nexus_crossings | Back To School Special

Storm? What storm? The inside of the library is as cozy as ever, comfortably warm and dry. In one corner of the study area, two aliens have commandeered a low table and some kind of soft, squishy seat that looks much like a couch made out of a giant bean bag. The table is heaped in books and datapads of various academic flavors, and Chanath holds another one of the devices, scrolling slowly through an introduction to warp physics. Unlike her typical manner of dress, the Shontin is wearing a red synthetic outfit tailor-made for her body shape, the golden delta of Starfleet perched on her collar. Her quadrupedal symbiont is sprawled out next to her on his belly, his long tail loosely wrapped around her waist, and between his forepaws is a hardcover book on the subject of basic intergalactic diplomatic techniques. Unlike his host, he wears no uniform, but there is a red band around his neck made of the same material, with Starfleet's symbol on it.

Studying from printed text instead of learning through song and speech is tedious, however, and not at all what they are used to, so it does not take long for Faris' attention to wander, finding people-watching to be of greater interest.

"If given an opportunity to study a new subject, would you take it?" he asks, of those who seem interested in conversation. "What would you wish to learn?"

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"Symbiont? I've met a couple symbiotes - Venom's one, and Jadzia Dax is another. You look very different than they do." Kinner's amazed that there seem to be so many species that can bond with other creatures to the benefit of both, without harm. The Thing's more brutal parasitism, done without the host's consent, is in a minority, at least among sapient species.

He knows that such creatures exist on Earth - aphids and ants, pilot fish and sharks - but he's never gotten to know one personally. The Thing couldn't be bothered to explain itself. As far as Kinner knows, it saw humans as food and nothing more.

"The galaxy is home to creatures of all shapes and sizes," Faris says in good humor, his tailtip flicking in amusement. "We are new to the United Federation of Planets, yet they celebrate diversity of their members. I am not certain I will ever learn of them all, there are so many."

"We have just enlisted in their Starfleet," Chanath adds, reaching out a hand to scratch at the crest along Faris' neck, just above the uniform collar he wears. "We are at the beginning of our training still, and will require many classes before we are allowed to serve on board one of their ships. I am eager to experience this."

"I don't work for Starfleet, but I am an explorer. Used to be, anyway. My first expedition back home was also my last."

Kinner knows Starfleet has human members - he's met Captain Kirk briefly, and respects him deeply as a fellow explorer. He wonders if Starfleet has any cooks on board, though he isn't one for space exploration himself. Antarctica was too much for him.

"Are there other species on the planet - or planets - you two are from? Reckon the universe is a mighty big place. You'll probably meet all kinds of people in the Federation, huh?" He doubts the Thing's species are members. It wasn't terribly social or friendly, for that matter.

Faris arches slightly into his host's touch, closing his eyes for a moment with a deep rumble in his chest, although Kinner's question prompts him to open his eyes again. "If you mean sapients, no, the oldest songs do not speak of such things, on the planet where the Shontine first grew. It is believed the K'da and Dhaghem originate from the same planet, but we do not know for certain, as that knowledge is long lost to us, as are our former host species."

"Our new world Kenteuk'ai held no sapient species before our arrival," Chanath adds, tilting her head slightly. "But it will be home to new generations now."

"We humans mostly spread knowledge through books these days," Kinner says, "though songs and poems were used in the past." He's familiar with and appreciates song, though where he came from it was used as entertainment more than anything else.

"Humans come from Earth, though I've heard of us visiting other planets in different worlds. The Thing I encountered was capable of space travel. The team I worked for discovered its spaceship in the ice. I take it that your people have discovered space travel?" Kinner's never been on board a spaceship, though he wouldn't mind. To be honest, he'd be more excited than anything to explore the spaceship of a friendly alien.

Faris makes a noise in his throat, somewhat resembling a hum. "Discovered is, perhaps, not the right word to describe how our peoples came to roam the stars. Our populations descend from those captured and enslaved by another spacefaring species, the Cark, many generations ago. When our ancestors successfully rebelled against their masters, they took the Cark slave ships and learned to fly them, and how to construct more of our own."

"Before that time, the Shontine were planet-dwellers only," Chanath comments, tilting her head slightly. "The Cark preferred to enslave peoples who were not advanced enough to fight them, or so they must have believed."

"Humans are still planet-dwellers," says Kinner, "but we're interested in the stars. I wouldn't be surprised if we travel to space one of these days." He wonders if they could have learned about space travel by reverse-engineering the Thing's craft, or if the ship was too badly damaged to use. In either case, he wasn't able to investigate the crashed ship further. He would've liked to get a good long look at it, though, at least from a distance.

"Picking on easy targets, huh?" Kinner snorted in contempt. "Glad you were able to overpower 'em. I don't like people who look down on others, and it isn't surprising that they underestimated you. Bullies tend to do that to their victims."

"You have not already?" Chanath sounds surprised by this, given her own experiences with the human species.

Faris is much less surprised, as he is more experienced in the wide range of timeframes which intersect here in the Nexus. "It is a worthwhile experience, thus our decision to join Starfleet. The universe is full of many wonders, wherever one travels."

Kinner shakes his head. "Nah. It's 1938 where I'm from - our technology hasn't gotten that far yet. We write about it in our magazines and our books, though, so I reckon it won't be too long. It'll be after my time, though."

"I've heard of Starfleet. I'm not a member, though I approve of their work."

Neither of them know Earth's history in great detail, so the mention of the year means little to them, only the implication that in Kinner's time, space travel is far from achievable.

"As do we," Chanath agrees easily. "We are accustomed to exploration, but with a singular goal. Exploration for the sake of simple curiosity shall feel more free, I think."

"Well, the last time I went exploring it's what wound up getting yours truly killed, so I might leave it to other folks, with all due respect. I'm sure you'll do much better."

Kinner manages a small smile. He's not cut out for Starfleet, but there are other people who are, braver and more capable than he is.

"Universe sure is a big place."

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