Looking for Fun

Posted on Fri Jul 8th, 2011 @ 10:29am by Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper & Captain T'mpest Michaels

823 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Taylforth
Location: Various

Holly once again wandered around the ship. She remembered the quartermaster's promise, but she wasn't sure where he was - or if he'd had something to do as it was already evening. Even so, it'd be better then listening to that spoil-sport Lieutenant Cooper

Apu was making his nightly rounds of the ship. Each night he picked a different deck, which kept him busy. Tonight, he was back where he'd first met the AI girl -- Holly? He wondered if the Caitian had taken her with him when he transferred off the ship...

As if on cue, Holly appeared in front of him. "Hello. Fancy seeing you here!"

Apu smiled brightly. "Hello. I was just thinking about you."

"Well, I was just here" Holly was twirling on the spot. "So, what have you been doing? Any... cute things for me?!"

"I've been doing what i always do. I find things for the crew. I trade." Apu shrugged. "Cute is relative. I do have new trinkets if you want to come look." He gave her a sly smile. "Do you have anything to trade? Any trinkets of your own? Or information? I love information -- nothing classified, mind you. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."

"Information? What kind of information? 2 plus 2 is four?" Holly smiled. "I have a lot more where that came from!"

"Just as you have a liking for shiny jewelry, I like knowing what's going on the ship." He gave her a bright smile. "And I like to learn about new technologies. It helps me better serve the crew."

Apu headed for the turbolift. "Come on, I'll show you what I have that's new."

As the turbolift door opened, Holly looked at the slightly startled Apu: "Right beh- eh- in front of you!"

Apu shook his head. He needed to remember she wasn't human. "You should learn where the Quartermaster's office is. Then you could come visit me whenever you want."

"Aye aye, captain!" Holly saluted for no apparent reason, as the turbolift started moving. "Well, umm, there's a new guy in my room, is that the sort of information you are looking for?"

"Sure, that works. The new chief of science? What's his name..." Apu didn't know everyone on the ship, but he was aware of the major comings and goings.

"Mister Spikes!" Holly's bright grin almost lit the turbolift as the door opened. "Umm, what was it, Carter? No - Cooper."

"Cooper! Yes. Mr. Spikes, huh?" Apu liked that. It fit the young officer. The turbolift stopped and he headed for his office. "You need to remember where to find me, missy. Then you can pop down here any time you're bored."

He opened the door and the lights turned on. "Have a look around."

"I'll remember it." She knit her brows as if thinking hard on something, briefly dissapeared, reappeared and exclamated "Found it!" before she looked around. Her holographic eyes fixed on each object in the office, which looked more like a warehouse, or at least a store, than an office. She finally affixed her gaze on a green, seemingly un-interesting stone, picked it up and laid it on the desk. "This. I like this." She proclaimed.

"Ah," Apu said, his eyes lighting up. "You have excellent taste. That is a rare Zambisian jade. It is purported to have magical properties -- according to legend, anyway. There is no evidence to support the stories, but they are quite colorful. One story tells of a man who was traveling from one city to another. He had a Zambisian jade for his wife. The stone grew hot and he dropped it. At the very moment he bent over to pick it up, a bullet flew over his head, barely missing him. He credits the jade with saving his life."

"Bullet?" Briefly, Holly seemed confused. "Oh, weren't those old human phaser guns?" She looked at the stone. "Magic..." she turned the stone around. It was indeed very pretty, but other then that it could be any old stone. She looked through it. "What if you would craft it... so you can look through it?"

"Like put a hole through it? I think it would look better as a necklace or pendant of some sort. Maybe a brooch. I don't know. Something," Apu said.

Holly put the stone down, and faced Apu. "I think I should be going now, see what mister Spikes is doing." Then she added "Thanks for keeping me company!"

"Any time, my dear," Apu replied. He found Holly fascinating. Such child-like innocence. He wondered how she'd managed to survive without the Caitian. Maybe he new science officer would take her under his wing. Apu would have to check up on her later.

OFF:

A post by:

Chief Petty Officer Apu Pharanivostakirani Barnum (PNPC Michaels)
Quartermaster
USS Ranger

Holly the Hologram (PNPC Cooper)
Hologram
USS Ranger

 

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