Lt Cmdr Naledi - War Never Changes

[Naledi]

((The Nexus Gallery, Deep Space 14))

 

Despite being a popular piece, it was also very controversial. Having been made by a Xindi-primate, it wasn’t truly considered Insectoid art, but rather an inspired spin-off. Perhaps the ocean, the waves, the giant mass of liquid was the artists intentions when carving the sculpture.

It’s own interpretation of the art was that it represented the sound of mandibles clicking. The noises being the different surfaces, all uniform in their complexity, yet vastly different in their feel and texture.

  

Naledi: Tick Pew Pop Snap Hiss… That is one such interpretation of this piece. It is glad it resonated with you.

Meris: That's amazing... show me more?

Naledi: Crick Snap Tick Pop… Very well, Lieutenant.

 

Disengaging their magnetic boots, (although more akin to magnetic flip-flops) Naledi pushed from the ground. Floating slowly into the air and towards a piece that looked not too dissimilar to a pair of large comb-brushes tied together.

 

Naledi: Tick Pop… This piece represents… Pop Snap Tick Pew Crack… No, it’ll let the Meris attempt it first. Pop Tick Snap… Prepare to be guided…

Meris: Guided?

 

Coyly, and with a forcefully apprehensive shove, Naledi pushed Meris towards the bristles with their “foot”. It was Naledi’s hope that as Meris floated into the brush, their speed would down rapidly, trapping them inside. Albeit it on a temporary basis. However, the effectiveness of which largely came down to their individual dexterity and strength.

 

Naledi: Pew Pop Crack Hiss… Feel at the hairs, what do they remind you of?

Meris: At first, prison bars...

 

They were unaware that the Meris had any prior convictions. How else would they know what prison bars felt like?  

Meris: The mane of a Seren-thal. It's an animal from my homeworld.

 

The Meris continued to speak. Their voice lowering in amplitude.

 

Meris: Growing up on J'naii, we spent one summer on the plains. My twin, Seral, and I rode them. They were the most gentle creatures I'd ever met. Their hair felt just like this.

 

The Meris continued to speak. For such a personal experience, they were keen to share.

 

Meris: It was probably one of the best summers of my childhood. ::a pause::  I haven't thought about that in years.

 

 

Upon reflection, Naledi knew they should have tested it first. Genuine articles of this type of art, roughly translating to “Fey-Ra” were very difficult to come by. It was an old method, practically nearly extinct from practice upon the destruction of Xindus. The vast majority of “Fey-Ra” art installations relied solely on replicas of replicas of replicas.

They were glad that despite the initial struggles of confinement, the lieutenant learned to enjoy the experience.

 

Naledi: Pop Hiss Tick Snap Crick Pop…. That is unintentional. How does the Meris feel in there? Trapped? Alone? Perhaps wanting to get out? Feel the hairs lieutenant. Feel the hairs against your shell. Let it tell you it’s message.

 

The trapped lieutenant inside of the bristles folded it’s hands around the artwork until it appeared to find themselves.  

Meris: I did feel trapped at first. But now...

 

Air rushed through the Meri’s mouth, meeting the standing frequency of the skin and causing a very silent whistle.

Soon after the noise came the movement. The Meris struggled through the bristles of the Fey-Ra art, eventually breaking free and turning back on themselves to face Naledi. A moment fluttered by, neither of them saying a word or doing much physically.

 

Meris: Thank you, Naledi... for that memory.

 

The insectoids head tilted on it’s axis. They hadn’t given the Lieutenant anything they didn’t already have inside of them. Surely they should have thanked their Brain-organ? Or perhaps the art curator.

 

Naledi: Tick Hiss Snap Pop Clack… It thinks the Lieutenant has misunderstood Fey-Ra. The memories come from you.

 

Muscles on the lieutenant shifted discreetly. It looked like they wanted to do something, say something. Naledi elected to wait and see what would happen.

  

Meris: Come on. Now it's my turn to pick a piece of art.

Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… Very well. Lead the way.

 

The lieutenant turned away and started to drift through the gallery whose sleek metallic-wooden hybrid walls contrasted with the soft yellowed light of the gallery. Despite both clearing zero-gravity training, the pair seemed to become more apt at traversing the gallery with each visited exhibit. Perhaps the perceived value placed on each of these objects gave greater stakes than hitting the occasional piece of dust in open space? Naledi considered these possibilities as they joined the Meris in their journey.

Eventually, the pair arrived at a piece Naledi had recalled the Meris discussing this piece earlier. The piece attempted to convey each of the Xindi races in one sculpture, just as Xindus had housed the development of their species in parallel. The wooden engravings, the shavings of Chitin that lined parts of the Stone as paint. Alloys, other materials, sea stones… Primate, Arboreals, Aquatics, Insectoid, Reptillian… and the ones who couldn’t be here today.

 

Meris: I wanted to see "Five Voices, One World". I could tell you wanted to say something when I mentioned it earlier in the turbolift. Now's your chance.

Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Hiss… The Title is incorrect.

Meris: Response

 

The deep reds of Naledi’s compound eyes permeated the structure. For a moment, the Meris melted away, and the world around the piece didn’t matter.

 

Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Hiss Crack… This piece was commissioned as an anniversary commemoration of the destruction of it’s homeworld. That’s back when there were not five races of Xindi.

Meris: Response

 

It’s palps shook, as the horrors of that day left a poor taste in the air despite the thousands of generations who’d risen and fallen since the planet destabilised in a final act of the great war. The millions who’d died in the fallout afterwards, the period between the fall of Xindus and the rise of the Council.

The entire piece was a testament to the past. A rose tinted glass to what they wanted their world to be remembered, as a utopia where everyone was happy and spoke with one voice. That place never existed and never would.

 

Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Crick Snap…  People seldom remember what they cannot see. They think about the materials, the intentions. They forget the casing. This piece of art has always been exposed to air. The home of the Avians, who remained on Xindus until the very end. Who died with the planet.

 

oO War, War never changes Oo

 

Meris: Response

 

 

 

TBC

 

Lieutenant Commander Naledi

Director of Strategic Operations

USS Thor (NCC-85852)

R240107AS3