A Sight to Behold

Posted on 16 Aug 2017 @ 5:10pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant JG Gideon Nicols PhD
Edited on on 21 Aug 2017 @ 12:38pm

2,431 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - Academy Grounds, Aquatic Training Center
Timeline: MD 35, 0230 Hrs

[ON]

Gideon Nicols had tossed and turned for most of the late evening into the early morning hours. Typically he was a sound sleeper, and could sleep through just about anything (red alert klaxons, ship shuddering from weapons fire, etc.), only years in Starfleet had trained him to jump out of bed at the sound of a red alert klaxon. Tonight though, he could not sleep, in fact since arriving back on earth, his nights were mostly restless. He attributed this to starship lag. The standard time on a starship was different from that on earth, and at times it could be hard to adjust to. However, it would never take this long to adjust, and so he just figured he was took wound up to get any real rest.

So, he decided out of the blue to go for a swim. Exercise had always been a way to relax himself, to center himself, and to help release the tension and stress that would settle in between his shoulder blades. He undressed out of his pj pants and rummaged through his dresser drawers and pulled on a speedo, and then a pair of track pants over that. Next was a zip hoodie that he pulled on and zipped up over his bare chest. He grabbed a duffle and stuffed in some goggles, a couple of towels and toiletries to shower after. He slipped on his flipflops and headed out.

He caught a late night transport to the aquatic complex that was on the Academy grounds. The complex housed several pools, pools that were for recreation, and for training. He knew exactly which one was for recreation and had entered the vestibule. The moment he opened the large double door, and stepped inside, it echoed and his nostrils were filled with the mixture of water and chlorine. The overhead lights were dim to darkness, and the only light was coming from the lights imbedded into the walls and the floor of the pool, which cast a soothing glow over the immediate area. However, despite the warm glow being soothing, that hadn't been what caught his attention.

Dead center, flitting just above the water was a female of a species he didn't readily recognized. There was grace and beauty to the dance, and he found himself mesmerized by it, in fact he had never seen anything like it in all his years of life. He walked around the edge of the pool, watching, and honestly he felt embarrassed and a bit guilty for staring to begin with. He was just so transfixed, and he had to be careful not to lose his footing or walk off the edge and fall into the depths of the pool.

Allyndra needed to relax. Things had been too much and too much on her mind. While her world beckoned not too far in the future, she needed the relaxation of wind and wave. The problem was that while there was wind and wave in the San Francisco harbour, it was crowded and she needed the privacy. Thus she had made her way to the swimming complex figuring at such an hour it would be deserted and it was. Though not as much challenge as a normal water dance she decided to instead combine a bit of dance with music. This would be a bit less intense but even more formal in movement.

The pool was empty as she suspected and after stretching, she took to the air and tested a few moves before dancing in much refined manner and she started to sing:

"A'he Lai Malani
He 'ala nei malpai mai nei
Na la malani lau aheahe
I lawe mai i ku'u nui kino
Ho'opumehanala i ku'u poli
A'ke hoa o ke ahe lau makani
Halihali 'ala o ku'kua'hale"*

The soft singing that had come forth had echoed off the walls of the pool area, and left Gideon feeling even more mesmerized than before. He stopped now, his mouth slightly agape as he watched the petite, and seemingly fragile female, flit across the large olympic size pool. The artistry was amazing and unbelievable. He had tried to keep still, to watch the performance but after the song - he assumed it was the end - he began to clap softly. He didn't say a word simply because he knew words like 'beautiful' or 'amazing' were not good enough for what he just witnessed.

The sound took Allyndra by surprise and she spun around so hard she almost lost her balance. It was enough to get her a bit more wet then just around the ankles but certainly not up to the knee. She spied the young man and nodded, "I am sorry, I thought I had the place to myself. I did not mean to take over the pool." She said that but stayed hovering near the middle.

Gideon raised his large hands to chest level and shook his head. "No, no please, no apologies necessary. I feel like I should be the one to apologize, I was the one who couldn't stop watching." He wasn't one to get embarrassed easily but he felt his cheeks grow hot and he was sure they were rose colored. "I have to say, I've never seen anything like the type of dancing you were doing. It was truly breathtaking."

Allyndra laughed lightly. "We call it water dancing, but usually do it on the open sea. A balance between wind and wave, sky and ocean." She spun and second and then repeated but she switched from Akkadian to Federation standard so he could understand the words.

"There is a breath so gently breathing
So soft, so sweet, by sighing breezes
That as it touches my whole being
It warms me in my hearts
We, fair one, together, shall enjoy such moments
While murmuring wind sweeps me home."

She finished and then flew over to land near him. "I am Allyndra by the way." she held out a delicate hand.

"Gideon," he said in returned as he took the petite, but delicate hand into his own and shook softly for fear of breaking it. He gave the delicate woman a quick once over, finally getting a better look at the delicate features. "I hope I don't mean any offense but are you an Akkadian?" He knew he could have been wrong, and he felt slightly embarrassed to ask, but his scientific curiosity got the better of him.

"Yes, Allyndra illm Warraquim, it means of the House of Knowledge. I am surprised you would get our species properly. The song, it is about being homesick and I must admit that I am."

Gideon nodded. "Once an academic always an academic," he said, as a way to explain these things. "I had a colleague once that had talked about a species named Akkadians who were delicate with delicate features, with wings, and were the most beautiful color he had ever seen. Anyway, I took a chance to ask." He smiled warmly at the woman. "The song was quite beautiful, even if it is about being homesick... I am sorry though you are homesick. Do you like being here on earth?"

"The world is nice, there is no doubt, a gem amoung many. Still, there is not the Twins dancing in the sky, the silver light of Ring Rise, the little things that make Akkadia home. I am sure you understand the little nuances that make a place special. Perhaps one day you will get to see it."

Gideon understood fully, he had traveled among the stars for many years because of his career and there were still places on earth that could not be matched to other worlds. "I certainly do understand, I'm on an extended shore leave, and though I'm anxious to get back to work, I've been enjoying being back on my home planet." He indicated bleacher seat. "Would you like to sit?" He asked.

"Thank you, I should let you have your swim though. Not that we do not know how, one has to learn that sometimes one gets swatted down but with wings it is not as easy as it without."

Gideon tilted his head in thought as recalled his basic biology classes. Birds really couldn't handle water due to the wings and the bone structure. Sure there were some species that glided on water but never swam. "Do your wings create drag?" he asked out of curiosity. He then smiled as he shook his head. "I apologize for all the questions, I suppose my scientific and personal curiosity is getting the better of me."

"When wet? Yes, that is why storm surfing...." she realized he would not know the term. "It is when one uses ones wings to catch the updrafts in front of a storm. Exhilarating but dangerous as one can get sucked into the storm. Here," she stood and waved him to do the same. Normally what she was going to do was something considered very intimate but this was for science.

"Place your hand at the base of the wing. She slowly opened them and moved them. The musculature is akin to your Terran damselfly, or dragonfly, one set of muscles to move one direction and another to move them the other. If you move your hand just above you should be able to feel the beat of one of the flight hearts. One on each side, double chambered, to supply each set of wing muscles with oxygen and energy, there is a third four chambered heart centered akin to your kind for the rest of the body."

At first, Gideon had been hesitant to follow through with the touch. He felt that it probably was an intimate gesture on Allyndra's part, and he felt very honored that she was allowing this. He placed his hand where she had indicated and moved it accordingly. He felt the indicated muscle expand and contract, and when he felt the soft pulse his mouth slightly went agape in awe. He let go of the breath he was holding. "That's... that's incredible..." he breathed out.

"Not really, just an efficient design that nature has perfected over time. We are not unlike your Terran birds in bone and lung with air sacs. Weight is the enemy of flight. I wonder with your curiosity if you might be a scientist then."

Gideon nodded. "I am a scientist, though my field of study is not biological but the geophysical sciences," he replied. He finally lifted his hand from where the wing met Allyndra's skin. "For you, it's just you, it's your biology just like if I were to touch my shoulder or elbow joint. We are used to our biology after all. But for me, the fact you allowed me to feel, is quite significant to me."

"Of course, you expressed curiosity and thought since I have been...what is the term you people use....'pigging the pool?' No that is not quite right." She was trying to remember the phrase and knew it had something to do with some sort of Terran porcine animal.

Gideon couldn't help but smile. "I think you mean 'hogging the pool'," he said. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "You weren't hogging the pool at all, so please do not worry about it. I got to see something I have never seen before, and I have made a new friend, so to me, it was worth missing a swim."

Oh! That is the term. Is your time over here? Normally one has until 0800. There is plenty of room, you swim, I will dance in the corner there." Allyndra pointed toward one end away from the marked lanes.

Gideon looked to where Allyndra was pointing and nodded. "I did come down here because I couldn't sleep, I figure a few laps may tire me out," he said. "As much as I love it on earth, I think I have gotten used to starship standard time."

"And I have not," Allyndra moved away a little then stepped back and hovered dragging her toes in the water. "We are world with close twin suns and the lighting is never right, at night instead of darkness we have the rings which reflect a great subdued silver light. Perhaps one day I can show you," she then playfully launched a bit of water toward him with her foot.

Gideon laughed when the water came in contact with his hoodie. It wasn't a lot of water, but enough to wet the fabric. His deep laughter echoed off the walls of the pool. He moved to the benches and removed his flip flops, track pants and hoodie. He stood clad only in his speedo and looked to Allyndra. "Who knows where my travels will take me once I get to serve on the new Galileo," he said as he took a running start and dove into the deep end of the pool.

"Indeed," she replied and watched him for a moment before moving gently toward the far end. She made a few twirls but her mind was not in dancing.
She moved to the bleachers and took a seat for a moment to watch the man swim.

She stood and then shouted, "Halakea Heleah Alkanee!"

Swimming had always been a freeing experience. He wasn't the best swimmer, but he was good enough and strong enough to do several laps before even tiring out. Akin to Allyndra's dancing, his own body glided atop of the water barely splashing. He could hear the shouts from the Akkadian female, and managed to smile. He didn't know what the words were, but he had a feeling she was cheering him on. After a few minutes he stopped and wadded to the side of the pool. His legs kicked below the water line and he hung onto the side of the pool. "Is that an Akkadian cheer?" he asked as he wiped water from his face.

Allyndra shook her head in the negative, "It means 'fair journey or travel friend'." She then made a formal curtsy, "thank you for the time but I must be off now."

Again, Gideon found himself embarrassed. "Fair journey and travels to you as well," he said as he offered a smile and a nod. "It was a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for being so open."

"A pleasure as well," Allyndra waved.

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant JG Gideon Nicols, PhD
Chief Research Officer
On Extended Leave

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Medical Officer

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