Finding Nirvana
Posted on Mon May 29th, 2023 @ 1:42am by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheldon Leonard PhD
Edited on on Mon May 29th, 2023 @ 5:56pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Umbilical and Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 1300 hrs
Sheldon Mark Leonard had been on Poseidon Station for a full week while he waited for the USS Pioneer to arrive.
Normally, he didn't like waiting, but there was a lot to see on the station and planet—at least the one time he went to the planet. But once some crazed woman offered him something she called "sacred lettuce" he left and vowed never to return. He was afraid to even ask about it, knowing he wouldn't like the answer. He didn't even like lettuce unless it was on a cheeseburger with a LOT of catsup, mustard, and mayo.
he'd given the Pioneer a day or two to get the awkward rush to shore leave out of the way. It reminded him too much of middle-aged secretaries in France on their lunch breaks, running to the beach and stripping off clothes as they went so they could get a little sun.
It had to be the beaches that were the problem. If he avoided them in general, he would be a much happier man. Sheldon shook his head. One more thing to put on his list of "Never Again."
He entered the umbilical to the Pioneer and stopped to stare at the spatial anomaly. This wasn't his first time watching it. In fact, he watched it every day. Every hour on the hour. It was fascinating—especially to an astrophysicist.
Someone bumped into him. He turned to glare at a harried-looking ensign. "Do you mind? I'm appreciating a truly magnificent phenomenon. You should take the time to experience what's around you."
The ensign muttered something under his breath and moved around him. "Rude." Sheldon sighed and turned back to the anomaly. He already had three dozen photos of it, and a full-spectrum holoimage from science with the most recent data. He had to show his transfer orders before the scientist would allow him to have a copy, but it would soon reside in the science database—and on the wall of his quarters. He watched it for several minutes, glad that traffic along the umbilical was light. Then, with a sigh, he moved on to his destination.
"Orders, please," a security officer asked as he reached the end.
"Excuse me?" Sheldon asked, momentarily distracted from his thoughts. "Oh, yes. Orders." He handed over a PADD. "I'd like to know where my quarters are and where I might find Astrometrics." He had his priorities.
The security officer scanned the PADD and handed it back. "Right. All the information you need is now on your PADD. Once you get settled, report to your chief." She gave him a polite smile.
He was five feet past her when he registered the smile. He turned back and awkwardly returned it, hoping she wasn't trying to flirt with him. "As you were."
She looked startled by that, but he spun around and was again heading to his new home.
He paused at his quarters just long enough to count the boxes stacked neatly on the floor, checking that everyone was properly labeled and accounted for, then placed his palm on the door plate. Now that he knew he and his worldly goods were in the right place, he could claim the small quarters as his. There would be plenty of time later to unpack and check his collection of comic books. Today, they were his second priority. His first lay ahead of him. He'd read everything he could about the labs on the Pioneer, but he wouldn't be content until he saw them for himself. Or, one in particular.
He didn't know if Commander Maren was on board, but he had to see his lab first. Then he could report in and unpack—in that order.
He stopped outside the door marked "Astrometrics Lab" and just stared at the words. He needed to take that last step forward, to have the door open and let him see the bounty beyond, but now he was curiously hesitant. Could it really be as magnificent as the reports said? True, there were a number of labs just like it all over Starfleet, but this one was on an Intrepid class, and that made a difference to him. It was a valiant starship destined to conquer the skies. With this lab. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and stepped forward.
As the door swished open, he caught the symphony of beeps and chirps that marked an active lab. It reminded him vaguely of sonification. He wondered how the sounds of the cosmos would differ here. He would have to find out right away.
He paused, let out the breath he'd been holding, and opened his eyes…
The small images he had seen in the reports did not do it justice! Nothing could compare to the full-sized majesty of a state-of-the-art Astrometrics lab. "Computer, lights." He needed to see all of it.
He gasped as the screens and the control center were illuminated by light. Almost reverently he walked to the center of the room and placed his hand on the console. "Activate," he whispered. Every viewscreen around the room turned on, displaying the system around the station. He had reached nirvana. Almost nirvana… "Computer, play Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. The sound system was everything he could have hoped for and more. "Computer, dim lights and display visual tour of the Milky Way."
He slowly turned a full circle, taking it all in. Then he sank to the deck and cried in happiness.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheldon Leonard
Astrometrics Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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