First Contact, Pinophyta-style, part 2

Posted on Tue May 17th, 2011 @ 9:05am by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant JG Elizabeth Jackson & Lieutenant JG Jerreck O'Connor & Ensign Stran & Lieutenant JG Tramira Kyt

804 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Forests of Mythraeli
Location: Mythraeli
Timeline: Current

ON

[OLD]

Kyt looked up at Sam. "Uh, ma'am, I believe you've got your security officers muddled. I'm a security officer, with base first aid training." Kyt said. "We've covered my lack of technical knowledge before."

[NEW]

Her security officers ere generally muddled, but she was okay with them that way. Even now. "Okay, then let's think of a way we can piggyback the signal. So that it's not as irritating. Like white noise."

"And again, I'm a point and shoot, or needle and thread type. I'm afraid my knowledge of communications gear is fairly limited." Kyt re-iterated.

"Okay." So, it would be up to Sam. She pulled out a data crystal and inserted it into her PADD. Soft strains of Brahms began to fill the air. Sam felt a mental jolt and a feeling of attentiveness. It was as if the trees were listening. Music? She turned the volume up and a shudder of what could almost be construed as pleasure rippled through the forest. That gave her an idea. She turned the volume up and tapped her combadge. "York to Calypso. Could you send down a stereo set to these coordinates? You'll probably need to get one from Apu."

"A what, Captain?" the voice was puzzled.

"A stereo. Boombox. Something to play music?"

"Yes, ma'am," the voice replied, sounding obviously confused.

Kyt watched, curiously.

Five minutes later, the transporter engaged and a silver box appeared. Sam pulled off two smaller sections connected by wires to the main box. She set the speakers up to face different directions, selected some music and pushed the play button. Strains of classical music began to play. Immediately she felt a tremor of awareness again ripple through the forest.

Kyt perked up an eyebrow. "I prefer R&B, or Jazz, personally."

Stran shook his head. "Classical music is known to have therapeutic tendencies for a wide variety of plants."

"Although studies show that rock music helps plant grow better," Lizzie piped in. "I'm not sure if it's because they like it and are rocking out, or if they're annoyed and want to block it." The second thought made her chuckle.

Sam shook her head at Lizzie's comment. "Classical music seems to be working on our friends the trees, too." She turned the volume up and tapped her combadge. "York to Lancaster. Monitor this comm signal. Run a scan. See how long it lasts and how far it degrades -- if it does."

"Signal is stable," Ronnie replied. "Scanning now."'

Several minutes later, Sam's combadge chirped. "Captain, the signal is still stable. Whatever you're doing seems to work."

"Good. Stop the scan. Now, let's see how first contact goes. York out."

Kyt nodded to Stran. "Help the lady." Kyt said, patiently waiting.

Stran nodded.

Jerry was just along for the ride, mostly, looking around. He could feel the minds around him, the Starfleet crew as well as the "something else" everyone thought was the trees. This was the exact opposite of the other planet they'd been on, where he'd felt nothing at all. Here, he was just short of overwhelmed, because they weren't trying to invade. He'd sort of been in a daze, because of the simple problem that it was life, man, but not as he knew it.

He snapped out of it, and looked around, somewhat wildly. "Whu-wha? Where? Am I dreaming?"

While Stran, and the Captain were occupied, Kyt brought out the medkit she had grabbed, and scanned Jerry. "You are fully conscious." Kyt assured him. She showed him the tricorder. "You see? Right here? This little tell-tale says you aren't sleeping."

Lizzie had been watching the exchange between Kyt and Jerry with amusement. In an effort to help, she sprinkled water on Jerry's face. "Feel that? It, too, says you're not dreaming."

Sam was oblivious to the other conversation. She was increasingly aware of a curiosity, a change of focus from the sun, wind and soil to the music and now to her. As if, for the first time, they were aware of her.

In many ways this was a lot like Betazoid communication. Betazoids who didn't associate with other worlds communicated in images, concepts, ideas and feelings. Not in words that complicated understanding. But she had to keep it basic. Travel on a ship, gardening, fertilizer, co-existence between humanoids and plants. As she continued to share images and feelings, she felt a beginning of understanding.

She smiled and sat on the ground. This was going ot take some time, but she believed they had finally made first contact.

OFF

Captain Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant JG Jerreck O'Connor
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant JG Elizabeth Jackson (PNPC)
Botanist
USS Calypso
Ensign Tramira Kyt
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Calypso

Ensign Stran
Security Officer
USS Calypso

 

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