Ensign Dylan Bryce: What Would Evan Do? Part 2
Kait
((Holodeck 1 - SB118))
The answer surfaced instantly, unhelpful and accurate. He’d complain about how boring it looked, then start poking at the settings until something interesting happened.
Dylan glanced at the small configuration panel near the wheel. She hadn’t noticed it at first. The interface pulsed once, almost encouragingly.
She hesitated.
Then, with a quiet huff of a laugh meant only for herself, she made a few adjustments.
Handling: nudged up.
Stability assist: left on but dialed back.
Acceleration curve: smoothed… then sharpened just enough to feel it.
The cart responded with a cheerful chime and a subtle visual shift. Thin lines of soft amber light traced along the seams of the chassis, understated but lively. The suspension lowered a fraction. The steering wheel gave a faint, eager vibration under her fingers.
Not flashy.
Just… awake.
Dylan blinked, then shook her head once, amused despite herself.
Bryce: Alright. ::murmuring:: Let’s not embarrass ourselves.
She slid into the seat, settling back as the harness clicked into place. When the cart rolled forward to the starting line, it did so with a little more confidence than before.
She caught herself smiling.
Not because she felt brave.
Because, for once, she’d decided to keep up.
sh’Sonora: Uh oh! It’s starting!
Disembodied Voice: Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Ensign Grand Prix! Can you make it to the finish line? Let’s find out! Are you ready? Three… two… one… GO!
The countdown flared overhead in blinding color. Dylan slid into her own cart, fingers settling on the wheel with cautious precision.
The lights dropped.
Voss: ::screaming as she slams on the pedal:: Ahh!
Mi’shune launched forward with a triumphant yell.
sh’Sonora: YEEEEEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dylan’s cart lurched as she eased onto the accelerator—not fast, just enough to move. The track rushed toward her, corners sharper than they’d looked from a distance.
To her left, S’zurak’s pink vehicle surged ahead with alarming speed.
She watched him wrestle the first turn; the cart skidding wide, hovering inches from the edge. Dylan’s breath caught despite herself.
Dylan didn’t slow.
She held her line, trusting the adjustments she’d made, and let the turn carry her through. The cart responded cleanly, hugging the curve as she slipped past the pink chassis while it fought to recover.
Someone faster and cleaner rushed by in a blur.
sh’Sonora / Voss / S’zurak: ?
Dylan tightened her grip on the wheel, eyes forward now. Not rushing. Just staying on the road.
The next stretch opened wide, deceptively forgiving.
Dylan let the cart breathe, speed building as the road straightened. The hum beneath her hands felt steadier now; responsive, eager. Encouraging.
oO You’ve got this. Just a little more. Oo
The next corner came up faster than she expected. Sharper. Narrower. For a heartbeat, she considered backing off... and didn’t.
She carried the speed in, turning late, trusting the grip the way she had before.
Too much.
The cart protested immediately. The rear slipped, just enough to send a spike of heat through her chest as the edge rushed up far too close. Stars flared in the void beyond the track, wide and waiting.
Dylan swore under her breath as she corrected hard, easing off just enough to regain traction. The tires screamed. The chassis shuddered.
Then... the cart snapped back into line, skimming past the edge by inches before straightening out.
Her breath came quick once, twice; then steadied.
Bryce: ::quietly, to herself:: Okay. Not everything he’d do.
She rolled back on the throttle, more measured this time. Still fast, but earned.
The lesson settled in as the track unwound ahead of her.
sh’Sonora / Voss / S’zurak: ?
...TBC/TAG...
Ensign Dylan Bryce
Counselor
Starbase 118 Ops
Writer: A238909RJ0
“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”