The Haunting of Holodeck Two

Posted on Thu May 29th, 2025 @ 10:42am by Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant N'vok Holv

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: Holodeck Two
Timeline: 1800 MD 3
1098 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

"I'm going to need help from science or engineering," Anna was saying about one of the many strange things she had encountered during her duty shift. "The gravity was completely inverted. The ceiling was the floor. It is possible to adjust it that way but all of the diagnostics said it was normal and then just..." She threw her hands. "Then it was normal."

She was walking with N'vok and speaking companionably as they headed to Holodeck Two. She was still working the holomystery with him. The story itself had gotten a little stale, but it was never the point anyway. She liked the friendship she was forming with the man. "So, how was your day?"

"Not as exciting as yours," said N'vok. "We have had to be very careful in our current experiments, both to ensure data integrity and safety. Yesterday, some Tyrisk Wasps escaped from confinement. We were able to catch them before any harm was caused but there are several other experiments that we have had to lock down until the . . . situation resolves."

"I don't feel we have a better grasp on the situation now that when it first started," Anna said in frustration. "But let's try and relax for a bit." She opened the Holodeck. At first, it was the familiar station from the mystery story. "Maybe we can make some progress today?" She stepped inside.

N'vok paused and then followed behind. "I hope so, there are so many variables, it is like life . . . They have done a good job on the programming." He turned off the feed to his glasses. "I feel we should talk to the Alpha Centaurian lieutenant today."

"Perhaps too many," Anna said. "I'm not sure we've really found a path." she walked into the mess hall and saw it was completely empty. She frowned. "I programmed it for lunch time?"

N'vok looked around. "It does seem empty and no alerts are in progress either in-game or on the ship. Perhaps a programming glitch?"

"Maybe..." Anna said. "I'm starting to..." She shook her head. "Computer end program." Nothing happened. She tapped her comm badge. "Esquivias to Magnus." Nothing. Again, "Esquivias to Morgan." She looked back to N'vok. "Nothing is getting through."

N'vok nodded. "Computer, end program," He tried to no effect and then tapped his badge. "N'vok to anyone, emergency in holodeck two." Again, no response. "Best to try the simplest solutions first." He locked to Anna. "Shall we try accessing the control panel? We are close enough to the door that we should be able to find it."

"If the computer will let us get through the wall," Anna said as she walked to where she was sure it would be. She pressed her hands to the wall but found only the simulated wall of the station. "Am I in the right place?" she checked with her companion as her hands traced further along the outer wall.

N'vok closed his eyes and turned back towards the door. "It should be about there," he pointed to an area about half a meter to Anna's right. "But if there is a wall projected in front of it, we will not be able to reach it." He softly placed his hand on Anna's shoulder. "When I was first in Starfleet, I worked with an Andorian Operations officer, she was young and fresh out of the Academy, as I was at the time. She always carried a tool satchel with her, even to the galley. I questioned her about it and she said that you never knew when you would need your toolkit. I am seeing the wisdom of that now."

"Do not take this as criticism, it is only a criticism of myself for not seeing the utility of her practical view," said N'vok.

Anna looked at N'vok as he placed a soft hand on her shoulder. She smiled slightly. "The other day, I...." Whatever she was about to say was cut off. Suddenly, they were both in water. Completely immersed in dark, salt water. Anna gripped his hand to make sure she hadn't lost him and then started swimming towards the surface. There seemed to be a strong current. She was desperate for air by the time she finally broke the water, gasping. She looked around frantically to make sure N'vok was there too.

A moment or two later, N'vok surfaced, his glasses askew. "Unexpected," he gasped. He took deep breaths as he kept himself above water. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm all right," Anna said.

"No chance of finding the control panel now," he ruefully observed. "And swimming is not my favorite exercise."

"And me without my bathing suit," she said, trying for a wry smile, though she was obviously getting worried. It seemed to be dark but she could see the outline of a rocky coast a few hundred meters away. Waves were crashing roughly against it. She frowned. "I don't see any other choice."

"Best to follow the scenario provided," agreed N'vok. "We will look for the safest place to go ashore once we get closer." He with some dexterity tucked his glasses into his uniform collar and set our toward the shore. While not the most graceful swimmer, he managed.

Anna swam alongside him.

As they approached the land. an island maybe? N'vok paused to tread water. "Anna, what do you think of over there to the right. A beach?"

"Of sorts," Anna said. "That looks like a lighthouse in the distance above it."

"It seems to be the safest part to gain land," he said. "Shall we make for it?"

"Good idea," Anna agreed.

Together they made it to the beach, it was composed of stones and pebbles rather than sand but more inviting than the jagged rocks around it. N'vok helped Anna up. "Not the best of accommodations but at least the company is charming," he said, hoping to cheer Anna up.

She put a hand up on his shoulder and leaned close. "Never thought to charm a Vulcan," she said slightly teasingly. "We'll be ok." She shivered a little. "But I am freezing."

N'vok wrapped his arms around Anna and held her. "It is a good thing our uniforms are self-heating but they are not really designed to be so thoroughly soaked." He gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Once you are ready, shall we try to make our way to the lighthouse?"

"Let's try and make it there," Anna agreed and turned to head that way. She kept close to him, huddled for warmth. Her eyes were on the lighthouse.