trans_9 | explaining the universe [closed]

"Here, watch me for a bit, then join in when you feel you're ready." Grabbing a holographic dance partner, Picard's movements suddenly much more rhythmic, his body shifting in time to the Latin beat. Hands, hips, legs, every part of the captain joined in, and the woman followed suit, her hips sashaying and bouncing from side to side in harmony with the captain's own movements.

Katara watch with rapt attention. At first it seemed almost hard to keep up with, considering the movement and how jarring they could be. After a few minutes though, Katara could see the pattern, the fluidity. A minute later, she started to mimic the step, and then she walked over to Jean Luc,

"May I cut in?"

"Absolutely," he replied cheerfully, letting the holographic partner drift away to another partner before holding out his hand. "Shall we?"

"Ok," Katara said, hoping she wouldn't look too awkward, although that wasn't likely to happen. Katara, after all, had to remember bending moves by looking over scrolls. Watching people dance was at least giving her a visual aid to what it was she needed to do.

Mambo defintely relied on a longer skirt, so Katara's changed again, and she kept in time with the beat, noting the movement started on the second beat of the music. After that Picard led her, and she moved in tandum, her shoulders moving with the music. The spins were a bit harder to do, but after a few times she got the hang of it, and ut came rather naturally.

"Wow," Katara breathed, "You're certainly lively for a captain. In my world, people in that position are usually stiff and don't want anything to do with fun."

"Well, I'd like to think I'm not as stiff as the teachers I studied under back at the Academy. I have my moments, though." Picard had to admit that he was certainly enjoying himself. Katara had been every bit the apt pupil he'd thought she would be, and now here the two were, dancing a fast-paced mambo aboard a living starship. Unable to really help himself, he laughed at the surreality of it. Whatever he might blame Stacy for, he had to give her credit for granting the captain the opportunity he had been presented with.

Another swing and Katara moved into this one, almost backward. She was glad she'd gotten so lithe during all of their adventures: for any other girl, it might have actually been a strain.

"I have a teacher back at home, Master Paku. He was a great instructor, but pretty bad at letting loose and having fun. But I guess a world at war will do that."

Which was exactly why Katara was taking this opportunity to enjoy herself. Who knew how frequently those moments happened here before she had to go fighting?

"Well, you're very good, Miss Katara," Picard countered, pulling the girl into a dip and twirl. "One would think you'd been doing this for years."

Katara gave him a pleasant smile. "Where I'm from, its important to adapt. If I just stay thinking the same things, well, what's going to change? In a way, I guess that includes me, Jean Luc."

She liked the way his name sounded. There was something about him that was very distinguished, very captain about him. One could even call it a crush, but just slight. After all, there wasn't any question to who Katara was waiting for here.

"Captain...what will WE do next?"

WE meant, of course, the crew. She wanted to know what they had to do next.

"We," the captain replied, "are going to continue doing what Stacy expects of us. We don't have the answers or ship access to do anything else at this time. So, in the meantime, Miss Katara, enjoy yourself and learn everything you can. When the time comes to make a stand, we'll be ready." Picard lifted the girl and spun her again, pulling her back in close. If anything, he was coming to view the curious and intelligent young woman as a niece. He had little doubt that she would adapt well.

"I believe you will do just fine, Miss Katara. Now, if I could ask for your help concerning one of my crew from my own home?"

Katara sighed. She figured as much, and not going back immediately was definitely not going to please Sokka. He definitely would not want to hear her say "We'll just have to do whatever Stacy says." Still it wasn't as if she had much of a say either way. She squealed a little in the spin, surprised but definitely having fun. He really was a fun!

Katara did look a little puzzled at his request though. "I don't know what I could do, but I'll try my best! What do you need?"

"I'll show you, Miss Katara," he said, ceasing their dance so the girl could see the scenery change around them. "If you want to see starships, why don't I show you mine? This is the bridge of the USS Enterprise E."

Katara's mouth dropped open as the scenery changed into something far beyond anything she could have comprehended seeing (except, of course, the beginning of the universe). All around her were these...well, they looked like square windows but they actually had a display, but somehow with nothing written, as if it were powered by some unknown force. The seats looked a little uncomfortable, stiff, but Katara could easily see why. This wasn't a place meant for lounging about: it was a ship ready for situations in which it might have to fight its way out. She stared at the imagery on the screens a moment, trying to make heads or tales of the strange writing, then observed the large center "window." It was big enough that Katara imagined it was to talk to someone else on the ship: what else would it be used for?

There were two chairs in the front, and she imagined that one was specifically meant for the Captain, and the one beside it for the Captain's second in command.

"Amazing," Katara said, looking around her. "This is so...well so beyond anything in my world. What could I do for you that your world couldn't?"

"See that console over there?" Picard gestured, pointing behind them. "It's a communications and systems console. I need someone to operate it for a simulation, and I will show you how."

Katara was definitely intimidated. This was more something that Sokka should be doing, he was the one that was into operating and simulations. Still, what bad could come out of this? She would learn something new, and she would have another goal to set for herself is she stayed on this ship for a long time.

"Please show me what to do," Katara said.

"Trust me, everything will be fine. Computer, load Communications Training Simulation Zero-Zero-One." Immediately, the symbols on the console shifted, simplifying into only a few icons. Picard pointed to each of them, stating what they were.

"Incoming transmission notification. Frequency. Identity of ship when registered with the Federation and Starfleet. Universal Translator: This one only alerts if a language is currently being translated.

"When a ship hails us, you will be alerted by this--" Immediately the console beeped, the incoming transmission icon blinking. Picard touched it, bringing up another small window with several icons. "--and pressing the icon will bring up this, which gives you more options. From here, you can communicate on your own through text--" A small keyboard appeared on the screen. "--on audio, through the bridge audio relays--" His voice echoed, transmitting his own voice through the ship. "--or through the main screen." Immediately a picture of himself showed up on the screen, with Katara standing next to him.

"Would you like to try?"

Katara nodded and took the console. She took a moment, pressing the control buttons and looking at her options for a few minutes. For Katara, memorizing had always been key in any situation, particularly when it came to her waterbending studies. Scrolls weren't the easiest form of learning, but they could be studied over and over until she got it right, just like this.

She waited a moment, then heard the beep of the console, alerting her of a ship approaching. Katara clicked the icon to see the ship classification. "Incoming transmission from...Klingon Bird of Prey. I'm going to go through to main screen, captain."

She smiled a little, then was all business. "This is...Ensign? Ensign Katara of the Starship Enterprise. What can we do for you today?"

"Very good, Ensign Katara," Picard replied with a smirk, "but when a hail isn't deemed urgent, it's usually appropriate to bring it to the captain's attention. He or she will then give the command to place it on screen, ignore the hail, or route the signal to another terminal, such as the captain's terminal in the ready room." He moved over Katara's shoulder, pointing out more things.

"You started off just right, Ensign. Simply stating that there was an incoming transmission and then following with its point of origin is excellent. Once you've informed the Captain, he'll say something to confirm your next action." The captain turned to the viewscreen, his tuxedo shifting into a Starfleet uniform.

"On screen."

"Ah," was the only thin Katara could say to apologize for her lack of know. It wasn't as if she had a manual for this sort of thing, after all. And the uniform merging into the captain was startling too, of course. He hadn't had it a moment ago! Still, Katara didn't need to fumble with the buttons so much now that she knew what the Captain wanted next.

She hit the icons easily to access the onscreen function, awaiting the message from these...Klingons.

What weird names.

What came on wasn't a Klingon, however, just a wall of text grading Katara's effort per Starfleet regulations.

"Not bad at all, for your first attempt, Ensign," he said with a smirk. "Let's run through it again, shall we?" The set blinked for a second, resetting itself, before Katara's console beeped at her, the incoming transmission icon flashing.

Katara nodded. The console reset itself, and again the transmission icon went off. This time Katara knew what to do.

"Incoming transmission from Romulan warbird Captain. How shall we proceed?"

"Put it on speaker, Ensign," Picard ordered.

Katara nodded, and did this with ease. The true controls were probably more complicated, but she would have plenty of time to learn, she hoped.

"Yes captain," she said, and did so.

"Very good, Ensign. I think you're ready to help with the Kobayashi Maru test."

"OK!" Katara said brightly. "I'll be fine as long as you tell me what a Kobayashi Maru is!"

"It's a command test at Starfleet Academy. It's also known as the No-Win Scenario."

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