ST:END107 | "An Illogical Addiction"

T'Lyra ordered the doors shut as soon as she was clear of them.

"Computer, dim lights, 73% and lock door,"

Dimming lights. Door locked.

T'Lyra shrugged her jacket off and placed it neatly in the wardrobe. Walking over to the replicator, she ordered a drink.

"Water, plain, 275.75 Kelvin,"

The water shimmered onto the replicator and T'Lyra took a gentle sip. Next, she walked into her bedroom and placed the water on her bedside table. Reaching across to the shelf, she picked up a medium sized box and took it back to her living area. She sat on her sofa and looked out at the stars, the box at her lap. Finally, placing the box on the window ledge, she pressed her thumb to it. The box chimed and spoke in her native Vulcan.

Identity Confirmed: T'Lyra. Opening...

A small whir could be heard of working gears before the box opened to form a miniature chemistry lab. T'Lyra carefully pulled out various vials and a rather antique looking chemistry burner, which looked like a cross between a Bunson and a Meker burner. Once her lab was set out, she stood up and walked over to a plant that was by her window.

The Quzalia plant was a large plant, with thick green leaves that curled down to the floor. In amongst the leaves were tendrils of sharp spines, like barbed wire. Out of the curls shot up several olive stems each holding a beautiful flower, with orange sepals and bright blue petals.

T'Lyra bent down, carefully parting the larger leaves to get to the smaller ones behind. Finally settling on one, she picked it and took it to her lab. Turning the burner on, she dropped the leaf on a dish and held it over the flame, watching as the leaf curled up, gave a short, high pitched whine, before catching fire. The flame was bright white and short-lived. Removing the ashes from the flame, T'Lyra watched as they went from black to white as they reacted with the air. When she was certain that they were the correct colour, she poured 20 millilitres of her water into a vial and dropped the ashes into it, placing a stopper as soon as she did. The ashes fizzled slightly before dissolving into the water, turning it cobalt. T'Lyra swirled the vial three and a half times before pushing a tube into the stopper and watching the gas hiss out into another vial. As the gas moved to the other vial, she returned to the plant and leaned into the flower head. Taking the blue flower, she opened it carefully and plucked a small pod-like anther, returning to her lab once this was done. She removed the liquid vial from the pipe and opened it, squeezing the pod as she did so. It popped and liquid seeped out of it. It was only a few drops but the liquid in the vial began to bubble and froth. She quickly placed this on the burner and turned it on, watching as the liquid began to turn to gas. Once she was sure all the liquid had evaporated, she replaced the pipe from before into the vial. This time, the gas she had collected earlier was now sent back into the vial which had contained the liquid. Once all the gas had mixed, T'Lyra took the vial to a cooling bath she had and placed it in there. Now it was a waiting game as the gases condensed back into a solid. Whilst she waited, it was time to get the next ingredient. This one was rather tricky and difficult to replicate. At least, the type she wanted was.

T'Lyra left her room minutes later, wearing her Vulcan robes. She wondered the corridors of the Endeavour, marvelling at the engineering around her, the feel of the engines beneath her feet, the gentle hum of a ship at warp. Subconsciously nodding at the various greetings she was given, T'Lyra found herself on Deck 9, at the mess. She was about to head to the bar when she froze, spying who was on duty. She began to turn around, praying that he hadn't seen her.

"Lyra! Great ta see ya!" Tom grinned.

T'Lyra closed her eyes and turned.

"Thomas," she replied.

"What can I get ya? Tha' spiced tea?"

"No, thank you," she replied. "Do you have my saffron?"

"Tha' I dooo," he nodded and went to the back, rummaging through items. "You doin' some cookin'?"

"No,"

Tom chuckled. "It's alrigh'... I won't be offended!" Tom returned and gave T'Lyra the small bottle. "Saffron from Farla 3!"

"Thank you," she took the bottle from Tom.

"I'll be seein' ya!" Tom gave her a cheery wave. T'Lyra didn't respond as she made her way back to her room.

Once she was back, she pulled the vial out of the bath and looked at it. The gas had turned into a white crystal on the bottom. Perfect. Opening it, she scooped out the contents and put them in a well-decorated snuff box. Then she carefully and meticulously cleaned all the equipment, placed it back in the box, and stashed it back on the shelf. Then, she turned to the snuff box. Sitting on the sofa, cross-legged, she could feel the previous hit wear away. A headache. The tickling feeling in her stomach. The onrush of emotions and memories. She was beginning to feel queasy, her brow laced with sweat. She opened the box. The white crystals scintillated in the light of the stars whizzing by. Her vision began to blur as she looked at the door.

"T'Lyra...I..."

Her room wasn't that far from the counselor's office. She should go...

The room span. The walls rushed in.

"Come on T'Lyra..."

Her fingers picked up a shard and crushed it, the crystal disintegrating easily into a fine powder and falling into her outstretched palm. Her other hand, shaky, opened the bottle of saffron and sprinkled a few drops of the soft seasoning onto the powder.

"Now's your chance T'Lyra..."

With a final glance at the door, she lifted her palm to her nose and took a deep breath.