Holo dramatic (back post)

Posted on 20 Aug 2019 @ 2:50pm by Yeoman 1st Class Halona Grayson & Lieutenant Junior Grade Steven Bernard, Ph.D.

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: After Tea and cakes

Halona finished her duties and was delighted to be able to make it to the holo-deck to meet with Steven Bernard again. She wasn't certain of what he had in mind and hoped that her showing up in uniform wasn't too much of a faux pause. She did let her hair down from her bun, letting it fall in curling waves around her shoulders.

Bernard paced back and forth once again on a street on the holodeck. No cars would be going up and down this street: it was a dead end. The 200 feet of asphalt ended with a half-demolished concrete bridge. At the end of the bridge was a basket programmed to refill itself with golf balls and an infinite golf tee that would regrow from the ground. The bag of golf clubs sat in the back seat of an open, Sea Foam Green 1962 Chevy Impala. A cooler he had programmed to give bottles of any beverage out of the ice, sat on the boot. Most of the scene was from an earth movie called "The Truman Show." Here, Truman and his best friend drove golf balls off the end of the bridge and into the night. But Bernard had tweaked the sky to be prettier, full of galaxies twinkling white, blue and pink against the violet sky.

Everything is fine, he thought, It's time, check if she's here yet. He nodded. Then, He looked down and saw he had not changed out of his uniform. He felt his anxiety creep in again. "Stop," he said, he shook it off, "It's just a nice night. That's it. You're okay." He willed himself to turn toward where he believed the door to be. "Computer," He said, "Open holodeck." The doors opened and there she was, standing in the doorway. Her red brown hair caught the breeze from the inside of the deck and fluttered a second. The black and white man was stopped in his tracks.

"Wow," he said.

Halona looked up at Steven Bernard with a smile, the breeze from the open doorway caught her hair lightly, at his comment of "Wow." She raised her brows slightly and turned to glance over her shoulder and then back to him her expression surprised even as her cheeks flushed as she realized he meant her. "Well ... Thanks for the unexpected compliment, ... Can I come in?" She hadn't looked passed him to what was within the holo-deck yet...

Bernard chuckled at himself, and wiped the corners of his eyes with one hand while beckoning Halona with the other, hoping that-- What are you NOT hoping, Steven? Give yourself a break. He nodded. "Yes, come in. I'm sorry. I am nervous but, gimme a second and I should be okay. Lemme show you around."

Halona smiled as she placed her hand in his, his behaviors so different from what she was used to that she didn't even feel the need to think if there was a motive she needed to be wary of.

As he felt the weight of her hand in his, Bernard whispered "Wow," again. He wasn't expecting her to touch him. It was a very kind gesture that took him off-guard. Bernard motioned out to the scene before him with his free hand, guiding her through the landscape.

"I thought it would be nice to take you to a quiet spot. I thought it might be fun to drive some golf balls out into the night. I programmed it so that if your ball reaches a certain speed, it takes off like a comet into the sky--I have only accomplished this a few times. I'm not good at golf. Have you ever played? If golf isn't your thing, I can tell it to load flying targets and we can shoot them instead. Can I get you something to drink? The cooler is full."

Halona looked around her expression delighted at the sight of the sky she chuckled softly, "That's the big guy... Quite a paintbrush he's got." She eyed the set up and then looked up at Ensign Bernard, "I would like to try to see a golf ball go off across the sky like a comet that sounds so pretty! Though the edits you've added already made this look wonderful."

She is a pleasant surprise all round, isn't she? Bernard thought. He laughed. "You know the film?" He squeezed her hand before he let it go, and gave her a driver from the golf bag and set a pair of green-bottled Cokes from the cooler open on the hood of the car.

"It's of my favorites. Depending on how you look at it, it can be an affront to God or a confirmation of his handy-work," he said, and took a sip of his Coke. "Did you ever hear about how in the early 2000's, the scientists of Earth took the Hubble, a very famous telescope, and pointed it at what they thought was an empty space in the universe for 100 hours? They found six thousand galaxies. He always get's the last laugh. He seems to hide things just so that we will look for them. Go on and take the first swing."

"My parents met while watching "The Truman show," they had quite the debate that turned into a date," she smiled softly, "We'd watch it together for their wedding anniversary each year before they go on a date." She shook her head softly at his question about the telescope and their findings, "I will have to look that up," she paused and smiled up at him, "Just don't laugh too much of I miss my swing?"

Bernard didn't want to take his eyes off of her, but he forced himself to take in the night as a whole. What a beautiful--Everything. And she is beautiful too. "I've never heard your name before," Bernard said, "Is it common where you are from?"

Halona swung the driver and for once didn't just knock the ball off the tee to the ground; it went up about four feet before dropping, to plonk into the water beyond the unfinished bridge, "My Mother is Terran, my father is a joined Trill, they had a lengthy debate about names and spelling before my older sister asked if she could pick my name. She kept it secret until I was born then told them she liked Halona because it means 'Fortunate or A Gift', my middle name is Keira meaning 'dark haired' at my father's addition to my name."

Bernard watched the ball drop until he saw the water ripple. He stood, listening, and took the club from Halona. "Nice shot," he said and took his place in front of the tee. "I'm surprised that out of all of the films on a hundred worlds, we would have a connection to the same one--or any of them." He swung, finally relaxing, and knocked the ball a good ways off of the bridge. He thought that he might have the burst speed set too high, but he shouldn't be impatient. "That's a very pretty story," He said turning and offering the club, "about your name. I was adopted. The nurse named me Steven." J was my expiriement designation, he did not say. He was afraid she would see him as less of a person, but he told himself that he would tell her if they got closer.

"Nothing wrong with being adopted, your name comes from Latin if I remember correctly?" Halona said softly as she watched his golf ball fly, when he offered her the driver again she smiled up at him, "So besides 'The Trueman Show' what other films or books do you enjoy?" She swung the driver and knocked her golf ball up high but not far and it pluncked into the water a few moments later.

Bernard took the club from her and felt electricity run up his hand and across his back when their hands brushed, and a bit of a giddy smile escaped onto his face. It's like I'm a kid again, he thought, "Chill, it's just a date. "I never thought of that," he said, "Out of all of the things I've researched, I've not thought to look up my own name. This is going to bother me." He looked up at the sky.

"Computer! Origin of the name 'Steven,' please."

"From the Latin Stephanus and the Greek Stehanos meaning Crown or Garland."

"Interesting!" Bernard said, "Truman's love in the movie was named 'Garland,' right?"

Halona shook her head softly, "In the movie he was intended to fall in love with and marry co-student Meryl, but fell for Sylvia, who was an "extra". Though I haven't watched the credit roll in a while perhaps the actress playing her was called Garland?" Halona smiled as she glanced up at him, "Or we could ask the computer for the answer?"

Bernard shook his head. "Not her first name. I specifically remember him using the company phone, calling Fiji and asking for a 'Sylvia Garland' but yes. His wife, who threatens him with an all purpose kitchen utensil is indeed Meryl." He made his eyes little slits, holding the 6 iron. He yelled at the sky again.

"Computer, Who is Sylvia Garland, context 'The Truman Show'"

"Sylvia Garland in this context does not exist. "

"Damn," he looked at Halona, "You might have me but my memory is usually impeccable." He turned back to the sky. "Is there anyone named Garland in this context?"

" The character 'Lauren Garland' is the character played by 'Sylvia' on the fictional Truman Show of the film. Sylvia/Lauren Garland was played by Natascha McElhone. "

The black and white man made a triumphant "Ha!" noise and shimmied to the tee. He took a swing. The ball went wide, struck a street sign an bounced pitifully down some gravel. He handed the club to Halona while giving her a did-you-use-female-voodoo-to-wreck-my-shot glare.

Halona gave a delighted laugh at his triumphant "Ha" and his shimmy, which turned to giggles as his golf ball bounced off a street sign and stopped in the gravel. At his glare she shook her head smiling, "Confidence before a fall." She said softly teasing, as she took her own swing. The ball went high and far but fell short of streaking across the sky like a comet so far only Steven had almost managed it tonight.

Bernard had opened a bottle of Coke, and was taking in the night again. He liked the lines Halona's body made against the canvas of the scene. You two aren't even confirmed friends yet, hold that tiger. he shook it off. "Hush, it's okay to like a stranger," He smiled.

"Halona," he said, "swing again, huh? You were very close."

Halona smiled up at him, "I just swung and missed it's your turn to try." She held the driver towards him and nodded towards the cooler of soda bottles, "Will you pass one of the colas to me please?"

Bernard grinned. He did not want to try, he wanted to watch her. It's odd, he thought, We want to be watched by people we want to admire us, but it is almost impossible to tell when someone else wants to be watched. He took the driver and headed to the car. Taking in Halona's expression and the sight of her hair down.

"You are a fair woman," He said, "I will do my best."

Halona blinked up at him slightly confused, "Fair as in fair playing games or fair as in a compliment on my appearance?" She wasn't certain which he meant but she was enjoying the game and company regardless.

Bernard looked at her. "Both," he said.

In this moment, he liked Halona so much, he wanted to give her two Cokes. Stop being stupid, J! "No," he thought, "I will take this hour to enjoy what I'm feeling." He used a bottle opener hung on the side of the cooler to pop the top off the bottle, setting the driver in his armpit. He returned to Halona and passed her the bottle.

Halona accepted the bottle of soda from him with a smile, she took a sip and watched him as he got ready to hit the golf ball again.

Bernard set his feet and closed his eyes. He took three deep breaths and thought of nothing but the night sky and the cool breeze. Then he opened his eyes and swung, with his whole being. He felt his body twist, tight and loose just the right places, like a pouncing jungle cat. He felt the driver hit the ball but of course, his body followed all of the way through, not pausing. He stopped as the motion ended above him, at the head of the club.

The ball sped, then caught fire. It grew in size and speed lighting up the sky as it blasted into the night. A the point where it was supposed to disappear. It twinkled. Bernard smiled, satisfied. He walked backward into the hood of the car and sat down. He laid the driver on it and took a swig of soda.

"That's it," He said, "I'm good with that one. You want to keep trying?"

Halona gave a delighted laugh seeing the transformation of the golf ball to comet streaking across the night sky when it ended with a parting twinkle she clapped her hands carefully with the soda bottle still in her grasp. "That was beautiful and yes if you don't mind I would like to keep trying."

Bernard made to pass the iron to Halona, but over extended his arm so that it wrapped around her. His motion put her shoulder in his chest and his opposite forearm ran along hers. His hand held the club out in from of her. He looked goofy and she was a little squished, so the gesture, if sweet at all was just as comical.

He could laugh. But, then he relaxed his hold on her. His expression had a little worry in it now. "I'm sorry, is this okay?"

Halona smiled at him and laughed softly, "It's not the worst hug I have received." She patted his cheat lightly then took the driver from him, she slipped out from under his arm and finished her soda then winked lightly at him as she walked to the tee to try again, she looked at the ball then swung the driver, the crack of the driver connecting with the golf ball as it took off from the tee was clear, it sailed high than morphed as Steven Bernard's had just moments earlier shooting across the sky to end with a twinkling goodbye.

Halona smiled up at him, "Would you care to join me for a parkour run and breakfast tomorrow or another day." Halona asked softly her cheeks pink.

Bernard started to blush, seeing Halona blush.

"Tomorrow," he said, "Yes. Let's do that. Any way I should prepare? And would you like me to walk you to--I'm sorry, I don't knw if your heading to another shift or your quarters. I'd be a happy to walk you anywhere."

Halona smiled, "Just wear something that is comfortable to run or climb in I prefer jogging or tennis shoes myself but I have seen others wearing hiking boots or something." At his comment about walking her to her next destination she nodded her head, "I was going to go check on some of the files in the Diplomacy department. You're welcome to walk with me but I don't know what is needing attention."

Bernard's mind translated her last statement: She doesn't want people thinking you two are a couple "Yet," he thought. Dream on you desperate weirdo.

"Of course," he said, "I'll meet you here tomorrow. What time?"

"Before breakfast tomorrow, if that's alright with you?" She replied lightly.

The black and white man, watched Halona leave the Holodeck and the doors close behind her. "Computer," he said, "save and end program."

Halona stood still looking back at the holo-deck archway wondering why he had not followed her when he'd said he had wanted to walk with her. Shrugging softly and shaking her head maybe she had misunderstood his words. She headed for the lift slowly feeling confused...

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Off

Bernard, Steven J., ENS SF, TAO

Halona Grayson YN1, SF(translation specialist, yeoman)

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