Virtual Surf and Sand

Posted on Tue Jan 16th, 2018 @ 11:32pm by Lieutenant Jaton Alyl & Commander Cor Cordale & Lieutenant Commander Ziyal Tajor & Lieutenant Hel Samedi & Lieutenant JG Scotty Kayne & Lieutenant JG Asvit Hap & Ensign Todd Bailey

Mission: Of Machines and Men
Location: USS Victory, Holodeck 2

Jaton had enjoyed the ceremony as much as anyone else had done, but it was time to put formality aside in his mind. When he got back to his quarters, he quickly peeled off his dress uniform and changed into an informal shirt and his swimsuit. "Computer," he asked, "which is the nearest vacant holodeck?"

"Holodeck 2 is vacant."

Jaton nodded and immediately left his quarters. Upon reaching the holodeck, he pressed the panel outside the door.

"Working."

"Trill homeworld, Ilkan White Sands Beach. Hot sunny day with a swell from a storm off the coast. And implements for surfing."

"Program complete, enter when ready."

Jaton nodded and was about to enter the holodeck when he stopped. "Oh, and make the program open invitation."

"Acknowledged."

Jaton walked through the door, and was met with the wonderful salt air smell as he stepped onto the beach. The waves were quite high, but nothing he hadn't handled before. He saw a surfboard off to his left, and smiled. Just like the one he had at the Academy. He quickly removed his shirt and shoes, grabbed the board, and ran towards the inviting opalescent waters of his homeworld's most renowned beach.

Ziyal wandered towards the holodecks trying to figure out what she wanted to do. She noticed holodeck two was running, but with an open invitation. Deciding to join in, she stepped into the simulation. The sun and the white sand hit her and the brightness caused her to squint.

"Holodeck, please replicate me a pair of sunglasses." She said, and a pair appeared in her hands. She slipped them on, and felt the relief of not having blinding light stabbing her in the eyes. The sand felt pleasantly warm, and she glanced around for whoever was already in the simulation.

Jaton surfaced on the far side of a wave and climbed onto his surfboard, the water feeling wonderfully cool in his hair and on his bare chest. He looked out to sea for the next wave and saw one coming. He began to paddle towards shore and felt the water begin to swell under his board. At just the right moment, he stood up, and rode his board into the pipeline as it began to curl over. He then surfed up the wave and flipped his board in the air before crashing back down into the water. As he resurfaced, a great smile on his face, he saw he was no longer the only one in the simulation. He couldn't make out just who it was, but he waved to them nonetheless and began to paddle into shore.

Asvit was roaming the ship with nothing really to do at the moment. So, he aimlessly wandered the ship. Many options were open to him. He thought about the lounge but he wasn't hungry. Unable to think of anything else he settled on the holodeck. He didn't really have a plan. Luckily that was solved for him. He found an open invitation. "Who am I to argue with that?" he said, walking in. Only to find a familiar beach. Sweet! he thought to himself. He found a changing area and peeled off his uniform for a replicated pair of trunks and a tank top.

Ziyal stepped out of the changing area in a bikini to find Jaton coming out of the waves. "Surf's up?" She asked with a smile.

Jaton eagerly returned the smile. “Surf’s up indeed. I had the computer program a cyclone off the coast so we’ll have great waves all day. Do you surf commander?”

Ziyal shook her head, "I'm not commander right now, it's Ziyal, we're off duty. I spent most of my time in Starfleet Headquarters, my head in reports, not at the beach. I've seen people surf before, but I've never done it myself."

“Alright, Ziyal,” Jaton said. “First names it is. As for surfing, it’s great fun. I got into it at the Academy myself. Before that it was mostly wind boarding and body surfing. But there’s nothing like catching a wave on your board. It’s like flying. I could teach you if you like.”

Ziyal smiled, "I'd like that. Holodeck, replicate me a surfbaord." She said, the board appearing next to her.

Jaton nodded at the board the holodeck had created. True to form, the board was just Ziyal's height.

"Now the first thing you need to do is to strap it to your ankle. You don't want your board floating out to sea after all. And after that, it's time to get wet! Follow me as I paddle out."

Asvit found himself a lounge chair and just relaxed. He was just content to watch for now, however part of him was itching to give it a try.

Val Seran couldn't repress her curiosity and made her way into the open invitation holodeck as well. Both forms brought a hand up to stop the sun from blinding them as well and when the location had sunk into her consciousness she decided that she was entirely overdressed. Fortunately there was a changing room nearby, so the twin Dalacari forms made their way there.

A few moments later they emerged, wearing identical bathing suits and matching sunglasses. So outfitted they made their way to where several lounge chairs were placed, one occupied by Asvit. "Sir." one of the twins spoke, both offering a soft smile, as they took two adjacent lounge chairs and made themelves comfortable.

Meanwhile, back out in the real world....

Cordale had just gotten finished with a simple patch job, words that would haunt him no doubt until the end of his days. As he walked through the halls he noticed that one of the holodecks was active and, being inquisitive by nature, he took a look at the program running.

"Huh. Trill homeworld? I wonder what that looks li.. oh, open invite. Don't mind if I do." and the Thux padded into the simulation chamber, almost immediately regretting it as the light of the Trill Star welcomed Cordale's eyes to a realm of brightness and shine. Taking a moment to adjust, he took in the sights and sounds. Mostly the sights. Definitely the sights.

He also noticed that he was the only one in uniform. Or anything approaching uniform. Fortunately for him, there was a changing booth nearby, so he took advantage of programmed serendipity and changed out of his uniform into something more culturally appropriate to the scene: A pair of swim trunks, black with a blue stripe.

This also meant going shirtless, which the Thux had no shame in doing. The engineer had the body tone of a miner, and never ever let it slouch. The one thing that might slow his pride was the full display of his prosthetic limb, from shoulder to fingertip, and the ghastly scar that marked the division between skin and simulacrum.

"An impressive replacement, Mister Cordale. You shouldn't hide it so." came a voice from behind the Thux belonging to the resident science officer and Daughter of Ts'usu, Valeria Mordin. Having snuck in behind the Thux as his proximity to the door kept it open, the rabbitess was already sporting a pair of wrap-around sunglasses, as Terran ear placement was awkward for the Ts'usugi.

"Oh, umm, thanks." he took the compliment honestly before taking a few steps to let the holodeck's doors close, and to give Valeria some personal space to change into whatever she was going to wear. The Thux made his way down to the lounge chairs where Asvit and both of Val Seran were seated, "Mind if I join you?" the Thux asked, while a few of the simulated beach goers were turning heads to watch the bikini-clad Valeria Mordin pick out a nice spot on the beach to practice her sun lounging skills.

"By all means, make -" spoke one Dalacari, the other seamlessly taking over. "- yourself comfortable." Val smiled, a considerably more modern and sleek looking prosthetic making a sweeping motion at the nearby vacant lounge chairs. "Commander." She gave a nod to Cordale, recognizing him. "Ma'am." Another nod in greet to Valeria. "Val Seran, Marine sniper, very nice to meet you." spoke the Dalacari half that still had both arms, offering a hand in greet to the Ts'usugi.

"Please, just Cordale. If we're relaxed enough for swimwear." he commented with a wink in her general directions before he took an offered seat. "I'm sure Commander Cordale is a respected and responsible adult. Probably an Admiral by now." he chuckled.

Valeria simply gave a smirk at Cor's antics, and took the offered hand in greet, "Valeria Mordin, Chief of Operations... and he's right, please, just Valeria." she paused after the greet, and gave a nod before turning to the others near the lounge chairs, "And how are we all today?" the curvy rabbitess in the bikini asked.

Might as well join in Asvit thought. "Doin' fine." he said, his demeanor getting more chill by the minute. "Asvit Hap." he said to those assembled in introduction. "Diplomat by trade."

"Can't complain." Answered Val. Recent fleet events had mostly passed her by, there wasn't really a need for a sniper during the recent battle.

It was at that point Jaton came in from the latest wave he had caught. He noticed that in the time that he had been teaching Ziyal, they had in fact been joined by several more people. He unstrapped his board from his ankle and sauntered up the beach towards the lounge chairs. He took a towel from one of the unoccupied chairs and began to dry off a little.

"Well this is a good turnout," Jaton said, smiling. "I'm Jaton Alyl, the new ACSO and the one who created this program."

Valeria's attention shifted from face to face as each spoke. "A diplomat? A difficult but noble profession." she commented with a nod, before turning to Jaton, "You're the new science officer, are you not?" she asked, "I tried to leave that post in decent condition. Good to see I left it in good hands."

(Tag any)

Cordale gave a nod towards Jaton, "Gotta say, I like what you did with the place." he chuckled, then just leaned back in the chair and, well, lounged.

“Thank you, sir,” Jaton replied. “So, anyone else care for a swim?”

"That sounds like fun." Val spoke - at least, one of the near identical forms did. The other took over seamlessly. "It's been a while since I went for a swim. It'll do me good." the one with the prosthetic arm offered as both forms rose from the lounge chairs.

Ziyal was always amazed by how Val's forms worked together in such precision. It was no surprise, given how she was one mind, but Ziyal wasn't used to bicameral life forms. She had fallen off the board quite a few times during the lesson, but she was ready for more. "Sure, a swim sounds like fun."

"Seconded." Asvit said

"Thirded." Valeria said with something of a giggle as she rose up with all the care and grace befitting a creature of her posture. She dusted off a bit of the sand she had picked up, left her large sandals by the chair she chose as her own, and followed the group out.

Back in the real world

Scotty walked down the corridor looking for something to do

"Computer, which holodecks are vacant?" he said

"Holodecks 3 and 1 are vacant, and holodeck 2 has an open invitation."

"What's running in holodeck 2?"

"Trill homeworld, Ilkan White Sands Beach" the computer replied. Scotty was immediately interested. Whenever he got time off at the academy, he loved to go sailing. he rushed down the corridor to holodeck 2 and entered.

"Computer, replicate beach apparel and some Old Earth Aviator sunglasses" he said, and they replicated in his hand. He went to the nearest changing room and changed into, sliding his sunglasses on as he left. "Now for the fun part. Computer, replicate a decent sized sailboat, once again, old earth style." a dock appeared, along with a sailboat, only then did he realize the others were in the water.

Jaton resurfaced, taking a deep breath. He hadn't gone skin diving since before the Academy, but this experience made him think that it might be time to get back into it. Looking around for his companions, he saw someone had replicated an old Earth sailboat. He waved over and shouted over towards the figure beginning to rig it out.

"Ahoy there!"

Scotty turned toward the water

"Ahoy!" Scotty yelled back and pointed towards the sailboat. "Lovely day for it, don't you think?"

Todd had been advised that he required time to relax and let his body heal, so he'd thought that a holodeck visit would be beneficial. As he made his way along the corridor, he found himself outside holodeck two. Checking to see if it was currently available or occupied, he noticed that it had an 'open invite' to the program in use.

"A beech program, and on the Trill homeworld" he said to himself "sounds blissful."

He entered the holodeck, and once his eye's had become accustom to the brightness, he marvelled at the sight before him. Feeling rather overdressed, he asked for a replicated swim top and shorts. The computer told him that they were available in the changing room beside him and in a few minutes he had changed and made his way towards the beach area where he could see seating.

As he arrived, he noted quite a few of the crew were already there, both in the searing area and in the water. A Trill waiter asked him if he wanted a drink, and he ordered a fresh orange. Thanking the waiter when he received it, Todd made his way to the seating area and quietly sat down, watching those in the water having what looked like a lot of fun.

Jaton swam over towards Scotty on the boat and pulled himself aboard. "This is one of my favourite beaches," he said, smiling. "You like to sail I take it?"

"Oh I love it, I'd sail in my free time at the academy." Scotty told him.

Jaton nodded. "I enjoy sailing too, but it seems a bit too choppy for my taste," he replied, looking out to sea. The waves had calmed down considerably since no one was surfing anymore, but still the waves were nothing to sneeze at.

"I do love a challenge." he said "You're more than welcome to join me."

Jaton smiled. "Don't mind if I do. Where do you need me captain?"

Val Seran, the ship's resident Dalacari sniper, enjoyed the water in her own way. Both bioforms swimming in total synch, it was a sight to behold. They always remained fairly close together, never straying more than five meters or so from each other.

Valeria enjoyed just the feel of the water against her as she swam through the choppy water. With the simulated storm far off the coast, the waves it sent in to shore carried the rabbitess up and down along their waves before they crested. She seemed confident in her ability to navigate the waters... until a wave crested early and dragged the Ts'usugi under. She emerged from the waters unscathed except for her pride, with her lengthy ears piercing the water's surface like a pair of periscopes before she came up and fixed her hair.... making her look less like a mass of seaweed with ears, and more like a daughter of Ts'usu again.

Ziyal swam with her crew mates. The water was perhaps a bit cold for her, but she endured it gamely. She ordered a beach ball and batted it towards her crewmates who were swimming with her.

Thus assaulted by a large, inflatable sphere, Val Seran (The half of her with the prosthetic arm) caught the ball and looked at it quizzically for a moment. Upon figuring out that it was a toy to be used in a loosely defined game however, she threw it up, setting it up for her other half to bat it over towards the next vict - err - participant.

The next victim would be Valeria, who just survived an encounter with a cresting wave. Following the ball up as Seran set it up and batted it over, the rabbitess gave a short hop as she gave the beach ball a whap over into the air back towards its original source, Ziyal. She hadn't had this kind of fun since she was a little girl, and it felt good to just have some honest, decent fun.

His orange juice now finished, Todd rose from his seat and walked over to the edge of the water. He looked out at the waves and watched as they rolled in, breaking in different directions.

Quietly he said "Computer, can you play some far distant sounding seagull calls please."

He closed his eyes, and a few seconds later, far far in the distance, he heard the sound of the gulls. It reminded him very much of his youth, and for the first time in a while a smile showed on his face.

Ziyal for her part smiled that someone else was joining their game and batted the beach ball towards Todd.

Something gently bounced off Todd's head, and he opened his eyes to see a beach ball at his feet. Realising he'd been remiss it had come his way and he hadn't noticed, he smiled a little embarrassed and said "Sorry about that, I had my eye's closed."

Bending down, he picked the beach ball up and, entering the water, he gently patted it back towards Ziyal.

Ziyal grinned, motioning for him to join them. "No worries, come in, join us." As the ball came to her, she tossed it towards the other half of Val.

Todd smiled back at Ziyal, and at the invite replied "Thank you Commander", and he entered into the water.

Val Seran seemed to have a method for this - catching the ball with one bioform, lobbing it over to the other, who then batted it to the next person - Valeria again - smiling with both bodies as she did.

The rabbitess was far more prepared for the beach ball this time then last. With the ball heading in her direction, and a new player entering the arena it was time to keep him in the loop. With a smile that normally she'd never wear Valeria batted the beach ball in Todd's direction. She felt like such a kid again.

The wind caught the beach ball and slowed it down so it dropped into Todd's hands. He smiled at the fact there was calm here, serenity, a....freedom of spirit, such that he couldn't remember having for a while. He found himself laughing out loud as he patted the ball towards Val.

Thus once again the Dalacari caught the ball with one form, lobbed it over to the other, then batted it towards the next person - Ziyal this time.

Ziyal caught it, then surged upwards to try and throw it to Valeria from an upwards angle. It didn't really work as she planned, but the ball went in her direction.

The ball was lobbed in the general direction of the rabbitess, who made a bit of a dive to try to lob it back into play. There was a splash, and where Valeria was there was just a floating beach ball. Then two ears flanked the ball on either side, and finally Valeria's head popped up out of the water. The ball balanced on Valeria's head for a moment before rolling back into the water.

"Almost." she muttered. She eventually picked herself up properly, claimed the ball, and considered the next target before sending the beach ball towards Todd.

Todd caught the ball, then stopped for a moment, looked around and said "Hey, has anyone ever tried playing...oh, what's the name of that game, you know, the one that's played by two opposing teams, inside a sort of rectangle. You have to hit the ball over a net to the other team and they've got to stop it from hitting the sand, do you know it?"

"I've not heard of it, but the - " one of Val seran's bioforms opined and trailed off, though the other continued without losing a beat. " - rules as you describe them seem simple enough."

"Two teams, you say?" Valeria inquired as she looked from Todd to Ziyal to Val. Then a smirk spread across her features, "You and Ziyal, and Val and I. Dalacari have long been our allies, best to continue the tradition."

"Agreed. Though in the spirit of fairness, I'll have - " spoke Val Seran with one form, the other taking over. " - one of me sit this one out." concluded the one with the prosthetic arm.

"Seems fair." Valeria commented, "We'll find a place for you to sit so that we don't tax your comfort distance."

"Thank you." Val smiled, as both forms headed back towards the shore. It felt good to have someone who understood the unique needs of a Dalacari.

Todd snapped his fingers "Beach volleyball!" he said aloud triumphantly, suddenly remembering the name of the game.

"Computer, set up for a beach volleyball game, two teams, and give us a quick rundown of the rules, just so we know..."

On the beach, a court outline plus a net suddenly appeared.

===^===Team beach volleyball game consists of...===^===, and the computer began its description of the game rules.

Out on the waves, Scotty and Jaton manned the sail boat.

"Doing alright, Jaton?" he asked

Jaton looked astern at Scotty. "Indeed I am. Suppose I was wrong."

"I suppose you were, tighten up that line there." He pointed towards a loose line that he had spotted.

"Aye aye!" Jaton replied, and tightened the line behind him. He then tied it off and looked out to sea. He wondered if this is what it was like for the first Trill seafarers that his family so proudly traced their ancestry from.

"You seem to have a natural talent for this, Lieutenant."

Jaton smiled. "Thanks. You seem to as well. It's been so long since I've been sailing. Like properly sailing. It must've been with my host family over summer holidays back in '82. We sailed from Cyprus, through the Aegean, and up the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea."

Scotty looked at the time on his old earth watch he always wore, it was 15:45.

"Damn, I'm gonna be late for my shift, gotta pull her in, sir." Scotty said.

Jaton's eyes widened. "15:45? Jek so'ke! I'm due in the Science Department!" With that, Jaton dove off the side of the boat and swam in. "Computer, automatically save and end program when the last occupant leaves," he said as he grabbed a towel and began to dry himself off before dashing for the door.