa quirked an antenna. “Nontrilloid” included herself and Spelvan...
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.
Sevo: At least none we understand.
zh’Tisav: Brainless, sounds like a Ferengi businessman who broke about dozen Andorian environmental laws about twenty years ago…
The octopus reverted back to it’s Vulcan costume. Vylaa was quite relieved to not be it’s focus anymore. Except now it straightened it’s body and walked stiffly along the sand like your typical Vulcan.
Spelvan: I wonder if it targets everyone who visits here in such a manner... or just us.
Sevo: *cackling* W-who knows?!
zh’Tisav: He’s kind of a d…
Before she could finish, the cephalopod swam away, wiggling one tentacle in a “follow me” motion. The Trill in their midst did so, followed by the Andorian and Vulcan. It started tapping on the glass behind a small temporary holo-sign:
[I am Doctor Jax'lin; an employee of this Science Center. I apologize; the tank’s translator is malfunctioning and I cannot communicate verbally.]
Sevo: I’m sorry, we didn’t know! Was the mimicking your way of trying to get our attention?
zh’Tisav: He’s a Doctor?!
Spelvan: Response
The octopus, Jax’lin, tilted it’s head, lifting two tentacles in a very good imitation of a human shrug then tapped toward the sign, a little more hurriedly this time.
Sevo: Maybe there’s something we can do. Can we fix the tank’s translator? Or rig the holosign to translate to text?
Vylaa ran slim blue fingers around the translators panel.
zh’Tisav: Looks like a Mark XI from Quark Industries. Yeah, it’s fixable.
Spelvan: Response
Sevo: I know I’d go insane if I was trying to communicate with other beings and they couldn’t understand me. It’d drive me nuts.
Spelvan: Response
While the octopus watched, Vylaa pulled a small, rolled bundle from her pocket, then unrolled her “Never Leave Home Without” kit on the ledge surrounding the tank. Inside was a selection of small tools.
zh’Tisav: Keep an eye out for me, I’m pretty sure they only let employees do this.
Sevo / Spelvan: response
With one last check their surroundings, Vylaa slipped a small prybar under the translator and popped it free. The Doctor, or rather, Octor, watched intently, his face pressed to the glass and big eyes focused downward.
zh’Tisav: This looks like just some corroded connections. Not really surprising with the proximity of so much salt water. It won’t take long.
Sevo / Spelvan: response
She removed one of the parts and placed it, and a small scraper, in Spelvan's hands.
zh'Tisav: Ayiana, you can be our lookout. Spelvan, let's get to scraping.
Sevo / Spelvan: response
Lt Vylaa zh'Tisav
Engineering Specialist
USS Gorkon
C238601TB0
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages