JP - Lt. Robin Hopper & Lt. JG Nathan Richards: World Beyond Zero (Part 2)
tas9303
(Twenty Minutes Later – Science & Research Center, Level 10, Holodeck C))
Nathan leaned up against the frame of the holodeck doors, crossing his arms.
Richards: Alright. Show me what you got.
Robin chuckled – practically giggling with excitement – as she input the access code to unlock the reserved Holodeck. Routine Maintenance on the SRC’s holodecks typically consisted of scrubbing the transport array pattern buffers, doing a refresh on matter replication storage, and running a quick ‘diagnostic’ program to ensure nobody had re-programmed the system’s adaptive intelligence matrix to murder unsuspecting users! The whole process only really took an hour or two, but a half-day would be blocked off… just in case.
After confirming that the maintenance had been completed, Robin had dragged Nathan down there as quickly as Amity’s train line would allow.
Hopper: ::Looking at Nathan with excitement:: Computer, load program “Hopper-Starlite, Alpha.”
Richards: Calm down there. You look like you're gonna pop a fuse with excitement.
She turned and stuck out her tongue at him. As the archway slid open, and they stepped inside, they found themselves in the middle of the Arizona desert shortly before sundown, along the side of a quiet highway. The distant clouds, scattering before the setting sun in the wide-open sky burned maroon.
Hopper: I would’ve replicated us something less anachronistic to wear, but… as you pointed out I’m about to ‘pop a fuse’, so–
Toby: Okay, you kids!
An older gentleman with white hair poking out from under his hat slammed shut the hood of a seafoam 1967 Plymouth Barracuda. He wore the traditional garb of a mechanic – overalls, boots, a dirty button up shirt with rolled up sleeves, and of course – an oily rag shoved in his back pocket.
Hopper: ::Whispering to Nathan:: This is Toby. We like Toby.
Toby: Looks like she’s good to go. It sure is lucky I was just driving by. ::Pointing at Richards:: You take her into the shop as soon as you can though or that patch won’t last.
Richards: ::Confused:: Uh…Thank you, sir. I would have taken care of it myself, but… ::Patting his sides:: …I don't have my tools on me.
The old man chuckled, a warm and jovial chuckle.
Toby: Let that be a lesson to ya then… ::Glancing down the road:: Well, enjoy your movie, kids! Looks like you’ve still got time to make it.
Hopper: Thank you ever so much!
The old mechanic rubbed his hands together as he trundled back to his truck, climbing into the driver’s seat. It rumbled as he started it up and pulled back onto the highway, executing a u-turn and heading off towards the distant lights of town.
Hopper: ::Grinning at Nathan:: Well, you heard him! We’ve got a movie to catch. ::Winking:: It’s just a few kilometers down the road, but it’s hardly a “drive in” if you don’t get to actually drive in, ya know?
Richards: Oh, a drive-in? ::Smiling:: This should be good.
Nathan walked the '67 Barracuda, admiring the classic muscle car.
Richards: A 'Cuda, huh? Not a bad choice, but do you mind if I mix it up a bit? ::Smirking:: I'm more of a Camaro guy myself.
Robin nodded as though she knew the distinction between a Barracuda and a Camaro. She had picked the car for its aesthetics – sleek, streamlined, minty.
Hopper: Go nuts! Classic cars aren’t really my forté – I’m just riding shotgun. ::Shrug:: As long as the Camaro’s comfy enough to sit through an hour and forty five minute flic.
Nathan chuckled, turning back to the car. He had the exact car he wanted in mind.
Richards: Computer, replace asset '67 Barracuda with Richards Beta-6.
The seafoam 'Cuda faded away and was replaced with a red '67 Chevrolet Camaro with two black racing stripes running the length. Robin turned and gave him a somewhat derisive look. oO He already had that saved? Oo
Hopper: ::Smirking:: You’re such a nerd… ::Teasingly, as she looked over the car:: The stripes make it go faster, right?
Richards: Obviously! ::Chuckling:: My dad rebuilt one a lot like this one back home. These have always appealed to me.
Nathan moved around to the driver’s door, leaning against the side and looked at Robin over the roof.
Richards: ::Exaggerated tone:: Your Chariot awaits.
Hopper: ::Exaggerated as well:: Such a gentleman.
The two climbed inside the car, adjusting to the primitive leather seats. Nathan smiled as he remembered just how comfortable those seats actually were. He reached up and turned the key in the ignition, bringing the engine to life with a throaty roar. The entire car vibrated with each stroke of the big block V8 engine.
Richards: Oh yeah. I was born in the wrong generation. ::Chuckling:: Can you imagine driving cars like this all over the place? Just you, the car, and the open road?
Nathan gripped the steering wheel, a wide grin crossing his face. Robin was glad he was enjoying himself. She’d shown her drive-in movie program to a very limited audience, and few had appreciated it as he did. Nobody else took having fun as seriously as she did… with the possible exception of Nathan Richards.
Hopper: ::Smiling:: Put your seatbelt on, Mad Max.
Richards: Where's the fun in that?
Robin turned her head to look at Nathan in the driver’s seat.
Hopper: If you put it on.. ::Raising her eyebrows:: ..the holodeck safeties will let you hit 150 miles per hour.
Richards: ::Chuckling:: Well, @#$&. Alright.
Nathan latched the seatbelt and revved the engine a couple times. He felt like he couldn't grin any wider as shifted the car into first.
Richards: Hold on tight.
Hopper: ::Laughing, looking around:: Hold on to what?!
Nathan mashed down on the accelerator and released the clutch, spinning the rear wheels in place and creating a cloud of smoke before they finally grabbed traction and the car began moving forward. Nathan laughed as the car tore away from black marks it had left behind and accelerated down the highway.
Robin quickly abandoned the notion of looking for something to hold on to and instead, opened the window and stuck an arm out in excitement – the wind whipping her hair about her face. She cackled with delight.
Richards: I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do that. ::Grinning::
The car continued accelerating, the speedometer passing the 100 mph mark. Robin turned to him, shouting over the sound of the wind and the roaring engine.
Hopper: God, you really feel the speed without inertial dampers! ::Delightedly:: Woo!
Richards: Let’s see what was on the radio in 1967.
He reached down and turned the knob on the ancient radio and the cab was filled with static for a moment before it calmed and a song began. Nathan listened in silence as he shifted through the gears down the long desert road as they climbed to 150. The road rounded a corner, passing by a large desert arch, the music from the car resonating against the rocks as they sped past. Off in the distance, over a few gently-rolling hills, a faint glow became visible.
Hopper: ::Shouting to be heard over the rumbling engine and the music:: This is the best! ::Pointing:: Oh! Oh! There it is. See the lights?!
The lights of the drive in theater up ahead were slowly gliding into view – glowing bright against the darkening desert sky. A large vertical neon sign with a six-pointed star at the top displayed the name of the cinema: STARLITE.
Richards: Starlite. ::Smiling:: How quaint.
Hopper: Hey, she’s not quaint. She’s just… old fashioned. ::Sitting back and enjoying the rest of the ride:: Take us in, Mr. Richards!
Nathan pressed in the clutch, letting the car drain its own momentum. The roar of the engine died down, slowly followed by the sound of the tires on the pavement and the wind swirling through the cab.
TBC in part 3/6…
Lt. Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
Lt. JG Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1