Ba'ku
Posted on Wednesday 8 February 2023 @ 16:02 by
Mission:
Revelations
Location: Ba'ku
Timeline: Back Post from Shoreleave
2760 words - 5.5 OF Standard Post Measure
At the agreed upon meeting place where they would board the ship to Ba'ku Evelyn arrived, wearing a pair of black linen medieval style pants and a red peasant blouse. Upon her feet were moccasins. Over her shoulder she had a duffel bag. Her red hair was pulled back in a braid, and Evelyn had a smile of greeting when she saw Kailu. "I didn't know how long we'd be there so... I brought some stuff. Just to be prepared."
"I agree." Kailu spoke as he admired the woman for being so well prepped. "I have brought a few things as well. Some equipment just to see if we can communicate with the planet, its spirits and nature." Kailu himself wore a simple tight-fitted shirt, a light pair of trousers and some sandals. On his wrists he had bracelets of Toan'ta design and a necklace with a symbol of his tribe.
Evelyn smiled, feeling rather excited about this trip. It was time to board and then they were off. Evelyn was excitedly looking out the view port as the ship entered into the atmosphere, pointing out the forest land she had seen and also the lake as well. When they reached planet side, and their gear collected, Evelyn felt like a kid, just being here on a first-time basis. "Which direction do you wish to go? Towards the lake or to the forest? Or even to the market for some food?"
"I quite like the idea of the forest." Kailu suggested. "We can go there first, get a feel for the land, feel the life around us." he looked over and down a little at her. "Although I am quite happy with whatever you choose. If you want the market we can go there and then the forest, at least that way we'll have some more provisions."
"We can get some provisions. I make a really good jerky soup." Evelyn giving a laugh "So we will get some of the ingredients there, and then we're off." leading the way. About half an hour later with supplies in hand, Evelyn smiled, "Okay we're ready." Waving towards the direction of the forest. "Time to see if the spirits will guide us to a place."
"I have heard of this 'jerky', but what is it?" Kailu asked as they began to walk. "Humans do have a strange sense of what is edible and what is not." he kind of joked to himself. The forest had come closer in view now they were sorted with supplies but still the question had yet to be answered as Evelyn had been in her element whilst buying ingredients. It was nice to see and for a moment Kailu even let slip a smile.
"It is dried meat; I prefer either deer or beef jerky. Sort of like travel rations." Evelyn explained. "Dried fish, I don't call it jerky, though technically it could be referred as such. Either way, dried meat lasts longer than fresh meat. And easier to carry." her steps led them to an almost unseen path, more like a path that animals would traverse. A path less travelled, higher the trail went. Evelyn had climbed over a fallen log which had moss covering it, and a few flowers as well. Then she paused to stand upon a rock which was flat on the top, gazing around at the surroundings, seeing a small meadow which had snow white flowers almost looking like snow, then she stepped of the rock and headed off once more, as if following the sound of something. As they continued on, the merry noise of a stream running over rocks, became more evident. Stepping through some trees, Evelyn gasped, pointing towards the stream which a ray of sunshine danced upon the water. There was a small waterfall, and the sun created a miniature rainbow, which was ever so beautiful.
"If we can find a small cleared enough area, we can make a camp here. What do you think?" Evelyn turning towards Kailu.
Kailu nodded, Evelyn wasn't wrong. For centuries, if not longer, people had dried things up in order for them to survive longer. He followed her through the forest, the sounds of nature soothing him as he walked. It had been so long since he'd stepped foot on real solid ground, and he missed the sensation of it. He already felt connected to the trees, the plant life and he could even hear some of the animals that called this place home.
"I believe I saw a small clearing near the base of that waterfall." Kailu pointed. "The rockface should provide cover from most of the elements and it should provide us with safety should we come across any wildlife... they can only come at us from one direction. Plus, we'll have fresh water at our fingertips and somewhere to bathe..." His eyes suggestively looked at the crystal water.
Evelyn saw the look in Kailu's eyes and turned her own gaze towards the water, it did look rather inviting. "I agree, would be rather lovely to bathe there, and the water fresh from the waterfall." she said walking over to the clearing he had indicated. She paused though and took her moccasins off, so that she could feel the ground beneath her bare feet. Evelyn stuffed her shoes inside her rucksack, then continued on towards the clearing, feeling the coolness of the earth, as well as some patches of velvet green moss.
Kailu followed suit and took off his shoes also. There was always something special about the connection to the earth, the feel of it under your feet made you feel more connected to the world, any world, that you were on. He smiled as he watched Evelyn, it was like she was in her element here and it made him smile and somewhat loosen up. "Beautiful." he said.
Evelyn wasn't certain if he meant her or the surroundings, they were in. She though just turned and looked at Kailu and replied with a warm smile, "Indeed it is beautiful." she found Kailu beautiful, he was definitely not of the ordinary sort of person, someone that Evelyn felt colored the world, the universe, with subtle tones and colors, which were also vibrant and appealing.
Evelyn turned back around to make certain she didn't stumble over a rock, then they arrived at the clearing near a rockface which radiated some warmth having soaked the heat from the sun. "Shouldn't take too much time to set up camp." she stated, lowering her ruck sack to the ground and leaning against the rock face.
"I can set up the campsite if you want to collect some firewood for the fire?" Kailu suggested. "I'll even see if the lake has any fish, and we can have a good meal later."
"That sounds like a fantastic idea. I shall return with the firewood. It may take a few minutes or so to find some." and Evelyn turned to disappear into the woods, to find what was required. About fifteen minutes passed by then Evelyn arrived back dragging a travois with some firewood upon it. "Hello, got wood for us which should last for the time we are going to be here."
Kailu's eyes widened. There was quite a lot of firewood that Evelyn had brought back. It seemed she didn't do things by half. "Did you kill a small tree for that?" he joked a little. He was becoming more comfortable with Evelyn now that his guard was dropping somewhat. Fortunately he had managed to catch two sizeable fish in the time she'd been away. His lure of a sweet covered treat always seemed to get him his game.
"Nope I just have a knack for finding firewood." Evelyn giving a light laugh. She moved her burden to a safe enough place, from the flame. She then dusted off her hands, and looked around with a smile her gaze landing upon the fish Kailu caught. "Oh those look lovely." she walked over and touched them saying, "Thank you."
Evelyn looked towards Kailu. "I work with wood, so know where to find the driftwood and other pieces of wood I end up carving."
"In the Toan'ta we live off the land, we give back what we take in the best way we can. If we take a tree's life we pray thanks to it and replant so that more will grow. I have already blessed the aquatic creatures." he gestured to the fish. "They should sustain us quite nicely."
"They are lovely." Evelyn replied, "And I do the same as well. Always good to give thanks for that which helps to sustain our lives." she took in a breath testing the scent of the fish and gave a smile "Seems like they are almost done. " walking over to fetch the plates to place the fish on.
Kailu looked over that the fish over the fire and nodded. She was right, of course. He had found over his many centuries that women of most species were often right in many things. He began to lift them from the spit and watched as she brought the plates over with a serene grace that had him almost hypnotised.
Evelyn noticed his gaze upon her and she smiled softly, feeling slightly shy, color blossoming upon her cheeks. She held out both plates for the fish to be placed upon, then set the plates down upon a nearby rock which was level and flat on the top. "Do you want just water with our meal or some tea?" Evelyn asked.
He smirked at the reaction he had caused in the young woman. It gave him a sense of pride that he could affect her but with a gaze.
Kailu placed the fish onto the plates and looked at Evelyn. "I will go with whatever you are having."
"Well I was thinking of some tea, which would go good with the fish." Evelyn walking back over to her ruck sack and getting the kettle which was blue in color. On her fingers she had the handle of two cups slung. "My trusty kettle." Evelyn then headed over to the waterfall and filled the pot there. "Shouldn't take too much time for it to heat up." she then placed the pot on the fire then sat down to wait. From a pouch that was nestled in one of her pants pockets, she pulled out some tea. "Hopefully you like peppermint tea. I grew it myself, and harvested it."
"I can most certainly try it." Kailu admitted to not trying it before. "I can smell it from here." he added as he watched her place the kettle on the fire to heat it up. "The fish should be cooked quite well. I am used to cooking over a fire, although it has been several months since I had the opportunity. Back on my world we often cooked like this and sat around the fire as a community."
Evelyn looked over her shoulder towards Kailu, "I've not done that in awhile. Used to go camping at my grandparents place, out in the woods. Went berry picking as well. And it was so lovely sitting at the fireside much like this." she turned back to tend to the fire, her dark red braid falling forward over her shoulder. She moved it back over her shoulder to keep it from getting burnt. she pursed her lips and blew gently to make the flames hotter, adding a little bit more wood.
"It has been some time since I have managed to do it under a real sky and with real earth." Kailu admitted as he grabbed a clump of dirt. He looked at it in his hands, felt it, rubbed it through his fingers and said "Latosh'ta fren'seena provinca." and let it fall to the ground.
He turned to face Evelyn who was still tending to the fire and he smiled as he felt quite content in the forest with her. It almost felt like home.
The steam rose from the spout of the tea pot, indicating the water was ready to use, she brought it out from the fire and added the bags of peppermint tea to it. While it steeped, Evelyn drew near to Kailu. "Tell me the meaning of those words you spoke. They almost sounded like a prayer, and I felt that I should know that language, the meaning dancing just out of my reach."
"It is a the language of the Toan'ta, my people. An off shoot of the El Aurians and simply the words mean 'Blessed be Mothers Song', loosely. It can be hard to translate words when we hear the universe in song." he smiled at her.
Evelyn breathed in softly at what Kailu had spoken of. "it is beautiful, it even being a song in and of itself. " her nose twitched slightly as she picked up the scent of the tea being done. "Ah the tea is done I shall pour us a cuppa." she stated.
"I'll be drinking it with no sweetner, would you like yours with a spot of honey?" Evelyn pouring the tea in the cups and brought over the cup for Kailu and one for her and she sat down next to him. "Now this is the life." Evelyn said softly, then she pursed her lips together and blew upon the cup to cool it down slightly. "Though with my sister having gotten herself married, to the Chief of Security upon the Merlin, I've come to a crossroads of a sort. She has a new life now, and well I need to figure out where I will be going next. Will I be going back to the star base and keep up the store she and I had created together or, will I just be wandering amongst the stars looking for a new destiny."
Kailu nodded in reference to the honey and watched as Evelyn poured a few drops in and stirred the glass before coming to sit. What she had said was interesting, talk of destiny was always a curious subject. One that philosophers had debated and theorised about for many millennium. "People say that destiny is already laid out, that your path is made and you simply follow it." he spoke as he took a sip of his tea. "I don't follow that rather unimaginative train of thought. Your destiny is yours to be written. You grab the threads to pull that take you where you want, good or bad. You can keep your store, have someone else manage it and see the stars for a while. Make your own adventures. I mean, you're here now on a random woodland camping with someone you just met. Some would say you are already forging who you want to be, and taking what you want."
Evelyn looked up towards the stars, then back to Kailu. "If I am allowed on the ship, I wonder what I would do there. See if I can work in their pub if they have one? It would be lovely to spend sometime with my brother as well. And, if you are not against it, spend sometime with you? Oh and my cousin is there as well. It would be a bit of a family reunion. Or could be a cook in the galley. Both Avelina and I do know how to cook." Evelyn pondering on the possibilities while she took a drink of her tea.
"I don't see why the Captain would deny you that request." Kailu looked up at the stars then back at Evelyn. "And I would be in favour of seeing you more." he smiled at her. "I'd imagine your brother has a lot of sway with the Captain, and if a family reunion or sorts is possible then that sounds like a good idea to ask."
"It would be lovely, I have missed Mathias a great deal, and-" she took a sip of her tea then continued. " I would miss you a lot." she reached out towards Kailu, as if she were following a piece of thread, until her hand connected with his. "I would love to see where this path will take me, or take us." Evelyn moving close to Kailu.
"Well..." he said taking her hand and opening his body up to invite her in for an embrace. "Let us see what the universe has in store for us."
Evelyn McPhee
Civilian
Sister of Mathias
Lieutenant Kailu Grekas
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Merlin
