Birds of a Feather

Posted on Sat Mar 18th, 2023 @ 6:59pm by Lieutenant JG Raven Windancer

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: After Family Outing

Louis had been bored in the new quarters. He, despite instructions to remain in quarters, had decided to explore the ship for places a young man such as himself could have fun. It didn't take him long to discover that most of the recreational facilities were on the same decks as the living spaces. He wasn't interested in the gymnasium or the lounge, but he had never been in a holodeck before.

Louis stood in a 15x15 meter chamber and looked at the panel in confusion. He had never used a holodeck and didn't know the first thing about activating one. He was still standing there when the door next to him opened, startling him for a moment.

Raven was slightly preoccupied as she opened the Holodeck and walked in...almost knocking over...

"Yipes! Who...oh...hello there! Sorry about that, I suppose I should watch where I'm going huh?" Raven chuckled after regaining her balance.

"Hey...whatcha doing in here anyway?" Raven suddenly realized that the young...Raven checked his collar...no rank. "[Hm...this just got interesting] Why don't we start again. I'm Ensign Raven Windancer, Flight Control Officer...who might you be?" Raven stood easy, but was ready to act if the need should arise

Louis looked at the beautiful woman for a few moments before visibly reacting. He spoke with a strong French accent. "Bon jour Mademoiselle Windancer. I am Louis Rouen" He struck out his right hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Louis, or would you prefer Rouen?" Raven asked as she held out her hand.

[Sheesh, ya blink and ya miss 'newcomers day'. I'll say this much though, he sure is a gentleman] Raven thought, suppressing a chuckle.

Louis smiled as he quickly bent slightly and lightly kissed Raven's knuckle. "Enchante."

Raven froze, but didn't pull away at the gesture, not used to THAT level of elegance/chivalry/well...ANYTHING.

"Um...ahem. So...what brings you to the Holodeck?" Was all Raven had the where with all to say at the moment. [Yesh! What's the matter with me?] Raven thought with a mental huff, trying to maintain a calm exterior until she could figured out what this young Frenchmen was up to.

Louis briefly held on to Raven's hand as he straightened, holding it for maybe a heart beat or two before releasing. He gestured at the panel. "I was trying to figure out how to use the panel here, but I have never been in a holodeck before."

"Oh! It's actually pretty easy. Here, you type in what scene you want to be in, weither or not you want to interact with the characters or just see what's going on, stuff like that," Raven smiled as she showed Louis the controls.

Louis nodded as he stepped up next to Raven. 'She has a beautiful smile,' he thought. He turned his attention to the panel and a few moments later they were standing in the Paris Aerodrome. Aircraft of all sorts were parked all about. "This was my favorite place to go with grandfather...before he died."

Raven's eye's widened, then a sad but also joyful smile spread across her face. "I'm sorry about you're Grandfather. This place holds memories for me as well. Before I joined Starfleet, my Pit Crew brought me here a few times for inspiration on winning races and inspiration on how to make our racers better. Heh, they actually had to teleport me here, then back before whatever Foster Family had me at the time actually cared where I was," Raven chuckled softly at the memories.

Louis turned to Raven, a curious expression on his face. "You're a pilot?" He had always wanted to learn how to fly since the first time he went up in an open air crop duster with his grandfather. "Would you...would you teach me?"

"Of course! with your permission?" Raven asked...then realized she'd gotten her words mixed up. "Let me try that again. We can start now if you wish," Raven amended her statement.

"I would like that very much Mademoiselle Windancer." Louis gave Raven a shot smile. He sighed. 'Why is it all the beautiful ones have to be older than me', he thought.

Raven had to giggle at his formality. "Just Raven, unless I'm on duty of course, then you can call me Windancer," Raven ruffled Louis's hair playfully.

"Alright! Let's get this flying lesson started!" Raven changed the Holo settings to a shuttlecraft, quite eager to help a fellow flyer!

Louis froze at the sight of the shuttlecraft. It bore a striking resemblance to the vessel his grandfather had been flying the day Amelie and he had become orphans. When he could move, it was to take a step back in terror. He turned quickly and fled the holodeck.

Raven's jaw dropped, followed quickly by her heart. "Nice going, STUPID!" Raven roared, smashing the console and then just smashing everything. After about ten minutes, Raven dropped to her knees, sobbing as the pain in her hands finally registered in her mind...and there wasn't anything left to destroy.

END SCENE