Ensign Lera Michaels - Daughter of the Stars

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Ventral Ring Beta Module, Smith's Superior Holosuites, Deep Space 33))

Zerva: I find this spot right here is the best view of the stars. My brother, sister, and I would sometimes come to a park nearby our house in California and look up at the stars together. Makes you wonder if the two of us were ever gazing up at the same time. ::smiles over at her, with one hand still holding hers.::

Michaels: Realistically speaking...:: she paused. Of course, the configuration of stars would be different when viewed from Earth, or Last Hope, or Trill, or here. And differences in local times... But that was not what Ezra was saying. :: Probably so. Two people, light years apart, watching the stars at the same time. :: beat :: That was stupid, Lera. :: beat :: You in California. Me in Texas. Obviously, we looked up at the same night sky.

Zerva: ::looking back up at the stars:: Tell me more about your sister, please. Did she ever visit the stars like you did?

Michaels: My sister is currently Cadet Katherine Michaels at the Academy. She was born on Last Hope. She made the trip to Earth with several stops along the way at the same time our parents and I did. I do not know how much of that she remembers. My sister. To be completely honest, I routinely found her to be irritating. Still, I do love her, which probably sounds weird coming from a Vulcan. And she did try doing everything I did. Of course, Marathon is so small that there is not much for teenagers to do but look at the stars. And get into trouble with each other. And boys. Katherine always had better luck with human boys than I did. I understood why that happened. She was Human and more interested in them. I was neither Human nor particularly interested in teenage Human boys.

Zerva: I can understand trying to fit in on Earth when you’re not from there. Maybe one day your sister might get a posting here?

Michaels: Maybe. :: beat :: I have talked too much. :: she turned just enough to see him, the light of fire dancing off his face. :: You have not told me anything about your family. You have a brother and a sister. Presumably, you have parents as well. It is your turn. Tell me everything relevant about them.

Ezra shook his head.

oO Obviously, that is a subject best avoided. Oo

Zerva: Their names are Karem and Jorzia. Karem loves all of Earth’s culture, especially things pop-culture from the humans past. My mothers name is Kala and my fathers name is Coben.

Michaels: Are either Karem or Jorzia considering joining Starfleet, or do they have more sense than to risk being in a war zone halfway across the Galaxy?

Zerva: Yeah, they decided a long time ago not to follow my mother’s footsteps in Starfleet and instead chose the civilian sector like my father. My mother knows all about war zones. She was providing security for my grandfather on Trillus Prime as a member of the Trill Private Service during the Dominion War. My grandfather was a member of the Trill Senate, that’s how she met my father.

Michaels: Hmm. There is one aspect of this path we have chosen. We have seen more people die in the last few months than most people see die in their lifetimes. And... and we never know when our time will be over. Or when it will be too late.

Lera hung her head slightly, sighed, and pressed their clasped hands against his leg. Ezra leaned closer, touched her chin, and raised her head. He was so close, her face felt like it was softening. Was she breathing? She was not certain.

Zerva: ::smiling, lifting up her chin:: Hey, it’s going to be alright. It’s never too late. :: His eyes gazed into hers::

Michaels: Never is a very long time. :: she winced. :: Some things must be dealt with... when the time... is right.

Did he blush? Had she embarrassed him? Strike a sensitive nerve?

Zerva: ::whispering:: Have I told you how beautiful blue your eyes are?

He leaned closer still. He was so close... closer than she had ever been with someone who was not family.

Michaels: Perhaps. :: beat :: I would not mind if you told me again.

oO Stupid. Stupid. Get a grip, Lera. He is about to kiss you and you are saying stupid stuff like that? Oo

Zerva: ::continuing to whisper:: Lera. ::leaning closer to her:: I uh, wanted you to know, uh that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and…

oO This is it. We're going to kiss. Oo

Michaels: and?

Lera would never know what activated the storyteller at that moment. Lera was startled, annoyed, amused, and a bit frustrated all at the same time. Perhaps the time was not right after all. There was nothing she could do but laugh... and unsuccessfully try to stifle the laugh.

((OOC: Apologies to the people of the Shawnee Nation from whom I ... borrowed... this story))

Storyteller: This reminds me of a story from long ago. A story of a powerful young hunter and the star maiden he loved. Among the people was a great hunter. He could track any animal, any bird, any fish no matter how dark the forest was for he was the most skillful hunter among the people. One day he went into the grasslands beyond the forest, beyond the river, and came to a ring that had been worn down in the soil as if made by footsteps going in a circle. But the hunter could not find any tracks outside the circle. There were no crushed leaves or broken twigs anywhere. There was nothing even a great hunter like him could follow.

Zerva: The program has random stories from the Emisan people, uploaded from their history.

Michaels: I assume. This could be interesting. I would like to hear the story. :: smiling mischievously:: Unless you have something else in mind.

Zerva: Response

Storyteller: So he thought he would hide and watch to see what had made the circle. So he waited. Soon, there was sweet music and when he looked up, he saw a basket descending toward the ground. The music was so sweet that it nearly broke his heart. As soon as the basket landed, seven beautiful maidens leapt from the basket and began to dance in a circle. The hunter was enchanted by their beauty and their grace. He admired them all but one... one was more beautiful, more enchanting than the others.

The storyteller spoke with his hands, showing the circle in the grassy field and the stars overhead. At one point, he stood to emphasize a point. At others, he imitated the dance of the maidens. Lera smiled as the show progressed.

Michaels: Ah. That one is the Star Maiden.

Zerva: Response

Storyteller: The powerful hunter could resist no longer. He sprang from his hiding place and tried to catch the beautiful maiden. But the maidens were too fast. They leapt back into the basket and rose back into the sky.

The storyteller's jump must have been at least three centimeters, but his turns to chase and grab the fleeing maidens were perfect.

Storyteller: The hunter watched until he could see them no more. "I will never see them again," he thought. The hunter's life was filled with sadness. Hunting brought him no joy. Companionship around a fire was emptiness. The admiration of girls brought only sorrow.

The storyteller paused and Lera almost believed he was mourning.

Storyteller: The hunter resolved that he would try again and this time he would catch the maiden. He returned to the spot and hid inside the circle, covering himself with the beaten grass. He watched and he waited and soon enough the basket returned. The seven sisters began their dance and when the most beautiful one was closest to him, the hunter jumped and grabbed her wrists. The other six leapt back into the basket and returned to the sky.

Michaels: That is something I suspect you have not tried. Simply grabbing a girl by the wrists. I suspect the results would be suboptimal.

Zerva: Response.

Storyteller: The mighty hunter did everything he could to please the maiden and win her affection. He showed off his skills. As he wiped away her tears, he praised the land and the way of the people. After a time, she went to his lodge and the hunter was the happiest of the people. He did everything he could to make her forget her sisters. Winter and summer passed, and the maiden found she loved the hunter. Their happiness was even greater when a beautiful son was born to them.

Michaels: And this is where the story ends.

Zerva: Response

Storyteller: But the maiden was a daughter of the stars and she yearned to visit her old home. While he was away hunting, she made a wicker basket in the center of the ring. Once it was completed, she took their son, entered the basket and began to sing. The wind carried her song to her husband's ear and he recognized it as his wife's voice. He ran to the circle and just as the basket began to rise from the ground. So great was his love that he jumped and grabbed the edge of the basket and together they pulled him into the basket.

Michaels: No. Now we are where the story ends.

Storyteller: Great joy greeted them on their arrival. Even to this day, when you look at the night sky, you can see the maiden, her sisters and the powerful hunter.

The storyteller sat down again. He smiled benignly at Lera and Ezra but said nothing more. The cycle was complete and the storyteller was waiting for the next cue to start another story.

Michaels: He gave up everything to be with her, even after he asked her to give up everything to be with him. :: she turned her gaze away from the storyteller to Ezra. :: Do you suppose the story is about the Pleiades?

Zerva: Response

Michaels: This is a nice program that you and Commander Dewitt created. :: She smiled and snuggled closer to him. :: Not exactly how I thought this time would go.

Storyteller: This reminds me of a story from long ago.

Michaels: Computer: Freeze program. :: turning to Ezra. :: I do not need another story just now.

Zerva: Response

TAG/ TBC


Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2