Mortal Coil Shuffle
Posted on 12 Dec 2019 @ 12:21am by Lieutenant Commander Tivan
585 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Epilogue
Location: USS Black Hawk
Timeline: December 2389
Tivan found herself alone in an unfamiliar function room. At least, she felt alone. Soft chuckling, clinking of glasses, and other white noise suggesting mirth filled the air, but no presences joined them. Looking around at all the faces, Tivan assessed everyone in attendance. They were as ghosts. Tivan then strode to the beverage table to take a glass.
“If I may have everyone's attention.” Tivan's voice rose out over the room clear enough without the chiming of spoon to glass, yet she made the gesture anyhow. “Forgive me for interrupting this festive occasion, but there is another cause for celebration for which I wish to call.”
She stepped to the forefront of the gathering and waved her hand to one and all, ensuring everybody was included in her next words.
“In ancient times on Vulcan, before the modernized idealization of Logic, my people observed a number of holy days now considered Pagan among the intellectual elite. Among the most sacred was Kal Rekk – a day of atonement, solitude, and silence. Everyone, please raise your glass to Kal Rekk – the death of the old and birth of the new.”
Nobody responded, though a few managed to spare a glance in her direction. Tivan decided to try again.
“If I may beg your indulgence once more,” she said. “What you may not know about Kal Rekk is that there is no season leading up to it. Kal Rekk is but one day out of the year. A surprise, if you will.”
At last, the bulk of the crowd started paying attention. From somewhere in their midst, though, came a fateful heckle. "Nobody cares!"
Tivan felt her jaw stiffen at the outcry, and even more so when others began to nod in agreement. "If you will but take a few moments to listen, I assure you--"
Chatter began to fill the air. She was losing them. "Please, I beg you, stop and--"
The shrill, warbling klaxons of red alert drowned out everyone's voice, including hers, as the warning lights bathed them all in crimson flashes.
"Warning: Self-Destruct has been initiated," the computer's monotone voice announced. "Proceed to the nearest escape pod."
Tivan gasped at the unexpected turn of events. What was even more surprising was how nobody else responded.
"Come along!" she called out to the others. "We must hurry!"
As before, nobody listened.
The computer blared another warning alert. "The ship will self-destruct in 90 seconds."
"There isn't time to waste!" Tivan said. She grasped for the hand of the nearest officer--a human female--but her hand passed through like a hologram.
Rather than heed either warning from Tivan and the computer, the officer screamed at the hologram-like phasing of hands. Soon a crowd began to form around Tivan, cutting her off from the door and the escape pods beyond.
"We have to go!" she insisted, but it was no use.
The computer agreed. "Self-Destruct is imminent in 30 seconds."
As the seconds ticked down, Tivan sank to the floor and grasped her knees to her chest. Why wouldn't they listen to the computer if not to her?
"... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
Tivan awoke with a slight jerk, but otherwise she was fine. Her heart rate felt elevated, unlike her breathing. All in all, upon identifying the familiar surroundings of her new quarters on the USS Black Hawk, Tivan felt good. She welcomed the rush of relief that comes when relinquishing a night terror.
As she reflected on it, though, the makings of a smirk played at her mouth.
"Fascinating."
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