Wonderworld

Posted on 21 Nov 2023 @ 4:58pm by Crewman Apprentice Unknown 'Weirdo' & Petty Officer 2nd Class Alizabeth Omari

2,007 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Miranda

Wearing an actual uniform was a strange experience, even though it had been a few days since he first drew one from the replicator and put it on. Walking around on an actual world for the first time – the first time that he could actually remember – was far stranger still. There was actual wind on his face, not a breeze generated by a computer in a holodeck. There was vegetation which felt alive under his hands and his feet. The smells were far richer than any holodeck could ever reproduce, or so it seemed to him.

There was no almost imperceptible tremble from the Odin's engines under his feet, no just-at-the-edge of hearing sound of the various systems which kept the ship and its inhabitants alive. This was a world, an actual living world, with an ecosystem which had evolved of its own instead of artificially kept. He walked around with a perpetual grin on his face and a look of wonder in his eyes.

Aliza had read up on Lew after they met, what was there was confusion personified, well, really he was himself, which showed and explained much about him to her, or very little really. When she found out they would be camping together she started thinking of ways to enjoy something special with the people she had met so far. For Lew, well, for him she had a special treat, at least she hoped.

Her quarters were set up and she had settled outside on a folded chair contraption when she saw him nearby, “Hey Lew!” She called out and waved for him to come over.

He grinned as he heard the familiar voice and waved back at her. "One sec!" he called out. "Just putting this down here." He was stronger than he looked and had been helping out by bringing the beamed-down boxes to their proper locations, unpacking them and setting up sections of walls and ceilings for the shelters. "Yeah, about time for a break," he said as he wandered back at her. Instead of pulling up another folded chair he settled on the ground, on the soft tiny growth which was this world's version of grass or moss. "You're looking a lot better than last time I saw you!"

“I feel a lot better too and I have a feeling that this planet trip will help many.” Looking him over with a tip of her head, “You look almost official in that uniform, how does it feel?” She tucked a foot up under her, a certain level of guilt passed through her for not helping set up more but she did not want to admit how weak she still felt, plus she kept checking her PADD to see if new information had come in, and when it did she was given to lose herself for hours. “How are you enjoying the planet?”

"It's amazing!" he said with a radiant smile. "It's my first time down, you see. First time I can remember being on an actual world. I mean, look." He picked up a handful of dirt and pebbles, letting it trickle through his hands. One pebble remained behind, white and oddly shaped, a simple quartz crystal. "It's real. Not generated by a replicator. Originated from this specific world. I'm sure there are many other worlds and many other rocks, but this one was cretaed here and will always be a part of this world, even if I take it from here and on my travels."

Alexa smiled at him as he spoke, her gold eyes bright just taking in the joy that he was having at the experience. “Have you read a lot about things like camping? I have never been really myself, that was not the type of outings my family would have and since I took so much time doing other outdoor activities when trips came up when people were going at the Academy. I have these ideas from my books but only had a little time to put things together when we came down.”

"I've come across the reference," he said with a nod. "Always seemed like fun to me, though half the references were from people complaining about things like insects and rain and cold and suchlike. Well, I'm not sure the local insect population will do much harm and thus far it hasn't rained." He looked up at the sky. Weather was only something he had experienced inside a holodeck thus far, or read about, so he could hardly claim to be an expert. But there were few clouds and they looked far enough away, so it seemed it would remain dry for the forseeable time.

"Oh, I completely forgot to answer your other question. It's… a novel experience, wearing a uniform. Not quite like my usual outfits," (which basically came down to 'whatever caught his fancy at the moment), "but I could get used to it." He had even attempted to tame his curls by tying them behind his head in a kind of ponytail, but already several strands had come loose and stuck out at odd angles.

The research she had been doing was certainly not on the planet itself, she let what research others had done guide what was packed for them and the rest she did was all done by her ‘FREEDOM’ brain. “You wear the uniform well.” She complimented him and then tapped a medium sized crate that was set by her tent with she had placed a small note on, “That is for you, well not the crate of course, that is ship’s property but there is a small surprise within the crate.”

"Thanks!" He grinned again and tucked the stone in one of his pockets. "Oh? I love surprises. Want me to open it right now?"

An image of Lew walking around with bulges in his pockets because he kept picking up rocks was pretty amusing so a little of that hinted in her smile. “Open no, that would be better later, but if you would like to read the note.” The dark woman leaned in just a hint, her excitement drawing her towards the surprise like it had a line attached. “Want to know the best thing about good surprises? There is a certain level of enjoyment on both sides, giver and receiver so since I came up with the idea I have been looking forward to this.” The way she enjoyed life was through the lens of a person that felt relationships meant the difference in everything. A good merchant family’s ideals in there, a happy customer was a customer for life, and she felt the people she worked with should feel comfortable in coming to her in her role as trying to keep the captain focused on what was most important to him.

He got up and bowed to her, a gesture which was completely at odds with his uniform (he dusted it off absentmindedly), yet completely fitting at the same time. "By accepting a gift one honors the giver." He strolled over to the crate and studied it. Not one of the standard sizes which he had been dragging around for the better part of the day, so this fell under 'personal items' rather than one of the many other categories. Intriguing. "I shall read the note, and wait patiently for the rest." He took the note and opened it, quickly read what it said.

The note on the top of the crate read:

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lew,

You took such good care of us all while we were in I thought you might like a little celebration once we are settled in. Inside this box is a treat called marshmallows, I have read that in the past people would sit at a fire while camping and toast these on a stick (some included in the box as well in case there are none on the planet) for a delicious sweet treat. I hope that this sets some good memories for camping for the both of us.

Thank you once more, I am ever in your debt.

Aliza
~~~~~~~~~~~~

She watched as he read tucking her other leg up under her thighs, managing a cross cross seat on a folding chair, “I do not know what all we will be doing down here, I need to get with the Captain for that, but I am certain we can set aside some time for a fire of some type and try this old Earth tradition.”

"Oh wow, this is awesome!" His grin got even wider. "I've never seen a real campfire. At least, not that I can recall. Have you? Since you said that you've read it. Never done this before yourself, then? Oh, and do you know if anyone plays one of the traditional campfire instruments? ka'athyra, Klingon or human guitar, Meridian harp?"

“I have never experienced a campfire either, as a guess I would imagine there are more than just the two of us that haven’t enjoyed such things….yet.” The last was said with a bright smile, “We can remedy that though! I have no idea on the instruments, that should be something we should be inquiring about I think. We only have a couple days on the planet but that means a couple nights to try and organize such an evening.”

"If I remember the plan correctly…" He looked at the PADD he held in his hand just to make sure, though he didn't really doubt his memory, "the camp has been erected with room for firepits. Clusters of barracks arranged around roads, but plenty of places where people can gather and cook, or play sports if they feel fit enough, or just sit and talk. Easy enough to build a firepit in such a spot and create space for people to sit around it. If we do it in one of the central locations, more over there…" he gestured in one direction, "there should be plenty of room for a group to gather."

Aliza nodded her head, she had copies of the plans on her PADD and as people were more settled she would be going around and noting where crew had settled. “I am certain if we begin a fire others will join, if for nothing else but curiosity. Building new experiences to help with the memory of the illness, doubt it will override it completely, but nice to have a light at the end of a dark period. Maybe others will bring foods and such to share, along with whatever instruments they have, or even just singing if no one brought such.” Looking up at a sun that was lazing its way across the sky, “Should probably start gathering wood in a little bit, a good reason to get people up and moving about more too, help recover from the forced rest.”

He nodded enthusiastically. "Just make sure you don't carry anything too heavy. We'll be done with the hoverpads soon, pile the wood on it and just steer it in. I'll help gathering wood when I'm done here. Which reminds me, I should get back to working. Wouldn't want a commander start shouting at me for slacking off," he added with a grin.

“I will take a run I think and see what kind of wood I can find and maybe stop and see if I can’t let some others know of the plan. Maybe I can even hint at musicians being needed.” Aliza stood and stretched, her back cracking just slightly, “Do not let me keep you longer, I would not wish to be the reason you got in trouble. I am glad you are as excited as I am to try my first roasted marshmallow.”

"Absolutely! Have a pleasant run, and I'll see you later." He gave her an elegant bow and picked up the box he was carrying again. A campfire and toasted marshmellows were a pleasant prospect, but for that to happen they still needed to finish setting up the camp.

 

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