Field Trip [for Schon]

[smartass_captain]

It's not often that Jim shows up in the Nexus in uniform anymore. Since it's become his getaway form work, it always seemed more prudent to just wear his everyday clothes. He's in Starfleet golds today though, kicked back in an overstuffed chair in a quiet corner of the forum, doing 'paperwork' on his PADD.

There's a nearly empty cup of coffee next to him. Maybe he's waiting for someone. Or maybe he just got tired of being bothered in his quarters. It's hard to tell, with Jim.

Comments

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[smartass_captain]

The distinct lack of magic or belief in the otherworldly is vast. In a universe where science has moved forward to the point of damn near being magic, what use is there for the arcane version?

"Yeah, I get you. Had a couple people show me some basic magic at your party and I just about lost my mind. So different from the world I know. To each their own, though."

The gem of a world Jim was talking about is a sprawling expanse of grassy hills and far off mountains, with the occasional swath or forest jutting out across the landscape like an animal all its own. Each valley steeped in mist as far out as one can see and towering over the lot are the ever vigilant watch keepers. Tall ancient mountains that never really leave the landscape.

"Mind the thorny purple flowers by the tree lines, and you should be okay. This place is pretty safe as far as we could tell. Almost no animal life, but enough distinct flora to have my science officers squeal like schoolgirls." Metaphorically. Vulcans are incapable of squealing and the last time Jim teased Sulu of having girly hobbies he ended up with a blade to his throat during their sparring.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Jim's warning seems barely to be heard, as Schön takes off his hat, moving slowly, an expression of awe on his face. "Captain," he breathes, "I thought you said this world was uninhabited."

[smartass_captain]

"Hm?" Jim looks around, still not quite over the beauty of the place no matter how many times he beams down.

"Well, technically no. Otherwise it'd be kind of dull, right? There's plenty of plant life. But yeah, no civilizations or anything like that. For the best, anyway. Civilizations usually mean bureaucracy or them trying to kill us." He clearly doesn't sense what Schon does.

Schon must be a botany enthusiast too. He's making the same face Sulu was for days on end. Poor bastard wouldn't even sleep the first couple days of survey.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Oh, Captain, Captain," Schön tsks, still breathy, eyes half-closed, "someone is here. Someone vast, and old, and dreaming. It's glorious."

[smartass_captain]

"Someone. We didn't get any readings on our scanners..." Ah, hell. Jim gets a fresh PADD ready, as well as his comm. He takes one last long look around.

Claps his hands together.

"Alright. Let's go take a look. You up for a hike?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"In dreams like these," the thin man purrs, his head tilted back and his arms rising out to his sides, fingers spreading as if feeling a passing wind, "I could almost fly. By all means, lead on."

[smartass_captain]

"I have no idea what you're on about, but I'm glad you're enjoying this?" Jim shrugs and starts in a random direction that may be the entirely wrong way. How far out is whatever is out there? Do they need supplies?

Worries for later. For now Jim just wants to take a quick look around the area they already studied.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"It never ceases to astonish me that someone could overlook this," he counters, following in Jim's wake. "Ah, Captain, promise me you'll be good to this world. Dreams like these are too precious to spoil with excess rationality."

[smartass_captain]

"Well, I mean. I invited you here for a reason. This place seems like the sort of thing you'd like. And I wasn't wrong." Is the grass sentient? Is that what Schon's going on about? Best to stick to the dirt if at all possible.

"We're gonna leave it alone. We've documented our findings, finished our studies. nothing's going to be spoiled out here unless it's by someone other than us."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Delightful, thank you," he sighs. Even caught up in heady bliss, though, he remembers how to bargain. "Is there any chance you might have it declared some sort of protected place? A nature preserve of sorts, perhaps?"

[smartass_captain]

In this case, it's wholly unnecessary. Jim smiles while they're strolling down a grassy hillside.

"The Prime Directive already protects places like this. We're not to interfere. Not to harm or change planets we come across. Just observe, and extend offers of diplomacy from the Federation should we find higher intelligence life forms. This place is protected just by being discovered."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Ah? Good," Schön doesn't hide his relief. "There's no chance of some precious resource being found for which the world is strip-mined, or some curious phenomenon meriting rigorous academic scrutiny that might prompt that protection to be set aside?" He comes from the World of Darkness, any rule is malleable when there's gain to be had.

[smartass_captain]

"Yeaaaah we try pretty hard not to just wreck arbitrary planets. They get pissed when I violate the directive to save planets form natural disasters. Pretty sure turning one into a mining colony would go against protocol. Most colonies are set up by territory owned by some region or another. Since there's not already a colony here, I'm gonna assume no one owns this place already, because you know it'd be a tourist destination."

Jim stretches while they walk, happy to just be outside taking a quiet stroll with a friend. He doesn't get to see stuff like this nearly as often as he'd like. Most places are significantly more dangerous than this place is.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"A distinct comfort," Schön agrees. "It could not become a colony, could it?"

[smartass_captain]

"Not unless this planet is secretly owned by a Federation planet." Pause. He can sense the question coming. "And it's not. it's in the armpit of the galaxy, no one owns this place."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Except the natives," he prompts gently.

[smartass_captain]

It's like having a conversation with Spock. Schon is really intent on something, something Jim doesn't understand. but it's important to him, and Jim is trying to be reassuring.

"Yeah. Cept the plants and the grass and whatever that's already living here. This is their planet and your picnic field trip. Yeah, there is a blanket and food set up back by where we beamed down. I figured you could use the break. You're welcome."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

The thin man smiles. "That's very thoughtful of you, Captain, thank you. I may avail myself of it, later, but for now I think we are both quite anxious to meet whoever lives here, hmm?"

Wacky Adventure is a go!

[smartass_captain]

"Yeah, yeah. I didn't think you could get this excited over anything." Jim snorts and shakes his head. The temperature shifts as they hit the misty valley at the bottom of the hill, and Jim casts a glance back at his guest.

"Any chance you know where we're going? I'm just kinda walking aimlessly here. I don't see whatever it is you are, here."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Nor did I," Schön admits, "but here we are."

"I have... little guidance but intuition," he admits, "but there is a greater, hm, density? In this direction. I believe that whomever, or perhaps several whomevers, are to be found hence."

[smartass_captain]

"...Hey, Schon?" Jim will keep walking toward the large fringe of the forest for a while before he finally speaks up again. "You really think something's living out here? Like...I mean."

Jim makes a strangled noise of concentration. It's harder to explain than he thought it would be.

"Like, I know tons of stuff lives here. Grass and trees and flowers--billions of live forms. But I mean...someone. Like. Sentient. And if so, you think it's a good idea to just go poking our heads in here?" He's seen sentient rock creatures already. And you know. Groot. Jim's not too keen on pissing off that guy's relatives.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Mm. You make a fair point, Captain. I can say with certainty that someone is dreaming out here, and it or they have a mighty imagination. But it could well be the land itself that dreams. And as you ask, whoever it is might not appreciate our intrusion." He pauses in his forward stride, but still savors the wash of imagination sweeping over that world. "You are the explorer between us, Captain: do we press on to uncertainty, or return to the picnic?"

[smartass_captain]

"...Well when you put it like that." Jim rolls his eyes and checks to make sure his phaser is set to stun. And before the cavalry gets any disapproving comments he will pipe up. "It's just for self defense, I'm not gonna go shooting at anything that moves."

Gore Jim to near death once, shame on you. Two or more times, he needs to start being more careful.

How did I overlook this all day?

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"A very keen grasp of diplomatic subtleties you have there," comes the droll reply. "We are almost... somewhere. This forest feels significant." A statement like that would probably make Spock raise a brow right past his hairline, if he were there to hear it.

Dorfs and bad opening songs?

[smartass_captain]

"Yeah my crew would be pissed I"m doing this without a landing party. Well, Sulu would just be jealous. Spock and Bones would kill me. The least I can do is take some safety precaution." Seriously Schon.

You have no idea how many things in this universe want to kill Jim Kirk. He must be like, the tastiest. The number of times he nearly dies on away missions is staggering. As well as on his ship. He is not safe anywhere.

So..you know. Have fun exploring with him!

"Yeah these trees are crazy old." Jim stares at the treeline, taking care to look about in the canopy for any signs of trouble. When all seems safe, he'll head into the forest. There's a sense of...something. Jim isn't certain how to describe it.

It almost feels like the physical sensation he felt when he and Spock mind melded during the Narada incident. But Jim is no telepath, and while he's sharper than the average human when it comes to these things, it is still a dull dull sense.

For Schon the forest bursts with energy, a hum that grows to a hymnal choir when he passes the treeline. They are The Watchers--the eternal dreamers that look over this land. They have no discernible form and no doubt Spock would have been overwhelmed by this had they strayed into the forests before. They are a highly telepathic race, dreaming together and communing in the Collective Unconscious.

They dream because it keeps their world turning. The Dream because it gives life to the soil. Without their dream the planet is naught but a barren husk. The life that exists here is a dream made real by the will of these ancient creatures asleep deep within the confines of the trees.