Lieutenant Ras El'Heem - Strange Relief
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((OOC: This scene too must come to a premature end.))
((Brief Timeskip. Verdant Hydroponics Garden Bay, Jorogumo))
The sharing of intrigue between the three scientists continued on as they arrived at the gardens. And Michaels was a scientist; her purview just fell into that of applied mechanics, something Rasha lacked in, in her repertoire.
As the indentation on the far end of the corridor opened, the stifling humidity gave her pause but the lush greenery inside pulled her in. Rasha took a few slow steps as her eyes were drawn in every direction and then stopped, spinning around to admire each and every unique species she could find. An entire host of xenoflora; some with analogues on other worlds, others who’s structure felt positively foreign. The “gardens” as Vidya call it was more a lush tropical rainforest that stretched almost as far as the shuttlebay did. Above, a transparent ceiling gave views of the notorious cotton candy nebula, it’s pink and purple swirls a peculiar contrast to the cloryphic canopy they stood under.
She took a few more steps towards a trunk whose bark was almost scaled. Her prosthetic hand reached out, palm forward, and hesitated before laying it gently against it. This moment of juxtaposition from the ship outside tugged at the strings in her heart. There was so much they didn’t know about the Velithari and just like any hypothesis, her expectations were subverted over and over again. First contact was special in that regard, though. Not that she’d ever experienced it before this, but you were told to steel yourself against preconceived notions and too generalize each part for the whole. It was a difficult to maneuver oneself that way. To let yourself be a clean slate, especially given that she was disguising who she was simply to begin the diplomacy.
Another, larger Velithari walked past pushing a hand cart filled with what she could only assume was produce, snapping her from her internal ruminations. Rasha dropped her hand to her side and slowly turned towards Michales and Vidya.
Michaels: Response
For a brief moment, the Kressari turned her head to peer further into the “garden” down the cart path the worker had taken her crop. Just a bit further, she could barely make out a wall of plants suspended in a hydroponic arrangement. Their roots dangled openly in the air and a cloud of what she could only assume was mist floated around their bases.
El’Her: It’s warm because their planet must be tropical. ::turning to look back at Vidya for confirmation:: Is your world so diverse to require this degree of cultivation for one ship?
There was a pause that almost seemed like Vidya was displaying…fondness? Or was that longing?
Vidya: Initially the vegetation planted here originated on our homeworld. Since then we have cultivated more than half of the garden, which now consists of vegetation life that we grew intandom with the Jorogumo to create the new life before you that does not exist back home.
Rasha stared softly at the woman. Something about the way she said what she said informed her of a context that Vidya may not have meant to give away. Her expression loosened and her eyes became diluted with lavender streaks. It occurred to Rasha that Vidya may have never been to her homeworld. That she was born here, aboard the Jorogumo. Again, it was another assumption, but it would explain some things about their cleanliness and vigilance. Perhaps she’d ask her about it later.
Michaels: Response
El’Her: It’s beautiful. Truly. My world is similarly lush.
Vidya: The purpose of the garden is not to beautify the Jorogumo, but rather serve a purpose to ensure our survival. The beauty as you see it is merely a coincidence. ::looks up at the ‘sky’ as she stands near them:: But yes, it is a sight to behold and to view from this angle I suppose. We could spend more time hereafter if you like? I believe you wish to see our engineering?
Rasha tucked her hands behind her back and followed Vidya’s lead. She of course could stay in the gardens for weeks with the excuse that she was cataloguing and studying but there was still the matter of finding Matthews. The tour had to come to an end eventually and so she sighed warmly as they made their way through the garden as if it was nothing more than a sunset stroll. They hardly spoke for this part of the tour and let the vegetation do the guiding. The light fell strangely through the leaves above them. Perhaps it wouldn’t feel so synthetic to have grown up with the pink overhead. Thinking of the Velithari in that way, that they were once just larvae (she assumed) and then grew into the terribly cold but not hostile insectoids, soothed her. There was much to be cautious of from both sides, but it all stemmed from misunderstanding.
When they reached the far wall, their Velithari guide ushered them out of the stifling warmth, in comparison, the rest of the Jorogumo was still balmy and comfortable. The tour continued through the corridors. It seemed some semblance of understanding was growing between the two sides. The officers asked questions of the Velithari. Cultural, scientific, philosophic, mechanical, personal. Not all of the questions were answered satisfactorily or at all for the matter but a picture was being painted. The art displayed in other parts of the Jorogumo in particular, expanded the image of the Velithari for Rasha. The walk was longer than to the science labs and hydroponics from the shuttlebay and Vidya asked very few questions back but eventually a question materialized for her.
Vidya: There is one question I have that you could answer for me? Since you have seen our vessel on the inside, shall you in the interest of fairness, allow myself and Rana the opportunity to view your vessel as you have ours?
For a moment, Rasha glanced to Michaels before speaking.
El’Her: I think that can be arranged.
Michaels: Response
She knew her own response would be more liberal than the Vulcans and so she bent the stick a tad too far in the affirmative and Michales would bend it back, so Vidya would surmise an answer somewhere in the middle.
Vidya: ::nods:: Yes I am aware you do not speak for the rest of your Kit-o-more. ::beat:: Very well then, let us ask. Your First Officer is with my Captain. They can answer for us both.
Finally, it seemed they had made it to their destination. Vidya opened communication with her captain as they entered. She couldn’t hear the response from Rana, and so she just stepped across the precipice, allowing the call to be private as a gesture of good will.
((OOC: Cutting the new tags so Semara and Rana don’t have stray tags to answer as we move on. I have Bill’s approval for the assumptions I make with Vidya’s actions.))
Vidya: =/\= Technological Lead Vidya to Captain Rana. I have a request for you, my Captain and the Aliens First Officer. =/\=
They stood on an elevated catwalk above an immeasurably vast engineering complex. Rasha stepped forward and gripped the railing, attempting to take it all in. Below them, the complex stretched so far into the haze that distance became difficult to judge. There was no central or “main engineering” that could be defined here. There wasn’t a singular reactor column, not immense “engine” or core that could be pointed to like aboard the Khitomer. Instead the space resembled a massive circulatory organ spread open beneath them. It could easily be estimated that thousands of engineers worked busily below them and countless structures littered the floor. Thick vine-like tendrils snaked lazily across the catwalk beneath their feet and vanished into the depths below, hanging off as if they were an afterthought of cable management. Rasha lifted her foot uneasily as one of the tendrils near it pulsed as though it responded to stimuli she could neither hear or perceive.
And yet despite the alien nature of it all, the purpose of the chamber was unmistakable. Engineers moved constantly across nearby suspended platforms and descending walkways. It was remarkably efficient even though the place was less engineered and more cultivated.
El’Her: ::to Michaels only:: What do you think lieutenant? Have we violated the prime directive?
Michaels: Response
She grumbled. Even without being an engineer, it was plain to see.
El’Her: It would seem so.
Vidya: =/\= The Chief Science Officer Rasha has asked if I had any questions for her and Engineer Michaels. There is one I have that requires both your approvals. To visit the aliens' Kit-o-more vessel as they have visited our vessel. In the interest of fairness is such a thing possible? =/\=
El’Her: The damage is done and we are not here of our own accords. The cloud, that is. Captain Naxell will have a good argument, I’m sure.
Michaels: Response
Vidya joined them at their side and Rasha looked up at her from her spot where she leaned on the railing. Though it was still difficult to read anything on the woman’s face, it was clear she had received some ill-timed news. And Rasha got the impression the ruse was up. She swallowed and glanced at Michaels, nervously.
There was no move to seize her. No guards who arrived to take her away for betraying their new friends. Instead, the palpable silence that was somehow louder than the thunder of the “engine” below, weighed on her heavily.
((OOC: This line is written by Bill))
Vidya: ::turning to the two as the call ended:: It would seem the Alliance Vessels have returned. We must go. Your Captain has granted us access to your vessel. ::beat:: The male called Matthews was found after his attempted escape, but this was not the only found male from your vessel ::Her eyes pierce through Rasha into Ras:: Yes we are aware you are not Rasha, but this is a matter we will deal with later. Your shipmates and Rana will be waiting for us in the shuttle bay
Rasha deflated. She hadn’t realized she had been so tense since she stepped onto the Jorogumo. It was a strange sense of relief to feel in the face of the Lattice Alliance showing up at the worst possible time.
El’Her: ::hesitating as she stood:: I understand. ::pause:: We didn’t mean to deceive you but it was a means to open diplomacy. ::looking at Michaels then back at Vidya:: It’s best we get back to our ship then. We will follow your lead.
Michaels: Reponse
TAGS/END
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Lieutenant Rasha El‘Her
Chief Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
K240106RE3
As simmed by
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Lieutenant Ras El ‘Heem
Chief Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
K240106RE3