Lt Cmdr Naledi - Manufactured Chaos
Naledi
((Living-room, House, USPS Showrunner))
These types of TeeVee shows did not make any sense. Perhaps that was part of their appeal? Naledi made a mental note to request the information regarding the appeal of nonsensical TeeVee shows from Dr Nera.
Meris: I’m just saying… maybe we should take this shown on the road!
Naledi: Tick Slip Slap Pop Whistle… Cannot have Naledi and the bugcatchers without Naledi, right? It is in.
Ral: How did we even end up with that name? We don’t catch bugs!
oO It should hope not Oo
Agent B345T: We would…
A pause hung in the air, for a moment, Naledi wasn’t sure if they needed to start running away from the inevitable bug-catchers storyline involving a museum and a budding young researcher with a name closely resembling “bug”.
Agent B345T: But Big Buddy has their test. Middle Buddy failed their driving class, so they’ll need to retake that if they ever want to operate a vehicle like a responsible member of society. And you, Small Buddy… you had that boy you wanted to date…Life doesn’t pause just because you’re confused, talented, and mildly underprepared.
It is in, but it also wasn’t like they had a choice. The shows programming still nudged at the edge of their mental space. Naledi knew they couldn’t hang on forever, eventually they would complete their transformation into a tool of the network.
Naledi: Tick Slip Slide… So, Agent. Have you selected a setlist for our performance?
Ral: Please none of that old stuff you keep getting us to do. We need something a bit more modern, up to date.
Did up to date refer to the date of their cover? Or the date they’d come from in the 25th century?
Agent B345T: I’m glad you asked! I got your favorite songs, plus a few good new ones to really bring the crowd in!
Meris: I hope some of these songs will feature the triangle. You know how our fans adore its geometrically efficient three-sided majesty.
If they were physically capable of sipping a drink, they knew they would spit it out into a fine mist.
Naledi: Slide Slip Pop Twist… How many new songs!? We haven’t the time to practise that!
Ral: We need to play along.
Meris: No pun intended, I'm sure.
Agent B345T: Don’t worry, I have faith in you guys! ::beat:: We just need to practice, practice, practice!
A sting played across the airwaves as the set lights dimmed, as a video of the three main cast members dancing above an obvious green-screen of the local area played for the audience, the set itself changed into a recording studio.
Naledi: Tick Slip Slide Pop…So that’s why we should open with Entomology Rockology… What just happened? How did we get here?
Realising that sounded like unnatural dialogue, Naledi quickly attempted to salvage their lines.
Naledi: Slip Slide Pop Whistle… It apologises. It is tired from practice.
Ral: Meris, what’s the name of the ship? I have an idea for a new song.
Meris: The name of the ship is the Thor...
The Thor, that was the name again. It had been so long…
Wait? What was Naledi saying? It had been a year since they were aboard the Thor. Whilst it was at least an 11th of their lifespan spent inside of the tangle, it wasn’t an unsurmountable volume of time. The Compass Rose was only two years ago or so relative to them, yet the faces of it’s crew were still engraved in it’s mind.
So long as Naledi remembered that, held onto the memories… There may have been a slim chance of not being called into Commander Saas office for further counselling that they didn’t require.
Agent B345T: Oh you have a song idea? Why not show us then?
A pleasant mist filled the air as the group looked over to Meris, hoping for a demonstration.
Meris: I'll accompany you on my triangle...
Naledi: Slip Slide Tick Slap… It’s interesting that it is called a triangle, when other instruments like the drums are not referred to as the cylinder or the πr2.
Despite what Naledi considered an insightful observation, the Agents clipboard made a snapping noise, before the aforementioned manager became quite chipper in body language.
Agent B345T: No, this is perfect! Big buddy studies while you show off your new song! ::speaking to Ral:: And little buddy can text their crush.
oO Who are the buddies? Is it the big buddy? Oo
Although there was the distinct possibility that their band’s manager had forgotten their names, not that they had an excuse with itself. It’s name was in the bands name.
Meris: Sure, yes... I'll text my crush.
Naledi: Slip Slop Crop Clap… Excuse me Meris, but how does one communicate with a restrictive force?
The Meris did often perform actions that confused itself, no differently to any other humanoid crew member. Although in Naledi’s mind, their only saving grace was their species genderless existence, a known trait of it’s own race.
Ral: Response.
Naledi: Tick Twig Slip Slide… Let us hear the song Ral.
Ral: Response.
Utilising the bass seemed effortless for the Ral, whether he had any formal training, or if the tangle had programmed him with the information, however, was unknown to Naledi. They wondered if the abilities, if any, that were learned in the Tangle, would leave them when they inevitably escaped. If there was a way to programme skills into individuals and the Thor could harness that, their brood could be more useful to the ship much faster than they had previously anticipated. The Caras did always need more engineers from what it had heard all that time ago.
Then a thought occurred to itself, what if their eggs had already hatched?
Meris: That sounded great, Ral! And guess what! My crush says they're going to come to our performance tomorrow. Won't that be swell!
Agent B345T: Since little buddy is good at tests... maybe you could switch places?
Unsure what the Agent meant by “switch places”, Naledi peered at them with full curiosity. Were they attempting to inject further conflict into this episode? Thus far, the script seemed a little complicated for an opening episode aimed at human tweens, surely this would kill the show? Was that their intention? Their species way of firing it’s actors?
Agent B345T: Oh! And maybe you can help them with their love confession!
On the other palp, it was possible they were simply overexcited and taking advantage of their situation. Perhaps they could use this to their advantage?
Meris: S-sure... but for that I'll need to rely on a stronger instrument than just my trusty triangle.
Naledi: Slap Slop Crop Flop… There is no stronger instrument than the soul. Allow it to speak through your triangle, and you shall create art.
Ral: Response.
The being seemed to heed it’s advice as the set’s lighting darkened and the spotlight centered in on the Meris. A lone tri-legged stool crept into the light, allowing the pilot some comfort on it’s wooden embrace. For the first time, beyond the cameras and the stage lighting, an audience was visible, however none of the faces were recognisable. Foreign species that they did not recognise filled most of the seats, the others were partially obstructed by crude signs held by other members of the spectators.
Meris: This goes out to my crush... Trake Herrick Kreshkova. Or, THK as I call them for short.
Naledi chose to remain silent throughout their song, allowing the Meris to have the moment, quite literally in the spotlight. Besides, closing themselves off and listening purely to the lyrics was in their mind the most respectful choice they could afford to give them.
Ral/B345T: Response.
Meris: I call this "When the Stars Leaned Close"...
Meris: Meris, still as the winter lake...
Meris: Shaka, the walls falling... my calm undone at your approach.
Meris: Darmok on the ocean, his heart open to the storm.
Ral/B345T: Response.
Meris: So am I, THK - your name, a comet’s tail across my sky.
Meris: Uzani, his army scattered - my doubts retreat when you smile.
Meris: Mirab, at the gates of dawn - you, the light I rise toward.
Ral/B345T: Response.
As Naledi listened to the last of the lyrics fade into the darkness of the set, the Meris struck their triangle with a mighty…
TING
Their neck muscles jerked their head into a nodding motion as the audience erupted into applause, viciously vibrating the set (and causing some slight pain to itself).
Meris: Nailed it.
Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Click… It is glad to see it’s own advice worded. The Meris is welcome.
Ral/B345T: Response.
The set lighting illuminated again, however this time, a large curtain dropped down, separating the stage from the audience. It appeared to be a fire safety shutter, a common feature in Terran theatres.
Naledi: Chirp Snap Crick.. Is it the end of the first act?
Meris/Ral/B345T: Response.
Often hearing about “behind the scenes drama” shuttering TeeVee shows before they should have ended, Naledi thought back to the directors constant manufacturing of artificial problems. Maybe they could create a problem of their own?
Naledi: Pop Snap Tick Crick… Ok, Director. Could you please let us renegotiate our contracts? It wishes for greater creative control.
Meris/Ral/B345T: Response.
Naledi saw this as a good card to ask for. It was not uncommon for actors to ask for creative control for their own shows. It would also come with the added bonus of the ability to manipulate the show into their favour.
It was time to leave the tangle, if they could.
Naledi: Crick Snap Tick… What would you be willing to consider?
Meris/Ral/B345T: Response.
TBC
Lieutenant Commander Naledi
Director of Strategic Operations
USS Thor (NCC-85852)
R240107AS3