Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor) in Main SIM: On the planet’s (Risa) surface

Posted by Lieutenant Commander William B. Grey (Chief Science Officer / 2nd Officer) in Main SIM: On the planet’s (Risa) surface

Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Main SIM: On the planet’s (Risa) surface
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Chris was making sure that everyone knew what was expected of them so before he let them all lose he decided to have a formation. While standing in front of everyone. “I hope everyone can hear me. We will be on Risa for a little over two weeks. You can do whatever it is that you want within the law that is and don’t go anywhere without your Department Head knowing where do we can contact you in case of an emergency. So now I’ll leave you to your Department Heads to pass out your room keys and yes, you all each, get your very own rooms! So have fun! Ship dismissed to your Department Heads.” With that he saluted the XO and when she returned it he let it down and did a right face and left to the other side of the room in case anyone needed him.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

After getting his key, Kastarak moved around. His latest conversations with Umbri and Sega’a on his new vacation style required him to buy some clothes. He found that none of the clothes Sega’a had brought were comfortable. They were simply too un-Vulcan, and the fabrics just didn’t feel right. He decided to go get some other clothes, and get a haircut. Getting a more volume in his hair, with some asymmetry, was his goal too. He wanted to look less Vulcan, yet, remain Vulcan. So the clothes to fit had to be devoid of any patterns, be clean, and he decided that he’d ask a stylist in the clothes store to help him get a vacation look.

But first, hair cut!

The barber was a Klingon with albinism. He had never seen a Klingon in real life before, only in pictures, films and so on, but albinism among Klingons was something he had never seen, only read about in medical books. He was curious of the barber’s condition, but decided not to pry. Perhaps the Klingon had come to Risa for refuge, perhaps he was rejected by his peers on Kronos?

Kastarak had prepared pictures of how he wanted his hair.

“Sir,” the barber said, “are you certain? No Vulcan looks like this.”

“That is the point of this exercise,” replied Kastarak.

“Say no more, sir. I shall do it.”

---

Kastarak’s hair was a bit too short for the style that he wanted, but the barber used a follicle regenerator to grow the hair faster. It was a curious machine. Kastarak thought he could have use of one on Chernov, if any of the Caitians would suffer injuries, and would wish for their fur to grow back. So far, while Kastarak could regenerate skin after injury, hair was a different matter. The mechanism here must be different.

Kastarak suddenly felt very hungry. Was it the stimulation of the hair follicles taking up so much energy? Curious!

When the hair was sufficiently long, the Klingon barber began cutting, in the old Klingon traditional way. He used a knife, in the shape of a bat’leth but obviously much smaller to cut Kastarak’s hair. Then he stimulated Kastarak’s hair by adding volume to it, products of various kinds, and combed and brushed it vigorously over and over again.

It seemed like hard work taking care of that hair. He decided to remember every detail of the barber’s technique and use of products for next time he needed to fix his hair. He got some products with him after finishing it, and then thanked the barber.

“I am a new man, Mr Barber, sir. It is your handicraft. I am in your debt.”

“Oh not at all, sir, you have honoured me with your presence. You are the first Vulcan customer I have ever had, and I have been here since before the destruction of your planet. A most dishonourable act of the Romulans. I curse them.”

“Thank you for your solidarity. Live long and prosper,” he said, as he raised the Vulcan salute to his stylist.

Kastarak wondered if others from the Chernov would recognize him when he would return to the hotel. Now he needed to procure some clothes. Light clothes, summer clothes, clothes that looked natural on him, fit him well, were culturally somewhat ambiguous.

He found a tailor, a Betazoid, and told her what he wanted. She was curious of the Vulcan’s request.

“Are you Romulan, sir?” she asked, suspicious.

Kastarak lowered his cognitive protection, and the tailor could immediately understand what Kastarak pictured, and that Kastarak was as Vulcan as they come.

“Please sit down, I will make you look smart. I will work to make a design, and then have the replicators make it for you. It shouldn’t take too long, perhaps half an hour.”

Kastarak sat down, and was given a complementary hot drink. It was something he had never tasted before, it had a completely odd flavour and smell. But it wasn’t objectionable.

“What am I drinking?” he asked the assistant, who had given him the drink.

“Raktajino, it’s originally from Kronos.”

Two Klingon experiences in a day. Curious.

When the tailor returned, Kastarak was much pleased with the new clothes. They fit his body well, were modest enough, and the fabric was comfortable. They had various colours, shades of black, green, white and red, but each item had its own monochrome colour, and as such, he could fit them together. He decided to put on a white long-sleeved t-shirt, and green trousers, and a pair of sandals, wearing no socks, for he had heard from humans that it was a grievous sin to combine socks with sandals.

“Thank you, tailor. But before I go, might I ask if you have any items for which to swim in?”

“Ah you want to swim, my friend! Very good, here we are,” she said, and handed him a pair of speedos. “These will look good on you.”

Kastarak looked at the small piece of fabric now in his hand. He was suspicious.

“It won’t cover much.”

“It’ll cover the necessities, unless you’re a Klingon of course…” She laughed heartily. Kastarak did not laugh. “When in Risa, my friend,” she added.

Kastarak agreed, and accepted the gift. He would give them a chance.

He walked back to the hotel, checked in to his room, and then returned to the lobby. He found some colleagues still standing there. He wondered if they would recognize him.

– Kastarak (now cool –– ish.... )

After being dismissed by the Captain, Umbri gathered all of the Security department up to pass out their room keys. “Please let me know where you are at all times. I don’t want anything bad happening to you all. I’ll be on an excursion with the Captain, but don’t hesitate to reach out to me on comms if you need anything. I’m always here to help. And most of all, don’t forget to have fun! We’re on vacation, after all! So, any questions?” they asked. Seeing none, Umbri gave a casual salute to their team. “Alright, dismissed,” they said.

As the Security department dispersed, Umbri went ahead and got checked into their room. They decided that since they’d be going hunting out on the water, they’d definitely need to change into waterproof clothing. Fortunately, they’re nothing if not prepared. After getting changed and making sure they had all of the necessary equipment, they made their way back to the lobby to meet up with the Captain, which was where they saw Kastarak looking quite different. They almost didn’t recognize him, in fact. His new hairstyle and clothes suited him surprisingly well. Umbri would be interested to see how the rest of the crew reacted. They decided to simply give Kastarak a thumbs up and a smile.

Lieutenant (j.g.) Umbri Zayne, Weapons Officer

Kastarak saw Umbri giving him the thumbs up and smiling, he did not understand what thumbs up meant, but he understood the smiling was, judging on the facial cues and the context at large, indicative of Umbri’s satisfaction of Kastarak’s new hair and, perhaps, also his new clothes.

Chris saw Kastarak and blinked a couple of times. “Well I’ll be. Way to go Kastarak! I didn’t even notice you until Umbri did. These are huge leaps for a Vulcan, let alone you. I am very, very proud of you. The amount of courage it took to do this is astounding. So if you will permit me....” Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out his room key card.....”I want you to have my room!” He really didn’t give Kastarak a choice. “It’s on the top floor, you know, how Starfleet liked to spoil their Captain’s. Enjoy my friend. You’ve earned it big time!” He then patted Kastarak on the shoulder then turned to Umbri.

Kastarak was not often confused, but at this point, he was bewildered. First of all, the captain engaged in physical contact with him. The last time the captain had done so was when the captain was his patient, and it was in a moment of psychological distress. The captain now, however, did not seem in psychological distress, he seemed happy. Was he manic perhaps? Did he just leave his room to Kastarak? Surely he couldn’t make the captain homeless? The hypothesis of the captain experiencing mania became stronger. Kastarak rehearsed the treatments for mania in humans and went over the neural pathways, before he came to an opposite conclusion: The captain was being friendly.

Different human cultures have different rules for how to act when offering gifts. In some human cultures, it is expected that the receiver decline it and that will be the end of it. In other human cultures, the receiver is expected to decline, and the giver is then expected to insist even more, and then, depending on culture, different rounds of interaction will occur, but the end result will be that the gift will change hands. In other cultures, one has to accept, lest bring dishonour upon the offerer. What was the captain’s culture? How should he act appropriately here? He realised that he did not know the captain well at all. The only time they had actually spoken to one another was when the captain was his patient during a short period of psychological distress. Perhaps this was the captain’s way of signalling alliance and rapport.

But how should Kastarak respond? Which culture did the captain belong to? Why are humans so complicated? Why can’t they just say what they mean?

Then it struck him, the captain probably did say what he meant. He meanrt for Kastarak to take his room. Reciprocally, it was inferred that it was not an invitation to share a room. That would be illogical, and unethical, and not at all warranted under the circumstances. And the captain knew that Kastarak was Vulcan, and would not engage in the play of decline etc. Vulcans accept gifts, because it is dishonourable to reject them, with certain exceptions. This was not an exception.

“Thank you, captain,” said Kastarak as flatly as usual, not showing any confusion outwardly, “I accept.” He then handed the captain his own key. “So that you do not become homeless, third floor to the left” he added.

“Thank you! But I’m actually staying on my boat for the time that we’re here. I just didn’t want a room like mine to go to waste but I’m take your key in case something happens and I have to come back.” He bowed slightly.

“That is prudent, indeed,” replied Kastarak and reciprocated the slight bow.

“So little lady…er..um…Umbri. sorry I don’t know the proper term. Please forgive me. Anyway, are you ready to go fishing!” He then picked up the only bag he brought and threw it over his left shoulder. “Actually we have to make a quick stop to the cybernetics lab in the hospital first so that I can get another arm.” He smiled widely.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

After landing Blaze rushed to the area were the Archery contest tryouts were today after a few round he won his spot in the contest. After the tryouts he was relaxing with a sports drink. The prize for the contest will be a 200 year old Risa wood bow.

Lt. Alexander Blaze (Bow masters)

– Kastarak

Captain Chris Taggart CO

Will turned a corner and saw a group of officers conversing. He had finally won the internal argument that a place like Risa was not a place where one wore their uniform at all times so he wore some clothes from home, some wrangler jeans and a simple brown farming shirt. He held a physical book under his arm as he walked around the corner. He gave the captain a slow nod and continued his walk around the alien terrain.

CSO, 2O

Having been in the lobby for a while, Kastarak decided to venture out to the beach. The sun shone warmly – it reminded him of Vulcan and how the sun would always bring out a certain particular radiating heat when spring would come. It felt safe to Kastarak. He felt relief that no triggering memories came from this realization now.

He sat himself down on the beach, and began meditating. Somehow, it seemed like the most appropriate use of this time and moment. Everything was at peace, he could capture this moment and meditate on it.

– Kastarak

Blaze was taking a break from tech and was relaxing on the Beach. That is when a very Beautiful part Vulcan women approached him and started to talk with him.

Lt. Alexander Blaze