Challenges #26"
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Krystal, Hologram, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Craig Witmore, Engineer, [RNPC]
maxime tappert
, computer wiz
, [NPC]
sharil
, science officer
, [NPC]
Stardate: 58208.03 1500
With pride in his eyes Craig looked around the class room. Small tables and chairs were forming a circle, a little platform in the middle. He had managed to persuade Ensign Forrester to let him use an empty conference room, and together with her had changed it into a class room.
Over the next few days he had been browsing through the ships database on the various techniques of woodcarving, stone sculpting etc. Now that he was standing in the class room Craig felt his palms starting to sweat.
Yesterday he had sent out a ships wide notice, announcing this class. It was something new and he hoped that some crewmembers would at least come to see it, and possibly attend.
Patia popped her head into the conference room. A slow smile spread across her face as she observed the work area. "Hello, Ensign," she greeted the nervous instructor. "Everything looks to be in order for your first class."
"Hello Ms Zoei," Craig said with a smile. "It looks really good doesn't it.?"
"It certainly does. I haven't been to a class like this before, but it looks like it has everything it needs to have."
"You are most welcome to participate if you want." He said, trying not to beg too much. Nervously he checked the chronometer, and he kept his fingers crossed.
"I had planned to stay, Ensign, as long as it wasn't an issue for you." She chuckled slightly, "others will come. I have never had a class all on time in all the years I have taught different subjects."
" You were a teacher too." Craig echoed. "You happen to have some tips for a newbie?"
"Relax and enjoy your class," she smiled. "I have taught sessions related to my job since I finished my education. The first one is always the hardest. After that, it will get easier."
Craig's eyes now nervously scatted through the room, which filled with people. He had Ensign Forrester asked for 10 table but from the looks of it, he came up short.
Sahril entered the conference room and looked briefly about before taking a seat near the rear of the room. She had always been interested in various fine arts such as music. She, like many Vulcans understood the mathematical precision of music and the logic of its creation.
What she lacked however, was an understanding of the processes behind creating works such as sculpting. She hoped this class might help her to do so. She sat quietly, waiting for it to begin.
Suddenly Craig felt the nervousness creep up his back, the Chief was here. What was he doing here, he hadn't expected him. Was he going to check up on him, looking if he made use of his vacation.
Silvio stepped into the conference room. He had not planned on attending the class because he was afraid that he would be a distraction to Witmore, however, Patia suggested that he look at it as an opportunity to support his staff member. Her reasoning made sense, so Silvio was here. He really knew nothing about sculpting so to his way of thinking this was going to be some sort of experience. He paused to look around a moment than then mode his way toward the circle of tables where everyone else was.
"Hello," he said to everyone.
Craig nodded at his Chief and walked to the door.
Maxine peeked her head around the corner and stopped short on seeing Craig.
"Hi," she waved and smiled at him. "Krystal and I were curious," she admitted with a smile and the object of her comment popped into view and waved at them.
"Hihihi!" the sprite giggled. They were both dressed in loose fitting, white painter's overalls that had more paint than cloth showing, and gaily striped t-shirts underneath. Each of them had on painter's caps with ponytails sticking out the back. The pant legs were rolled up to the tops of their ankles and Maxine's feet were encased in bright pink hi-top Keds. Krystal was barefoot, and her little outfit was be speckled with shiny objects and beads and things that glittered in the light when she moved.
"Hi little squirt," Craig said to the little pixie tickling her belly.
Krystal giggled and a little trail of pixie dust followed her as Max stepped around Craig and into the room.
"Right I think this is it." Craig said to the remaining crewmembers peeking around the door. "You can watch in the back, and if you like it I will make sure there is a place for you next time."
Some of the crew nodded and entered, taking up a little spot at the back of the room. Craig walked back to the center of the room, taking up his spot.
"Goodafternoon all, welcome to lesson 1, Sculpting for newbies. Ermm, I never teached before so just let me know if I talk to soft or to loud."
"Good afternoon, Ensign," Patia said
Maxine and Krstal found a spot to sit down and watched quietly as Craig began the class.
"Just pick a table. This will be your workspot for the next few weeks. What I will try to teach you is to create something with your hands, rather then let the replicator do it for you.
Patia found a position at a table near the front of the room. She looked at the tools before lightly tracing her fingers over the rough handles.
Silvio sat down at a table and then began checking out the various tools that it held.
On your desk you will see several items, first of all the biggest which is a piece of pine wood. Choosing the appropriate wood for carving can depend on many factors. Is the wood soft enough to cut easily with a chip-carving knife, or do you need a chisel and mallet? Will it have a natural finish that shows the grain, or will it be painted? Especially for beginners pine is great. Once you start working on it it will give a great smell"
Then on the right you will see several tools which you will learn to use.
The important one for now is the chip carving tool , the mallet and some hand gouges, these you will use to change the shape the wood, to shape it into the form you want it to be."
Sahril examined the tools each in turn, setting them back on the table. She stared at the wood block in front of her. It was a challenge for her to decide what to sculpt.
"Go ahead and touch it all. It will not bite, or jump." Craig said with a chuckle. "Careful the gauges are sharp."
Maxine checked out all the tools laying on the table and Krystal crawled all over the block of wood, oohing and aahing as she did.
Silvio picked up the block of wood, its natural shape reminded him of something, but he could not put his finger on what it was.
"Now you all probably wonder what to do with the block of wood right? Well close your eyes and touch it, then picture in your minds eye what you would like to make of it."
Patia closed her eyes. Lightly, she handled the pine block. She felt the edges soften. The leaf of a potted plant in the foyer in her parents' home leapt into her mind. It was broad, but flat, with sections of oval shaped particles to make up the entire leaf.
Maxine did as Craig instructed but all she could see in her minds eye was lines and lines of code. She frowned, making a face and opening her eyes to look at Krystal who was perched on the block of wood, grinning at her.
"It's wood," she told Max with a giggle and a pat of her seat.
"Uh-huh. I see that." Max was still frowning a bit.
"It might be difficult picturing something from a block of wood, but then pick it up, look at the shape, let your hand do the seeing." Craig encouraged the little group.
Sahril began to delicately form her block of wood in to a Selat. She found the creation process logical. Before long, a rough shape of a crouching beast took form.
"If you have problems remembering what you say, there is a little piece of charcoal, you can use that to mark those sections you want to remove.
Craig started to walk around, pointing out to each student where he or she could begin.
Silvio set the wood back down and carefully picked up the carving tool and the mallet. He began to remove several chunks from the block. Whatever this wood was reminding him of he could feel it coming closer and closer to the top of his mind as he continued to shape the wood.
Patia closed her eyes. Lightly, she handled the pine block. She felt the edges soften. The leaf of a potted plant in the foyer in her parents' home leapt into her mind. It was broad, but flat, with sections of oval shaped particles to make up the entire leaf.
Craig was in his element.
"You have done this before Ensign?" he said to Sahril.
She paused and stood up straight, "I have not," she said looking at him briefly before returning her eyes to the roughly shaped figure. "What do you think?" she asked, running her fingers over the beast's spine.
"Very good, you can use the smaller gauge to show the lines of the movement more clearly.. Like this.." Craig pointed out
"Thank-you," she said, "I shall try it."
Silently Craig walked around. It was fascinating to see how the counselor and even his chief were concentrating on the work.
"You alright Ms Zoei," he asked looking at the block which slowly took shape in to something still indefinable.
She shrugged slightly. "It has been awhile and I think I am overthinking what I am doing."
He shook his head. "No that’s what you think. Just let you hands do the work and let the wood guide you."
"Thank you, Ensign," her eyes flickered to his briefly before moving back to her project.
Craig nodded and walked on. "Problems Ms Tappert?" he asked.
"I don't know that I'd call it a problem.. exactly..." Maxine looked up at Craig and smiled a bit. "I see ... well... code." She shrugged. "Just code."
"I see forests and waterfalls and fields of flowers full of nectar.." Krystal paused to take a breath. "And dragons and pixies and sprites and wood nymphs." She giggled and petted the wood. "AND.. I see a pretty tree house. Make me a house, Maxie."
Craig smiled. “Well why don’t you Ms Tappert, start with something simple.
Silvio was now quite lost in his work. He pictured the object in his mind. It was an metronome that sat atop the piano in his childhood home. He could remember the the tiny holographic meter swinging back and forth to the beat as he practiced. It was almost like he was back there. He worked the wood, shaping it into the object from his memory. He thought it would be a great addition to the piano that he found on QulTuq.
TBC