I Need A Wizard Part IV
Posted on Sat Jun 17th, 2023 @ 8:42am by Ensign Connor Turner & 1st Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Edited on on Tue Jun 20th, 2023 @ 9:03pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Shuttlebay - Deck 10 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD010 1930 hrs
"Weren't you given the basics on how to fly a shuttle? Look it's going to be okay, you know how to run the scans and the other devices it's just making the ship move forward." Marjani replied. "And definitely this will be easier than learning how to get a fuel powered aircraft into the air. Try it. I am right here."
"I mean, I know how to fly a shuttle and a ship. I mean, it is basic training, right?" He started to move towards the pilot's seat. "Usually, well, engineers don't test them live and well, I'm sure that you will, um, notice more than I will. Talon is yours...."
"I beg to differ; I know of several engineers who have tested their work in order to keep the pilots safe. This is a cooperative endeavor, and hands on is the best way to do things." taking a seat beside him. "I know you can do this."
Taking a deep breath, he finally sat in the pilot’s seat - Marjani’s seat - and grabbed the flight stick with cautious determination. “Computer, would you please show me what’s out there?” Obediently, Talon gave him a viewscreen.
“Thank you computer, now please enhance graphics and show me all objects that are not Federation created and are smaller than a Federation battleship that could potentially harm this ship.” The screen lit up with dots, some which were only microns in size.
Connor’s glee could not be contained, and he smiled in Marjani’s direction. He pointed at the minuscule objects. “I don’t think your old system could detect those. These ships are built more for detecting ships but if someone thought to use super small objects for attacks, well, you would never know it until it was too late. But now….” Pride was written all over his face. “So, where do you want to go? I doubt there’s anomalies to test it further.”
"For now, I want to avoid that strange rift that isn't far from here, but I am going to let you make the decision. Just take a flight, sound good?" Marjani replied, with a grin. She was very interested in seeing him experiencing piloting a Talon fighter.
Hand on the flight stick, Connor guided the Talon away from the rift and Poseidon. He took it easy, starting at impulse and gradually pushing the Talon to warp, then warp 2, and warp 3. He finally pulled the Talon out of warp and switched the ship back into impulse in an orbit around a small redish-orange planet with a steam atmosphere. The planet orbited a red dwarf star. "This looked interesting," Connor told Marjani.
"Yes, it does." Marjani gazing at the planet. Then back to Connor. "Looks like Talon is responding nicely to your guidance, and I loved it. What do you think? Did you enjoy it?"
"I think so," Connor responded wonderingly. "I don't usually fly. Teleporters usually get me to where I need to go." It did not occur to Connor that he was no longer hesitating to talk to Marjani and that he occasionally was looking at her.
"Being out here in a ship, it can give a person a different perspective on things. At times when I get a little bit miffed or even confused about something, I go out in Talon just to regain my composure, to regain my perspective," she said looking back out towards the red dwarf star. She turned her head to look at Connor.
"I am really glad you were willing to come out in the Talon, to even have the first experience of flying one. I am glad to have witnessed it." smiling softly and reaching out a hand to touch his. "Thank you."
"Thank you?" Connor asked, completely and utterly confused. He did not move his hand once Marjani touched it, but he did not do anything with his own, either. "Um..." Connor uttered, not knowing what to say or being able to process what Marjani was doing.
A gentle squeeze of her hand was all that she did, then Marjani moved it away. "Thank you for agreeing to fly Talon to check out his responses. Thank you for letting me see just the sheer joy and pleasure of someone who doesn't usually fly a ship, especially mine. And thank you for letting me have some time with you, you certainly have taken away some of the loneliness I feel from time to time."
There was a sound coming from the console, indicating there was something out there, Marjani took a look at what the readings were, and blinked her eyes. "Wait that is strange, what's that, can we get a better image of that?"
Connor's head was swimming, while he tried to process the information that he heard. Why would Marjani care if she saw joy and pleasure in someone from flying a ship? Why did she want to see him fly her ship or to spend time with her? And why, most of all, was Marjani lonely? How could she be lonely? She was so beautiful and free. She could have anyone that she wanted, couldn't she?
His thoughts were interrupted by Marjani's questions about something strange. Oh, God! That doesn't sound good. "Um, yes. Computer enhance," he ordered.
The object she was looking at, it looked like an almost transluscent butterfly, the thing looking like it was the size of the fighter they were in. It caught the color of the planet they were next to and moved beyond it. It was soon joined by several others.
"Woah, that almost looks like a migration of sorts, I don't know if you've seen migration of butterflies, but that looks like one. Maybe a small one? But just in case, maybe we need to get out of the pathway if there are more. Shall we head back? Definitely going to let some of the science people see the footage of this." Her gaze was caught by more blips. "Okay looks like we've got more coming. Let's get to a safer distance, shall we?" Marjani taking a look at the readings.
Hypnotically, Connor answered, "Right. Let's move back." His hand automatically reached back to the stick and he guided the Talon half an AU away from the migration. "Do you think we should send um, a report to science?" he asked, still watching the translucent butterflies. They defied logic. Nothing like that should be able to exist in the dead cold of space. "I hope the computer is recording this. It should be."
"Definitely check it." Marjani was just watching in wonder then glanced down. "Okay looks like it is, if you don't mind confirming that it is and yes, we do need to send this to science." She was enthralled, giving herself a slight hug, and a rather quiet squeal. "This is so exciting!"
She looked over towards Connor once more, just beaming with delight. "That is why I like to come out here, once in a while a person can see something amazing."
Connor started checking the computers and verifying the recorders. They seemed to be working with all of his modifications, so he breathed a sigh of relief. "Amazing, indeed," Connor finally said dumbly as he looked at Marjani.
Marjani smiled, then turned her attention towards the space butterflies as they followed whatever instinctual path that was written within their genetics. "I would love to follow to see where they are going," she said musingly. "Maybe we could just a little bit?" but then a message came over the comm, Marjani looked at it and sighed softly.
She reminds me of Holly Connor thought nostalgically.
The pilot continued, "Dang it, looks like I need to call in and let my group know I arrived safely. I guess we won't be following the butterflies for now. Let's get back."
"OK," Connor agreed. "Would you like your controls back?" he offered. This was her ship, after all.
Marjani shook her head, "Nope, this one is the there and back again, sort of deal. Sure, I brought us out part way but, I would like you to have the full experience, that of bringing the ship back into the hangar of the station. Even take a circuit around the station and the planet Aquil. It is different when you are piloting a ship doing so than being in the copilot seat. Shall we?"
At this point, Connor had decided that asking her if she was sure would be pointless. It seemed that when Marjani had made a decision, she was not going to change her mind. So Connor sat himself back down and silently took the controls again. "Around Aquil, then?" Connor programmed the computer for the navigation, taking the ship smoothly back into warp.
"Yes please." Marjani replied, and not only watched peripherally Connor but also just enjoying seeing the view from a different angle. She quietly sang a sentence of a first verse from Aladdin, "I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid." Then she went quiet as the rest of the tune played out in her mind, while Connor took them about Aquil.
Aladdin, being a cartoon Earth musical from 1992 was well outside of Connor's roundhouse. Connor watched below as the watery world floated below them. Keeping his face forward he said, "That's pretty. Did you make that up?" he asked. "You seem to be um, enjoying the flight. Did you want me to do another orbit before bringing your ship into the hangar?"
"I didn't make it up, it was from an old Earth cartoon musical, named Aladdin. I'm someone who appreciates things from the past, and I had been introduced to it by my parents when I was little." She gave a fond smile. "As for Aquil let's head back into the station, unless you would like to make another orbit around the planet." Marjani giving a smile.
"Right," Connor told her and asked for clearance to land the Talon. There was a bit of confusion on the base's side as Marjani had flown the ship out and Connor was flying it in, but with that sorted, Connor took the Talon in for a landing. It was smooth enough, but not that of a practiced pilot.
Once the ship had landed, Connor started to revert back to his hesitant speech. "So, um, I guess this is, um, goodbye then? Everything's, um, all sorted, right?"
"I guess it is, unless you want to get in touch with me again, you now have a way to contact me." She noticed the change in Connor, "Hey don't be a stranger, do keep in contact. I really enjoyed the time with you." She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "If you ever need something from me, just give me a shout and I will come running as soon as I can. Besides you are a wizard in my book, and you worked on my ship, thank you."
Connor did not stiffen this time when Marjani kissed him, but he did not move, either. "Um, uh, you know, um, where to find me, um, if you need anything." He swallowed hard. "I, um, really should be going." He shuffled his foot, not knowing what to do. Is it hot in here? Probably should check the environmental controls....
Marjani nodded. "Yup. See you around," leaning against the hull of her Talon. She was minding her manners now. Her comm chirped again. "Blast! Can't they wait for just a few more moments? Sorry Connor, I've got to get this."
Connor simply nodded. He gave her a short wave and hastily beat his retreat towards engineering.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
First Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Pilot
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