Ensign Lyra Voss: Three, Two, One...
Sarah Terry
((Inside Holodeck 1, Starbase 118))
Lyra stepped into the technicolor wonderland with a look of wide-eyed shock. A ribbon of rainbow track stretched out before them, seemingly into the void of space, and music and crowd noise pumped through the air. Mi’shune took a few steps closer - she was nearly vibrating with glee.
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!
That sounded… vaguely familiar? But if she’d ever played it, it had been ages ago. Her eyes followed the edge of the track to a checkered starting line where four small vehicles sat waiting. Those were… mini cars? She let out a nervous laugh. She’d never driven any kind of car. And this looked like a hell of a place to start.
S’zurak and Dylan seemed similarly reticent - in fact, she felt a pulse of bittersweetness from Dylan that immediately made her think of her own siblings. Evera would have had a field day with this - nothing ever seemed to intimidate them.
She heard a low rumble from S’zurak.
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.
A yellow car with thin black stripes down the sides plopped down on the track. The fact that Mi’shune had a vehicle ready to go was slightly daunting.
sh’Sonora: Now… convert it into a game-compatible cart!
The car suddenly morphed into a shrunken, squarish version of itself, and Mi’shune jumped inside and buckled in.
Bryce: ::quiet, checking rather than joking:: The holodeck safeties are on… right?
sh’Sonora: ::As she buckles in her helmet, slipping her antennae past the two accommodating holes.:: These days? Unless it’s a training exercise and one of the senior staff override it, there’s no way we’re allowed to make it realistic. Too many officers trying stupid dren ruining the fun for the rest of us.
Everyone had different definitions of “ruining the fun,” Lyra supposed. Personally, she wasn’t overly eager to get maimed in the holodeck.
Voss: Computer, are the holodeck safeties on? ::shrugging:: Doesn’t hurt to double check.
Computer: Safeties are currently engaged.
Well, at least they wouldn’t die! Probably… That was heartening. Lyra walked over to one of the mini cars to investigate. There was a wheel, two pedals, and several buttons with labels that gave her pause: “turbo,” “trick,” “item.”
S’zurak: ?
Bryce: To be honest... this is something my brother would love... me, not so much.
sh’Sonora: ::Flashes a wide cheery smile.:: Your brother sounds awesome, Ensign. Is he single?
Lyra couldn’t help a smirk.
Voss: This is uh… not my usual thing either. Actually, I… don’t know how to drive a car at all? Not that this looks like a typical car but… Anybody have any pointers before I drive directly off this road?
S’zurak/sh’Sonora/Bryce: ?
Her eye caught on a small, nearly flush screen on the back of the car closest to her. She tapped it and images suddenly appeared - a list of fancifully colored cars with the words “vehicle selection” at the top. Out of curiosity, she touched a bright bubblegum pink car with white-rimmed wheels. Suddenly, the plain car in front of her shimmered and transformed.
Voss: Are any of these… simpler to drive than the others?
S’zurak/sh’Sonora/Bryce: ?
She settled on a car that was a rather terrifying shade of neon green with lights on the front that looked like eyes. S’zurak and Dylan stepped up and chose their cars as well. She climbed into the vehicle, and leaned forward toward the steering wheel.
Voss: ::whispering to the car:: Please don’t kill me, okay? Deal? ::to everyone else:: I suppose we –
She was suddenly cut off by a booming voice.
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 appeared in the sky and Lyra jumped to buckle herself in, and get her foot on the correct pedal.
Voss: ::screaming as she slams on the pedal:: Ahh!
S’zurak/sh’Sonora/Bryce: ?