Pirate Island Part IV

Posted on Mon Sep 30th, 2019 @ 5:08pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Vaebn tr'Hwersuil & Lieutenant Paul Michael & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna & Major Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke & Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayde & Ensign Auba Lyna & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn & Sergeant Azure Thompson
Edited on on Tue Oct 1st, 2019 @ 12:16am

1,559 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Marooned!
Location: Holodeck 2 - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1903 hours

Last Time On Pirate Island Part III...
Kat grinned at her husband. "You look amazing." Then she turned to the science officer. "As do you."

"Thank you my lady," Vaebn said with a curt bow. He stood and looked again at the Captain in his similar uniform. "You would be correct sir," he said indicating the raptor shaped badge on the hat which clutched two emeralds, on in each talon, "I could not leave a part of my own history behind for this foray into the past."
And Now The Continuation...
"Shall we go in and see what awaits us?" Kat asked the two gentlemen, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Tyler proffered his arm to his wife. "I would say so m'lady. However, we should steer clear of the king's man and his illegal taxes." Tyler's smile broadened. This little foray into history was going to be just what the doctor had ordered.

Kat slipped her arm through his. "I would be delighted, my lord." She grinned. Tyler looked more relaxed and it suited him.

As the door slid open Vaebn removed his hat and gestured to the door, "After you colonials; courtesy insists." He replaced his hat as he stepped in place behind them and followed through the door. As it slid shut, the doorway vanished completing the scene.

The doors of the holodeck opened onto a lush paradise. A warm breeze danced through the palm trees and large-leafed plants. A dozen different birds chatted in the distance. To the left, a path meandered off, a glint of blue ocean visible through the trees.

A sign in the white sand said, "Welcome to Pirate Island. Luau this way." An arrow pointed to the path.

As they reached the beach, Zhara Rynn met them. "Hello. Welcome. We have food, if you're hungry. Also, a treasure hunt just began, if you care to join."

Tyler looked around, and he appreciated all of the hard work that went into designing this program. The genre wasn't his normal cup of tea, now give him Myles' old western town and the Captain would be right at home. However, his wife had encouraged him to get involved more with the crew. "Lieutenant, well Leftenant given the time period. I think some food would be rather nice. Tell me do do you hula?"

Zhara laughed. "I can hold my own, sir." She had danced the hula a time or two. It wasn't difficult if you knew the technique. It was the storytelling part that took practice.

"I don't believe I have ever experienced a hula before Lieutenant, but I must admit, food and a treasure hunt sounds much more to my direction." Vaebn responded. "Mayhaps I will try your hula later in the evening."

"Let me know," Zhara sid. "For the unt, I'll turn you over to Lady Jayna."

Jayna came up to the group and bowed. "Welcome to Pirate Island. If you're interested in the treasure hunt, I'd be happy to be of assistance." She'd met Vaebn before, and still owed him a coffee. She had yet to meet the Malbrookes, although she knew that at some point she would have to talk with the commander.

Tyler smiled as he pulled the bi-corn hat from his head. "One has to wonder what treasure would one want when one already has everything they want." He gave his wife a playful squeeze. "But it seems that neither Great Britain nor the United States rule these seas. So I think I will have a drink to start. Care to join us Vaebn?"

Kat chuckled and kiss Ty's cheek.

"A drink sounds like an excellent idea sir. I'd love to have a dark and stormy, if at all possible." He turned to Jayna, "It's good to see you again Officer Jayna. This hunt of yours sounds intriguing, I may have to join in after a few generous libations."

Jayna bowed to the captain. "The alcohol is real, m'lords and m'lady."

Then she smiled at Vaebn. "I would love to have you join the hunt. Drinks coming up."

Katherine smiled. "I think that sounds like fun. Tyler?" she asked. "What do you think?"

"I would tend to agree m'lady, one does not know where to begin. I think the Luau and then perhaps Vaebn can show us his seamanship." Tyler chuckled, although he did wonder what the other species in the crew thought of how humans relaxed. He made a mental note to ask about that at a later date. "There is just something about this time period that makes me wistful for a time long past. A time without transporters, and phasers. When all an explorer had was their wits, a blade, and a canon."

"And scurvy and rats and storms," Kat added, grinning. She did appreciate this time period, but she wasn't so sure she'd want to live in it. Especially when the women spent most of their days cooking, cleaning, and raising children. Although she wouldn't mind if she had Tyler with her.

"Ya can't go wrong with a cannon." Quinn said, as she overheard the Malbrooke's speaking. Quinn's accent, was not getting any better. He kept sounding like an irish man, despite his best efforts.

Kat turned to grin at Quinn. "The bigger, the better."

"I'm not sure how good of a sailor I am, but I'll bet I can navigate you anywhere in the world by just the starry sky." Vaebn replied after taking a pull of the recently arrived drink. "I also think cannons of any size wouldn't help much if your adversary can advantage themselves tactically by wind and sail."

"That's a good point." Jayna made a mental note to look up maritime combat strategies at some point.

Tyler clapped Vaebn and Quinn on the back at the same time. "Well then perhaps the treasure hunt is the way to go. With the stars as our guide and the luck o the Irish I doubt we can fail. But a first I will take a Bee Sting. Come m'lady & my comrades let us off to see what adventure awaits."

Quinn was not really fond of the idea, that the holodeck program was malfunctioning. He had heard nightmares, about how bad the holodeck can become, when its malfunctioned. He had a duty to do, and he was going to carry it out, despite his feelings. "Aye Captain."

* * * *

Abruptly, the scenery and surroundings glitch and the scene shivers momentarily, then to one side a giant tree stretches it’s limbs as they unwrap from the trunk and it abruptly shakes itself and leaves sprout.

As if that’s not strange enough, a face forms from the center of the trunk and looks about, mossy eyebrows and mustache quivering as it casts a look about and a deep rumbling voice calls out.

“Welcome treasure seekers, you spirited few!
Here’s a riddle. What will you do?
Guess it right and find your path
Guess it wrong, and I’ll get some laughs!

Seven days sailing, following the setting sun,
Seven days dodging. On the run.
Seven days digging, now it’s done.
Add it all up, and your quest's begun!

Jayna turned to the others. "That's not part of the program."
To be continued...

A joint post by:

Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer