835: Assorted Mixed Nuts

by Dabin Reece
90321.2300
During and after May We Never... and Behind Schedule

-=USS Serendipity=-


Dabin Reece walked onto the empty grid of the holodeck, holding a PADD in hand. The Captain apparently had a task for him, but her message said to not read it until he was actually on the holodeck. He downloaded the encrypted instructions onto said PADD and as the doors closed behind him, turned it on.

He could only imagine what sort top-secret espionagy type stuff Zanh Liis wanted him to see. Maybe it was some new training program, or top secret plans for the Alchemy, or covert mission coming up on which she needed Dabin Reece alone because no one else on the crew could be trusted with the deep dark horrible secret details of their mission.

Or maybe it was…

“The great minds of history?”

Dabin’s eyes crossed as he scanned down a list of names. He turned the PADD sideways, then upside down to make sure he wasn’t missing something important.

Dabin, I want you to design a holodeck program, with an appropriate setting, for the crew to interact with some of the greatest minds in history. It should be a fun and lighthearted atmosphere. I want this to be a party, not a lecture. I’m entrusting you with this because I know I can always count on you, and you’ll never let me down.

-ZL


“Murph,” Dabin growled to himself. “Did she really have to add the part about never letting her down? Of course she did, because she knows I’ll do what she wants. Even thought she knows I know that she only said that to get what she wants, she knows that she’ll still get it.”

“OK, Computer. It’s you and me and all of the people. Create new program.”

^Please state program title.^

Reece looked at the list of names again. Some he recognized, some he didn’t. He could only imagine what kind of nuts Zanh Liis would assemble to mingle with her crew.

“How about assorted mixed nuts.”

^Enter parameters.^

“I am! Give me a minute! Are you Bajoran? Ok, computer I need you to access the historical database and create these characters.”

Dabin read the names one by one, and the corresponding characters appeared in a circle around him in the room.

Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist, Earth.

Walt Disney, entertainer, developer and promoter, Earth

Randy Pausch, Professor and Computer Scientist, Earth

William Shakespeare, playwright, Earth

George S. Patton, United States Army General, Earth

Doctor Phil McGraw, psychiatrist and talk show host, Earth

Surak, Father of the logic movement, Vulcan

Pamara Ellavia, philosopher, Trill

Zahi A. Hawass, Ancient Egyptian Archaeologist, Earth

Frank Lloyd Wright, architect, Earth

William Jefferson Clinton, politician, Earth

U2, musical performers, Earth

Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, historian, Earth

Chen Kenichi, Father of Szechuan cooking, Earth

The Jonas Brothers, musical performers, Earth

Dabin looked at the group assembled around him. He approached the man who, by Zanh’s list, was known as Chen Kenichi. The character was still frozen, but Dabin grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed his cheeks.

“I love you, man! So will Rada. I can’t for him to meet you!”

Reece looked at the end of the list, “And anyone else you think would be interesting,” Zanh wrote.

“Christ, I don’t know,” Dabin muttered. As he did, another figure appeared. “What the? Computer identify new character.”

^Jesus Christ, a religious figure for Christians on Earth, whom is believed to be the Son of God.^

“Are you kidding me? I thought that was just something humans said when they were ticked off. Way to respect the son of your God,” Dabin said. “All right, I guess you can stay dude. Let’s see, who else.”

Dabin tapped his forefinger on his inflated cheek, creating a rather rude sound as he did.

“Well I’d like to meet that Galileo guy. I know all about being a persecuted scientist. Hey, wait a second, I think that had something to do with that guy!” Dabin said, pointing to the still frozen Son of God.

The new figure shimmered into place, and Dabin gave his beard a tug.

“I think that’s good. Now, we need a setting. Computer. I need some place with historical significance. Where people can gather for a good time. You know, something cool.”

^Define cool.^

“You know, not boring,” Reece walked up to the figure of Walt Disney. “Something he would have made up.”

^Suggestion, The Adventurer’s Club.^

“Wow thanks, that sounds perfect. Could you give me less details? Better yet, some details?”

^The Adventurer’s Club, set in 1937 Earth, was a public nightclub with the theme of being a private club for explorers and world travelers, who were played by actors in the club. The club had several rooms where various shows took place during the night. Main characters included:

Hathaway Brown: Aviator, and the club's resident innuendo-making ladies' man.

Otis T. Wren: Club Treasurer and ichthyologist.

Fletcher Hodges: Absent-minded Club Curator.

Pamelia Perkins: Club President.

Samantha Sterling: Explorer and cabaret singer.

Emil Bleehall: Contender for the Balderdash Cup. Hails from Sandusky, Ohio.

Graves: Club Butler.

The French Maid...^

“Okay, okay, I got it. Let’s just see the place please.”

The grid disappeared, and Dabin was surrounded by the interior of The Adventurer’s Club. The walls around him were covered with all manner of masks, photos, artifacts and other trinkets one would associated with a world traveler.

The separate rooms provided a certain amount of privacy, so crew members could pass from room to room while talking with each other and their “historical figures.”

The Main Salon was the center of the club, with three rooms branching off of it, and a second story mezzanine above. Off the Main Salon was another large gathering room called The Library, and two small intimate rooms called The Treasure Room, and The Mask Room.

“Which one is this?” Dabin inquired as he stood in front of one of the characters, who was dressed in very little other than a smile.

^The French Maid.^

French Maid? I don’t ever recall seeing Fleur dress like this.”

Time slipped past as he worked fine tuning the details of the program, and before he knew it the sound of the holodeck door opening caught Dabin’s attention. He stepped through the maze of frozen characters to see who had entered.

“Liisy!” Dabin grinned. He hadn’t actually seen her since returning to the ship. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too.”

Dabin couldn’t help himself and bear hugged her. Zanh muttered an oof, and patted his back.

“Yeah, right. Listen, I know you’ve gone through the whole wedding and honeymoon deal, but,” Dabin lowered his voice so as to not be heard by the frozen holograms. “You’re still mine, right?”

Zanh slugged him in the arm.

“How’s it going?” She asked.

“Ok, first of all, ow, and second of all… Uh, well. Um. You tell me.”

“I like what I see. Did you add anyone else?”

“Well, I put Galileo in there, and that Christ dude just showed up uninvited.”

“Wait, whoa. As in Jesus Christ?”

“Yeah, him.”

Zanh looked around until she saw the face, familiar to her from not only due to memories of the past but also her recent visit to the church at Turner’s Cross.

“No, no, no. He has to go. My husband would pass out cold if we were using the Lord and Savior of his religion as a prop on the holodeck at a party.”

“You’re the boss.” Dabin said. He ordered the character deleted, and the hologram disappeared. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, I want to talk to U2 but I want to hear them too. Have the computer add some instruments, in there, on the stage.” Zanh pointed to the elevated stage in the room called The Library.

“What about the Jonas Brothers? Lair Arie is going to want to hear them too. If she’s coming?” Dabin asked, wondering if Liis had any news.

“Yeah, she will, when she gets here. Set them up next to U2. They can fight for stage time.”

Dabin clapped his hands together. “So they’re coming home soon!”

“Soon, Dabin,” Liis reassured him. “We need something more. Games. Scrabble, checkers, decks of cards.”

“Aye aye, Captain!" Dabin bounced up and down happily. "I can’t wait for Kellyn to meet Chen Kenichi!”

****************************

Dabin Reece
Chief Science Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

NRPG: Just what I hoped for to set the mood for the party. Thank you Mr. Reece...~ZL