Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "So Much For Entomological Discovery"
Amanda Nordstrom
OOC: Just a note - Peri’s surname is Katsim. ;-) Also, sorry for the delay, this was stuck in my drafts folder!
IC:
((Holodeck 4, Helix Station))
Peri wasn’t sure why she had been called to participate in a holosimulation, but there she was. Currently, Wes was deployed to another ship in the flotilla, which meant coming home to empty quarters and waking up to an empty bed. At least she knew he was safe, she just wished it was there with her. How quickly she’d gotten far too used to having him there. Yet, she didn’t resent him, or Starfleet - it was simply the nature of the job. That didn’t mean she had to like that separation.
He had encouraged her to not hide away in her room - how well he knew her. So, when she received the invitation, she took it, then wondered why. While she respected JoNz, a fellow marine to Wes, and appreciated Doctor Ragh, she didn’t know either of them particularly well. She supposed that was about to change.
Ragh: I'm happy to have you two here with me! My friend said this is the closest thing to a historical record you could get!
JoNz: Thanks for having me! Would this be considered a historical program?
When she arrived, Peri thought they were going to do something like she had done with Wes on occasion. He’d managed to get her into a historical period costume years prior - a really fancy dress that was very pretty, but quite uncomfortable. He looked quite handsome - though at the time she wouldn’t have dared to say those words to him. A historical accounting of a story, however, was probably far more up her alley than most holo programs.
Ragh: Well, I don't know. I suppose she used footage available and did her own bit of magic..
But magic was definitely not historical. The Bardassian suspected it wasn’t going to be quite accurate.
Ragh: Let's just see how it is. Computer, begin program 'Beatles 4-4'
Peri glanced between her two companions. Shore leave was a time to relax, but she wasn’t sure if they were in for a relaxing time or something less so. Still, she had made a promise to Wes, and she didn’t dislike either of them.
Katsim: Beetles?
Were they going to have an historic account of insects? Were they a specific species of beetle that had gone extinct? If that was the case, why were they in a crowd full of people? The study of entomology might not be her specialty, but it didn’t usually require gathering in a dim room with people mashed together like fish in a tin she had seen in a human museum once. One area remained free of people, a raised stage with a set of drums upon it.
JoNz: Response
Ragh: I'm sure they'll come out in due time.
Around her, people murmured and shifted in anticipation. By that point, peri had figured out they weren’t studying insects at all, but some sort of insect band. Or more likely, they named themselves after the insects. Why, she had no clue.
Man: I apologize for the delay. The unspeakable has happened.. Someone has kidnapped Ringo.
The announcement must have filled the Caitian marine with joy, for she reached up, clenched her fist, then jerked it down and followed with a jubilant declaration.
JoNz: Missing person! Yes!
Katsim: This is a good thing?
Ringo? They must have been a Beetle because after the announcement, people began to cry and shout in concern, apprehension and disbelief.
Ragh: I don't know what is going on.. the program isn't supposed to have a kidnapping.
Whirling around, JoNz’s excitement was palpable.
JoNz: Have no fear, Starfleet is here.
Katsim: I thought we were studying beetles.
Peri stated, then looked to the stage.
Katsim: But they are a band. And now…we’re going to find a missing person?
So much for scientific exploration.
Ragh: Okay, so what do we do? I can't imagine they'll let three 'fans' backstage.
Maybe, maybe not. Peri thought the latter was more likely, especially since this was supposedly a historical scenario. How far back in history, she couldn’t say, but what technology she could see looked fairly primitive. Did Starfleet exist at that point?
JoNz: ::pause:: We could pose as Investigators and such.
Glancing between the others, a brief thought flitted through Peri’s mind that she could just leave. After all, when she arrived there, she had come under the pretence of a much different situation. On the heels of that thought came guilt. The two had invited her to obviously spend some time with her, and she shouldn’t simply bow out because of something unexpected. Not only that, Wes had made her promise not to stay cooped up. So…
Katsim: I guess we should investigate.
Ragh: Either something is changing the program in real time, or my friend secretly wrote it this way. Either way, I think we're meant to get involved.
Then, without any warning, Ragh leaped to the stage and grabbed the mike, his voice powerful as it rang through the room.
Ragh: Beatle fans, fear not. Ringo will be found and returned to his rightful place behind the drums!
Man: Yes, yes whatever you need.
Then the doctor motioned to them, directing them to join him on the stage. Higher. More visible. Where everyone could see them. Frowning, she nonetheless followed JoNz, mollified only by the thought that the people weren’t real, but merely programs.
JoNz: Whats our next move? ::quietly to crew:: I say we explore backstage and see what we can find.
Peri: That makes sense.
After all, the group had likely been waiting backstage. Had that been where the kidnapping happened? If so, then there had to be witnesses. As voices cried out for them to find Ringo, the Caitian turned and aimed for the even dimmer area beyond the audience’s sight., and Peri followed, happy to get out of the spotlight.
JoNz/Ragh: Response
It was even harder to see back there, though lamps and other strategically placed strings of lights that wouldn’t detract from the stage lighting and draw attention away from those who were supposed to occupy it. Most of the strings were placed to show where one could safely walk, but it was still pretty dark in comparison. Glancing behind her, the man followed them.
Katsim: Where did it happen?
JoNz/Man/Ragh: Response
By that point, some people had started to leave, a mixture of anger and sadness upon their faces. Ringo was obviously one of the Beetles, and the Beetles were obviously a band that was popular. While the room wasn’t huge, it was filled to the brim with an audience who had come expecting to hear music they loved by people they loved. The kidnapping derailed their plans. Peering from behind the back stage, Peri watched as some trailed out, talking and discussing the announcement, others remained, though they did pretty much the same thing. By that time, a couple of people had come on stage, talking and gesturing to one another, one of them the announcer who had told everyone what happened.
Katsim: People probably shouldn’t leave.
JoNz/Ragh: Response
-- Commander Katsim Peri Chief Science Officer USS Octavia E. Butler M239008AD0