Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Medical) in Another New Ship

Posted by Lieutenant Markus Woods (Chief Science Officer) in Another New Ship

(Snip)

A gentle but firm squeeze of her hand followed. He was still there. Of course she knew that, but it was more than just physical presence. Possibilities on how best to help her flickered across his surface thoughts, picked up, simulated, and discarded as fast as they came. None would do the job. Some would make it worse in a kind of feedback loop. Best then, that he could do for now was remain in that stillness and just be a calm spot in the storm. Though shutting off his problem-solving, analytical brain proved to be difficult.

Sharah had been enjoying listening to him try and find a way to help. Not because she expected him to, but because she always appreciated another’s view point. And yes despite the pain and Storm she had enjoyed listening to his mind work. Even despite how quickly he moved from one thought to another it was smooth and calm. In 2 minutes she wouldn’t be able to remember the specifics amongst the jumble without effort.

The fact that she hadn’t stolen a shuttle and run screaming off to some uninhabited dirtball was remarkable in and of itself.

Mark

Into the silence came her voice, with just a hint of humor to the nearly inaudible whisper, as if any movement would trigger the headache that hovered right on the edge of fruition. “But on an uninhabited dirtball I have no chance of finding a cure.” Slowly she released his hand, both of hers beginning to rub at her temples while she waited for things to stabilize so she could get up.

Fayth

Picking up her watching, listening to him put in some mental sweat over the matter brought an inward smile. At the same time he stopped trying to keep it buttoned up and simply just continued to work, rapidly coming up with a number of hypotheses to work through, things to try, equipment to invent, scans and tests to run. While he was no doctor or neurosurgeon, he had a good grasp of all the basics. And with a mind like a steel trap, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine him getting his medical doctorate, in addition to his Ph. D he currently held.

“True enough,” he murmured quietly. “If that’s what gets you out of bed in the morning, besides the noise, then I’m all for it. If I can help. Maybe find a cure…” He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid aloud. If he could do something about it, for her… and others like her, then he would. It would e worth it. It would be an accomplishment he could be proud of. Happy with. It was worth trying for.

Mark

Sharah slowly stood up, barely brushing the dirt off, guaging her physical equalibriam against the noise. Assured she could stand she grabbed a too flat curved basket from the tray. Then she turned after looking at him, an invitation clear in her thoughts. ‘I can share my research with you. I’ve collected a lot over the years.‘ She was moving towards the other side of the arboretum towards the medicinal plants. There was happiness and pride mixed with the thoughts. “The scientist I met on the Galileo taught me about plants. He told me that some could be made into medicine. I begged him to find me a flower that would cure me.” The memory is both happy and sad. “And I haven’t stopped looking since.” She reached the first flower bed and she knelt down carefully harvesting parts of the plant. “So other than making rocks spin what do you like to do?” Sharah wasn’t a great conversationalist but she was enjoying his company immensely.

As she stood, Mark moved with her, one hand ready to steady her. But she seemed steady enough and a moment later, she was moving across the way. ‘I would honestly not mind at all. You’ve got a head start on it, and it would be a great starting point.‘ Her research would help close the gap. But solving a condition like hers would take more, and probably multiple disciplines. And who knew how much time.

[Such a gentleman] Sharah flushed slightly at his caring gesture. ‘There is so much. There is mention of people like me going back centuries, even into our mythology. Some of the stories mention that they went away and when they returned they were better/healed/healthy. But whatever made them better seems to have been lost to time. There are contemporary cases that claim such a thing.‘ She sounded frustrated but there was an undercurrent of determination as well.

Drifting after, he listened to the story. “Good. Who knows where and how a solution will come? As for my other hobbies… I like listening to music.” He fished the ear bud from his pocket by way of evidence. “I like art, and tend to draw or paint. Usually digitally. Walking, hiking, and camping. Sports in general. I got into kickboxing too. Which I like to spar, I guess. There’s some suggestion out there I should go into Security. But I like puzzles too much. Literal and figurative. And the weird things that happen on the sub-atomic level. Quantum physics and quantum dynamics. I’m also a big movie and holo nerd. Come to think of it, I haven’t gone through a good holo novel since I got to the Viking. I didn’t trust the old ship. Haven’t really thought about it on this one.” As he spoke, he realized just how much he missed some of the hobbies he had participated in before, but had been missing for some time. The idea that he could do them again was uplifting, freeing. “I’ve done a fair bit of card playing, especially poker. Which, I want to try to get a game going again among the crew. Aaand last, but not least, outside of my Academy training, I’m something of an amateur astronomer. I dunno how many nights I’ve just spent watching the stars.” He finished with a small smile and then shrugged. “Maybe that’s corny or a bit sappy. But… I always find myself wondering who’s out there we’ve yet to meet. And are they looking back at us, wondering the same.”

Mark

She listened as he spoke even his voice was peaceful. Nothing seemed to move his calm, even his own enthusiasm for his hobbies. They shared some interests and then others Sharah wondered what it would be like to engage in those activities. ‘*You should schedule time and go to the holodeck. If it’s something you enjoy you should.8’

“I may just have to do that,” he murmured with a nod. Truth be told, as much as he enjoyed spending time there, either training, or just relaxing, he couldn’t always justify it to himself, especially on a ship with a thousand other personnel. But maybe now?

She’d ‘heard’ some of the thoughts floating about the ship, rumors mostly from the new crew that came aboard like she had. Most of the new crew thought it was just hazing from the older crew. But Sharah heard the thoughts and felt the emotions memories of the old Viking evoked. She wasn’t sure what had happened, but it had happened.

She’d missed out on a lot when she was younger because of what she was. Even Andrew had because of her. Her condition had ruled her family for her whole life. Now though, she was on her own, and they were free to have normal lives. “It’s not corny, it’s true. If people, if at least someone from each space faring culture had not gazed at the stars and wondered, we wouldn’t be out here. When I was younger though I would have found such a notion weird. I hated the stars and the idea of space travel.”

Fayth

“That’s very true.” He nodded in agreement. It just felt corny in some ways. But she was right. It was the biggest reason why Starfleet and the Federation even existed in the first place. It was their whole reason for being out here. Searching for answers, but also for others, for new connections. New peoples to call friend. Scooting a little closer he tilted his head. “If it was weird and you hated it… how’d you wind up out here in the black?” The question was a mild jab, poking at her a little, but also genuinely curious.

Mark