Starfleet Noire, Part III

Posted on Fri Dec 12th, 2025 @ 10:07pm by Ensign Garabed "Garo" Hakobyan & Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva & Master Chief Petty Officer Vashti Rao & Petty Officer 2nd Class Zal Rixi & Crewman Emiliano Echevarria & Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus & Josef Forstinger & Lieutenant JG Jason Williams III & Ensign Luciana Aguila & Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese

1,038 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shadow in the Static
Location: Holodeck 2, Deck 4
Timeline: 1815 Hours

Garo leaned closer, interested. "My new friend, I would love to know what Earth was like in your time."

The Question caught Josef a bit off-guard. Of course, he expected to receive such a question eventually-but not at that very second. How could he explain what Earth was like-he had not even seen it in the "modern day" yet. Though, he did try his best in the heat of the moment.

"It was nice. Not perfect of course, but I liked it, I grew up, went to school, had my friends and family. A life." His retelling however took a slight turn as some memories started making their way forward from his subconscious. "Then the War happened. Politics I didn't quite understand. I got drafted and was sent from my home into Hell. Went through it for 6 years--then ended up here."

"I was taught in school about the Eugenics Wars ," Garo said calmly. "It sounded like a dark time. It makes me sad that you had to live through that."

"It was," was his simple response. Though what once again caught him off guard was what came towards the end of Garo's response. It makes me sad that you had to live through that.

"Why?" he asks with a flat tone. He wasn't hostile or being stand-offish. It seemed like a genuine question. Josef, in that moment, didn't understand that man's empathy.

Garo felt that maybe there was a disconnect between them and decided to let the question die on the vine.

"Have you tried the holodeck before?"

'No, I have not. Tenzi told me it was like some sort of uh....game thing--I think. Or a Stage in a TV Show." Josef responded. Tenzi probably explained it in more detail--but he didn't understand a lot of the modern Techno-Babble. It sounded like something someone would just say to explain the unexplainable, like a writer wanting to put credibility behind some ridiculous concept in their story.

Garo's eyes warmed. "Josef, my friend... it is not a game, not stage. It is like--how do I put this--" He snapped his fingers once, searching the corridor's ceiling for the proper image. "Ah. It is like stepping into your own memory... except someone cleaned the floors and made the lighting very flattering."

Dallas backed Garo up, trying to put himself in Josefs shoes for understanding, "It's like the ultimate playground where your imagination can become reality, it's fully immersive and interactive. I one hundred percent guarantee you're going to love it." He stepped back near the girls to where Vashti was standing.

"I don't particularly wish to revisit my memories, even with clean floors and flattering lights," was Josefs brisk response. Probably not the best way to explain it to a 400+ year old War Veteran. Though he seemed to catch himself-the answer having come out harsher than he intended.

Luckily, that's when Dallas stepped in, nodding at his explanation. "Sounds like something from some far-flung sci-fi novel-actually that tracks. So what; there's just a huge 'playground' behind those doors ?"

Garo tilted his head, a sly and soft smile stretching just enough to show he was going to say something he probably shouldn't. His accent thickened in the typical way it did when he was being honest--or mischievous.

"Playground, eh... yes. Dallas is right. But also..." He wiggled his fingers as though plucking some invisible string in the air. "Fantasy. You understand me, Josef? Fantasy. You tell the computer what you desire, and she--very loyal woman--gives it to you. Mountains, oceans, old cities... or..." He drifted for a moment, eyes narrowing in mock-seriousness. "... or other things."

He did not say the word. He didn't have to. The implication hung there like an old woman's perfume that refused to dissipate and go away.

"The computer's a woman?" seemed to be the first thing Josef gathered from Garo's words. Then however the rest started to work in his brain. Which one could follow by observing his expression from surprise, slight disgust to surprisingly even a blush. "Wait, people use it for--but--how--what--who cleans it up ?!"

Garo gritted his teeth, fighting back the visual in his mind. "I suppose, hm. Maybe if--"

"Changing topics!" Rixi cut-in, overhearing the exchange with a look of complete disgust.

Dallas held up his hands in defense and laughed, "I only provided the safe for work explanation, Rix, don't blame me!"

Hoping to have his questions answered. Josef was met with slight disappointment, but perhaps it was best this way. A slight blush still on his face-embarrassment?
"Probably not something to discuss in public-right. Great. This definetly isn't going to constantly be at the back of the mind the entire time were in there. Jesus Christ."

"Dallas," Vashti whispered with a slight grin, leaning in and slipping an arm around his. "Never in a million years would I have thought you'd want to do this. Your RSVP surprised me." She mouthed a thank you and winked at the brown-haired engineer.

"Then you don't know me very well, do you?" Dallas replied in a low tone in her ear and a grin as he pulled back and tightened his linked arm with hers and then made sure his hair and cap were still in place with his free hand. "Trust me, if I didn't have a kid to look after, I'd be at a lot more events."

Vashti turned her head to look at him and grinned, adding a wink. "Maybe I'll have to find some holo programs where Tristan can join in."

"Maybe," Dallas shrugged in reply, "It would've have to depend on his behaviour really, otherwise he can miss out and it be the two of us?" He wasn't trying to be flirtatious on purpose, he was just matching her energy.

She pulled him closer like a huggable teddy bear, his shoulder squishing into hers. "Definitely, my friend."

To Vashti, Dallas Reese was the easily the most reliable engineer in the entire department. She had leaned on him quite a bit since the departure of Lieutenant Commander Winters and his encouragement and support are big reasons why she was now fast-tracked to becoming Chief of the Boat.


~To Be Continued~

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