A Night On the Holodeck (Part VIII)

Posted on Sat Nov 19th, 2022 @ 1:13pm by Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Commodore Peter Murphy
Edited on on Sat Nov 19th, 2022 @ 1:23pm

1,277 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Holodeck

[PREVIOUSLY]

"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."

[CONTINUED]

Daniel took her hand and smiled, looking into her eyes as he did so. Being around her made him feel different, but in a good way. A way that made him feel safe to open up about his thoughts and feelings. "I know how you feel. I just... hope... this doesn't end when the Cadet Cruise does."

"If it makes a difference, I liked you before I got here. I didn't know you well, but I saw what type of person you were, and I hoped to meet you. I don't know if I would have tried without this cruise, but I don't want what is growing between us to end when the cruise does." She took another honey pretzel and ate it because they were good, and because she didn't want him to start thinking she was some sort of creepy stalker.

He smiled, looking at her as he took a honey pretzel bite with the small pitchfork. Daniel was almost at a loss for words to hear she liked him before they came here. He felt bad having only caught glimpses of her at the Academy and never saying something because he was either going to or coming from somewhere. He gave her a small chuckle before saying aloud. "I don't want it to end either, Meghan. What I mean to say is when we get back to the Academy and get busy again. I hope we'll have enough time to spend together once we get back."

She nodded. "Me, too." She was less concerned with their time at the academy than she was once they graduated and got their assignments, but she was willing to try. She took another pretzel and followed it by taking another drink. "I spend a lot of evenings at the library. You're welcome to join me. Or we could study somewhere more private. I'm not sure how much you need to study, though." Or if he wanted to study with her. But it was a suggestion.

"I just might do that." He smiled back, replying softly to her request. He took another sip from his drink and looked into her eyes. It was as if the music, and creature around them vanished, leaving only the two of them. He knew they would have to go, maybe even get caught, but it was worth it for this moment. This conversation. This... connection.

The conversation switched to the Academy and the courses they were taking. After a while, Meghan looked around. "I think Emma and Shafin left. We should, too. We both have to be on the bridge early tomorrow." Part of her was looking forward to it, but part of her wanted to spend more time with Daniel. But she knew that there would be down time during the cruise and hopefully they'd be able to come back here, or visit another of Daniel's favorite holoprograms.

"Huh?" Daniel looked around, stopping to look at the table where the others were, then back to Meghan. He didn't even notice the time pass and the others leave. He was hyper-focused on Meghan and their conversation that the world around him could have been on fire and it would only strike him when he got burned. "Well... I'll be damned. So, they have." He let out a bit of a chuckle. "You're right. We should probably go."

"Thank you," she said, "For this. I really enjoyed it. And the company." She would love to stay longer, but she had to be alert for launch and she wasn't sure how long it would take her to fall asleep.

Daniel smiled back. "You're welcome. Even though we had guests I enjoyed showing this to you and spending the time to get to know you. I would love to do this again when we have the downtime. Maybe we can try a program you enjoy or something else?"

"Yes." She didn't care what the program was. Well, she mostly didn't care. There were a few programs she wasn't interested in. But there were many she'd love to explore with Daniel. This cruise had so many possibilities for her. More now.

Daniel stood up and reached out his hand to her. "Come on. Maybe I can still walk you back to your quarters before heading back myself."

She took his hand and smiled. "I'd like that." It gave her a few more minutes with him. She also appreciated that he was a gentlemen. There weren't enough of them at Starfleet.

He gripped her hand, smiling, as she would get out of her chair. "Say... there is this Halloween Party coming up. The Academy is allowing the Cadets on the tour to have their own private one here. Do you... maybe... want to be my date?"

Her heart did a little flip. "I would love to be your date." She'd liked and admired Daniel before she knew him, but since coming to the Cavalier and getting to know him, she was beginning to lose her heart to him as well.

Daniel smiled from ear to ear when he heard her answer. "Awesome." He said softly before looking away from her as they made their way to the exit. As they walked, he turned to look to Vincent's table, but found he was already watching them leave. He noticed a pleased smile on his holographic friend's face, followed by a nod, before his attention was directed somewhere else.

After walking out of the door of the club, and saying their good-byes to the brothers guarding it, Daniel called for the exit to the holodeck. He walked out, hand and hand, with Meghan and began to walk down the corridor to the turbolift when he was caught off guard by a familiar voice.

"There you are." Came the voice of his father, the Commodore, from behind them.

Daniel immediately let go of Meghan's hand and stood at attention. Placing his hands behind his back as he put his feet together. His heart was racing. It was beating a bit faster earlier when he was walking with Meghan, excited she wanted to be his date to the upcoming Halloween party, but now it was going for a different reason. By now the dinner was over and the Commodore would have realized Daniel had left before then.

Meghan also snapped to attention. His attention wasn't on her, but she was happy to be unnoticed. She felt Daniel's discomfort and wondered what she could say to alleviate it.

Commodore Murphy stood there quietly, smiling slightly from noticing his son holding Meghan's hand a few moments ago. Part of him didn't want to interrupt, but he felt he had to. If not as the CO, but as his father. As a CO, these two Cadets showed conduct unbecoming by leaving a gathering early. As a father, just to tease his son. He finally cleared his throat and removed the smile as he approached.

"At ease, Cadets." Commodore Murphy said firmly as he walked up to them. His tone was soft and calm. If he was upset, he was hiding it well. "You two, as well as a few others, were absent at the festivities. Is there a reason why you two disappeared so quickly?"

(To be continued...)

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command/Security

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science

Commodore Peter Murphy
Commanding Officer
USS Cavalier

 

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