Holodeck Memories

Posted on Tue Sep 30th, 2025 @ 8:14pm by Lieutenant Endymion Tox & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii

1,711 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Various | USS Ontario
Timeline: Post Away Team

ON:

Tox sat on the cliffside of Betazed overlooking Janaran Falls. He waited for the Commander. It was peaceful here. He loved this spot and it's where he did his thinking. It was the night after the turbo lift incident and his trip to the Lair of the Vulcan, as he called it. He was so lost in thought that the hand on his shoulder startled him.

'A darsek for your thoughts, Lieutenant,' Yiv said casually as he set himself down on the edge of the cliff. The falls were a dull background roar, and the Efrosian was a tad disappointed they weren't a little closer so that he could feel the spray of the water.

Tox smiled. "Just reflecting I guess." He studied the falls. "Beautiful aren't they?"

'Oh yes, and much more besides,' Yiv replied with a smile. 'Sometimes language is just plain inadequate to describe what we're seeing.' He looked around, wrinkled his nose in delight, 'a wonderful place to come and just reflect.'

Settling himself in more snugly into the little indent he was making into the dirt, he asked, 'so, if we're not being Narcissus and reflecting on our own reflection in the falls, what are we reflecting about, exactly?'

He grinned. "You are good at drawing things out. I was just thinking about a little pickle that I got myself into." He looked over at the XO. "How are you doing?"

The Efrosian stared into the falls for a moment as he considered. 'Good days, and bad,' he replied honestly, looking up at the nurse and smiling. 'I'm just taking it as they come at the moment. Keeping busy. Trying new activities.' He leaned towards Tox, 'and how about this pickle of yours?'

He smiled. "I've never met your Percy but have been hearing a lot about him. I think we'd get along well. I can only imagine how much you miss him and how bad the bad days are." He bumped his shoulder to the Efrosian. "I'm sorry you have to go through that but the reunion will be sweeter then ever."

Tox sighed. "As for my pickle I am a bit emotionally wrung out to be honest."

'In your personal or professional life?' Yiv asked, mindful of the man's profession as he smiled in appreciation of his kind words about Percy. He looked out to his left, across the edge of the cliff face, and at the river that flowed away from the falls. It was unspeakably beautiful.

"Oh my professional life is a breeze. I got a grumpy boss who is really a teddy bear on the inside, even though he refuses to see himself as that. Grumps are fun. So no trouble there and despite the fact that he acts like I'm annoying I know he likes me. I mean I'm me how can he not?" Tox scoffed. "As for my personal life that's a mess. I miss my Pluto. He hasn't...written to me or send a voice message since well...a few days now and I find that I am quite drawn to the annoying yet oddly spicy Vampire on the ship and thus feel like I'm cheating on a relationship that I don't have." He straightened. "Huh...that sounds crazy doesn't it?"

Keeping his face furiously neutral, Yiv pursed his lips and thought a moment before answering. 'I take it the Vampire you're referring to is our Gothically-inclined Vulcan Flight Control Officer?' Doing a mental check of the crew in his head, the First Officer was fairly sure it could only be Xavier, though on a ship the size of the Ontario it was always hard to be certain.

Tox hummed. "Have you seen that man's lair? He's got black and hold marble tiles, black lace curtains, a black leather sofa with vine and bird carvings, a freeken skull shaped table and he drinks drinks that are red with like white smoke coming off them....and the bathroom! Black purple marbling and black tub and....I mean come on!" He laughed. "I mean come on the man collects Dracula books...and he moves like he's warping through space!" Tox flushed red. "Sorry. Forget my love life...or er... lack there of. Let's focus on why we're here... oh and an idea for your love life!"

Breaking into a chuckle, Yiv allowed himself to smile. 'I have not seen the inside of Xavier's quarters as it happens. But I am interested in the welfare of my crew. So, how about this. You can present me with your idea, then we'll deal with the reason for being here?'

"Deal!" He grinned "I want to see that place again and having someone along to verify his...um...Vampire status would be good." He paused. "Now, I have a choice for you Commander. Did you want to fly in the program or do you want to see what I created for you and Percy."

Taken by surprise, Yiv merely looked at the nurse for a moment, before swallowing. The dull roar of the falls filled the silence. He nodded. 'I'll have a look at what you created, of course,' he said a little guardedly.

He smiled. "Great. So I had a Ferengi Ops officer to bribe and I cleared it with a friend in Engineering who...owed me one. And I fully admit to a tiny bit of invasion of privacy but I hope you can kind of overlook that." He smiled sheepishly...so...Ready?"

Frowning slightly, Yiv gave a nod, a little concerning that someone would involve themselves so in his private life. 'I'm ready,' he said quietly.

Grinning he motioned for the commander to follow. A turbo lift ride later they came to a part of the ship that was rarely used and held a few systems that required some maintenance. He pointed to a door. "So...that's like a giant waste of space. It's like a panic room of sorts but never used. I took the liberty of creating something that you could use until Percy comes back and then both of you could use as a ... Garden of Eden. Once I finished it I coded it to your personal codes so if you will input it...." Tox turned away.

Wondering at who gave the authority to transform a room as Tox had, Yiv bent and input his code.

The doors hissed open and humid sweet scented air filled the hall.

Inside the room was wall to wall flowers and vines. A carpet of a type of blue grass found on the Efrosian come world. Tox stepped in behind Yiv. "A little of you, a little of Percy." He clapped his hands. "Now! The invasion of privacy that I can only beg forgiveness for." He tapped a small panel on the wall and images of Percy and Yiv popped on around the air. "This button here will let you hear his letters to you...notes for you. I didn't listen to them I swear just had help isolating the right program. Figured when you miss him you could come here and when he's back you two could add memories." He rubbed his arm. "I...love love. So...I can only imagine how painful this all is, being away from Percy I mean. I hope that I can help a bit by making this room where you can be surrounded by flowers, hear his voice. I also know that the new Temp Science Officer is closing down some flower labs so....I can only imagine how you feel. I really hope this helps."

Feeling a little overwhelmed, Yiv could only nod. 'Thank you ...' he managed after another moment's silence. He marveled at the plant life that Tox had managed to squirrel away here. 'I'm not sure that either of us deserve this hidey hole. But thank you.'

Tox waved a hand. "No need to thank me. I just hope it makes the distance a bit better and I...couldn't stand to see all those plants being dismantled. I scrounged up what I could to save it." He sighed. "Well then. The plants are self sustaining one of the other science geeks who loves plants had some spare self feeding and watering pots...except the herb garden there you may have to hand water it. Shall I leave you to explore? Oh! One more thing!"

Tox moved a rock and pulled out a little device. "For you to record letters for your Percy when he's back he can listen to them." He handed Yiv the device.

Taking the device, he weighed it in his palm. It was negligible. Were it not for the solidness of the case, Yiv would have thought it unreal. 'Thank you,' he said again, softly, looking at Tox. 'I mean it.'

He clutched the device tightly in his hand before transferring it to a pocket. 'Your letter-writing friend,' Yiv said, recalling Tox mentioning him, 'write to him again.'

He sighed. "I've done so many times since we got back from the away team...he hasn't responded." Tox shrugged. "I really hope he's alright." Tox shook his head and smiled. "But! This is about you and Percy. If I can help you two a bit then that makes me happy." He sighed. "Well I'll leave you to things. One final surprise before I go." Tox hit a small purple button by the door and several images began to float of Percy and Yiv while the lights dimmed giving the room a fairy garden feel. "See you later commander."

'I ... yes, see you later,' Yiv favored the nurse with a kind smile. He wanted to impress on him the need to write his friend, but worried about saying too much about the situation Tox and Xavier had found themselves in. 'I hope you get a reply.'

Tox turned and smiled. "Me too." With a final wave he turned and headed out, his romantic heart hurting a little less now that he was able to do something nice for someone else in love.

::OFF::

Commaner Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Endymion Tox (NPC)
Head Nurse
USS Ontario

 

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