This New Lifeform

Posted on 13 Jun 2021 @ 2:40pm by Odin & Lieutenant Alexandra Dering

1,934 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Home

They were home. The thought repeated through Lexi's mind as she tried to piece together what she remembered into some semblance of sense... and failed. First there had been the possession -- that thought made her shiver and sent a wave of nauseating guilt through her. Then suddenly they had been in some kind of test? And the end of that had been... what? Oh, she remembered the events, but their reason still seemed... vague at best. Oddly, there was only one being on the ship who could enlighten her at all, and she was not sure that being could now. She really didn't know how it had happened, but the being had become part of the ship, so how much of the lady's memory was intact?

"Only one way to know, Lexi," she counseled herself, moving to the computer panel in her office in Engineering. "Odin?" She kind of felt stupid talking to the ship, even though she shouldn't. Maybe it was because, until recently, the ship had not been possessed of a sentience of its own. Well, she would get used to it eventually. Or maybe it was because she wasn't sure if the being who now inhabited the ship itself would want to be called by the ship's name or another that she chose herself. Either way, Lexi decided that she needed to try something. Thus the ship's name spoken as a request for the being to appear if she could.

The being now going by the name of Odin was everywhere and nowhere at once, being a creature that was both the ship, part of the ship, and not at all of the ship... It was very confusing, really. Still, it meant that when her name was spoken, she heard. Her avatar appeared before the woman she recognized as the ship's chief engineer. "Hello again, Lieutenant Dering," Odin greeted cheerfully.

Lexi stared at her for a moment, confusion flickering through her eyes. "This isn't the reason I called you, but how are you so happy about being fused with the ship? I'm not sure I would be in your place," she admitted. It wasn't that she wanted the being to be less happy; it was just that she didn't understand.

"We are each the product of our existence and history, are we not?" Odin said with a little shrug. "Well, I didn't like mine so much before. This ship and its people are far more interesting."

Lexi nodded thoughtfully. That made sense. It was a matter of perspective. Apparently being fused with the ship was better than what had come before, so that made it a good thing. Interesting. "If that form is capable of sitting on the furniture, you may," she offered. The ship hadn't had a hologram save for Kat Walker until now, so it wasn't really rigged properly for them. And this being was not exactly a hologram, so the rules that governed its form were unclear. "I had a question about before, and I hope your memory of it is intact."

Odin took a seat, even though she didn't actually "need" to. But she'd observed that people didn't like others standing all the time. It could make them uncomfortable. "Ask away," the AI-ish said with an open expression.

Lexi nodded, going to the Replicator and retrieving a cup of tea; she really needed the relaxation effect it offered. Taking a sip once the mug materialized, she turned back to Odin. "Well, it's to do with how we got here, how you did what you did... well, more accurately..." She paused, collecting her wits. "Sorry. What I mean is what exactly happened at the end there? I mean, we were talking, and then suddenly you stared away, and then we were... here." It had felt a little abrupt and jarring, but she wasn't angry with the lady, only confused.

Maybe she should be angry. After all, this woman had put them through... what? Some kind of weird test?> But then, she hadn't harmed them. No one had been injured, just confused and inconvenienced. So Lexi was inclined to put that all aside, at least for the time being. There had been worse before this woman had 'collected' them anyway, plenty there to be angry or guilty about.

"I was in many places at once," Odin replied casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I was visiting not just you but some of your crewmates and we were all talking. When my last puzzle was solved, I brought you all home."

Lexi frowned slightly, leaning back in her chair and resting her hand with the mug in it on her knee. "Last puzzle? There was a puzzle to that last room we were in with you? Or do you mean that one group was still working on the puzzle before that room?"

Odin tilted her head, blonde hair falling to one side and heterochromatic eyes glittering like a regular, corporeal human's would. "Well, the last puzzle wasn't quite the same. See, you all solved the bigger puzzles and then I was just talking. But when one group had talked a while and came to the topic, I gave them a question to figure out. One group got to the question and answered it first."

Lexi thought about that for a moment, then nodded. It made sense. "May I ask... why did you set us to those puzzles in the first place?" Had this being known what had happened to them just before she'd taken them? Did it even matter now? "Was it some form of odd... exploration?" She wasn't going to assume that every powerful being who made them solve their way out of something was like Q... until they proved themselves to be so.

"I'd seen your ship about with the Union, and learned what I could about it. I was fascinated, and I thought it would be interesting to try to send you back," Odin replied casually. "I knew how much it would take, though, so I wanted to see you all at work. I guess to decide if I wanted to take the risk and expend the power I knew it would take."

Lexi nodded; it made sense to her. In the woman's place, she would likely have tested them too. "I can understand that. Did you know this" she motioned to the now-holographic form of the woman "was a possible outcome?" True, she was an Engineer, but she was also innately curious. It had gotten her in much trouble over the years.

Odin looked down at herself and considered it for a moment. "You know, I don't know I thought of this specifically, but I did know that there was a pretty wide field of possibilities. Honestly, I was thrilled by the prospect and the uncertainty."

Lexi chuckled softly, teasing slightly, "Bit of an adrenaline junkie, hm?" Oh, she was very clearly aware that the being before her likely didn't even have that particular bit of chemistry before this, and certainly didn't now. "I get it," she continued with a smile. "I think that's why a lot of people join Starfleet, to experience the unknown." She took a sip of the tea and then continued. "I hope all these questions don't feel intrusive. I jusat want to get to know you a bit better."

"Not at all," Odin replied warmly. "I love finding out about others, but I'm just as happy to share the favor. I know there's a lot about me that you all don't know yet and I am now a rather permanent part of the ship's landscape."

Lexi nodded. "Maybe more literally than you'd like," she said with a smile that indicated her words were meant at least in part as humor. "You make a good point, though. I'm asking all of the questions; that's hardly fair." She sat back and took a sip of the tea from the mug on her desk, frowning because it had gotten cold. Standing, she moved to the replicator and ordered a replacement, recycling the old at the same time. While the machine did that, she looked over her shoulder. "I know you have access to our files, but I also know that's not really thed same as knowing us, knowing who we are. I open myself to you as well. Ask whatever you like."

That made the AI(ish) laugh. "That's an awfully broad invitation, Lieutenant," she said with a hint of mischief. "I know I'll get to know everyone in time, and I already got to know all of you a bit. I know you're one of the persons on this ship who is permanently bonded to another."

Lexi chuckled softly. "Yes, I suppose it is. Unfortunately for me, I already said it, though," she answered with a wink. She frowned then, processing the rest for a moment. "If you mean I'm married, then yes," she answered after that moment's pause. "My husband is on board as well." She took her tea from the replicator and returned to her seat, sipping the tea as she did. "What was the name of your species?" She used the past tense only because Odin was no longer of that species, well not technically anyway.

Odin giggled and bit her lip impishly. "I bet you could guess if you tried."

Lexi frowned slightly. "Well, Starfleet has only met a couple of life forms capable of what you did," she said, thinking aloud. "There was Tremaine in Kirk's era and Q," she paused, thinking, "though some have speculated that they were the same species. "But the Q we met didn't really seem incluned to help us, more be amused by us. And they didn't live as you did in that place..." She frowned deeply. "Organians had once been organic and, so, had buildings, but they evolved beyond that some time before Kirk's day. Could I get a little more data to fill in the picture a bit more?"

The AI-ish tilted her head. "What makes you think I lived in that place?"

Lexi frowned, then looked apologetic. "Well, when I asked you, at the time, where we were, you said it was your home," she explained her logic to the woman. "Normally, that means someone lives, or at least exists, in that place they call home. So I just..." She gave Odin another apologetic look tinged with a bit of embarrassment. "Sorry, I know better than to assume. I meant no offense." She had not seen any in Odin's expression or heard any in the voice, but she still felt the need to say that. Actually, what she felt just then was foolish.

Odin smiled. "Can't think too literally with me. My home has always been whatever I've made of it wherever I've made it. So I suppose I never really had a home, but it was easier to say it like that for other sorts of people."

Lexi nodded. "Makes sense." After a fashion. "I guess that makes this your home now then," she offered with a smile. "What do you think of it so far?"

"I like it!" the AI replied enthusiastically. "You all are so...similar and yet so different. It's really quite fascinating."

Lexi chuckled softly. "You know that we find you equally fascinating, right?" she said with a wink. "Thank you for answering my questions."

Odin grinned. "Thanks for asking them. I'm happy to talk any time!"

 

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