S'ti th'laktra*

[nerve_pincher]

Spock, as was his wont, had learned a great deal already about this ship and its technology, though his knowledge was far from complete.

Now, however, it was time for reflection.

Comments

[capture_worlds]

No matter where I go, not matter what I do, my photos still turn out off. Yes, Tsukasa, that is actually the best way to describe your photos after you develop them. He sighed and placed the photos in the same place where he kept his belt, and without looking, made a left turn...into a cavern system.

The caverns were large and ornate, giving off an air of being very well-maintained over a long period of time. This is incredible workmanship, He thought as he wandered the system, eventually coming upon a person meditating.

The photographer in him stirred, seeing an ideal moment to take a photo, so he set up his hand-held camera and, after lining up the shot the way he wanted, pressed the shudder.

*CLICK*

[nerve_pincher]

Spock opened his eyes. Had this been the real Katric Ark, he may have taken offense at the stranger. No outsiders had ever been allowed to photograph it. His mother had been one of only a select handful of humans ever allowed inside.

"Is it generally acceptable in your universe of origin to take photographs of sentient subjects without prior consent?" he asked curiously.

[capture_worlds]

Tsukasa shrugged. It generally wasn't acceptable in the 21st century he came from, but it never really stopped him.

"All things are possible in the Multiverse, correct?"

[nerve_pincher]

"Correct. However, the wisest course of action, when faced with a new life form, is to ask permission."

[nerve_pincher]

Spock was aware that he wasn't alone. Even a human, in this quiet setting, likely would have been able to hear the odd creature. It was not a disturbance, certainly not more of a disturbance than what lingered in Spock's own mind and soul.

He opened his eyes.

"Renne."

[nerve_pincher]

An interesting question, deceptively simple. Spock tilted his head, aware of the respect being granted by Renne's distance. "I am... adequate, though my mind is troubled. You may explore, if you wish."

[sooraya]

The place looked wonderfully ancient, and curiously alien to her. But she had been wandering aimlessly these past few days, feeling sort of... empty. As though she was forgetting something.

She was wearing a long tunic over her plant-suit and an elegantly wrapped scarf covered her hair and ears. She walked inside the Sensorium with an air of reverence. Even the heat didn't really bother her, despite all her coverings. To be frank, it reminded her of the deserts of Afghanistan, a place full of both happy and tragic memories.

Someone was already in the space, looking as though they were deep in thought, or perhaps in prayer. Sooraya approached the man, but stayed well away from the altar.

"If I may ask," she said quietly, "what is this place? It's... beautiful."

[nerve_pincher]

Beautiful was not a word that a Vulcan would've used to describe this place, although the feelings behind it would not be dissimilar, Spock thought.

"It is a site of cultural and historical significance to my species. A place of meditation, known as the Katric Ark. Much knowledge was stored here."

[sooraya]

She tilted her head, genuinely interested.

"And what - again, if I may ask - are you, then? Where do you come from?"

Sooraya had certainly not seen anyone like Spock in her life. "And... where would you store something?" It appeared, to her, as though it was just an eloquently crafted cave.

[nerve_pincher]

"I am Spock. My home planet was called Vulcan. I am half-Vulcan."

He paused a moment, considering her last question. Then, in one graceful movement, he rose, approaching one of the niches, almost hidden among the larger statues. Carefully, almost reverently, he removed the ark from its niche.

"In these, were stored the katras of Vulcans who made significant contributions to our society. The katra is the... consciousness of a Vulcan."

[morphitudinous]

After a long shift in the Engineering department that day, Billy found himself taking a detour on his way to his room. Predictably, his arrival point was one of the brightest hubs of activity on the good ship Stacy: the Sensoriums. And his curious human mind was unwilling to miss what waited in the open rooms.

The cavern he finally chose was ancient, imposing, and somehow sad. Wherever he was, reverence was required. Solemnly observing his surroundings, he gazed at the relics left behind. Was this a memorial of sorts?

Brushing off the desert heat penetrating the area (he'd grown up next to a desert and fought battles in it regularly), he crept forward. His eyes soon found another crew member in meditation. Bad idea, Billy, he thought. The new person's posture and manner suggested that he was far more advanced in the skill than Billy, and if it was that important it would be rude to interrupt.

Aaaand the human immediately began a quietly clumsy retreat.

[nerve_pincher]

"It is unnecessary to leave in such haste," Spock commented, just before opening his eyes. "You are not intruding."

[morphitudinous]

As if ordered to do it by some mysterious power, Billy froze in an unnaturally straight posture. "I apologize. The memorial caught my attention---if that's an appropriate word to use, that is."

[nerve_pincher]

Spock tilted his head slightly. "The word may be accurate. On my home planet, this was a place to... remember the accomplishments of those who had gone before."

[jediwiseass]

Jaina felt listless, as she most often did while off-duty. One of the perils of life on Stacy was that the overwhelming mission ahead of them made one feel guilty for having nothing to do. At such times she liked to come to the sensoriums and indulge in the memories of others.

It was like a story being recounted, only more palpable. She could smell it, taste it, reach out and put her fingers on it. It was like holding a soul in her hands.

She ran said fingers idly along the walls to the Katric Ark. It felt ancient, filled with reverance, and reminded her of the inner chambers in the temples on Yavin IV.

"This place is beautiful," she said under her breath, not meaning to speak at all.

[nerve_pincher]

"It is culturally significant," Spock answered her from his place on the floor. "It is a place of remembrance."

He opened his eyes. "I am Spock."

[jediwiseass]

She started a little when he spoke up, whirling around to see him sat near the altar.

"Oh!" she exclaimed before sheepishly continuing, "My name's Jaina. I'm sorry, am I intruding?"

[nerve_pincher]

"It is no intrusion. If your presence was unwelcome, I would have no compunction in asking you to leave." He glanced at the chamber around him. "My culture was notoriously insular; however, given that I am very likely the last of my kind, such secretiveness is illogical."