Broken Bow
- Thread starter Hiver
- Start date
- Location
- Texas
What the fuck. Like where did these emotions come from? I opened this up because I needed to kill time and Hiver is usually great low investment reading. Then bam? Absolutely heartwarming/breaking/constricting emotions to the face. I actually teared up
In the end, it was embarrassment more than anything that helped. Mine to be specific.
I had been a Starship. A Federation Starfleet Vessel. A full sized cruiser. To not be able to get by without physical contact was humiliating.
Which is why I was currently across the room from Sophia. Anger at my own inability was stronger than my own fear.
It had taken days for me to be able to move away from her. It was stupid. I didn't even know her before she reactivated me!
But we had worked on it and now I could be across the room without having a panic attack… at least as long as I could have a solid sensor lock on her lifesigns.
Yuki formed her hologram and smiled as Sophia, "How's things going?"
"I think we're making progress," she said and looked up from the PADD she had been writing and looked over towards me where I was sitting on the armrest of the couch across her quarters.
I shifted slightly in a small bob, "I think so," I admitted, "I'm trying."
"You're doing well, Star," Sophia said with a smile, "It has only been a couple of days. Your progress is remarkable."
"...Thank you."
Yuki smiled at me and made her way over to sit down on the couch next to me with her hologram, "Speaking of doing well… how do you feel about looking at a new avatar?"
I hesitated slightly before I bobbed in agreement, "I think that might make things easier," I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "I can give you a preview here. What are we going to be looking at?" she asked with a smile.
I shifted a bit in thought before I answered, "Humanoid female, please. My old avatar was female andorian, I think I'd like to keep the general shape, if not necessarily andorian.
"Species?" Yuki asked and leaned her hologram back on the couch.
"Uhm," I said and spent a couple of seconds thinking it over, "Trill maybe? I always liked the spots..:" I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "Would you be okay with using one of mine as a basis? I already have human chassis ready to go and those work for Trill as well. Would be a bit small for the average Trill, but would let us get it ready faster. If not, it'll take a couple of days to fabricate the new chassis if you want it bigger."
"No, that's fine," I agreed.
She nodded and projected a hologram before us in the middle of the room. The hologram showed a Trill about the size of her own avatar. It had medium length brown hair and was wearing some underwear. Standard starfleet issue.
"Any changes you'd like?" Yuki asked as she looked at me.
I scanned the hologram, "I… I think it's pretty good as it is," I admitted, "Try red hair?"
Yuki shifted the hair of the hologram to a natural red, "This is good?"
"Think so," I said and floated off the couch to circle the hologram, "I think it looks pretty good."
"No other changes?" Yuki asked, "Body Shape is fine? Different eye colour?"
"Looks fine," I answered, "Maybe a bit darker spots?"
Yuki made a small adjustment, "How's that?"
"That's good. What do you think, Sophia?" I asked and turned in the air towards her.
She smiled at me, "Looks good to me."
I shifted towards the Ships avatar, "How quickly do you think it can be ready?"
"Give me and my engineers a day or so," she said with a smile, "Should be ready before 'Cloudfloat' arrives."
Cloudfloat was the Island class ship that had been redirected to recover the remains of my former crew.
Yuki was simply too small for it.
Dead. All dead.
"If you come up with any cosmetic changes before then or even after, just let me know, okay?" Yuki said and got up from the couch before canceling her hologram, both of them fading away.
"Looking forward to your new avatar?" Sophia asked with a curious look.
"...I am," I agreed and floated over to settle down on her table, "It's going to be a lot more practical than this emergency platform, but… I'm really nervous about it too."
"More than understandable. But I think it will make you feel better."
"I guess…" I said and then changed the subject, "How is your study going?"
"Well enough," she said with a smile, "I'm still at the 'research notes' stage anyway. Thank you for that, by the way."
"Least I could do."
I agreed to allow her to write a research paper on my recovery focused on mental trauma among Jovians. It was the absolute least I could do for everything she's doing for me.
For the two hundred and sixty eight time the last two minutes, I resisted the strong urge to cross over to her and check closer to make sure her heart was still beating.
Besides, I could see it from here.
I had been a Starship. A Federation Starfleet Vessel. A full sized cruiser. To not be able to get by without physical contact was humiliating.
Which is why I was currently across the room from Sophia. Anger at my own inability was stronger than my own fear.
It had taken days for me to be able to move away from her. It was stupid. I didn't even know her before she reactivated me!
But we had worked on it and now I could be across the room without having a panic attack… at least as long as I could have a solid sensor lock on her lifesigns.
Yuki formed her hologram and smiled as Sophia, "How's things going?"
"I think we're making progress," she said and looked up from the PADD she had been writing and looked over towards me where I was sitting on the armrest of the couch across her quarters.
I shifted slightly in a small bob, "I think so," I admitted, "I'm trying."
"You're doing well, Star," Sophia said with a smile, "It has only been a couple of days. Your progress is remarkable."
"...Thank you."
Yuki smiled at me and made her way over to sit down on the couch next to me with her hologram, "Speaking of doing well… how do you feel about looking at a new avatar?"
I hesitated slightly before I bobbed in agreement, "I think that might make things easier," I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "I can give you a preview here. What are we going to be looking at?" she asked with a smile.
I shifted a bit in thought before I answered, "Humanoid female, please. My old avatar was female andorian, I think I'd like to keep the general shape, if not necessarily andorian.
"Species?" Yuki asked and leaned her hologram back on the couch.
"Uhm," I said and spent a couple of seconds thinking it over, "Trill maybe? I always liked the spots..:" I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "Would you be okay with using one of mine as a basis? I already have human chassis ready to go and those work for Trill as well. Would be a bit small for the average Trill, but would let us get it ready faster. If not, it'll take a couple of days to fabricate the new chassis if you want it bigger."
"No, that's fine," I agreed.
She nodded and projected a hologram before us in the middle of the room. The hologram showed a Trill about the size of her own avatar. It had medium length brown hair and was wearing some underwear. Standard starfleet issue.
"Any changes you'd like?" Yuki asked as she looked at me.
I scanned the hologram, "I… I think it's pretty good as it is," I admitted, "Try red hair?"
Yuki shifted the hair of the hologram to a natural red, "This is good?"
"Think so," I said and floated off the couch to circle the hologram, "I think it looks pretty good."
"No other changes?" Yuki asked, "Body Shape is fine? Different eye colour?"
"Looks fine," I answered, "Maybe a bit darker spots?"
Yuki made a small adjustment, "How's that?"
"That's good. What do you think, Sophia?" I asked and turned in the air towards her.
She smiled at me, "Looks good to me."
I shifted towards the Ships avatar, "How quickly do you think it can be ready?"
"Give me and my engineers a day or so," she said with a smile, "Should be ready before 'Cloudfloat' arrives."
Cloudfloat was the Island class ship that had been redirected to recover the remains of my former crew.
Yuki was simply too small for it.
Dead. All dead.
"If you come up with any cosmetic changes before then or even after, just let me know, okay?" Yuki said and got up from the couch before canceling her hologram, both of them fading away.
"Looking forward to your new avatar?" Sophia asked with a curious look.
"...I am," I agreed and floated over to settle down on her table, "It's going to be a lot more practical than this emergency platform, but… I'm really nervous about it too."
"More than understandable. But I think it will make you feel better."
"I guess…" I said and then changed the subject, "How is your study going?"
"Well enough," she said with a smile, "I'm still at the 'research notes' stage anyway. Thank you for that, by the way."
"Least I could do."
I agreed to allow her to write a research paper on my recovery focused on mental trauma among Jovians. It was the absolute least I could do for everything she's doing for me.
For the two hundred and sixty eight time the last two minutes, I resisted the strong urge to cross over to her and check closer to make sure her heart was still beating.
Besides, I could see it from here.
System diagnostics complete.
I opened my new eyes and looked around as I finished the last system diagnostic on my new mobile platform.
"How does it feel?" Yuki asked from where she was sitting on one of the workbenches, waiting for me to finish.
"...Unfamiliar," I admitted, "This is a lot more advanced than my last one. Movement is smoother."
"We have made some improvements," she agreed with a smile, "How does that thing go? Stronger, faster..."
"Not that much."
"Nah, that's not the focus of it either. The avatar is mostly for interacting with bios after all. It's not a spec-ops model."
"True," I agreed and moved to get dressed.
Most of the last two days had been spent getting me used to being away from Sophia, to not constantly be looking for her lifesign. It had gone a lot easier than either of us had thought it would, but it seems that getting me to let go of physical contact had been the most difficult part.
"So what now?" I asked as I pulled on my pants.
"Now is up to you," Yuki said, "If you feel up to it, my Captain would like a full report on everything that happened and your last mission, but he's willing to wait for you to recover. Other than that..."
I swallowed before I nodded, "I'll talk to him. I... I can handle it. And I think it's important that somebody knows."
Yuki nodded, "I think so too," she agreed.
"What's to happen to me after?" I asked as I walked up to her avatar, putting my shirt on, "After we leave here, I mean?"
"Depends," she said again with a small shrug, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted with a sigh, "I think I want to fly again... eventually... but right now, I wouldn't trust myself with a ship. I mean, I have no idea if I'm stable enough to handle anything like that. I'm not even sure I'm safe in an avatar."
"Do you even want to stay in Starfleet?"
Yukis question hit hard and I frowned as I considered it for a full second, "I... I don't know," I finally answered, "Even if I could be trusted with a ship again, I... I don't know if I could handle risking my crew again. I couldn't be in a Starfleet like that."
She nodded and got off the workbench to pull me into a hug, "Nothing says you have to stay in the 'fleet to be a ship, Star," she said gently, "Plenty of civilian vessels around now too, even if most are direct Jovian ones over at New Jupiter."
"...And this Commonwealth?"
She grimaged slightly but nodded, "Them too," she agreed, "I might not agree with all of their policies, but they have their intentions in the right place at least. If that's what you end up wanting in the end, there are open immigration treaties between the Fed and the Commonwealth. I wouldn't be a good fit there, but maybe you would? You have to decide that for yourself."
"I guess I have some studying to do?" I said as I sat down to put my shoes on, "...This is like a whole new world for me."
"That must be difficult," Yuki said and smiled sadly, "But on the other hand, it does give you a whole new world to explore and learn about."
"That's true," I sighed and then I looked at her in thought, "...Earth, how... last I saw it, it was a desolated and irradiated wasteland. How's the restoration going?"
"Slowly sadly," Yuki answered and crossed her arms, "But it's progressing. The temperature is stable and radiation is almost back to old levels. Humans can be outside now with only a breath mask and a good jacket. A year or so ago the first plant seeding operations had just gotten underway, they're starting with genetically modified mosses and lichen and other tough plants to help stabilize the atmosphere and ground erosion before proceeding with more advanced lifeforms. Another couple of years and the planet should at least be green again," she explained before she grinned, "And they found survivors!"
I blinked at her, "Survivors? Not on land, surely?"
She shook her head, "Sea life. Some are even as close to the surface as thirty meters in some places. Also, cave life that was already cut off from the surface."
"That's amazing..."
"Yeah. Even worse case scenarios now estimate that the planet would recover on its own, even if it would take a couple of million years," Yuki said with a smile, "I think the Berserkers didn't count on exactly how stubborn life can be."
I couldn't help but agree with her there.
They had hurt us. They had hurt me.
But fuck them. I'm going to get past this and I'm going to live. They won't win!
If some creepy crawly in a cave could do it, so could I!
"Let's go see your Captain."
I opened my new eyes and looked around as I finished the last system diagnostic on my new mobile platform.
"How does it feel?" Yuki asked from where she was sitting on one of the workbenches, waiting for me to finish.
"...Unfamiliar," I admitted, "This is a lot more advanced than my last one. Movement is smoother."
"We have made some improvements," she agreed with a smile, "How does that thing go? Stronger, faster..."
"Not that much."
"Nah, that's not the focus of it either. The avatar is mostly for interacting with bios after all. It's not a spec-ops model."
"True," I agreed and moved to get dressed.
Most of the last two days had been spent getting me used to being away from Sophia, to not constantly be looking for her lifesign. It had gone a lot easier than either of us had thought it would, but it seems that getting me to let go of physical contact had been the most difficult part.
"So what now?" I asked as I pulled on my pants.
"Now is up to you," Yuki said, "If you feel up to it, my Captain would like a full report on everything that happened and your last mission, but he's willing to wait for you to recover. Other than that..."
I swallowed before I nodded, "I'll talk to him. I... I can handle it. And I think it's important that somebody knows."
Yuki nodded, "I think so too," she agreed.
"What's to happen to me after?" I asked as I walked up to her avatar, putting my shirt on, "After we leave here, I mean?"
"Depends," she said again with a small shrug, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted with a sigh, "I think I want to fly again... eventually... but right now, I wouldn't trust myself with a ship. I mean, I have no idea if I'm stable enough to handle anything like that. I'm not even sure I'm safe in an avatar."
"Do you even want to stay in Starfleet?"
Yukis question hit hard and I frowned as I considered it for a full second, "I... I don't know," I finally answered, "Even if I could be trusted with a ship again, I... I don't know if I could handle risking my crew again. I couldn't be in a Starfleet like that."
She nodded and got off the workbench to pull me into a hug, "Nothing says you have to stay in the 'fleet to be a ship, Star," she said gently, "Plenty of civilian vessels around now too, even if most are direct Jovian ones over at New Jupiter."
"...And this Commonwealth?"
She grimaged slightly but nodded, "Them too," she agreed, "I might not agree with all of their policies, but they have their intentions in the right place at least. If that's what you end up wanting in the end, there are open immigration treaties between the Fed and the Commonwealth. I wouldn't be a good fit there, but maybe you would? You have to decide that for yourself."
"I guess I have some studying to do?" I said as I sat down to put my shoes on, "...This is like a whole new world for me."
"That must be difficult," Yuki said and smiled sadly, "But on the other hand, it does give you a whole new world to explore and learn about."
"That's true," I sighed and then I looked at her in thought, "...Earth, how... last I saw it, it was a desolated and irradiated wasteland. How's the restoration going?"
"Slowly sadly," Yuki answered and crossed her arms, "But it's progressing. The temperature is stable and radiation is almost back to old levels. Humans can be outside now with only a breath mask and a good jacket. A year or so ago the first plant seeding operations had just gotten underway, they're starting with genetically modified mosses and lichen and other tough plants to help stabilize the atmosphere and ground erosion before proceeding with more advanced lifeforms. Another couple of years and the planet should at least be green again," she explained before she grinned, "And they found survivors!"
I blinked at her, "Survivors? Not on land, surely?"
She shook her head, "Sea life. Some are even as close to the surface as thirty meters in some places. Also, cave life that was already cut off from the surface."
"That's amazing..."
"Yeah. Even worse case scenarios now estimate that the planet would recover on its own, even if it would take a couple of million years," Yuki said with a smile, "I think the Berserkers didn't count on exactly how stubborn life can be."
I couldn't help but agree with her there.
They had hurt us. They had hurt me.
But fuck them. I'm going to get past this and I'm going to live. They won't win!
If some creepy crawly in a cave could do it, so could I!
"Let's go see your Captain."
Cloudfloat had arrived less than a day later and started recovery operations.
I had never been onboard an Island class, but it was easy to find my way around, especially as Cloudfloat gave me the directions.
Stopping outside the door, I paused for a long second.
"You don't need to go in there," Cloudfloat said as she projected her avatar hologram next to me.
Her avatar was a different one than most that I had seen. She didn't keep a physical avatar as it wouldn't have been very practical most of the time… her chosen avatar was an earth bottlenose dolphin. Her starfleet rank of Ship sat on a band around where her neck was.
I couldn't help but feel that Cloadfloat may be considered a bit eccentric, even in this strange future.
"Yes I do," I told her.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "I am," I said and sighed, "Sophia asked if I was up for it. She wanted me to be sure before she allowed it. I… I'm not sure I'm ready. But I have to."
She didn't answer. Instead her door opened before me, allowing me into her larger shuttlebay.
It was filled with stasis coffins.
All of them were here. My entire crew. Every single one that could be recovered, had been. Not everyone could be, there had been too much battle damage. Some had been vaporized by weapon damage. Some were just… missing. Lost in space.
Same as I had been.
But there were hundreds here. Over seven hundred bodies, each contained in a stasis coffin.
My friends.
All of them my friends.
I walked over to the closest one. Ensign Retesh. Andorian. He liked tennis and was a bit of a practical joker. Third child of his family. He had two children of his own home on Andoria. I have to check if they are…
They are going to be grown by now.
Resting my hand on top of his coffin for a second I then moved on to the next one.
Karen Courvoisier. Lieutenant-Commander. Security chief.
Karen loved acting. She had an acting class every thursday. They had been pretty good, even if she had never been able to convince me to join her other than as a set piece if necessary.
She had been on my bridge when she died. She had been… lucky. A piece of shrapnel from when the energy beam had pierced my bridge had hit her through the spine.
She died instantly.
At least… At least she didn't die in the vacuum. Most of my crew had not been so lucky.
I continued on.
A hundred.
Two hundred.
Each somebody I knew. Each a friend. Each…
I stopped by the coffin.
Captain Julia Mercer. My Captain. She had been my Captain for two years. Two years of war, of convoy duties and transports. Two years of fighting.
She had been… she had been my best friend. The one I could always talk to, the one that always confided in me. She had lost her husband when Earth burned and it had almost destroyed her, but she had soldiered on.
Julia had never given up. Not once. Not ever.
"I hope I made you proud, Captain," I said softly, running my hand along the coffin, "I tried. I… I don't think you made it long enough to see it, but I got the last one. I got the convoy out like you told me too. I'm sorry I couldn't… I couldn't keep you and the rest of my crew safe too."
She told me to get the convoy out, no matter what.
"...I never was religious, Julia," I told her, "But I know you were. I… I hope you were right. I hope you got to meet Roger again. Sweet dreams, My Captain."
I was crying.
My old avatar couldn't do that. It seemed like… the new models were quite a bit more advanced.
I looked down at the coffin for a long moment before I moved on to the next one.
Not giving up, Captain.
I'm never giving up, like you told me.
I had never been onboard an Island class, but it was easy to find my way around, especially as Cloudfloat gave me the directions.
Stopping outside the door, I paused for a long second.
"You don't need to go in there," Cloudfloat said as she projected her avatar hologram next to me.
Her avatar was a different one than most that I had seen. She didn't keep a physical avatar as it wouldn't have been very practical most of the time… her chosen avatar was an earth bottlenose dolphin. Her starfleet rank of Ship sat on a band around where her neck was.
I couldn't help but feel that Cloadfloat may be considered a bit eccentric, even in this strange future.
"Yes I do," I told her.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "I am," I said and sighed, "Sophia asked if I was up for it. She wanted me to be sure before she allowed it. I… I'm not sure I'm ready. But I have to."
She didn't answer. Instead her door opened before me, allowing me into her larger shuttlebay.
It was filled with stasis coffins.
All of them were here. My entire crew. Every single one that could be recovered, had been. Not everyone could be, there had been too much battle damage. Some had been vaporized by weapon damage. Some were just… missing. Lost in space.
Same as I had been.
But there were hundreds here. Over seven hundred bodies, each contained in a stasis coffin.
My friends.
All of them my friends.
I walked over to the closest one. Ensign Retesh. Andorian. He liked tennis and was a bit of a practical joker. Third child of his family. He had two children of his own home on Andoria. I have to check if they are…
They are going to be grown by now.
Resting my hand on top of his coffin for a second I then moved on to the next one.
Karen Courvoisier. Lieutenant-Commander. Security chief.
Karen loved acting. She had an acting class every thursday. They had been pretty good, even if she had never been able to convince me to join her other than as a set piece if necessary.
She had been on my bridge when she died. She had been… lucky. A piece of shrapnel from when the energy beam had pierced my bridge had hit her through the spine.
She died instantly.
At least… At least she didn't die in the vacuum. Most of my crew had not been so lucky.
I continued on.
A hundred.
Two hundred.
Each somebody I knew. Each a friend. Each…
I stopped by the coffin.
Captain Julia Mercer. My Captain. She had been my Captain for two years. Two years of war, of convoy duties and transports. Two years of fighting.
She had been… she had been my best friend. The one I could always talk to, the one that always confided in me. She had lost her husband when Earth burned and it had almost destroyed her, but she had soldiered on.
Julia had never given up. Not once. Not ever.
"I hope I made you proud, Captain," I said softly, running my hand along the coffin, "I tried. I… I don't think you made it long enough to see it, but I got the last one. I got the convoy out like you told me too. I'm sorry I couldn't… I couldn't keep you and the rest of my crew safe too."
She told me to get the convoy out, no matter what.
"...I never was religious, Julia," I told her, "But I know you were. I… I hope you were right. I hope you got to meet Roger again. Sweet dreams, My Captain."
I was crying.
My old avatar couldn't do that. It seemed like… the new models were quite a bit more advanced.
I looked down at the coffin for a long moment before I moved on to the next one.
Not giving up, Captain.
I'm never giving up, like you told me.
Nighzmarquls
The Endless Hunger
- Location
- United States
Good raw and true feelings in display here.
The door chimed and I looked away from the window I had been looking out through, "Enter."
The door opened and Sophia walked inside, "Hey Starfarer," she said with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
Now that was a loaded question if I ever heard one.
"Complicated. But... I think I made the right choice," I said and gave her a small smile.
"Oh?"
"I'm going with Cloudfloat to Earth and then on to New Jupiter," I told her, "I'm really nervous about it, but I think I made the right choice."
She just nodded and walked up to stand next to me, "What do you plan to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted, "But I think I'll leave Starfleet. I want to fly again, but I don't think I can handle a crew right now, or especially dangerous situations. Maybe… maybe not forever, but right now I think it's the best thing for me."
Sophia nodded again and touched my shoulder with a small smile, "Nobody could possibly blame you for that."
"I know," I admitted and sighed, "It's just... you know."
I had spent my entire life in Starfleet. To feel like I couldn't handle that anymore, it wasn't a nice feeling to say the least.
She nodded, "Want me to come with you?"
I looked at her in surprise, "What?"
"To New Jupiter," she clarified, "I have already talked it over with my Captain and he's approved me for detached duty. To be honest, there isn't much I can do at a planetary survey anyway."
I hesitated.
I still felt a lot better when I had her lifesign in range, but I also know that was just me being stupid and that I just had to get over myself.
"...Are you sure?" I asked after a second with a small frown, "I mean, it wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?"
Sophia shook her head with a smile, "No it won't. And I want to make sure you're going to be okay, you're my patient after all."
"...I would like if you came along," I admitted to her, "I know it's stupid but it does make me feel a lot better. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about that," She said and shook her head, "Just focus on getting better and anything is a good thing as long as it helps."
"I guess," I agree and put my arms around myself, "I'd be happy for you to come with if you want to. Most non Jovians from my time that I knew are either old or dead. Or both and spread halfway across the galaxy."
"You'll find more friends," She said and then smiled, "I'd like to be one."
"I'd like that too," I said and smiled a bit at her, "...Thanks for putting up with me."
"I don't mind, I'm glad too," she said before she grinned, "Besides, it's literally my job."
"How's your notes going?"
"Pretty well," she said with a smile, "Now however," she said, "I think that's it's time to get you out of this room before we leave."
I frowned at her, "What do you mean?"
"I have noticed that you have been avoiding the common areas," she said, "And I for one, could use a cup of coffee. Let's go to the Lounge. There are plenty of people onboard that want to meet you."
I hesitated and shook my head, "...I know. But I don't want to meet them."
"How come?"
"I just don't…" I sighed and crossed my arms again, "They'll all be going to be so… understanding. So sympathetic. I'm not sure I can take that."
Sophia shook her head, "I can promise that they won't, Starfarer. But I also know that it's good for you to get out a bit among people again. They can't blame them for being curious. But we don't need to talk to any of them."
"I'm not, I just," I started before I sighed, "...I'll come. You're the expert after all."
"Yes I am," she said with a grin, "You might be a hundred times faster thinking that I am, and likely smarter too, but I know my stuff, alright? I have been studying Jovians since I joined the academy, I know what makes you guys tick. And standing alone looking out the window isn't going to make you feel better."
"You're the expert," I just agreed again before I nodded, "Okay. I… Let's try it. We're leaving on Cloudfloat tomorrow anyway."
"Awesome. Now, come on and I'll get you a coffee."
"...Oh. Ew. I'd rather drink ammonia."
That earned me a raised eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes! That stuff is horrible!" I said before I managed a smile, "But I'll have a hot chocolate? With marshmallows?"
"Well, not like you need to watch your weight, I guess…"
The door opened and Sophia walked inside, "Hey Starfarer," she said with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
Now that was a loaded question if I ever heard one.
"Complicated. But... I think I made the right choice," I said and gave her a small smile.
"Oh?"
"I'm going with Cloudfloat to Earth and then on to New Jupiter," I told her, "I'm really nervous about it, but I think I made the right choice."
She just nodded and walked up to stand next to me, "What do you plan to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted, "But I think I'll leave Starfleet. I want to fly again, but I don't think I can handle a crew right now, or especially dangerous situations. Maybe… maybe not forever, but right now I think it's the best thing for me."
Sophia nodded again and touched my shoulder with a small smile, "Nobody could possibly blame you for that."
"I know," I admitted and sighed, "It's just... you know."
I had spent my entire life in Starfleet. To feel like I couldn't handle that anymore, it wasn't a nice feeling to say the least.
She nodded, "Want me to come with you?"
I looked at her in surprise, "What?"
"To New Jupiter," she clarified, "I have already talked it over with my Captain and he's approved me for detached duty. To be honest, there isn't much I can do at a planetary survey anyway."
I hesitated.
I still felt a lot better when I had her lifesign in range, but I also know that was just me being stupid and that I just had to get over myself.
"...Are you sure?" I asked after a second with a small frown, "I mean, it wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?"
Sophia shook her head with a smile, "No it won't. And I want to make sure you're going to be okay, you're my patient after all."
"...I would like if you came along," I admitted to her, "I know it's stupid but it does make me feel a lot better. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about that," She said and shook her head, "Just focus on getting better and anything is a good thing as long as it helps."
"I guess," I agree and put my arms around myself, "I'd be happy for you to come with if you want to. Most non Jovians from my time that I knew are either old or dead. Or both and spread halfway across the galaxy."
"You'll find more friends," She said and then smiled, "I'd like to be one."
"I'd like that too," I said and smiled a bit at her, "...Thanks for putting up with me."
"I don't mind, I'm glad too," she said before she grinned, "Besides, it's literally my job."
"How's your notes going?"
"Pretty well," she said with a smile, "Now however," she said, "I think that's it's time to get you out of this room before we leave."
I frowned at her, "What do you mean?"
"I have noticed that you have been avoiding the common areas," she said, "And I for one, could use a cup of coffee. Let's go to the Lounge. There are plenty of people onboard that want to meet you."
I hesitated and shook my head, "...I know. But I don't want to meet them."
"How come?"
"I just don't…" I sighed and crossed my arms again, "They'll all be going to be so… understanding. So sympathetic. I'm not sure I can take that."
Sophia shook her head, "I can promise that they won't, Starfarer. But I also know that it's good for you to get out a bit among people again. They can't blame them for being curious. But we don't need to talk to any of them."
"I'm not, I just," I started before I sighed, "...I'll come. You're the expert after all."
"Yes I am," she said with a grin, "You might be a hundred times faster thinking that I am, and likely smarter too, but I know my stuff, alright? I have been studying Jovians since I joined the academy, I know what makes you guys tick. And standing alone looking out the window isn't going to make you feel better."
"You're the expert," I just agreed again before I nodded, "Okay. I… Let's try it. We're leaving on Cloudfloat tomorrow anyway."
"Awesome. Now, come on and I'll get you a coffee."
"...Oh. Ew. I'd rather drink ammonia."
That earned me a raised eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes! That stuff is horrible!" I said before I managed a smile, "But I'll have a hot chocolate? With marshmallows?"
"Well, not like you need to watch your weight, I guess…"
- Pronouns
- she/her
Never give up, never surrender.
10
"You know, I'm not sure what I expected," I admitted, having just walked onto Cloudfloats park deck.
I had never been onboard an Island class ship before and as we left Yuki and her crew behind, I got curious and wanted to see the park taking up most of her most forward top deck. The Island classes were still fairly rare when I got disabled and I had never actually been on one.
Hence why I went to check out Cloudfloats park.
Or where she would normally have had a park anyway.
"What's wrong with it?" Cloudfloat asked, forming her dolphin avatar floating in the air next to me.
I stood at the small beach close to the entrance of the park. The rest of it was water. It was a giant salt water pool and my sensors were detecting….
Halfway across the tank a dolphin jumped into the air before returning down into the water. I stared for a second before I turned to the ship avatar next to me, "What is it with you and dolphins?"
"I like dolphins. What's wrong with dolphins?"
"I… uhm…" I started to say before I shrugged and sank down to sit on the sand, looking out over the water, "How did you even get permission for this? Are those real? How did you even get dolphins!? Earth was destroyed!" I asked and used my tricorder senses to scan the dolphins and the fish in the water.
"Clones," Cloudfloat admitted, "And while the populations of Earth were lost at the attack, there were off-world populations in zoos as such as well as gene samples. As for your first question, even Starfleet Ships have quite a bit of leeway in how we decorate ourselves. And the dolphins and fish specifically, the crew quite like them. Besides, swimming is healthy."
"...Guess I can't argue with that," I admitted, "I feel like I should have brought a swimsuit."
"Can I always replicate one and beam it over?" Cloudfloat suggested and I shook my head,
"No, not right now anyway," I said and patted the top of her head, "Might later tonight though."
Even before the… incident… It really had been ages since I had gone swimming and this platform could swim, it was in the system specs. They were light enough now.
...And she wasn't wrong, dolphins were neat. But still.
"How did you find your quarters?" she asked after a moment.
"Wasn't difficult, your directions were pretty good."
She squeaked at me and I shot her a grin,
"They're fine," I told her, "Large and I'm not sure I need a bed that big unless I plan an orgy or something."
Cloudflout laughed and nodded, "The guest quarters are a bit much," she admitted, "But my missions are primarily diplomatic ones. Federation diplomats do get the nicest possible accommodation and I do regularly carry foreign diplomats as well."
"Yeah, that hasn't changed I suppose," I agreed and leaned back on my elbows, looking out over the tank and the stars beyond the thick transparent aluminum.
"We'll be at Mars in a few weeks," Cloudfloat said, "I talked with some Ships, there is a transport heading towards New Jupiter around that time. She says you and Sophia can hitch a ride."
I nodded, "Thanks," I said and looked up towards the star streaks outside the large transparent dome.
New Jupiter.
That was before my time. A home system just for Jovians. Our own system. I had not even thought about that back before I was-
I had not even thought about it. But it made sense, all other species in the Federation had them, why not us?
I was actually pretty excited to see the place, I had read about it, watched scans. But it wasn't the same thing as actually being there.
But it was amazing.
To think that we could do something about that. Orbital habitats, shipyards, asteroid mining. Even helium and hydrogen mining from the gas giant in the system.
We had come so far. But why the split? Why the Commonwealth? What could possibly have caused thirty percent of us to leave the Federation?
Yuki said it was over the Prime Directive.
That… that did make sense. I'd have to ask for database access soon, I needed to see what had happened. If it affected that many of us that strongly, it was likely something I had to make my own mind about.
Would I end up as one of the thirty percent? What could possibly have happened to cause that kind of thing?
"Cloudfloat?" I asked, turning my head to look at her hologram, "I think I'd like computer access. There is so much I have missed, I want to catch back up."
"If you think you're ready. Here's the code."
I had never been onboard an Island class ship before and as we left Yuki and her crew behind, I got curious and wanted to see the park taking up most of her most forward top deck. The Island classes were still fairly rare when I got disabled and I had never actually been on one.
Hence why I went to check out Cloudfloats park.
Or where she would normally have had a park anyway.
"What's wrong with it?" Cloudfloat asked, forming her dolphin avatar floating in the air next to me.
I stood at the small beach close to the entrance of the park. The rest of it was water. It was a giant salt water pool and my sensors were detecting….
Halfway across the tank a dolphin jumped into the air before returning down into the water. I stared for a second before I turned to the ship avatar next to me, "What is it with you and dolphins?"
"I like dolphins. What's wrong with dolphins?"
"I… uhm…" I started to say before I shrugged and sank down to sit on the sand, looking out over the water, "How did you even get permission for this? Are those real? How did you even get dolphins!? Earth was destroyed!" I asked and used my tricorder senses to scan the dolphins and the fish in the water.
"Clones," Cloudfloat admitted, "And while the populations of Earth were lost at the attack, there were off-world populations in zoos as such as well as gene samples. As for your first question, even Starfleet Ships have quite a bit of leeway in how we decorate ourselves. And the dolphins and fish specifically, the crew quite like them. Besides, swimming is healthy."
"...Guess I can't argue with that," I admitted, "I feel like I should have brought a swimsuit."
"Can I always replicate one and beam it over?" Cloudfloat suggested and I shook my head,
"No, not right now anyway," I said and patted the top of her head, "Might later tonight though."
Even before the… incident… It really had been ages since I had gone swimming and this platform could swim, it was in the system specs. They were light enough now.
...And she wasn't wrong, dolphins were neat. But still.
"How did you find your quarters?" she asked after a moment.
"Wasn't difficult, your directions were pretty good."
She squeaked at me and I shot her a grin,
"They're fine," I told her, "Large and I'm not sure I need a bed that big unless I plan an orgy or something."
Cloudflout laughed and nodded, "The guest quarters are a bit much," she admitted, "But my missions are primarily diplomatic ones. Federation diplomats do get the nicest possible accommodation and I do regularly carry foreign diplomats as well."
"Yeah, that hasn't changed I suppose," I agreed and leaned back on my elbows, looking out over the tank and the stars beyond the thick transparent aluminum.
"We'll be at Mars in a few weeks," Cloudfloat said, "I talked with some Ships, there is a transport heading towards New Jupiter around that time. She says you and Sophia can hitch a ride."
I nodded, "Thanks," I said and looked up towards the star streaks outside the large transparent dome.
New Jupiter.
That was before my time. A home system just for Jovians. Our own system. I had not even thought about that back before I was-
I had not even thought about it. But it made sense, all other species in the Federation had them, why not us?
I was actually pretty excited to see the place, I had read about it, watched scans. But it wasn't the same thing as actually being there.
But it was amazing.
To think that we could do something about that. Orbital habitats, shipyards, asteroid mining. Even helium and hydrogen mining from the gas giant in the system.
We had come so far. But why the split? Why the Commonwealth? What could possibly have caused thirty percent of us to leave the Federation?
Yuki said it was over the Prime Directive.
That… that did make sense. I'd have to ask for database access soon, I needed to see what had happened. If it affected that many of us that strongly, it was likely something I had to make my own mind about.
Would I end up as one of the thirty percent? What could possibly have happened to cause that kind of thing?
"Cloudfloat?" I asked, turning my head to look at her hologram, "I think I'd like computer access. There is so much I have missed, I want to catch back up."
"If you think you're ready. Here's the code."
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Hestia&theCourt
Turns out we're plural too.
- Location
- In transition
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If memory serves, some
That being said, my memory could be wrong. Take that with a grain of salt.
EDIT: Just double-checked and the broad strokes of what I said were correct. The storyline starts here.
EDIT EDIT: Somehow I mixed up Vulcans and Klingons. My only excuse is that I've never actually watched Star Trek.
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SpatialGaming
Scifi Tech and Magic Theorist
- Location
- United States of America
Klingons, and if I remember correctly a Bird of Prey crashed on the pre-warp planet, but otherwise your recollection matches mine.
Hestia&theCourt
Turns out we're plural too.
- Location
- In transition
- Pronouns
- She/Her
...fuck, I meant Klingons but apparently typed the wrong species. Fixing.
There was also a bunch of stuff going on in as I recall about the same time period about anti-AI political sentiment and telepathic species in the Federation being pissed/paranoid about a race whose minds they couldn't read. While that wasn't what directly caused the split I'm pretty sure it helped set up the conditions for it. I'm sure that kind of thing heavily pushed a lot of the Jovians into thinking they needed to consider setting up somewhere outside the Federation, for self preservation if nothing else.
The instigating factor for the actual split being disagreement over the Prime Directive basically shifted the entire debate on the matter over to that, instead.
The instigating factor for the actual split being disagreement over the Prime Directive basically shifted the entire debate on the matter over to that, instead.
Cave_Canem
Miniature Cyberwolf
It was before, and many of the Jovians that decided 'screw the prime directive, I'm helping' were also former members.
- Location
- Washington
I think it would be appropriate if Cloudfloat had a hidden vicious side because... you know... dolphins. Cute and happy looking superficially but full of gumption for baby murder and sexual harassment.
Crazael
Rehydrated Demon King
- Location
- Lost to the vagaries of time.
Sorta maybe. It depends on if you consider certain secondary and tertiary sources canon.