Posted by Ensign Shon Baht (Medical Officer) in Side Sim: Blue-shirt Holodeck Hangout

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim ((A) Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: Blue-shirt Holodeck Hangout

Posted by Ensign Shon Baht (Medical Officer) in Side Sim: Blue-shirt Holodeck Hangout
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“So yeah it’s like a whole commentary on capitalism, this thing humans were pretty fond of for a few hundred years,” Shon gushed as he held open the door for Kiama. “Bolians had that phase too, but we got over it a loooong time ago.” They stepped out of the Orpheum Theatre and onto the brightly lit streets of 23rd century San Fransisco, Earth. A crowd of assorted characters filed out behind them, filling the night air with the babbling of miscellaneous conversations about the production of Little Shop of Horrors they had just seen. “I can’t imagine capitalism would have ever been a thing on Betazed, considering how much it encourages stepping on others for personal gain.”

“Oh, my people went through that phase as well,” replied Kiama rather nonchalantly, blinking a couple of times as her eyes adjusted to the bright light outside the theatre. She was wearing a knee long, cream coloured, 1950’s tea dress. It had butterflies of different sizes and colours printed on at as well as flowers on the skirt (https://www.ladyvlondon.com/tea-dress-butterfly-border). Along with it, she wore cream coloured sandals with a slight wedge heel. Her full black mane of small corkscrew curls fell down her back, with only the upper layer pinned back with a silver butterfly hair clip.

“I hope you liked it!” Shon said as he started guiding them down the street to a charging station that housed a pair of electric scooters. “I know it’s a lot different than what you’re used to, but maybe that’s a good thing right? Variety is the spice of life, after all.” He smiled, but was watching Kiama closely to gauge her reaction to the play he had suggested. Shon was nervous that he had just made his friend sit through something she hadn’t enjoyed.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

Kiama chuckled good-naturedly. “It sure was different. And I’m not sure if I fully managed to grasp the story line. But I enjoyed it nevertheless.” Resting one hand on her hip, she continued, “I mean, why was the main character - Seymour I think? - so attached to the plant? How does he justify to himself feeding other people to the plant? I just don’t get it. Then again I never understood how anyone could intentionally hurt another sentient being other than in self-defense.” As she said that, she felt a shiver run down her spine and goosebumps rise on her bare arms.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

Shon threw his hands up in the air dramatically with a goofy smile. “I guess greed does that to a person! I wouldn’t know, one of the benefits of the Federation is that there’s no need for greed!” But he caught the implication of her last statement as sobered a little. “Yeah, I never understood that either.”

Kiama nodded thoughtfully, but for once remained silent.

“Anyways,” Shon said as they came to a stop near the scooters, “Where to next? The night is young, after all! Any favorite places in San Francisco from your time at the Academy? I’m partial to Castro, but that’s a little on the wild side.” Shon rolled up the sleeves of his white button-down that was covered in a consistent pattern of tiny purple polkadots that complimented the dark blue of his skin. He looked down at his khakis and chocolate dress shoes, then proceeded to wipe a hand across the seat of his scooter, hoping to clean off any debris that might stain his lightly colored pants.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

“Hmm,” Kiama replied, pondering what would be a good place to go. There were just too many options. She’d always liked walking along the beach, especially at night when very few people were there. But wouldn’t that look too much like a romantic date? Eventually she said, “There are many places I loved to go in San Francisco, so I’m pretty much game for everything. And since it’s been a long time since I went to the Castro District, I wouldn’t mind going there at all.” A lopsided and kind of mischievous grin started to stretch across her face and her eyes twinkled at the prospect of going that somewhat more adventurous art of the city.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

“Well you’re already dressed the part,” Shon said with a twinkle in his eye. He swung a leg over the seat of his scooter, waiting for Kiama to do the same. Then they were off, zipping down one of San Francisco’s steep hills on the side of an unrealistically empty street.

However, instead of swinging one led across the seat, Kiama sat down as if she was riding side-saddle, since her dress was not exactly made for sitting on the backseat of a scooter. She placed one hand on the handle next to the seat and said, “Just don’t drive too fast.”

As Shon led the way, he looked over his shoulder and shouted back to Kiama, “Thanks for making time! I’m sure the new Chief Science Officer will be in high demand once we reach the Chrondruscripi Anomaly, so I’m glad I caught you before then!” He glanced back in front of him, then returned his attention to Kiama. “My knowledge of radiation is mostly related to its physiological effects, but although it might go over my head, I’d be interested to hear - “

“Even a CSO needs time off. And really, I’m just the acting Chief Science Officer. Nothing permanent,” Kiama replied with a soft laugh.

Shon’s scooter pitched forward, sending the blue-skinned man flying to land in a roll at the bottom of the hill, which was fortunately only a couple feet away. The scooter skidded to a grinding halt on the concrete next to him as Shon groaned and sat up, hissing through his teeth as he raised his arms to inspect the road rash on his elbows. Similar injuries were showing through rips in the knees of his pants. He hadn’t been wearing a helmet, but luckily it seemed like his head was uninjured.

“What the…” Shon said in bewilderment, glancing back at the obstacle that had suddenly blocked his path. It was a stump, of a tree. Growing right out of the concrete. Looking around, there were other trees just… growing out of things. Trees of varying species and ages had materialized in the middle of the road and on top of buildings. Then a disco ball materialized about 12 feet up in the air and crashed to the ground a few feet away from him, shattering. Some distance in front of them, the entire landscape (road and adjacent buildings included) were suddenly at an unrealistically slope, shooting up into the sky at an almost 90 degree angle. “Kiama…?” Shon barely managed to get out despite the shock.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

OOC: Chrondruscripi Anomaly isn’t canon, just a made up plot device to make the holodeck go haywire.

Kiama, on the other hand, hadn’t been as lucky. When the laws of physics had propelled her forward when the scooter suddenly stopped, she’d - instinctively - tried to break her fall with her hands. If it had been quiet enough they probably would have heard the snapping sound when her left wrist broke. Like Shon she had scratches on her arms and legs, but unlike him she wasn’t trying to get up. When he walked over to her, Shon would find her somewhere between conscious and unconscious and with some blood running down the side of head and neck. Not enough to be really concerning, though.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO