Exploring Potential Realities

Posted on 18 Mar 2016 @ 12:49pm by Lieutenant JG Cyrin Xanth & Ensign Calvin Henderson
Edited on on 18 Mar 2016 @ 5:18pm

1,960 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 7, Astrometrics
Timeline: MD 90, 1345 Hours

[ON]

Most people after receiving a promotion might have gone off to find their friends to celebrate. Maybe they'd do it in the mess hall, or in a bar on Jupiter Station, or someplace conjured up in the holodeck. Or maybe they'd have a small party in their quarters, with just a few people, to commemorate the occasion. Cyrin wasn't like most people of course, and there was only one place he wanted to be now that he had a brand new pip on his collar that marked him as a junior grade lieutenant.

The doors to the Astrometrics lab opened for him, hours ahead of when his own shift would start, but that didn't matter or surprise anyone who knew him. Cyrin was often in there during times he didn't have to be, ostensibly working on his projects and readings, but most people knew better. He would spend hours and hours in the lab as a way to hide, to avoid the rest of the crew. Some of that was starting to change, ever so slowly, since his trip back home to Trill, but not enough yet for many to have noticed. Nevertheless, the tall young man seemed to stand a little taller that day, his eyes looked less worried, and there was even a smile on his face as he walked inside.

Although Commander Kohl had awarded him with a week to focus on his own projects for winning the asteroid selection competition while they were in the alternate universe, he hadn't brought it up with the new boss they had. Cyrin didn't want to give a first impression that would make him seem like he wanted special treatment or was slacking in his responsibilities. However, he had wrapped up all his previous projects for the most part, and without any new orders to the contrary, he was free to begin new research. What he had in mind, a continuation of the science he'd presented at the Symposium, was going to require some assistance however.

Cyrin glanced around the room curiously, looking at the few people who worked in the lab, and wondering which of them might be best suited to ask to help him out with his plans. For some reason, Jaana Voutilainen was one of those who was stationed here in Astrometrics that sort of intimidated him. Well, not for some unknown reason; Cyrin was afraid he'd mispronounce her name and embarrass himself in the attempt. Her speciality in stellar cartography wouldn't likely be of much use for what he had in mind either.

The only other person there at the moment was one Cyrin didn't recognize, a man as tall as he himself was, and who looked to be of similar weight and who wore the same blue department colour. Cyrin eyed him for a long moment. Fit looking as well, like the astrophysicist, though somehow he looked a bit more presentable than the Trill did. It was the hair, Cyrin decided, which was shorter than his own and didn't look like the man ran his hands through it and made a mess of things as often as Cyrin did himself. He even caught himself as his hand was starting to rise to do just that, then forced himself to not; it probably looked a bit wild already, what with the mess he made of it in his excitement after leaving the Admiral's presence with his promotion.

"Uh, um, excuse me?" Cyrin asked rather diffidently as he approached the stranger's station, certainly more hesitantly than most lieutenants probably spoke with ensigns. He'd need some time to work on that. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Oh, not at all," Calvin stated while turning around and realizing for the rest of their conversation he would be a nervous mess. The man before him was, in his terms, 'straight up nothin' but pretty'. To be honest, Calvin was still figuring out the ship's systems having arrived only a few days earlier. "I'm just, still, you know...figuring stuff out," he went to act suave and place his hand on the console while leaning in. Unfortunately he misjudged and slipped and stumbled a little before catching himself and giving an awkward laugh to himself. 'Smooth one Calvin...real smooth.'

A faint stain of colour appeared on Cyrin's cheeks, but unlike the human he was completely unaware of what his own reactions meant. Some part of him probably was thinking much the same thoughts, but it was a part he never really listened to, especially when there was a scientific mystery at hand. The slip up seemed nothing more to him than just a small mistake, not unlike those he himself did all the time. "I'm Ens-uh-I mean, um, Lieutenant Xanth," he introduced himself lamely. Remembering the human custom, the Trill offered his cold hand, "Cyrin Xanth."

"Nice to meet you Lieutenant. I'm Calvin,Henderson, Ensign. New," he went to shake the man's hand in the hopes he wouldn't now trip over his feet in the few steps forward it would take to meet him. He did. But again caught himself and was able to shake the man's hand while still looking somewhat professional. "How can I help you?" Calvin wondered...'With a date? Some lunch? To ask what my favourite drink is or for my hand in marriage, all is good to me.' he thought.

If any of that would have been spoken out loud, things would probably have gone downhill quite fast, at least inasmuch as Cyrin's ability to communicate clearly which was bad enough on most days. However, the promotion and chance to start his research made this a great day, and there was hardly any stuttering or stammering as he replied.

"I certainly hope so, Ensign Henderson," he began, face lighting up with a smile. As he spoke, Cyrin started to gesture, as if to emphasise certain points or parts of his words. "You see, I'd like to start a series of experiments into the nature of ruh-reality. Of the multiverse itself, and what it might be contained wi-within. I would like to create some various phenomena under controlled conditions, oh, like micro-singularities and maybe an inversion field, just a teeny one, that sort of thing. Would you have any clue how we could set the sensors to gather th-that sort of um, information? I mean, so they could uh, scan the structure of these objects?"

"I take it you have been running scans under the current astrometic configuration and been getting less than clear results that are inconsistent in their results? With a bit of work I can create a new sensor band configuration that would work. They may need a bit more computing power than would normally be required...but I can set up an option you can switch on and off as you need them," Calvin began to think, "I should be able to have them set up by the end of my shift...that is if I extend my shift into early this evening. But I see no troubles in that." He smiled coyly at the corner of his mouth.

"Well, actually, I haven't even started," Cyrin said, and did his own leaning against the console, though his move was far more innocent and a good deal more successful. "You see, I got some good scans on a much larger singularity, but I don't think I need to go that big to get what I need next. I don't want to interrupt your other duties th-though; this is strictly for research. And I'd be glad to lend a hand, if you could tell me what I need to do. I'm on Beta shift, so maybe it'd be f-fair if I helped you finish up wh-whatever you need to first?"

"Yeah, that would be great!" Calvin smiled, this time quite innocently. "I'm still familiarizing myself with the ship's systems so not much to interrupt right now, we could call it part of my 'getting to know the ship time'. I'll see you at the start of your shift then? An extra set of hands will come in really...handy." He winced at his unintentional pun. "I'm not always this much of a goofball," Calvin sheepishly admitted, "Honest."

Instead of giving the other man any funny looks, Cyrin grinned knowingly. How many times had he felt completely at odds, words coming out of his mouth that sounded somewhat wrong, actions that felt awkward and uncomfortable. Cyrin knew all too well what that was like.

"Not a problem, Ensign," Cyrin said. He glanced around at the controls and gestured, "So...what are you working on right now? Might as well get started, right?"

"I'm spending my first few days getting acquainted with the systems, they are far more advanced than any I have came across before," Calvin smiled. "I have been looking at plotting new course corrections for ships in the area with a shift in some gravity fields. All theoretical for now of course."

While Cyrin might consider something like course corrections to be a bothersome nuisance that could distract him from his more serious work, Calvin had used a magic word. "I love theory," Cyrin replied brightly, and moved to stand alongside him and peered down at the screen. His eyes darted across the display as he absorbed what was being shown. "Hmm, I see. Massive alterations of ambient gravity fields by the removal of or repositioning of major astronomical bodies. Interesting. Is there something about the Galileo's control systems or astrometric sensors you aren't used to maybe? Oh, is this your first time serving on board a science vessel? Our readings can get a good deal more precise than you might have seen before..."

"Yeah, this is my first science vessel...sir," Calvin added the sir quickly remembering rank, "I was placed on a heavy cruiser before and there wasn't much science to be done science wise...at least nothing to keep an interest for too long."

For a long moment, Cyrin stared at Calvin, looking a bit clueless. Then the confused look became one of embarrassment. It was the first time someone had addressed him as sir, besides Cadet Paragon, and it was really odd to hear. Of course he was still really pleased by the promotion he'd received just a short time ago, but now he realized that with it was going to come some greater responsibilities. "I th-think y-y-you'll uh...enjoy the ch-change," he stammered, and as he continued the scientist was able to speak a little more clearly though the stutter wasn't entirely gone. "Our l-last mission is the one I ga-gathered the data that lead me to believe th-that we can finally begin experimenting with the multiverse medium."

Noticing he cause some uncomfortableness, Calvin went a little red in the face, but the science talk soon picked him up. "That would really be interesting to look at. If you ever need a partner to help you look over things and work on it, I would really be interested. I might just be astrometrics, but I do have experience in other fields. Will need to flex those other science muscles every now and then."

"R-r-ruh-right," Cyrin stammered hard, for the last time at least. "In any case," he continued on, picking up speed and gesturing some. "I think I can help you figure out the controls at least." He gestured at the LCARS, and tried to focus. "So, this one here is the gravimetric sensor readings from the latest sweep we send you..."

[OFF]

Ensign Calvin Henderson
Astrometrics Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Cyrin Xanth
Astrophysicist/Cosmologist
USS Galileo

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