Reporting as ordered, Sir!

Posted on 20 Jul 2020 @ 1:54pm by Ensign Kat Walker & Commander Marcus Wilcox

993 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Fighterbay

A form not unfamiliar to the denizens of the fighter bay entered once more, a shadowy flying form, four winged, predatory, sleek, with a long rudder like tail and pennaceous feathers on all four limbs. Body about the size of that of a cat, with long limbs, feathers an iridescent black, the creature flew around the large, cavernous bay once, then twice, before spying her quarry and diving down towards the floorplating.

Upon landing the creature shimmered and shifted, revealing its form to be holographic, into the shape of a humanoid female, young, with piercing blue eyes and slightly too perfect skin. Now wearing a Starfleet uniform in helm red, and Ensign rank pips on her collar. She smiled at her quarry, standing up straight and offering a salute. "Ensign Walker reporting as requested, Commander."

With near textbook precision, he returned the salute of the newly commissioned officer. A glance at the uniform and pips indicated to him successful completion of the Officer Program. “How much do you about flight theory and physics?” He asked after a moment’s contemplation. He recognized a brand new officer, but a computer as well.

"I have full access to the text and theory and can recite it word by word," Kat replied immediately before hesitating the briefest of moments. "But there is a gap between knowing the theory and being able to apply it in practice."

Marcus cocked his head every so slightly with the tiniest of a smile. Both movements Kat would have no problem noticing, but a non-observant person may. He nodded approvingly to the statement, turning to walk, beckoning her to come with him. They made their way a short distance to the front of one of the fighters. “What do you see?”

Kat followed along dutifully. "The nose of a Mark III Valkyrie. Sensor suite, Gauss machine cannon muzzle, vernier thrusters, microtorpedo launchers," she motioned to the specific items as she listed them, curious to what Marcus was going for.

“Both correct, and incorrect,” Marcus laid a hand on the nose of the Valkyrie, affectionately as one would pat a pet, or even a good friend on the back. He looked back at Kat, his eyes searching the hologram for the deeper meaning and thoughts. He wondered briefly if he could see her soul, if she had one. His eyes rested steadily on hers for a moment, before glancing back at the fighter and breaking the silence. “None of that is wrong, however you must see her in whole as you do in pieces. There is theory, there is practice, but there is also art, and most importantly, trust between you and the fighter. Did you trust your,” he paused, grasping for a name, “Kinetic Ambulatory Trooper Walker?”

There was no meaning in Kat's eyes. No deeper understanding. No hidden depth. No soul. They were an image of eyes. Photorealistic, but artificial. Computer generated, to the idea of what eyes should and do look like, rather than what they represent. C'est ne pas un pipe, the treachery inherent in the image of a concept. "I do not know if I understand art. The dictionary definition, perhaps, but even that suggests a deeper meaning to an object of art that I do not know if I am even capable of understanding," she quietly explained.

"Biological sentients are often beings of emotion, of meaning, finding meaning in and assigning meaning to objects," she quietly continued, reaching a hand out to the Valkyrie, but the hand seemingly passing through. "I am a being of logic and simulated feelings. I do not know if I am capable of appreciating deeper meanings in items. And I do not know if that makes me - " she trailed off for a moment. In a distant space, a quiet humm sounded, cooling systems spooling up to keep her crystalline core, in its barest essence a block of etched glass, at temperature. " - lesser. I see no meaning or art where those around me, do."

She then lowered her hand again and shook her head. "I do not remember my walker in any other state than broken. Battle damaged, low on fuel, sensor suite only half functional, body unable to move. That is not a physical form I trust. My hope is that this is one I can."

“If you prove you are trustable, she will trust in you,” Marcus replied quietly, petting the nose of the Valkyrie again before turning square to Kat, his voice returning to normal volume, with a subtle vigor behind it. “You are what you want. You will understand the logic of art if you are to step onboard my fighter. You are to start studying the beginning material on flight school. And I require a haiku defining yourself. Class lessons will begin tomorrow.” His head cocked slightly to the side, watching the subtleties of the perfect hologram, a flaw in itself.

Truth be told, Kat was happy to have clear instructions giving her a defined task, rather than dwelling on the philosophy of self. Though the request for a Haiku puzzled her for a few core cycles spread over a few threads. She stood up a bit more straight, arms at her side, standing at attention. "Sir." she simply responded.

Marcus nodded, simply replying, “Questions?”

"Tomorrow, what time, Sir?" Kat asked.

Marcus thought for a moment, going through his calendar in his mind. “11:00, briefing room,” he finally replied.

"I will be there, Sir. Will there be anything else?" she asked, still standing at attention.

“Dismissed,” He replied a beat after her question. He returned the posture of attention before returning to what he was working on.

"Sir!" Kat replied with a hint of eagerness - not too surprising considering her programming - and with a leap into the air her avatar shimmered and changed back to the four-winged avian form. She performed her customary lap around the fighter bay before making her way out again.

 

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