Ensign Dylan Bryce: Different Kinds of Fun

[Kait]

((Outside Holodeck 1, Starbase 118))

Dylan Bryce arrived just as voices were settling into something casual. She slowed near the doors, taking in the group with a brief, instinctive scan — the Gorn she recognized from the roster, an Andorian riding an easy, relieved energy, and another woman whose posture suggested science more than command.

sh’Sonora: Cool, I’m first! Is this where we’re hanging out?

Voss: Hey there!

Dylan stepped closer, offering a small nod rather than a wave.

Bryce: Hi. Ensign Dylan Bryce. Counseling.

S’zurak: I am Enssign Ss’zurak, tactical officer.

Mi’shune’s response came easily, familiarity evident.

sh’Sonora: I remember you! Yes! Ensign S’zurak, from the tac department! I remember you from the upside-down grav boot race. Ensign Mi’shune sh’Sonora, how do you do?

Voss: Oh, Lyra. Lyra Voss. Science.

Dylan turned slightly toward Lyra.

Bryce: Nice to meet you, Lyra.

S’zurak: I am a Gorn. Originally from Gornar… or Tau Lacertae IX… or Ghdar I. It… hasss a lot of namess.

sh’Sonora: Like… yeah, of course. Know any other thirty centimetre giant lizard races in the vicinity of FedSpace? Trust me my dude, you’re not gonna be mistaken for anything else.

Dylan’s expression stayed neutral, though there was the faintest softening around her eyes.

Voss: I’m from Bellonphain - it’s a city on the northernmost continent of Betazed. Where are you from, Dylan?

Bryce: Port Victory, New Zealand Colony. Southern coast, it’s a lot like New Zealand back on Earth.

S’zurak: Did one of you bring the program you wanted to run? If not… you’re welcome to try one of mine.

Dylan glanced toward the holodeck doors, then back to the group.

Bryce: I didn’t bring anything. I was curious what this was about.

Mi’shune laughed sheepishly.

sh’Sonora: Uhhhhh… I got a collection of Sun Brothers films, but I’m waiting for them to be shipped back from home. I got nothing.

Voss: Well… I wasn’t sure if everyone else would be interested, but uh… I did do a little more research into Ensign Bingo. ::fishing a PADD out of her side bag:: I’m no cryptography expert, but I’ve been working on decoding a few more tasks, and there’s one here that’s definitely the name of a holodeck program file. No other information about it though - just a name.

Dylan’s brow lifted slightly.

Bryce: That sounds intentionally vague.

Voss: There’s a semi-secret game called “Ensign Bingo,” which seems to consist of various… tasks? That may or may not be designed to get us in trouble. Like the upside-down grav boot race Mi’shune mentioned before. What do you think? Are we up for a holodeck mystery?

S’zurak: I wasn’t sssure anyone would mention enssign bingo… but now that you have, we have to do it.

sh’Sonora: Frell yeah! We’d be legends if we ever complete it without getting caught. Let’s do it!

Dylan paused — a brief internal check — then nodded once.

Bryce: I’m in.

Lyra grinned.

Voss: Computer, run holodeck program “Aurora Road.”

There was a soft ding of acknowledgement from the computer, and a moment later, the holodeck doors slid open. The four ensigns suddenly found themselves blasted by the thunderous disembodied voices of a cheering crowd and stepped through the arch to find a technicolor stadium full of lights and lasers… and a race track stretching out before them.

---

((Holodeck 1, Starbase 118))

The sound hit Dylan first — crowd noise layered over music, vibrating faintly through the deck plating. She stepped inside more slowly than the others, eyes tracking the environment as the doors sealed behind them.

Voss: What the…

Dylan’s attention followed the riot of color and sound as it resolved into something more coherent. The lights framed a racetrack, its surface gleaming beneath a white-and-black checkered starting line. Four carts sat in formation behind it, compact and low to the ground. Above them, a banner hung suspended in the air:

AURORA ROAD.

Her gaze slid to the edge of the track… and stopped.

There were no guardrails.

She stepped closer, careful not to crowd the edge, and looked down. The road simply ended, dropping away into darkness that swallowed the light almost immediately.

Bryce: ::quietly, more observation than alarm:: There aren’t any guardrails.

S’zurak: If thiss is a road, it is the most ssstructurally unssound one I have ever seen.

Mi’shune’s reaction was immediate and unrestrained.

sh’Sonora: By the gods, it’s the Aurora Road from the Crazy Cartoon Carts series! YES! I love that game! I used to play it sooooooo much during grade school!

Dylan’s gaze followed the edge of the track again, then the drop beyond it. No rails. No margin.

This was exactly the kind of thing her brother would have loved.

The thought came uninvited, brief and familiar — him grinning, already halfway into a seat, daring her to keep up. Dylan exhaled softly and let it pass.

A low rumble built in S’zurak’s throat. Not quite fear… but close.

S’zurak: I do not mind combat ssimulationss. But thiss… this appearss engineered ssspecifically to kill ensssigns.

sh’Sonora: ::Scoffs:: Yeah, if you’re a newbie! Computer, load Miki automotive file Datsun 240z custom.

The transformation unfolded with theatrical flair. Dylan watched without comment as the vehicle condensed into a cart and Mi’shune climbed in, buckling herself with obvious delight.

Dylan glanced from the improvised cart back to Lyra, then to S’zurak before stepping closer to the carts, attention catching on the controls. Stripped down. Purpose-built.

Her brother would definitely love this. The speed. The risk. The lack of guardrails.

The thought drew the faintest smile before it faded.

Dylan rested a hand briefly against the side of one of the carts. Solid. Real enough.

That helped.

Bryce: ::quiet, checking rather than joking:: The holodeck safeties are on… right?

She withdrew her hand, folding both behind her back again.

S’zurak / sh’Sonora / Voss: Response

Bryce: To be honest... this is something my brother would love... me, not so much.

S’zurak / sh’Sonora / Voss: Response

OOC: Apologies if I missed anything.

...TBC/TAG...
Ensign Dylan Bryce
Counselor, Starbase 118 Ops
Writer: A238909RJ0
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.