USS Dark Fire (IC)

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1415

Watching Xiana the alien took notice as Jovovich took off heading for Cooke as fast as he could. Pointing at Xiana she repeated the word then pointed at itself. “By-Tahl,” it said with a fairly soft voice pointing at itself.

Then it moved it’s hand and touched it’s breast and pointed at Xiana. Then pointed at Reeves and tilted it’s head curiously. Did it assume they were different species based on gender? Was it asking about gender? Was it asking about breasts, or species? Was the word it spoke it’s name, or it’s species?

So many questions to be asked without a translator.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“By-Tahl,” Xiana repeated with a nod. It could easily be a greeting, a name, or a threat, but there at least seemed to be some degree of conversation.

She took a few steps to the side, reaching for the commander’s hand when she was in his proximity. She pryed his hand open and motioned towards his palm, then opened her other hand so the creature could see the similarities. “Human.”

“Man,” she said, letting go of his hand and gesturing to him before she did so to herself. “Woman. Human man. Human woman.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1420

“Who-mahn.” The Alien repeated, the word obviously unfamiliar to it. Pointing at it’s hand it said. “Dell-vee-ahn.”

Then it crouched and touched the yellow-orange grass-ish surface. “Da-ha-to-rah,” And where it’s hand touched the plant grew thicker and stronger. In-fact everywhere it’s feet touched was the same reaction.

Pointing at Xiana then itself the alien said Wo-mahn?”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Dellvian,” Xiana repeated, then watched the beings’ movements and greenery they sprouted. It was marvelous.

While she was struggling to find connections to her second term, it was surreal nonetheless.

She wouldn’t be able to say for certain if the other was a woman as she was, but she raised and dropped her shoulders. Maybe the human expression of shrugging was universal.

She turned to the man beside her. “Keep your voice and movements calm. What do we do now?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1425

“If we were about the Dark Fire the computer would access their language database and begin populating the syntax response.”

“But as we are not, I am not sure. I do know that Ensign Cook may be in trouble and need our assistance.”

“We will need the alien to speak more, and the slow process of learning one word at a time won’t work. We need it to say more, a lot more.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

He had a point, but what was she supposed to convey? And how, with language barriers? Her pupils moved desperately in thought, her eyes landing on her new accessory on her hand. “The Lieutenant gave me this right before I met with you all. He didn’t tell me how to use it in detail, but that it could be helpful with its upgrades. Do you think it might have something to aid with translation?”

She didn’t wait for his answer and raised her hand to her face. What had Araiza done to bring it alive. “Ring? Can you hear me? Ring?” she asked. No answer. “Halo?”

The ring seemed to emit a slight glow, reacting to the words, awaiting for instructions.

“Do you have any language deconstruction abilities?”

“No, I do not,” another voice answered with a laugh. It was Araiza, who was blissfully unaware of the situation. “Upgrade picked up on your heartbeat. You gotta calm down. Can you hear me crystal? Made a little add-ons for the long distance. Pretty cool, right? What’s up?”

“We need to communicate with a different race, we don’t speak the language,” she said in whispers, albeit loud enough for the commander to hear. “Or know what it is, for that matter.”

“Are they close to you? Like ten feet?”

“Yes.”

“Keep ‘em talking. I’ll hook up your signal to the ship so it can pick up on what they’re saying. Are you safe?”

“Yes.” At least she hoped so.

“Cool, bring up some story or that mental health stuff. Pretend it’s speed dating.“

“Not the time, Lieutenant.”

“It’s always the time, Doc. I’ll get back to you once we got something. Freddie out!”

The line went dead. Xiana took a deep breath. It was like charades, except with a completely unique species, a planet foreign to her, and a lack of a weapon if all went south.

She turned back to the creature. “How old are you?” she asked, mimicking the sight of a plant sprouting from the ground and growing. The words that followed were accompanied by related movements. “Is there more of you? Can you tell me more about yourself? About your world?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1430

Standing there the alien appeared to be listening to the conversation between Xiana and Alfredo, and then when Xiana started speaking to it, or more at it, it held up a hand. Apparently Stop was universal, at least for some species of life.

Closing it’s eyes a flower budded, grew, and bloomed on it’s throat. Taking the flower it crushed it in both hands as it walked over to Xiana, and without trying to convey it’s intent, it blew the pollen in her face.

Stepping back it waited for a minute before it began speaking.

“Ohe am High Cleric Bitaal of the Order of the sunlight rising. Do ngenga ’ong what ohe'm saying? Raise your right hand pehrr ngenga fully ’ong my words.”

“I am High Cleric Bitaal of the Order of the sunlight rising. Do you understand what I'm saying? Raise your right hand when you fully understand my words.”

Reeves on the other hand had his phaser aimed at the alien. “Doctor. Counselor. Are you alright? You’ll be in decon for an extended period of time if you continue this course of action.”

Yito had her phaser out as well, and was moving to the side so they could triangulate on the alien if needed.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana, startled, moved her head back and squeezed her eyes shut at the pollen. Along with the tiny fragments resting on her face, she could feel chills make their way through her entire body, briefly cold but soon settling.

Her hands instantly went for her face, wiping off residue with fears of the worse. When she realized any foreign sensation had subdued and she was unharmed, she looked at the creature with confusion, being disarmed when she understood its words.

Xiana was sure she was dreaming. She raised her right hand. “I’m alright. Stand down, please. I can understand them.”

The pollen had been more overwhelming than expected. She took a pause to sneeze what had gathered up her nose. Once upright, her dam of reluctance overflowed. “What did you do to me? What was that? How can I understand you? Are you able to understand me?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora​

“No, leave the bodies where they are.” Hora ordered “Many races are protective of their dead. Just take scans—our teams will get almost everything they need. The debris stays, too.”

Lt. McLeo​

Lt McLeo saw the massive root whip into Riley, sending her sprawling. Instinct kicked in—he banked hard, angling his fighter into position for a strafing run. But he hesitated. No follow-up attack came. Instead, Lt. Jovovich was already on the ground, rushing to Riley’s side.

McLeo’s voice crackled through the comms. “Yo, Ensign Cook, you good? I got your back if things get choppy!”

Ensign Cook​

Riley landed hard in a thicket, breath knocked from her lungs. At least this bush was stationary. When she pushed herself up, pain shot through her arm.

“Crap,” she hissed.

A shadow loomed over her—Lt. Jovovich, effortlessly composed, his gaze sharp, but friendly

“Need a hand?” he asked, offering his.

Riley clenched her jaw, accepting with her uninjured arm. “Yeah. I think I might’ve sprained it.”

Jovovich pulled her up with practiced ease and immediately started assessing her injury.

“Watch out for the roots,” Riley muttered. “Stepped on one and got knocked on my ass for it.”

Her commlink buzzed.

Lt McLeo’s voice carried a mix of concern and urgency.

“I’m alive. Arm’s wrecked, though. Hurts like hell.” She inhaled sharply as Jovovich turned her wrist. “He’s assessing the damage. Oh, and Tiger... The plants here— they move like animals. It’s wild.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1435

Bitaal:​

“I cannot understand what you say, the spores translate my words inside your head. Your companion does not understand my words. If you wish me to understand you, I need your essence. Your life matrix.” Bitaal said watching her to see if she understood.

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

What started as confusion was turning into reluctance. “I can understand her, but she can’t understand me,” she relayed to the commander.

“She says that if I wish to have her understand me, she needs my essence, my life matrix,” Xiana explained. “What is that?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1440

Reeves:​

“Life Matrix?” Reeves asked. “I’m not sure, but Deoxyribonucleic Acid resembles a lattice, or a matrix.”

“Depending on how you look at it.” Shrugging Reeves looked at Xiana. “Maybe she wants you to spit on her? Taste your blood?”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Did she want to spit or bleed on someone she had just met, whose intentions she didn’t know, in an unknown location, with no clue on what to do?

Xiana knew she couldn’t understand her, but she followed up regardless. “What do you need? We want to learn of you and this environment, not harm you in any way.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1445

Bitaan:​

Watching, and listening, as Xiana tried communicating the Alien finally told her, “I do not understand your words.”

Stepping closer it said again. “I need your life matrix, like I gave you mine. May I take it? This will not hurt.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana gave a side glance to the commander, nervous, but knowing they’d hit a dead end otherwise. If it didn’t hurt, she’d likely be okay. “She might touch me or the like, but don’t be alarmed. She says it won’t hurt.”

She nodded in response to her question, waiting for her retrieval, whatever it was.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1450

Bitaan:​

Stepping forward Bitaan leaned in and gave Xiana what was the equivalent of a long and deep french kiss. Before it finally stepped back and looked at both of them. “Do you share the same language, or does it speak a different one than you?”

“I will not harm either of you, unless it is required for the preservation of my own or another's.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana didn’t reciprocate the kiss, but didn’t intervene in her maneuvers. If it was happening, she liked to assume it was necessary.

Once done, she needed a moment to gather herself. “No, he speaks the same language. We all do.”

“Thank you for being patient with us,” Xiana added, glancing at the man to assure he could also listen as she did. “This is Commander Reeves. The lovely lady over there is Ensign Seja. We also do not wish to harm you, although one of our own seems to have hurt herself.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Squad Two

“Ensign Cook took a fall. She requires first aid. I need to go to her” Gunnery Sergeant McPherson explained to Lt Bumme and Lt Sol.

“Ok, we are coming with you” Lt Bumme agreed.

A few minutes later, squad two showed up next to Ensign Cook and Lt Jovovich. The Gunnery Sergeant pulled out his medical scanner and used it examine Ensign Cook’s wrist.

“I see you figured out a way to be alone with our handsome Security Chief.” Lt Bumme joked with Ensign Cook.

“He rescued me like a shinning knight in armor!” Riley joked back

“Bad sprain… I’ll need to immobilize it for now. I’ll give you a hypo for the pain” McPherson explained to Cook.

“Crap… can I complete the scan of the wreckage?” She asked him

“I would advise against it.”

“Ensign, I’ll rescue you. I can finish the scan.” Lt Sol stated.

“Sol, you look more like the dragon, then a knight” Lt Bumme pointed out

“I think this joke has run its course. Thanks, Lt Sol” Riley said “I owe you one.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1500

“My spores allow you to understand me. And your life matrix allows me to understand you, and anyone else if they use this language. But unless they have my spores they will not understand me.”

“Counselor,” Yito said. “This may be bad timing but my family name is Yito. So I’m Ensign Yito. Seja is my personal name.”

“You have a number of your people wander around. The trees and grass sing of them.” Bitaan commented.

Looking over at the Counselor Reeves said. “I do hope you’re actually communicating with them.”

“If you are and you translate what they are saying Dark Fire can process their language syntax faster.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“I apologize, this is Ensign Yito. We do have some of our own around, they do not mean any harm either. Yes, I am communicating with them,” Xiana clarified.

She repeated what had been told to her in the last few minutes, to assure there had been no confusion. She wasn’t sure if to continue questioning of their kind, their planet, or if they were headed another direction. She hadn’t expected to interact so rapidly.

“Could you tell us more about your species and the place we are currently in?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Lt Bumme and Lt Sol
Lt. Bumme kept her focus on the tricorder, finalizing the scan that Ensign Cook had started as she walked around the debris.

“I still don’t see why I can’t be a knight,” Zosh grumbled, flicking his tail. “I fight. I can wield a sword.”

Loka barely glanced up. “Zosh, you look and act more like a dragon than a knight.”

“So what?” He lifted his chin. “I can be a dragon knight.”

A slow smile spread across Loka’s face as she turned from her tricorder, fixing him with a knowing look. “I like that. But you’re my dragon knight. And I don’t share.”

Zosh rumbled out a deep, crocodilian laugh. “You’re jealous of Ensign Cook.”

Loka didn’t deny it. “She’s attractive, and she plays the helpless act well. First, Lt. McLeo rescued her from the airlock, and now Lt. Jovovich.”

“Helpless creatures attract predators,” Zosh mused. “Maybe that’s why I’m interested in her.”

Loka stiffened. “You’re interested in her?”

“To eat,” Zosh said smoothly, baring his teeth. “Nothing more.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1500

“My species is Delvian, this place is called Cavari 4,” Pointing into the sky at the gas giant it circled it said. “That is Cavari Prime.”

“This is a place of peace and meditation. Your weapons are not welcome here.” Walking over to a tree the alien rested it’s hand on it for a few moments before straightening up. “I have asked the others to leave your people alone, unless attacked.”

Looking over Reeves said, “Dark Fire has a lock on the syntax now. You can relax Counselor, You don’t need to translate anymore.”

Looking at the alien he asked, “You speak with the trees and other plant life?”

“By your words, for the others, yes, I can communicate with them, though they cannot speak.”

“Commander, The Delvian genome is similar to a Venus Fly trap. They eat meat.”

“Yes we can process meat if needed, though we prefer receiving sustenance from the solar energies.”

“Captain,” Reeves said, “We have a verbal contact with Andromeda Sentience. Peaceful. Did you want to come down, or shall I ask them to come aboard?”

***
McPherson looked at the two of them,” Just get married already and have offspring already.” Looking over the wreckage he found a hatchway. “I’m going inside, see if I can find any computers or anything to tell us what happened here.”

Opening the hatch he pulled himself inside. Vanishing into the shadowy depths of the wreckage. Just like a Marine, do without thinking, and eat a crayon.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Cavari. In Latin, it means ‘the heroes’” Xiana noted. She nodded to the commander and while he was occupied, she returned her attention to the person.

“How many Delvians are there? Have you had previous contact with other species, or do you travel to other planets? Do you follow any government structure or theology or do—“

She caught herself when she felt a lack of air. “I apologize for the interrogation. I suppose I’m just excited. Do you have any queries for us?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“Commander, that is good news! Based upon our directive to minimize the timeline disturbance, I think it is best if we don’t provide a ship tour. Also, due to our current senior officer level, I think it is best if I remain on USS Dark Fire. However, can you ask Bitaan if we may make scans of the battle site, explore inside the wreckage, does she have any knowledge of the silver parasite and finally any other dos and don’ts?” Hora communicated


Ensign Cook

“Gunnery… I would not do that” Ensign Cook warned the Sergeant. However, he was gone before she finished her statement. She looked over to Lt Jovovich and shrugged her shoulders. “Marines, what can you do?” She asked in a rhetorical way.

It was silent between the two of them for a while. Finally, Riley broke the silence “Do you have any hobbies?” She asked the handsome security officer.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870606.1530

“We are many,” The Cleric replied as Xiana fired her questions in a hurried rush like she was running out of time. “This is not our homeworld. Simply a place of rest and peace.”

“My species is from Delvia, it is far from here. Yes we have encountered other species, many. Most cannot yet travel the stars and we leave them in peace. Only watching them so they do not run before they learn to walk.”

“My species is Theocratical in nature. We are guided by the Senior Cleric. We do not have.. gender.. as mammals do. We are floral in nature and as such do not use mating habits of mammals. Though we are capable of presenting a form like them for ease of communication and diplomacy.”

“My only question for you. Why did you come to this place and where are you from? Your species is not known to me.”

When Hora spoke across the comm badge Reeves watched The Delvian, and realized she could hear the voice clearly.

“Yes, the battle between the stars was not of our doing and those that wanted, came and took already.” It answered. “I do not know what a Silver Parasite is.”

“As for do and don’t. Don’t hurt any life you find on this world. Do what is right for the Greater Good.”​