The Silent World
Posted on Thu Oct 17th, 2024 @ 11:08pm by Lieutenant Narin Valen & Lieutenant Fathom Fellini
Edited on on Tue Oct 22nd, 2024 @ 10:29pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Holodeck 2 - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1100 hrs
Since they had a bit of shore leave, Fathom decided it would be the perfect time to go diving. The primary advantage of using the holodeck was that she could program any ocean she wanted, and fill it with a variety of sea plants and creatures from throughout the known worlds. It was unthinkable for research, but for simple pleasure it was perfect. She got to program in the best of all worlds and not worry about the conditions.
She remembered her promise to Narin to invite him to go with her, but this had been a last-minute decision. When she returned to her quarters, she would have to message him and set something up for another day. She changed into her French-cut one-piece suit in neon green, a pair of deck shoes, and headed for the holodeck.
Narin decided to clear his head with a workout, something to help take his mind off things. After a few days of lifting weights, he wasn’t in the mood for another session, so he opted for the holodeck, still undecided whether he’d go for a run or maybe a swim—he’d figure it out once he arrived. Dressed in a pair of shorts and a plain T-shirt, he made his way to the holodeck. As he approached, he noticed Fathom standing by the door.
“Hello,” he said. "Great minds think alike?" he added, noticing her swim attire.
She turned and smiled, pleased to see the other science officer. "Hi. I was actually thinking about you. Since I have the time, I decided to go diving. I thought it would be too short a notice to ask you to join me. But I see I was mistaken. What were you thinking of doing?"
“Well, I was between a run or a swim, but since you're here, maybe I could join you?” Narin said. “I’ve never been diving before, but I’m up for giving it a try if you don’t mind showing me the basics.”
"I'd love to. You're pretty much dressed for diving, anyway, and we can replicate the gear. What we'll use will depend on you. We can go old-fashioned with actual scuba tanks, or we can use rebreathers. The tanks are unwieldy on land, but I sometimes like to use them to remind myself of the early days of underwater exploration." She grinned. "I know it sounds a little geeky, but that basically describes me anyway. The rebreathers are less cumbersome and don't leave a trail of bubbles to draw attention." She held out her hands. "Thus, why I'm wearing a bright color. Some creatures will still consider me food, but they won't get startled because they didn't see me coming."
“A little geekiness is always a good thing,” Narin said as he weighed his options. After a moment of consideration, he decided on the rebreathers for his first dive. It felt like a better choice for his comfort level, but he still wanted to try the scuba tanks down the line. Glancing at her colorful outfit. “Let’s go with rebreathers for my first time, and we can save the scuba tanks for next time.” He glanced down at his own outfit, noting the plain white shorts. “I guess I won’t be blending in as well as you.”
She laughed as she programmed in the ocean on Tetris IV. "You will blend in. I will stand out. But the holodeck can change the color of your trunks if you wish." For Narin's first time, she eliminated the predators and poisonous anemone and puffers. The door opened onto the deck of a medium-sized boat. Two men in shorts and t-shirts were dropping anchor. They turned when Fathom led Narin onto the deck. "Hello, Pela and Jorad. This is my friend, Narin. How is the water today?"
"It's a fine day. Temperatures are moderate and the sea is calm. No storms predicted for another week," the older man replied. "Got your gear ready in the wheelhouse."
"Perfect. Thanks." Fathom led Narin to a small cabin where the masks, rebreathers, and fins were waiting for them. She grabbed her gear and stepped back so he could get his and sat near the rail to put on her fins. Then she stood and waited for the others.
Narin followed her into the holodeck, offering a wave and a friendly greeting to Pale and Jorad before following her over to the small cabin to collect their gear. He watched her sit down near the rail to put her fins on, then followed her lead, settling down beside her to do the same. He already felt like a fish out of water, but he trusted that she wouldn’t let him down. As he finished securing his fins, he took a moment to inspect his mask and rebreather before glancing over at her. “How often do you do this?” he asked.
"Not as much as I used to." She grinned at him. "Now, I try to go once a month, and then only for an hour or two." She held up the rebreather, then showed him how to wear it. "Once it's fit properly, it'll stay where it is until you take it out, so be sure it's comfortable. We'll also be able to talk to each other as there's a built-in communicator. When we get in the water, rinse out your mask and put it on. That'll keep it from fogging up. Got it?"
Narin nodded, adjusting the rebreather as she showed him. “Got it,” he said, making sure it fit comfortably. He glanced over at her appreciating the ease with which she explained everything. “Talking underwater is a bonus. I’ll try not to ask too many questions.” He took the opportunity to remove his shirt and tossed it to the side. “Ready.”
With a nod, Fathom led him over to where they could jump in without having to climb over the railing. "As a final note, we won't go too deep, so there's no need to protect ourselves from the cold." Then she put in her rebreather, wrapped the strap of her mask around her wrist, and jumped into the water.
Narin followed closely behind, adjusting his rebreather and gripping his mask as she had done. “Understood.” He said as he watched her lean into the water with ease. With a deep breath, he stepped up, took one last look, and followed her in. Feeling the cool rush of water surround him as he jumped in. As he surfaced besides her, he rinsed the mask out as she instructed and placed it on his face.
Fathom checked to be sure both their masks were snug. "Good. Use slow and gentle kicks or you'll get tired fast. You move better than you think you do. For our first trip, just have fun and look around. We won't go too far or too deep. If any fish get curious, they'll bump against you. I set the program to remove anything potentially harmful. Do you have any questions?"
He listened to her instructions and nodded. “No questions for now.” He replied, his voice calm through the built-in communicator. He took a moment to look around their surroundings.
She nodded and dove under the water. She only went a few feet before stopping to make sure he didn't have any trouble following her. It was nice having someone with her. She usually swam alone or with one of the holographic team. She slowly turned in a circle, getting a good look at their surroundings
Narin followed her into the water, feeling the cool rush of it around him as he adjusted to the new environment. Once he caught up with her, he stopped beside her and took in their surroundings. “I can see why you enjoy doing this.” He said as he glanced around, already feeling a bit more at ease.
"Yes. Some believe that exploring the oceans as just as important as space exploration. There's so much we still don't know, although we've made great progress." She pointed to a bed of kelp fifty yards below them. "Let's head down there. Stay at the top so you won't get tangled in it."
She began to kick, keeping their pace steady. "Listen as we go deeper. Jacques Cousteau, an underwater explorer from the 20th century earth called this the silent world."
Narin followed her lead, adjusting his pace to match hers as they began descending toward the kelp bed. The water grew a bit darker as they went deeper. The quiet was almost surreal. “I can see why Cousteau called it that.” Narin replied. “It’s like being in space, but with life all around you.” He kept his eyes on the kelp below, careful to stay at the top as she instructed.
"it’s incredible. Scientists found life in places thought impossible, like hydrothermal vents in the deepest trenches. The underwater world is often just as alien as space--and just as vital to our survival. You read about Captain Kirk saving two humpback whales in the Academy. Until that moment, no one thought our very existence would depend on preserving our oceans and those who lived there."
She continued on in silence for a while, watching as small fish darted around the kelp, occasionally coming to see who the invaders were. "One more stop for today. Over to the left, in the rocks. There are a number of cracks that house fish and crustaceans. There will also be more plants."
Narin nodded, swimming alongside her, still captivated by the beauty around them. “It’s incredible how life thrives even in the harshest conditions. I’ve been working on a research pap—” He stopped himself, realizing this wasn’t the time to talk about his research paper. This was about enjoying the moment. He glanced ahead and noticed she had gotten a little further ahead. He picked up his pace, following her toward the rocks.
As he reached the spot, he observed the small, brightly colored fish darting in and out of the crevices. Some had striking patterns, shimmering in vibrant blues and yellows, while others were nearly translucent. He watched them for a moment then glanced over at her. “Everything down here feels so... alive,” he said, understanding why she was so drawn to this field.
Fathom nodded. She ran a gentle finger across the top of a mushroom-like plant and watched as tiny spikes popped out, then slowly retracted. "Yes. It never gets boring." Nearby, a tiny crustacean crawled over a lichen-covered rock. An eel darted out, grabbing it in its mouth before disappearing back into its lair.
After several minutes, she turned to Narin. "How are your legs? Ready to head back to the surface?"
Narin wanted to stay and explore more, but the truth was, he was feeling exhaustion setting in. The past few days of workout sessions were catching up with him, not to mention the early wake-up calls from the unsettling dreams that had been having. “Yeah, let’s head back up,” he said, taking one last glance of the surrounding area before beginning the ascent to the surface.
With a nod, Fathom followed him to the surface.
Pela and Jorad were seated in dock chair, watching the ocean. Pela helped the two divers onto the deck while Jorad held up a bottle of ale and four glasses. "Since it's your first time, drinks are on us. Next time, you're buying."
"That's the tradition here," Fathom said, taking off her mask, rebreather, and fins before sitting in one of the chairs.
"How was your first time?" Pela asked, helping Joran pass out drinks.
Narin removed his mask and rebreather, setting them on one of the chairs with a tired but content expression. “I think I might be hooked,” he replied. ““It was incredible—peaceful and surreal at the same time.” He glanced at Fathom with a grin. “Looks like I’ll be buying next time, then.”
She grinned back. "You're always welcome."
Joran slapped him on the back. "Welcome to the club." Then Pela finished handing out the glasses and they all toasted Narin.
Narin chuckled, raising his glass as they toasted. “Thank you, glad to be part of the club now,” he said
"Time limit reached. Please proceed to the exit," the computer announced.
Narin glanced over at Fathom. "Invite me again?"
"Absolutely. I enjoyed the company." She stretched and headed for the door. "Next time, I promise to give you advance notice."
"Sounds good," Narin replied. "Thanks for the drink and the adventure. Until next time." He grabbed his shirt and made his way to the exit.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Narin Valen
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Fathom Fellini
Marine Biologist, USS Pioneer
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