A look at film history

Posted on Thursday August 30th, 2018 @ 10:47am by Lieutenant JG Niklas Blom M.D. Ph.D & Lieutenant Neera Pine

2,337 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Season 2: Mission 1: Day after Day
Location: Crew quarters
Timeline: Oct 15, 4566 early evening

Niklas has prepared a nice spread and it was in the stasis box. All he had to do was unpack and sushi. With his current knife skills that would be an easy and entertaining meal. He hand really set on a movie yet. Too many selections to chose from without enough data to pick a good one. He had on a navy blue suit with black shirt and tie, and shoes. At least he didn't need to shave. That was a blessing actually as his human beard was pretty thick. Putting on some finish touches, he was going to use cologne, but thought it might over power Neera's senses.
He settled on a very watered down musk. 500 to 1 water mix. She should be able to smell it without it creating havoc. Lastly he put on Spanish guitar, and waited for her arrival.
 
Neera chose a very form fitting strapless red dress that ran down to the ankles. It was split down the sides at the thigh. To finish the outfit off she had on some modified heels and a pair of ear rings. 

The trip was brisk and she turned a few heads during the brief trip, arriving at his door with a quick knock.
 
He greeted her at the door, a single Tropicana rose in hand. It highlighted her dress. Bowing slightly he offered her the rose.
 
Neera accepted with a smile, "How cordial, and I suppose next you'll want to do the tango."
 
"Well after decades of Governor service. This is me downplaying a little. Simple but tasteful." He paused, and added. "I'd wolf whistle if it wasn't offensive. You look wonderful."
 
"Actually I can tolerate most canine jokes, even laugh at them. Just don't call me a bitch and your fine, and you look handsome."
 
"Guess I will keep my thesaurus handy if we ever fight." He joked. Taking another deep look at her, he added. "Such a shame we can't turn heads together in some crowded city. Having you on my arm seems fitting. Let them be jealous."
 
"Oh missed the ensign walking head first into a corner.", Neera giggled.
 
"Champagne?" he asked. "Plus how hungry are you, we can eat anytime, but there is no rush." Nilkas asked.
 
"Well a bit of conversation would be nice before we eat, and yes a glass would be nice.", Neera said taking a seat, "I must say you have certainly gone the extra mile."
 
"You are certainly worth that and more. This is nothing." He poured her a glass and sat on the couch after she did. "I have something for you." He pulled out a small box and handed it to her.
(Inside is a black choker looking necklace and a tiny hypospray)
 
She tilted her head, curious of the box, "Got me A gift, how thoughtful."

She opened the box, and lifted the necklace out of the box, "What are these? I haven't seen the accessory before, or a hypo that size."
 
"The new Ronco Guitar Express learning program." He said with flair. "The hypospray is a chemical learning process, coded to your genome, as well as information that will pair to your Geist. Took a little while to synthesis, but it's been slow so I made it and you a priority."
 
She lift up the collar like accessory more, "And this?"
 
"Short range transceiver. It will pair to the Geist and upload once you've absorbed the chemical learning. One use. After that. toss it. I figured I'd make it at least a bit decorative as you'll need it for a few hours at least." Aidan said.
 
"Wow, my mom and grandmother would really like you.", Neera said giving him a smile as she put on and pulled out the hypo to apply it.
 
"Don't get your hopes up." He took the hypospray and applied it to her neck. "It's going to take time for it to do it's job, then it will be permanent, assuming you use and practice your guitar. Like any skill, you don't practice, you don't improve." Putting down the hypospray, he took the choke and fastened it around her neck. "Looks good on you."
 
Her eyes flashed as the choker connected, "Thank you, I may actually keep it even after it's done its job. I guess the next step is to get a guitar of my own."

She turned herself more towards him, and had a eager smile, "So what do you want to talk about?"
 
"What about hobbies? I like to cook and you already know about the music." Nik said
 
"Well I like listening to music, and I have to say Beaumont ended up getting me pretty addicted to anime. A little bit of a gun nut because of my dad, other then that I would say reading.", Neera answered a little shy when anime was part of her answer.
 
"Aidan Thornton is the gun nut. I understand the need now, but still abhor violence unless there is no other option. Nothing wrong with reading. Anime isn't my thing but many people enjoy it. Who am I to judge?" he offered.
 
"I do not necessarily wish for violence, but I am a soldier. Where I come from, conflict is a fact of life. Here seems much more peaceful, but even here there are conflicts that end in bloodshed."
 
"Sadly yes. Which for movie selections, I would rule out horror, military, and most action movies I think...unless you have a request."
 
Neera gave a nervous grin, "I'm actually not familiar with most movies here. I think you would have better insight then I. I'm sure whatever you pick will be good, maybe even a great mood setter." She finished shifting to a sly grin. 

He got a far away glance as he eyes darted almost imperceptibly. "I think I have it. One I have seen, though it's been many years. Arsenic and old lace." Nik said.

Neera sat there with Niklas as the film credits rolled, having not quite been able to follow the premise. The time period seemed odd and quite a long time ago, the footage quality and lack of color color holding her interest in it's mere oddity.
 
"Well, not exactly all light hearted but I like the ending. Everything works out. He's adopted and he realizes that's a relief, not having to worry about insanity from his family. Odd but good. " Nik said. He got up and pulled Neera to him.
 
Neera looked thoughtful on the matter, "It was a little hard to follow, but that may be because it was so.....different. you call this a vintage film right? We don't have those. It's a rather odd experience for me."
 
"Well, you can pick next time. Anime even. You sat through mine." He offered. "Hungry?"
 
"Yes I am, and I bet you have some delicious in store. Though don't get me wrong, It wasn't bad, or anything. It's just something I'm not used to, having been exposed to it for the first time."
 
"I get it. Cary Grant is funny, yet charming, and debonaire, all at the same time."
 
"Debonaire?", she asked confused.
 
"Sauve., smooth even...and a gentleman." Nik offered.
 
Neera gave a smile, "Like you." She said before giving a quick kiss.
 
"I'd blush if I could." He took her hand and pulled her over to the kitchette. Small but efficient, he sat her down on a cushy stool and started pulling items out of the statis.  "Now I make some allowances as sushi grade fish is hard to come by. I think you'll be pleased with the results." Neera had trouble keeping up with the action once Nik's hands started moving. The small fishing boat platter quickly filled with various hand rolls, and Maki or what he called finger rolls as you ate with your hands. He offered her a small bowl of cleansing water, showing her how it was done. He selected a colorful Maki with Salmon, avocado, and a sweet slightly spicy mayo on top. He it picked up deftly with chopsticks and fed it to Neera.
 
Neera hummed, pleased with the delicious food, "That is really good! Sushi is a hard dish to get back home, usually only for the people of yamatai. You're going to spoil me at this rate."
 
"Darn." Nik offered. "You figured out my ingenious and devilish plan to entrap you." Ending with a smile.
"The lakes around Vectorous" he corrected himself,  "New Soong colony are teaming with good fish as well as some deep sea fish close enough to Tuna. I was spoiled and learned to make a few things. Now I'm just adding to the list of things I can do."
 
"I think you kinda succeeded at the neck accessory, and maybe last night.", She said with a giggle, "It sounds like a beautiful place, maybe we can visit there sometime?"
 
"I'd like that." He said. "Have to get permission now. Humans aren't allowed." He added.
 
"Does it help I'm not human?"
 
"It might. I help them out where I can actually. Fledgling community and it'll be interesting to see what it's like in 100 years." Nik said.
 
"I've always enjoyed new places, the universe has so many different sights and locales."
 
"I tend to agree with that. It's that kind of attitude I had to learn to embrace after my human body was vaporized. The more I think about it, the less I care, as this is now a new lease on life. How many people get a second chance?" Nik bit into a handroll sampling his creation.  "This one is my favorite. Crab, Avocado, Cucumber wrapped in soy paper topped with Hawaiian Style Poki, Eel Sauce and Spicy Mayo Sauce."
 
"For me it was the sense of having a family, something I never had until the body swap. Thankfully I had someone to help adjust. Learning about decency and clothes were interesting experiences.", Neera said before trying a handrail as well, "This is great."
 
"Thanks." He said indicating the hand roll. "Clothing optional. That must have been interesting. Still getting used to not sleeping. Shutting down isn't the same. Something I need to work on."
 
"Couldn't you use a process to simulate sleep?", she wondered out loud, "That can be done right?"
 
"There are programs out there....I prefer to check everything I install. So it takes longer, but I don't like the idea of installing something unknown. I blame Candy who started the overthrow the human populace."
 
"Who?" Neera said with a furrowed brow.
 
"She was a former sex robot. She was upgraded and they installed the wrong software. She became sentient and rebelled.  Almost can't blame her." NIklas offered.
 
"Someone not paying attention to what they were doing. If she remembered it all. Wow. Like I said, I don't totally blame her." He added

"They make robots for sex? I can't imagine sharing one's body with something that has no concept of emotion.", she said finding the idea foreign, "S6 deploy AIs that are adaptive and develop personalities. When they have developed enough to have more free thought, they are given the choice on what they want to do."
"I didn't agree with the choice, but it kept the miners happier. Maybe I should be been more vocal and insisted the androids be given a choice. Perhaps this is part of my punishment. Ironic but fitting." Nik said.

"Wait, is candy the one who did this to you?"

"Yes. Why?" he asked.

"Well I mean you phrased that in a way that made it clear, but when we were in the medbay, you said a woman you loved did it to you. Were you close to her before?", Neera asked, visibly afraid for the answer. The idea of someone you loved, trying to kill you was terrifying.

"No. Candy and I never had any interaction I remember until the day I awoke.  I said my love life hadn't been the same since she vaporized my body. A poorly worded joke." Nik clarified.

"Oh.", she said somewhat relieved, "I'm sorry that happened to you Nik."

"Thanks, but the more I think about it. She actually did me a favor. Trapped in a rapidly aging body. I had 5-10 years left and not very productive ones. I was going to be forced into retirement. So I like to think on the bright side. I am alive. I have my brain and my body is a wonder. Then there are perks with being an android. Plus I never would have met you and you won't have given me a sideways glance in my other state." NIk said.

Neera giggled, "I don't know, with that personality, I might have still been drawn to you. My first love was a full conversion cyborg. He look nothing close to human, yet I loved the man, not his body."

"You're good. But in that state. You'd have killed me, though I would have died a happy man." Nik said.
In short order they polished off the sushi. Nik made Neera a few more hand rolls before he started to clean up.

She enjoyed the food and learned a lot through their talk. Neera felt sad for him, as he had been through so much.
"This has been a wonderful night so far."

He took off his jacket and hung it nearby. "Who am I to disagree. What's next? Dancing? Underwater basket weaving?" He quipped.

"Dancing actually sounds nice. Bodies against each other, moving in rhythm to music. Quite romantic.", Neera said with a smile.

"I agree. " He put on some higher but not super fast dancing music. Enough to get moving but not start sweating.
 

 

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