[[REPOST] Lieutenant Alira Venn: Stay with us
Isara Aleron
Shortrith: Can… can you hear us?
Wren: I think…..it's always been able to hear us. I just didn't realize it could understand us.
Narhelion: Vocal communication. Inadequate. Narhelion, not used to. Narhelion, release. Narhelion only sought mind link. Intruder removable dermis prevent.
oO So, it was trying to establish telepathic contact. Oo
Raga: I think it’s referring to our suits.
Wren: Do you think it's a touch-telepath? Maybe it needs physical connection with us through the…..goo to communicate properly.
Cosmozoan: ::Through text-to-speak software:: Correct. Accessing alien device database. External dermis, referred to as EV suit.
oO Oh, it worked! Oo
Venn: Commander Raga, I am fairly certain that the black goo that covered us was that attempt at a mind link it’s referencing. I think it’s a telepathic being.
Raga: I’m inclined to agree with you, Lieutenant. How safe would it be to allow this, Narhelion to psychically link with someone?
Shortrith: I think it really depends on how long the psychic link is maintained for.
Venn: Well, it’s definitely a risk, but maybe it’s worth a shot. But I don’t think I’d be the best choice. For one thing, Rodulan telepathy can be painful and damaging to most subjects. Plus there’s the concern that its own telepathy might overwhelm whomever makes contact. It’s a calculated risk, but it might be worth considering as an option.
Raga: Noted. ::he looked at the suit’s bracer mounted tricorder:: These readings show the atmosphere is identical to what we’d find on the Ronin. Which lines up with the sensor readings we got on the ship prior to beaming over.
She waited until the Commander had removed his helmet to test the atmosphere.
Wren: ::with much trepidation:: Is it…. Alright? The atmosphere, I mean.
Shortrith: I'm assuming so, if we're able to take our helmets off.
Alira agreed and removed her own helmet, taking a shallow breath at first before risking a deep one.
Venn: It seems to be safe.
Raga: Slightly stale, but breathable. Narhelion. We will permit mind link, but only with those who consent.
Narhelion: Narhelion agrees. Direct mind link with invasive entities not advised. Narhelion mind powerful. ::the word droned for a moment:: Mind Link not possible with non-psionics without bioorganic alterations.
Shortrith: ::to themself:: Just watch, step back, it's okay.
Venn: It’s probably for the best, anyway, Counselor. If something happens to the three of us, you’ll be able to help us out.
Wren: I wonder why only psionics….?
Raga: Is the mind link interface invasive or removeable? Will it compromise our privacy?
Narhelion: Temporary mind link interface possible. Permanence avoidable within first forty *unintelligble*. Accessing alien device. Revision. Permanence avoidable within first forty eight hours. ::the reverberations through the interior lingered:: Privacy uncompromised. Mind link surface only, without further consent.
Shortrith: That's a decent amount of time, in reality.
Raga: I will consent to the temporary mind link. Hopefully it’ll make communication easier with Narhelion. None of you have to do the same unless you wish to.
Venn: Well, sounds like my telepathy will be safe enough. I’ll consent.
Wren: I consent to connection.
Some more of that black goo moved toward her and surrounded her head, almost like a crown. There was a certain ick factor involved, but a good sonic shower could fix that. However, one her mind made contact, it was a different story. She could sense the others with her: Commander Raga, Ensign Wren. But she also saw Narhelion’s memories going back to a time she couldn’t really decipher. There were so many thoughts at once, that her mind began to automatically erect barriers to help filter it and prevent itself from being overwhelmed.
Raga: By the Branch. This is a maintenance console. Aft Propulsion Monitoring Station.
Narhelion confirmed it was Secondary Engineering and she looked around with renewed understanding of what she was seeing.
Wren: This is…… incredible. Commander, are y-?
Shortrith: What's it like?
Wren: ::To anyone not connected:: It’s sort of like…. I’m connected to Raga, and we’re both connected to the Narhelion. It doesn’t hurt, it’s….. It’s fascinating to me. I’ve never experienced anything like this.
Shortrith: That's fascinating.
Venn: Yes, it is amazing. I have never felt anything like this. I’ve heard of my people doing group mind links, but it’s extremely rare and extremely personal, so I’ve never heard what they experience, but this…
She didn’t have words to continue. It was so amazingly beautiful to her she wondered how she could have ever contemplated killing it. She immediately clamped down that thought, not wanting to scare Narhelion, and resolved she was going to do anything she could to save the magnificent being.
Raga: Response
Wren: ::pointing to parts of the console:: This is translating atmospheric readings, and this part up here is out estimate speed. I can't decipher what the speed is, since I don't know the unit of measurement, but.... ::excited:: These blobs over here are the other away teams!
Shortrith: That's good!
Raga: Response
Shortrith: What's it saying?
Raga/Wren: Response
Venn: It’s trying to make contact with Tiny Predator.
Shortrith: As in… Hail the captain?
Venn: Yes, I believe it’s trying to call the Captain.
Narhelion: Hello, Tiny Predator.
Niac: =/\= And hello to you...whomever you are. My name is Karrod...and our ship is the Ronin. We are not a predator...we have no desire to harm you. We wish to make peaceful contact. Can you understand us? =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= ::with a nod:: Captain. I've got the comms open on my commbadge. =/\=
Raga: Response
Narhelion: Narhelion apologizes to Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker. Narhelion did not realize Tiny Predator Ronin fragility.
oO It thinks the Ronin is fragile? Oo
Niac: =/\= Narhelion? Is that your name...or the name of your ship? Either way 'fuzzy caretaker' thanks you, Narhelion. We did not believe you damaged us purposefully. Your energy transfer is also appreciated but doesn't appear to be compatible with our systems...I don't suppose you'd mind deactivating it? =/\=
oO Fuzzy Caretaker? Oo
Alira began looking around to see what the Captain was referring to and found a memory of Narhelion trying to repair the ship. Apparently, it had been damaged in the attack by the Tholians, but she wasn’t exactly sure of the sequence of events or the seriousness of the damage.
Venn: ~ Narhelion, our systems appear to be incompatible for further healing. Can you please cease so Tiny Predator can resume natural healing from within? ~
She was pretty sure Captain Niac was getting through to Narhelion, but it had already stated that verbal communication was not easy for it, so she felt that adding her mental voice to the request could make it clearer for Narhelion.
Raga: Response
Narhelion: Narhelion has a request. Narhelion is last of my kind. Would Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker permit Narhelion to take some of Tiny Predator to make a new Narhelion?
Alira’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull and her mind registered absolute surprise and shock at the request.
oO Did– Did it just ask to mate with the Ronin? Oo
She wasn’t sure if it heard that thought, or not, because it responded with an alert.
Narhelion: =/\= Caution. Narhelion has detected approaching. Many more angry crystals and unknown vessels with them. Primary offensive armament still healing. Secondary and tertiary armaments are functional but remain in hibernation state. Primary and secondary defensive functions offline and in hibernation state. Recommend hibernation rescindment as soon as possible. =/\=
Venn: ~ More Tholians! Narhelion must evade and escape! ~
Narhelion: =/\= Please. Narhelion does not want to expire. =/\=
Niac: =/\= We don't want you to expire either, Narhelion. We came to convince you to leave this area of space...but it's too late for that now. Please...wait just a moment. =/\=
Shortrith: If it's any comfort, my friend, I don't think any of us want you to.
Venn: ~ No, Narhelion. They are correct. We want you to live. Please, go before it’s too late. ~
But it was too late. She could see through Narhelion that the Tholians had fired on it.
Venn: Incoming!
Raga/Wren/Narhelion: Responses
She could feel the pain erupt through Narhelion. She wasn’t an empath, but the force of it had reverberated through its thoughts to her. The Tholians had wounded it. The force fo the thought nearly overwhelmed her as well, and she cried out in pain as well. She wasn’t wounded, but it had almost felt like she’d taken some of that damage.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Raga. The creature's been hit by some kind of missile. I'm standing in the middle of a massive wound. What's your situation? =/\=
Raga: =/\= Response =/\=
De La Croix: =/\= Well that's all very nice for you then but we have a patient here who needs immediate care or this wound could be fatal. I was already detecting decreasing levels of cellular energy in this whole area and now...much of this tissue is dead or dying. If this creature is to survive we'll need significant resources...uh...hello...ship? Madam Narhelion I presume? I want to help you but I'll need quite a few things from our vessel to even get a start on it. =/\=
Shortrith: How can we help you?
Raga/Wren/Narhelion: Response
Shortrith: I'm not sure how much we could do, but I'm willing to help however I can to settle this issue, and make sure you turn out okay.
Venn: ~ Narhelion, stay with us. I know it hurts, but we want to heal you like you helped heal Tiny Predator Ronin. Let the Caretakers assist. Can you resist the Angry Crystals? ~
Raga/Wren/Narhelion: Response
Venn: ~ Resist, Narhelion. Tiny Predator can help fight the Angry Crystals, but Fuzzy Caretaker needs your help too. Talk to us and tell us what you need. ~
Raga/Shortrith/Wren/Narhelion: Responses
Venn: =/\= Captain, Lieutenant Venn here. How is the ship? Are the forces overwhelming, or is there a chance to resist? I am trying to convince Narhelion to help resist, but it is very wounded. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Response =/\=
Raga/Shortrith/Wren/Narhelion: Responses
And then there was a new message, this time from the Chief of Engineering.
Kel/Raga: =/\= Response =/\=
Tucker: =/\= We’ve lost Doctor Beck. =/\=
There was a moment of silence before the response came.
Kel/Raga: =/\= Response =/\=
Lieutenant Alira Venn
Mission Specialist (Intelligence)
USS Ronin, NCC-34523
A239412S10