PNPC Dominika Ślimak - Reviving Old Ghosts
Teayl Thorn
((Salt Caverns, The Farm, Endicronimas V))
Warm light shimmered across rose-pink walls, the air thick with the scent of salt. The salt caverns were heated by geothermal springs located deeper below, providing enough warmth to ease sore muscles. Barefoot and wearing a black bathing suit, Dom crossed the smooth stone and fine, silty sand, her striped towel tucked under one arm.
She had a problem, a big one, and everyone from counsellors to well-meaning Ronin crew had told her it was time to face it. So here she was, in the salt caves, following a couple of Compass Rose Security Officers, Holley and Xira, into the caves, half-hoping they wouldn’t notice.
Unlike most of the Compass Rose crew, she and Corzy had survived the Plague. The inoculation, Treatment Seventeen, had worked for them. They’d been spared the symptoms, the pain… and death. But surviving didn’t feel lucky. It felt like being left behind.
She had so many questions. How could she relate to them anymore? Why was she spared when others died? How could she keep living and working aboard the Compass Rose with all the ghosts, the living and the dead ones?
Guilt sat heavy on her chest, guilt and the pull to run home to her 1babcia in her hometown in the outskirts of Krakow, Poland and never leave Earth again. She could see that was just running away and hiding, but she didn’t know what else to do. However, Dom had a stubborn streak, a sector-wide one, and instead of fleeing, she would try to see if she could bring some of her ghosts back to life. And she had an item with her that would hopefully aid her in her mission.
Tucking her striped beach towel carefully under her arm, she followed the officers into the caves. She slowed as voices drifted toward her from deeper in the cavern. They had met with another member of the crew, Lt. Dohna, who was one of Dom’s commanding officers in the engineering department.
Dohna: Hello? Do you remember me? I'm Lieutenant Dohna T'Alia, I was an engineering officer on the USS Compass Rose.
Holley: Dohna T’Alia. I remember you, yeah. ::gesturing to herself:: Ensign Georgia Holley.
Akani: Lieutenant Dohna? I… You're alive… I'm Ensign Akani Xira, if you remember.
Dom hesitated in the shadows. Then she shook herself, nerves be damned, and strode forward towards the small group.
Dom: ::nervously:: Ensigns’, El-Tee. It’s good to see you all recovering, sirs. It’s Crewman Ślimak—uh, Dom, engineering tech.
Any: Response
She nodded politely at the security officers, then caught Dohna’s gaze, searching for recognition. She’d worked on various repair and calibration tasks aboard the Rosie under the Vulcanoid woman's watchful gaze.
Dohna: It's good to see you. ::pausing:: I'm glad I'm not the only survivor.
Holley: It is nice to know I’m not alone. I’m sorry we had to go through it, though.
Akani: I… I honestly don't know how we're alive.
Dom shifted nervously, heel scuffed the stone floor as she brushed imaginary grit from her foot.
Any: Response
The silence stretched, until Dohna spoke up again.
Dohna: Are there drinks down here? Maybe something that isn't one of Doctor Beck's vitamin concoctions? ::laughs::
Holley: ::a snort:: God, I hope so.
Akani: I… ::softly and quietly:: There should be.
Dom: ::cheaky grin breaking out:: I think I can help with that, sirs. Leave it to an NCO to know where to procure the real supplies.
Dom was relieved to change the angle of the conversation, and she had come prepared. Sidling closer to the other women, she began to discreetly unwrapped her beach towel, revealing a metal flask that gleamed faintly in the cave light.
Any: Response
Akani: Have you interacted with Doctor Beck? I… I don't know what to make of him, but he seems… nice.
Holley: I know, he’s very nice. But he could do better about having some taste.
Dohna: Response
Dom: I don’t know, he was nice enough. I like that Chief Nurse, Lt. Lavender—uh, Avae. She has style! ::unscrewing the cap:: Anyway, I’ve got something better than vitamin water. We could go find a bar, but first, I have this… ::holds up the flask:: It’s one of the last bottles of Crewman Evan’s Cargo bay Moonshine. ::eyes glistening:: I think it’s fitting if we drink it in his honour.
She took a sniff, scent was faint, a little sharp and sweet. Evan had brewed some smooth stuff.
Any: Response
Holley: So… ::she tapped her fingers against her leg:: done anything fun while we’ve been here other than this? I could use some recommendations. I haven’t really… gotten out much.
Akani: Not really…
Dom had already found an underground gambling establishment, but she wasn’t sure these officers would be interested or even approve of that. She didn’t have any cups, but she didn’t think they would mind sharing. She tipped the flask back, thaking a quick sip, the white rum burning smooth down her throat.
Dom: Here, sir. ::passed the flask to Dohna::
The silver flask bore a handwritten label in Evan’s scrawl: “The Paint Panty Remover — 40% Strength”. Dom stifled a chuckle.
Any/Dohna: Response
Akani: I… I suppose so… I guess I'm not really one to say. When I vaguely interacted with one of the medical officers and the counsellor… Neither of them had any suggestions.
Dom: Well…if you officers are interested in some establishments of luck, there’s a Dabo speakeasy somewhere down here…or so I’ve heard. Or a Betazoid meditation circle, if you like humming and incense. ::shrugs:: if you prefer that sort of thing.
She waited to see if they would be interested in something like that, aware that these officers may be seeking different entertainment or diversions.
Holley/Dohna/Any: Response
Akani: Should we ask around later?
Dom: I can show you the spot, if you’re game. But first… ::eyes drifting to the steaming mineral pool:: that looks amazing.
Holley/Dohna/Any: Response
Akani: Yeah… I suppose so.
Accepting her flask back, Dom took another deep sip and waded into the mineral pool, sighing as the warmth wrapped around her limbs. She sat on a submerged ledge, the surface glimmering like liquid rosie glass.
Dom: ::passing the flask again:: That feels wonderful. Can I ask something? What do you all want to do now… after everything?
Holley/Dohna/Akani/Any: Response
Dom: Honestly? I think I’m done with space. Done fixing things that’ll just break again. ::voice tightens:: Boldly going… straight to disaster. It all just feels like a cosmic scam now.
Holley/Dohna/Akani/Any: Response
Whatever comfort they offered, a touch on her shoulder, a soft word, she both wanted and couldn’t accept. Guilt was a ghost she hadn’t figured out how to leave behind. She felt a fresh wave of embarrassment over her outburst.
Dom: Sorry, sirs—uh, El-Tee, Georgia, Akani. I just… feel bad about all of it. ::whispering:: About surviving.
Holley/Dohna/Akani/Any: Response
[Tags / TBC]
((OOC: 1babcia - Polish - Grandmother))
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PO2C Dominika Ślimak
Engineering Technician
USS Compass Rose
Simmed by
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14