By Warren Dalca and Avery Breaux
80310.12
Concurrent with Little Sister
Soundtrack: Louisiana, by Randy Newman
80310.12
Concurrent with Little Sister
Soundtrack: Louisiana, by Randy Newman
Avery in his mind was still working over his meeting with O'Sullivan, but he had to start working up the holodeck program for the crew's celebration...the Captain was opting for something from the French Quarter in New Orleans, so Avery had decided to add some tweaks to an existing program he had.
Making his way to the holodeck, he plugged in an isolinear chip, and commanded, "Computer, install Program Breaux 1, and leave for the crew."
He then removed the chip and the doors slid open to reveal the long courtyard walkway that was adorned in greenery and brick. "Computer, leave holo doors open." Breaux thought if any of the passing crew wanted to chime in on designs, he would welcome their input. He'd only lived in the French Quarter, he claimed no prowess in arranging parties.
Avery stood for a moment, before entering...the image took him back to before he became entangled in the world of Intelligence and the Maquis, and he had some trouble putting the thoughts out of his mind-he finally pressed on...stepping completely in the room, he set his hand on the coarse brickwork and he commanded the computer, "Computer leave walkway and add to the end of the walkway a courtyard with fountain, retrieve images from Breaux personal files...within moments a circular gray fountain with water cascading over the edges appeared below a long set of steps on a stairwell...
Breaux surveyed the scene, "Computer, arrange tables with seating for four, white tablecloths and silverware, around the fountain and on the balcony...leave a clear area, six meters by six meters area adjacent to the fountain...food service tables should be off to the right at the end of the courtyard beyond the stairwell...and add humidity."
The heat and close feeling of the South could now be felt..."Increase humidity..." He waited...feeling the change, "Slightly more..." It felt like July.
Breaux walked to the fountain and sat on the edge, he was still a bit overwhelmed by the sight of home.
"Computer, gin fizz, wine glass...sadly, synthehol only." A glass appeared on the edge of the fountain and Breaux scooped it up and took in some of the frothy beverage.
"Will the party have the real thing?" Warren Dalca stood at the threshold of worlds, one foot on blue carpeting, the other on polished marble. The fountain bubbled and foamed behind Avery, and Dalca's presence allowed him to see the potential that more clearly.
Breaux held up his glass, "Three more and it could be a party...join me please..."
With his slightly longer than regulation hair and a spring in his step, the Ensign waltzed into the holodeck, looking around. He acted like a man with a new lease on life. There had been talk in Engineering that supposedly spread from one of the nurses in Sickbay about Dalca and a recent medical visit. "Fantastic. I always wanted to come back here." He stopped, and looked at Breaux, who has holding his glass. "Sorry if I'm intruding, the door was open and I couldn't resist."
"Not at all, no intrusion...by 'back' you mean you've been to New Orleans?...I can use your input then."
"Once or twice while at the Academy. Drinking and dancing from twilight to sunrise on Bourbon Street." Warren glanced around. "And there were places, with shadows that seemed to hold centuries of stories... starlight and scars. The place was full of mystery..."
Breaux nodded, "Scars...yes...she has her share of scars...you're right about that."
"We really didn't get a chance to be formally introduced, sir." He stuck out his hand. "Warren Dalca, security."
Breaux fumbled with his glass and finally got his hand out, concerned that yet another Security officer was making their presence known, "Avery Breaux, Engineering...my pleasure...can I get you a drink?...this is only synthehol I'm afraid...bit of a letdown."
"As are holodecks, when you've been to the real place." Warren nodded. "But drinking is less about the taste..."
Avery agreed, "...right, it's social...more about the company."
Breaux kept his smile up even though the coincidence of having Security all over him in one day was a bit disconcerting...Avery decided not to test the water by asking Dalca about the communique issue. Avery had to find a balance between making a new friend and being paranoid about being 'worked' by an agent of O'Sullivan.
Avery pointed to the food service tables at the end of the courtyard, "Some cajun, some creole, and then the best of the rest and people should enjoy themselves, don't you think?"
"You have a passion for this place," Warren stated, his studious eyes examining the man up and down.
"This is my home Warren...where do you hail from...I'm afraid our hectic start kept me from reading the crew manifest to any great extent."
"I grew up in Prague," Dalca informed him, walking around the holodeck and examining the details thoughtfully.
Breaux pointed to the potted plants that hung from one balcony, happy with the authenticity, "I don't know much about Prague...you had a good experience there?"
"It was... nice." It wasn't a convincing response.
Warren turned to Avery, realizing that not being so forthcoming might be rude. "I have to admit I didn't pay much attention or care at the time. Prague is a beautiful city, golden spires and rich history, but when I was growing up there all I could think about were other places. My family is Romanian, so there were always stories about harsh, hard life in the lowlands and the Carpathians... how we survived because of our tenacity and willpower. So... I dreamed of being there. I dreamed of Paris and San Francisco... and then the stars. You could say I've only come to appreciate Prague in looking back. But my experiences... you take the good with the bad."
Avery smiled, "Not so different from this old girl I suppose," he waved his hand with the glass as though to invoke the courtyard.
Avery looked around inspecting the upper reaches of the courtyard, "Computer, dusk." The lighting slowly dimmed to a hush and the humidity and and gas lanterns took on their full effect. "What do you think Mr. Dalca?...will this do?"
Dalca's nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, taking in the sights and smells so carefully crafted by the Engineer. He sipped from his drink once, held it in the air towards Breaux. "To greeting the dawn."
Ensign Warren Dalca
Security Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Lt Cdr Avery Breaux
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Security Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Lt Cdr Avery Breaux
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012