Bonding Over Books
Posted on Mon Apr 24th, 2023 @ 1:17am by Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran & Helena Moreno
Edited on on Mon Apr 24th, 2023 @ 10:29pm
1,609 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: USS Pioneer - Library - Deck 5
Timeline: MD001 1000 hrs
Kaylara had yet to visit the library. She liked books, and reading, but she'd rarely had a chance to visit a library. So, while things were slow, she took the opportunity to go down to Deck 5 and have a look.
Helena grew up in her father's large Vila in Tuscany. Her father was hardly home, so was left there with a nanny, a tutor, and the household staff.
When she was not in lessons, she'd walk in the lavish gardens, or play in her room, but spending time in the house's extensive library was her favourite thing to do. She'd explore Wonderland with Alice or join Gulliver on his travels. Solve a mystery with Holmes and Watson, or travel beneath the waves in the Nautilus. She had access to holo tech, but preferred to feel and smell of books.
Since coming aboard the Pioneer, she'd discovered the library on Deck 5, and would spend her time there after school. Currently she was in the library reading The Hobbit. Smaug the Dragon had just been introduced. She loved dragons.
The library was mostly empty, which suited Kaylara. She had a bit of an attitude, being Romulan, and sometimes flaunted it. But inside she often felt alone and found kindred spirits between the pages of books. Today she was in the mood for something Terran, and fantasy. She wondered if she could look up books by monster? Dragons or sea monsters appealed to her today. She'd read all of Brandon Sanderson--although he was a library all by himself-and Anne McCaffrey. She tended to favor 18th-22nd century authors. Maybe she should look up a good pirate book? She began to wander through the shelves, looking for something to catch her eye.
There was another woman who seemed engrossed in a book. Curious, Kaylara glanced at it to see what she was reading.
Helena felt a presence. Her Betazoid abilities were just beginning to develop and she could not yet focus on the other person's emotions.
She looked up from her book. "Hello, I'm Helena." She said with a smile.
Kaylara raised an eyebrow, then smiled back. "I'm Kaylara." She looked at Helena's book. "Good book. I'm looking for...something, but I'm not sure what."
"Yes, it’s called The Hobbit, it’s about a group of people that must work together to defeat a Dragon who has taken over their home." Helena said. "Oh, I love your ears." She added.
"Oh, yes. I've heard of Tolkien, but haven't read him yet." She couldn't help chuckling at the last comment. "That's not what I generally hear when someone notices my ears." Or her ridges. But it was a refreshingly candid response.
"Do people tease you about your ears?" Helena asked. "If so, I wouldn't listen to them, they're probably jealous."
"It's more that I'm Romulan. Vulcans get teased, but not as much. At least not from what I've heard." She shrugged. "I generally ignore them and keep to myself."
"I think that's best, I don't have time for bigots." Helena said. "So, what type of book are you looking for, Kaylara?" She asked.
"I'm in the mood for dragons or sea monsters," the Romulan replied. "Something with a little adventure. Not Homer. I tried him once and found him too hard to get through. Bizmerka, either. He's a bit pedantic." She raised an eyebrow. "What do you recommend?"
Helena thought for a moment. "Have you read Gulliver's Travels?" She asked. "There aren't any dragons, but there are giants and 'little people' and its quite funny."
"And horses." Kaylara smiled. "I have, but it's been a very long time. But perhaps not today. The political undercurrents aren't what I'm looking for today."
"Do you like Lovecraft? For sea monsters there's The Call of Cthulhu." Helena said. "Also the Loch is a good story, it’s not Lovecraft though."
Kaylara shook her head. "I'm not into horror. I'm more a fantasy and science fiction reader. You seem to have a wide range of interests."
"Have you read HG Wells' Sea Raiders? It features a story about giant squid attacking a seaside resort." Helena said. "I didn't have any friends growing up, so I spent my free time in the library my father's large villa."
"No, I haven't. I've only read The Time Machine. Do they have it here?" Kaylara paused. "I spent most of my childhood in books, too. Mostly because I was Romulan." She couldn't help chuckling as she added, "And probably because of the chip on my shoulder I developed because of it."
"I think so, I've found War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, so I don't see why they wouldn't have it." Helena said. "And about you being Romulan, my grandmother taught me to judge people on their actions and their character, not their origins."
"I think I'd like your grandmother." Kaylara smiled. "Most of the people I associated with growing up were fine, but there are always a few who still mistrust Romulans." She looked around. "Let me see if I can find that book..."
It didn't take her long to return with the volume--and two others. "Success."
"My grandmother lives on Empok Nor." Helena said. "She looked after me, after my uncaring father was sent to prison." She smiled "I'm back with my mother now, she's the Pioneer's CMO."
"Oh, I'm glad you found the book, Kaylara." Helena said with genuine delight.
"Thank you." She nodded to an empty chair. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all, take a seat." Helena said. "I read somewhere that H.G. Wells was fascinated by squid and octopus, he even based the aliens in The War of the Worlds on them." Helena added.
"I did not know that," Kaylara said, taking a seat. "What do you do on the Pioneer?"
"I'm a student, my teacher is Mr. Marec." Helena said. Looking at Kaylara's uniform. "Grey with Petty Officer First Class insignia, tell me Kaylara, are you an Intelligence Analyst or a Field Agent?"
One side of her mouth quirked up in amusement. "I am a data systems analyst. I spend most of my time looking through computer programs." And analyzing them, but it was mostly to access them to get data.
"Do you enjoy your work?" Helena asked. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life.
"Yes. I love working with computers. Sometimes they're like puzzles waiting to be taken apart and put back together." Kaylara loved puzzles.
"I'm glad." Helena said. "I like puzzles too, so I enjoy Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie's novels." She said.
"Both are excellent. I like the way Holmes and Poirot think. I may need to find a good mystery next." She shook her head. There were too many books in the universe. She could spend half her time reading and not get through half the books she'd like--and that was only if she kept to one planet, one genre, and one small space of time.
"I recommend Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun, it’s one of my favourites." Helena said.
Kaylara made a mental note of the title. "That will be next on my list. These should take me a couple of days." Depending on how much free time she had. As they were going to be spending some time on Poseidon Station, she would have more time for reading--and exploring.
"Good." Helena said. "Are you going to Poseidon Station?" She asked.
"Yes. I want to have a good look around the station and possibly the planet." She had nothing pressing and it would be interesting to see what the station had to offer. "What about you?"
"Yes, my mother is going to meet with the station's CMO, and I'm tagging along." Helena said.
"Well, I'm going to be checking out the bars and the beach. You're welcome to join me if you wish."
"Thank you for the invite, Kaylara, but I'm a little young for bars." Helena said.
"For alcohol, yes. But they have some amazing mocktails. That would be up to your mother," Kaylara said. "Then again, I don't know the bars there, so I can't say how good they are. So maybe just the beach?"
"Sure, the beach sounds great. it will give me an excuse to get a new swimsuit." Helena said with a smile. "Thank you for treating me like an equal, Kaylara."
Kaylara looked at her for a moment. "Everyone should be treated like an equal. Especially young ladies." She smiled. "And I should get a swimsuit. I don't think I have one." She picked up her books and stood. "I'll be in touch so we can plan a time for that beach. Tell your mother she's invited. And if you have anyone else you want to invite, go ahead. We can make a party of it."
"Cool, I'll invite Kimba, she works for my mum." Helena said. "She enjoys the beach."
"Great. I'll see what my rotation is for shore leave and message you, then we can make sure the weather is good." She smiled at the girl. "I look forward to seeing you again. Thanks for the recommendations."
"I enjoyed meeting you too, Kaylara." Helena said. "I was glad to help, see you soon."
A Joint Post By
Helena Moreno
Child, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
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