Star Trek: Theurgy

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #75 – August 19, 2019, 01:43:48 AM

 [Cadet Natalie Stark | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ]Attn: @Jesaya  

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In truth, Natalie knew that the odds of anyone noticing they'd made alterations to their uniform were slim to none. But she was anxious about this whole thing, and thus trying to spin it all in a positive light, on the off chance that someone was very closely monitoring freshmen cadet replicator usage. Or if their uniforms fit so much better than everyone else that it was blatantly obvious. How likely that was, the human woman simply lacked the proper parameters to be sure.

When it came right down to it, even passing the Academy preparatory exam had left her lacking many parameters to accurately judge...well, anything about the Academy. She certainly hadn't expected to receive such reassuring words from the groundskeeper, after all. Nor had she, in her wildest dreams, imagined she'd be rooming with a Romulan, never mind that she had chosen the Cross Species Accommodations program. And, she was  a nudist to boot! 

The thought of which of the two was 'worse' got a giggle out of the girl, and she relaxed all the more. This is absurd. Really, she had to admit. And with that, she just gave into it all. Another small spin in place, just to make sure everything seemed to fit, and then she let herself drop back, so that her rump rested against one of the small room's two desks. The one closer to her bed, and therefore, she assumed, her work station.

Picking at the hem of her skirt now, those blue eyes of her's traveled up Vanya's legs, across her torso and chest, and eventually came to meet the other woman's distant gaze. She's as wrapped up in her thoughts as I am, Natalie decided, perhaps projecting a bit. After all, different species emoted in different ways. Every minute from here on out was going to be a learning experience. 

"It's kind of hard to imagine that in a few short hours, we'll be going through orientation. And then...classes. Physical fitness regiments. Medical check ups like...weekly.". She kept right on fondling the hem of her skirt, as her toes curled up, one foot rubbing against the back of the other leg, awkwardly. It was...real.

"I wonder how many classes are the same for all Cadets? Like, when do we branch off based on specialty?" She'd gone from being nervous about her new roommate to nervous about what came next. "All Starfleet personnel are supposed to know the basics of Engineering, First Aid. We all get some base level command instruction. Inter-species Relations. Federation History 101, and Starfleet History 102." Her voice trailed off, and she smiled sheepishly up at Vanya. 

"But here I am prattling on, and here you are, Vanya, new to Earth! Not just the Academy. Not like I know much about the planet either, I mean. Daddy only took me here a few times." She was going somewhere with that, honest, she thought she was at least, but felt like she'd gotten lost somewhere between "but", and "times."

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #76 – August 21, 2019, 03:08:17 AM

[ Cadet Vanya | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ] Attn: @Brutus 
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While Vanya, like Natalie was curious about whether or not anybody would notice the alterations to their uniforms, given the fact the only difference was that they fit slightly better the odds of anybody actually noticing what they had done was essentially nil, still the consequences were an unknown variable were they to be discovered, especially on the first day. As the old Human saying went, only time would tell.

Unbeknown to either woman, both were having similar thoughts at the same time for Vanya too lacked information to form any kind of hypothesis to what her experience at the Academy would be like or indeed what her life would be like. While she had the memories of her mother's knowledge inside her head, she lacked actual experience beyond her training and the time she had spent at the Daystrom Institute which was both very little in comparison to most people who grew up through childhood into adulthood. Vanya lacked that experience despite having the knowledge and understanding of such a thing. Even the advice Commander Data had given her about his time at the academy was both from a different time to now and again was second hand knowledge. Still she knew that she would be in the inter-species accommodation, something that she had requested and while not fully expecting to be paired with a Human, had somewhat expected the odds to be such a thing.

The Romulan was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Natalie giggle and looked over at her with an arched eyebrow, curious as to what had made the young woman giggle, watching as the Human did another small spin before allowing herself to plop down on her bed.

She watched as Nat picked at the hem of her skirt before following her blue eyes as they travelled up her legs and along her body until they met her eyes, wondering what the girl was thinking as she took her in. At least being lost in that thought had helped cover up the fact she had been watching the other woman visually assess her, which Vanya was sure would have made the girl turn red again.

Natalie's next statement however confused her slightly, causing her to raise her eyebrow, an expression that Natalie would eventually come to learn her friend would do whenever she was either curious or confused about something that had been said to her. "How is that hard to imagine? Orientation and classes are why we are here is it not? Surely that was to be expected?" she asked, wondering why Humans said the strangest things some times. As for the weekly medical examinations that was a curiousity to Vanya, her self diagnostic systems were working perfectly so she would always know when something was wrong with her, be it a biological component or a technological one. It did however raise a question for the Android, would she have to go to the Medical Department for her weekly checkup or the Engineering Department, perhaps both? She would have to find that out since the Academy did of course know of her...species after all but had yet to tell her. Logical would suggest the Engineering department however since she was hear as a Romulan and not an Android it would be a little odd for someone to not go to Medical for their weekly checkup.

"I believe those classes you mentioned, basic helm and navigation, the survival course and diplomacy courses are all mandatory for all students, however I am not aware of any others, with our specialist classed mixed in between. All answered we will no doubt get at orientation." she replied.

"It would appear we are both new to Earth, although you are right this is my first time on Earth and while I have been here for a short while, I haven't really seen much of the planet. Although what I have seen so far certainly reflects why it was chosen as the home planet of the Federation. Nor does it at all resemble the planet we were taught about on Romulan as children." she replied "Why didn't your father bring you here often? she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #77 – August 21, 2019, 05:16:43 AM

 [Cadet Natalie Stark | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ]Attn: @Jesaya  
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Idioms, Natalie thought again. The most challenging part about rooming with a Romulan was surely going to be idioms. Though in this case, the saying was very true. Her face scrunched up a bit in concentration, as she worked her way through what she wanted to say. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hands, curling one leg up under her where she sat in the process. As she began to speak, so too did she begin to gesture, punctuating the words with jabs of her hands.

"Okay, yes, it is possible to imagine what those classes might be like. At the same time it all feels....so unreal. I'm here. In a uniform. In a dorm room, with a roommate. Someone I didn't know until a few minutes ago." Whose already seen me almost completely naked, she didn't say aloud. "And while I imagined that I'd get a nice roommate, I also worried I might get a bad one. I figured I'd get a species different from mine.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that you'd be a Romulan though. And that's what I mean by...hard to imagine. How crazy is the orientation going to be if just meeting my roommate is a wild ride?" She smiled an easy, wide smile that she hoped was reassuring. She certainly wasn't trying to insult her new roommate on the first day. She leaned back further, letting her free leg dangle an inch or two off the floor as the bed took the full weight of her now.

Points were well raised, and Natalie was surprised she'd forgotten to mention something as basic as intro to helm and navigation. Every cadet needed to know how to fly a ship in a pinch. "Speaking of imagining things, I'm not sure I want to imagine the survival courses. I've heard they pick a different place every year. One class got stuck in Antarctica. Brr!" She remembered hearing about that from some of her brothers friends, whom had stopped in to visit her father when they'd graduated and returned to Mars for two weeks of leave before shipping out to their first assignments.

There was a lot to unpack from what Vanya told her about her oh so very brief visit to Earth thus far, and all the more so, about how it compared to what the Romulan's said of Earth. She had a sudden itch to know more about Romulus in turn, that mysterious, supposedly totalitarian world at the heart of an empire that had tried to crush Earth from existence.  How would Vanya's view of her peoples home world - or well, throne world, they came from Vulcan, technically - match up to the stories she'd heard?

Not that she asked. Because the raven haired cadet had asked a question of her own. Said innocently, but all the same, one that had a bit of a barb. Pursing her lips, Natalie glanced out the window, across the Academy grounds. "There were all kinds of reasons, I suppose. A part of it was mother. She had family here, or well, in South Africa. Family she didn't much get along with." Even in the 24th century, humans could be bitter and petty over the dumbest of things."And so we stayed away for that reason, I think. Seems kind of silly, writing off a whole planet just because of a few relatives. I barely remember my cousins. I know I met them at least once. We went to a wildlife preserve outside of Johannesburg." 

Natalie shrugged a bit, remembering the trip fondly, as one very young tended to do. "I think I was about 4 years old at the time. That was the last I saw them. There was some big falling out that I don't really remember right after that. They didn't even come to the funeral. Blamed Daddy for what happened." This time the sigh was heavier, leaden with a deep weight she was none to pleased to admit to. After the accident, Daddy had even less reason to come here. He works at the Utopia Planitia yards, and they're busy enough that it's a rare thing when they need to actually send someone to Earth, let alone Dad. 

"He was far more likely to end up going to Luna, or the Titan colonies, and he would take my brother or me along from time to time. Usually not both of us - mom couldn't always get away from her university work to help keep us in check." It was strange to be talking about this to anyone, let alone a woman she just met but...here she was, telling her roommate, dredging up memories long buried and airing them out.

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #78 – August 26, 2019, 08:36:48 PM

[ Cadet Vanya | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ] Attn: @Brutus 
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Vanya listened to Natalie's explanation and nodded her head in understanding. "Ah I see. Yes I understand completely, it is quite unreal to be here at the Academy even more so as a Romulan, I did not think I would ever do such a thing and yet here I am." she replied and smiled "I honestly did not give much thought to my roommate when I got here. I knew obviously that there would not be another Romulan, I just hoped that I got someone friendly, clearly that turned out to be the case."

As the conversation continued, Vanya couldn't help but smile at Nat's reaction to the survival training, it was something that she too had heard stories about. "I have heard the same things, although I will admit I am looking forward to the challenge. Being beamed to a location with limited supplies and told to make it to a destination in 7 days, while intimidating and hard also sounds like fun. Who knows maybe with a bit of luck, we'll go together and help each other survive, if we manage to find each other." she said, knowing that students were usually beamed to separate locations within the designated area.

After her statement about her time on Earth and how it did not reflect what she had been "taught" on Romulus, Vanya could tell that Nat had a bunch of questions she wanted to ask, however the conversation turned to her father and why they never visited Earth as much. Judging by the way Nat bit her lip however, Vanya wondered if perhaps her innocent question had been a mistake and brought up a difficult subject her.

Still to the Martian's credit she answered it. From what Vanya could understand certain members of her family did not have the most...acceptable of views on other people and that someone in the family had died and her father had gotten the blame for some reason. Good enough a justification to stay away as far as Vanya was concerned.

Still she could tell that bringing the memories had been a little difficult for her new friend. Making her way over to the bed, she sat down next to it and placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder. Even with her weight causing the bed to dip significantly lower than a bed should for one of her appearance, she still towered over the smaller girl. "I am sorry Natalie, had I known such a question would bring up such uncomfortable memories for you I would never have asked." she said honestly.

After a moment's hesitation, she turned to face forward, looking away from Natalie as she spoke. "I am here because I was forced to leave my home. My..." she paused and tilted her head to one side as she tried to think of the other models of her type and a word to describe them. "...siblings and I were part of a special educational system and while I took an interest in the Federation, my brothers and sisters did not and over time failed to live up to the expectations of our teachers. Eventually the educational program was terminated, as were my siblings. My mother did not wish for the same thing to happen to me and set plans in motion to get me off of Romulus. I was rendered unconscious and when I awoke I was already within Federation space. I do not know what happened to my mother, if she is alive or dead nor can I ever return to Romulus to find out or make any enquiries for fear of putting her in danger should she still be alive." Vanya told her, although she wasn't entirely why.

Turning back to look at Natalie she smiled softly "Family can be complicated. However it has been a fair bit of time, perhaps yours have or will change their mind one day. There is always hope and if not, than you much like I will be the examples of the good our family can do for the future."

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #79 – August 27, 2019, 04:27:13 AM

[Cadet Natalie Stark | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ]Attn: @Jesaya 
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Vanya's compliment did not go without notice. Natalie tended to think of herself as withdrawn, quiet and reclusive. Friendly wasn't something that she'd heard in reference to herself in many years. She certainly wanted to be friendly, and she was making a concerted effort to do just that. After all, the Martian and the Romulan would be living together for at least the next year, if not longer. It wasn't unheard of to keep a roommate for the duration of ones stay at the Academy.

"It would be nice to have a friend on hand during the survival course. But that would require us to be taking it at the same time. They do those in waves, I think. Not sending the whole class all at once?" She wasn't really sure, but was assuming that anything which would make the test all the more challenging would be used by the instructors that determined each years survival training challenge. At least Romulan's and humans can eat most of the same stuff, so she'll be fine if she's left in the middle of a desert and has to subsist of cactus flesh. Probably.

Nat had no idea that Vanya would have an even better chance at surviving than most, given her secret nature.

Be it programming, or just the nature of who she was, Vanya's gesture of comfort was welcome, if a bit startling. Nat didn't quite jump as the heavy hand came to gently rest on her shoulder, but she did squeak a bit, then smile, embarrassed at her reaction. The bed creaked and dipped, but Natalie paid it no mind. After all, there were two of them sitting on the bed, why shouldn't that cause it to bow a bit. These were designed to be single occupancy bunks.

Cadet's had proven that false for decades now, but Natalie wasn't the type of person to think about that. Too naive, or just too inexperienced.

"It's fine," Natalie quickly deflected, dismissing the concern. She didn't want to seem like she was depressed about it or anything. Not like her brother and mothers' death hadn't turned her into an antisocial egg head who lived through text books and holo-novels. Nope. Not that at all. Can't have the Romulan thinking you're a weak, angst ridden human. That'd make the whole species look bad.

Of course, that was when Vanya unburden herself upon Nat's shoulder, telling a bit more about her own past. Tit for tat and that kind of thing. Natalie supposed that Vanya felt a built guilty for dragging up less than pleasant memories for the Martian, and needed to 'balance the scales' as it were. Misery loved company, and that seemed to be one trait that crossed species. So the Romulan told Natalie of her 'flight' from Romulus, spurned on by her mothers actions, and a distinct lack of being able to find anything out.

Biting her lip, Natalie looked up at the taller girl and gave a solemn nod. "Family really was complicated, to say the very least I'm not against seeing them again, I'm really not, but I wouldn't even know where to begin to reach out. They haven't exactly kept in touch with me, and if they've spoken to Daddy since the funeral, I don't actually know of it." For that matter, she didn't really know where any of them lived, currently. They could have moved off world, for all that Natalie had been told.

"I don't even know if the Star Empire maintains any kind of Embassy in Paris or San Francisco. Or anywhere in the Federation, for that matter. But even if they did, you couldn't really just show up and ask, could you? About your mother's well being, or your siblings." That line of thought led to another less that pleasant thought.

"Is it safe for you to join Starfleet? To attend the Academy? I mean...if you're supposed to be like...shipped away and kept safe, is it wise to be so...publicly exposed? Because there is no way your attendance won't make the news. First Romulan to attend Starfleet Academy? Everyone's heard of Worf, son of Mogh, first Klingon to do that..."

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #80 – August 29, 2019, 03:40:55 AM

[ Cadet Vanya | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ] Attn: @Brutus 
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Vanya knew that the two of them would be rooming together for at least the next year, a logical situation in order to make sure that everybody had at least one person they knew for their first year, assuming the two cohabitants got along together. It was also possible from what she had heard that roommates could stay together for the entire duration of their time at the Academy if they got along, although if was an automatic thing of if it needed to be requested, she did not know. The Android thought that based on their current interactions that the two would get along well and if so, could see herself wanting to remain roommates with her new friend for their entire time here.

"It certainly would. Although I suppose it would be smart of them to send students out in waves, perhaps we will be lucky enough to be in the same group when the time comes." Vanya said. Of course she was not worried about the survival course, being an Android she could go the whole seven days without needing to eat or drink and with her optical sensors, numerous vision modes, strength and strong skeletal structure it was highly unlikely that anything in the wilderness would be able to do significant damage to her, unless she was forced off a cliff or something during an engagement. A situation that was theoretically possible although highly unlikely.  That was of course assuming that where they were sent for training was not a wet, swampland or like somewhere very cold, two environments that could cause her systems significant problems.

At the placement of her hand on the Human's shoulder, she heard the tiny squeak and saw the smile and couldn't help but smile back. Vanya had quickly learned that the woman was not used to such things and so had already adjusted to such behaviours, it was actually quite a fun thing to witness that gave her a somewhat innocence to her.

At Nat's deflection, Vanya knew enough to simply nod and accept it, even if it wasn't entirely true it was possible that Natalie simply didn't want to appear weak in front of her, not that Vanya would be entirely sure what to do in that situation,  were that the case, so perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.

After regaling Natalie of her own "family" story and what had brought her to Federation space and somewhat to the academy, she watched as the girl bit her lip and looked up at her. "If you wanted to get in touch and were curious could you ask your father if he had been in touch? Do you think he would object?" Vanya asked, somewhat aware that this might not be a topic that she wished to discus despite their current conversation. A simple search with enough information could provide the answer as to whether or not her family were still on Earth or not.

Vanya couldn't help but smile at Natalie's statement about the Empire having an embassy in Paris or San Francisco or anywhere within the Federation and yet there was something adorable about the assumption, even though she was entirely correct about the rest of what she said for the most part. "I highly doubt the Empire has any kind of Embassy within Federation space, yet alone on Earth. Relations between our two people's is nowhere near that level yet, even if it was, I suspect the Federation would believe that any embassy would also be a base full of Romulan spies. As for showing up and asking about my mother, no I could not. As for my siblings, they are all dead I am relatively certain of that." she answered with no emotion. The truth was she knew it was 100 percent true, they had given the kill command, all her siblings would have been destroyed at once the second it had been given, herself included were it not for the fact that for some reason she had not been given one. The reason why she did not know and would likely never know. "I would however like to know about my mother. Perhaps one day I will."

The next question, however was one that Vanya had not really put a lot of thought into, but at the same time knew the answer too. "I believe so. In fact joining Starfleet and attending the Academy might very well be the safest thing I could do. Like you said my attendance here will more than likely draw attention given the fact I am the first of my kind to do so, and while some may view that with suspicion, so too would my disappearance. Some may simply view it as a completion of some kind of infiltration mission being completed in which case they would expect Starfleet to try to stop me from delivering those "secrets." and for those who believe the truth, that I am simply a member of a race who wished to join and serve in Starfleet, they would expect Starfleet to do what they could to return their cadet safely." she answered. Leaving out the fact that she knew Commander Data and several other people in positions of power within Starfleet that knew the truth and would search for her were she to go missing.

"That of course does not mean that my people wouldn't try to get me back or kill me, but I do not think they will do such a thing. The most they would more than likely do would be to send someone to spy on me and make sure that I don't turn out like my siblings did and only them put a stop to it and try to cover it up if I did. So to answer your question, yet Natalie I am sure that it is safe for me to join Starfleet and attend the Academy, as will you be despite your association with me." she added, hoping that her new friend wouldn't freak out at her last statement, especially if she hadn't even considered that yet, which might very well have been a possibility.

Re: [2372 Starfleet Academy] Checking in.

Reply #81 – September 02, 2019, 07:00:11 PM

 [Cadet Natalie Stark | Starfleet Academy | Freshman Dorm Alpha 2 | Cross Species Accommodation | Fourth Floor ]Attn: @Jesaya  
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Natalie had to think about that for a moment, pursing her lips as she pondered what Vanya had suggested. So far as she knew, the bad blood was mostly on her relatives side, not on her fathers part. Though it would hardly be unreasonable for the dockyard chief to be just as bitter with his in-laws as they were with him. Especially after the death of Natalie's mother. So the question of ' would her Father be upset? She'd picked up queues from her parents at an early age and just never really inquired about the others. They weren't exactly mean  to her directly, but they'd never been all that friendly to her, these far flung relatives and so she'd never really bothered to care. 

Her brow furrowed, and then after a long moment, she gave a little shrug. "To be honest, I really have no idea how he'd react. I've never really expressed an interest in reaching out to them before. I don't think he hates them exactly, and I doubt he'd fault me, but at the same time, I could understand it if he did despise them. Given how they've treated him all these years." At that, she let it to rest, with one last shrug of her shoulder ending the subject, from her at least. She felt no desire to ask Vanya as to why she'd put up the question. Natural curiosity, or so the Ops Cadet had thought.

In another shocking duality between the two cadets, Natalie stuck her foot right in her mouth with the general suggestion to Vanya about using an embassy to find out about family. True, she'd also wondered after the Romulan woman's safety, in a casual sort of 'well, your government isn't exactly the friendly type and you're not exactly here with there approval' and the two had kind of snowballed, one on top of the other. She looked horrified when Vanya mentioned her siblings were dead. "I hadn't realized. I'm so sorry," she'd said almost instinctual. She knew how much that could hurt. The bone deep ache at times.  That had been why she'd gingerly broached the idea of reaching out to find the other cadets mother, through diplomatic channels, as she herself rather missed her mother.

No diplomatic embassy to the afterlife existed, however, unless you counted the wormhole alien's she'd heard of in passing, out in the Bajoran sector. And even then, that required you to believe that they were divine, and not simply advanced.

Though Natalie had to agree that the Federation would likely think that an embassy was staffed completely with spies - and would probably be right - saying that didn't seem to be in good taste for multiple reasons. Not the least of which was that some people would be thinking exactly the same thing about Vanya and her admission to the Academy. Natalie didn't know about the extensive vetting that had been done by the Daystrom Institute to simply confirm Vanya's person-hood and all accompanying rights there in, but that would have gone a long way to ward hopefully putting some of the doubts to rest. But only some, and none of which the young Martian was privy to. 

Smoothing back some of her hair, she wiggled her foot, currently trapped under her bum, and bit her lip slightly to one side. There was some serious logic there, to what Vanya had said. Which made some sense. While Romulans had embraced their passions, it wasn't as if they weren't a cunning species. And logic was a strong point of a cunning mind. That Vanya clearly had both should not have surprised the human woman. That her logic had led her to such a conclusion that she was as safe as she could be here might stretch credulity a bit, Natalie nodded all the same.

"I see you've given that a lot of thought," Nat finally said, letting go of her lip with her teeth to do so, not realizing that had left her lip a little swollen and puffy. "It's good to know that no Tal'Shiar kill teams are going to be beaming down in the dead of night." Nat was only half joking however. She hadn't quite put two and two together until Vanya pointed out that she was associated with the cadet now. The odds of her being blasted to atoms or kidnapped in an effort to recover Vanya were rather small to begin with, but there was something of a threat there to her own well being all the same. Be it from a spy watching for a way to use Natalie against Vanya, or an assassin that might either snuff her out to get her out of the way, or try to pin anything that happened to Vanya on Natalie.

She'd gone a little pale by that point, swallowing a bit. "I suppose we'll find out one way or another, eventually. Your being here will hardly stay quiet at all. But like you said...if something happened to you that might actually be bad for all parties involved." In a moment of rare introspection, she frowned slightly, feeling compelled to add, "You might have more to worry about from your fellow students and instructors than you do the Empire, in hindsight." She was doing an admirable job of not dwelling on the idea of a secret Romulan agent sneaking in through their window at night, shoving a blade up into the back of her neck while she slept. At least, that was what Natalie kept telling herself, that she wasn't dwelling on all the horrible way's she might get killed while someone was coming after Vanya.