Posted by Lieutenant Sheleah Ruby (Diplomatic Officer / CNS) in Holodeck 2: Little Lost Rex (tag: Hannah)

Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Medical Officer) in Holodeck 2: Little Lost Rex (tag: Hannah)

Posted by Lieutenant Sheleah Ruby (Diplomatic Officer / CNS) in Holodeck 2: Little Lost Rex (tag: Hannah)
Posted by… suppressed (26) by the Post Ghost! 👻
This was the first time Sheleah had ventured into one of the Saracen’s holodecks. They were standard but the programs people created told a lot about this ship’s crew. She wasn’t here on a counseling assignment though. today was all about her and Rex having a little environmental R&R. She had wanted some moderate hiking and lots of forest with the promise of a picnic at the end. After programming that, and several other parameters, she and rex stepped into a wonderfully sunlit morning in a small clearing with several trails leading away.

Some looked to be quite easy and others a bit more rocky.

Kneeling down she unfastened Rex’s harness and leash putting them away in a small pack.

“Alright my boy, let’s take a walk.” she said and turned towards one of the intermediate trails.

For his part, Rex always liked these types of outings. Today he had decided that he was a big boy and could leave momma to her own devices for a while and so darted off in the opposite direction.

• Sheleah

Hannah was looking for something to do other than sit in her quarters or wander the decks bored. She didn’t really mind being bored or on her own, but she liked socializing too. She scanned the holodeck schedule looking for something, not solitary to do. The screen blinked as it refreshed. Someone had loaded a group program. Forested hiking trails, picnic areas, lots of simulated outdoor space. Right up Hannah’s alley. She changed into jeans, t-shirt and jacket, and hiking boots and practically jogged her way to the holodeck.

No one was waiting outside and the display said the program was running so she slipped in through the doors and waited for the door and arch to disappear. She breathed in, it wasn’t quite as good as the real thing, but it was close. Hannah set off toward the trails hoping to find another person. “Helloooo!”

Hannah

Off to Hannah’s right a furry something darted through the underbrush. A faint breeze was rustling the leaves and early morning bird song could be heard. About a minute later, Sheleah reappeared, pack on one shoulder and a thermos of coffee in her hand.

“Hi, I didn’t hear you come in. Isn’t this a neat program? I mean for 5 minutes of putting in random parameters. I’m Sheleah, the new counselor.”

She walked forward and extended a hand.

• Sheleah

Hannah watched the furry something dart and run through the underbrush. She stood still, unafraid of whatever it was, and unsure what kind of dangers the program was set to. Though safety protocols, it would be too bad. She turned at the voice, her gaze steady and taking in everything about the woman. With a bright smile, Hannah took the woman’s hand. Then releasing the woman’s hand, Hannah’s own began to move, with her words, seemingly one of those people who ‘talk with their hands.’ “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Hannah, one of the doctors on board.” Although she spoke slowly and clearly, her voice seemed muffled or thick, some sounds not quite crisp despite the careful effort to form the words. Hannah glanced around, “The holodeck is beautiful, isn’t it? It’s nice to get outside for awhile. What animals did you program in? I saw something move over there.”

Hannah

Sheleah had read Hannah’s file and knew her by sight but, they hadn’t been introduced until now.

“I’m not certain what kind of animals this program has but my animal, Rex, is around here somewhere. He loves to get himself separated but we’ll find each other by the end of the program or when he gets hungry. I was about to take that second trail.” Sheleah said pointing back the way she had just come, “Would you like to come along? I think I heard a water fall.”

• Sheleah

Hannah glanced around again hoping to see Rex, but not sure what to look for. “I would…Oh a water fall?” That meant a rock face. Maybe some good climbing. Though she would have to be careful since the rocks would be slippery. She started walking toward the direction Sheleah pointed. “What kind of animal is Rex?”

Hannah

Sheleah easily kept pace with Hannah. She found that she liked this new woman’s energy. Hiking was usually better with a companion anyway.

“He’s a ocelot. Medium size feline from Earth, he’s been a very good boy lately and I figured we both could use an outing.” she explained.

Hannah scanned around again in the hopes of getting a peek of the ocelot. She smiled brightly. “How wonderful. We have quite the variety on board. Captain and Dr Knight have that large lizard, Bruce. I adore him, he is so cute. Reminds me a little of home. And the Security chief, she has a pack of huskies. I like them too. The big one is just a big baby.” Hannah grinned, “I think I might be an animal person, though I’ve never had a pet.”

Sheleah laughed and glanced at Hannah.

“He wasn’t even really supposed to be a pet but, he came into my care because he couldn’t be released into the wild. I think he’s one of the most empathetic creatures I’ve seen. Bruce is quite the character isn’t he?”

“Animals run on instinct mostly and my opinion is that is what makes them so empathic. They pick up on body language and hormones better because of it.” Hannah laughed, “Bruce is. Last year at Terran Christmas Daniel gave him a football. Poor thing ran and skittered I to everything trying to catch that wobbly ball. He looked enormously happy about it though.”

As they walked, Sheleah glanced around in an attempt to locate Rex and noticing the terrain. It had gotten a bit steeper and the trail seemed to be littered with small branches.

• Sheleah

The steeper terrain didn’t seem to phase Hannah, she continued on as if she was walking the corridors. Her hands trailed along the bark, leaves, and larger rocks they passed. Experiencing the different textures. “Do you hike often? I love it. I think I would go stir crazy if not for the holodeck giving us outdoor space.”

Hannah

“I like hiking but, I haven’t been horseback riding in quite a while and that’s something that I really enjoy. I’m kind of a purist though. I prefer to do it on a planet, not a holodeck.”

• Sheleah

I feel the same way about rock climbing. Nothing like the real thing without the safeties and just your own skill. And it doesn’t feel the same. I have never been Horseback riding, but Daniel has promised to take me the first chance we get. I would imagine a holodeck horse isn’t quite the same as a real one. No individuality,no personality.”

Hannah

As Sheleah and Hannah walked, the trail took a fairly steep incline but was still manageable if one watched their footing.

“I’d have to agree with you. Basically no individually, no personality, depending on the program that is. I knew someone who was so good that she might have actually been able to give personality to a holodeck horse. I think she serves on the Wolverine now. I still prefer the real thing though.”

“It’s like that with hiking or rock climbing. The places have an individuality. The programs don’t quite capture that. There is no challenge. I much prefer the real thing,” she missed as she picked her way through the slightly littered trail.

Sheleah went to take a step forward, nearly lost her footing, and ended up on her hands and knees in the middle of the trail.

• Sheleah

Hannah reached out to steady her but wasn’t quite fast enough. She knelt down and held out a hand to her. “You okay?”

Hannah

Sheleah shifted positions until she was kneeling on the trail, palms up, looking intently at her hands. Sighing, she brushed them against her jeans and stood up.

“Yeah. Just a little wounded pride. I guess whoever programed that small stick paid closer attention to the trail than me.”

A quick glance told Hannah that Sheleah’s hands were okay. They probably stung a bit from the impact. “Probably someone who was looking for a bit of realism to their program. Or as my dad used to say it was Elmer.” Hannah started to laugh and caught herself. She hadn’t thought about that in a long time. “When he was a kid he went to summer camp and any time someone got hurt like that, they blamed it in the camp spirit ‘Elmer’. He claimed Elmer followed him home and then to Catawba.”

As Sheleah was speaking, there was a slight crackling in the underbrush as Rex padded his way into view and began doing the classic feline rubbing and winding around her knees. Looking down, she laughed.

“It looks like Rex has come to check on me. Say hit to Ms. Hannah Rex.”

She reached down and began scratching behind his ears.

• Sheleah

“Oh! He is magnificent.” Hannah watched as the cat emerged and rubbed over Sheleah. “You are so handsome. May I pet him?”

Hannah

“Well he’d be offended if you didn’t. Please, go ahead. He loves attention and treats.” Sheleah said rummaging in her pack.

She took out a small bag with several chunks of jerky and offered one to Hannah.

“Feed him this and you’ll make a new best friend.”

• Sheleah

Hannah knelt down holding out the jerky with one hand and petting Rex. Her fingers traced over his ears and scalp and down his neck and shoulders, getting a feel for the texture of his fur and tone of the muscles. “Will he grow any more?”

Hannah

Rex leaned in as Hannah pet him and sniffed her hand before gently snatching the jerky. His long whiskers brushed her fingers.

“He’s around eighteen months right now so he may get a little bigger and fill out a bit more but, I’m not certain exactly how much bigger he’ll get. That’s kind of why I have him actually. You see, he has two sisters on Earth but Rex was the runt of his litter and showed some genetic anomalies. Doctor drummond didn’t feel it would be right to release him back into the preserve and we were already so bonded that I absolutely had to take him with me.”

As Sheleah was speaking, Rex had finished the jerky and began to clean his paws even though they didn’t seem dirty at all.

• Sheleah

After he took the treat, Hannah stood and gave him his space to eat. She grinned as he started to clean his paws. “He’s obviously much bigger than a ordinary house cat,” she observed as she continued walking. “How do you accomodate in your quarters?”

Hannah

Sheleah grinned form ear to ear and began laughing at the question.

“He sleeps wherever he wants usually leaving the edge of the bed for me and the rest of the quarters pretty much adapt to him. He likes low couches and lots of pillows please. His sisters like to climb trees more than he does but he actually likes water more than they do.”

Hannah grinned, “Must be a guy thing. It’s taken some adjustment to remember how to share a bed. But an adjustment I have thoroughly enjoyed relearning.” Hannah fanned herself and winked. Daniel was the XO, but their relationship was no secret.

As they walked the trail levelled out and opened up into a small meadow with more trees on the other side. When they were about a third of the way through, a spotted furry flash zipped past them, on their right, turning just before the treeline and darted off to who knows where in the program.

• Sheleah

Hannah took a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t recognize the scent of the flowers, but it’s lovely.” Spooting the streak of fur, “Well he certainly seems to be enjoying himself. Maybe he has found a stream or pond? This would be a lovely place for a bigger gathering, even some of the families on board. It feels rather warm, maybe Bruce would like it?”

Hannah

Sheleah laughed as she watched Rex run by.

“Oh I like that idea a lot. I think any family time is a great idea. In this bubble of a floating city we have, sometimes people forget how dangerous our jobs are until it’s too late. I think we should plan a party here next week, pets included of course.”

Sheleah took in a few deep sniffs trying to see if she could smell water and the lovely flowers Hannah had mentioned.

• Sheleah

Hannah disagreed. She thought people on Saracen never forgot how dangerous the jobs were. She thought maybe everyone always stayed a little wound tight. Not that they didn’t take time to enjoy and relax, it was just hard when they were all waiting for the red klaxons to go off again. Either way she thought the idea of a party was excellent. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Maybe we could even book the holodeck over all three shifts so everyone can come and go as they want and get to participate?”

Hannah proceeded through the meadow and glancing around, “Maybe we can find the water or program one in?”

Hannah

Sheleah kept up with Hannah easily. She was noticing plants and flowers she was familiar with from several different near Earth type planets and figured this particular program must be some type of amalgamation.

“And who do I have to see about making that happen? Every ships command structure is just a little different you know? But yes, I like your idea a lot.”

As they continued walking, big puffy clouds skittered across the sky and Sheleah swore she could hear the water just over the next rise or through the next set of trees.

• Sheleah

Hannah wasn’t listening she was feeling the breeze seemed cooler coming through the trees. Only slightly as the density and heat under the trees and decaying life would mess with the wind a bit. But cooler air in a warm area usually meant water. “Hmm…well I’m not sure. Usually crew moral activities are run by the ship’s head counselor so that would fall to you. However allocation of ship’s resources falls to the XO. Perhaps speak to Cmdr Colter about it?”

Hannah

Sheleah smiled.

“Oh yeah, the Commander. What an interesting soul he is. I wonder if this is the type of thing he would go for.”

• Sheleah

Hannah smiled, “He is wonderful.” She glanced around, the setting was a bit tame. They usually went for something more rugged. It was outdoors though so that was a plus. That reminded her they were heading for Earth and his Ranch. Hannah was really excited to see it. They had talked a lot about his Ranch and his family. She wished for his sake his parents were around. Or at least he had had a chance to say goodbye. At least he had been able to retain ownership of the land. Thoughts for later though.

“No worries. He’ll come with me,” Hannah told her. Not a lot of convincing to be had there. Time together to relax, a chance to provide down time for the crew. Glancing around again, Hannah could think of one way to make it really fun. There was plenty of room and she could have the computer recreate the equipment. Everyone else might enjoy it too. She’d hold onto that as a surprise. Daniel would love it.

Hannah

There was something in the way that Hannah looked that told Sheleah she was scheming or, at least, up to something. Sheleah had learned that look from her mother Elizabeth. The two women looked absolutely nothing alike. It had to be something to do with their aura or eyes. Sheleah had sworn she hadn’t earned that from anyone. The last time she had seen her father, Colin, he had confided in her that he thought she had inherited far better and could pull off the scheming in a much more subtle and sweet way than Elizabeth but, that had nothing to do with their divorce now did it?

“Oh he will will he? Well I’m definitely going to take your word on that. This place is lovely but empty. Someone could definitely get lost in here.” she said as they continued walking.

Hannah smiled with a light wave of her hand. “Daniel takes his duty very seriously and enjoys spending time with the crew. So if his presence will help, he would come even if he didn’t like it. Besides, after so long apart, we take any chance we have to spend time together.” Hannah looked around, “Empty is a matter of perspective, but could always add defined activities and points of interest. Of course getting lost is half the fun.” Hannah grinned. Getting lost had always led her to some of the best discoveries.

The sound of the water was definitely louder and she could see it through a break in the trees.

“I hope that’s not a mirage on a holodeck. Isn’t that like an oxymoron or something silly?”

• Sheleah

“Sounds close enough to correct to me. That or synonyms. Holodecks are illusion and so is a mirage.” Hannah continued on towards the water, stepping off the path and making her own. Sucking under branches and over roots. The ground cleared and evened out to a smooth slope as the tree line ended. “Oh! This is lovely. Look at how clear the water is.”

Hannah

Just as Hannah had finished speaking there was more crashing through the underbrush and a loud splash as Rex dove into the small stream that turned out to be a bit deeper than it looked. The drops of water sent up by his plunge sparkled and made a rainbow before falling back intot he stream.

“See, I told you he liked the water except, of course, when it’s time to give him his weekly bath.” Sheleah said walking down to the embankment.

• Sheleah

Hannah grinned widely at Rex’s enthusiasm. “Isn’t that always the way? Fun is one thing but taking care of chores is another. I think he has the right idea.” Hannah wasted no time in slipping off her shoes and roiling up her pants legs to go wading, barefoot, along the edge of the river. “Tell everyone to bring a swim suit.”

Hannah