Museum Hunting Part 2

Posted on Mon May 29th, 2023 @ 3:21pm by Petty Officer, 3rd Class Lottie Daglish & Ziu'Liherasefra

Mission: Sojurn
Location: Relea
Timeline: Day 334
4181 words - 8.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Lottie approached the entrance of the museum, a sense of wonder and anticipation filled the air, it was a toxic mix in her head that made her stop for a second and squeeze her companion's hand. The building's exterior was a dazzling display of sleek, curved glass panels that shimmer with an iridescent glow, reflecting the street lights in mesmerising patterns. It felt as though she had stepped into a portal to another world, where art, technology, and imagination collide. It was so different from the snow and ice around them.

As they passed through the entrance, they were greeted by an impressive foyer that exudes elegance and innovation. The walls were adorned with digital canvases, displaying ever-changing artworks that come to life in vibrant colours and dynamic movements. The air was infused with soft ambient music, creating a harmonious atmosphere that immediately captivated her senses. “So these holograms?” Lottie asked, looking around trying to work out where they would find them.

As with most placed indoors this time of year, with the festival bringing in such a wide variety of tourists, the temperature controls were adjusted slightly higher than would have been ordinarily typical of such a large space. Hera, who didn't really feel the cold as badly as some, had lasted only a minute before unzipping her jacket and less than a minute after that before removing it entirely. Making her way towards one of the self-assigned lockers to store it, she left it open for Lottie to make use of if she wanted and spun quickly to orient herself so that she could properly answer the human's query. Light steps took her across to the self-service display, where she picked up a round disc and presented it to her date with a grin. "Would you believe, this is it."

Lottie took off the coat and popped it into the locker to dry off and joined the woman as she held out a round disc to her. “Not in the slightest.” She took the disc and looked at it every way possible trying to work it out. “Amazing.” She finally decided.

Hera tapped her fingertips against the slightly raised dome and then handed the device to Lottie as it lit up. The pulsing blue light seemed to anticipate something, though the gentle chime of activation had been followed with no further instruction. Hera grinned. "See if you can figure out how it works."

Lottie did for any person who wasn’t quite as good with computers, as she was with people hit the device against where it was slightly raised. This time the device brand is alive and floated from her hand and activated into a shimmer and then moved into a form of a person with the disc at the heart. The form shimmered into the form of a Realian and looked between the two.

Delighted by her companion's success, Hera snuck an arm around Lottie's waist and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Gorgeous and a genius; at this rate, I'm going to refuse to let you out of my sight." Linking her arm through the other woman's, the alien regarded the passive hologram with fresh admiration, imagining through the eyes of someone not accustomed to such technology, and continued, "It looks realistic but it doesn't have a lot of autonomy. It does have access to the Central Archives, however, so it should be able to answer almost anything you ask it. Plus, it'll be preprogrammed with tours of the facility if you just want to take the easy route."

“I have just experience with AI’s and holographic technology that had left me a little traumatised but this seems placid enough.” She conceded. Moving deeper into the museum Lottie found herself in a vast atrium bathed in what would have been alive with natural light in the daytime, courtesy of a massive glass dome overhead but was just lit simply by lights now. It served as the heart of the museum, connecting various wings and levels seamlessly. Gliding through the open space were more autonomous holograms like that had, gracefully floating between exhibits, silently attending to the needs of visitors until requested to advise.

Content to follow the hologram's lead, and to remain with her arm looped through her date's, Hera lifted her eyes to admire the domed roof despite having seen it several times before. She had thought to quiz Lottie on the notion of traumatic experiences with holograms but had decided against a conversation that might have spoilt the evening for the human. "They have this way," she murmured quietly, "of taking seamless infrastructure and just inviting the natural world to be part of it. So much of what they design seeks to include the outside as an integral part of the inside."

Lottie could truly see how that had done it. She was not architect but she could see how easy they had made it seem. “I love it. I saw it in one of my colleague's rooms earlier. Whilst yours looks out across the above world, hers is underwater and just amazing. All the fishes and coral I got to see whilst I was waiting for her.” Lottie grinned and led them further into exploring further. It was only after the third door that she realised that the museum was not limited to traditional forms of art. It was an immersive experience that merged art, technology, and virtual reality. The exhibitions were a fusion of physical installations and virtual worlds, seamlessly integrated to transport visitors to different dimensions with support from holographic technology.

Hera tilted her head at the mention of a friend, not in a covetous or jealous way but more because she enjoyed the fact that the human was seemingly a very social creature. The Ziu'ni also was by nature, far more than her people normally permitted, but had to constantly battle stereotypes to actually make connections. As much as she found the museum's exhibits inspiring, watching Lottie experience them for the first time was turning into a far more enjoyable experience. A slow smile tugged Hera's lips upwards as she watched the woman absorb the barrage of stimuli.

"What?" Lottie asked blushing as she felt the gaze on her as she turned and caught it. She laughed and looked away trying to work out what could possibly be going on that she was being watched.

"I love seeing things through your eyes," was the unexpected response. Hera, giving the human's arm a squeeze, then leaned across to press another kiss to Lottie's cheek by way of reassurance. "It reminds me not to take everything for granted." Turning her attention back to the displays, Hera unwound herself and stepped forward, arms spread, to turn a slow circle before she returned to face her date. "And I never know what's going to stand out to you, your perception of things is invigorating. Tell me," Hera's eyes flashed with anticipation, "right now, what draws your attention most from this room?"

Lottie smiled as she looked around and could not believe she was standing in the middle of a lush forest, surrounded by towering trees and exotic creatures. The air was filled with the scents and sounds of nature, making it difficult to discern reality from the digital realm. She reached out to touch a holographic flower, only to feel a gentle vibration as the haptic feedback system mimicked the sensation of its petals. "Just how real it feels."

"It is designed to feel like that." The hologram spoke up as it watched waiting for more instructions.

"It's ridiculous, isn't it?" Crouching down to get a closer look at the plant Lottie had singled out, as if to try and determine what about it drew the human's eye, Hera reached out her own hand to caress the projected petals. "So much intellect and precision engineering, just to create a replica of something you can walk outside and find. Well," she conceded, placing her hands on her thighs to rise slowly, "Not directly outside, this is more a representation of the southern climate. Most of it is protected area, not available for tourism. I guess this is their way of inviting the rest of us in."

She had heard about the southern climate and had seen several of the garden domes to know that there was so much more than snow and ice around the planet which was why the great freezing was such a celebration and the planet so kind towards them. "So much potential in this technology." Lottie laughed and stood back up offering a hand to the woman who was still crouched down.

Using the momentum to pull the human close, Hera slipped her arms around Lottie's waist and then turned her attention towards the hologram. "Can we see the seasonal rotation?" As much as it was phrased as a question, it was executed as a command, without agreement but simple acquiesce. Slowly, the landscape shifted and changed, the darker and colder months still no reflection on their current location, though it gave enough of a contrast for the fresh blooming to be a sudden explosion of life and colour and vitality. Hera turned to watch it, her head bent to rest on Lottie's shoulder. "Is this anything like your home?"

"Yeah, we have seasons." Lottie grinned at the weight around her. How was she ever going to walk away from how comfortable this felt? "Spring, summer, autumn and winter and sometimes we have them all in one day." She laughed as the rotation started again. It was nice just for a moment to remind herself that Earth had seasons and change was inevitable.

"Maybe one day there'll be an exhibit here to honour your people."

The remark seemed to stop Hera in her tracks, a pensive look distracting her for a moment. Even as she resolved the train of thought, the alien seemed hesitant, her gaze fixed on the hologram as if contemplating its capacity whilst she made a choice regarding the voicing of her thoughts.

"Would you like to see our forests?" It was a gentle, soft question. "I know the Realians have been permitted to catalogue a likeness, without using any specific reference because a direct replica would be against Ziu'ni segregation laws. It won't be exactly where I live, but it will be close enough for some context."

“I would love to.” Lottie assured quickly. Context was always key and the way she was feeling about the other woman it made sense to know more about her and the life she had led.

It took a couple of seconds for Hera to address the hologram, as if in need of the time to marshal her own wits. Slowly, like a gentle ripple that replaced each minor detail with something entirely new, the scene around them shifted to something that seemed, at least at first glance, like an artist's rendition of a child's fantasy. As the programming completed the transformation, however, the textures and shadows gave dimension to the pastel landscape and, as unusual as the palate was for a forest, it became immediately apparent where Hera drew her own natural hue-shifts from.

“Wow…” Lottie whispered as the scene shifted around her into something more amazing than she had already been looking at.

The Pale Forest, as it was known to outsiders, was unusual first and foremost for the blanched nature of the trees that populated it. Cream-coloured bark, slightly mottled but smooth to the touch, was offset by a canopy of pinks, purples and blues, and much of the undergrowth grew in similar shades that made it seem as if the forest floor was littered by cotton candy. Iridescent moss accentuated the fairytale façade, though there was a solidness to it all that kept the effect from being entirely ethereal.

"Most of our forests are far more standard," Hera said quietly, her eyes lifted upwards towards the peek of sun through the lilac leaves. "Or at least, what would be considered standard for the region." By this, she referred to the usual breadth of greens and browns and sometimes-reddish-oranges, but had no way of knowing if Earth considered such things typical. "These are our sacred lands, so much so that they won't even provide an accurate rendition of them for these archives. This is close enough to give the right impression though."

“Our forests are all like that.” Lottie commented taking a few steps into the greens and browns before turning to the more paler Forest. It was like an old earth book from Dr Suess. “But this… this is amazing… I can just imagine… I can imagine a lot here.” Lottie commented looking at Hera for a moment grinning at her. She wished she could just bottle up this moment stood there taking it all in.

Standing amidst her natural environment, Lihera had morphed almost instantly from a solitary jewel somewhat awkwardly positioned amongst a population that only made her stand out more, to a seamless piece of a glorious tapestry. Here, her colouring made sense and, rather than pale and unusual, she simply became part of the landscape, even though her attire didn't quite lend itself to flawless camouflage. "It is a beautiful place," she conceded quietly, eyes upturned still to consider the slight breeze through the pale leaves. "But a gilded cage is better appreciated by those on the outside."

Lottie was breathless just watching how natural the woman looked among all the pale. It was such an unusual choice for the universe to make into a harm for a species but who was she to judge when it had made something wonderful and beautiful. “It’s like camouflage I am guessing.” Lottie said trying to sound casual despite how many questions she had.

The remark drew Hera's attention back finally and, with it, the realisation that her metachrosis was shifting in and out to match the movement of light. Typically, she had much better control of it, but had become lax at worrying overly much when her earlier attempts at much harsher tones had failed to disguise her true nature from the eagerly observant. Her people had reputations and, whilst they were mostly positive and somewhat revered, they were also particularly burdensome to someone who didn't want to be viewed as a sombre and regally aloof justiciar. Hera smiled and dipped her head to agree. "It can be difficult to locate a Ziu'ni if they choose to remain hidden. I should probably control it more," she added, glancing down at the strands of hair snaking over her shoulder.

“Cannot hide from me.” Lottie said slowly stepping up to the woman and brushed the strands of hair away from her shoulder. She lent between them to take her pale hands in her darker hands and squeezed them.

The dimple returned. "Why would I ever want to?" Pale blue eyes studied the human's face, marvelling at it in much the same way as Lottie had gaped at the sun-dappled landscape.

“You do look stunning here among these colours though.” She whispered leaning in to kiss her softly. It was a soft kiss that was interrupted far to soon as a group of Realians joined them in the space marvelling at what the space was suddenly looking at. It was nothing that they had seen before.

Despite her previous contentment, Hera stiffed noticeably. "We should probably keep exploring," she suggested quietly, unable to look at the new arrivals for fear their appreciation of the scenery would extend to full realisation of the unusual sight of one of her kind amidst her natural habitat. Most never got to see the Ziu'ni this way and, not only feeling like she was somehow disrespecting her family by indulging the spectacle, Hera had only intended to share it with Lottie. Slipping a hand into the human's, she cast a single furtive glance back at the Realians and propelled them towards the entrance to the next room.

Lottie walked into the next room and requested of the hologram that the previous hologram be cancelled seeing how unhappy Hera looked suddenly. The room they walked into was filled with floating sculptures composed entirely of light. The ethereal forms twisted and morphed, responding to the movements and emotions of the viewers, creating a dynamic and interactive experience. It was a symphony of colour and energy, leaving her awe-inspired and lost in the moment again. “I do not think I will ever grow bored of space.”

The museum's architecture was a work of art in itself as they carried on walking. Curved walkways, suspended platforms, and transparent walls provide breathtaking views of the surrounding cityscape, blurring the line between the internal and external environments.

A little quieter than usual, Hera followed for once, eager to allow Lottie to explore at her own pace without dominating the flow of the evening the way she had the night before. As dynamic and vivacious as the alien had first appeared, there was a sensitivity to her pensiveness now that was far more attentive and attuned to mutual contentment and, as had already been the case several times already, she found herself watching her companion far more than she paid attention to their surroundings. At the very least, her mood seemed to have rallied, a sure sign that the Ziu'ni never allowed herself to wallow for long.

"The only thing better," she eventually observed, "would be taking you to these places in person." A wistfulness crept into Hera's smile as she added, "Though I don't suppose that's a very realistic aspiration."

“Not unless you want to come and travel it with my crew.” Lottie casually as she span around to take in all of the things at once. The blend of natural elements, such as living walls of plants and cascading water features, with cutting-edge technology, created a harmonious balance between the past, present, and future that left the woman at ease.

The first reaction was gentle laughter, having mistaken the suggestion as little more than a frippery. It petered off very quickly as Hera studied the human, suddenly uncertain. "Are your crew hiring?" She didn't know a great deal about the woman's situation, or at least what she had found out, Hera hadn't fully comprehended. She knew Lottie worked, which made sense on a ship that carried so many, and that their original purpose had been exploration, but beyond that, there had been hints enough to make it seem unlikely the Atlantis was anything like the trade vessels Hera was used to dealing with.

“Not sure but I am sure you have skills that would be useful to the command team.” Lottie said feeling the bubbling in her stomach of excitement despite how uncertain she had said it aloud.

There was no immediate response, which in itself was something of a miracle because very little seemed to leave Hera lost for words. Even after such a short time, the prospect of having to say goodbye had already left her feeling impatient and antsy, unaccustomed to the notion of definitive absence. Yes, she had left home and couldn't easily return without some discomfort, but it wasn't impossible. Every person she met, she could theoretically find again if she put her mind to it. Lottie was different. Where she intended to go, there was no coming back.

"But would you want me there?" It seemed a fair question, gently asked. This was Lottie's home, what constituted her family, and theirs was an association very much in its infancy.

Lottie slowly leant up and gently took her face in hers and pressed their lips together in another kiss. “I would very much like to see where this goes.” She whispered when she pulled back. “So yes if you want to.”

Struck dumbfounded, Hera remained utterly still as her slightly-glazed eyes absorbed the other woman's sincerity. Acceptance wasn't as easy as the Ziu'ni made it out to be, caught between inherited respect and the levels of discomfort bordering on mistrust that came from certain species who valued self-control to such extremes that any extrinsic influence on their mood was seen as an intrusion. Her people were revered and reviled in equal measure and breaking the mold hadn't helped her transition much. Being wanted, invited in such a way, was unexpected and flattering in a way that she'd never experienced.

It also threw up a lot of 'what ifs'.

Logically, the region was so vast that there would be months before any permanent decision was required, if a permanent option was even on the cards. That kind of thinking, the lack of planning too far ahead, appealed to Hera but the thrill of potential beyond that was also electrifying. She blinked, aware that she'd been staring for perhaps longer than was comfortable, and exhaled slowly to release the breath she'd been holding.

"Talk to me about it," she murmured, leaning her forehead against Lottie's. "You've obviously given it some thought, whereas I didn't even know it was possible. How would I apply?"

Lottie had not given it loads of thought but it had been on her mind all day. She did not want to lose the woman nor her crewmates who were the only family she now had. It was a conundrum that she could only throw out to the universe for some help or someone else to make the choice and the only person who could was Hera. “I am not sure but maybe talking to our Captain or Executive Officer might be a good start.” It was a good place in her opinion as she was sure that they would like to replace the people that they had lost. “Could work out if your skills are useful to the crew.” She was sure that the woman would have something useful to offer.

That seemed to silence Hera for a moment, not typically used to considering her own worth in such a high-stakes capacity. "I doubt my musicianship will be any use," she eventually confessed with a soft huff of laughter. "And my mechanical pursuits will probably pale in comparison to your trained engineers." It was a touch-and-go situation, the Ziu'ni had the benefit of working with quite advanced technology, after all. "But..." The woman's brow flickered uncertainly. "This is a very populated region of space. I can offer some navigational insight, as well as some cultural reference for any other species you may encounter." She stopped short of offering diplomatic services, too used to viewing herself an inferior option when it came to her people's primary function. Lifting her gaze again, Hera fixed tentatively hopeful eyes on the expectant human. "Perhaps if I travelled with you for a while, we can revisit the conversation once..." Her voice trailed off as she searched for the words. "There will come a time where your journey takes you further than I have ever travelled. At that point..." Hera exhaled. "Decisions for another time."

That sounded like a good idea to the nurse if she was honest. It was the best of both worlds if the Captain and the other senior officers were willing to listen to the potential of having Hera onboard. Lottie was not delusional she knew it might not work out but she had grown to hold on to the tiny sparks of hope that she came out of no where. “Yeah…” Lottie finally replied smiling a little.

As uncommon as it was, Hera flushed and, in her pleasure, snuck her arm back through Lottie's so the pair of them could continue the final leg of the loop that would lead them back around to where they started. "As much as I had anticipated seeing you again all day, it was already seeming all-too bittersweet. I'm not sure what to make of you being so willing to open your home to me." She leaned her head sideways to settle on Lottie's shoulder. "You feel very familiar to me, Lottie Daglish. I cannot wrap my mind around it entirely."

“Me either but I cannot wait to see why.” Lottie said. As she reluctantly set about leaving the museum. She was left with a profound sense of inspiration and awe. The futuristic masterpiece of art and technology had opened her eyes to new possibilities, pushing the boundaries of creativity and imagination. She was grateful for the extraordinary glimpse into the future but also sad that she would not be there to experience it. “What would you like to do next?”

Whereas the previous night had seen Hera full of ideas, one after the other, the question now prompted an elongated yet thoughtful consideration. "I think I just want to talk to you," she admitted finally. "Wherever you'd like to go, whatever you'd like to do, I just want it to be somewhere with enough scope to listen to your stories." The dimple returned. "Shall we go explore?"

Lottie just nodded and led the pair back over into the snow and ice. There was lots to discuss.