Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Holosuite HIke

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Holosuite HIke

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Holosuite HIke
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
They’d talked about it for a while. Over a few sessions at least. Today seemed like a good day to pull the trigger.

Serena stood just inside the arch of Holosuite 2, fiddling with the main panel to work out the details she wanted. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail that spilled down just past her shoulders. A pair of rugged black hiking boots replaced the more casual duty boots of her uniform. The top of her uniform was peeled open to breathe more, revealing a burgundy tank top beneath.

Stepping back out into the corridor, she crossed her arms and leaned against the bulkhead opposite of the doors, waiting for the chief of neurosciences to arrive.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna showed up a minute later in her standard issue gym shorts and t-shirt, with a light rain jacket and hiking boots. Her chin length blond curls were pulled back off her face with a blue headband and she gave Serena a grin as she approached. “I hope I’m not late. I got caught up in patient files, but luckily had my gear with me so I didn’t have to go back to my quarters to change.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Nah,” Serena replied, shaking her head with a wry smile. She gave Janna’s attire an appraising glance before sighing lightly. “I would’ve dressed differently, but I’m on call. Can’t really ditch the uniform until later, just in case something kicks off and I have to rush back to the bridge.”

Janna gave a half-shrug. “No judgement for me. I jsut figured I’d change so hopefully I don’t smell like sweat for my first patient after this break.”

She turned toward the double doors, gesturing for Janna to follow.

As they stepped through the archway, a wave of fresh air greeted them—rich with the scent of dust, petrichor, and the subtle perfumes of trees, flowers, and loamy earth. Hill country air. It was a stark contrast to the canned and endlessly recycled atmosphere of the ship. There was even a hint of wood smoke in the breeze. The warmth of late spring embraced them, a gentle wind fluttering by to temper the balmy air. Puffy clouds drifted lazily across a bright blue sky.

Janna stood for a moment just breathing in the evocative smells and let herself just exist within it all for a moment.

They emerged onto a concrete path in the middle of an idyllic colony, surrounded by manicured lawns and well-tended streets meant for ground traffic, though there was little of it. Most people were on foot, strolling through the town. Old quick-fab buildings rose up around them—relics from the colony’s early days—while newer structures spread out in a variety of styles. Some looked like classic brick-and-mortar, others were smooth and sleek, resembling poured concrete. A few were made from wood, while others appeared to have been printed and formed on-site.

The sudden roar of thrusters overhead drew their attention. A pair of winged fighters zipped over the valley, cutting through the sky with precision. The town itself lay nestled on a hill at the head of a vast valley, rolling hills leading to a distant, snow-capped mountain range. A river wound its way down from those mountains, threading through the valley and passing just beside the town, its gentle murmur filling the air.

“Welcome to Hanola,” Serena said, though her words felt distant, her gaze sweeping over the familiar landscape. A deep, sudden wave of homesickness crashed over her, and for a moment, her vision blurred with unshed tears.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

She stepped up beside the taller woman and rested a hand on her shoulder. Janna said nothing at first but let Serena have this moment. The aching nostalgia was so acute for Janna, though she was pretty good at hiding her perceptual abilities. Her poker face had bene well established long before this latest development. “It’s lovely. When were you here last?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

The redhead normally had a good poker face too, honed through countless interviews and tense situations. But those skills seemed to elude her now. Janna’s question drove another spike of nostalgia into her, but it also brought her back to the present. “It’s been a long time. I haven’t really been home since I shipped out for boot.” She wiped the corner of her right eye and cleared her throat, steadying her voice. “I do send my folks a wave, or call when I can. I would’ve gone back after my Academy cruise, but Earth is so far. The travel time alone would’ve been rough. I dunno… Maybe if I’d been stationed at Deep Space Nine or Starbase 310 or something, I could’ve gotten home more.”

She wasn’t entirely sure that was true, though. Bittersweet memories of home danced in her mind—the good… and the bad.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Janna’s hand remained on her friend’s shoulder. “It’s hard to be away from the places and people that helped form us, especially if there are positive memories associated with it all. It’s okay to miss them, Serena. You’re allowed to. We chose a life that is sometimes incomprehensible to those outside of it.”

She dropped her hand. “I don’t know about your family, but my mothers both understand my decision to serve and loathe it at the same time. Especially after my accident in the Academy. I don’t tell them much about what happens to us out here because I don’t think they can handle the reality of it.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena nodded. “My folks get it. Dad’s an engineer. Mom’s a scientist. And I chose the way of the gun,” she said. A small flickered across her face at that. “I know they worry about me a lot. But it’s … I just feel so guilty for not getting back here. Boots on the ground. Long distance calls aren’t enough.” I’ve been a terrible daughter. I need to go home next time I’m close enough to make the trip. Or maybe cash in some Leave.

But to what end?

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“You certainly have more than your share earned. You should go,” Janna said softly, elbowing Serena gently.

“Now, let’s go for this hike. Show me this special place?” She was eager to not only get some movement in, but Janna often found shared activity could make certain discussions easier.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t expect this… to hit so hard.” She sighed and continued on the path. Behind them the entrance vanished. Turning to get her bearings, it appeared as though they’d just left one of the other buildings, a two story tall tan brick building. It had tall pane glass windows covered in vertical blinds. Part way up the building was a metal lettered sign that read ‘Community Center.’

“No apologies necessary. These things sneak up on us,” Janna said as she took her surroundings with keen observation.

Turning back to the way they were headed, Serena picked up the pace. “It’s … a ways along the valley. I don’t remember it being so far. But what do you expect out of the memories of a kid.” Serena shaded her eyes and cast her gaze about. “Come on. We can pick up a lift at my house.” My house. It felt both natural and strange to say. It hadn’t been her home in decades. … But there was no doubt it was still home and she could return at any time. That ache returned, but with a different note now. She wanted nothing more than to hug both of her parents so tight her arms might break. For now, seeing the old sights would have to do.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“Lead on,” Janna said as she fell in step with Serena.

“I haven’t been home in awhile either, a fact of which both my mothers have given me heck for. I could have, before I originally shipped out for the Exploratory Fleet, but… I didn’t want to just then. Now there are all these changes and it’s so complicated.” Janna snorted and shook her head.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena nodded. “I know the feeling.” She turned onto one of the streets, her pace close to a forced march, eating up the ground. The redhead was in a hurry. “Complicated?” She glanced over at Janna, head tilting to the side a little. “Some kind of rough family dynamic, or is there something else that’s a problem?”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

With her shorter legs, Janna had to work a bit harder to keep up, but she managed just fine. “It’s umm, something new-ish I’m dealing with. It’s uh, something I wanted to talk with you about because I thought you as XO should be aware, but also as my friend. I don’t have a ton of people I can use as sounding boards here.” She was friendly with everyone, but her close friends were few and far between. “But we can wait till we get to where you wanted us to go first?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

The redhead nodded, and began leading her down the street. In a few minutes they were nearing the edge of town. They were passing what looked like a single story home, laid out along the street with a good sized front yard, . Hedges lined the front of the house, along with a mixture of colorful flowers growing knee to waist high. The lower half of the house was made from stacked brick and mortar, with the other half made out of wood, painted and sealed. A sloped shingled roof that ran into gutters made up the top. Behind the exterior weather door, the front entry door appeared to be a richly stained wood with large decorative glass inlays, with some of it frosted and others meant to see around or through. Easier to see who was visiting before allowing entry.

Janna took in the home, understanding immediately that it was Serena’s home. She had to admit that she was surprised to be taken to her friend’s home but she was also honoured to be shown the place.

Serena stepped up onto the small formed concrete porch. She opened the exterior weather door then thumbed the latch for the main entry door and stepped inside. “Come on in.” Making her way in, Serena doffed her jacket onto a three-seat couch to her left. The doorway entered into a corner-fed room seven to eight meters square with soft carpeting, high ceiling, warm recessed lighting. An old steel or iron desk was to the immediate left of the door. A couch along the left wall. To the right of the door was a reclining chair with a large table filled with odds and ends, knick-nacks and some tinkering and making tools. A small workstation stood in front of the chair. Farther to the right was a chest of drawers, along with some equipment on top. Along the right wall was more storage and another comfortable looking seat. The back walll had a small library of physical books, along with a large display, suggesting it’s entertainment purposes.

The back wall gave way to a small utility room and laundry, with a door into another room. Likely a small bathroom. There was another door in the right back corner of this common room, and a wide open doorway along the right wall front corner into a kitchen area, with another room beyond that down the way. Along the left back corner, a small wall partition stuck out where the library disappeared around the corner, which was the direction Serena headed.

The interior was cool but comfortable, and the air smelled of recently cooked food, a light and pleasant soap, and the faint dust accompanying a house that didn’t have an endlessly scrubbed and filtered air supply.

Going around the corner, Serena and Janna were in what amounted to be a two meter long two meter wide hallway. A two meter by two meter walk-in closet lay to the right. One side was lined with shelves, and the back wall was lined with coats, and other gear. The short … hall… essentially terminated in a dark stained wooden door that was a little over a meter wide. Pulling this open revealed another room three or four meters by about the same, and sunk down by about a meter, down some steps. The floor was carpeted, and quiet. To the far side were two small closets, and the right middle of the wall was a door. At the end of the stairs was another door to the left which Serena made her way to.

She absorbed all the details of the home and what they told her about the occupants, about what was important to them, and what they had access to. Janna couldn’t help but smile as the smells of food and washing up felt similar to her own childhood home.

Opening it up was the inside of a large single-vehicle garage. In it was a small shuttle-type craft. The doorway fed into the left corner of the garage. Shelves lined the left and right walls, the main door made up the far wall, and the front of the house in that section. The close wall was empty. On the left just past the door too was a cold storage container.

Without hesitation, Serena triggered the garaged door from a small control panel on the wall and made her way around the craft. “Get in.” She clambered in through a side door and into the pilot’s seat.

“Alright,” Janna said, hopping in without hesitation.

Once Janna was in, she reversed the craft out of the garage, triggered the door to shut from her station, and brought their ride straight up, rising above the trees. She took them down the street and in a moment they were past the outskirts of the colony, heading down the valley at a somewhat leisurely pace.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“When was the last time you did this? If you feel okay sharing,” Janna said.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Did what? Flying a simulated … basically civilian shuttle? Or …” she trailed off, looking down as though she could see through the decking for a moment. Under her touch the shuttle slewed slowly between trees. Sure she could take them higher, but where was the fun in that. In truth, they weren’t even moving, suspended by force fields with computer generated imagery all around them, but she did her best to put it out of her mind, trying to fall into the fantasy of being somewhere else. Part of her ached for home just then. She’d give anything for it to be real. Just for five or ten minutes.

“No, visited home, I mean,” Janna said.

Once they’d covered a few kilometers, she brought them around in a J-hook style turn and settled down into a clearing just big enough for maybe three vehicles like the one they were in to fit in a tight squeeze. Below the canopy the space opened up a few more meters in every direction but not much. Clambering out, she stretched, arms over her head.

Here the air was cooler with the shade. A soft breeze filtered through the trees, whispering and murmuring through the boughs. Conifers and deciduous style trees mingled and mixed. The air was thick with the scent of loamy earth, grasses and plant-life, pine trees and needles. It was slightly more humid as well, and as they listened, the babbling of water reached their ears.

Janna stepped out and soaked in the setting. It was different than her home, but not so unlike some of the places she’d been. There was a wildness that spoke to her in a very primitive way, even here on the holodeck. It was a feeling she kept very much under wraps at all times. Though… perhaps a little less so lately.

Crossing through the clearing was a foot path a meter or so wide, while not paved, it was well worn. Studying it’s length it descended the valley back the way they had come from, while continuing along the valley in the other direction with at least one visible side trail branching off into the underbrush.

“So this is where I had in mind to go. At least the start of it. It looks like it’s had a lot more use since I’ve been gone.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

She gave a wide grin. “I love it.” Kingston cocked her head in Serena’s direction. “How does this program work, exactly? Is it updated to reflect actual changes or something?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Bump