A Night On the Holodeck (Part VII)

Posted on Sat Nov 19th, 2022 @ 1:03pm by Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver

1,241 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Holodeck

[PREVIOUSLY]

The woman approached with a smile. She had on a short skirt, heeled boots, and red top. She had shoulder length black hair and green eyes. The woman looked human, but the tribal tattoos there were visible on her skin which seemed to have a slight bluish glow before going back to their faded black appearance, said otherwise.

[CONTINUED]


"Hey Danny... What will you and your friend be having?" She asked with a slight accent to her voice.

"Hey Nina." Daniel replied with a smile before continuing. "We'll have two Blood Moon Mixers and a basket of Honey Pretzel Bites to split."

"You got it, Danny." She gave them both a smile and walked off.

"You're gonna love the Honey Pretzels. They are... Amazing." He laughed slightly and smiled. "If not... I can always order something else."

"I love pretzels, but I've never tried honey pretzels." She'd noticed the waitress' tattoos, and the unusual characteristics of some of the other patrons. "What led you to create this program?"

Daniel replied. "It's based off a book series I used to read. When they turned them into a holonovel, my mom bought me the program and it’s been my safe space ever since." He let out a slight laugh before adding. "It's funny... We live in a world where science and technology are everywhere and I find myself the most relaxed in a holoprogram based off a book series where the rules, and characters, are governed more on magic and fantasy."

"It makes sense to me. We all need a safe space. I still read books--and I like fantasies." She waved a hand around. "Nothing like this, but I find it fascinating."

"Being in this world gave me a different perspective on certain things. Some books, shows, and holoprograms have made monsters the bad guy, with some exceptions, and treat magic like some black and white things. Good and evil." Daniel paused slightly before smiling again as he continued. "This series showed me that sometimes monsters aren't the bad guys and people are just as evil, if not, more so. Magic is actually pretty neutral and it all depends on the user. Sure, there are some magic and creatures that can be made evil, but generally the person behind it is pointing them in that direction."

She nodded. "I like that. It makes a lot of sense. Some of my favorite books have magic and monsters. Like you said, it's not the magic itself, or what the character is, but what they do and how the magic is used." The more she talked with Daniel, the more she liked him. She would have to be careful not to seem like one of his groupies. "What else do you like?"

"What else do I like in this series or in general?" Daniel asked with a bit of a smirk.

"In general." She wanted to know what he liked and what he was like because the more she learned, the more she wanted to know.

Daniel laughed, looking down slightly as if he should have known that was what she meant, before looking up. "Sports. Holonovels. Music." He smiled a bit before adding. "Believe it or not, I know how to play the Bajoran Lute. Supposedly, my great ancestor on my mother’s side, was pretty well known for it. I'm not that great, but if you ask my grandmother, I am just as good." He chuckled slightly. "You?"

"I've watched you play sports. I think you're amazing." She put a hand over his. "But I think you're more amazing as a person. I'd love to hear you play the Bajoran lute some time." She felt her face flush. That was probably too revealing. "Umm, what do I like? I like books and camping. And I play the flute." She looked at him for a long moment, then, afraid he could read her feelings for him on her face, she looked down at the table.

"I would love to play for you... when I get the courage to pick it up again and play." Daniel added a slight chuckle before ending it in a smile. He reached over to touch her hand but was interrupted by the waitress coming over with their drinks and honey pretzels.

"Here you go. Two Blood Moon Mixers and basket of Honey Pretzel Bites." She said as she placed the drinks down in front of them and the basket between them. "Let me know if you guys need anything. Just give me a shout."

"Thanks Nina." Daniel cleared his throat and looked over to her. "Watch this." He held his index finger with his thumb, in both hands, and flicked the top of their drinks. Immediately, there was a blood red glow that came from the bottom of the glasses and rose up to the surface. When it reached the surface, it seemed to bubble slightly before the crimson color spread throughout the glass, changing the original color of the drink from a clear blue, to now a crimson red.

Daniel smiled over to her as he leaned back in his seat. "Go ahead. Try it."

Meghan looked at it for a moment, then took a sip. Her eyes widened. "Wow. I like it."

"That's my favorite drink in this program. It's a mixture of juices and alcohol, or synthehol depending on the safeties, and it has the right balance of sweet to it." He smiled back at her before quickly taking a three-pronged fork, which almost looked like a small devil’s pitchfork, and impaled it into one of the pretzel bites. He dipped bit of it into a small dish in the middle of the basket and brought it up towards Meghan. "Here... now try this."

The honey pretzel smelled amazing. Meghan looked from the fork to Daniel, then took the bite. Her eyes glazed over for a moment, then focused on Daniel. "If the drink was a wow, this is wow squared."

Daniel laughed. "That is a very geek thing to say. And cute." He smiled at her as he took a pretzel bite and popped it into his mouth. He chewed on it for a while, looking into her eyes, before finally swallowing it. "I'm glad you liked it. The last thing I want would be to have picked something you would hate."

"There will eventually be something we don't like that the other does or likes, but it won't change how much I like you."

Daniel took a sip from his drink and looked into her eyes. Hearing that she liked him made him feel at ease and slightly more nervous. He tried to hide his nerves with a chuckle before smiling at her and replying. "I like you too, Meghan. You are the only best thing that's come out of this whole Cadet Cruise thing. I may not have wanted to be here because of the circumstances, but now that I am, I am not regretting it one bit."

"I wanted to be here because it's a great learning opportunity, but since I met you...well..." She put her hand on his and smiled. Her inherent need to be open with him made her add, "I now have other priorities."

(To be continued...)

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command/Security

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science

 

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