JP: Ensign Nemes, Ensign T’Fearne, Ensign Syrex & Ensign Evinrude: JOPA - Lower Decks [Part 3]
Tess Evinrude
((1000 Hours - Holosuite 3, Deck 4, USS Ronin))
The emotional auras coming from the Terran and Trill officers in the holodeck were discordant on the Vulcazoid’s senses, but not overwhelming. Her curiosity about what they were here for grew.
T’Fearne: Enough of that! Show us what you have gathered us here for.
Syrex: ::Laughs at the comment:: Computer! Initiate programme “Syrex-Epsilon-Nine”
As the room morphed rapidly into Alyndra’s custom program, Tess began to feel a slight drop in temperature. He was standing by an open window, and warm light from the room spilled out through it, illuminating a quiet Earth-like street. From the look of their surroundings, it was probably autumn. The corners of Tess’ eyes crinkled up in a genuine smile as he put on his jacket and tucked his hands into its pockets, then turned to take in the establishment.
The familiar wooden room greeted Alyndra, just like it had on Deep Space Nine with Kirsty. The smell of the alcohol, the sleazy barman, the cool Nebraskan Pine flowing into the bar through the open, curtained window with a breeze that made her feel generally better about life.
Syrex: Ladies, Tess. Welcome to Nebraska!
Sybil looked at the bar that had just appeared before her eyes, slightly baffled. Of all the things she had imagined in her mind's eye, none of them had been a bar.
Nemes: oO Isn’t this a bit early for a visit in a bar? Oo Okay… wasn’t expecting this.
Evinrude: ::He smiled over at Sybil.:: I wasn’t either, but ‘Syrex’ here read my mind. A drink after a long shift? ::Then he turned to shout at Alyndra, already walking towards the stage.:: Good surprise!
T’Fearne: This is very…Terran-antique?
The tall Vulcazoid stepped up to the high bar and rested her long fingers on the polished wood, looking at the wall of glass bottles reflecting all the colours of their liquids like stained glass in the holoprogramme’s soft lighting.
Syrex: It’s no secret that with the hijinks of the past, well… Forever, I thought we lower deckers needed some bonding time! Over there we have the bar, the stage is all set up for some karaoke ::looks to T’Fearne:: an Earth custom:: ::Points to the other room:: There’s air hockey and billiard in there, a few arcade cabinets, etc…. Go mad!
Tess was immediately enamoured. He saw pool tables, old arcade game machines, and all of it was surrounded by weathered wood paneling. Finally, he spotted the karaoke setup and felt an immediate rush of excitement.
Despite her initial hesitation, the enthusiasm that spoke from Alyndra had an infectious effect on Sybil. And there was no denying that she was right. Sybil could do with a little distraction. She had been brooding too much recently. But then it hit her.
Nemes: Wait. Did you say karaoke?
With the enthusiasm fading again, Sybil froze for a moment as she looked at the stage that had been prepared with a microphone that gleamed in the spotlight. Her fingers instinctively sought the edge of her sleeve, fidgeting nervously.
Nemes: I’m, erm, not really … much of a singer.
With a shudder, Sybil remembered the singing lessons she had had to take as a child because her parents had made her. She had hated it. Every minute of it.
Tess was an experienced karaoke-er. In a bar setting, he’d found that most people who were there for the karaoke were genuinely kind, and would cheer on anyone struggling enough that the singer felt like they were part of the community.
Evinrude: ::To Sybil.:: Hey, it’s going to be fun! It’s just the four of us here,:: he said, as some of the nearby simulated bar patrons gave them side-eye,:: and if this karaoke program is worth its ones-and-zeroes, everyone’s going to be so rowdy and having so much fun that they’ll be singing right along with you!
Sybil was not really sure if that was actually enjoyable, but Tess was right. There were only the four of them there. All the others were just holographic projections. So she would give it a try.
T’Fearne::: picking up on Sybil's negative emotion:: It’s just a holo-program, we can adjust the parameters to what makes you comfortable. You don’t have to sing unless you want to. :: looking over at her roommate:: Alyndra, this is fascinating, but what are we doing here? Your plan is for us to do this “Carry Okey” which involves singing?
Syrex: Agreed, You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do Sybil. T’Fearne! I’m so glad you asked!
Alyndra, instead of using the stage's well-equipped stairs and ramp, decided to pull herself up onto the stage, her little legs flailing around as she used her arms to heave herself up onto the platform. When she was finally up, she waltzed over to a rope with shallow breaths, pulling on it to reveal a very official looking “JOPA” banner with a sleazily looking “Ronin Edition” painted below it in black glossy paint.
Observing this spectacle, Evinrude had the sudden realization that the mastermind behind this karaoke idea had only said her name as part of the holodeck program.
Evinrude: What’s…J-O-P-A? ::Beat.:: Also, who are you?
Syrex: ::Snaps her fingers towards Tess:: Very good questions my little golden friend! I’m Alyndra, Alyndra Syrex. Trill, Medical Officer, as of recently, Cyborg Cyclops. J.O.P.A stands for Junior Officer Protection Association
Tess really didn’t know her very well, but he at least knew her more than the others. So, he turned to T’Fearne for help with…that. A look of bemused confusion crept across his face.
T’Fearne::: slight shrug::: I told you, she’s an “agent of chaos”.
Evinrude: ::To T’Fearne.:: Little…golden? ::He turned back to Syrex.:: Joh-puh? That’s how we’re saying that. Joh-puh.
Syrex: Have you ever felt down at work? Say for example you lost an eye ::points to her implant::, broken a leg ::points to Sybil, forced to work the night shift ::points at Tess:: or interrogated by an insane person ::Points at T’Fearne::.JOPA is a promise, that we, as junior officers, the lower decks of the Ronin will stick together, stand up for one another. Individually we are small, united we stand tall! The only thing we have to lose is our replicator rations, now who’s with me?!
Alyndra, having given her speech, raised her arms to embrace the crowd cheering, but there was overwhelming silence. A panic rose in Alyndra as her cheeks began to blush, did she just make a fool of herself infront of her fellow officers? Even if she did see herself as their leader, or at the very least the one responsible for the meeting. She waited eagerly to see what their reactions would be.
Sybil grinned as Alyndra spoke in high spirits - even if she perhaps overshot the mark a little. Tess however seemed slightly irritated.
T’Fearne::: politely attentive:: What exactly are we uniting against? The crew of the Ronin have been exceedingly welcoming and professional. oO for the most part.Oo And, why would we lose our replicator rations?
Evinrude: ::His mouth was left hanging open.:: I…don’t feel…motivated to… ::He paused, considering his words.::
Syrex: Ah come on… I thought that speech was great!
Evinrude: No no, it’s not the speech! That was…actually very motivating. ::He said earnestly.:: It’s just that…I don’t feel treated unfairly? I’m new here, among our newest. So of course I get a room with no windows, assigned to nightshift. Naturally Lieutenant Vailani sends me all over the ship to fix replicators in busy rooms full of hungry children and disgruntled parents. ::Tess shrugged.:: That’s normal for a fresh new officer, right?
T’Fearne nodded in agreement.
Syrex: Ah, perhaps it is my friend. But I ask you this, wouldn’t you also like your pick of the nicer assignments? JOPA is here to help you get your fair pick of the bunch. Sure you’ll get the ::coughs:: suspicious assignments related to.. Hungry children? But wouldn’t you also like to have a shift on the bridge, during the day? Alongside the senior staff?
Tess pondered that idea, as if it were a brand new thought, and looked to the others.
Sybil was still grinning - and wondered what the reference to the hungry children meant. Maybe she was just on the wrong end of the stick today. Alyndra certainly seemed to be something like JOPA's recruitment and motivation officer on the Ronin. Sybil had already heard of JOPA. She knew the story from an acquaintance that generations of JOPA ensigns had immortalised themselves on the hull of the Oumuamua by scribbling their names on a hull plate of the outer hull with a laser scalpel. Of course, she didn't know if that was really true, but the Ensign who had proudly told her the story was credible. Compared to this story, karaoke in a holobar was harmless.
Nemes: I thought JOPA was to be kept a secret. What about that poster here then?
The Vulcazoid had been pondering her Trill friend deeply from her position, shoulder resting against the bar.
T’Fearne::: To Syrex:: Have you thought of requesting to join the ship’s morale officer position?
Syrex: ::glancing towards T’Fearne:: There’s no way I could do a better job than Cheesecake! Besides I can’t ask a forth time ::jokingly::
T’Fearne::: shrugging:: It’s not about being better. And Cheesecake might be spread thin over five hundred crew.
Syrex: Very true! Very true! But she’s so fluffy and loveable and has a smushy little face and awwww ::cradles her head in her hands::
Alyndra hadn't seen Cheesecake much recently. Apart from crossings in the corridor with a very stressed looking Luxa Lorana in literal tow. But just thinking of that dogs little MASSIVE face filled her heart with warmth.
Evinrude: oO A dairy dessert is our morale officer…and she has been denied the position three times already? Oo
Tess was starting to look bewildered, but clearly the man was happy to adjust to chaos. He didn’t just yet, however, want to sign up for any secret society within Starfleet until he knew more about it.
Evinrude: ::To Sybil.:: So, are we all going to sing? I’ve got a starter song in mind for myself…
Nemes: Oh believe me, if I sing, I'll only do it in secret.
Much to the displeasure of Sybil’s parents, who both repeatedly emphasised that it was a shame not to make use of such a beautiful voice and such talent.
T’Fearne: I’ve never partaken in the carry okey before, but I shall try. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me to sing for them before, so this will be an interesting new experience of customs.
Syrex: You have a beautiful voice! I know because it… oO keeps me up at night Oo ..it has been something that.. I.. have heard a lot!
Evinrude: So we have not one, but two first-time ‘Carry Oakey’-ers? ::He said to Sybil and T’Fearne with a laugh.:: You gotta sing! I promise, we’ll all be good sports.
Sybil rolled her eyes, but again Alyndra’s enthusiasm and good mood were infectious. Sybil pressed her lips together and after a moment's hesitation, she grabbed Evinrude‘s arm in a moment of courage.
Nemes: If you insist - ::to Tess:: but then let's sing together. ::beat:: I don’t want to do it alone and you said you’re experienced.
Evinrude: ::With another laugh, this one tinged with a bit of surprise, he looked down at Sybil..:: Oh! Uh, I would do a duet! Maybe we could all sing a four-parter, too?
T’Fearne: Teams of two, first? :: Glancing at Alyndra:: This will be interesting.
Syrex: Oh duets! I love that idea ::claps her hands excitedly::
Nemes: Which song should we sing? Some sort of duet?
Evinrude: Woah woah, teams? ::Tess waved his free hand, and put on an exaggerated look of disagreement, but his smile indicated it was good-natured hyperbole.:: I did a karaoke contest a few years ago, that cutthroat atmosphere is not my thing. I’m not really looking to compete. It’s just…fun! Plus, I love seeing what songs people pick. ::He turned to Sybil.:: I’ll still get up on stage with you, though, for moral support! You want to pick our song?
Sybil didn’t really know which song would be nice. She knew a lot of classical human and also Betazoid songs, but they would not really fit here.
Nemes: ::to Tess:: Erm, well…
Nemes: oO Why am I doing this? Oo
The off-duty security officer, sensing that decision-making on choices would take a moment, turned around and ordered some drinks at the bar for her companions. It felt like the right thing to do here in this anachronistic place. She had been to Terran bars whilst at the Academy and knew how to order here.
[TBC in Part 4]
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*Ensign Sybil Nemes*
Science Officer
USS Ronin
D239009VD0
&
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
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&
Ensign Alyndra Syrex
Medical Officer
USS Ronin (NCC-34523)
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&
Ensign Tess Evinrude
Operations Officer
USS Ronin
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