Var Gamoya - On Minds And Walls
Tahna Meru
((Research and Development Wing, Gibaria Outpost))
Var’s fingers twitched, and she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She hadn’t been this still since she woke up this morning. It was uncomfortable. She should be doing something, not just waiting around and hoping they could fix the power grid. She fixed her gaze on the odd white-haired Vulcan, apparently the doctor of the group.
Gamoya: Why couldn’t you scan Lis?
Reynolds: The various flora our teams have encountered have reacted violently to active tricorder scans. That slime mold in particular.
Spelvan: ::He nodded;:: The Admiral is correct. Out of an abundance of caution, we decided not to perform scans in the area.
Valek: Indeed. Early scans created an interesting reaction from the flora.
She wasn’t very well going to abandon anyone down here, not now that they all had an actual fighting chance. Var crossed her arms, stalking over to the door with hardly a glance back at the Starfleet team. Damned extradimensional incursion or not, this was her outpost, these were her people.
Gamoya: Not much else we can do now, is there? Can we get them properly checked out? I think they might just be in shock.
Reynolds: We'd like to. The slime mold was blocking the entryway, and we'd had a rather violent encounter in a similar scenario earlier.
Spelvan: If they are in shock, they should be evaluated as soon as possible.
Valek: ::nodding:: I concur Ensign. However, the spores obstructing the entrance remain a concern.
Right, right, the spores…well, they’d made it this far, hadn’t they? And they still weren’t sure how to disperse the spores? She supposed the same criticism could be leveled at herself—her excuse was that she had no time to analyze the data she’d been busy collecting. She hadn’t expected to live long enough for her analysis to matter. And yet…
Reynolds: If we can disperse the mold, it solves two problems at once. We can reach Lis and our doctor can properly assess them.
The white-haired Vulcan took a step toward the mold, as if testing. It did not react, not visibly anyway. There could be any number of reactions happening under the surface right now. And when so much of what came through the Gateway acted aggressively, she did not trust any of it to stay peaceful or dormant long.
Spelvan: Since we do not have a successful means of repelling the flora, perhaps we could employ the suggestion I offered when we first encountered them.
Valek: ::raising an eyebrow, knowing the answer before he said it:: Ensign, has this course of action been thoroughly assessed?
Var raised an eyebrow, looking between the pair of Vulcans with curiosity. One seemed…well, if she didn’t know better, she’d say “enthusiastic” about his suggestion, the other seemed incredibly hesitant. This would be interesting.
Reynolds: Response
Spelvan: A mind meld with the flora will... likely not result in any adverse effects, it appears to be of limited intelligence. I am open to other ideas, however.
A mind meld. With the mold. Var stared at the strange, crazy, pale Vulcan. Was he out of his mind? Had he already been in contact with some of the flora, and it was infecting him somehow? In what world was mind melding with an extra-dimensional plant a good idea? Then again, it could provide interesting data…Var wouldn’t let one of her people do it, but he was not one of her people, so she’d gladly observe if he was crazy enough to try it.
Valek: Ensign, there is a lack of relevant data and training concerning mind melds with plant life. Key factors remain undetermined, including whether such organisms possess individual identity, a sense of time, or operate as a collective consciousness, conditions that could result in severe neural overstimulation. Furthermore, effective contact would likely necessitate interfacing with a central cognitive node, which has not been located. Any attempt under these conditions presents a substantial risk of permanent neurological damage.
Gamoya: I thought he was the doctor.
Spelvan / Reynolds: Response
Valek: Given the inherent risks, it would be logical to approach any mind meld with extreme caution. Such an action would require the Admiral’s authorization.
Spelvan / Reynolds: Response
The flora blocking their path still hadn’t reacted to their presence in any way the naked eye could discern. Var took the measure of it, visualizing this section of the facility in her mind. There might be another option, though it was sure to prove far less entertaining than the Vulcan’s idea.
Gamoya: I can’t personally recommend mind melding with the flora, though we may learn some interesting information if you do.
Reynolds / Spelvan / Valek: Response
Gamoya: It wouldn’t be a quick solution, but this wall ::She pointed at a section:: wasn’t part of the original construction. We added it later, to separate this into two rooms. The mold doesn’t appear to have gotten that far, we could take it apart and access the room that way.
Reynolds / Spelvan / Valek: Response
–
Var Gamoya
Lead Scientist
Gibaria Outpost
as simmed by
Lt. Commander Tahna Meru
First Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G239801TM4