A private farewell

Posted on 22 May 2020 @ 1:01pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

2,382 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Holodeck 1
Timeline: MD 03, 2007

[ON]

Allyndra was not sure exactly why, but she had come to call Lieutenant Plumeri a friend. Oh they had met and she had practiced his cooking on him and enjoyed an evening doing so. There had been other times their paths had crossed in the days since and had talked about all that had happened.

Whether is was his stance on the bridge, or just normal fleet changeover he was being transferred. He would go with another one of the ships and then on leaving the Galileo behind.

She had thought how to say goodbye ranging from another cooking session. to something else but had settled on one thing she knew. Her home.

It was still a mostly closed world to others and while a few of her shipmates had had the chance to visit most had not and never would. She had prepared a few things not native but had also had preparations from native foods and drinks as well.

She had set the time near her favourite time, just after Ring Rise, on a High Summer evening. The stars were visible, the grass lush including the pathway to the small cliff overlooking the ocean. There was no need for any other lighting for flowers in peruse array glowed under the light of the rings which stretched overhead like some titanic silver rainbow. Delicate perfume from the flowers permeated the area. At the end of the path at the cliff edge was a table, all delicate carved wood and various attendants all dressed in their finest. This was not just your usual picnic under the stars. As for herself she wore a gown similar to that Trellium silk dress. It was white and caught the light as well but not quite like that dress would have.

She was pretty sure everything was ready and went back down the path just a bit to await his arrival.

Matthew entered the holodeck. He was wearing very relaxed clothing. Flip-flops for his feet, red shorts down to his knees and a loose fitting "a-shirt'. It was wonderfully warm here - just like home. He knew instantly where he was, Akkadia! He smiled and walked along the path and enjoyed the sights and the smells.

The tall grasses brushed up against his hairy calves. The cool air whisked through his shirt and felt refreshing and invigorating. He started to climb the path up along the cliffs. He stopped to admire the view of the Ring Rise. There were large birds here. Their wingspan was huge and they seemed to glide effortlessly through the air. He wondered what species they were. He didn't want to be late so he picked up the pace. In a short while, he saw Commander Warraquim waiting for him with her attendants. She was wearing a brilliantly white, dazzling dress that reminded Matthew of silk. He felt under-dressed and wondered if he should be showing so much skin? He greeted her, "Allyndra! What's all this?" he asked.

"Call it prerogative of command. I have learned about your imminent departure from this ship. There are not many that I have gotten to know well and I wish there was more time to get you know you better. Anyway, let me call this a private farewell celebration." She made a sweeping gesture and continued, "I hope you do not mind that I set in a setting more familiar to me."

Matt grinned and stepped closer. He touched his chin and said, "Yeah. Well. Starfleet offered me a very short trip out an airlock. Or a much longer transfer on the Ferengi merchant ship." He laughed to himself, "I thought, between the two, I'd take the passage on the freighter." He took another look at the setting, "Aw hell no. I don't mind at all. Akkadia is as warm as my home. I'm glad to see your program one more time before I leave. Thank you for the offer. I don't have anything for you. All of my crap has been packed away." He stepped alongside her, "It's beautiful here. Thank you!"

Allyndra smiled and lifted a hand. Two of the female attendants came forward carrying box between them and then dipped to their knees holding the box up to present to Mathew. "A little gift for you and no it is not some holographic projection."

Matt looked on as the attendants bowed and then to Allyndra, "For me?" Allyndra confirmed it was and Plumeri was surprised. "Oh?", he took the gift box lid off and pulled back the paper to reveal a stunningly handsome jacket. It was so light, so airy and yet so strong too. He was stunned, "Oh my....." was all he could say as he held the jacket up to look at it. It was made from Trellium silk, the same material that Allyndra's dress was made from. The ringlight caught it and the whole garment seemed to glow. It was white and it had gold trimmings on the sleeves. It looked like something one would wear to a formal banquet. Not all together unlike his dress uniform - not that he'd ever get to wear that again. But on the front of the jacket, woven in precious detail were the organic looking vines and stalks, ending in gold embroidered flowers. "Oh..my...was all he could say. It was somehow soft and the silk was of a quality that it didn't catch or stick on his hands. He wanted to try it on. "Allyndra! I mean Commander Warraquim! Oh my stars! A jacket, a beautiful and handsome jacket. This is Trellium silk yeah? Can I try it on?"

"Allyndra is fine and no one here will protest otherwise if you do not say Mother. Go ahead, try it on. It is yours." She gestured again. "And another prerogative from medical I knew your exact measurements."

The two attendants waited patiently while Matthew got the jacket and then stood and backed off. Another this time male attendant came over to hold it for him.

He slipped his arms into it and it was so smooth. It fit perfect in all the right places and it wasn't hot at all. Just perfect! "It's perfect! Oh, thank you! I'll cherish it and think of you every time I wear it." He put both hands together, hand over fist, and bowed in thanks.

While he tried it on, Allyndra gestured toward the table. "I have prepared some items if you wish to partake." She then leaned over and whispered to another male attendant who simply nodded and then disappeared. "I thought perhaps a bit of entertainment." She took her seat and the other attendants helped her in and then poured a thick red liquid.

Out across the water and waves from the short cliff feminine figures could be seen with torches in their hands flying out to form a line just above the waves. "This is a special kind of water dancing we call it ʻAlau ʻana i ke ahi a me ka wai. The dance of fire and water."

"They look like they're having fun!" Matt said as he grinned and giggled. He took a sip from the glass of red liquid. It was delicious and.....whoa!....what was that? It had a kick to it. Alcohol? "Wow! What do you call this drink here?"

Allyndra just smiled. The dance was in his honour but just for fun but that was nothing to point out. If he enjoyed it, fine. "Fermented Blood Flower," she replied. "Would you like something to go with it? "

"Well, sure. When is the next time I'm going to get to taste food and drink from your home?" Matthew asked. He admired the jacket once more and thanked her. "This is such a lovely gift. Thank you Allyndra. I'm going to take it off though. I don't want to get any food or drink on it." He removed the jacket and a thoughtful attendant kindly offered to take it from him and fold it and return it to the gift box. Matt all the while looked out across the waves to the dancers and the fire torches. High above them the majestic Rings stood out against the backdrop of stars. Matthew asked unexpectedly, "After I'm gone, do you want to still communicate by sub-space? I mean, if I can?"

"Of course! I would be very happy with that." She replied with a smile and grace. "By the way, Trellium is virtually impervious to stains." She thought for a moment and then asked, "Perhaps we could visit as well let me practice my cooking on you again."

"If its anything like the last time you cooked for us, I'd love to have you cook again. I'll communicate with you via sub-space then. Because of the great distance, it may be a few hours, maybe even days before the messages get to you." He took another drink, "Wow this is good." He set the glass down, swallowed and closed his eyes. "Do you hear that?" he asked her, "That faint...ringing sound?"

She was a bit surprised that he had not picked up on visiting and wondering how that might be but perhaps she had been too subtle. Instead she cocked her head. "Slightly," she demurred.

He was quiet a moment only the soft sounds of the waves and the music were heard. Then, there it was, a low-ringing, like air was passing through some great pipe, "There it is? What's that sound?"

Allyndra listened and then laughed that light musical laugh of hers. "Pulaaha's O'Keloa. Pulaaha's Flute. She is the goddess of life and it is her flute that makes the flowers grow. Actually because the islands are mostly volcanic there are tubes and when the wind blows through some they resonate."

"Ah ha!" He opened his eyes, "Now that is amazing. What did you call them? Poo-la-ah-la's Ok-keloah?" he said trying not to hack Akkadian along the way. "Just amazing. It seems like Akkadia would be a planet worth visiting. Just to explore all these lava tubes would be fun. I guess you don't get many tourists though do you? Not with your people questioning whether or not they even want to be in the Federation?" Matt looked out across the water now, "After recent events here on Galileo...maybe your people are right to...delay?"

"There is more of glottal stop. O' Kaaloooah," she went slow. "Think like in Federation Uh'oh. Same thing. Anyway, no there are other reasons and perhaps no time like the present. Let me share something with you."
She looked up though there was no need. "Computer Allyndra O'ua mea huna."

The scene shifted though the table and box remained, replaced instead by a large cave or really room hewed from a perhaps one of those tubes. Lying there was a vessel, perhaps about a 100 meters across, about half as tall and saucer shaped. It was overall silver with no visible windows and seemed to have a very slight glow to it.

Allyndra stood and waved. "This is why and things like it. We call it a Fold Ship. It is how my ancestors traveled the galaxy. Unlike the Galileo, these ships instantaneously traveled from place to place. What took us months on the Galileo to get here to Latari with this ship in a blink of your eyes we could do the same. In the space of breath with a Fold Ship I could take you across the entire galaxy. Can you imagine what that would do if it was well known?"

Matthew looked around the cave from his seat before standing up to view it. "I can only imagine. The Iconians were undone by it. Oh, I know that some people say that they got what they deserved. I don't disagree. I wrote a paper on it for the DTI, "The Sorrows of Empire". It went nowhere. At least I didn't get any hate mail. It just...went away I guess?" He looked at the ship and then sat down again, "With technology like what you have it would be...unlimited access. Hell, Starfleet could land an entire Security force on the doorsteps of whatever world they wanted to." He paused a moment and looked back at her, "You mentioned earlier about visiting me? I would like that very much. I think I need some time to decompress from this...Latari deal. I can tell you this much. I am taking the Tholian Assembly off my Christmas card list!"

Allyndra nodded and then reset the holodeck back to the setting by the sea. She made that little musical laugh at his observation about the Tholians and the Terran festival. She took her seat and then said, "As you can see, it is possible. There are only a handful of even my own people that know those things exist. Every child is taught 'We put away the past in order to preserve the future.' I think we may need to change that. The Federation is drifting away from its ideals. Do we join and loose our identity and perhaps the lessons we learned, or do we stand alone and eventually fade into history?"

She shrugged. "Well this is a celebration and certainly not for such weighty thoughts." She made a gesture and the attendants brought more drink, fruits of all sorts and even some of those Terran dishes that she had prepared. She had figured that the soft fruit and liquids that comprised most the Akkadian diet would not feel substantial to him so offered a variety.

The rest of the evening went nicely and hours later it was time to depart. It was the way Fleet was and she had more appreciation what husbands went through on her home world being removed from the familiar and put into the unfamiliar.

He departed and then she followed a few moments later, the simulation and the dress dissolving as she stepped out to just reveal the regular medical uniform. It was sadly back to real world.

[OFF]

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Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lt jg Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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