A Penny for Your Thoughts, A Credit for Your Traumas

Posted on Sun Apr 12th, 2026 @ 7:55am by Commander Rin & Lonian Royal Sovereignty

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Niea IV :: Pomei
Timeline: MD 1
1459 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

The city of Pomei was bustling with activity. Aliens of many races were present, chatting with each other and with locals about certain trades and other business. Street vendors were scattered around, offering food and trinkets. Despite the advanced technology around them, the streets themselves were a sort of cobblestone, preserved and maintained throughout the centuries.

No matter where one stood in Pomei, the government buildings were always visible. Standing almost like futuristic castles, each of the four buildings had a holographic image of different seals, representing each House. When closer to the government buildings, a series of pillars several metres tall could be seen surrounding the buildings, and a faint blue hue gave away the presence of forcefields serving as walls to the grounds.

Rin was curious about the social structures. The soaring modernized buildings vs the almost quaint street level experience. The fortifications also suggested a barrier between the ruling houses and the common folk, the former ruling from their castles high above the rest of the world.

The streets were busy. Rin took some time examining wares. She had already picked up a bracelet, made from metals that shimmered in shades of blues, purples and greens. Now she examined a musical instrument, something roughly equivalent to a flute. She had no idea how to play a flute, but the design intrigued her, and she needed a new hobby anyway.

She pulled out the device everyone on shore leave had been given, essentially an electronic wallet which could be used to pay in local currency. "I would like this. What do I owe you?"

The Lonian woman on the other side of the table watched the alien with curiosity. The sign above her table translated into "Sleevee's Instruments," and displayed across the table were woodwind instruments of various sizes. Some were brightly coloured and meant to catch the attention of kids, and others were in earthy tones. "30 credits for that one," Sleevee responded with a smile. "Do you know the history of the etlanem?"

"I confess, I do not know the history of most things on this world, or even in this sector of space," Rin said. "But I would love to hear."

That made Sleevee raise a brow. Niea IV was one of the better known trading hubs in the sector, so to meet someone who didn't know about the planet was surprising. What was even more surprising was the confessed lack of knowledge about the sector. She did notice the strange technology around the woman's eye, and was trying to ignore it. "Oh? What sector are you from, if I may ask?"

"We're not on any of your sector maps," Rin said with a bit of a grin. She had already thought and overthought how to address the question and had decided before she had stepped off Elysium that, damnit, not every scenario had to be managed. The Elysium's presence wasn't a secret. Hell, there was probably already a hundred wrong rumors circulating about the hulking giant ship in orbit.

"Whole other galaxy, 13 million light years from home. Looking for a way back, but....taking the scenic route. Which leads me to your lovely shop, which is definitely on the scenic route."

Sleevee blinked and leaned back slightly as she took in what Rin had said. A couple of other aliens nearby heard this too and glanced toward Rin. "Another... galaxy? I thought the distant aliens were supposed to be taller, and blue. Unless that thing," she gestured under her eye to reference Rin's implants, "... is some kind of cloaking device?"

Oh, right, that problem.

"Well, we do have some blue skinned crew members, although their height is not particularly notable. We belong to a Federation of many different worlds. There's currently 24 species serving on our vessel, two of which - the Bolians and the Andorians - commonly display blue-toned skin. I assure you, I am in no way disguised." She touched the occular implant. "This assists in my ability to see. I was held as a prisoner of war by a species known as the Borg for some time and was modified without my consent. While I have returned to the Federation, there are things that I cannot remove or have chosen not to remove, as they are now a part of who I am."

She dropped that word deliberately. She wanted to see if anyone within earshot would react. Was the presence of Two of Eight just a fluke, or did the Borg have a presence in Circinus?

As much as Sleevee tried to keep an open mind, admittedly she did judge the woman for the use of implants as a fashion statement. The story about being a prisoner of war had Sleevee genuinely feel for the woman, but it also raised questions. "Why would you keep something that reminds you of that?" She asked.

"I'm going to remember regardless," Rin replied. "I know your people have some issue with cybernetics, that it's mutilation unless medically necessary. I get that. But pulling these out, that's also mutilation. It's as invasive as putting them in. That kind of feels like disabling myself out of spite. They aren't a part of you. But they are a part of me. I choose to move forward. I don't need to be that person from 40 years ago."

Sleevee's lips pursed together in thought at the explanation. It was a fair point. "In this area of space, visible cybernetics rarely mean anything good. It's usually a sign that the wearer wanted to artificially enhance their own abilities, often for power. It sounds like this Borg species was doing just that."

Rin nodded. "They believe they are evolving themselves into a more perfect entity. They take people, genetics, technology, re-engineer all of that to make something "better." They link the individuals' minds into a collective unity, weeding out conflict among themselves. And the result is monstrous."

"To the best of my knowledge, no one knows the origins of the Borg. My personal theory - and I admit its more fiction than theory - is that perhaps there was a group of people who chose to perfect themselves. Maybe for power, maybe not. There can be other reasons. Eventually, they concluded that joining together in unity would further their goals. And once they did, they found it so beneficial they started encouraging other to join, to better themselves. At some point, since this was about the betterment of all, those who refused clearly did so out of ignorance, so they forced it on them. They may have even believed it was their responsibility to do so."

"The Collective thinks its actions are righteous, and because there's no disagreement within that Collective, there's never an alternative perspective. I am no longer part of that Collective. I am as individual as you are. But I do still have some of the hardware."

Rin spared the occasional glance toward those who had taken interest, gauging their reactions. "Is the resistance to cybernetics here have to do with the Galatonians, or something else?"

There was little hesitation from Sleevee when she replied. "Oh, certainly the Galtonians. There are a couple species in the area who steal and misuse technology, but as far as I know, the Galtonians are the only ones who have implanted technology into their own bodies." Since this alien wasn't from the area, it made sense to inform her now. "Lonian society is centered around the use of technology for the benefit of others. We respect technology for what it is, to make it simpler. The use of technology for selfish reasons, like gaining power, conflicts with that ideology."

"Our Federation has similar goals: to work for the benefit of others. But life is complicated. People amass power in numerous ways, and people use it in numerous ways: some altruistically, some selfishly, with most people being somewhere in-between the two. I'd say in most cases it *has* to be somewhere in the middle. Sort of the nature of power."

"Indeed. It is fascinating what can be similar across millions of light years." Turning her attention to the instrument Rin had been drawn to, Sleevee boxed it up before she reached for a data chip. "A history of the instrument, and some lessons to play it," she explained with a smile, before resting it on top of the instrument and closing the box. She then pulled over a datapad that displayed the price of 30 credits on the screen, as well as a 'present payment here' style prompt.

Rin tapped the electronic wallet to the datapad and accepted the data chip and box. "Thank you, and thank you for the conversation as well. I hope you have a good day."