Scientific Opinions (part 1)

Posted on Sat Sep 24th, 2016 @ 3:43am by Lieutenant Illise Hale

1,041 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Palace Grounds, Operln Complex for the Sciences
Timeline: Current

ON

Illise returned to the palace after her tour of the museum with Commodore York and Colonel Raine. She was scheduled for another tour in less than an hour, this time at the city’s foremost scientific labs. She had been told that she would have the opportunity to visit the Research and Development departments for a first-hand look at the cutting edge of Jenefran technology and scientific knowledge.

Illise left the purchases she had made at the museum with a palace servant who said he would store them until she was ready to return to the Calypso. A vehicle was called to pick her up and take her to the Operln Complex for the Sciences, located in the city. As she crossed the palace grounds to the location where she was to meet her ride, she spotted a familiar face walking along the pathway opposite her. It was the male Jenefran agricultural official that she had met at the dinner last night. A wide grin split his face as he saw her. Illise sighed but kept walking.

“Hello there Lieutenant Hale,” he greeted her in a very cheerful tone as they met.

“Hello Minister Hetnal.” Illise replied politely, but didn’t stop. Hetnal turned easily on his heel and began walking in the direction he had just come from, as though finding her had been his intention all along. Illise had the sneaking suspicion that perhaps it had been.

“Wonderful day, don’t you think?” He asked, taking a deep breath for emphasis.

“Yes, it is lovely.” She told him.

“When I saw you earlier this morning I hoped that you might of joined me for breakfast.” Hetnal spoke casually, as though they were old friends out for a stroll, not near strangers meeting for the third time along a busy path. “There is a wonderful little cafe just a few blocks from here - I happen to be on good terms with the owner. She would have set us such a meal that I would wager even you have never had!” He sighed expansively, “But alas, you are a very busy woman and had to rush away. So I settled for breakfast with one of my fellow ministers.” He managed to look rather forlorn.

“I am certain that the palace food was at least adequate.” Illise quipped.

“Certainly! But the company was somewhat lacking. Many of the ministers can be rather droll...” He winked and Illise couldn’t help but find him somewhat charming. They turned a corner on the path and Illise could see the gate where her ride waited about hundred yards ahead. He noticed her direction. “I see that you are again off to another appointment. Such a shame! I would of liked to show you the city from the perspective of a humble citizen.” He chuckled at his own joke.

Illise offered him a small smile for his efforts. “Unfortunately, I am due for a tour at the Operln Complex in less than an hour.”

“Ah, then I will not delay you. Duty calls! Perhaps another time then?” He was smiling openly now, even though he was doing his best to look disappointed. The effect was slightly ridiculous. It was a game of course. He would invite and she would have some reason to decline. Feigning disappointment, he would bid her farewell until their next meeting, which would appear just as innocent as the last, and he would try again to divert her with his charms. Illise knew the type. But she had to admit that his approach was intriguing, especially since the last individual who had made efforts in her direction had been more to-the-point. Klingons were not a subtle people.

“Perhaps.” Illise gave him a small hope to play with. She had decided that it might be fun to play along for a while, so long as the game remained harmless and did not interfere with her duties. “But like you said, I am very busy.”

“Then I shall just have to find ways to make myself more available.” They stopped near the gates, and he gave her a formal bow in view of the drivers and other passengers waiting for or departing from their vehicles. “Until next we meet.” Though his pose was formal, his eyes danced with amusement.

“Until then.” Illise replied, inclining her head to mirror his formality. Then Hetnal left her and walked back up the path, continuing to wherever he had been going before they had met.

“Lieutenant Hale?” A male Jenefran dressed in a simple grey uniform approached her. The driver.

“Yes.” Illise turned to him.

“Are you ready to depart?” He asked, gesturing back towards his vehicle.

“Please.” Illise told him, and then she followed him to the vehicle. He held the door for her as she climbed in, then he returned to the driver’s position. They were soon pulling away from the palace grounds and out into the city.

The drive to the complex was pleasant, and she saw many wonderfully designed buildings along their route. The Jenefrans love of art extended to their architecture, both past and present, turning the city into an art gallery of sorts.

The Operln Complex for the Sciences was a secure site in the north-east section of the city, and spanned five city blocks. The city planners had added a lawn around the perimeter of the site, using tasteful landscaping to provide a buffer before a thick wall which isolated the complex. Once past the gate Illise thought that it looked more like a university campus than a series of labs. Nearly twenty buildings of various designs were interspaced with several cafe’s and green spaces, while roads and walking paths connected them. Within the seemingly relaxed atmosphere of the complex, there was the ever-present security overseeing everything. They kept a reasonably low-profile, but maintained a watchful eye.

Illise’s vehicle drove along the main road towards a tall building at the center of the complex. There she was met by three scientists, one male and two females, in light blue coats. The shorter female had a smug expression on her face, while the taller one seemed excited and the male simply looked pleased to be there.

TBC

 

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