Sailing on the wind (2/3)

Posted on 09 Feb 2016 @ 12:59pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

2,517 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Akkadia
Timeline: MD41, following part 1

Feeling a little on the spot by the introduction, Wintrow just gave them a somewhat shy wave with his hand before returning his attention to his guide. He stood at her side as directed and watched her closely. "Just treat me as an apprentice pilot," he suggested, "I know how to sail smaller boats, but this is a whole new deal to me."

Lines were untied and the ship drifted into the air with a grace. Unseen from this position, the sails were lowered and caught the winds coming from the land. It was a strong push and the ship rocked a bit but soon settled and the wide ocean spread out before them.

"Come then Win, take the wheel. Levers here will turn and maneuver the sails and these here will allow the lifting gas to be pumped in and out for height."

Taking the wheel from her, Wintrow just let the large ship glide along the currents for a while, getting a feel for how the wheel moved first. "But what happens if we pump out gas to go lower, we won't be able to go high up agian will we? And where do you want me to head to?"

"Silly we do not vent the buoyant gas." Wyndi said as though he should know better and then realized he might not. She walked off for a moment and returned with a pad of paper and pen. "Here, inside the main compartment, there are large bags that contain the buoyant gas. Inside those are smaller ones that vent to the outside. Pump outside air in or out of those compresses the buoyant gas. That gas when compressed does not have the same lift. It is a function of physics do you understand the principle?"

Wintrow nodded, keeping his eyes on where he was going. "Of course I do. Just didn't know it worked with rise and fall on the wind too." He glanced sideways. "Perhaps you can show me sometime?"

"I will be happy to take you on a tour but you seem to be enjoying what you are doing," She nodeed her chin. "A few points to the left if you don't mind."

"You're the boss," Wintrow chuckled, while turning the wheel a little. "How did you end up being a pilot? What made you choose flight?"

--
The day had passed and the ocean slipped underneath the craft. Wyndi had showed how to maneuver the craft up and down to catch the winds. Each level had wind that would flow different speeds and sometimes different directions.

There had been the promised tour of the inner workings. Lunch and supper had been a bit difficult for most Akkadian food consisted of liquid or soft fruits. She had not planned for something like Win's physyiology but he seemed satisfied enough.

Now they stood side by side on the open forward deck over the main control cabin. The night was dark and then stars shown bright. The lack of high industrial workings on Akkadia meant there was no pollution of any kind to block the stars.

"We will arrive at our destination early tomorrow. You did well Win. I think I would take you on at any time. You are right you seem to have a natural talent. I hope you have enjoyed your trip so far."

"Oh I have, most definitely," the young Starfleet pilot exclaimed, fully ignoring the compliment towards his seeming talent. "And going through that storm just was fantastic, a bit scary but I loved it."

"Good. Should have let you get some rest but you have never seen Ring Rise have you?"

Wintrow shook his head. "I don't even know what a Ring Rise is, sorry," he apologized, wondering if maybe he should've asked Allyndra for more information regarding her system before going on this trip.

Wyndi pointed to a spot near the Zenith. ""Hard to see but the rings are there. We call them the Queen of Night's Promise by the way. Watch, soon, very soon...." Wyndi said and then pointed again as bright spot seemed to appear. The silver light begin to spread quickly in a spreading arch that continued until a great silver lite rainbow seemed to stretch from horizon to horizon and lit the dark night with pale silver light. "I never tire of it," Wyndi said.

The light reflected in the hybrid's dark eyes, giving them an odd blue hue in the darkness. He watched in awe, his gaze following the light. "It's gorgeous," he breathed, but couldn't help the yawn that followed. "Where am I to sleep?" he asked quietly, turning partially to face her, "assuming we sleep on the ship that is....am I sharing with anyone? I'm not displacing someone am I because I'd be just as happy to just sleep on the deck if I have to."

Wyndi shook her head, "Of course there is a night watch but yes we sleep. You have my cabin as an honoured guest. Of course," Wyndi decided to be bold. "If you wish to share?"

"I don't want to put you out," Wintrow protested, "Just give me a pillow and a blanket and I'll use the couch. I've slept on worse, trust me."

Wyndi looked at the young man and then laughed. It was a boisterous thing and she shook her head. "Ah Win, there would be a lot that would jump at the chance to share the Captain's bed, but obviously my curiosity about alien physiology will have to go unsatisfied. No, the cabin is yours, I take the First and she will have to share with the second." Wyndi made a quick curtsy, "May the Queen of Night shield you from bad dreams and shine only pleasant ones."

"I...what?" Now he was afraid he might've offended her. "I don't mind sharing... and I'm curious too.." he sputtered, "I just... there's someone you see...back home, that I do really like very much... it'd be wrong for me to ah..." His cheeks turned scarlet as he looked away. "Sleep with you," he finished in a bare whisper. "You know...." He was just as curious as she but to him it just felt wrong.

Wyndi stopped and she nodded. "No, I had not thought about that. You have a betrothed. I understand, my House has not decided on one for me so I still live the free life." She again made that graceful curtsy. "Sweet sleep sirrah Win, may the Queen bring you sweet dreams of that one." She then straightened and turned and strode away.

Stunned, Wintrow stared after her. "But...." he started, but she'd already strode off. Shaking his head he sighed to himself and wondered what he'd gotten himself into. He turned to the bed and started to take his clothes off, folding them neatly before placing them on a chair nearby the bed. With a final sigh, he crawled under the covers of the comfortable looking bed and swiftly fell asleep.

---
There was a knock on the door. Very quite at first but a bit more insistent after a point. Wyndi called out, "Win, forgive me but we will be at port in an hour. Thought you might like some breakfast and then follow the landing."

Pulling the covers back, Wintrow blinked against the low light in the room. "I'll be out in a minute," he called back at his host, "just need a little time to freshen up." Several minutes later, Wintrow stepped out of the room, wearing the same clothes he had the day before. He was still rubbing sleep from his eyes, but at least he looked presentable. "Good morning Wyndi, did you rest well?"

"Fair enough, if rather lonely," Wyndi winked. "Come then, I have put out some fruit and drink for you on the bridge. I have been told that your diet is a bit different from ours but hopefully it shall be sufficient. I figured that way you could watch the landing." Wyndi tapped the door frame for a moment. "Rushed you off didn't I? Well we have stores of extra clothing but tell you the truth, let you do your own shopping. The Trellium silk market is here along with some of the best of the Weavers Guild around. Let you pick out your own style."

"I wouldn't mind something fresh to wear until we get to the market," Wintrow offered, giving her a shy smile. "I did offer for you to stay with me last night..."

Wyndi lead the way back to the bridge and there was a small table with various fruits and a cup with a couple of small stoppered jugs. It was gimbled cleverly to keep the table level in the sway of the sail ship. Already the ship had dropped and the wave tops were easy to see and just ahead clustered around a small bay was a town. The flat area was small for just behind the town the land rose precipitously as a titanic conical mountain whose top was broken. Obviously the island was just one very large volcano with just a bit of flat land.

Looking outside, Wintrow just stared at the view for a long moment, pausing his step. Several seconds later, he continued to move to the table and held back a chair for Wyndi before taking his own. "I'm not very picky when it comes to food ma'am," he confessed slowly, while considering the food on the table, "and as far as I'm aware I have no allergies either. I'm sure that, if there's something I can't digest, we'll find out soon enough. Right?"

Wyndi took the seat but she kept glancing out the window and at the helmsperson. She was more used to being there than sitting. She turned her attention back to her guest. "Allyndra, Warraquim mother named, gave me a list so everything here should be fine." She waved a sailor over, a fertile male since he was no more height than she was and whispered something.
"I will have clothing laid out but it will not be anything fancy. Soft shirt, underclothing, socks, leather pants and shoes that hopefully will not fit badly."

He placed the cup in front of him and reached for one of the jugs. "If you could tell me what this is?" he asked brightly, "and uhh...everything else?"

Wyndi pointed, "That one is fresh spring water, that is bloodflower juice. And no it is not what you might think it is. The blood flower collects juice in pods. Though red, it is very sweet. That is bloodflower bread which you had before. Though we do not eat it, she indicated it would be fine for you. That is Talath and that is Ah'alanah fruit. The former is a melon, nice and sweet and the later once peeled is soft and tart."

Skipping the melon, Wintrow reached out towards the bread and sliced some off. He had liked the bread before so he reasoned he would probably love the juice. "I haven't encountered anything yet that I couldn't really eat," he told her, "though I'll pass for Klingon food because it's mostly alive." He took a bite and chewed in silence for a few seconds. "Where will we dock?"



Wyndi nodded her head and pointed with her chin. "We will dock at the piers. There is no room here for an airship landing as you can see and too close to the mountain the wind currents are unpredictable." She turned back to regard her guest and said, "You will be a novelty here. No off worlders are allowed this far out. OH!" she said suddenly and fished in a pocket producing a small metal badge. "Wear this on your clothing. It is the emblem of House Warraquim. While you will get looks, this should take the outright stares off."

He pinned the badge on but cast her a questioning look. "If off worlders aren't allowed this far out, should we go there? Maybe we should disguise instead, I don't really want to be the center of attention if we can avoid it." He sighed. "THere's no way around it is there, I look in no way like you...I stand out like a sore thumb..."

Wyndi shook her head. "Of course we should go. Let people be curious, would it not be so if the situation was reversed? No one would be hostile and trust me with that on you," she again nodded toward the pin. "Expect to them to be overly polite. No, Win, your eyes give you away, though I have been told that there are eye coverings that might work. No be who you are, and be proud of it. I would, if the situation was reversed, be happy to show the diversity and the natural curiosity that comes with others." She sighed.
"We are a closed world Win. I think too closed but then again I suppose the Council knows best and not for a lowly SkyShip Captain to question."

"Lowly..." Wintrow whispered, as he straightened a little. "I'm just a lowly Starfleet cadet, you know..." He smiled at her. "There's things lowly people know, that the high ups don't...right?"

--
The ship came in just above the water, the sails mostly furled and drifting in on the breeze that was coming in off the ocean. Long piers lay in the ocean water protected by a breakwater and slowly the ship lowered and lines were tossed and the ship winched down and in to be securely tied. Wyndi was busy and had no time for their guest until finally everything was secured and the first of the cargo was being off loaded. She returned only to find the young man on one of the open decks watching the whole process. It took longer then she expected for a message had come in and made her frown but there was not much for it but to obey.

"Well sir, are you ready to explore the Trellium market? It is one of Akkadia's main off world exports. You look handsome and dashing enough, but a Trellium silk shirt instead of that one would make many swoon at your feet." She did not want to spoil the time for the young alien but she put a hand on his shoulder. "We must leave by afternoon on the on shore breeze, I have gotten a message that I must return you to House Warraquim as soon as we can." She made a tight face, "Mother Ryaldi has gone to meet the Twins. Mother Allyndra has requested we return." She then realized that he was not a Guild member of that House but a guest and she smiled. "Still we have the morning and until afternoon. Come sir. Let us be sailors at port!" She laughed in that musical way Akkadians had.

TBC

---

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo
also NPC Wyndi illm Mak'iah

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion

 

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