nexus_crossings | (no subject)

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Now getting lost is one thing.

The base this blue humanoid gentleman hails from currently is dense and very easy to get turned around in. Every third street curves over another or the building you wanted was on the underside of some other arch and it can just be a mess trying to get around Yorktown. Norn would be just fine if he was simply a little bit lost. That's a sad way of life for the Andorian.

But to get so lost that he can no longer see the other arching streets of the base? So lost he feels like he's stepped into a Vulcan shop for how high the temperatures have risen? How there's actual humidity leaving the air heavy? It almost feels like he's no longer on the base.

Oh. Oh no.

Luckily there's a very helpful if not garishly dressed human on a screen in the Plaza. It doesn't help the man in a simple red and black uniform to get back home, but knowing there is a system in place quells the panic for the time being. He takes a seat on an unoccupied couch and props his chin in one equally blue hand while watching the denizens of the Nexus wander around. His antennae perk up ever so slightly once he's made up his mind. The next person he sees he'll ask.

"Have you ever broken a rule by...by accident? How did you handle it or the aftermath?" Norn is pretty sure this counts as some kind of leaving his post. Even though he's speaking directly at someone his voice is a quiet hush. Like he might fear being overheard or maybe his internal volume button doesn't go past five.

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Starfleet uniforms have a way of making Felix's head turn these days, never mind when he spots one in the Nexus. That's a benefit in this case, because if he weren't looking directly at the... Andorian, he thinks? Then he would probably have missed that soft question. And Norn likely wouldn't have addressed him either, but Felix doesn't realize that yet. He's wearing his 'Earth casual' clothes from Jim's world, which makes him one of the least-unfamiliar looking people around.

"Certainly!" Of course Felix is giving him a grin. "It's bound to happen every once in a while. Generally my first step is to make sure no-one notices. Really, if there's no harm done then why bother anyone over it?"

Why does everyone seem happy about this conundrum of his? Doesn't anyone around here care about the laws that are in place?

Is this some kind of dimension full of miscreants?

"I..." If he can get back before anyone notices he's been gone that would be ideal. That's actually a really good point. Honor dictates he'd have to tell someone, his commanding officer even. But that prospect is very intimidating. He might just be better off getting back as quickly as he can. "I seem to have taken a wrong turn and I'm needed for a staff meeting..."

It's a wild and lawless place, lieutenant. Open trafficking in contraband! Thieves and vandalism! People putting their feet on the tables!

Generally not all at once, though, so he'll have a little time to acclimate. Felix will help.

"Oh, I see. This is your first visit, is it? The Nexus tends to take people unawares that way. Nothing to worry about." Well, that staff meeting is a small complication, if only because this fellow looks worried about it. And there's that 'we don't tell Starfleet about this' thing he's discussed with Jim before. Hmm.

"Well, let's see. Where were you meant to be?"

He wouldn't mind so terribly much if it wasn't his problem. Norn still isn't completely up to speed on where 'here' even is. It's definitely not Yorktown though and he knows he didn't step into a transport station before arriving here. Everything past that is the uncomfortably kind of 'sir we're about to have a spacetime anomaly' hazy though.

Norn's heard all about those. He'd rather not be involved. Too bad he's on rather the wrong ship for that.

"...My ship, well. We don't have a ship strictly speaking a-at the moment but. My crew have been using one of the Starfleet office briefing rooms for planning out itineraries and...and other work. The captain is holding several meetings today, one for each shift."

Edited 2018-08-19 20:48 (UTC)

"You don't have a ship...?" Wait. How many crews without ships does Starfleet have at a given time? True, their wrecks sound far more survivable than those back home - they have escape pods, whatever those are, and such - but still. And that schedule for today sounds... strikingly familiar.

"Which, ah, which captain would that be?"

"Don't wait up for me today. I'll be in meetings with Alpha, Beta, and Gamma bridge crews until god only knows when. I'm pretty sure we've got--"

"Our new crew is fully staffed so the bridge crews are meeting to discuss rotations and responsibilities once we're ship side again." Norn's expression hasn't changed from it's general unease but there's pride in his voice when he looks up and meets the human's gaze again.

"Captain Kirk, sir. I'm staffed aboard the Enterprise."

Edited 2018-08-19 23:52 (UTC)

Oho. This is too good. Felix's grin is back, and wider than before. There's no guarantee this man is from the place he thinks, but he likes the odds. (Although it does occur for a second, perhaps he should be more worried about the side-effects of experimenting with conjuration in a place so spatially odd as Yorktown.)

"Oh, that's just splendid! I don't think you'll get in any trouble with him at all. I can guarantee it for you, in fact."

Hmm. Now, how to capitalize on this. Dear Jim, I have your Andorian alive and well. If you wish to see him returned ~~this week~~ sober, bring ten bottles of brandy to the squid-dragon statue with the unpronounceable name...

Edited 2018-08-20 00:40 (UTC)

He's doing the thing. That smile humans do when thy're going to do something incredibly dangerous and ill advised that will probably involve hurling warp cores into suns for Reasons that no one aside from a human will rightfully understand. The rest of the galaxy is nervous about humans and that smile is a big reason as to why.

"...You're with the Fleet?" He certainly isn't dressed like it but they're not required to wear their uniforms while off shift. It's not as though with all the staff changes Norn knows each and every member of their newly re-made crew yet. That's half of why he's supposed to be in a meeting today.

Norn isn't sure whether to be more or less worried when the human doesn't look up from the small communicatorish data padish looking device he's poking at.

Edited 2018-08-20 01:34 (UTC)

"Mm. Fleet-adjacent, shall we say. I'm a..." He pauses in his tapping to make sure he gets the title right. "'Civilian contractor'. Also with the Enterprise." He starts typing again, adding absently, "Or rather I will be."

Every hour you delay raises my price for him. Do not attempt to contact Stratos. His fate is in your hands.

There, that should do. Felix dispatches the message and looks back up at the officer. "Now, who are you, exactly? And how did you end up here instead of Yorktown?"

Har, har. Do you even remember which one an Andorian is? Also, what the fuck? You knew I'd be busy working today. i'm not cutting work short to get drunk in front of the weird Eldritch horror statue.

Jim knows not what he does. For that matter, neither does the good lieutenant. He's got no idea who it was Felix just got done messaging and he's busy looking rather relieved that someone else related to the Enterprise is here.

"...So that means this place is linked with Yorktown then, if people are freely coming and going from here to the base. I don't...recognize..a lot of the species here. Wh-what kind of place is this?" For that matter, just how many people Starfleet related are hanging around if he's found another member of the Enterprise so quickly? "...I'm Lieutenant Kav Ch'Norn. J..just Norn is fine. I work in communications. And. And you?"

"Felix Caelus, Im- hm. Toxicology. A pleasure to meet you, Norn." He extends a hand, while he thinks about how to explain this in science words. "How shall I put this... you've stumbled onto another plane. Another universe. This one is rather special, since it's a sort of natural gatehouse between other universes, so you're likely to encounter a great many things you don't... oh, just a moment."

He checks the newly arrived message and- oh, dear. Jim doesn't appear to understand how grave this situation is at all.

He's the one called Norn, apparently. Quiet as a moth, and on the blue side. If you don't want him back that's fine, I can keep him. I've all sorts of things in mind to teach him.

"Oh, okay."

A civilian contractor and a scientist to boot? That's a little bit intimidating. He's probably written all kinds of material and done all kinds of breakthrough research if he's getting a spot aboard the Captain's crew. With the sheer number of open positions waiting to be filled even still this long after the Harrison incident Captain Kirk can afford to be as picky as he likes when it comes to crew members.

This is the first the lieutenant's even heard about a civilian getting added to the crew.

"...It's. Yes. Nice to meet you." Though as to what kind of place this is, well. Everyone post the destruction of Vulcan and the introduction of Ambassador Spock goes through lessons on the dangers of timespace manipulation and alternate realities. The entire Narada incident called centuries worth of agreed upon science into question and the greatest minds in the galaxy are still trying to figure out how it all works. A place like this? That's every kind of dangerous. Norn gulps a bit. He'd very much like to not be here, where any action could break time or generate another alternate universe. "Y...you seem really calm about this. We shouldn't stay here, if that's the case."

Wait, NORN is with you?! Don't tell him anything weird about the Nexus! Fuck, Felix you don't understand I Can't Leave right now, command is here and they can't find out about the Nexus. Get him out of there or just, please. I'm begging you. Just keep him occupied until I can get out of here.

He forgot how Jim tends to react to the mere thought of his superiors learning anything. However bemusing his textual panic is, it does get through to the Imperial and he's quick to respond with an attempt at reassurance.

Don't worry so much. I'll take care of him. He seems harmless enough. All you need to do is cover for him so nobody goes looking.

"...Hmm? Oh." He looks back up at Norn, realizing that his new friend looks just as nervous about this as Jim sounds. And here he thought Starfleet officers would handle planes-hopping much better than his narrow-minded kinfolk. "Try to relax. I'm sure this is all rather a shock, but it's perfectly safe." A beat. "For now. Anyway, the good news is that the captain's just asked me to see that you're properly briefed. But first, we do need to check whether the portal you entered through is still open."

Look, Felix. There's huge consequences when you start playing around with time. They have entire Investigation departments dedicated to making sure people don't screw things up too badly. It's really best to be careful especially when there's random doors connecting a Starfleet base to the Nexus.

"You told th-the captain?" Well, that's one worry dealt with and out of his hands. That's not worrisome in the slightest, having some human he barely knows inform the captain he's skipping work to play in transdimensional pockets. Then again, this Felix Caelus is a new crew member. They are supposed to look out for one another.

"I don't recall going through any special kind of door..."

"I told you I'd make sure you weren't in trouble." See? He may be shockingly casual about interdimensional anomalies, but he's a good crew-mate. Just the sort of fellow you want to be friends with, Norn.

"Hmm. That might bode well. Stable portals tend to attach to physical openings around here. I can only speculate why. They're uncommon, though, so I expect your route in has already closed. I can get us back, by the way- no need to worry about that. Which way did you come?"

Tamrielic conjurers may share virtually none of Starfleet's caution when it comes to these things, but even Felix doesn't want to contemplate the mess that would result from a publicly open portal to the station. There's also a faint twinge of worry that this might be partially his own fault. But who knows? The Nexus does what it wants.

He gives Norn a thoughtful look. "You seem wise enough to realize the significance of what you've just stumbled across. And how dangerous knowledge is, in this situation. I'm sure you understand that what you learn here must stay within the bounds of this place." He's nowhere near as good at pulling off the direct look and serious intonation as Stratos, but he's had good examples to follow.

The look of relief that crosses Norn's face is slow but incredibly potent. His entire posture slouches slightly as he heaves a sigh that cuts into a soft chuckle.

"Th..thank you so much, Mr. Caelus." At least if the captain knows he's trying to get back there hopefully won't be too much trouble to come from all of this. Aside from the sheer nightmare logging all of this into the reports is going to be. Norn isn't looking forward to that at all.

"Temporal anomalies and spacetime manipulation events became mandatory training post the Narada incident." It's weird Felix doesn't seem to have any of that, but Norn's antennae perk slightly and he hurries to clarify. "A-at least they did for Starfleet. I forget you're a civilian. I..I understand this is a classified event."

"'Felix' is fine. And it's my pleasure. Crew-mates ought to watch one another's backs, right?" Besides, Norn will be much better company if Felix can persuade him to relax at least halfway.

Classified. That's a useful word. One Felix definitely won't abuse in the future. And he should really read up on just what Starfleet's teaching people about plane-walking, if only to cover his back. Jim surely has some useful notes lying around somewhere.

"Precisely." This time there's a rueful quirk to his smile. "The captain picks his staff so carefully, I expected we could count on you. But it's best to ask. My own training was rather different. No doubt the captain will speak with you later. In the meantime, let me show you around. It's much safer than you might think, and it's not every day you stumble across an interplanar crossroads. Even in Starfleet."

"Just Felix. I....I can handle that." Keeping things simple is just fine for Norn especially if Felix more than alright with it too. So many customs and interactions can be needlessly complicated but Norn is glad this Felix seems to be simple to talk to. It helps take some of the edge off of being in this place, intimidating as it can be.

"You...seem to be quite close with the captain. I'm surprised." Mostly because aside from Dr. McCoy, Spock, and Mr. Scott Norn hasn't seen the captain hang out with too many folks in his off hours.

"Why? He's an easy man to get along with." Felix flashes Norn a grin, gesturing ahead before he leads the way. They may as well stroll while they talk - there's so much for his new friend to see before Jim arrives and starts acting responsible.

"But no, you're right. It's not long since I arrived in- on? - Yorktown, and with this new ship he's had very little time for socializing. Not that I've been much better. It's nice to finally meet a member of the crew besides Spock and the doctor." Mostly the doctor at that, and too often in the form of "HELP I got his blood to stay inside for five minutes now what??"

Oh good.

Felix knows his way around this place. That's--while suspicious--a huge relief to the Andorian who's been wandering around here lost and far far from home. He falls into step next to and a touch behind Felix.

"I...I enjoy serving under him but I confess I don't know the captain very well outside of the job. ....I tend to keep to myself." Socializing means interacting with people as a cohesive unit and that's a mite bit nerve wracking for a guy who can barely get ten words out at a time.

"I-it's good you already know so many of the senior officers, for your job I mean."

There's no sense in trying to play the lost innocent himself, Felix has already decided. It would be tedious, and unhelpful, and far too easy for Norn to catch him out on. In any case he expects the comms officer is going to learn most of the truth eventually - definitely far more than Jim would like. Might as well accept that now and win some of Norn's trust out of the bargain.

"I suppose so. I've never worked aboard a ship before." And he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little apprehensive about how he's going to fit into that, when he's not by Jim's side. The social conventions are so different, his official role a convenient front and an unfamiliar one at that. So many lies to be maintained.

It's not even one of his biggest concerns these days, but it's there.

"I expect it's going to be a whole new way of life to me," he remarks. "But I always find it helps immensely to know a few friendly faces around. Have you been with the Enterprise long?"

Just the fact that Norn's here is more than Jim would like, but so far as emergency situations regarding the Nexus and Starfleet this couldn't have happened to a better officer. The Lieutenant chances another small smile that does its very best to be reassuring.

It's not a smile he's used to giving.

"..Y-you really do get used to it. And the pilots are all excellent at their jobs. I hardly notice we're moving most of the time." He has no way of knowing Felix has plenty of experience being on a ship but that's fine. "Only since th-the captain returned to duty post his...uhm. Injuries. After the attacks in London and San Francisco a few years ago." That wipes the smile off of his face in a hurry.

Both the attacks and knowing the captain had been dead for a while there.

Ah, kindness. The smile Felix gives him carries a hint of gratitude, though it's swiftly followed by a more somber turn in the conversation.

"I see. I didn't know Jim at the time but I've heard... most of the details, I think. It must have been a difficult time for the whole crew." Not that he's picking a better time to join, is he? "So that would be... three years? Why, you're a veteran by now."

Norn gives a nervous chuckle. He can't fake confidence very well but he knows well enough he wouldn't be on the bridge at any shift if he wasn't up to snuff. Nyota casts a large shadow but he's got a few specialties of his own and its enough for him. Being able to help when things get tough and study all the phenomena they run across is more than its own reward.

"You would have liked the old ship. I-I'm told our new vessel will be the most advanced in the fleet though. ....So that will be interesting." Hopefully that means the Captain will treat it carefully. He can hope right?

"Oh, yes. Jim tells me the new labs are going to be quite spectacular." His tone is a little amused - and he never does hide the hint of affection when he speaks about Jim. The ship's improvements are one of those topics that go over Felix's head and they both know it. For the Imperial, any lab with computers and invisible 'sensors' (that are not spells at all because of science reasons) and everything is made of glass... that's all a bit too alien to grasp readily. Yet Jim talks about it all with such enthusiasm and clarity that Felix finds himself getting excited, too.

"I expect the improvements will make your job a great deal easier, too. At least I hope so. After all, in a sticky situation communications are our first line of defense."

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I thought I tagged this last night HRMMM dream tags

no no those are only enabled on Viatorus's account ;)

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