An outing on the soccer field

Posted on Mon Jun 13th, 2022 @ 4:54am by Lieutenant Mark Valleroy & Corey Valleroy & Connor Valleroy

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Deck 4, Holodeck 5
Timeline: just after the events of "Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!"

The two boys passed the ball around lazily. "Are you sure we're supposed to be here?" Corey asked his younger brother.

"Yeah, Holodeck 5, 1700 hours," Connor said. "At least that's the message I got from Uncle Mark." He kicked the ball again, but misjudged a bit and sent it sailing past his older brother, who made an effort to kick it but missed. The ball took a few bounces and kept rolling until a foot clad in a soccer cleat came down on on it, bringing it to a stop.

"So, I trust you two are ready for the previously referred-to rematch?" Mark asked his two nephews, referring to their last soccer game on the holodeck, in which Mark and his holographic teammates had beaten the two brothers and their holographic team by a score of 3-1."

"You better believe it," Connor said.

"Yeah, we were almost afraid you'd be too afraid of a rematch to show up, Uncle Mark," Corey said.

"Hey, I just wanted to give you two time to think it over and see if you wanted to bow out," Mark replied, to which both boys scoffed and rolled their eyes. "In seriousness, sorry for the bit of a delay. Counselor Vianelli's daughter Briella managed to get lost, and the concerns over her safety were heightened because there's been a bit of a security concern recently over an attempted kidnapping of her in which the perpetrator is still on the loose."

"Everything all right?" Connor asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Fortunately," Mark said. "Apparently she just wandered about the ship for a little while before running into the new assistant chief medical officer, who just happens to be Caitian. So you can imagine the reaction of a 2 year old to seeing a giant 'kitty'."

"Oh, don't envy the doctor," Corey said, wincing a bit.

"Indeed," Mark said. "But fortunately Briella is all right, although apparently on a bit of a sugar high from too much ice cream, so all's well that ends well, I guess. Now, about that rematch?"

"But why don't we make it interesting?" Connor asked, glancing at his brother.

"Oh? How?" Mark asked.

"If we win, we get one guys' night out in the ship's lounge, all the ice cream we can eat," Connor said.

"No, make it three, just to make thing particularly interesting," Corey said.

"All right," Mark said with a shrug. "However, if you lose, I'm letting Counselor Vianelli and the other parents of young children know that the two of you are available to help out with babysitting duties if needed."

"Oh, you are so on," Corey said with a grin.

"Good," Mark said. "Make sure to remind me afterwards to check with sickbay to make sure your first aid and CPR certifications are up-to-date, especially for young children."

"Oh, please!" Connor quipped. "The only thing you'll be checking in with sickbay over is to ask for their treatment for bruised ego!"

"Computer," Mark said, "access Valleroy soccer program 1-A. Begin program."

****

Note to: all parents of young children on board
From: Lt. Mark Valleroy

Please be aware that my nephews, Corey and Connor Valleroy, are available to assist with babysitting duties. Their first aid and CPR certifications, with particular attention to younger children, are recently up-to-date.