Cats, And Bajorans, And Vulcans, Oh My
Posted on 06/29/2020 @ 3:40pm by Lieutenant JG S'Lace
Edited on on 06/29/2020 @ 8:15pm
Mission:
S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: USS Crazy Horse, Holodeck II
Timeline: Day 3 at 1430
Tahlin grinned to herself as she left the holodeck. Rock climbing aboard ship wasn't nearly as much fun as the real thing, but the salt, sea, and rock itself felt real enough. Looking around, she spied the Vulcan doctor coming down the corridor, dressed in an odd assortment of clothes.
"Healer S'Lace?" she said, conversationally, "Holodeck, I take it... Something... Klingon? Seems an odd pasttime for a Vulcan, no offense."
S'Lace had spotted the Chief of Security standing outside the holodeck hatch and had briefly pondered simply moving on, but she had reserved the room and to not use it would be wasteful. She said, "Yes, well...the fact is I was asked to test a holo novel. I and some three hundred and twelve others," she hesitated and added, "I wrote the author a letter extolling her talents some years ago and it seemed she had not forgotten. So..."
She waved her PADD at the door, "...I have been asked to test 'The Broken Bat'leth' before it's mass publication. My wearing the proper attire was...strongly requested."
"Nice going. My brother does a little of that, but on the programming side of things. I was just finishing up, so its free." The Bajoran gestured at the doors, then studied the Vulcan intently. "Is that... Cat hair?" She pointed to a few tufts of hair affixed to the woman's shirt.
S'Lace glanced down at herself. Dalgleish had rubbed himself against her calves before leaving and she had picked him up to provide him with the requisite amount of affection to insure mental health. The fact that his purrs produced an pleasant, almost tranquilizing effect was wholly irrelevant.
"Yes," she confessed, "His species is not supposed to shed as much, or so I was led to believe when reading the texts."
Tahlin gave her a smile. "Cats have a way of defying our expectations... Seems a bit of an odd choice for a Vulcan, though I suppose..." She considered a moment. "How different are Terran cats from Vulcan sehlats anyway?"
"Dalgleish was a gift," S'Lace explained. She pondered the Security Chief's query, then said, "Lieutenant, I believe you are attempting that curious phenomena known as "small talk. If you wish to spend your time in my company may I suggest you join me in the simulation?" she nodded to the holodeck hatch, "The program can be adjusted to ignore your presence."
"Guilty," was the Bajoran's response. "Sure, although are you sure you wouldn't like some company in the story, or is it designed for one person at a time?"
"It is designed to be played optionally with a partner," S'Lace replied as she approached the control board, "Computer load program S'Lace Alpha Alpha Beta Three."
The hatched opened, revealing what looked like a dark, dingy apartment, the dirty windows revealed a Klingon city skyline in reds and golds. As the hatch closed behind them S'Lace explained, "You may choose to play as Quo, the detective's targ. As you proceed through the story the holodeck will point out flags to you that your enhanced senses would detect. However, the drawback is that all of your discourse will be interpreted by characters in the story as the typical sounds a targ would make. In effect, they will see you as a simple beast."
"Charming... Do you typically run these programs by yourself?"
"Computer, recognize second player as the targ," S'Lace said. to Tahlin, "Actually I spend as little time in a holo deck as I can," S'Lace replied as she acquainted herself with the quarters. She pointed to the wall at a bat'leth mounted on the wall, it's blade nicked, "Very authentic."
She turned back to Chief of Security, "Statistically the holodeck is the most dangerous part of a ship, I-"
The door burst open and a pair of rough looking male Klingons burst in, sporting wicked daggers, "woqQorgh!" he snarled, "You are a week behind in your payments, I-"
"Quo!" S'Lace snapped, "Knife, fetch!"
Tahlin went for the weapon, grabbing and getting it to S'Lace. She wasn't happy to be playing a targ, but it wasn't any worse than one of her brother's more... intimate... holo-stories. That had been quite disturbing for a number of reasons, not least because he hadn't warned her before she'd tested it... No time to dwell now, she reflected.
The head Klingon let out a scream as Tahlin grabbed the knife. The Klingon's hand had exploded into a spray of blood, the holodeck interpreting the Chief of Security's actions as a targ grabbing the Klingon's hand in a mighty bite that destroyed digits in an effort to 'fetch' the blade. S'Lace accepted the knife and murmured, "Good Quo," she turned to the other Klingon thug and said, "Tell your boss he will get his money when I am ready to give it. If you hurry you might be able to reach a clinic to save your friend's hand."
The Klingon thugs snarled, but they backed out through the doorway. S'Lace nodded and said, "Excellent," she turned to Tahlin, "Did you observe the damage you caused? Quite graphic. Fans of the book will be most pleased."
"Impressive... I must say, the realism isn't bad. Think my brother had a hand in the design--I recognize something of it... Your response, maybe, a little too Vulcan though," the Bajoran replied with a grin.
S'Lace arched an eyebrow, "If by 'too Vulcan' I handled the situation in a logical manner, employing the tools at hand, then I think one can never be 'too Vulcan'. As for your brother, I am not certain which individuals were responsible for this adaptation."
She hesitated, then said, "Lieutenant, I am...concerned about the escaped prisoner.
"Oh? From the Blackwell? The shapeshifter?" The Bajoran was intrigued now.
"Yes. For them to 'stage' the escape in such a bold and violent manner implies to me that whatever purpose they require it for it must be of great importance to them. They risked Starfleet's attention to retrieve this being, murdered our personnel. Whatever it's purpose I feel the stakes must be h-"
There was an explosion outside, S'Lace stepped over to the window, "Ah, the explosive in the trunk of the two criminals' vehicle. If I had chosen to go with them to explain myself to their employer it would have made for a very short adventure. Now I shall be the principle suspect, hunted by their employer and impeded by the police as I attempt to discern who the real killers are and why."
She turned back to the Chief of Security, "I do not like 'hunches', I believe in the use of logic. Logic tells me that whomever has released this prisoner will wish to make use of their services soon, else why expend so much effort and risk so much attention?"
"Quite... Either that, or those individuals require his services, and deem the risk acceptable... What individuals could use the services of a proven killer, I do not like to contemplate." The Bajoran studied the street outside the window. "Looks like quite the explosion... Microthermite charge?"
"Indeed. You know your explosives. A highly efficient explosion; minimal radius, maximum burn rate to eliminate evidence. Which of course would be the first clue; who would possess the resources to acquire such an explosive? What do we know of the assassin's background? Where did it come from?"
"I'm guessing somebody in the criminal underworld with connections... And that probably means secret dealings with the High Council, or Orions, possibly Romulans... Your program, though... As for our real-world prisoner and his escape... I'm guessing someone well-connected as well. A ship that sophisticated doesn't just roll off an assembly line."
"And that may be our..." S'Lace hesitated, "...your first lead. Where did the ship come from? Who constructed it? Where is it now? Perhaps it is being dismantled as we speak? Or is it being held somewhere for future use?"
"perhaps..." An alarm sounded in the distance. "I assume that's a response to the explosion?"
"Yes," S'Lace murmured. She hesitated, then came to a decision, "Computer, end program." The apartment faded to reveal black walls, floor and ceiling with an orange grid.
She turned to Tahlin, "Lieutenant, I believe I shall continue this program at another time. What Starfleet department is heading the investigation?"
"We've passed information on the ship--what we could glean from our sensors, anyway--off to Intelligence over at Starbase 375... For now, its in their hands, if they can come up with anything."
A commpanel sounded. "Bridge to Lieutenant Lae'Or."
"Computer, arch..." The Bajoran walked over to the requested location, then continued, "Go ahead."
"Sorry to bother you, Lieutenant, but you asked to be informed when the new batch of compression phaser rifles had been unloaded?"
"Of course--thank you, bridge. Lae'Or out." She turned to S'Lace. "Perfect timing--duty calls..." With that, she turned and exited the holodeck.
A Post by:
Lieutenant (J.G) Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Crazy Horse
And
Lieutenant (J.G) S'Lace
Former Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
