snip

Julien nodded. “Very well.” he said and they started on their trek to Holodeck 2 that was - surprisingly - free.

In the corridor Julien vamped up his auditory receptor in his right ear to listen if anybody was anywhere close, but nobody was.
“How good are your senses?” he asked in a very low voice, barely audible.

• Julien Smith, doctor

“Ears at Vulcan standard, nose at least six times better attenuated and the fur helps detect movement somewhat. Add a mobile spine that I can whiplash and binocular vision that works best at speed and I’m a holy terror… bones are a bit weaker than humanoid norms though, more like a birds, hollow, for lightness and mobility… and yes I’m telling you this so you don’t break any” Stark replied in his own low whisper.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Julien nodded with an appreciative side-glance at Stark. “Very good.” he said in a whisper. “We will be able to communicate in a very low voice. And no worries, after a few initial unfortunate accidents when I got my android parts, I’ve learned to level the strength I put behind a movement.”

They reached the holodeck and Julien started his simulation of the human colony. He already had a very good idea where Stark would be better than him. Speed had never been his forte, due to the immense weight of his right body half and the imbalance it caused which he had to constantly level out.

They entered a landscape that looked a bit like Vulcan, only there were more sunburnt trees between the rocks that dotted the landscape like sharp teeth reaching upwards. In the distance there was a proper jungle-like forest and a mountain range. The sky had a weirdly purple colour and next to the sun was a small moon.
It was hot and the air was very dry. A slow breeze was cooling things down a little though and forming tiny swirls of red sand here and there. The wind in the few trees around and an occasional bird voice was all there was to be heard.

Julien suddenly wore a warrior’s outfit, black cargo pants, boots, a black shirt and a black protective vest. His leather bealt had a hoster with a Mekleth in it. Next to them a wooden rack appeared. It held the same gear for Stark and two Batleths. Julien took one of them and warmed himself up by moving it in a sort of Katana, a series of studied movements. It was apparent that he was very familiar with the weapon.
He breathed in the air deeply and a slight smile appeared on is face. There was a subtle change to the way he moved and expressed himself.

“Let’s get warm with the program first, shall we? Please feel free to use any weapon you like, I don’t know your preference. I do prefer my real Batleth, but I couldn’t bring it. Why would a doctor have a Batleth? I miss it though, this holostuff is just not the same. MIne is perfectly balanced out for myself.” he said and there was an undertone of eagerness in his voice.

• Julien

Stark dressed as he talked seemingly flowing into his clothes with sinuous grace. “I normally use claw extensions” he said conversationally practicing using a low tone “but these will do nicely” he said picking up two Mekleth. He started to warm up by systematically turning a nearby tree into a bonsai with a flurry of flowing strokes. “T’Pon’s training regimen” he said deprecatingly, “She likes to multi task”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Julien’s right eye watched appreciatively how fast Stark was while he finished his series of movements. “Computer start program, two players” he said.

In the distance a horn sounded, it was an eerie, foreboding tone. Then two Klingons, armed with Batleths, appeared from behind a large boulder some 30 meters away and came charging at them in a run, Batleths raised and roaring.

Julien turned towards them, broadened his stance and let them come, Batleth held at his side with two hands as if he was at ease. His eyes looked eager and there was a light smile on his lips, of which he was probably not even aware.

• Julien

Stark analysed the Klingon’s run and Julien’s stance adjusting his position to not get in the way. Game plan was to leave Julien centre stage and perform hit and run attacks himself to harry and put down the Klingons.

He whispered “Should the option present itself we should try to learn to work in tandem, with your strength and my agility we have options we wouldn’t have alone. Feel free to toss me”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO (and honorary dwarf, don’t tell the elf)