And Then Some Time On A Beach

Posted on Sun Nov 17th, 2024 @ 4:57am by Michelle Erilin & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jadizon Enor

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Matira Beach, Bora Bora (Holodeck 3)

As they chatted about essentially nothing on the short walk to the holodeck, Michelle had reached up to put her hair up from reaching down past her shoulders into a firm yet still elegant bun. It came naturally to her to be able to both walk and do the intricate work at the same time and she was smiling as they finally arrived at the holodeck door and she waited for him to input the program.

When the door opened onto the pristine white sand beach and the light blue bay spreading out in front of them, she only barely hesitated before setting foot inside and then almost immediately slipping her shoes off and burying her toes in the sand. This wasn't her first time on the sand, even in the holodeck, but it had been a very rare scenario for her to find herself in. Most clients had avoided the grittiness of the beach and instead preferred the relative sanitation of a pool.

Past the initial heat of the surface sand, her toes found the relative coolness of the grains an inch deep and she smiled in pleasure, even while a light breeze ruffled the skirt and shirt she was wearing. "This is lovely, Jadizon, but um... Is there somewhere I can change into my suit, or should I just have the computer replicate a small shack." She gave a small quirky smile at him.

Jadizon watched as Michelle slipped off her shoes, sinking her toes into the sand with a smile. He couldn’t help but appreciate how much she seemed to enjoy the setting, even if it was just a simulation.

When she mentioned needing a place to change into her swimsuit, he gave a nod. "Computer," he called out, and the familiar chirp of acknowledgment followed. "Add a small beach villa, twenty feet away from our location."

The computer responded with a brief beep, and within moments, a charming beach villa appeared a short distance from them, nestled perfectly into the landscape. It was a picturesque structure, complete with white walls, a thatched roof, and an open-air design that blended seamlessly with the beach setting.

Jadizon gestured toward the villa with a smile. "That should do the trick." as he motioned towards the villa "Need some assistance?"

"Oh, you're welcome to tag along outside, but if I can't put on a bathing suit by myself, I'm in more trouble than you could possibly imagine." Michelle's eyes glittered, "Computer, replicate suit Shelly-Four inside the villa." She gave a sweet smile, "You're just going to have to be in suspense until I come out."

Jadizon watched Michelle disappear into the villa, a smirk playing on his lips as he imagined her teasing comment. "I suppose I’ll just have to wait, then," he murmured to himself, chuckling softly.

As he stood on the beach, listening to the gentle crash of waves, he allowed his mind to wander, curious about what she’d chosen for the occasion. When the villa door finally opened and Michelle stepped out, his eyes immediately locked onto her.

She glanced over her shoulder as she closed the villa door and took a look at the admittedly complicated suit she'd chosen. Aside from her butt, her back would be bare aside from the straps that held the front on and would give him a good view of her curves. She slid out of her 'work' clothes with ease and took a good minute getting into the snug fitting suit, running her hands down her flat stomach and reminding herself to go for a run later in the evening. Then after making sure everything was comfortable, she went out the same way she'd come in. Of course, this suit was a real suit, not just a holographic version because she'd had some former people try to dupe her by ending a program and you didn't fool her twice. "So, what do you think?" She asked him as she spun slowly on the ball of one foot.

As she spun slowly, showing off the form-fitting suit that highlighted her curves, he couldn't help but let out an appreciative whistle. "I think that was worth the suspense," he said with a grin. "You look stunning, Michelle."

He stepped closer, his gaze taking in the intricate design of the suit before meeting her eyes again. "I’d say you’re more than ready for this beach," he added, his tone playful but genuine.

“I’d hardly be good at my jobs if I didn’t know what sort of thing to wear to a beach.” Michelle stretched languidly as he watched her, but didn’t allow herself to get lost in his eyes. That was her trick when she needed it, not someone else’s, “I’d offer to let you rub some sunscreen on me, but that would just make a mess when the Holodeck sun doesn’t emit radiation that would ruin a good tan with string-marks.” She glanced around, “But I can say there are no beaches on Jovash that are anything like this, not that you’d want to swim in the ocean there anyways, toxic as all get-out.”

Jadizon watched as Michelle stretched, appreciating the easy confidence in her movements. When she mentioned the sunscreen, he couldn’t resist offering, "I could help you with that sunscreen..." But after a brief pause, he shook his head with a chuckle. "Nah, never mind—you’re right." He glanced out at the clear blue water, appreciating the contrast to the toxic oceans of Jovash she had described. "Still, there’s something about enjoying a perfect beach, even if it’s just a simulation," he remarked, his tone easygoing. Then, turning back to her with a playful smile, and without hesitation, he turned slightly and said, "Computer, add two beach lounge chairs and an umbrella close to the water." The familiar computer chime acknowledged the command, and within moments, the lounge chairs and umbrella appeared, perfectly placed near the shoreline.

Jadizon turned back to Michelle with a playful smile. "There. Now we’ve got the perfect spot to relax before we decide whether to dive in."

"It would be a shame to leave the water untouched," Michelle said with a smirk, but all the same picked the left-hand of the two chairs and sat on the edge of it, "Computer, I need a peach-vodka bellini please, half crushed ice, two cherries on top and one of those little umbrellas." The drink came into being on the tiny table the umbrella was mounted on and she reached out for it before stretching out on the it, "I know, it's cheating, but I really don't feel the need to make the drink myself."

Jadizon chuckled softly at Michelle’s playful comment about the water, watching as she settled into her chair and ordered her drink. "No harm in cheating a little," he replied with a smirk. "But I think I’ll go for something a bit more active."

With that, he excused himself and made his way to the villa. Inside, he changed into a pair of board shorts—drawstring elastic waist with a sleek 3D print graphic. He pulled them on, the material hugging his muscular thighs. As he glanced in the mirror, he grabbed a pair of polarized vintage square sunglasses, slipping them on to block out the bright sun. The shades added a sharp, laid-back edge to his look, contrasting nicely with his well-defined chest and arms.

Stepping back outside, Jadizon walked confidently toward Michelle, his bare feet sinking into the warm sand. The sunlight glinted off his sunglasses, but more noticeably, it cast a perfect glow on the hard lines of his toned chest and shoulders. He took his seat in the empty chair next to her, leaning back and stretching out comfortably.

"Thought I’d get ready for that untouched water you mentioned," he said, his voice calm and easy, the sunglasses masking his eyes but not the playful grin on his lips. "Though I’ve got to say, this view isn't too bad either."

Michelle seemed to glow in the compliment, "We can go playing in the water a bit later, though, but tell me a little bit about Jadizon Enor, not Senior Chief Enor." She smiled as she picked up her drink and took a sip before stretching out on her own chair, turning on her side to face him in a position that revealed much to him, but was technically relatively demure.

Jadizon leaned back in the chair, adjusting his sunglasses as he let Michelle’s question hang in the air. He wasn’t one to reveal much about himself easily, and when someone asked about Jadizon Enor, it always gave him pause. Letting people see past the Senior Chief meant exposing parts of himself that he kept carefully hidden—by necessity, not by choice.

"Jadizon Enor…" he began, his voice carrying that low, controlled weight. "Not many people ask about that side of me."

He let the sound of the waves fill the space between them for a moment. "Growing up on Betazed, most people assume it’s all about peaceful telepathy, open emotions, and all that serenity," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious note. "But for me? It was different. I grew up in a family where expectation wasn’t just a word—it was the rule. A Commodore for a father meant I had a path laid out before I even understood what it meant."

Jadizon's gaze became distant as he thought about the memory. After a moment, he began speaking, his voice low and reflective.

"I’ll never forget the day of my Chandra—that’s our rite of passage. It’s the day you learn to really master your telepathic abilities, to understand the weight of what it means to be Betazoid. It wasn’t just about sending thoughts anymore—it was about control, and finding that inner stillness."

He paused for a moment, as if recalling every detail.

"It was a hot, humid day just outside of Rixx. My family’s estate was out there, and I was sitting on a grassy hill with the twin moons hanging in the sky. It should’ve been peaceful, but it wasn’t—not for me. My father, Nevin, stood there, arms crossed, just watching. That was his way—no comfort, no encouragement, just expectation. The Chandra isn’t about making things easy. It’s about seeing if you have what it takes.

I was cross-legged, trying to shut out the world. My siblings were watching too. Even though they weren’t projecting anything, I could still feel them. The noise of thoughts and emotions around me... it felt like standing in the middle of a crowded room, voices everywhere. My father’s voice cut through all of it, though. ‘Focus, Jadizon. Find the stillness beneath the noise,’ he said, telepathically, of course."

Jadizon shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Easier said than done. It wasn’t just the noise—it was the pressure. My brothers had already gone through their Chandra, and my father expected me to follow suit. But it wasn’t happening. I kept getting lost in the chaos, like trying to block out a thousand different conversations at once.

But then, something clicked. I stopped fighting the noise and found this... quiet space. Deep down, below all the thoughts and emotions, there was this calm. A place where my mind could be mine alone. That’s when I realized telepathy isn’t just about reading thoughts or pushing them out—it’s about controlling when you engage and when you pull back. It’s all about balance."

He looked up, his expression more focused now.

"When I opened my eyes, my father was standing over me. He didn’t smile—he rarely did—but there was this glint in his eyes. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘But remember, control isn’t just for these moments. It’s for every moment. Especially the difficult ones.’

That lesson stuck. It shaped how I approached everything afterward—telepathy, Starfleet, life. Betazoids value connection, sure, but in my family? It was about discipline. Restraint. That day taught me how to walk the line between being open and keeping everything locked down when I needed to."

Jadizon paused, letting the weight of the memory hang in the air for a moment.

"The Chandra became a defining moment for me. It wasn’t just about learning telepathy—it was about learning control. And in my life, that’s been the difference between success and failure. It’s not just a skill. It’s survival."

"That's... Far different than when I had to discover how to control my own abilities." Michelle had watched him for his entire story, "I'm not a full-blooded Betazoid, my mother was human, so I didn't have anyone around to ask or help me understand what was going on when my empathic abilities began to unfold. Jovash isn't a rather 'nice' world, despite what it looks like from orbit, and I'd be lying if I said people weren't trying to take advantage of me all over the place, but when I was eleven I started to be able to feel the intentions of other people when they were talking to me."

She gestured languidly with a hand before picking up her drink, "I started to be able to make better deals with people and after Mom died, I made a better deal than most with Taref, the Ferengi who owned the 'Miner's Bluff', which was a... Bar, call it, that catered to just about everyone for a price. Most everyone was what I called 'Mind-Blind', so I could tell what they were wanting before I even approached them. Good for a teenager trying to make her way in life."

Jadizon listened quietly, his gaze hidden behind his sunglasses. After a pause, he nodded, the corners of his mouth tugging into a subtle smirk. "You learned to play the game early," he said, voice low and calm. "Figuring out what people want before they even say it—that’s a skill. You didn’t just survive, you adapted. Made your own rules."

As the silence settled between them, he let his gaze shift, taking a brief glance at her bathing suit through his sunglasses. His expression remained controlled, but the faintest hint of amusement flickered across his face.

"Most people don’t see what’s coming until it’s too late," he added, his voice dropping slightly. "You figured that out young."

"I had to. Life wasn't all that expensive on Jovash, not until you were able to provide something to others. Once I joined the Guild, they were able to provide more protections and I went to a better establishment and received additional training." Michelle smiled brightly, "Now I get to write my own ticket to wherever I want to go. Some places don't like the Guild, so I won't likely go there, but the Captain knows who and what I am and she's remarkably okay with it. Besides, I signed a contract with the Federation and now that I run the Hydra Lounge, I can do what I want to do so long as it's within reason."

Jadizon listened, arms crossed as he leaned back in the lounge chair, watching Michelle with interest as she spoke about her past and the Guild. When she finished, he gave a small nod, acknowledging her journey.

"Sounds like you’ve carved out a nice spot for yourself," he said, his voice calm and measured. "But let’s not forget where we are right now."

He tilted his head toward the pristine beach, the sound of the waves gently crashing nearby. "This is a beach, after all. And the water’s not gonna swim in itself."

Without waiting for her to respond, he stood up smoothly, glancing down at her with a slight smirk. "Why don’t we leave the business talk for later and get in the water?"

He extended a hand toward her, his tone light but still carrying that quiet confidence. "Unless you’re too comfortable sitting there?"

'Am I working, or am I just Michelle?' The half-Betazoid asked herself, not quite sure of what the Senior Chief was expecting. Regardless, she reached up and allowed him to help her up on her feet, 'Michelle, let's try Michelle for now and I can change that if needed.' "The water does look rather comfortable of it's own, eminently swimmable." She agreed.

He glanced over at the shimmering water, the sun casting a soft glow on the surface. "I’d say it’s more than just comfortable," he added, the corner of his mouth curving into a smirk. "It’s waiting for us."

With a smooth, confident motion, he started walking toward the water, glancing back briefly to make sure she was following. "Let’s see if it lives up to the view," he teased lightly, his voice carrying just enough playful edge to match the moment.

He stopped at the edge of the water, turning to face her, his eyes narrowing slightly in that way that hinted at both amusement and a challenge. "Ready to dive in?"

"You had only to ask." Michelle Erilin stated as she stood next to him, "Betcha can't catch me!" And without any warning she ran into the water and dove in.

Jadizon watched her take off with a mix of surprise and amusement, the splash from her dive breaking the water’s surface. A chuckle rumbled low in his chest as he shook his head, the playful challenge lighting up his eyes.

“Oh, it’s like that, huh?” he muttered to himself.

Without wasting a second, he strode into the water, the coolness biting against his skin before he pushed off and dove in smoothly. The water wrapped around him, refreshing and invigorating. He surfaced a few feet behind Michelle, flicking the droplets from his face and catching her eye with a grin.

“Think you’re fast, do you?” he teased, the competitive spark in his voice unmistakable. The sun glistened on the water around them, casting playful reflections that mirrored the energy between them.

She transitioned to a backstroke so she could look at him with a smile, "You're just going to have to find out." Then flipped back over and was off again. It wasn't that she expected to outrun him, but it was the fun of the chase that would matter.