Enter the Aenar

Posted on Mon Aug 24th, 2020 @ 3:49pm by Ensign Aenardha Sh'vastarth

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Carnwennan Station
Timeline: BACKPOST / CURRENT

[BACKPOST]

It was a particularly warm summer day, complete with a few hours of sunlight and a high temperature just a hair above water's freezing point. An Aurora Australis shown in the darkening sky as the sun's light waned following an hours-long day. Cold light illuminators began shining through the windows of the ice houses making up the village.

Aenardha sat in a chair, in her gown. Her reflection was looking back at her from the mirror made of a stabilized and contained frozen oxygen medium complete with a crystalline silver alloy backing. It provided flawless reflection with a hint of glowing blue giving Aenardha a false sense that she looked more beautiful than reality would otherwise inform. Either way, it did not matter to Aenardha. Her near complete blindness forbade any physical ability to recognize the image looking back at her. Her mother though, had better eyesight and could at least make out the reflection. Aenardha was able to telepathically see herself through her mother's eyes, but she refused.

"Aenardha, dear, look at yourself."

That was one of the things about an Aenar being around other Aenar. They could always tell when one was or was not using telepathy. Her mother brushed her hair and made parts and braids around her antennae.

"And do keep your antennae standing up." She pushed a drooping antenna straight up. "Else I'll have to figure out how to make them stay up."

Aenardha forced her antennae up and faked a smile. Her mother force projected her vision upon Aenardha and even her reflection looked as though that smile was whole-heartedly fake. And her reflection was supposed to be more beautiful.

"Khrap will be here soon. His ship is en route as we speak."

"Mother, I don't want to marry Khrap. I've never even seen Khrap."

"Nonsense," she brushed with added frustration, "you have his file. I sent it to your computer weeks ago." She let go of a lock of hair and grabbed another. The brushing continued. "Unless if...Aenardha! You've not even opened the file have you?"

"Mother, I have no intention of laying a single hand on Khrap. I certainly do not want to know the history of Khrap."

"Foolish girl. He is a decorated military officer." She grabbed Aenardha by the shoulders and turned her around somewhat and she leaned to meet her daughter's eyes. "He has his own ship." She let go of Aenardha's shoulder and went back to her hair. "Just imagine seeing the stars."

'SEEING that stars.'

"A trophy plaything trapped in his quarters, snatched away from my home and thrust into a marriage that I am the only one not in favor of."

Again with the, "Foolish girl." Her mother moved a few strands of hair around her antennae. "You will one day see the error of your ways and grow to know this day is the happiest day of your life."

"Only because all the days following will be filled with Khrap."

"Aenardha, silence!" Her mother went to making a braid. "He will be here soon. You will meet him. You will hear what he has to say. You will speak only when spoken to. And you will make your choice. And you WILL choose Khrap. Am I understood?"

Aenardha made no comment and that was enough for her mother to take as acceptance. She went back to working her hair. All Aenardha could do was sit there and ignore the vision telepathy her mother was sending her and ponder the prisonous life she was about to be forced into.

Her mother moved about on the stepstool. She turned Aenardha in the chair a bit. "How your father and I produced such a tall Aenar, baffles the both of us."

The years were happy before this day. The family was slowly torn apart through arranged marriages until the last and youngest of the children was to be married off. All that remained in the household of an aging father and a nagging mother was Aenardha.

Who would take care of them as they grew older? Aenardha could only conclude that even they did not care.

"You hear that?"

Aenardha did not care.

"That is his shuttle landing. He will be here shortly. Oh, happy days."

----------

There was Khrap in the middle of the keeping room. Aenardha stepped in. She could already sense his thoughts as well as tap into his vision. He was eyeing here up and down, almost cringing at her height. She was but a good-looking but lowly ship-wife. Her limited vision was enough to know that she towered over the short Khrap. All she saw was a blurry blue blob but she knew he smirked arrogantly and was adorned in his decorated military uniform.

"My word, you are tall. A little clipping below the knees can correct that."

"I shall remain as I am, thank you very much." She stepped further into the keeping room and took a chair. Their eyes finally on the same level.

<='There. That is more like it.'=> "I meant it as a joke of course."

"Of course," she said.

"Allow me to officially introduce myself. I am Khrap, captain of my vessel. It is among the largest in the fleet. And it is time I take a wife. I would plead my case as to why I am a more than adequate choice for you, but you have already perused my profile in detail."

"I have actually n..."

"Then it is settled." He adjusted his stance, straightened his uniform, cleared his throat. "I have but one question, that requires an answer. You've read my profile, you know I have my own ship, you have met me in person, I only ask that you join me aboard my vessel, to travel amongst the stars, as my companion. Aenardha Sh'vastaroth, will you consent to become my wife?"

"No," was all she said.

"I beg your pardon, Aenardha, but did you just say..."

"'No.' That is what I said."

<='Should I remind her that no Aenar has ever refused...'=>

"No need to give me a history lesson, Khrap. My answer, is no."

But he insisted anyway. "No Aenar has ever refused this request."

"Then I shall be the first," and Aenardha forced a bit of pride in her voice.

<='And I shall be the first Andorian to be subjected to such a refusal.'=>

"I shall file that under 'Not my problem.'"

"Reading my thoughts I see." He stepped forward.

Aenardha thought to stand. She felt anger well within him. She shifted a little in her chair and stayed put.

"Do you really want to be an old, unmarried maid in this frozen wasteland? Do you really want to be known for your refusal and your arrogance? I tell you this now, no one will ever ask this of you again." <='You are too tall, but I am willing to overlook this sad trait.'=> "For the last time..." though she could already sense the lie, "...I ask you...No, I am telling you. Take my hand in marriage." He held out his hand.

Aenardha was already shaking her head when Khrap grabbed her by the shoulders. "Listen here you arrogant wench. There are plenty of woman out there who would instantly..."

"...then go ask them."

"For the last time," and she could tell this would be the last time before he sought out other means, "you will consent to become..."

All the while, Aenardha could feel the close proximity of her antenna to his as he drew closer, practically yelling in her face. She already knew what the consequences were going to be, but decided to accept what was coming as she pressed the cups of her antenna to the cups of his

----------

Aenardh'a mother ran down the hall toward the keeping room. The shrill cries, clearly masculine, was all that was needed to know what had happened. She burst into the keeping room only to see the sorry pile of Khrap squiming on the floor. He was wide-eyed and swatting into the air as though trying to shoo away whatever cosmic horror was encroaching upon him.

Aenardha sat in her chair, unmoving and offering help.

"Aenardha," her mother called out as she rushed to Khrap, "what have you done?"

"I said 'No'."

====================

[CURRENT]

Aenardha stepped off of the transport vessel. Before that, it was a starship. Before that, it was a frigate. Before that, it was a Science vessel. Before that, it was a runabout. At last, however, Aenardha stepped onto yet another location for another wait for her assigned duty post. This was Carnwennan and this was to be her second to last stop.

Plenty of other people were about so she had no trouble with her bearings. She could not get a good view of the Inconnu Expanse from her seat aboard her most recent ride and decided this would be the best opportunity. She stepped up to the nearest viewport and gazed out.

“Excuse me,” she said to another departing person. He was a middle-aged man also travelling. This would be where their paths parted. “Could you look out this window a moment with me please?”

“Sure thing,” he said.

They had spoken here and there during the ride and had gotten to know each other in little detail. He knew what it was she needed; a set of eyes to look out upon the beautiful chaos lingering out there in space.

Aenardha telepathically used his vision to gaze upon the expanse. There were so many shapes made in the various gas clouds. Swirls and streams of colors mixed and intermingled with others. Sometimes, the intermingling was violent. Eruptions of light and repellent explosions would result. The man was a Xindi, a mammalian Xindi, whose eyes could see a little above and below the wavelengths of human eyes. Aenardha admired the wonderful turbulence of the Expanse and all the amazing colors.

“Right there,” she said. “Keep your eyes right there a moment please.”

“Oh, that is nice.”

“You see the cyclone just beneath that layer of clouds?”

“I do now.”

And then it was gone. Torn apart by a gust of gas from another explosion far deeper inside. A wave of reds, greens and blues of mixing gases covered it over. The scene was constantly changing and Aenardha felt she could stand there all day and more, taking it all in. Somewhere inside there, however, was the Pandora; her assigned duty vessel. And here, she had to wait until its return.

“I thank you,” she said as she turn to her travelling companion.

“You are welcome. And, much obliged.”

“I fear this is where we part ways.”

“Yes. I have a ship to catch here in a few hours.”

“And I have,” she looked back out at the expanse, “some days at the very least, before my ship returns from that.”

“I am sure it will welcome you with open arms and I hope you find it in good shape.”

“Safe travels.”

“And to you.”

Aenardha shouldered her carry-on and went further into the Carnwennan Station. She was met by a Starfleet officer at the security checkpoint for arriving travelers.

“Aenard-ha,” he attempted, “Sh’vastarth.”

“Aenardha,” she corrected. “With a soft ‘th’ sound. Barely audible.”

“Understood. Aenardha,” he said it mostly right this time. “Ensign, Intelligence officer,” he was doing a quick perusal of her profile on his PADD, “assigned to the USS Pandora.”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“Well, your ship is somewhere in that soup out there. Transmissions have been spotty at best. We at least know the worst has not come to pass.”

“Do we know when the Pandora is set to return?”

“We do not. In the meantime, I will have to set you up with billeting.” He glanced at her rank. “Cannot put you with upper brass. Not with the diplomats and officials. Station crew? Booked up. Ah!” He found something on his PADD. “Transient civilian. That is the best I can do at the moment.”

“That will be fine. Um, what would be the lowest temperature I can set environmental controls to?”

“I do not know to be honest. But a request can be submitted to engineering if the environment is not to your liking.”

An engineering request, to transient civilian quarters. That would take weeks. “I am certain I will manage.” She gave a smile.

“Right.” He tapped away at his PADD. “Your quarters are assigned. Start this way and keep an eye on the computer wall terminals. They will instruct you on where to go.”

This one had apparently not encountered too many Aenar in his time. “Will they merely point me in the right direction or are they audible?”

“Oh,” she felt an uncomfortable surprise from him as he realized. “Yes, just ask the computer for verbal instruction. Do you require any assistance?”

“No,” she started away. “I will be fine.”

She found her luggage ready for pickup. She had two Starfleet issued duffels packed to capacity. With or without her carry-on, there was no way she could carry both. She was even struggling to get even one up off the floor.

Finally getting it shouldered, “Excuse me miss,” came a voice from behind. Aenardha could see, via telepathic vision, that is was another station personnel, “I can help with that.”

“No, I will be…”

“I am afraid I must insist,” he said as he took the duffel away from her. “It is my job after all. To see to the needs of our residents.”

The man wore an enlisted rank; one of the lowest of ranks. Definitely a runner given the lowest of details.

“I thank you.”

“Do you know where your room is?”

“Transient Civilian area. The computer can tell me the rest.”

“Well then,” she did not need vision to see him having a time with both of her duffels, “let us be off.”

Aenardha used telepathic vision to look around at the hustle and bustle of people going this way and that, grabbing their luggage, figuring out where to go next. In it all, she saw a little girl running around people, between people, and just having a good time. She did not seem to have any parent or guardian about, but they were surely about to show. The little girl hummed a song as she ran this way and that. Aenardha thought of her own youth for a moment. It brought a short smile to her face. The little girl darted to the side and was gone.

Aenardha followed behind the lowly Starfleet enlisted man. Few were actually going in that direction and she was silently glad to have a pair of eyes to tap into.