PNPC Lt. JG Rhodium Wells - Houston, We Have a Jelly-Baby!
Teayl Thorn
((Arboretum, Deck 5, USS Ronin))
The El-Aurian did nothing to hide the smirk on her face. She met Kels' green gaze with her smoky grey one.
Wells: She is waking from a many-cycle nap. She is hungry and does not yet understand that the Ronin and her crew are not food for her. ::growing more serious:: We must move quickly. I recommend launching your shuttle now, Commander.
Another member of the infamous Ronin science department had arrived, with ears that seemed to stick out for days but were apparently hard of hearing. Kel was swift in putting the eager officer to work. Likely trying to keep the curious ensign safe from the glowing blue questing tendrils that were slowly growing from the larval Cnidarian.
Kel: Mr. Poagie, remote access the Queen Bee in the shuttle bay. The access code is B3ck5uck5.
Poagie: Ok, ok. Powering up the craft now. This is an order, right? I don’t fancy Rox ripping off my lobes.
Kel: I'll access the medical transporters. Rhodium, can you send me some measurements for the transport volume?
Wells: ::already tapping at her tricorder, eyes bright:: Of course. She is extending—see? Curious little tendrils. I will adjust for growth variance, a 20% margin.
Kel: Poagie let me know once the shuttle is outside the bay and about 10km from the Ronin. Rhodium, I can transport it ::beat:: her to the aft section, but how do we get her linked to the power supply?
Poagie: Just a few seconds.
The commander glanced back at "the baby".
Wells: You don’t have to worry about linking her, be more concerned about protecting the shuttle's important systems. She feeds on matter and energy. The shuttle’s auxiliary systems will suffice temporarily, but she will want company. Life nearby. Preferably calm, familiar life.
Kel: Thank you, Mr. Poagie. Once we're aboard, where should we take her? The farm?
The Ferengi made a rude noise with his lips.
Poagie: The farm? There’s no rare commodities market there that I’m aware of?
Rhodium clicked her tongue in a disappointed tut-tut, a sly smile spreading across her face, and she peered at the ensign.
Wells: ::smiling sweetly at the Ferengi:: Then you are not very well connected, mon petit capitaliste. Endicronimus V has… interests and clients to help heal; some of their needs are unusual. Established gambling venue, dens, collectors, and underground brokers with excellent taste. ::answering Kel:: Yes, we have no choice, she will do well on the surface where she can mature from the matter and energy of the planet until she is ready to leave. Division 14 will have a field day studying her and attending to her every need. Just not too close to the Farm, she needs room to grow.
Poagie: Look, if you manage to stabilize junior here aboard the Queen Bee, I do happen to know a guy who used to do business with this Zabalian trader who collected unique commodities. I could get the Zabalian’s contact info or even better we could maybe sell it to my guy.
Wells: ::sharp glance, all warmth gone:: Non. She is no commodity. She is a child of a unique alien race, and if she doesn't destroy the shuttle before we get to the surface, it will be a miracle. And she needs her uncle Poagie to show up for family.
Kel: Response
Poagie: ::grumbling:: Where’s the profit in that?
Wells: ::rolling her eyes:: Yes, yes, Rule of Acquisition no. six: “Never let family stand in the way of opportunity”. That tired old fallacy, but you are here, aboard the Ronin, a Starfleet vessel, non? ::raising silver brows::
Kel: Response
Poagie: Fine, fine. Queen Bee is in position. ::sarcastically:: Do you still need help strapping it into the child seat?
With a soft flounce of yellow plumage, the figure Rhodium had been hoping to encounter emerged from the shadows—a large Aurelian in a scientist’s uniform, punctuating their arrival with a low, curious throat-call.
Om-Zora: ::in a slightly forced monotone:: I doubt a being like this requires a child seat. But I could help with possibly helping to relax her? Them? While you figure out where she needs to be relocated. Make sure there’s a very limited chance of somewhat panicked actions in response to being moved.
Rhodium nearly clapped in delight as another of the Ronin’s infamous science department ruffled into the fray. She folded her hands beneath her chin and leaned a hip against a nearby tree, silver eyes bright as she admired the chaos unfolding around her.
Things were becoming positively diverting now.
Wells: ::beaming:: Oh, I like you already. Oui, the baby needs a big sister to coo over her, keep her diverted, or did you have something else in mind, mon oisillon?
Kel/Poagie: Response
Om-Zora: I am a neuroscientist of sorts. I have some experience understanding wave patterns like that. Possibly useful in mimicking the calming ones if you can figure out what those are in creatures like this. It might be good for both the ship and the… jellyfish? Although I do admit it provides a slight challenge since there is not a brain in the typical sense of the term. Not uncommon in beings like this. And yet the mindful intelligence shows signs of being there in other ways despite being technically brainless by normative standards.
The Lt.s beak pointed meaningfully at the Ferengi ensign as she continued.
Om-Zora: Something that other brainless beings could learn from.
Wells: ::grinning mischieviously:: Most common Cnidarian found on worlds have no brain, Lt., but I think you’ll find that this species is more complex, a space-dwelling lifeform, they have telepathy, they feel benevolence, and sorrow, they form life bonds. Now is your chance, neuroscientist. You don’t need equipment for this; she can hear you now. Your mind, just talk to her, or sing. Tell her something that makes you calm and happy.
Kel/Poagie/Om-Zora: Response
The xeno-botanist added her own message to the youngling as they prepared to transport to the launched shuttle.
Wells: ::softening, voice lowering as the glow steadies:: Easy, petite étoile. We are not here to hurt you. Only to keep you fed… and everyone else intact.
The glow of the Farpoint Cnidarian, still partially trapped in the tree, steadied. Its tendrils slowed its quest, as if it were listening or perceiving.
((A moment later - The Shuttlecraft Queen Bee, In Orbit of Endicronimus V))
With a cluster of lights, the four scientists materialised in the Queen Bee’s forward compartment. The star-jelly-baby materialised in the aft compartment, and as expected, removing her from her food sources threw an immediate temper tantrum. The lights in the shuttle dimmed, and the engines shuddered as an immediate power drain occurred.
Kel/Poagie/Om-Zora: Response
The view of the aft compartment appeared large on the main display. As the containment forcefields went up the power fluctuations eased, they caught their first glimpse of the “baby” without its tree exterior. A large glowing Cnidarian floated in the aft compartment, jelly-like dome glowing blue and flashing with distress. In the last few moments, it had somehow developed yellow polka dots along its dome, its tendrils writhing wildly in all directions.
She took Rhodium’s breath for a moment, but she slid behind a console and brought up the creature's vitals.
Wells: ::eyes alight with joy:: Congratulations, mes amis. You have just managed to put the giant alien jelly-baby in the back seat, now we have to be quick, or she will become very attached to this ship. She’s already draining energy from the forcefield.
Kel/Poagie/Om-Zora: Response
[Tags / TBC]
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Science Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
As simmed by
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14