Posted by Fleet Captain Ghubari Koraia (Captain) in Holodeck Two- What They Don’t Know…

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Séan Iven (CNS) in Holodeck Two- What They Don’t Know…

Posted by Fleet Captain Ghubari Koraia (Captain) in Holodeck Two- What They Don’t Know…
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“It was!” Viyara beamed as she turned her head to look at Ghubari. And without thinking she continued a little more softly, “It’s moments and thinks like this that make me really feel alive.”

“You should try hiking Kilimanjaro on Earth. Guaranteed to put things into perspective,” Koraia said thoughtfully.

“Thank you for the tip. I will,” Viyara replied with a lopsided smile before taking a deep breath. And she meant it. Tips like that were something she valued.

Séan took a few more minutes to catch up to the women. With a good amount of perspiration he pulled himself up to the ledge and got steadily to his feet. His breathing was deep but steady and he stretched his large frame to get the small kink out of his shoulder. He ended up with his hands cupping the back of his head as he looked out on the simulated environment. It was a good bit of exercise but wasn’t his preferred type. Besides if he knew he was going to be doing some climbing he would’ve done a bit better job of stretching first.

CNS Iven

Turning swiftly on her heel while still standing right at the edge of the ledge, Viyara grinned at Séan, her expression full of mischief. “I don’t think we have met. I’m Viyara Nazeen.” Turning her head slightly, hands on her hips, she looked towards the horizon and added, “Isn’t this a beautiful view?”

~Ensign Nazeen, Scientist

Séan turned his head to look at Viyara at her greeting and follow-up question. “Pleasure to meet you Viyara Nazeen. I’m Séan Iven. We haven’t had a chance to meet yet as I recently came aboard.” He turned to look back at the view. “Yes it is.”

He moved closer to the edge of the ledge so that his toes were just hanging off and he looked down, gauged the distance to the ground, and shook his head. “While the fall might not kill either of you and I’m sure the good doctor welcomes any business thrown his way, I don’t think rock climbing with the safeties off is a smart idea.”

CNS Iven

Ghubari couldn’t help but grin. “Neither was ordering my ship through an unknown anomaly at the request of a Human who lives with a bunch of advanced alien beings, but here we are,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, I’m never careless with my body. And there are ways to invoke safety features instantly in an emergency, if you’re thinking about out them. Fail safes are nice to have but they aren’t always likely.” She turned her head to gaze at Iven. “But if it would make you feel better, I can activate them again.”

Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

Séan looked at Ghubari with a neutral expression. “Carelessness and recklessness seem to troll a thin line Captain. I’m not here to judge but I would be remiss to not point out an observation. As for my comfort level, well I’m confident in my ability to climb a cliff. I don’t personally mind if you leave them off, but… it does make it look like a psychological outlet with the risk seeking behavior.”

CNS Iven

Viyara only just managed to suppress a single, almost humourless laugh. She couldn’t talk for Ghubari, of course, but it was a very accurate description of her own behaviour. Not that she’d ever admit that willingly to anyone. Shifting her position so that she was looking towards the horizon again, she found herself pondering what it would feel like to let herself fall forward and then fly or glide away. She had always envied birds in a way for their ability to fly wherever they wanted.

~Ensign Nazeen, Scientist

The empath couldn’t read Viyara’s thought’s of course, but in close proximity the captain generally was aware of the tenor of them. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been lectured about anything this like from a counsellor, and something about that whole situation made her feel highly amused. “Life is risky, Counsellor. I’ve never asked anything of my crew that I was not willing to do myself, and the one thing about being an empath is that people aren’t nearly as good at hiding themselves form me as they wish to think. You can still make an unpopular choice knowing full well the consequences and still have it be okay.”

Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

Séan sighed before he lowered himself to sit on the ledge next to Ghubari. He spoke softly. “Yes, life is risky. Getting up in the morning and going about your day could very well lead you to injury or death. Going through a wormhole to the Mirror Universe and saving two universes is risky and it comes at a cost. But there’s a difference between taking a risk when you really have no choice because the consequences are the same whether you fail or you didn’t even try. A good leader will inspire her crew because she will be right there in the thick of it with them, but they also need to lead by example.” He turned to look at her. “Will you allow the crew to turn the holodeck safeties off? Not just for rock climbing but for anything? What if I want to swim with a great white shark but I want the safeties off because I want that thrill and I know the chances of getting attacked are only one in a hundred? What if I want to play Russian roulette where my chance of death is one in six? Now before you tell me that these situations aren’t related, I argue that the behavior behind them are the same just at different levels of extremes.”

CNS Iven

What am I, two? Koraia though with irritation. “Computer, end program and reengage safety protocols.” The scene vanished, leaving the three of them in the gridded space. The captain pushed herself to her feet, all amusement having vanished from her demeanour. “For the record, the ensign was doing so under my supervision. Given my background and my impeccable record I do have the ability to weigh that risk, so no it’s not a blanket free-for-all.” Ghubari turned to Viyara. “Time for you to go, Ensign,” she said seriously. “Thank you for the climb.”

Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

Risking to get snapped at by the Captain and to receive a talking to by the Counsellor, Viyara took a step closer towards Séan. There was defiance and also a hint of pride in her expression and the way she held herself, chin lifted high. “Ive been doing rock climbing since I was a child and always in the real world. No safeties there either. Both of us are experienced climbers so we both knew what we were doing when I suggested to turn the safeties off.” Spreading her arms wide she continued, “Even with the safeties off this is a safe place. Much safer than the real world out there, believe me. And if you have never had to make that experience: lucky you.” Realising how much she had shared, or at least hinted at, without meaning to, Viyara took a deep breath and turned towards Ghubari. Her expression a little softer, she said, “You’re welcome. I enjoyed it.” Well, till things went downhill, anyway, she thought to herself as she made her way towards the door without waiting for either one of them to say something. She wasn’t worried about getting into trouble. Right now she was only worried that she might share even more than she already had. And that could not happen. What was it with this crew messing so much with her head?

~Ensign Nazeen, Scientist