Quantum Barrier Testing

Posted on Tue Jul 15th, 2025 @ 10:00am by Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant (J.G.) Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn

3,192 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Gaia - Short Treks
Location: Deck 8, Holosuite
Timeline: 2439-06-14, 1000 Hours

At the holodeck Suite, Urvasi was busy setting the scenario up with the Quantum Nebula information from Science's Labs. She was so glad her hobby was Holosuite Adventure Programming, and that she had met up with Ash Randall and had received the 'Chaotic Algorithm' from Ash's Big Sur Holosuite Program. She added that into the base programming, and then finished wrapping in the Gravity, Warp, and hyperspace programming from Pilot Test runs and Science Anomaly test suites. She ran the diags checks and the program would run.

Lieutenant JG Dylan Blake arrived in the holosuite and took stock of the scene Urvasi had created to host her experiment. He found the Lieutenant to be fascinating with her fox-like appearance, quick wit and bright intelligence. Sandwiched between her and Commander Randall the young officer often felt like a first year Cadet again.

"Hi," Blake crossed over to her. "Remind me again - how can I help you with this?"

Urvasi's tail shifted as her ears perked to have one shift to be cupped towards Blake. Her nostril's flared as she took in scents, then she replied, "Hi Lt. Blake. Glad you could join me." She yiffered gently as she guessed at what help Ops would be. "Well, for help, Ops will be monitoring the energy transfers within the ship and trying to keep the Enterprise in one piece as we go through the barrier, so I would hazard a guess that as I pilot and try to keep us out of eddy time streams, you will be keeping the ship whole. Of course, when the XO arrives, she will be acting Captain and Tactical for Enterprise status with any emergency procedures." Urvasi looked at the diags which all turned green. She exited the programming mode as she turned to face Dylan. She smiled as her whiskers moved up and down twice with both ears cupped towards Dylan as she finished with a breath of humor while finishing with, "At least, that is my best estimate. You might have a better idea about why?" Her tail moved around to be to her right side near her feet, the tip gently moving side to side.

He matched her humour: "You know, if you wanted to see me alone all you had to do was ask," he smirked with a flirtatious wink.

Urvasi's left eyebrow raised, her whiskers moved up and down twice, while her right ear flicked at his words and wink. She yiffered gently as she replied, "Interesting way to let a lady know your interested in her. Nice. So, the big question, do you enjoy dancing?"

"With you I'm sure I'll enjoy myself," Dylan replied smoothly. "Though, isn't dancing more a second date adventure?"

Urvasi's gaze shifted to studying Dylan. She answered, "Dancing is universal, a way to enjoy moving your body and enjoying time with others. It is an anytime activity. Close, slow, dancing is the second date adventure, just to dance is an anytime adventure." Her gaze was steady upon him as her nostrils flared to pick up more of his scent in how he was going to respond.

"Huh," the human replied having not really considered dancing as a social act outside an interment setting. "I guess I never really thought of it like that," he confessed. "As long as the music isn't too loud and we can still talk, that's fine."

Urvasi's skin crinkled around her eyes and muzzle as she smiled broadly. "That would be fine with me as well." Her head shifted sideways to the left a little bit as she added, "Where I am from, the main race has dance troops and they are beautiful and elegant to watch. Dance is a way of expression and joy of life, so thank you for being open minded." Her ears twitched as she heard the approaching turbolift, "I believe the XO is almost here. One more thing, Coitus is off the table unless married. However, if we become a couple, other intimacies are allowed in my culture. I hope that would be okay with you?" Urvasi waited with trepidation as that revelation usually caused outright dismissal as a prospective girlfriend for the male. She liked this male, but only dating could tell if he was a male worth marrying.

Dylan opened his mouth to reply finding her terms rather unusual if not forward but he sensed this had been a sticking point for her in the past. His response however never materialised as Urvasi hinted they were joined by their superior officer.

Behind the doors hummed open again and Commander zh'Roothi arrived, the Andorian XO cut straight to the chase.

"Everything ready?" she asked looking between the two wondering what she'd walked in on. "May I remind you we arrive at Gaia in two hours - time is not a luxury we can afford."

"Of course Commander," Blake blinked first. "I believe we're ready to get started on your word."

Urvasi performed her light curtsy with head nod as Blake had already stated they were ready.

"Very good. Elandorn," the XO turned to the helms officer. "Start your program."

"Yes XO," Urvasi replied. Inside the doors to the holodeck the bridge of the Enterprise appeared. There were appropriate non-descript personnel at various stations, the missing ones being Captain, XO, Ops, and Helm. Urvasi led the way into the holosuite as she stated, "The Scenario is mainly what is happening with what cannot be seen, but hopefully can be detected by the sensors, and... " Urvasi blushed, "with my empathic ability to sense hyperspacial, warp, and gravity anomalies. I did not set up anything with a temporal shield, so everything being experienced should be as the Enterprise is now."

She turned to look at Zhora and Dylan, then finished with, "XO, I was not sure where you wanted to be to observe and help from, so you may assume any position on the Bridge. Lieutenant Blake will be at Ops while I am at the helm." She turned and slid into the Helm position, then called out, "Simulation will start when we pierce the barrier. Bridge, Helm, At station keeping, waiting word to proceed." Her tail swept behind her in anticipation of the energies to be sensed. Once the word was given, the simulation would be unfroze and all hell would break loose.

"Very good Lieutenant. I'll take Command for now and depending on results we can review before a reset," Commander zh'Roothi folded her frame into the Captain's seat for the simulation testing.

Blake too settled into his forward station beside Urvasi and tried to focus on the simulation instead of their previous conversation.

"Computer, begin simulation." The XO instructed.

The simulation starts with the Enterprise exiting Quantum Warp to be at impulse near the planet with its Quantum Barrier. As the Enterprise was outside the 'Barrier's' entropy range limit, it was not reacting to the Enterprise. Urvasi entered into station keeping at 150Kklicks from the Barrier. She called out, "Ready to engage Quantum Warp Overlay to pierce the Quantum Barrier."

Behind her Commander zh'Roothi stiffened her frame as if bracing for what was about to follow and react accordingly much akin to a coiled spring. "Engage," she authorised.

Urvasi engaged the Quantum Warp Engines with their modifications. The Enterprise leapt forward as a Jaguar leaping upon its helpless prey. The Enterprise pierced the Quantum Barrier with an energy shattering corona that caused Hyperspace and Warp intercession right at the Enterprise, causing a Brightening of energies right at the Enterprise. Meanwhile, nearby, there were Gravity, Hyperspace, and Warp energies intersecting to create the Temporal effects of Time eddies trying to ensnare and shift the Enterprise into other timelines, even other realities.

Urvasi screamed out in pain as the piercing of the barrier overloaded her psi sense as she was not prepared for the brutal up front energies of the entry. Her tail stood straight out from her body with its fur fully distended, not moving, even as her ears and whiskers laid about her skull and muzzle. She tried, she really tried to sense past the initial barrier piercing, but she failed. She was not prepared for what had happened. She collapsed at the helm, her body quivering as she gurgled, "Not prepared... stop simulation... try again."

At the sound of her cry it was very apparent this first attempt was an instant failure. Instantly zh'Roothi was on her feet and moving forward to her aid: "Computer, end simulation."

The bridge returned to its placid state in a flash.

"Urvasi," Blake gently touched her arm while zh'Roothi mirrored on the other and lifted the Lieutenant back into an upright position.

"Do you need a medic?" the younger officer asked with concern in his previous boyish eyes.

Urvasi was blinking away lights dancing before her eyes. She seemed not focused or there for a few seconds before her eyes focused upon zh'Roothi, then onto Blake. She shook her head in a quick motion to cause her hair to shift and then fall naturally around her head and shoulders. Her tail's fur started to lay back down again as she took in a deep breath, then let it out. She stated, "I... will be fine. I have only sensed un-natural energies piercing from distance and from other sources. To be at the center cause for those energies to suddenly blare out... it was... it was.. overwhelming." She shuddered as she added, "Sorry... I'm sorry for not being ready. It was... like getting a welding torch lit up right before one's eyes or a sucker punch to the liver... I wasn't ready."

"Normally the welding wears a guard to protect their face and eyes," zh'Roothi commented. "However, I see you've taken some liberties with the holodecks safety settings of which I'm sure you're aware isn't recommended."

"Commander," Blake indentured at Urvasi's other elbow having been watching her begin to recover. "If the safeties were fully engaged there'd be no point in running these simulations as she needs to be able to experience and feel the distortions."

"I'm fully aware mister Blake," zh'Roothi replied. "There is a fine balance between risk and reward that should not be ignored. If I believe the Lieutenant Elandorn is suffering unnecessary then these simulations will be terminated."

"Respectfully ma'am isn't that Urvasi's decision?"

Urvasi began a series of breaths, each one deep with a pause, then a slow, controlled release. After five of them, her tail was fully back to normal as her whiskers and ears were once more following zh'Roothi and Blake. She now replied, "All proper holodeck safeties are in place. I don't think the holodeck understands the higher order freqs and energies involved in psi senses, so there is that." She paused, then continued, "Okay, ready. Let's do this again. Umm, XO, may I ask for five quick scenarios? I would like to experience the initial piercing, a one minute break, then a piercing again for five times. That, I think, should help me be able to sense and prepare for shielding myself from that initial entry so that I can then try and focus past the Enterprise. The piercing of the barrier isn't the problem, it is any time eddies that appear nearby to try and swallow us I need to steer the ship away from. I think that should help me... However, I am sorry I don't know more.. this is a first for me to experience, my apologies."

The Andorian woman pouted slightly with thought as she considered the new proposals. Though they were in a controlled environment she wasn't comfortable in allowing the helms officer to put herself through a painful and distressing experience just to test a theory. However, her natural abilities may be required to ensure the Enterprise can avoid catastrophe upon arrival to Gaia.

"Alright," zh'Roothi agreed at length. "But I'm pulling the plug if I believe you're putting yourself in unnecessary distress. Is that understood?"

Urvasi nodded, then thought for another moment. She now added, "Understood. Umm, maybe only three quick tests then instead of five this time? I.. am not sure about this. This is my first time for anything like this. Uh, unless you think five is better than three for learning to ignore such explosive pain? I defer to your experiences, XO." Her tail moved around to touch Blake on his calf to draw some strength from having a male close who expressed interest in her.

The brief contact was a surprise to Dylan but also offered some reassurance Urvasi was alright after the first attempt. He resisted the urge both to watch her tail flick around them and to stroke the hair given their present company and situation. Besides that he wondered if that was permitted given the constraints she'd very briefly laid out before zh'Roothi arrived.

The Commander shook her head slightly. "Unfortunately I also lack such experience, and you know your body far better than either myself or mister Blake ever could."

She exchanged a quick glance over the human momentarily again wondering she'd walked into at the start of this experiment, none the less time was still against them.

"Three tests," the XO confirmed. "Then I'd like you to report to sickbay to ensure you're in a condition to return to your station."

Urvasi nodded and replied, "Understood, XO." She faced forward as her ears and whiskers cupped forward as well. "Computer, Remove Enterprise exiting Quantum Warp and immediately start at station keeping outside the barrier. Then, for the next three times, automatically end simulation right after barrier penetration, then start again after 1 minute." The holosuite computer controls sent out their obligatory, "Acknowledged." Urvasi called out, "Start Simulation."

The Simulation started this time with the Enterprise right at station keeping at 150Kklicks from the Barrier. Urvasi called out, "Ready to engage Quantum Warp Overlay to pierce the Quantum Barrier."

Returning back to the central position zh'Roothi saw Blake nod his head to show his readiness before she once restarted the simulation. "Computer, begin."

Urvasi's body tensed up, her tail quit moving, while her ears moved back to lay upon her head. Her muzzle was in a grimace as she engaged the Modified Quantum Warp Engines. Once more the Enterprise pounced, piercing the barrier. Once more, the energies cascaded around shields of the Enterprise to cause a bright coronal glow, even as other swirls of energies formed nearby. Then, the simulation ended.

Urvasi's entire body was shaking, her fists clenched, her breathing shallow. She growled lightly as she forced her breathing to get deeper and slower. With the shakes lessening, she managed a whine/growl to finally say in a quite voice, "Aaurgh-grrrrr. Owie... okay.... still hurt... but better than the first time." She continued her breathing and calming exercises.

Blake swiveled towards her. "We can extend the rest period if you need it," he said gently. "

Urvasi's ear focused on him for a bit as she truly considered extending the rest. But then, she was already having trepidation upon getting hammered again, so she answered, "Maybe we better not.. longer rest period means more time to think about the pain about to happen.. which can make it worse. So, best to keep timings where they are."

Once more the Simulation started again with the Enterprise right at station keeping at 150Kklicks from the Barrier. Urvasi whispered something to herself, then she called out, "Ready to engage Quantum Warp Overlay to pierce the Quantum Barrier." Even as she said this, her entire body was already tensed and getting ready and this time, there was a deep grimace upon her face, but she wasn't backing down.

Behind Commander zh'Roothi had been observing the helms officer closely and admired her dogged determination not to be beaten by the obvious pain she was experiencing. "Proceed," she instructed.

Again the Enterprise pierced the barrier with the resulting energies and then the computer ended the simulation. This time, even though Urvasi was tensed up, she no longer had the shakes while her breathing was slow and deep. She growled out, "Better this time..." She turned to the XO and said, "I started to sense other temporal eddies before the simulation ended. I request this final time we keep the simulation running so I can see if I can pilot the Enterprise into low orbit around the planet successfully."

The Andorian studied the Lieutenant once more and considered her request. Urvasi had been showing marked improvement in handling the strain upon her abilities with each session as they moved forward to this moment.

"Granted but don't make me regret it," she replied.

Urvasi nodded, "Understood, XO, I have no plans to do so."

The final run ready, the Simulation started for the Fourth and final time for this session. The Enterprise was once more at 150Kklicks out. Urvasi called out, "Ready to engage Quantum Warp Overlay to pierce the Quantum Barrier." One noticeable thing though, once again, as she readied herself, her entire body tensed up, the grimace was upon her face, with her ears laying back on her skull while her whiskers were along her muzzle. This seemed to be her readiness for that initial barrier piercing.

Blake glanced over to her and was tempted to speak up to terminate the program as Urvasi appeared taught as if about to dive into the ring with an enraged Klingon hell bent on spilling blood.

"Engage." uttered zh'Roothi from offside having moved to the primary science station.

This time, after the Enterprise pierced the barrier, Urvasi kept at the controls. The Enterprise could be felt maneuvering quickly from one side to the other as Urvasi was dodging something that the sensors weren't picking up until those energies were already passing by them. Then, the Enterprise as within the fields of the planet and out of the Quantum Barrier. Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, Low orbit achieved."

"Very good Lieutenant," zh'Roothi reviewed the sensor logs on her console. "Impressive that you were able to guide us through safely when our sensors would have left us in the dark."

"I'd say," Blake was more enthusiastic than the Commander. "But, how are you feeling?"

Urvasi slumped a little in her chair as those quick successions of simulation had taken their tole of her. Thankfully, most of the tenseness had left her body, though her tail was still not moving. Rising a little, she brought a hand to her face to wipe her nose, then noticed that it wasn't mucous but blood. She said to nobody in particular, "Okay... next time request five minutes between such endeavors."

Still watching her keenly Blake saw the red taint upon her hand: "Perhaps I should accompany you to sickbay."

Urvasi turned around. There was just a tiny trickle of blood that had already stopped, besides the smudge from where she had touched her nostrils with her fingers. She replied, "Yes, please, Lt. Blake. Besides, I promised the XO I would go to medical after this." She turned to the XO and asked, "By your leave, Sir?"

"Granted," the Commander confirmed. "I'll have Galatea review our data ahead of our arrival to Gaia. Good work."

 

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