Enroute

Posted on 29 Mar 2021 @ 10:51pm by Lieutenant Callisi Veera & Commander Kristiana Petrova

1,353 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Home
Location: Shuttlebay

"You ready?" Kristiana asked, going through the sequence to start up one of the ship's Type 11 shuttlecraft. Still wearing a simple black tank top over green cargo pants and heavy boots, a duffel bag with some travel clothes, bedding and other assorted things sat behind her seat. "Should be only a few hours at maximum warp beforel we reach Earth. Can land on the moon if you want to see, there's a waystation and some souvenir shops there."

"We can satisfy my desire to see the Earth's moon on the way back. We're here on your business." she reminded. It seemed like Kris was putting delay after delay up to hold off on visiting the farm, and Callisi understood why. Or at least she felt like she understood why. "Though, I do appreciate your thoughtfulness." As she appreciated the last two offers to go out of the flight path to attend to something. Unlike Kris, Callisi dressed simply but was bare paw. Boots were packed just in case, but for the casual attire, she preferred to feel the world beneath her feet. "Souvenir shops on the moon. That sounds amusing."

"There was this whole thing with a space race between two powerful nations who didn't like each other very much, Russia and America. I'm from what used to be Russia. Anyways, Russia was first at everything except putting someone on the moon, that was America, but America won the political race, so guess what became more celebrated and turned into a pilgrimage location? That's right, the moon landing location," Kris explained as she started the power up sequence for the shuttle. "So eventually after the third world war when a freshly united Earth was visited by Vulcans and properly went to space we built a waystation near the moonlanding site."

"Interesting. Our history had us warring over the world of Ts'usu before we were declared unfit for her beauty. The first Emperor descended and found us wanting, unworthy, undeserving. We were sent from the world we were born on, and banished to the three moons. To show us the way, the Emperor themself ascended to the heavens. Some say on a golden chariot, other accounts state they ascended under their own power. The final verdict is that the Emperor was waiting for the early warring armies of Ts'usu to arrive and claim the moons. A lot of time has passed since that day, and still Ts'usu hangs over us. A constant reminder of what we were, and what we need to be." she paused, "Between you and me, I don't think we'll ever return to Ts'usu. It's a jewel, a goal, an ambition, but we've accomplished so much in Ts'usu's name that, well, we've re-discovered Ts'usu a million times over a million ways over. Leaving Ts'usu was the first step to truly leaving Ts'usu. Though, we keep her location secret, since the last time someone stumbled upon it there was a disagreement between colonization." she shook her head, "And ever since that day, the Koldaran and the Ts'usugi have been bitter enemies."

"But, no waystation on Ts'usu." she said, bringing their comparisons into parallel. "And if you're trying to entice the notion of landing on your Moon first, then we'll land on the Moon first."

"Part of me is hesitant. Afraid. Part of me just wants to get it over with. Not sure which half is winning," Kristiana admitted, lifting off and piloting the shuttle out.

"The half that put you in that seat, I'd assume." She offered with a smirk.

Kristiana remained silent for a moment, even as she helmed the shuttle out of the ship and onto their course for Earth. "The old two wolves thing, huh. Well, more or less," she actually smiled, though not a particularly bright over overwhelming one but rather subtle and slight. "Thanks. For - well, for coming with me. For being a friend. For being you, with your little wisdoms and truths and sayings."

Callisi gave a nod, "Of course, you're very welcome." she stated, clear the plate first. "Though, I think it's now one of your little wisdoms and sayings that has me at a disadvantage. Two Wolves?" a pause, "Is this a Dog thing? Humanity certainly loves dogs, from what I can tell."

Kris smiled. "Yeah we do love dogs. They're loyal, smart, watchful and don't judge," she mused. "The two wolves thing is an old parable from Earth. In short, a father tells his son, 'inside you there are two wolves. One is love, generosity and compassion, the other is hate, greed and evil. These wolves are always fighting,' and the son asks 'But which one will win?' and the father answers 'The one you feed'."

Callisi thought about the parable for a moment, "Interesting. A lesson best learned early that you're responsible for your actions. We're taught young that every positive emotion has a negative outcome if you abuse it. Love is a phenomenal feeling, but used wrong it promotes pain. Kindness is a wonderful emotion, but used in excess and it generates greed, or disdain." she offered.

"I've enjoyed what I've been exposed to of Earth theology. You're a very creative people." she complimented.

"Well, we've had to be. Wouldn't have risen to the top of the food chain otherwise," Kris mused. "Don't know how much you know about Earth fauna, but we're actually pretty small, slow and weak compared to a lot of it. No venom, no claws, can't jump worth a damn, other animals have tool use too, problem solving abilities and even among primates of our size or close to we're relatively very weak. In fact the only things we have over them is very good eyesight, opposable thumbs, very high stamina, intelligence and very good injury recovery," She glanced over at Callisi. "We've had to get creative to become the dominant species over lions, tigers, bears, chimpanzees and many, many more species that one-to-one we don't stand a chance against, physically."

"I don't know much, just what I read out of curiosity." she pointed out. "So this would be a crash course, as it were, should we encounter anything. I know there's an Earth creature that bears a resemblance to us, and I read all about them." a pause, "There's also apparently a holiday where you pay reverence to a citizen of Ts'usu. I like that one." she smirked. "Though, to survive a species has to adapt, and it sounds like humanity hit the ground running with that concept."

Kris chuckled. "Rabbits are a thing, yes. And hares. Lagomorphs in general. Though the resemblance is superficial at best. Similar muzzle shape, similar ears, but Ts'usugi heads are broader, eyes more forward rather than to the side and with a relatively much larger brainpan," she mused as she piloted the shuttle into warp. "They're popular pets, rabbits. They're soft, fluffy, gentle and easy going," She then paused a brief moment, looking at Callisi to gauge her reaction. "Would you like to see a rabbit? When we're there, I mean? I can understand if you don't, it's a whole thing and I can understand if they look freaky to you."

Her reaction was rather calm. Not unlike being told you resemble someone, and then asking if you'd like to meet them. The part about them being pets actually amused her to a point. "You know what, sure. I'd like to see one. Outside of a picture, that is." she offered. "As for looking freaky, I've seen the Dalacari, and I've seen humans. You have your ears too low on your head, and they have four of them." she smirked, then the smirk faded. "I see freaky everyday. Nothing new." she said softly, then shook her head, "Freaky is my new normal."

"That's dangerous," Kris mused. "If freaky becomes the norm, things cease to be amazing."

"There's enough wonder in the world to captivate me. I just have to see it with both eyes." she countered, though hardly for the sense of argument. Just a simple fact.

 

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