Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Holodeck 2 - A Musical Introduction

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Holodeck 2 - A Musical Introduction

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Holodeck 2 - A Musical Introduction
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Her chest rose and fell in quick succession and for a moment Sair had no words. She closed her eyes and breathed before she carefully shifted to a crouched position on the forcefield and ordered the computer to reset the program to just before she dove off the cliff.

The program shimmered for a moment and Sair found herself back at the top with Alex. She stood and blew out a breath, her warm brown a swirl of emotion. Before she knew it, tears slipped over her cheeks and she brushed them away with her palm. “I’m not sure. Liberating, for one, but there’s a whole lot of other things I’m not quite sure of yet. It’s a bit of a release, I think. Like I was holding my breath for so long and now I can finally inhale deeply.” And indeed the pressure in her chest she had felt the moment he suggested she jump had faded away.

~Sair Songz, CNS

“Good. Keep it up!” and he smiled and then turned and began walking along the narrow path / ledge.

Soon they doubled back and the path rose steeply until they crested the cliff and were standing again on the top of the mountain on which sat the cabin where they started their journey. The cabin itself sat a few hundred meters away, and Cochrane began walking towards it. “So what now? Where do you go from here?” he asked as they began to traverse the gravel path to the cabin.

Cochrane, CO

Cochrane was a rather intentional man and she had no doubt there were layers to his simple question. Her heart was beating hard from the exertion of the walk and it felt so very good. “I’m not sure,” she said. “But it feels like there are more options now.”

She lengthened her stride to walk alongside him. “But I’m not adverse to more music, though I’m honestly not sure what time it is and whether I’m going to be late for work.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Cochrane laughed and said =/\= Computer. Ship’s time, please. =/\= There was a chirp and the computer said =/\= Current time is oh-seven-twenty. =/\= Cochrane sighed. “I’m afraid no more music is in the plan for me. But you are welcome to stay and play. It’s… cathartic. That much is certain.” and he chuckled as they approached the cabin.

Cochrane, CO

So it was later than she had thought- a fact that bothered her less than she had expected. Sair offered him a warm smile as her hand rested on the doorknob. “I think my time is up for this morning as well I have a couple earlier appointments and need to get to the office soon.”

Stepping inside to collect her instrument, reality said all they had to do was end the program and their instruments would be there, much like how resetting the program after her leap into the waterfall had removed all the water from her clothes and hair. But Sair had this possibly irrational desire to not ruin the experience by inviting reality in too much. He had offered her a refuge and what good was that if she was reminded too much of what was outside the holodeck doors?

She turned to Alex and gazed deeply before she finally said, “Thank you, Alex. For the invite to create music with you, and for…” Her brows furrowed ever so slightly against her ridges. There seemed to be a lack of suitable words to explain what this all had meant to her in the midst of the swirling chaos she was in right now. “Just… thank you.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

“No thanks necessary. Thats why I’m here.” and he smiled at her. He collected the cello and then stood up straight. “Alright… back to it, then. I will see you around the ship, I’m sure. And don’t hesitate to reach out of you need anything.” He smiled at her again and then moved to the door which appeared as if by magic. ‘Talk to you soon, Counselor.” he said as the door slid open and he stepped outside and out of view.

Cochrane, CO