Stardate: 70917:2300
Title: Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole
Author: Alex Ross
Time: Following "Lessons From Childhood"
Scene: Planet Renna


Although Alex understood the reasoning behind Doctor Matthews' instructions to bring samples of what Emma had been in contact with on the planet surface, he didn't really think it was something she had eaten. No one else seemed to be suffering any ill effects from the Rennas cuisine, either on the ship or here now. Alex's mind worked in overtime. Although educated in the pure sciences, he had transferred out when he posted to the Horizon, but it was still hard for him not to hypothesize.

"What do you think of our world, Ensign Ross?" Nakra'Mel was the name of the Rennas who spoke. Best he could figure, according to Emma, this was the guy who started all the ruckus.

Alex coughed on the tidbit he and his discreetly monitoring tricorder were sampling. "I only recently beamed down. After the scene our other officer caused, the Captain thought it necessary to illustrate that not everyone possesses such boorish manners."

Nakra'Mel nodded.

"But," Alex said still nibbling, "what I have seen is most beautiful."

"Perhaps a tour could be arranged, for those of your crew that are interested, later?" Nakra'Mel offered. "We are most proud of our world and our accomplishments."

Alex nodded. "I think a great many would be interested. Forgive me, but I noticed from orbital scans, that there are a great many subterranean chambers, many of them crystalline in nature. Might we get a tour of some of those?"

If an insectoid could smile, and Alex sincerely hoped it was a friendly smile that he thought he was seeing, Nakra'Mel's smile was magnanimous. "Indeed you might, Ensign Ross. Indeed you might."


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Ensign Alex Ross
Operations Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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