USS Ark Angel
Side-Sim Letters Across Space
Posted by Nicole Cline in Side-Sim Letters Across Space
Posted by Lieutenant V’alura Belmont (Chief Science Officer) in Side-Sim Letters Across Space
Posted by Nicole Cline in Side-Sim Letters Across Space
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Three days later another letter came in:V’alura:
I’ve spent some time considering your request and I have decided the logical thing to do is to offer my DNA for your cause. Just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll have it done as soon as I can. I hope that helps with your dilemma.
Sincerely,
[His signature is here]
Solal~ Lt JG Solal, USS Ogawa
V’alura could cry. She really could. Instead, she pulled herself together long enough to compose her next message to Solal.
Solal,
Since you’re a doctor you can take your own DNA samples. The researcher asked for a variety in DNA samples and for several skin cell samples for other tests. You may send the samples directly to him, he’s actually closer to your neck of the woods than mine. And thank you for agreeing to this. It really means a lot to me. Who knows, maybe he’ll make a breakthrough and I can finally put a close to that part of my life. At the very least maybe the research will spare others the same suffering I endured.
Now here’s where I brush that bit of seriousness aside for the far preferable and enjoyable banter we normally exchange. [This part is in French] Firstly, I have taken your comments about my French personally and I shall continue to hone my French until I can put a native speaker to shame. Secondly, I will give you that tutorial but not in French because I would like for you to actually understand everything. Oh and thirdly, the Paris simulation is under way and making good progress.[End of French]
[V’alura attached a video that begins with her in the holodeck. She’s wearing her comfortable lounge clothes and her hair is pulled back into a fluffy top bun. She has her guitar beside her on the ground. She calls up a basic concert hall simulation and goes through the different sound functions and command prompts. Periodically she would stop to play a few chords on the guitar to demonstrate the change in sound. All in all the tutorial was about half an hour. And at the end V’alura spoke directly to the camera] “And that’s the basics! I hope this helped and if you’re ever stuck again just let me know and I’ll walk you through it.” [She pauses, before smiling bright and full of warmth] “Take care and good night” [And the video cuts off there]
V’alura Belmont
[V’alura’s electronic signature here]Lt. Jg. Belmont, CSO
Solal’s response came in the next night.
V’alura:
The samples have been mailed off. I hope you get the results you’re looking for quickly. [He then switches to French] I wish you good luck with that endeavor, especially if the only French city you’ve seen is Paris. Thank you for the video, your instructions were quite informative. I believe I have it working now, though if I need more help in the future I will ask. I hope I’ll have time to use the new program soon.
Thanks,
[his electronic signature is here]
Solal~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor USS Ogawa
[One Month and several letters later. . . ]
V’alura smiled. Lady No Mercy was out of her burrow and on full display. For the past few weeks her lovely lady hid herself away, lingering deep in her burrow and hidden from sight. She didn’t even eat, rejecting every meal V’alura dropped within. It was wonderful and pleasing to see her lady again. V’alura poured herself a glass of wine and curled up in her chair with her legs tucked beneath her as she slogged through the day’s messages. Solal’s latest message was there, and she marked that one for later. Then it was reports, inter-department correspondence, her messages with Starfleet about updates to holodeck programming and. . .Oh. A message from Dr. Akron. V’alura had nearly forgotten about his request for half-vulcan DNA samples. Thinking about it, she didn’t expect to get any kind of message from him so soon.
Curious, V’alura took a sip of wine to steel herself before opening the message. Strangely, the doctor gushed for several minutes about the samples of all things. Then he goes on to thank her for, now that couldn’t be right. V’alura read the line then re-read it again. At first she didn’t believe it. How could she? V’alura read through the rest of the message at a rapid pace. It couldn’t be. There! At the end of the message the doctor had included a brief report of his findings and. . . Oh my god.
V’alura set her wine glass down, then left her room to pace around the science labs until she could think straight again. Many people attempted to talk with her but she breezed past each one without a glance their way. Lost to the haze of what felt like forbidden knowledge. Shocking knowledge! Finally, after what felt like hours she entered her room and immediately sat down at her desk to write.
Solal,
I received a message from Dr. Akron today. The doctor researching my condition, the one we sent DNA samples too? He thanked me for the excellent samples, and that he didn’t expect to receive samples from my half-brother. Our shared DNA has proved to be invaluable to his research and experiments. Solal, we share a father.
V’alura
V’alura stared at her console screen for several minutes. She wanted to say so much more. Had a hundred questions she wanted to ask. Hell, she wanted to write to Dr. Akron that moment and explain everything he’s found about their DNA. A brother. V’alura had a half-brother. From from the same Vulcan man that broke her mother’s heart. V’alura sucked in a harsh breath. If a man like that could leave one poor woman alone and broken hearted then why not two? Why not three? What if she had more half-siblings? What if Solal was the only one. A brother. V’alura sent the message. She felt guilty that she didn’t write more but she’s yet to process any of this herself.
She stood up and walked to the wall that housed her pets enclosures. The moment she sensed movement near-by Lady No Mercy snapped into her threat posture. V’alura laughed, helpless and shocked, “Me too, my lovely, me too.”
V’alura Belmont, CSO
Solal’s anwer showed up a few short hours later.
V’alura,
This news is unexpected to say the least. I’ve written before about my family, that I didn’t know anything about my biological parents and that I didn’t *want to know. My feelings are unchanged. If Doctor Akron gave you any other information about it, I don’t want to know. I need… time with this. I will in the meantime, continue to respond to your letters.
Solal
~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor, USS Ogawa
Was there a record for the universe’ longest wallowing session? V’alura didn’t think she was anywhere near such a record if it did exist but the fact that she was even thinking about it to begin with should be some kind of sign. No, that record (if official) would not doubt go to some strange alien species who can contemplate their mistakes for hundreds of years. Going on and on without food or water due to some strange and fabulous quirk of biology. She cannot wallow for so long. Even now V’alura knew that the time of action was upon her. The time to set aside self-pity and regret and to finally stand up and walk forward.
V’alura devoted all of her free time to her new holodeck program. She poured her heart into every line of code, expressed her deepest feelings through every sub-routine, and packaged it together with her most fervent hopes. This program will be her atonement, and her humble request of forgiveness. May Solal find it within himself to forgive her selfishness.
There were a few hiccups along the way. Mostly from V’alura herself who often became dizzy after staring at her code for hours. No doubt a side effect of all the stress and anxiety. She’s never worked so hard on a program before. V’alura powered through the dizziness and the general feelings of weakness. After it’s all said and done she’ll go see the doctor. This program must be finished.
It was almost three weeks since she received her last letter from Solal. She hoped he was well. That he was dealing with this better than she was and that he was happy again. A brother. V’alura had always wanted a younger sibling. Someone she could love and protect and share in their joys and burdens. Never in her life did she think it would ever happen. Not like this. ‘I’ll make this right’, she told herself over and over again. Not for my sake but for his. ‘I’ll make this right’.
V’alura sent off her program with a simple message:
Dear Solal,
The Paris program, as promised.
[Attached is a holodeck program titled: Paris]
V’alura
Lt JG V’alura Belmont, CSO
A response arrived a few days later.
V’alura,
The program is fantastic. I could actually be in Paris, and inside the concert hall the sound is perfect. It must have taken you forever. Thank you. I have been well. I hope you have, too. Hope to hear from you soon.
Solal
~Lt JG Solal, Doctor, USS Ogawa
When V’alura got the response she smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. Solal loved the program. Seeing his letter made every second working on it all the better. And she was happy that she was able to bring home to him no matter how far or deep into space he ventured. Perhaps V’alura will return to the program to further fine-tune and enhance it. She could add in festivals and holidays, or she could adjust it so no time of day was the same. There were so many possibilities and perhaps it was best to cut herself off there before she threw herself into another intense coding session.
Solal,
I am really happy that you are enjoying it. I hope the program allows you a slice of home no matter where you go. And don’t worry, it didn’t take me forever. Though, intense coding sessions often do feel like forever and half. Especially when one loses all sense of time. I couldn’t tell you how many times my scientists dropped in to bring me food. Some even chided me for working so hard! I’m so proud of them.
I hope you’re feeling well. I’ve been feeling gross and tired for almost a week straight now. And before you start typing, yes, I will go see a doctor. I have my appointment scheduled and everything. Really I think it’s just because I’ve been working to hard. Which makes me perfectly validated in telling you to stay rested and take breaks from work! A little R&R never hurt anybody.
V’alura
Lt JG V’alura Belmont, CSO
The reply came the next day.
V’alura,
Thank you again. I didn’t grow up in Paris but it does bring me back to France. Attached are recordings of my performances. I hope you feel better. I suppose I should tell you a little more about what I do. Reading back, I haven’t been the most talkative. The Ogawa is a medical ship, like a giant space hospital. I work in the secondary sickbay, under the Assistant Chief Medical Officer. I’m an immunologist, so I consult on any cases that have to do with that, but I also do day to day appointments and emergency care.
The ACMO has a therapy dog, Frigga. The dog is supposed to make patients more comfortable. I… don’t see the point, but people like her. I’ve never had a pet. Sometimes she stops and tries to get attention from me… especially after the DNA results came in. I have no idea why. I never understood keeping pets.
[At the end of the letter, records were attached, of Solal in the concert hall V’alura had programmed for him, his violin joining her piano playing for several classical songs, as well as classical renditions of 21st century hits.]
Solal
~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor, USS Ogawa
Solal,
Wow! I loved watching your performances! Though it was a little strange to see myself in them too but it was a good strange! A happy strange. Is there a word for that? (Okay, I went and tried to find it and apparently there’s a word for it in the andorian language. They call it kith and it means “the exciting feeling of experiencing something new and unusual” which I think fits, don’t you?) I hope my hologram self is performing to your standards. I did make her better than my actual skill level (not that I’m terrible, and she’s only a little better than me, you know)
Dogs are fantastic! They’re so happy to see you and when they look up at you with their big eyes and their tail wagging you can’t help but smile back and feel great. I think I told you I had a dog as a kid. She was a lovely boarder collie named Annabelle. I taught her to catch frisbees and she was wonderful around horses. Try petting Frigga and telling her she is a good girl. Dogs are so simple but full of love. That’s the appeal. Humans can be complex, but not dogs. They’re simple and cuddly. Perhaps you should try owning a pet? You seem like the cat type to me. Personally I love my tarantulas. Very low maintenance and I love to watch them lounge in their enclosures.
And if that is just far too much for you, then talk to someone with a pet. Treat it like they’re a patient and you’re observing them. Perhaps it will be an enlightening experience?
V’alura
Lt JG V’alura Belmont, CSO
V’alura,
It would be preferable to having the hologram have your actual skill level. However, I am happy with the program as-is. It performs exceptionally, and the city is recreated with beautiful detail. Playing ‘with’ you was a positive experience. I can hope we will get the chance to play in person some day.
I will ask Lieutenant Bonner about the dog and pets in general. She is by far the most logical human I have ever met. I’m sure she can answer my questions to my satisfaction. She is Frigga’s handler. I recall you wrote you were not feeling well. I hope your visit with medical went well, and that you are feeling better.
Solal
~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor, USS Ogawa
[Several weeks and messages later]
V’alura hummed as she shifted through her ever growing list of communiques in need of reply. There was a certain. . . horror to it. To scroll through pages upon pages of unanswered emails and messages. Each requiring a piece of time and energy that she could not give. She felt her breath quicken at the thought of just how much effort it would take to tackle this list and return her inbox to some measure or normalcy. Her breathes came in short pants, before finally ending in a throat-scrapping wheeze that punched all the air from her lungs. V’alura’s hand shot out, quickly grasping the bronchodilator she kept on hand.
One puff. One breath. Two and two. Three and V’alura let out a long and stuttering breath. Oh for goodness sake.
V’alura scanned her list for the one reply she came here to write. After several seconds of searching she found his name and with a shaky smile began to write.
Solal,
Do you ever find yourself yearning to feel the change of the seasons? I’ve found myself in a Fall mood as of late. I’m feeling nostalgic over wearing oversized sweaters, wide-brimmed hats and black boots. For sipping pumpkin spice lattes and taking trips to farms in the countryside to pick apples and pumpkins. I’m craving mulled cider and mulled wines shared with friends at parties. I love all seasons but only Fall could make me feel so cozy and warm despite the increasingly colder weather of the season. Were you ever one to celebrate seasonal activities? I’m sure you could guess that I did them all.
I love space but it’s all the same day in and day out. Oh sure one could find nebulae and other interesting sights but those are more like holidays that brighten an otherwise dreary month. When blackness and cold is your only consistency across time those moments of discovery feel all the brighter. And yet here I am, yearning for the comforting change of the seasons and the familiar traditions and activities that mark their arrival.
Oh! By the way I found some more puzzles for you to try. These should have you scratching your head in confusion for days to come. [Yes I know you won’t actually do that, it’s just an expression.] Life is the same as ever on the Ark Angel. We have a new mission and there’s always more research to do. How are things on the Ogawa?
V’alura
Lt V’alura Belmont, CSO