Running

Posted on Fri May 6th, 2022 @ 3:09pm by Captain Stenn & Captain Bethsabée Leroux

Mission: Mission 6 - Memory
Location: Deck E
Timeline: Day 285 18:00
1689 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth smiled to herself as she ran past two crewmen on Deck E and saw the confused look of the Captain running. She loved the feeling of running even if she was frustrated at the lack of space and the repeat of her route. She missed the hills of Corsica from her early adulthood and the forests around San Francisco from training as they had given her a sense of challenge and space.

She had become bored of the shuttle bay and going around and around the space despite the isolation of it at the time of day that she went. She needed something more. The boredom had moved her route to around deck E and earlier in the evening. It was an easy route past her quarters, laundry, no longer used barbershop, Mess Hall and Hydroponics Bay among other things.

“Good evening Captain.” She called as she ran up behind the man.

"Captain" Stenn acknowledged without turning, having heard the approaching footsteps, recognizing her scent and voice. He was in grey MACO shorts and t-shirt with STENN and Captains Bars stenciled on the front and back and running shoes.

He was about a third of the way into his evening exercise program. In the morning the detachment had daily organized workouts but he did additional fitness training in the evenings as well. It had taken a while to get his fitness back after laying comatose for months and he was still not there. He found the excise was good training for both physical and mental health. He was able to undertake some light meditation as he jogged.

Currently he was still working through the encounter with the telepathic entity of the tower on the planet. That had been two weeks now, but he was aware there had been a considerable outpouring of emotion from the entity in its last stages. Quite beyond anything he had experienced before and he was still processing some of the residuals.

He had been doing this routine since they left the planet, usually around the same time, as soon as he was done with his duties and before his evening meal. This was the first time he had encountered Leroux.

He matched his pace to hers as she drew alongside. "Good evening" he said "I recall seeing you run from before my coma, but this is the first time since. What route do you use?"

Beth was surprised when he slowed down to match her. His pace was higher than hers purely from legs length. “I normally run the shuttle pace mostly but I have grew bored of it and decided to shake it up.” She admitted.

"I have been starting from the lowest deck, working my way up, doing a circuit on each, using the access ladders to move between decks, then back down again" He explained. 'It is also helping me reacquaint myself with the ship's layout. There have been some changes since we left Earth I note." It was a route he was going to introduce as a weekly work-out for the MACO operators. Not only was it good for fitness but it would help them learn shortcuts and different routes between decks, should the need ever arise.

Beth smirked at him and shook her head. She did it to maintain some type of fitness and for the fact it had always been part of her routine. Everyone needed something to give them a sense of normality. “That is quite a circuit Captain. I cannot claim to be any where near as intense.” Beth said as she dodged around Ensign McManus crouched over an open panel.

"It is acceptable" Stenn nodded, "Although I find some of the lower decks are a little cold" The standard ship atmospheric controlled temperature in low occupancy areas being well below Vulcan's normal scorching heat. "What route are you taking now Captain?"

“Around this deck.” She admitted. It was the first deck that had come to mind that would give her some fitness but also encourage others in exercise seeing the Captain doing it. It had been a task she had given Gerhard… no Smith and Gerhard in establishing exercise classes and potentially improving the fitness of the few now they were having a lull in between major action.

Stenn nodded. "Captain, might I ask you, do you still have any lingering effects from the telepathic contact with the tower structure?" he asked.

Beth stopped running and looked at him questionably. “I do not believe so but I am not overly sure what j would be looking for or in this case feeling.” Beth’s admitted before a question came to her. “Are you Captain?”

Stenn slowed down and stopped. He paused, it was a little uncomfortable for him to discuss. He had considered mentioning it to Darru but since the Scientist had not experienced the event it would perhaps be easier with Leroux. "I have never been exposed to such an... outpouring of emotions. It was not... easy to experience..."

Beth noticed the pause and looked around to where they were and spotted a compartment they could talk in without interruption or overhearing. She had seen the same pause in enough Vulcans to connect it to something that needed discussing privately.

“Let’s talk in laundry. It will be private I bet with so many people sleeping.” She said opening the door and stepping a inside the warm space. It was a nice change from the cool corridor to step into the empty space. “It was emotional. Something that will take time to process for myself let along a species that is not so vocal about emotions.” Beth said delicately.

Stenn followed her in, acknowledging her discretion. "There is something more Captain. I believe some of the... discomfort... I am experiencing may be as a result of residual telepathic connections"

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind he reached out Captain, can you hear me?

Beth had been looking at the chair that she had broken weeks back that had now been repaired when she heard his words and looked. "Of course, I can hear you," Beth commented with a frown looking confused as to why he would ask her that.

Now he had the connection Stenn opened his eyes, caught Leroux's gaze and held it. "I'm not speaking out loud Captain.."

It took Beth a second to comprehend what she was seeing with her eyes to make sense for her mind. “Oh wow.” She murmured finally in standard able to form what she was thinking. “Now this is interesting.” Was all she could think of to say. There was no way she was telepathic back as she could not fathom any part of her reaching out but maybe she had in her dreams.

Interesting indeed Stenn thought back. Have you tried it?

“I do not believe I am able to do it awake but have you been having odd dreams that do not belong to yourself or something you would not dream?” She wondered hopping up to sit on the washing washing to look at him carefully. No one else had mentioned anything lingering and she saw them more on a daily occurance so maybe it was effecting him due to a Vulcan physiology.

l have been experiencing some difficulty maintaining emotional balance. It could be the influence of others thoughts and dreams l am being unconsciously exposed to He admitted. Try reaching out now, see if it is still possible..

Beth closed her eyes and tride to reach out but nothing came to her. No thread of knowledge on how to do it nor any type of longing for connection. She opened her eyes and shrugged. “I do not believe it is possible Captain whilst I am awake.” She admitted. “It looks like to be a Vulcan issue which your more telepathic leanings.” Beth would have leant out to offer a sympathetic squeeze of arm but to a touch telepath who was struggling it could be the wrong thing.

Stenn nodded and spoke aloud. "I appreciate the thought, Captain." Looking from her to his arm, having noted the thought as he let their mental link go.

He continued "You may be correct, it is known, in both our species, that our minds have considerable untapped potential. Perhaps when dormant you are able to achieve things that we are unable to do when conscious. But even for Vulcans this level of telepathic connection is almost unheard of. We normally have to make physical contact and focus intently to link our thoughts to those of another. Even then it is not a fully understood, or accepted practice within some parts of Vulcan society ..." He trailed off.

"I would prefer it if this were to remain private between us for now. I believe the effect will dimmish in time and will no longer be of concern"

“I understand it is a taboo concept but so far from home among people less inclined to be so judgement I would assume you are safe to discuss it with other people if you need to.” Beth was not going to go into Darru’s mind meld and his assistance to Sloan to merge him into a new person. “I can keep it private for now but I would appreciate it if you do end up in my dreams you keep it private.” She knew her dreams were wild sometimes and she did not want to inflict them of anyone if she could.

"I will endeavor not to do so Captain. But should such an event occur, you may rely on my complete discretion" Stenn replied "Shall we continue our exercise?"

“I appreciate it. I would hate for your Vulcan sensibilities to be tested by my dreams.” Beth teased jumping down from from washer. “Let’s us continue.” She agreed stretching a little to get herself prepared again.

Stenn raised an eyebrow slightly, but chose not to comment, holding the door open for Leroux he followed her out to the corridor and they set off running again.