Mind-Song
Posted on Sat Jun 28th, 2025 @ 1:05pm by Lieutenant Zane D'Sai & Lieutenant Niami Troga
2,311 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Sole Survivor
Location: Malibu Beach, Earth
Timeline: Sometime in the Past
It was near sunrise,hints of pink touched the clouds above the ocean. A lone seagull drifted above, its wings having a golden tint provided by the rising sun. A light breeze danced through the tops of the palm trees, causing them to sway gently side to side. A woman, with raven tresses, not too far from the trees, walked along the beach, her bare toes being kissed by the waves which washed upon the shore. The pale yellow cover up, rippled in the breeze revealing the bright yellow two piece, which showed her slender waist.
Niami took off her coverup, folding it up neatly, placing her shoes upon it to prevent it from blowing away. She gazed towards the water, filled with some melancholy, she wished to be able to enjoy the waters, as some early morning swimmers were doing so, to greet the new day. She was afraid to swim due to a near drowing when she was young, from someone trying to hold her under water. She did get away, but it caused her difficulty. If only she could step out from that shadow and into the water.
Dressed in a pair of black swim briefs, Zane had spent the morning in the water, exploring, undisturbed when he heard her voice; not in the way one normally would, sound traveled differently this deep, but mind-song. Every living creature had one and hers was tinged with sadness and, curious, and he followed the sound toward the shore. Water droplets beaded up and slid down his tanned body, tracing the ridged expanse of his abdomen and along the defined musculature in his arms and legs as he came up out of the water, his hair, braided and long, hung in a braid over his shoulder, revealed pointed ears; and his gaze, brilliant green, turned unerring toward the woman's sad mind-song.
Something danced upon the edges of her mind, a feeling of someone's curiosity. Niami's eyes drifted towards the approaching person, noting his green eyes, which caught her attention. Who was this? The sunlight catching the droplets of water that caught the sun's light. He was beautiful.
"Are you alright," he asked in accented Federation Standard, his words soft, as though tiptoeing across the short expanse between them. Freed from the half-life that had been his childhood on Mesaain, he had exuberant when he first arrived, fascinated by beings who didn't hold anger close to their hearts, and in so doing, had trespassed on 'personal space'. The caution he had learned from those early interactions influenced later ones; he stood a body's length apart, watching her with concern.
Niami shook her head slowly, "No I am not." her eyes turning back towards the water. "I wish to be able to do what they do, to do what you do. That is swim. I don't know how because I am afraid." Niami didn't know why she was telling this man, about her fear. Then again, in her counseling sessions and her schooling, one way to conquer a fear was to actually say it aloud. That was the first step. Along with her being on the beach, drumming up enough courage to step further into the water.
"Why," Zane asked as he took a step closer, gesturing for her to join him on the warm sand. "What do you fear?"
Niami moved forward, "I fear, being stuck beneath the surface, not being able to rise to gain air." she felt drawn to this man, taking his invitation to sit beside him. "I fear that there is no light, nothing to free me from the weight that was pressing me down, not allowing me to rise, and laughter of a cruel child, echoing in my mind."
"You fear the cruelty of that moment," Zane observed. "The violence. I can understand that. There was a time when I was much the same though it wasn't about being in the water for me." He drifted into silence for a moment, the gleam of the runic birthmark on his shoulder-blade fading as his skin dried, thinking, remembering. "What helped me? Was knowledge."
"What pains me is that, I thought her to be a friend, a best friend. She wasn't. What could possess a child age nine to do something like that? To another child? I couldn't fathom the sense-of-it--" Niami paused curious. His words caught her interest.There was also something else about him. A calming factor, akin to the falling of the rain or-the sound of the waves against the shore, an almost intangible ethereal music harmonizing with the ocean.
"What knowledge? And-- could there be something that will help me, not be afraid?" her voice soft and low, looking into his eyes.
'Swimming is a skill, like walking or learning to feed yourself, it just takes a bit of effort and once you do, it opens up a whole world." He turned toward her, shy because most he'd met didn't understand or maybe didn't want to understand, "my world. I could teach you, if want? Show you."
She remembered seeing this man, coming out from the water so effortlessly, like he and the sea were one. "I would like that,uh-" she blushed, "What is your name? My name is Niami."
"Niami," he answered, rolling the alien-sound name across his tongue. "It is lovely. Mine is Zane, a warrior's name, but that's a story for another time." He smiled at her, the warmth of it lighting up his eyes. "When shall we begin ... Niami?"
Taking a look out towards the water, where the waves rolled in gently. Niami took in the warmth of the sun, upon her skin.She felt the breeze that played with a wisp of her hair. She sat there quietly as if to listen to her surroundings, Niami's eyes being drawn back to his calming green eyes. "I would like to start now please?" her rapid heartbeats, calming down despite her feeling a mixture of fright and a determination within to push through. With the help of Zane. "I am willing to be guided by you," a smile slowly appearing.
Zane smiled back, his eyes coming alive with pleasure. "The ocean would not be a good place to learn however but I know of a cove where the water is still. That will work. Will you come with me?"
Picking up her shoes and coverup, Niami said, "Yes, I will come with you." getting up from where she sat, then held her hand out towards Zane. She had trust in her eyes, open to him teaching her to swim.
[A While Later]
"I breathe underwater," Zane said as they approached the lake. He stopped on the shore, waiting for her to get ready. "I tell you this so that you will understand. Nothing can happen in this lake that I cannot handle. You have but to say the word and I will have you back on shore again. Do you believe me?"
Niami nodded, "I believe you." Shedding her cover up and taking off her shoes. Drawing in a breath or two, concentrating on Zane. "Okay I am ready. I hope. Guide me, I trust you."
Taking her hand, he walked her out into the water until they were both about waist deep and stood behind her, so that she could feel his solid presence, his hands firmly encircling her waist. "We'll start here. Take a minute. Feel the water, the soft bottom against your feet. There are no waves here and no one around us. So, close your eyes and just feel ... I'll make sure you don't fall."
A quiet nod, Niami did as Zane instructed. She was grateful for him being behind her, holding her. She closed her eyes, concentrating upon the feel of the mud beneath her feet. The coolness, how it enveloped her foot partially. Reminding her of the silky silt when as a child she played, wading in the stream before, before-- she drew her mind away from the incident, the one which caused her fear. The warmth of Zane against her back, the solidness, the calmness gave her courage. She listened to the natural sounds around them all with her eyes closed.
A bird could be heard, calling towards its mate, the sound of a fish rising to the surface and leaping into the air, falling back into the water with a small splash. The buzzing sound of the gem like wings of a dragonfly... She breathed in and out, in a meditative state, just feeling.
"Okay," Zane said softly, a whisper against her ear, "we're going to move forward now, mid-chest. Nothing's changed. One word and you're on the shore again." At her nod, he moved her forward to mid-chest on her and stood as before, solid and immovable. Waiting.
Once more Niami closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel the depth of the water, gasping slightly. She could feel her feet almost floating from the bottom of the lake, where they were standing. She grasped Zane's hand momentarily her heart beating fast, it calmed down. "Okay, lets proceed forward." She was determined to continue.
"Now," Zane said, I want you to bend over. Blow bubbles into the water. That's all, just blow bubbles." He held her firmly by the waist, stay close to her. "Just feel the water on your face, blow air out, watch the bubbles if you'd like."
Blowing bubbles, she'd not done that in ages, since she was young. And it was something she loved to do. Her heart skipped a beat with Zane's hands upon her waist. She was attracted to him, and that contact made it stronger.Drawing in a breath, she leaned forward pursing her lips and started blowing bubbles watching in delight as they went to the surface and popped. Something simple as this, made her feel very happy.
"You have learned to be afraid of the water," Zane said quietly, "and that is a sad thing. Now, are you ready for something a bit harder?"
Harder--the word went through Niami's mind like a streak of lightning. However, with her being a counselor, it has been taught that facing one's fears, is a good way to move forward. She shivered slightly drawing in a deep breath, it being shaky. She had said she trusted Zane, and Niami did trust him. "Okay, next part, guide me."
"Okay," Zane said as he moved around to stand in front of her and took her hands. "Hold your breath and all we are going to do is slide down, like doing a exercise or a dance movement, and blow out a couple of bubbles, then I'll help you rise again. Ready?"
"Like a dance movement." another smile, Niami looking into Zane's eyes, she loved how he worded the next part. And it was like a dance. Niami nodded taking in a deep breath, holding onto his strong yet gentle hands she slowly lowered herself downward. She had her eyes closed, felt her heart start to race as the water went above her head.Felt her hair start to float. If she had tried this on her own, Niami would have been panicking.
Niami let out a puff of air, not seeing her bubble rise until she decided to open her eyes to watch the second bubble rise to the surface.
Zane slid slowly under the water, his eyes open, watching her, breathing as easily as he did on the surface. When he had counted to three, he gently encouraged her to rise to the surface. "Good," he said. "Good. Now, blow out all your air and take a deep breath. We'll try to go for five this time. The idea is just to relax. Let your fear go and enjoy the moment. Okay?"
Niami moved back a strand of hair from her face, which had fallen down the bridge of her nose to the tip of it, grinning. " Yes, I would like that." ready to lower herself, and doing so when Zane guided her. This time her eyes were opened observing, feeling her fear washing away, This is so beautiful, Zane is so beautiful in this environment
If there was place where he felt at peace, it was here in the water. And watching her, seeing the fear all but dissipate, lighting up her features with the pleasure of the moment, well, it made him smile. He kept his thoughts tamped down with respect to her beauty because, as he had learned in the Federation, there were those who walked through minds, invited or not. Instead, he counted, raising his fingers one after the other, and on five, he brought her back to the surface again, breaking the water smoothly. "One day," he said, "I will show you the world I know but for now, I think that's enough. Practice that, if you can, in a bathtub ... or if you don't have access, just practice holding your breath."
So caught up in the moment, Niami gave Zane an delighted embrace. "Thank you" her face lighting up. "I will make certain to practice, and..I do want to see the world you know." her eyes looking into his. She didn't move yet, perhaps she should but that thought didn't enter in her mind as of yet. This new connection to the water, she didn't want to have it disappear, yet.
He accepted her embrace, smiling at her, with her, as he returned the hug. "Tomorrow," he asked. "Same time?"
Feeling a warm glow, Niami nodded. "Yes, Tomorrow," she responded, eagerly wanting more time to be with him and her lessons.
"I'm looking forward to it," Zane said softly. And though he didn't say it aloud, mentally he added, more than you know.
Zane D'Sai
Then, Cadet, Starfleet Academy
Niami Troga
Then, Cadet, Starfleet Academy
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