Into His World

Posted on Mon Aug 18th, 2025 @ 4:58pm by Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant Zane D'Sai

2,211 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Sole Survivor
Location: Malibu Beach, California
Timeline: Academy Days

Niami gazed out towards the ocean, her feet bare, the water lapping at her toes then washing across the top. A warm smile of reflection, a memory coming to her mind. It was of her first meeting with Zane the very same spot where she stood. Niami remembered how frightened she had been, afraid of venturing out into its shallow parts, let alone its depths. There was also another difference, the two piece halter top style swimsuit she wore, was green in color. Her hair was also braided, much like how Zane wore his. Niami adopted that style when she went swimming, and found that it was an attractive style on her as well.

Zane, who had been walking along the shoreline, turned to join her. He wore swim briefs, in a blue-green color that reminded him of the ocean, and a warm smile as he took in her appearance and the peace that radiated from her. So very different than that first day when it had been a victory just getting her to blow bubbles under the water. She was comfortable now in both swimming and diving though they'd had to get holographic instruction on snorkling and diving since these were things he'd never had to learn. "Are you ready," Zane asked as he walked up, reaching for her hand. "It's not the same as my world but still, the reefs are amazing."

When hearing his voice,and sensing him, Niami turned, her smile radiant as she took Zane's oustretched hand. Just like before his very presence made her heart leap with joy. "Yes, I am ready, and even if this isn't your homeworld, I will consider this to be your world" gracefully motioning towards the sea with her other hand, "Rising from the water like someone from legends of old."

"If anyone was legendary," he murmured with a shy laugh. He meant it honestly; his command of the language had not gone much beyond making himself understood. And yet, her smile warmed him, delighted him, and he drew her close, feet planted firmly in the water. Excitement gleamed in the depths of his gaze, twin desires competing for dominance; two voices, intertwined and essential, undulating through his soul. She had become as necessary as water and air and today, for a short while at least, he would have them both of the things he loved most in one place. "Where's your gear?"

Niami laid her head against Zane's chest hearing the beating of his heart, her own matching his. She basked in the intertwining of their energies, harmonious, a beautiful piece of music. His arms around her. When he spoke, she looked up into his ocean green eyes. She stepped back, and motioned towards her gear."Its right there, waiting and ready." This was the moment, the time they'd been working for.

He helped her into her gear and took her hand as they walked into the water. For him, it was as easy as sliding beneath the covers on a bed, his birthmark lighting up as he dove beneath the surface. Zane shifted so that he could watch the play of emotions across her expressive face, seeking out any hint of nerves or fear, to be certain that she followed him. He swam slowly, almost lazily, giving her time to adjust, to set the pace, as he guided her subtly toward a coral reef he had found and a small surprise he had waiting for her there.

There were no signs of nervousness, there was instead excitement, delight. Awestruck. She turned towards him when they were underwater just smiling ear to ear. "Its so beautiful" she mouthed to him before putting back in her mouthpiece. She followed his gentle directions her eyes growing wider and wider as she saw the treasure trove of fish and sealife that was there. Her eyes were filled with mirth when a seahorse decided to be curious of her, and floated in front of her. She held out a finger and the seahorse wrapped its tail around her finger, Niami silently giggling. She was so enchanted by that. The seahorse decided to move on,

She glanced over towards Zane, just alight with joy. When they neared the coral reef, it was so beautiful. Her hand reached out for his, turning, her eyes filled with wonder, and love towards him.

He smiled, holding her hand, as they swam, slowly, lazily, his voice sliding into her mind in gentle encouragement. ~Beautiful, isn't it? I used to come here all the time my first year. To think. To get away from the pressure. It's ... healing.~

~It is beautiful, and yes, rather healing~ Niami responded, just enjoying the sensation of the water against her skin, the feeling of his hand in hers and the caress of his mind.

~It weren't for you, I would be missing all of this. I am so glad you found me, and encouraged me to overcome my fears.~ Niami's thumb rubbed along the back of Zane's hand. ~you have blessed my life, you have healed my heart and soul, my love.~

Zane smiled at her words, drawing into an embrace, slowing spiraling through the water, as his hands stroked her back. ~I was raised a warrior, trained by old men to fight a battle I couldn't win. If anyone's been blessed it's me. And I will always be grateful to you for everything you've given me.~

A few more moments in Zane's embrace,just feeling one with him. ~I am glad that we helped each other. The universe is so much better with you in mine.~

Two colorful fish darted between Zane and Niami, orange and white, with black stripes. She gave out a mental laugh. ~Guess they want to play tag.~

===Sometime later perhaps a year later===

Niami having graduated from Academy and assigned to a ship, the USS Shanghai. The ship had come back to SpaceDock One. This provided a chance for Niami to go to a certain beach, the beach she had first met Zane. A storm was seen in the distance, Niami watched the flashes of lightning against the dark clouds.

The scent of rain was upon the air, the breeze carrying it to her. She missed Zane, saddened that she wasn't able to see him anymore. Her eyes caught sight of a conch shell upon the beach having been sent there by a wave. Niami walked over towards it, picking it up and shaking the sand from the inside. She placed it near her ear hearing the sound of the ocean's call.

She admired the smoothness of the inside, it being a pink in coloration, and the contrast of the white outer shell. A stone, with mottled green and blue hue was slightly buried beneath the sand, Niami picked it up feeling the smoothness of it. Looking around she found a spot nearby, placing both the rock and the shell in a sheltered spot hoping that Zane will find it sometime, someday.

[One Year and Three Months After Graduation]

Two days leave and the one place he could think to come was here. This beach. This place. He was stripped down to swimming brief so that he could better experience the feel of the water around him. Life among the air-breathers was so much drier and movement felt slower, infinitely less graceful. He brought with him two stones, polished and perfected in his spare time, from worlds he had visited. His gaze raked the beach looking for a spot for his personal memorial to a time, a woman, that haunted his thoughts.

He found it among a stone outcropping, a sheltered spot where a mottled green and blue hued stone sat nestled against a shell. The placement was odd, unlikely to occur naturally above the water line, and he imagined someone having set it there. They reminded him of her, delicate and lovely, though it was unlikely she would return here. Hard reality, the truths he didn't want to face, said that she had long since moved on.

He couldn't though. Just couldn't.

And so, he placed his offerings, two perfected stones from other worlds, held in his hands while he read reports and wrote his own. He set them there and turned toward the water. Two days in the water, exploring the ocean, would soothe his soul in a way that nothing else could these days.

[One year later]

Niami returned to the beach, this time the weather was where she could go swimming. She had been practicing holding her breath, underwater, in order to experience just a little bit what Zane had. 7 minutes. She hadn't forgotten him, the time they had spent together. Their paths had gone in different ways, separated by the ships they were assigned to. Did he remember her? Did he meet someone else?

While underwater, a beam of sunlight caught her attention shining down upon a reddish heart shaped stone with flecks of gold, giving it a sparkle to it. Niami smiled, making her way to the surface. Once upon the beach, the sand sticking to her feet, the water running down her green two piece Niami neared the place where she had placed the shell and stone.

What she saw, made Niami freeze in her tracks, there were two other stones, nestled near the shell and other stone. Gently she picked up the stones holding them up to her cheek, wondering if perhaps Zane could have left them. A gentle kiss upon each one she placed them back. She held the heart shaped stone, in the palm of her hand watching how the sun made the gold flecks sparkle. A kiss upon the stone, Niami placed the stone heart between the new stones.

"I hope this finds you, Zane." Niami softly whispered.

One more look out towards the sea, Niami left to go back to her ship,the USS Shanghai.

[Two Years and Six Months After Graduation]

Their patrol route had kept him away from the water for nearly a year and while he'd taken to sleeping in a tank just to stay healthy, it wasn't the same. Not nearly. And so, the first bit of leave he could get together, he came back here to 'the' beach. The call of the ocean was strong in him, pulling him, just not strong enough. He walked over to the spot where he'd left the stones and found another one, heart-shaped this time and found himself smiling. He took the stone with him and headed out into deep water.

Four days later, give or take an hour, and he returned to the shoreline with an old coin. It would need work to restore but that wasn't the point. Too shiny and it would attract attention and so, he placed it near the other offerings along with the heart-shaped stone, warmed now by close contact to this skin. There was that in him that wanted to take the stone with him but felt it was wrong. If it turned out not to be her ...

... but he hoped it would be her ...

... if it turned out not to be hers, it would be wrong to take it. And so, the heart-shaped stone and the coin joined the growing collection of treasures. Along with that, he placed a braided necklace that he had made and worn every day since his last visit there as well, using it to encircle the rest. He spent a moment thinking about her, remembering the way she moved, the sound of her laugh, and how, when she was nervous, she would tuck her hair behind her left ear. Always the left.

Someday, he thought, I'll build a house on this beach and never leave again.

[Six Months Later]

Niami came to what she considered a very special place, wondering if it had been Zane leaving these presents. She hadn't dared to take anything from there, just in case. When she saw the necklace there and an old coin that looked liken it had been in the water for sometime, Niami took a gamble. She placed a small bottle, it's color was green. Sealed up inside was a message.

She tucked back her hair, behind her left ear, kissed her fingers placing them upon the bottle.

"I hope you find this Zane, my love." Niami whispered softly. Her heart repeated the message that was inside the bottle.

Dearest Zane,

Time seems to have made it to where we have not seen each other, only communicating via symbolic tokens of our affections for each other. May this find you my love. May we find Rach other once again, if the stars and the sea are willing. I yearn to be in your arms once more. With all my love.

Niami Troga.

Picking up the necklace Niami placed it upon her neck, the coin into her pocket.

One more glance at the beach, Niami slowly walked away, thinking of Zane, the curl of his lips when he smiled, the !ight in his eyes when he laughed, and the taste of his lips upon hers.

END


Niami Troga

Zane D'sai

 

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