Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck -I can just throw myself off the side of the cliff - MacGregor counseling thread

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Thomas McGregor (COS) in Holodeck -I can just throw myself off the side of the cliff - MacGregor counseling thread

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck -I can just throw myself off the side of the cliff - MacGregor counseling thread
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Vanessa stood in the holodeck waiting for MacGregor to show it. It was not that he was let. More that she was early by about fifteen minutes. It took a while for her COs to understand that the use of the holodeck was not a trick but an actual therapy technique that worked with vastly better results than a couch. Captain Marius was probably suspect at first like most of the others but so far he had not told her to stop which to Slade was unconditional acceptance and approval to continue. For the first time however in a long time, Vanessa was wishing she had gotten a big fat no from the old man.

The space was already programmed from a file Thomas had forwarded to her to upload. She knew what to expect but like most things in life expectation and reality seemed to clash. The landscape was beautiful and Vanessa chose to focus on that while she waited for Tom to arrive.

Vanessa Slade CNS

OCC: I hope it is okay I started a new thread. Your line in the last post made me smile. I also set up the post but kept out specific details so you can add in where we are in case you had a specific idea. ~ Kate

Turn up he did, in a form-fitting shirt and not-quite-form-fitting-but-still-quite-tight shorts, and shoes that were decidedly not Starfleet-issue.

He lit up with a smile at the sight of the scenery already loaded and waiting for them.

“Ahh, El Capitan,” he said. “It’s been way too long since I last visited the real thing.”

COS

“You have done this for real,” Vanessa said looking up and shading her eyes with one hand. This was huge but even bigger when you were standing next to it and looking up.

Thomas nodded. “The first time between my first and second years at the Academy, then after graduation, and once right before I left for the old Genny,” he said.

Since this was a holodeck program, Vanessa had not had to do any work to find appropriate attire. The computer dressed her in a simple black pair of running shorts and a form-fitting shirt. “So how do we start,” she asked Thomas taking a deep breath. “For the record, when I thought you said rock climbing I thought you meant on one of those little walls with the brightly colored hand and foot grips.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

Thomas chuckled and smirked at her. “If I wanted to do that, I would have said polyurethane climbing,” he said. “I did make sure to leave the safety protocols on, so you don’t have to worry about falling to your death here.”

COS

“Yay,” Vanessa said in a highly happy but fake tone and smile. It was not sarcastic but more forced as if she was trying to convince not only Tom but herself it was really. “So,” she clapped her hands together and then leaned up against the rock, “let’s do this. So we just scamper on up?” Vanessa found a rock and a crevice and stuck a foot in it and pulled up with her hand. It was only about six inches off the ground but she had never done this before. Tom was the expert.

Vanessa Slade CNS

OOC: You flatter me.
OOC: No way. You are an amazing writer and I am so lucky and happy to be able to write with you. ~ Kate

OOC: I meant in re: rock climbing, I am very far from an expert XD

IC: “Well, it’s not quite that simple,” Tom said, walking over and picking her up, pulling her off the rock and putting her back on the ground. “Certainly, doing it completely bare-handed is possible, but definitely not recommended for a first timer. I’ve never done a free solo here, but I know it is doable.”

Vanessa let out a laugh as Tom plucked her off the rock. The image of an overzealous elementary schooler tackling the side of a recess jungle gym sprung to her mind as she looked up at the calm and controlled security chief brought a smile to her face. She could see why the men on the ship followed Tom’s orders to hell and back without a whisper of dissent. He easily commanded the space without being an overbearing presence.

“So we don’t just climb and pray we don’t fall to our deaths,” she asked only half joking. “Cause there are safety controls on right?” The question was rhetorical. Safeties or not holodeck were designed for a completely real experience and the mind easily accepted the facade. That was why holodecks worked so well for the participants. It might just be smoke and mirrors but the mind registered it as real as a five-alarm fire.

“Yes, the safeties are on,” Thomas reminded her.

He gestured to a series of ropes running along the face of the cliff. “We’ll be using these to support us on the way up and give a little extra protection from falling. I’ll even stay on belay for most of the climb, if you’d like the extra security.”

COS

“I’d like a hover pack if we are being honest but in for a penny in for a pound.” The saying was all she needed in reply as she walked over to the ropes he indicated. “Two questions,” Vanessa stated holding up her first finger. “The first question is is there a manual to how to hook up to the ropes? The second it what the hell is a belay?”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“There should be…” Thomas started to answer, looking at the base of cliff for a moment before finding what he was looking for “Aha! Harnesses. You slip one of these on, like a vest and a belt, and then a succession of carabiners and d-links as we move up. A belay means I’ll be below you, anchoring the rope so I can arrest your descent if you slip.”

COS