" Musical Soothing "
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"Turn off the light, take a deep breath and relax. Start to move
slowly, very slowly. Let the rhythm be your guiding light."
- "The Voice Of Enigma", MCMXC A.D., Enigma
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Stardate: 60325.0720
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 9, Cargo Bay 7
Never before had the Oltharian played his flute outside of the seclusion of his quarters after his graduation from Starfleet Academy. The small metallic musical instrument which seemed to vanished into nothingness while inside the massive hands of the giant had always help a particular significance to Elan, the enchanting and almost mystical music that it created reflecting the composer's most intimate feelings. This type of music had always been meant, as per the teachings of the Religious Circle, to only be shared with those whom the player had special and even intimate feelings for.
As a Cadet though the Oltharian had challenged this belief passed down from generation to generation and had used the music to help him stay in touch with the heritage that he had left back on OLTHAR PRIME. Having been the first of his kind to venture beyond the confines of the planetary system they knew as home, going against all they he had been taught about their place in the universe, Elan had not been a stranger to challenging his people's ways. Even though the music had been shared, very few Cadets had been able to claim to having heard the giant play the small silvery instrument, but those who could had always said the same thing about the sounds that filled the air they had shared with Elan at that time - purely emotional.
After his graduation from the Academy and his first mission onboard another Intel ship, the significance of the music had returned to its intended meaning when Elan had allowed Lt. Cmdr. Amber Satori to be in his quarters while he played. She had interrupted one of the Olthairan's private sessions and after much convincing, Elan had found it impossible to resist the woman's charms and accepted to continue playing with her there.
On that one fateful night a great many things had changed for the Olthairan, not the least of which had been his own personal understanding of the universe that extended all around them. The woman who then held the position of Chief for the Observation and Surveillance Centre on that ship had made her way into the giant's mind long before then, but it had taken time for her to find her way into the giant's heart. Time seemed to come to a complete stop while he played for her, watching Amber's eyes follow each and every movement he made with an intensity that he could not understand or cared to. She enjoyed the music and he in turned had enjoyed her enjoyment making the moment one that he would remember for all eternity.
Fragile and innocent as she knew Elan to be despite his colossal size and appearance, the woman whose age defied all concept of time, had not wanted to rush things making that night even more special as she watched and listened. Amber had learned long ago that life needed to be enjoyed at a slower pace, taking in each and every second and enjoying them to their fullest as they would never come again. During her years she had once enchanted another Oltharian man who in time had grown in wisdom to become leader of his world's governing body, the Council of Elders. That he had been Elan's uncle had only been a universal coincidence that both Bardef and Amber had chosen to keep from the young Oltharian who had left his home world to venture beyond the stars.
Events beyond the control of Elan had taken this woman from him, placing her in a coma from which no medical technique known to the Federation could bring of out of. On that day, the significance and melodies of the music had once again changed to reflect the giant's new found emotion - despair. It had taken the Oltharian a lot of time and soul searching while back on his home world following the renouncing of his rank and position to rediscover his place in the universe. As painful as it had been to venture into the depths of the universe, that is where Elan knew he needed to be. Maybe, just maybe, somewhere out there on one of the worlds orbiting one of those sparkling specks of light he would be able to find a cure for his beloved Amber.
The Cargo Bay had been vacated long ago, all of those who had helped to get it ready for their upcoming rescue mission having returned to their quarters to get some well deserved rest. Instead of doing the same though, the Oltharian had returned to this location after having gone to his quarters and exchanged his communicator for the musical instrument that now rested in his massive hands. For some unknown reason Elan had felt the need to play his music here, as if the modified Cargo Bay held some kind of special significance that he had been unaware of. Maybe it had been the Oltharian's way of wishing for all those who would be brought here to have a speedy recovery - both mental and physical, but in the end Elan did not care *why* and simply chose to follow where the music would lead.
Soon, all too soon, the music would stop and time would return to normal. The ANUBIS would attempt the rescue of the crew that had been captured and this room would become filled with officers displaying a wide variety of wounds and injuries. Right now though was not the time to think of the trials that laid ahead, now was the time to think of all that made life special and unique, so Elan played taking him beyond the confines of the walls that surrounded him and into another world, one of music, spirit and memories.
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Francois Charette {f_charette@hotmail.com}
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elan Talak Fairborn 2005 post #331
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA
