One Real Thing
Posted on Sun Mar 5th, 2023 @ 5:55am by Lieutenant Christopher Blake & Lieutenant Commander Viessa Kenobi
Edited on on Wed Mar 8th, 2023 @ 5:56pm
1,646 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Hunt Begins
Location: Holodeck 2 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD003 - 0900 Hours
It was fake. He knew that but he tried so hard to push that knowledge down and just enjoy it for once. The single mast sailing ship clipped along the azure water with no land in sight. The bow cut through the water with hardly a ripple and the golden letters seems to catch the light reflecting up from the water and make her name shine, Splitter. Chris looked out over the holographic horizon and squinted his eyes against the spray of the salt against his skin, even the holographic patch on his face.
It was fake. The water wasn't real. The salt spray wasn't real. The sun, the boat, the warmth, him. None of it was real.
Chris stood up and clenched his fists to his side and shook. A tear rolled down his right cheek as his lip curled. It was no use trying to escape himself. "Computer, end current program and replace with Blake SH01."
Everything fake shimmered for a second and faded out before being replaced with the inside of a McCall class Shuttlecraft. Chris walked around the pilot chair and sat down heavily. His fingers began to dance over the console from memory as he went through his checklist. He disliked calling it muscle memory as technically there weren't any muscles left on his left arm below the elbow. The cybernetic hand had taken a lot of practice to get used to and use but he was no longer impeded by the handicap.
Looking over the instrumentation and then to the viewport he allowed his fake eye to gauge the readings and sync up the with McCall's own systems. It was a perk, not having to constantly look down at the console for basic information. But after all that had been taken from him it didn't seem like a fair trade. Far from it.
He was just about to lift off for the scenario when his comm badge beeped. He had an appointment with the CMO for his new posting. He paused and thought for a moment before tapping his comm badge.
=/\= Lt. Blake to Lt. Kenobi, would you care to meet me in Holodeck 2? I'm a little behind on my acclimation of flight systems. =/\=
"Blake... Blake..." Viessa thought to herself as the call came over the comms. It hit her soon after that it was their Chief Flight Officer and she grumbled. He was on her list... and not the good boy one.
=/\=I'm on my way Lieutenant.=/\= she replied and grabbed her medkit as she headed for the door.
Soon after she arrived at Holodeck 2 and as the doors parted she entered what looked like a shuttlecraft. "Lt. Blake, I presume?" she asked as the man turned to face her briefly.
Chris quickly turned back to the viewscreen before him, making sure to keep that side of his face out of sight for as long as he could.
"Doctor Kenobi, I presume." He replied quietly. "I'm sorry for not making it to medical earlier, I'm trying to get caught up on the different configurations for the Artemis and her auxiliary craft."
Motioning briefly to the simulated reality, Chris continued. "Welcome to the McCall class shuttle. Top of the line and handles like a dream."
"I'm sure it handles beautifully... and I wouldn't worry about your medical. Usually its just me scanning you and telling you that you are fine as expected. The need for a medical when coming on board is rather tedious and unnecessary in my opinion, but who am I to argue." Viessa commented.
"Your cybernetics are interesting though..." she added looking the man over.
Chris gritted his teeth and his hands twitched, causing the holographic vessel to pitch slightly before he regained his composure. "They... function adequately." They were also the constant reminder of his failures and loss. But he kept that part to himself.
"They won't interfere with my ability to fly." He said quietly. "I've been tested and approved."
As the ship pitched Viessa fell forward a little and had to grab onto a nearby chair to steady herself. She could feel the cybernetics being a sore point for the man, the feelings of shame and anger. Sometimes being an empath did not leave much to the imagination, and alongside her species ability that everything was perceived musically often those that felt these things had a sad melody or tone to their voice.
"Oh I wasn't questioning your ability, Lieutenant." Viessa smiled as she sat down next to him. She felt maybe a more level talking field would ease the man's feelings. "I think they are quite beautiful. For instance I think your cybernetic eye to be quite mesmerising."
Viessa had read his file, of the shuttle accident that claimed the life of his previous Captain. She knew it wasn't his fault, that he was not to blame for the enemy fire they came under, but still Human's had a way of blaming themselves for tragedies they had no control over. She would not remind him of such unless he chose to tell her.
Chris shifted in his chair uncomfortably and somehow seemed to become even more quiet for a moment.
"It makes me stand out." When he finally spoke, it was hard to tell from his tone if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Just a thing. Other people saw what they wanted to see. When he looked in the mirror all he saw was his past. Some part of him deep down knew that even without the implant, he'd still feel the same way. But he buried that part of him down deep where it belonged.
"Tell me doctor," He asked quietly. "What got you assigned here?"
"I find things that make people stand out to be their defining qualities." Viessa commented. "As for me, it was a different kind of role. A change of scenery if you like. I've been around for centuries and this is the first kind of ship like this. I was asked if I was interested, and I thought why not?"
"I was recommended after I stopped an Andorian Skimmer in a high speed chase without firing a phaser." Chris said calmly. While from someone else it would sound like a brag, Chris sounded more sullen. To him, that wasn't a big accomplishment or really something to be proud of. It was just something he did. "I guess it made me stand out."
Kenobi was strange to him, unlike every other doctor she wasn't poking and prodding him to open up. Just talking it was refreshing and with a deep breath he settled into his seat more comfortably. "I think I could eventually be happy here. Or close to it at least."
"You don't sound like you are too impressed with that. I think its quite impressive." Viessa said honestly. "Not that standing out is always a good thing... I've tried to blend in for a long time. In the past it was easier because technology wasn't as accurate and people not as observant."
Chris shrugged. "I feel like even the blind would notice me sometimes." Outside the holographic screen, the hillsides rolled beneath them in dazzling greens and blues. He'd done this course before, so he knew it was almost over. "My time's almost up here so we'd better clue up." He paused for a second and then looked at Viessa. "I mean in the holodeck. The training is almost over."
Viessa laughed softly at the comment. It had been unknowingly morbid comment but still he'd noticed and it made it quite funny. "Well I am glad that you are staying with us." she joked back. "The program is quite impressive. Did you design it yourself?" she asked.
"Kind of." Chris replied as he slowly brought the McCall shuttle in for a landing. "It's set up to accept the specs from most standard shuttle training programs and integrate that into the program. I find with a known route, I can judge the handling in comparison and then make adjustments to adapt it to my piloting." He left out that the actual route and location had been programmed in by Genevieve as a gift for when he graduated from the academy. That wasn't an important detail right now.
Bringing the shuttle to a full stop, he cut the power and stood up from the chair. "Is there anything else you want to discuss?"
"Not really." Viessa admitted. "Unless you have anything burning a hole into your soul you need to get off your chest? I mean you did call me." She smiled at him.
Chris stood there silently for a moment and blushed slightly as he looked down at his feet. "Actually, I thought I had to. Medical exam and all that stuff. I'm sorry if I took you away from other matters."
"Not at all. As far as medicals go this has been nice. It's not often I do them outside of my medical bay. Different scenery is sometimes very welcome and most of the time you only need to report for a physical if you haven't had your yearly one, or you feel you need one." Viessa smiled. "You are physically fit and able, unless you have special dampening skills that hide a dodgy liver, or smokers lungs." She joked.
Chris became a little flustered for a moment until he realized she was joking. "Oh nothing fake with me. I'm the one real thing in here."
"Good to know." Viessa smirked.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Christopher Blake
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Viessa Kenobi
Chief Medical Officer/Medical Examiner, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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