91
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Chapter 4: When you wish upon a star [ Day 1 | 1400 ]
Last post by RyeTanker -@Brutus @ob2lander961 @Eirual @Griff @Griffinsummoner @Tae @Sqweloookle @Eden @ob2lander961
LIeutenant Zark finished outfitting the final group, a batch of engineers who were going to back up the science and ops people in bypassing systems and creating fortifications as needed. Most of them had taken to the armour and weapons the way the rest of the crew had, it was a strange foreign implement that was not their forte. The tactical types had taken it better since shooting and being shot at was part of their trade. The Andorian finished up and watched as Lt. zh'Wann issued final instruction on storage and separation of the gear. With a final instruction for everyone to relax as best they could, she helped to dismiss the crew. The Zhen turned her attention towards Faye and was going to make her way over to see if she could distract the Betazoid, but the Ensign was swamped, and probably shouldn't be bothered. Too much.
Zark lifted up all her gear and walked over and stood next to the Ensign as she read off rooms. Seeing there was barely enough room, the Andorian gently nudged Faye to the side so she could step up, then when she stepped up, she not so serriptitously placed herself somewhat behind so she could see over Faye's shoulder. This was a good oppurtrtunity to peruse the list and place her head against the dark mop. Zark hummed idly as she gently brushed aside Faye's hand and scrolled through the list to see where their room's location. While she could totally have used her eyes to scroll along, it was simply more fun to move her head up and down, while rubbing her head against Faye's and sharing the warmth between the two. Finding what she was looking for, Zark pulled her head back and breathily whispered to the Betazoid. "See you soon."
It wouldn't due to pinch her butt while leaving, so Zark simply jumped off and made her way out of the aerodrome. Navigating the strange ship wasn't easy since they didn't follow any conventions for ship location identification that the Starfleet crew understood and she had to wait for a guide to come get the gaggle she was a part of. Next was the twisting, and turning through oddly shaped corridors that seemed bereft of easily recognizable identifying markers. IT was just all so strange. This added to a sense of unease which didn't quite abate when they entered the living area. It seemed like a large drab mess hall, the likes of which she'd seen the last time Zark had to attend a Marine related course. There were rows of tables with a dozen chairs near each one. Electronic alcoves were nearby, though the lighting was decidedly odd. "This is pleasant" Lt. Zark remarked dryly and someone chuckled nervously next to her. Their Savi guide stopped. "Here is the common eating area. There are matter synthesizers in the alcoves from which you can order food. We used the information from your database and loaded it into the computers, so you can order items that your normally eat." A crewman raised his hand for attention "Are there any recreation facilities?" The Savi looked at him. "No. There are data devices for you to select some pieces of your literature and videos. I will now lead you to your sleeping spaces." Zark looked into the space once more and noticed a few people were sitting with some stuff in front of them, and they all seemed somewhat dejected as they stared at their trays, and the Andorian's antennae shot up at this as a bad feeling started to creep into her belly.
There were several rooms that Lieutenant Zark had to wait for till they arrived at here's and she was given a code to punch in. The room didn't have much to recommend it and it certainly wouldn't have passed for guest quarters aboard any Starfleet vessel. It looked more like a simple dorm; a pair of beds, some closet space and a couple of desks. There was a matter synthesizer on one side, and another door that led to a refresher unit. It wasn't much, but as far as troop quarters went, it wasn't bad either. Deciding it would be much better to be out of the room and being seen by the troops, Zark quickly organized her items then lifted up her arm to punch in a code into the built in console. The system beeped and the back of her armour separated, allowing her to step out of the hard shell. It was always a relief to get out of the equipment and be free to move without restraint. A short debate followed whether she should get out of her protective unitard, but she didn't see to much point of that and grabbed an equipment belt and some boots. The Andorian quickly pulled her hair into a pony tail instead of the bun that she normally used inside her armour helmet and headed to the mess hall.
It seemed like several other people had the same idea as the hallway began filling up with bodies headed in the same direction. Others had lined up to get something as well and Zark joined one of the lines. Looking around, the room still looked the same as the first time she saw it, but somehow it felt different. She wasn't a telepath, but Security Officers were trained to examine people's behaviour and she paid closer attention to how everyone was walking. Each one that went by seemed to be perplexed, or unhappy in some way. It was soon apparent, this only happened to those that had walked away from the replicator and Lieutenant Zark's sinking feeling got worse as she got near the alcove and heard the person in front of her gasp, then curse at what she'd recieved. The Andorian was tall enough to look over her shoulder and her face scrunched up in disbelief as she was sure she was looking at a plate of pasta, except the noodles and sauce seemed to have taken on a grey-purple tinge. The crewman lifted the food up to her nose and gave it a sniff, then another one before walking away confused. "It doesn't smell like anything, strange." she commented. Zark sighed and steeled herself as she got to the alcove and braced herself for whatever shaped nutrient paste was going to be delivered to her.