Ensign Koyama: The Rivers of Trill

[Calliope]

((Science Lab, Deck 9, USS Valkyrie-A))

Having just met Ensign Koyama, Janai turned to behold her library once more. 

Zol: Say, you wouldn't happen to have any physical books you'd be happy lending to my little library? I thought it would be nice to have one aboard the ship. I mean, PADDs are great, but nothing beats the feeling of pages between your fingers, you know? Or maybe you know where I can find some more books?

Koyama: Oh, this is yours? :: She pauses to think for a moment::  - Almost everything I have is on my PADD, but I do have a couple I can load to the library. Are Novels ok? I've mostly got science fiction. 

Zol: Novels are absolutely alright! Anything that fills the shelves would be appreciated. 

Koyama: Awesome! I'll bring them over next shift. As for getting more, I'm guessing replicating them would defeat the purpose? I don't have a lot of space in my bunk so I usually recycle anything unimportant and remake it when I want to keep reading.  

Zol: Yeah, replicating them is not quite the same. ::Picks up a book from the shelf:: See, this here for example is a novel from back home. My grandma got this book, I don't even know where from. My mom inherited it, and then she gave it to me. Books have their own history - replicated ones don't hit the same, you know?

Madeline nodded in understanding and agreement. 

Koyama: Well, if that's the case then I'd say you could trade for them while on leave? I've got a hobby repairing old odds and ends, you can get quite far swapping favors. 

Zol: ::Thinking:: My plan was to trade for them, but I don't know what I can offer in exchange. I'm good with a shovel and a sword, but I doubt most people would have use of such services. 

Koyama: Do you think the K'tsélai keep books? Maybe we could organize some kind of cultural exchange or find someone to trade with? I'd be happy to help. 

Zol: That would be great, actually! 

Janai seemed to consider something then spoke up. 

Zol: Say, have you been down to the planet yet? 

Koyama: No, I'd like to if I can, but i'm just too busy. I bet it's nice though!

Zol: Do you know anybody else who might be interested in helping us get more books? 

Koyama: Well - you could try Is'kah or Gheel'oth? Maybe V'Nille?

Zol: Understood. I'll let you know about the cultural exchange - I'll run it by Commander Ada and get something set up. In the meantime, would you like to borrow a book? 

Madeline nodded and started looking through the sparse shelves

Koyama: Absolutely! Any recommendations? I'm good with either fiction or nonfiction. 

Zol: Response

Madeline picked up the book. She seemed uninterested at first, but seemed to change her mind as she read it.  - Despite being nonfiction it had excellent prose and painted beautiful and vivid depictions of the rivers and their ecologies. It had begun to demand her attention so much it was difficult for her to put it down. 

Koyama: Where did you get this? It's so nice. - The author's wording is .. I don't have a word for it. Unique?

Zol: Response

Madeline nodded and then smiled. 

Koyama: So - Do I need a library card or can I check it out on the honor system?

Zol: Response

--

Ensign Koyama

Science Officer

USS Valkyrie NCC-76418-A

C240204MK1

AWildC...@gmail.com

(Character & Author: she/her )