Where Waters Meet
Posted on 07 Jul 2023 @ 10:47am by Captain Corvus DeHavilland & Lieutenant Commander Maurice Rubens
Edited on on 29 Jul 2023 @ 2:46am
Mission:
M3 - Into the Deep
Location: USS Pathfinder
Timeline: M3 D09 - 1712HRS
2113 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure
Tor’peo studied the panel, tentatively reaching out one of his digits and pressing the icon on the smooth black glass. The Computer immediately awoke with three ascending beeps that announced to him that it was ready and standing by. The Korinn simply stood there pondering the replicator. It was the easiest thing to do. He worried that if he even attempted to consider that they were traveling faster than the speed of light, somehow circumventing what physicists on his planet had declared impossible, that the excitement and amazement would simply cause his synapses to overload. Somehow thinking about molecules being pulled from – well, he didn’t know – and reconstituted into anything he wanted was simpler.
“It is astounding,” he finally said.
Uanika was laying on the floor several feet away. She’d never spent any time on land and she found everything to be awkward and increasingly painful. The things the Federation people called chairs sent ripples of pain through her back. Tor’peo, who had spent time on the surface, suggested she lay flat on her back. It would take several weeks for their bodies to adjust and muscles to strengthen before she could hope to spend a day on land without agony.
“How much more powerful are the Pyrryx that people who can create something from nothing are running away from them? Perhaps our war was misguided like the tadpole said,” Uanika responded.
He clicked mild appreciation for the comment back in response, “It is too late now. We have to succeed.”
“Indeed, but that requires that they talk to us. Do you think they’ve forgotten we’re aboard?”
As if in answer, a series of rising chimes sounded in their quarters. Uanika lifted her head to look at Tor’peo, who waved his hands in the Korixx sign that meant, ‘I don’t know what that is.’
The chimes sounded again. Uanika laid her head back down. Perhaps it was what passed for singing to these people. It was calming.
“DeHavilland to Korinn guests,” a voice echoed overhead. “If you have a moment. I would like to meet with you. I am outside your quarters, but I will be happy to come to you wherever you are,” she said.
Corvus had rung the chime to the room twice, and there had been no answer. Just for good measure she rapped on the doorway. Maybe Petty Officer Xeri had taken them for a tour of the ship. She could imagine that they were getting stir crazy alone in the room on a ship that had no water - though she already had an idea in play for that. Chief Edgerton was sorting out the details of it as she spoke.
Uanika and Tor’peo both looked at each other. There wasn’t a word in their language for privacy and now that someone was outside the door requesting entrance confused both of them. What are the protocols in this instance? Not wanting to seem impolite, Uanika finally just guessed and made a rapid series of clicks to Tor’peo asking him to open the door while she got up off the floor.
Just as Corvus was about to turn away to go to the nearest computer terminal and inquire with the computer as to where the Korinn were, the door hissed open and she was met by one of the delegation.
“Oh, hello,” Corvus said, surprised that they had been in there after all. “I’m Captain DeHavilland, I’m the commander of this vessel,” she smiled, offering her hand.
Tor’peo looked down at the hand and then back at DeHavilland without taking it. In cases where one didn’t know what to do, he always bowed his head. And so he did. “Captain. A great honor. I am Tor’peo and this,” he turned his bow toward his companion, “Is Uanika of the Irix School, the Great School, Voice of the Korinn.”
“Nice to meet you,” Corvus replied, not really sure how she followed that introduction.
“We are humbled that you have allowed us to join you,” Uanika too bowed.
Corvus smiled, “It’s Starfleet’s mission to seek out new life and new civilizations, like yours. It’s part of who we are. I’m glad you’re here, and that you were able to get here safely,” she explained. “I would like to know more about you, and about how the Pyrryx came to your world. It’s going to be important to know all of these details so that I can pass the information along to my superiors so Starfleet and the Federation can determine how best they can help you and your people,” Corvus outlined as diplomatically as she could; which wasn’t really her strongest suit.
As she finished, before she could continue on, her own commbadge chirped. ”Edgerton to DeHavilland,” a man’s voice called out.
Uanika glanced toward T’orpeo who’d taken up his position just a step behind her. Before the Pyrryx came to Korinn, they’d invented wave machines to send their voices across long stretches of ocean, but these voices from the air were entirely different. They’d have to overcome the problems of air density - not an easy thing to master!
DeHavilland tapped the badge on her chest, “Go ahead, Chief,” she replied.
”It’s ready, Captain,” he declared simply.
“We’re on our way,” she replied, tapping it one last time.
“May I ask, Captain? Where are we going?”
“I hope, somewhere more comfortable for you,” DeHavilland said, waving behind her for them to follow. She stepped out into the hall and as they joined her, led the way down the corridor towards the turbolift. It wasn’t a long ride (what was on a Nova-class?) but she could imagine it would be a bit confusing for them. “The Federation is made up of hundreds of member worlds,” Corvus explained as they walked towards the lift. “But not all of the member species are terran, like myself and probably most of the crew you’ve seen. Some species, like the Benzite’s, cannot breathe the oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere around us easily and wear a breathing apparatus.”
Corvus had pressed the lift button as she spoke and the doors opened, she gestured in and then followed them in. “Deck Four,” she called out to the computer. The doors closed and the lift began to move.
“There is another Federation member species called the Selkie. At a certain point in their life they are unable to breathe oxygen through the air I do,” she explained for the short trip. “From this point on they have to wear hydration suits and breathing apparatus’ similar to yours. But that doesn’t stop them from living outside their homeworld, or from serving as officers and crew here in Starfleet,” she smiled, now gesturing to the open door out into the corridor.
“We were told that there were many…” she paused, letting her tongue explore a new word before she tried it, “...‘species’ in your school. We were not aware that there were others who do not live on the land.”
“There are a few,” Corvus tried to smile patiently. This really wasn’t her forte but she as trying to put herself in their shoes and offer what she thought she would want to know. “There are also many species who are from worlds hotter, or colder than Earth. What you see around you, the air temperature, gravity norm. Those are all Earth standards as the Federation is headquartered on Earth - my homeworld,” she explained.
“But there are members of Starfleet from arctic worlds, that is worlds that are all ice and snow, and so they are provided crew quarters which suit their preference,” she explained. “We can make them as cold, or as hot as they desire, to make them feel at home,” she said, leading them now to a wide doorway that read: HOLODECK ONE.
A tall, stocky, red-haired man in science blues stood just in front of the door, working the computer panel and turned to them as they approached. He smiled slightly, an expression that didn’t seem to suit his features quite right.
“This is Chief Petty Officer Edgerton,” Corvus introduced him. “Chief, this is Uanika and Tor’peo,” she said, gesturing to the two Korin.
“Greetings,” Chief Edgerton nodded, now turning to DeHavilland. “Everything is prepared according to our last scans, separating out the pollutants.”
“Thank you, Chief,” she smiled back.
“I’ll stay out here and monitor the program. Make sure that it’s all functioning,” he said, stepping back so that DeHavilland et all could enter.
“Please, follow me,” DeHavilland said, now turning into the holodeck.
The doors into Holodeck One swished open to reveal a small square of open deck beyond which was a three-sided square of water being held back by a forcefield. In the distance of the holodeck, within the crystal blue waters, were features familiar to the Korinn homeworld dutifully recreated by Chief Edgerton. Corvus couldn’t help but smile at it. He had clearly put the time and effort into making sure this was done right.
Corvus put her hand to one of the walls and her hand went right through it into the cool waters beyond and then withdrew it, showing her wet hand. “Please,” she said, “I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in the water. We can speak from there.”
Both Uanika and T’orpeo mouths fell agape and eyes widened in shock. Neither said anything unsure of this new development. The replicator was one thing, Uanika thought, but this was entirely another. A whole world behind a door, one that looked exactly like Korix.
“I…this…” Uanika moved forward slowly, timidly putting her hand toward the water. There was a slight tug as it passed through the forcefield, but then the cool, refreshing feeling of liquid washed over her hand. “I don’t…I…T’orpeo?”
“I… don’t understand,” T’orpeo barely had more to say. “How is it that you have an entire planet on a starship? Did you…did you…” he searched for the word he’d heard one of the crew say, but couldn’t remember it. “We’ve theorized about other dimensions. Did you materialize us in another dimension?”
Corvus laughed brightly, but shook her head. “This is a holodeck,” she said, gesturing around what looked like an ocean but she knew to be a much smaller space. “It uses complex holograms in conjunction with replicators to create a simulated environment. The water is real, and as exact a match as we can get it to Korinn waters. The rest is simulated,” she explained, “In reality, the room isn’t that large, but the hologram’s give you the impression that it is. Please, step inside, remove your respirators. Be at ease,” she said, waving into the water.
Holograms. Uanika didn’t understand the word, but the Captain made it sound harmless. She reached out her hand again, felt the water and slowly walked forward into it. As the water surrounded her and buoyed her aching body, she felt immediate relief. Even her silvery chains began to float and make their tell-tale halos that announced her position. She removed her respirator and waved her hands in pleasure.
T’orpeo joined her a few seconds later and they both luxuriated in the water, before she looked back at Corvus. Not knowing what else to say, she opted for the traditional Korinn response when welcomed into the village of another school, “We thank you for sharing your waters, Captain. As all waters flow into each other, we shall treat them as our own.”
DeHavilland gave an affirming nod, watching them in the water, able to see the change in their demeanours. “As I said, I wanted to speak with you about your world. To learn more about it and how the Pyrryx came to be there. Starfleet will be very interested in learning this, and speaking with you, but I think it’ll be beneficial to everyone if I can give them as much information as I can before you arrive. So that the focus can hopefully be less on ‘what’ happened and more about ‘how’ we can help,” she explained, gesturing at the water. “I hoped this would be a friendlier setting for that conversation.”
Uanika solemnly waved her hands in agreement. She’d been practiced many hours telling this story, making sure that every syllable beat to tell her story, “They came to our planet forty years ago…”
