PNPC Lt. JG Rhodium Wells - Two Scientists and a Jelly-Baby
Teayl Thorn
((Arboretum, Deck 05, USS Ronin, In Orbit of Endicronimas V))
Wells: ::careless shrug:: Then it will continue to do what all life does. Grow. Change. Adapt. It’s just a baby, Commander. In some respects, it has grown here, on the Ronin, and under your watch. One might even consider it… your baby.
The handsome blue commander gave her a sidewise look that only served to make her break into a shrill cackle as she poked a bony finger into his uniformed shoulder, ignoring any formality. She plucked a stray leaf from his jacket and casually popped it into her mouth. It vanished behind even, pearly white teeth.
Kel looked—appropriately—disconcerted.
Kel: I'm afraid I'm a bit out of my depth with this little one. Would you be willing to assist me?
Wells: I guess we could co-parent. ::gaze sharpening with a playful edge:: How old are you, Commander? The Kel symbiont, if you don’t mind me asking?
Kel: Not at all. Kel is young for a symbiote, only 219 years old.
Wells: Ah, to be so young again! However, the third century brings its own challenges and concerns. Try to enjoy yourself.
She patted his shoulder consolingly as she turned her tricorder back toward the now-blue, softly glowing mass embedded in the tree. Her eyes narrowed. Kel glanced at her and then back at the blue mass.
Kel: At the risk of being impolite, how old are you?
Wells: Hmm? Oh—::tutting, waving a dismissive hand:: I am far too old to care about polite. You can come to me if you want advice for the next century. But—a lady… never… tells… her true age.
She punctuated each word with a gentle tap of her tricorder against his uniformed chest.
Kel: I see. So what do we think the best way to move this baby is? I'm assuming we don't want to damage it by hacking it off the tree. The medical transporters could be well suited to disentangle the two life forms.
Rhodium stretched up on her toes and clapped her wrist in a delighted little golf clap.
Wells: Magnifique! That is an elegant solution. I knew I would like you.
Kel: One thing, how will we feed kiddo here while we move them? The last thing we want is a hungry, cranky baby.
She tilted her tricorder, scanning the blue mass rapidly.
Wells: The readings show the baby is an energy converter. It metabolises the energy in the cells of this tree and feeds itself, converting matter into what it needs. Wouldn't it be best to launch a shuttle clear of the Ronin and initiate a direct site-to-site transport, non? Once in the shuttle, it will reach for the vessel's energy source.
She turned the tricorder toward Kel, holding out her hand expectantly, reaching for his blue one.
Wells: May I?
Kel: Response
The tricorder chirped sharply.
Wells: Ah, you touched an alien energy converter, Commander. It changed colour immediately afterwards. It may have absorbed some of your energy. ::leaning closer, peering up at him intently:: How do you feel?
She reached a slightly soiled hand towards his blue forehead.
Kel: Response
Grinning, Rhodium withdrew her hand, unoffended, and pointed back toward the glowing mass, now pulsing more brightly.
Wells: I thought we had more time, but your touch awakened the baby. It seems you gave it exactly what it needed to kick start the next phase of its development—exotic bioenergies from not one, but two distinct species… and something else. ::gaze flicking to his abdomen:: The Kel symbiont… this species has an affinity for the psionic. Your presence may have made the difference. What a coincidence.
The El-Aurian did nothing to hide the smirk on her face. She met Kels' green gaze with her smoky grey one.
The glow intensified, the pulse quickening. Tiny, blue-glowing, vein-like tendrils began to emerge from the mass, breaking through the bark to wave tremulously in the air as if searching for warmth.
Kel: Response
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.
Kel: Response
[Tags / TBC]
((OOC: If it’s not clear where I’m going with this, The Baby = Star-Jelly))
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Science Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
As simmed by
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14