July 2007 - Post Selection

ON : The Bookworm

Day: 05 - Time: 08.00 - Scene: SaiJad City, Library

Claryx wiped her forehead, wishing that this simple gesture would also cleanse her concerns regarding the mission. Too much thinking could often become a disservice, since it had a tendency to slow actions down. Still there were a few things that her mind was very reluctant to let go of. First was the fact that Lt Berg (npc) had discovered that the booby-traps in this library had definitely been set to kill. No matter what had motivated such a device in the first place, the Dav'Net clan had obviously grown to believe that these books were more important than lives...

Secondly, the previous night she had experienced a disturbing nightmare. One where the EMH (npc) had decided that she was the best choice to replace Sai and Jad (npc) in their metal container. The images had been so vivid that even 3 hours later they still troubled her.

Claryx focused on the room facing her. Now that the traps had been defused, the books were being re-arranged by order of importance. Instruction books and self-help volumes would be among the first to be distributed. The new colonists needed all the help that they could get. Besides, this library had been preserved for this very moment.

"Are we doing the right thing, Cmdr?" Max asked, looking rather tired too. "I mean... For all we know, some of these people could destroy these books, simply because they don't want to believe."

"We can only try, Lieutenant. If they prefer to ruin them, at least there will still be the electronic version of this library, held within the SaiJad's database. In a way it might be safer to give them PADDs right away, but they are more likely to accept good old fashioned books rather than an electronic format. Call it a culture clash.

"Besides, if we forbid access to these books in order to protect them, we would just emulate what the Dav'Net clan has already done. We have no rights over these volumes, they aren't our property."

Max sighed. "Let's hope that they see the friendliness of our move. Anyway, this stack over there is ready to go to the shrine," he showed with his left thumb. "It's about horticulture and the like. Although of course, the methods described are based on what they had on their home-world. There was no way they could have predicted the ecology of their new world. Unless one believes in this oracle business, that is...?" He added with a little smile that showed he didn't care for this type of nonsense.

Claryx was about to make a little speech about chemistry and how understanding it was the key to most fields, when the door behind her creaked in a slow, almost shy manner. Someone had wanted to make a discreet entry and was taken aback by the sheer impossibility of it.

"Please, come in," Claryx said with an inviting voice. "This is a public building and you have everything right to want to visit it."

The door squeaked some more and a small silhouette emerged, staring expectantly in front of her. Claryx estimated that the girl was no more than 14 and had probably never seen so many books piled together. "Please, make yourself at home," Claryx continued. "These are the works of your people."

The girl ran towards a column of books of took the one at the top, without even consulting its title. Fearing that she would vanish as soon as she had appeared, Claryx pressed on: "I am Cmdr Vahl, and this is Lt Berg. You have probably heard of the space-faring people who came to help your city?"

The girl wrapped her arms around her book and nodded. "You are not... that different from us," she said with a small voice. "The elders in my square said that you are dangerous. That to just look at you would turn our blood black and choke us to death."

"Well, it's not happening to you, is it?" Claryx said with a smile. "Sometimes wisdom comes with age, and sometimes only debilitating ideas accompany it. You can take books for your friends if you want. Don't hesitate to be choosy. There is no rush."

The girl hesitated a bit, then moved back towards the books, this time taking the time to open them. About ten minutes later, when she seemed to have opted for five different volumes, Claryx spoke again, making her best to sound encouraging. "You seem to have a curious mind. It is a good asset to have."

"I am Damlis."

"Damlis," Claryx repeated. "Do you have a lot of friends?"

The girl shrugged, not wanting to commit herself too much.

"I'm sure you have, and this is also a good thing. If you and your friends are interested in new things, later on today, I plan to show animated images of your new home. It will be even better than a book. Why don't you tell them about it, and meet me again in front of the library this afternoon?"

Damlis looked frightened by her words and Claryx realised she had made a faux pas. The library was synonymous of death and treachery to this people... "Better still," she added, "why don't you choose the meeting point? Bring as many people as you can, and I'll bring the necessary equipment with me. What do you think?"

"The waterfall would be a good place," Damlis admitted after a moment of reflection. "But the elders will never let you."

"We will not invite them, then." Claryx concluded.

Once the girl had left, Berg placed himself right behind her. "I know you're only following the Captain's orders," he said, his voice deeper than usual. "But this public display could be dangerous. I think we should both wear a protective vest under our clothing."

Claryx nodded. "In that case, I'll count on you to obtain what we need from the DM."

OFF :

Cmdr Claryx Vahl
XO
USS Dark Matter