A little confidence

Posted on 17 May 2015 @ 2:22pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

2,013 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo - Holodeck One
Timeline: MD2 - 0800

ON:

Allydnra had woken early and considering the evening before had slept like the proverbial log. However, she felt restless and she sat on the edge of the bed for a moment or two thinking about Cadet Wintrow. He had a good heart, and it was nice of him to offer but she had still felt guilty.

He needed a little confidence boost and some instinct. Thus she pulled up his record and noted that he liked flying. That was something she might be able to help with. There was flying, making a machine do something and having that instinct, that gut level feeling. One had to learn that and it might, maybe might help with some confidence building. There was a little time before she had to be on deck so she got up and got dressed in a flight dress, that light just above the knees dress that tied around the neck. As she got ready she pressed the comm, =^=Cadet Wintrow, Lieutenant Commander Allyndra, please report to Holodeck One 0800=^=

Allyndra headed for the deck and arrived to set up the scenario. It was easiest to do this using her own world as the scenario. Soon, the deck shimmered into life and she found herself on a smooth grassy plain surrounded by thick foliage, several playful streams tumbled over stones before plunging over the cliff overlooking the ocean. The breeze was salt laden wafting in a strong updraft from the sea and the Twins were at late morning in High Summer. The air already going from warm to hot and the humidity rising.

Already on his way to the bridge, Wintrow made an about face and headed to the holodeck instead. He wondered what the doctor wanted of him, that he had to come to the holodeck instead of the bridge where -supposedly- he was supposed to be flying the Galileo itself. "On my way doctor," he replied nervously. At least, he mused, his head had cleared after several cups of coffee and his eggs on toast.

When he entered the holodeck, he felt as if he was walking right into a wet wall of heat. "Wow," he breathed, tugging at the collar of his uniform jacket. "Good morning doctor."

Allyndra nodded and said, "You might want to be a bit more comfortable. Anyway, good morning to you as well." She knew she needed to explain why she had called him here. "I see you have a big interest in flight. There are the mechanics and all but there is more to it than that. There is instinct, a sort of gut level thing that it takes many others a long time to learn but..." She spread her own translucent wings for a moment. "I do have more experience than most. You were kind so I thought to return the favour. I have done this before elsewhere and managed to programme the holodeck to give you simulated wings. They will respond as though your own. Are you willing to try?"

Removing his jacket to casually toss it aside, Wintrow blinked at her in surprise and awe. Especially when he saw her wings, sparking a clouded memory in him. A blurred face surrounded by wings. "Wings?" He smiled at her, tilting his head slightly as he studied her and, the longer he looked the more he was convinced that somehow, she was an angel. "Yours are gorgeous," he added carefully, "and I do have some instinct...on my previous assignment, they gave me the nickname Farseer, because I saw danger coming while in flight."

Allyndra nodded and then approached. "Computer please generate Allyndra holographic test wings please." There was a moment and then like something from a magic lamp a change and a similar set of wings appeared on Wintrow.

"There you go, now then, let's see if the programme is still working. The programme will 'read' the small muscle movements and translate them. Now something simple, think about spreading them open like this." Allyndra made a sort of shrug and the dragonfly like wings opened to the sides. The pair on each side not quite touching each other forming like a lazy X.

Watching her, Wintrow tried to copy her move, then looked up over his shoulder, while thinking hard that he wanted wings to unfold. It seemed unreal because technically, he had no wings but sure as he thought it, there they were. "Wow," he breathed, visibly awed. And yet somehow he was afraid, because this wasn't like any type of flying he'd ever done.

Allydnra watched to make sure the programme was working as it should. She nodded, "Excellent, now close your eyes, feel the breeze flow across your face, the suns on your face, feel how as the breeze moves it tugs slightly one way or the other. The gusts how they lighten your feet. Now imagine turning your wings horizontal to the ground. Then bring them up and then down hard." She opened her eyes to watch but did as she had said. As she did the wings would catch the air and push one off the ground just a bit. It would take a lot more than one to actually hover or to take flight. This was just to get the experience of the feeling. "Again, slow just get the feel of how your body balances as the wings take the weight."

Eyes closed, feeling the warmth of the suns on his face, Wintrow had the feeling of being very light - not that he was a heavyweight to begin with. He could even feel the movement of air the beat of his wings caused and he smiled to himself, letting that sensation guide him. He could feel the ground briefly disappear from underneath his feet. "Horizontal, to provide lift?" he asked, keeping his eyes closed and letting his other senses work for him.

"That is correct mostly," Allyndra replied. "Hovering is harder than you think. Come," Allyndra held out her right hand. She took Wins and then lead him across the meadow to the edge of the cliff that overlooked the ocean. She let his hand go and then said, "This will be easier. Now open your wings like this," She opened them and though instinct told her what to do she pitched them in a slow practiced way so Win could see. The wind blowing up the face of the cliff caught and lifted her. She made to make a few corrections as the breeze shifted and then folded them so she settled back down. "Now you try, feel the wind as it moves, lifting you, once it does you will have to balance as it shifts and tries to pull you one way or the other. This is the challenge and yet joy, the feel of how your body and mind become one with the air."

Holding out his arms as if to balance himself and keep himself upright, Wintrow angled the wings as instructed, then yelped as he felt himself being lifted clear off the ground. In reflex his wings folded back and he dropped to the ground. "Ow," he murmured, rubbing his behind as he crawled back to his feet. On his fourth attempt, he managed to remain hovering and a proud smile crept across his features. "I'm hovering!"

Allyndra clapped and nodded. "See, it is the confidence of knowing mind and body, trusting to them to work together." Allyndra waved a hand toward the ocean, "Ah that there was time but perhaps if you are interested we can do more later." She looked over the waves and felt that tug but now was not the time.

Turning to face Win again, "You did well younger brother. I am proud. We have a saying: 'If one is afraid of falling then never try one's wings'. You are not afraid and that is good for here and here," she touched briefly his head and then a shoulder, 'will be more confident the next time as the experience grows."

"Oh I'd love to do this again," he beamed at her, "this was fun!"

Allyndra laughed lightly suddenly. "So how did you find this type of flying compared to your control of a craft?"

"Quite different. In a craft I have to rely on all sorts of things, like equipment, surrounding, other craft, and of course myself. Here...I have all but my wings...well and myself I suppose." He smiled. "How do you cope with not flying?"

Allyndra nodded, it was different but there was a lot that carried over. She had gotten her shuttle license from Lamar and it had been easier than most. "Easy, one in reality gets tired." She laughed that light musical laugh of hers. "Here you have the advantage on me with those. I think you will find though that what you learn here will translate over to a craft."

She sighed, "Well back to the real world for now, but one of these days I will get you to water dance."

"Water dance?" She continued to amaze him with her suggestions, though he had absolutely no clue what to make of them. He stared at her, a look on his face that made him look several years younger, an almost boyish look of inquiry. "But.....if I step on water....I'll simply fall in. Water won't carry my weight ma'am..."

Allyndra looked at the ocean and then said, "Well maybe just a little time, come watch." She headed for the cliff again and like a diver launched herself off and out. She waited almost until halfway down to open her wings and catch the draft and use the arc to zip out over the waves away from the cliff. The bottom of the arc brought her close that she dipped one arm down and skimmed with her right hand the ocean. When she was far enough from the choppiest of the water, she pulled up into a hover and then slowly sank down until her feet touched the water. Then she began to dance, it was almost ballet like but as her feet touched the roll of the waves they would kick arcs of water into the air. She danced for just a few minutes before pulling high and heading back to come to hover and then drop near the cadet.

"That is water dancing, very difficult as one must balance the vagaries of wind and wave but when you have, there is nothing like it the world." She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I have no doubt you will learn but in time."

He fought the urge to shake her hand off, but in the end he allowed the touch. It felt safe, at least from her and he relaxed visibly. "That looked amazing, and yes I want to learn that kind of control." He looked right at her. "Doctor, do you think this might help me learn to control my empathic senses? And maybe my reflexes?"

Allyndra took her hand away. She could feel the slight tension but said nothing about it. "As I have not a single psychic 'bone' in my body I cannot say about that ability. Reflexes, yes indeed. To water dance you must trust your body to know what to do to balance wind and wave while your mind concentrates on dance. You will do well younger brother, now..." Allyndra looked back over the ocean. "Other duty calls. We will continue another day."

"Thank you doctor, I really appreciate you teaching me this. If ever I can return the favour...perhaps teach you a musical instrument, I'd be happy to do so. I'm in your debt..."

Allyndra shook her head, "Allyndra, younger brother, we are family remember?"

"Family," Wintrow repeated, smiling at her. "But on duty it's still doctor." He watched the holodeck revert to the black and yellow grid, then walked with her to the bridge.

OFF:
Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Helmsman
USS Galileo
[pnpc T'Vanna]

Lt Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Acting XO
USS Gallileo

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