[BACKPOST] New Faces

Posted on Tue Apr 20th, 2010 @ 2:33am by Lieutenant Samuel Bishop

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Transporter Room/Engineering
Timeline: 12 Hours Prior to launch

OOC: Apologies for the extreme backpost, but I felt this was the best way to introduce the newest addition to Engineering, Mr. Koso.


[USS Pandora, Transporter Room 12 hours prior to launch]

ON:

Koso stepped off the transporter pad, his skin shifting from purple to prismatic blue as he looked around the room. The Transporter Chief came around the console and smiled.

Koso tilted his head to one side and smiled back, his massive purple eyes glittering. "Boarding, permission?" he asked in his sing-song dialect.

The Chief paused a moment and then nodded once, understanding crossing his features. "Permission granted Ensign Koso, welcome aboard," he said with a smile. "I'll contact someone to show you to your quarters."

The Sulamid's head bobbed. "Gratitude Chief-Sir," he said grinning. A moment later a young woman entered and smiled, taking Koso's small bag. "If you will follow me sir?" she said pleasantly.

Koso left the transporter room and walked along the corridor, craning his neck as if to see every detail of the ship, a look of pleasant curiosity on his face. As they entered a turbolift, he turned to the young woman when she spoke.

"Sir, forgive me for asking, but aren't you a Sulamid?" she asked cautiously. "By the way, I'm Petty Officer Ashley Carmichael."

Koso grinned from ear to ear in a way that made Carmichael giggle. "Affirmative. Ensign. Kosoandrisellapethio'andiello'drinar. Starfleet, only Sulamid," he said with pride. "Meeting, pleasure Carmichael-ma'am."

She took only a moment to consider his words. "You're the only Sulamid in Starfleet? Your family must be very proud!" she said excitedly. "I've read a lot about your people, and I always hoped someday I'd meet one." The had reached Koso's quarters by now, and she handed him his small bag. "Perhaps once you've settled in we can get together and have some Hark'tielli juice," she said, inflecting the soft 'click' in the middle of the word almost flawlessly.

The Sulamid was shocked both by the fact that such a rare Sulamid drink was available on board, and by the young woman's command of his language. He smiled again. "That... would... er... are wonderful!" he said haltingly, puffing himself up with pride.

Carmichael laughed. "'Be' wonderful," she corrected pleasantly. "I'll see you soon Lieutenant," she said, waving as she walked away.

The Sulamid walked into his quarters and carefully placed his small bag down on the bed. He opened it and withdrew a small clear crystal cube about the size of a baseball. Colours shifted through it as the light refracted from the myriad facets inside the cube. Koso placed the cube in the center of the room on the floor and touched a specific part of it at the base. The room was suddenly filled with colours of every shade, bathing the normally drab room in a myriad of hues. Sitting in a lotus position on the bed, the Sulamid tilted back his head and began to sing, his unique double vocal cords creating a harmony with itself. He sang for many minutes, his voice rising and falling with the shifting colours, until it faded into silence.

Koso looked around at the shifting colours and smiled. His personal space was now purified and he felt centered within it.

Moving to the desk, the science officer activated his computer tie-in. "Computer. Location, Bishop."

=/\= Lieutenant Bishop is in Main Engineering, =/\= the computer intoned.

With a nod, Koso moved for the door. It was time to report in.


[USS Pandora, Main Engineering]


The turbolift doors opened to the engineering, and it was a moment before Koso stepped gingerly out onto the deck. It was busy, with people working at their duty stations. The alien moved across the bridge, and was mostly ignored aside from the occasional nod or double take from a passing crewman.

Moving to the 'pool table' in the center of the massive space, Koso clicked softly (the Sulamid equivalent of clearing his throat) to announce himself to the Chief. When Bishop turned to him, the Sulamid straightened and said formally, "Duty, reporting. Kosoandrisellapethio'andiello'drinar, Ensign. Chief-sir."

Bishop turned and stared at the being in front of him for a moment. Like many, Bishop had heard of the Sulamid, but had never met one. The man standing before him was like a walking prism, his skin constantly shifting color with a metallic sheen. His silver, almost metallic hair hung in long thin braids, framing a face with possibly the largest eyes Bishop had ever seen. When he blinked, it was like a pair of flickering spotlights.

"Well Mr Koso, welcome aboard. Please follow me." Bishop said, leading the new Engineer to his office. He gestured to the seat in front of him. "Please have a seat."

Koso's head bobbed as he sat. "Appreciation," he said pleasantly, wrapping his tentacle arms around the arms of the chair.

"So Mr Koso, I was expecting you earlier than this."

"Ooooh," the science officer sang softly, his skin shifting to deep blue with embarrassment. "Chief-sir, apologies. Departure. delay. Koso misdirected. Details, provided." he said, handing Bish a PADD. "Koso, shame." He hung his head slightly, embarrassed by his naivete. He recalled the freighter Captain who had supposedly befriinded him on Outpost 25, and who had conned him into a "friendly" game of poker, which ended up with Koso losing a good deal of money and missing his transport to the Pandora.

The Sulamid was hurt and confused, as it went against his naturally trusting nature. The Commander of Outpost 25 had sympathized, but could do little, as the freighter was long gone before Koso had realized what had happened. Only the fortuitous arrival of the Ariadne had saved Koso. He owed a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Brown, and the Engineer hoped to someday meet her again.

Bishop studied the PADD and from the corner of his eye, the Sulamid. He could see the genuine embarrassment in the man. There was something about the alien that Bishop liked. Finally, he placed the PADD on the table and looked at Koso, waving dismissively. "Well that's in the past and you're here now." he said.

Koso relaxed visibly, but his skin tone retained its deep blue tint.

"There is a lot of work waiting for you. McCabe'll fill you in."

Koso tilted his head to one side, his huge purple eyes fixing on Bishops. "Understanding."

"So... tell me a bit about yourself." The curiosity was almost overwhleming.

A look that could only be confusion crossed Koso's features for a few moments, and his mouth moved silently, as if replaying the Chief's words to himself. Suddenly he brightened, his skin shifting color again to a shimmering purple and he smiled. "Koso, Starfleet. Only Sulamid," he said proudly, pointing to his chest. "Family group, understanding not. Proud however. Last assignment. Scorpio I. Koso sad there. Travel not," he said, shaking his head and effecting a rather serious expression.

The Chief tried to bury his smile. It was a bit difficult to understand his engineer but with a little practice he got the hang of it. "For instance... what made you choose to join Starfleet?"

The Sulamid brightened considerably, his skin tone shifting between vivid purple and red. "Starfleet. Learning opportunities. Travel. Infinite diversity, infinite combination," he said with something akin to reverence. Between words Koso made a soft clicking sound, making it seem as if his speech was timed to a particular rhythm. "Vulcans. Andorians. Humans. Ventaarans. Many races. Koso meet, learn. Expand knowledge." He looked as if he might jump out of his seat, such was his passion, and his huge eyes seemed to glint with excitement at the thought of meeting new people and learning more about them.

"F'hursna sech gli'tosh mizeta'druk," he said softly, with eyes closed before turning back to the Commander.

Bishop blinked. "Care to translate that, Mr Koso?"

Koso looked up, suddenly realizing he had spoken aloud. "Oohhhh," he sang. "Spiritual phrase. Translation approximate: 'Appreciation. Guidance by Spirits of Fate. Koso happy." he said, looking at his superior officer and hoping he had explained it well. The old adage was common among his people, but difficult to translate. The Engineer made a mental note to assemble some information on his people and their 950 deity pantheon for the benefit of the crew if they were curious. He smiled to himself. The Spirits had indeed sang to him in his dreams and led him to the place he needed to be.

Bish chuckled. He was getting used to the Sulamid's speech, albeit slowly. He found the young man's enthusiasm refreshing.

"Well Mister, I'm glad you're happy. I'd suggest you make yourself acquainted with the rest of the team."

"Chief-sir aye," he said happily.

"We'll be launching in about 12 hours and I want us ready."

Koso reached up and tapped the side of his head. "Information stored. Luna specifications downloaded. Memory, photographic," he sang grinning.

Eyebrows went up at that. "Excellent Mr Koso. Your dismissed."

The Sulamid stood and bowed at the waist. "Koso honoured. Appreciation," he said, and left the office.

For a long moment Bishop sat deep in thought. Then suddenly he stood, shaking his head and smiling. "Bloody hell," he murmured and left the room.

[OFF]

Ensign Kosoandrisellapethio'andiello'drinar (Koso) (NPC)
Propulsion Specialist
USS Pandora

Lieutenant Sam Bishop
Chief Engineer
USS Pandora