Posted by Captain Kelly Shultz (Commanding Officer) in Holodeck - Meditation? I Don’t Think So (Open to Anyone, But Be Warned…)

Posted by Lieutenant Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Holodeck - Meditation? I Don’t Think So (Open to Anyone, But Be Warned…)

Posted by Captain Kelly Shultz (Commanding Officer) in Holodeck - Meditation? I Don’t Think So (Open to Anyone, But Be Warned…) Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk walked down the corridors to the holodeck dressed in faded sweats and carrying a large black duffel bag. Arriving at the door, he pressed the access and walked in. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Computer, begin Mardusk program Kilo-Indigo-Charlie-Kilo-Indigo-Tango.” he said and the black room with yellow grid lines vanished, replaced with an empty dive bar about the size of the ship’s lounge. Spray paint covered the walls in various styles and quality of graffiti; and there were stickers and posters adhered to almost every surface denoting band names, political statements, anti-authoritarian slogans, and a variety of vulgar and profane proverbs. Mardusk looked around at the stools, chairs, bottles of various sizes and shapes… some filled, some not. Walking to the end of the bar, he dropped the bag and looked at the empty stage at the far end of the room. “Populate stage. Earth band. Twentieth century. Sex Pistols.” and a quartet of musicians appeared. The lead singer looked out and said “Oi, Gravel! Good on ya, lad.” and he looked around. “Where is everyone?” he asked in a strong Cockney accent. “They’re coming, Sid. Be here in a sec.” and he looked at the empty room. “Computer. Populate room - era appropriate.” and a multitude of human beings appeared and immediately began interacting. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The bartender, a large man, looked at Gravel and said “Been a while, G. Where ya been?” and set a large pitcher and a four shot glasses on the bar. “Moving. New gig. Had to play hooky for a while. Good to be back though.” Gravel said and then nodded at the bag. “Mind if I change in the back?” he asked. The big man simply jerked his head in the direction of a door, to which Mardusk grabbed the bag and entered. He came a few minutes later. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The sweat pants had been traded for a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and combat boots. A t-shirt under the jacket read “NOFX”. He walked back to the bar and lifted the pitcher. “Thanks, Mike.” and the bartender nodded. As the big green Orion lifted the pitcher, the sounds of the band tuning up began to fill the room. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Kelly entered the room wearing a skin tight wet suit and stopped abruptly at the door looking around. “Dorothy you are not at the Great Barrier Reef”, she said looking around the room. The white sand beaches and turquoise blue water of the program she thought she was entering had been replaced by a seedy bar with a half decent band preparing for a set. Kelly had sworn Ian booked the room for her to scuba dive but it was absurdly obvious she was wrong about the time, room or both. Spying her security chief at the bar Kelly approached him. Whether she was right or wrong, it felt weird to just walk out without saying something. Besides it was a bar with a band and that was two things she seldom passed up. “Hey Mardusk,” Kelly said taking a seat at the bar as if she were wearing appropriate attaire and supposed to be there. “Sorry about the intrusion. Mind if I grab a drink before I go,” she asked : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain Kelly Shutlz : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk looked at the Captain and grinned a bit and then turned to face straight at the bar. “Not at all, Captain. By all means.” and he said “Hey Mike. One for my friend.” He gave her attire a glance in the mirror behind the bars and the smile broadened. “I take it the yeoman forgot something?” he asked knowingly. “Or is your Old Earth sub-culture knowledge a bit… skewed, Ma’am?” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Okay Mrs. Linda Shultz is ma’am. On the bridge I am Ma’am…or Sir,” Kelly picked up the bottle of beer handed to her by Mike. “Off duty I am just Shultz or Kelly if you get to know me well enough. As for my outfit,” she took a long drink of her beer. “That can be fixed. I was going to go scuba diving. I read somewhere that watching fish was relaxing so I thought lets take it one step further and go swimming with them, but a realizing drink has always done the trick before. However,” Kelly drummed her hands on the table and stood up. “I appear to be a tad undressed. Be right back,” she stood up and walked towards the bathroom. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain Kelly Shultz : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Don’t stand barefoot in there. It’s not hygienic.” Mardusk shouted after her as the band began arguing about what song to play first. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “You’re right,” Kelly said coming back to Mardusk. “Give me your shoes,” she said motioning for them with her hand. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain Kelly Shultz : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Off duty you are just Shutlz or Kelly, right? Ok, then… Shultz. Here you go.” he grinned and unbuckled one of the massive boots and dropped it on the floor with a thud. “It’s a size 24.” he said dropping the next one. “Don’t scuff the leather, yeah?” as he motioned for another drink. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Oh if we are on far more intimate terms than Shultz if I am about to start wearing your clothes,” she laughed. With a size six shoe Mardusk’s shoes were literally four times her size. There was no way she would be able to walk in them without her foot sliding out with each step. “My God you have huge feet but you know what they say about big feet,” Kelly replied with a smirk as she began to scuffle her way to the rest room. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Five minutes later she returned wearing a pair of jeans and a low cut V-neck graphic t-shirt that had the words MORE PLEASE across the front. She dropped Mardusk’s shoes next to him with a clunk. Having replicated a pair of black strappy stiletto’s for her own feet. The shoes were highly impractical but Kelly did love her high heels. She wore them enough that she could even run in them if the occasion called for it which it had on other nights during shore leave. Her gait would not win any PT awards but it did move her from point A to point B at a respectable rate. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “So does this place hold any sentimental attachments to it,” Kelly asked taking her seat again at the bar and signaling for a drink. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captian Kelly Shutlz : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk’s sip of beer slid past a grin as he drained the pitcher. He then slid a shot glass in front of Kelly. “This…” he said swiveling in his chair to put his back to the bar and indicating the space with a broad sweep of his arm, “… is CBGB. Legendary punk rock bar from old Earth, New York City circa 1978.” and he slammed the shot and set the glass on the bar behind him. “All the greats played here. The Ramones. The Clash. Black Flag. Dead Kennedys. Bad Brains. Minor Threat. And that…” he said looking at the band that was now in full argument about the set list, “… is the greatest of them all. The one and only… The Sex Pistols.” His voice held a sense of awe and wonder that was not normally a part of anything the big Orion did or said. He stared at the band for a few moments with a huge smile on his face. He then turned back and took another shot. He looked at Kelly and said “Drink that, and few more. We have 5 songs before the party kicks off.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Kelly was not a rookie at drinking. She was not a lightweight but she was a female and her body weight could only hold so much. Most of the time she could tell her limit so she picked up the shot and threw it back. Kelly could handle a few shots. The instant the liquid hit her mouth, her mouth felt like it was on fire. Choking back a few curses that would get any good Catholic girl a knuckle-rapping by a nun, Kelly swallowed the shot and gripped the edge of the bar. “Okay Hulk,” she said in a slightly raspy voice, “what was that and give me the next one,” she waved her hand in a rolling motion indicating to bring it on. While the liquor burned going down, it did fill her instantly with a warm sensation. After a few more, Kelly knew she would kick back to the music and end the night comming Ian to see what he was up to. She not only knew her booze, she also knew what she liked to do after shutting the bars down. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captian Kelly Shultz : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk slid the next over and said “That is Jameson. Cask Strength. Not for the faint of heart… or those with high blood pressure or heart conditions.” he said. “And if you prefer Shultz, then I prefer Savage Dragon. More original and more creative comparison. Besides… I suck at science.” and he tossed back another shot as Mike the bartender set another pitcher in front of him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : : : : : : “Well savage Dragon do you want a bit of hair on your chest,” Kelly signaled the bartender over. She was going to have to be careful with this next request. “Two shots of Absinthe,” she ordered. At 90% proof, she would have to slow down and fast. “And a beer,” she added to the order. With his size, Mardusk could probably down a few but still, 90 proof was 90 proof. “So besides sitting at a bar, what do you do for fun?” : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain Kelly Shutlz : : : : : : : : : : The band started up and the loud and raucous refrains of “Anarchy in The U.K.” began filling the bar with noise and people began to slam into each other on the dance floor. Mardusk grinned and said over the music “I like long walks on the beach, knitting, and quiet nights reading poetry.” he said sarcastically. As he finished, the body of a skinny young man in his late teens or early twenties came flying out of the mass of dancers. Gravel caught him, grinned at him said “Back in you go, mate! I got you!” and tossed him back into the swirling mass. He looked at the glass of bright green liquid Mike the bartender sat in front of them and cocked an eyebrow at Shultz. “Really? Well, you’re the boss.” and raised his glass in a silent toast. : : : : : : : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : : : : : : Kelly took the drink and braced herself. The liquid burned like liquid fire causing Kelly’s mouth to pucker and her to shake her head several times. Slamming her hands down on the table she turned to Mardusk spinning on the stool with a grin. “I have not drunk this since the night we rescued Bruce,” she announced. “When is the last time you drank it?” : : : : : : Captain Kelly Shultz : : : : Mardusk downed the shot and set the shot glass on the bar. He then looked up at the clock on the wall and said “Three seconds ago. And that tastes like crap. Did I do something to make you mad?” he asked while making a face. He motioned for Mike the barkeep. “Get us something to wash the taste of feet dipped in crotch out of our mouths, will ya?” and Mike laughed and walked away. He came back with two shot glasses filled with a reddish brown liquid and two pints of beer. The song ended and then the guitar started up again into “Pretty Vacant”. Mardusk nodded at Mike and then picked up the shot glass. “Never give me that again, Shultz.” he said with a grin and a nod to her own shot glass sitting before her. : : : : Mardusk, CoS : : “Oh Gravel do you really think I achieved the rank of Captain drinking wine and champagne while inspiring my men from the shiny throne on the bridge,” she gave him a smirk. Picking up the shot she downed it. “No these pips were earned drinking with my men and not always out of clean glasses or in the places with the most hygienic bathrooms.” Taking a minute to guess the name of the drink she finally threw out one. “Red Carpet courage,” she asked trying to place it. : : Captain Kelly Shultz Mardusk smiled as he took a drink of beer. “Now you are just mocking my love life.” he said, and motioned for another round. “Southern Sledge Hammer. A favorite of that guy singing on stage.” he added. The band finished the song and a very impressive stream of obscenities could be heard clearly over the microphones on stage. It lasted for about thirty seconds, and then the loud guitar kicked in again and the loud guitar refrains of “EMI” spilled out over the crowd. Mardusk, CoS

Kelly held up a finger signaling for Mike to come back. Standing up she leaned forward across the bar and whispered her drink order to Mike. Sitting she grinned back at Mardusk as the drinks arrived. “Speaking of love lives your turn to guess the drink,” she said taking one of the shots Mike had just delivered and pushing it in front of the large Orion. “These three men in this little glass have never let me down. Tell me who they are. One, two, three drink,” Kelly said throwing it back. The shot made her squint her eyes up and bang the countertop several times as it went down her throat. “I never said they were nice guys but they definitely helped me forget more than one real-life bad decision,” she gave him one last clue of the light yellowed colored drink. The smell would not give it away immediately but it might give him a definite hint as to one of the liquors.

Captain Kelly Shultz

Mardusk tossed back the shot, enjoying the fire as it rolled down his throat. “Hmmm…” he said after a moment “Jose, Jack, and James.” and he looked at her. “Am I close?”

Mardusk, CoS

“I never go out with thoughout the counsel of my Three Wise Man,” Kelly picked up the glass and in a congratulatory salute. Setting in back on the table with a clink she looked at Gravel. “So is there a Mrs. Mardusk back home on Orion, couple kids and a pet or are you the bowling on Thursday night kinda guy with only pizza and beer in your fridge?” Kelly wasn’t sure he would answer but you never got an answer if you didn’t ask the question.

Tapping the table a few times, Kelly called out Mike’s name. “Can you get me a burger loaded with fries and cheese. Lots of cheese. Need it to soak up some of the shots,” Kelly said with a half grin turning back to Mardusk.

Captian Kelly Shutlz

Mardusk watched the band for a few moments, and then said “Nope. No Mrs. Mardusk. No kids. No pets. I have no idea what ‘bowling’ is, but I have been know to put away a pizza or three. And beer doesn’t last long enough in my place to make it to the fridge.” and he looked at Kelly.

Kelly rubbed her hands together as the burger was set before her. It was classic bar burger: Large, probably either over or underdone, and greasy. Taking a large bite she groaned a little and sunk back in her chair. “This is sooo good,” she said rolling her eyes. “Wanna bite,” she offered taking another one herself.

“What about you? Any plans on becoming Mrs. Captain’s Yeoman?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye and a small smile.

Mardusk, CoS

Kelly coughed a bit on her bite and chewed slowly. She did not care about him asking the question. She just thought the way he asked was comical. “No, but I might be persuaded in time to attend functions as Captain Shultz and her hot Cajun escort,” she punctuated the sentence popping a fry into her mouth. “I mean who doesn’t want to be 120 and lying in bed telling my grandchildren and great-grandchildren that I dallied with a man who not only raised thoroughbred horses but also wrassled gators when he was home on shore leave. Not many combinations like that in this world,” Kelly washed down her snack with a sip of beer. “Besides he makes me laugh and well that is the quickest way to get me in bed,” she let out a small hiccup paired with a chuckle.

Captain Kelly Shultz

Mardusk waved off the burger and said “No thanks. I’m Vegan.” and took a drink.

Mardusk, CoS

“Vegan…really,” Kelly cocked an eyebrow at him with a disbelieving expression. “I am not being a Judgy Judy here but you are awful big to have survived on Tofu and carrots,”

Kelly took a long swig of her beer and looked around. The room as a bit spinny but she had been far more inebriated and in far less savory places. Taking another bite of her burger, Kelly mulled over a question in her mind. “Okay honesty flag,” Kelly said tossing a balled up napkin onto the bartop symbolically. “What gave Bordeaux and I away? It can’t be because we are together 24/7 because part of his job requirements are to keep me caffeinated at all times.” Kelly let out a small laugh trying to pass it off as a joke but she did have her doubts. Ian was fun to be around. He was also young, ambitious and a lot of fun during nightcaps. That side of them Kelly thought was well hidden. Now Mardusk was saying otherwise.

Captain Kelly Shultz

Mardusk, leaning his back against the bar, absentmindedly reached out a large hand and grabbed the burger from the basket and took a bite, setting it back down without acknowledging. “Yep. Vegan.” he said around the mouthful of burger.

After a few chews and a drink from the beer pitcher, he continued to watch the band, scowled slightly, and said “Well, let’s see. You are constantly around each other, but that is excessive even for his job description. Holodeck logs, which I watch for signs of abuse or misuse, show the two of you in there together alone… a lot. Proximity logs of Senior staff, which I track so I know the location of key personnel in case of an incident and loss of comms, show the two of you spending off hours in the same locations a lot… usually your quarters. Add to all of this the pupil dilation and increase in respiration when you see each other and the fact that when we first met you were perched on a chair with your aft section at most people’s eye level and it only occurred to you that it was him who would be seeing you in such a… tactically unsound position… well, it doesn’t take a person trained at reading people to see that you two are… together. And if I have seen it in the short time I’ve been on board, I would imagine more tenured personnel have put it together as well. If they haven’t, we might want to reevaluate our hiring standards. And their eyesight.” and he took a drink of beer and signaled Mike for another round of shots. “So there ya go.”

Mardusk, CoS