USS Viking
Another New Ship
Posted by Lieutenant Markus Woods (Chief Science Officer) in Another New Ship
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Medical) in Another New Ship
Posted by Lieutenant Markus Woods (Chief Science Officer) in Another New Ship
(snip)
‘I think I got it. Let’s go.’ Confidence and even a bit of excitement rolled off of him there at the last. A smile pulled across his face as he sat, eyes closed still.
Markus
Sharah waited, quietly and still. For all the noise she heard, for the chaos she lived in, she was calm, at least for now. She could feel his excitement and it was a bit contagious and a heady feeling. And she hesitated because she didn’t want to hurt him. Being pulled into her version of reality was not pleasant and something that even the strongest of telepaths on her world shied away from.
She felt him lean into the contact and she was suddenly not alone in the chaos. She opened her physical eyes to look at him, surprised to find him still in the chair across from her. Then it was more than simply her presence being everywhere, Sharah’s mental touch became firmer and she was holding on tightly to him.
And they dropped. Like a massive roller coaster. Sharah often described her perceptions like a massive, never ending, storm tossed sea. And they plunged down into the chaos of it. Sharah couldn’t stop herself from being battered by the deeper under currants of the sea, and for her it intensified, but she was used to it, even if it was frightening and painful. Surrounding him, she attempted to take the brunt of it. It was her reality after all. Then the thoughts disappeared and it was purely emotion battering at them, then the myriad of emotional currents lessened but what was left was stronger. These were primal, instinctual emotions. It seemed to never end.
Mark felt her connection strengthen, tighten, latching on. As strong as he was, she was like a river. But he didn’t feel threatened… until the drop. And they were falling, tumbling end over end on all axes. There was no way to tell up from down as they plummeted. crashing into that ocean, a plume of water jetting a kilometer high, as they were lost to the depths. Gritting his teeth, he held on tight, and just as he might have blacked out, the world went silent. Still, but filled with pressure. But now, it was like… riding a stream of emotional energy. Something completely different and new, like a tiny ship floating above the rings of Saturn. Each current, strand and waved thrummed through him, a deep, resonant note felt more than heard, but coming from the outside. For a few moments he simply… basked in it. Absorbing the experience and sensation.
Sharah conveyed reassurance to him, but his presence seemed to soothe her instead, to make the journey not so frightening. And then it was like coming up for air in an under water cave. It was quiet and dark, but the waters were still. In the room, Sharah laid a hand on the small trunk of the Bonsai tree and her other found his. In the image of the cave they wandered in the cool darkness. There was emotion, primal and instinctual but in harmony, and then out of it all was one single source and music.
Sharah
Coming up for air. That was a good description. He was aware of the undercurrent of all things, but in this space - created by her, or by him he was not sure, or perhaps together instinctively - none of it interfered. Opening his physical eyes, he saw her reach out to touch the tree, and at the same time a replica of it appeared in his mind’s eye in the cave with them, made of golden and green light, as it gave off a tone mingled with music, the texture of it’s emotions. Pleasant, pleased, happy. Growing without effort or care, though it seemed a little low on energy. A little tired. It wasn’t something he heard in words but felt. It needed more light. But overall, it was quite well.
Markus smiled as he scooted a little closer to Sharah. Happiness radiated off of him, pleased that it was indeed alright, happy… if it could be called that. At the same time he simply took in the music it gave off, shifting tones mixing with the steady drones of the ship and crew.
Without thought, one arm drifted out slipping around Sharah, hand resting along her side. ‘This is incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like this.’ The message came more as feeling and concept, awe, admiration, joy, interest, enthusiasm, and more came through
Mark
Sharah waited to know, for him to confirm, he heard it. It was like she was holding her breath, as she waited to find out if he believed her. Could he hear the music, or was it only wishful thinking on her part, that she had managed to bring him with her? Was he able to hear the music? Then she felt his arm go around her, and everything outside the cave seemed to quiet. It wasn’t gone but for a moment it wasn’t trying to get inside, to find her. At his felt message, he could feel Sharah feel over joyed, quietly but strong, he could hear it, she wasn’t alone in experiencing this treasure anymore. ‘there’s more.‘
Sharah let go of the trunk of the tree. The song was still there but like a soloist retaking his seat the sound faded. Sharah’a hand rested on his that was around her and then he could feel her empathy reaching, not too far, tugging at him to reach a bit with her. Then the cave seemed to light up with hundreds of green and gold lights, and a rainbow of colors.
Dimly feeling her hand rest over his, he smiled, a tiny thrill running through him for a moment, there and gone as quick as a lightning bug’s flash. As she reached he stretched, but mindfully, and then… he saw. He heard.
A symphony. Each light had its own song but they blended and weaved and wrapped and soared around each other in harmony, creating a complex and beautiful symphony. Off to the side there was a dim section, the music sad with a tinge of hopefulness. ‘this is the arboretum…’ The dim area was where they had worked all afternoon to save the plants. Sharah stayed listening for a long time, or it seemed so. ‘This is what I hear.‘
The mixture of light and sound forming it’s own display, followed by the dimmer spot of the arboretum came into focus. In some ways he wondered if he wasn’t experiencing some sort of synesthesia. Or just his mind trying to cope with the sheer flood of information. But the solution presented was beautiful and elegant. Especially with Sharah so close and able to share it. ‘This is incredible. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.’ Wonder and awe slipped into his tone, as well as appreciation.
Sharah wanted to find Hope, let him hear her song, but found she was suddenly exhausted from the effort. Returning was easier, like taking a deep breath and floating back to the top, but quickly. She released her grip allowing him to move away before the ocean slammed into her, reminding her of it’s relentless and painful presence. On the floor of his quarters, Sharah was curled against his side, head ducked. Struggling but failing to not tug her hair as the noise returned full force, tumbling her end over end until she could try to float above it.
Sharah
He could feel her beginning to tire, and in some ways he felt bone-weary as well. And completely famished. She let go mentally, and he felt her mind pulling back, preparing for the plunge to return to the surface. But this time she wouldn’t take him with her. The symphony faded, and instead of making that same journey, he was almost back to himself. She had farther to go. Mentally he turned back toward her, reaching out and establishing a connection once more, a bridge, a hand up, an anchor, a light at the end of the tunnel, a rope to pull herself up through the depths… a lifeline. Not even sure how he was doing it, operating on instinct, but he’d been with her long enough now to … feel his way through it. ‘I’m here. I got ya.’
Markus
But Sharah didn’t take it. It was there, it wasn’t hard to reach, in fact that lifeline was practically touching her. [It could just as easily drag him down and plunge him into the chaos. Some one had tried to help her once, and they had ended up in sickbay, hurt.] The storm tossed her about. It was just a matter of finding rhythm of the waves again and then surfing a long. ‘I’m used to it…’
But the connection was insistant and firm. Her grip this time was not as firm, exhaustion and fear - ready to let go if it was going to hurt him. Carefully, but at a much faster pace than she would have moved on her own, and despite the storm, Sharah was lifted above it.
Sharah blinked the mental images away and was surprised to find herself curled, with his arm around her, holding his hand, sitting on the floor together. The smell of the food was stronger in the room…the experience had lasted longer than it seemed. It was either almost or just past done. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t move either, and there was a clear feeling of warmth, acceptance or acknowledgement, and gracefulness for many things.
Sharah