taxonomites | oo1 ↠ [holo | the Sanctuary] when the sun is drown in a deathly sea

The first thing that enters Gaila's mind is that it's too quiet. Silence buzzes in her ears, worsening her headache, and she groans as she curls loosely into the fetal position. Memories rush into her, and Gaila remembers panicked orders and cries of pain — there were flames, and the brightness of the Farragut's destruction blurred her vision; she can't remember the expression on anyone's face. She isn't sure she saw them.

For a moment, she wants to stay curled up and safe and forget the ambush, forget her injuries, forget her dead crew. Gaila knows better, though; that's giving up, that she could still be in danger; that knowledge twists her stomach, and fear chokes her momentarily.

So she raises her head and, slowly, pushes off the floor. She expects to feel pain in her arm, burns on her side, blood in her mouth — but nothing. She assumes she is just too numb and doesn't check her healed injuries; she thinks she knows what's there.

Gaila recognizes the room is not part of the Farragut. It's too dim, too bare, too clinical. She, quickly, takes note of the transporter and a tablet, sitting on a pedestal — just sitting there, as if it's meant for her. It's ridiculous, and she regards it as part of another trap. Still, she examines the tablet, flipping through modes and every window, no matter how unnecessary or pointless.

That's when she finds the map, with dots and names — familiar names. Commander Spock, Jim Kirk, Nyota Uhura. Relief rushes over Gaila; she's safe.

Quickly, Gaila returns to the holo mode and pauses. Her throat feels raw, and she realizes she isn't sure what to say, besides shouting "HELP ME." She knows one look at her screams that loud and clear, though: her usually tight bun is loose, and her unform is obviously battered — singed and bloody. The dark green color of her blood stands out vividly against her uniform.

Gathering herself, she takes a deep breath and finds her words. "This is Cadet Gaila. The distress call from Vulcan — " Gaila swallows, her expression darkening. "It was an ambush. The Farragut is destroyed... I, I think the rest of my crew is dead."

Gaila's lower lip trembles for a few seconds, sadness squashing her relief. She's silent a few moments; the proper dialogue for requesting assistance is on the tip of her tongue, but she can't bring herself to speak anymore. She regrets beginning her message with the ambush.

"I need help. Gaila, out."

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"...Nobody's told you the whole. Thing about this place?" If you had to codify the look on Bruce's face, 'oh crap' would do pretty nicely.

"No..."

Another pause.

"Are we all kidnapped?"

When his palm hits his face, it makes a kind of dull thwack sound. Way to go, Bruce. He pulls his hand down over his face, he's dialed down the excitement.

"Yeah. Most everybody here is. And there doesn't seem to be any way out," he explained.

Well, this is an...interesting development, to the say least. Gaila isn't sure how to feel about it either, besides the obvious confusion.

"I guess it can't be...that bad," she says weakly, in an attempt to stay positive.

"Well, not really. I mean, you can hatch almost anything you want, and money doesn't seem to be an issue here, so. There are some pluses?" He offers a little half-smile with that, before shrugging and ducking his head sheepishly.

"...Sorry." Even though this wasn't his fault. It's a knee-jerk reaction.

Being alien to Human culture, she hasn't quite caught on some people apologize for sympathy or, like Bruce, when it's not their fault — so she is confused.

"Oh, for...what?"

"...Um. Just. Sorry that you're here. In the first place." Bruce isn't even able to keep the lameness out of that statement. "Sorry, it's just a. A bad habit."

Gaila smiles.

"It's not your fault."

"I know that but... But still."

Bruce runs a hand through his hair, and manages to get back a small little smile of his own.

"So. Um. Where are you from? Exactly?"

"Orion." Suspecting he hasn't a clue about the planet or sector, she adds: "It's in the Milky Way Galaxy."

"...Wait. Orion, like. The constellation?" Bruce's confusion is rather clear. "Are you saying you're... You're an alien?"

Oh, he has even less than a clue. Oops, she supposes she should have asked if he even knew Starfleet first.

"Um...like the planet?" She even makes an 'oops' face. "But yes, alien."

The confusion mingles with sad resignation as Bruce hangs his head.

"Oh. I see. I just thought that... Well, never mind." He waves a hand, stopping himself. "Pretty sure I've never seen an alien before, but. It's nice to uh, to meet you."

Aw, Bruce...

"Likewise!" Gaila pauses, examining him. "What's wrong?"

He brushes off her concern with another shake of the head.

"Ah, it's nothing. Just. You know, kind of having an off day." He brings back that half-smile and scratches at the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm David. By the way."

Gaila smiles.

"I know those days," she says. "I'm um, Gaila." She laughs — like he's forgotten so soon.

"Right," he says with a small laugh. "So, um. Gaila. Did you live on Orion or... Some kind of. Spaceship?"

He feels so weird asking that question seriously.

It actually sounds incredibly normal to Gaila. Go figure.

"On Orion. Then, I moved to Earth to attend...school." Right, right, he doesn't know Starfleet.

"Must have been a pretty good school, to go that far for it."

Gaila grins.

"Starfleet is...very respectable."

oo1 ↠ [holo | the Sanctuary] when the sun is drown in a deathly sea

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