Pinkertons on the Case...A Holodeck Adventure

Posted on 29 Jul 2018 @ 5:42pm by Lieutenant JG Jazmin Parks & Lieutenant JG Catherine Cooper

1,507 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Search Begins
Location: LTJG Cooper's Quarters
Timeline: MD2, 0830 hours [BackPost]

ON

Jazmin tapped the door chime to Lieutenant Cooper's quarters and waited for a response. She was emotionally drained, her first away mission having gone about as bad as it could have. She couldn't imagine how she could have embarrassed herself more than she did on the planet. If she was ever given a position of responsibility on an away mission again, she'd be surprised.

She had been sitting in her quarters, staring out the viewport when she decided that she couldn't just wallow in self-pity. She had some holodeck time available and intended to use it. A good adventure was just what she needed. She had spent a good amount of time, programming an adventure and when she was done, she hurried out. Maybe Cooper would like to join her?

So, there she was standing in the corridor outside Catherine's quarters, hoping the other woman would want to join her.

Cooper was digging under her bed for a missing shoe when she heard the door chime. She was finally off duty and catching a break from the somewhat frustrating mission. They'd gotten some intel but nothing like what she hoped, guess all away missions couldn't hit paydirt, would have been nice though. She was thinking she might hit the gym or something, work off some extra energy when she realized she couldn't find her gym shoes. Hence the current position. It took her a moment to climb out from underneath it and, still wearing her workout gear, turned toward the door. Wondering who it was she yelled, "Enter!"

Jazmin entered the room and seeing the other woman dressed for the gym, but missing her shoes, smiled in greeting.

"Hey," she started, "am I interrupting?"

Catherine smiled, "Just my shoes rebelling..." She held up the wayward shoe she'd been looking for, "Something wrong?" She asked.

Jazmin stepped inside, leaning back against the wall next to the door. "I...well let's just say I made a complete fool of myself on the away mission." She sighed, seeming to deflate with the breath. "I don't know about you, but I could use a little adventure where I'm not an idiot."

She held up a hand. "I know I'm being a tad hard on myself but it seems like a good time for self-depreciation." She stood up straight and put on a smile. "Care to join me on the holodeck breaking the back of a vicious gang of train-robbers?"

Cooper nodded, "I couldn't agree more, let's just say I wish I had better luck." That they could have gotten more intel, that she could have helped more as it was she felt a lot of pent up energy with no place to go hence the gym trip. "And I would love to punch some train robbers, what are we doing old west?" She gestured to nearby chair if Jaz wanted to sit down then realized she'd tossed a uniform top over it, with a sigh she went to grab it and picked up a few other things, "Sorry, wasn't expecting visitors." She said uncharacteristically embarrassed slightly.

Jazmin smiled warmly, taking a seat in the now empty chair. "It's no problem really, don't make a fuss." She sighed heavily, enjoying the deep cushion of the chair. "Old west?" She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she leaned forward. "In a sense. How about instead of stage coaches, or trains, there are airships, mechanical horses, steam powered technological marvels...they used to call the genre', steampunk, we'd be two gorgeous Pinkerton Detective Agency agents in disguise on an airship route that's been robbed a dozen times before."

Jazmin smiled at the thought. "I'm thinking 1873." She paused, her smiled turning mischievous. "What do you think?"

Cooper smiled and placed the items she'd gathered in the laundry hamper. "I think..." She said with a smile, "You need to tell me more of this 'Steampunk' so we can properly get into character."

Jazmin smiled, and nodded. "Of course." She leaned forward, her smile growing. "Think American Old West, 1873. Now when you think of this, you might think, gunslingers, outlaws, cowboys, cattle rustlers, horses, and six-shooters." She paused. "Take all of that, add steam-powered dirigibles, airships, mechanical horses, and just about any Jules Verne type science fiction stuff as well."

Jazmin grinned and took a breath, realizing she had been rapid-firing her words. "But then you have the clothes. Corsets, satin dresses and gowns, hats and goggles, knee-high and thigh-high boots with lots of laces and buckles, dresses pinned up to the waist on one side showing legs and nylons and garters.

"And women aren't helpless damsels let me tell you. There are just as many no-nonsense women as airship captains and pirates, brave adventurers, scientific geniuses, sheriffs, pilots and soldiers. Now, ever hear of the Pinkerton Detective Agency?"

Catherine sat there, glanced her closet, "Sounds fun but um..." she paused a little sheepish, "I don't tend to wear dresses. She thought of the dress pants, uniform pants, and ever favorite yoga pants and wondered how she was going to manage it. "Hey I'm up for new things but not like I know what I'm doing..." She admitted.

Jazmin nodded. "I thought as much, that's why I took the liberty of choosing our costumes." She stood and went to the replicator.

"Computer, replicate clothing package Jazmin Pinkerton 1."

She waited a few moments and two bundles of clothing appeared and after examining them, handed one to Catherine. "Try this on and tell me what you think?"

Catherine looked at her dress slightly dubiously, "How do I put it on? Me and what army?" She said looking at a weird mass that was the bustle (not that she knew that). "Does it come with instructions?" She asked looking at the pretty but confusing mass of fabric.

Jazmin chuckled. "I know it looks complicated, but..." She laughed even harder. "Actually it is complicated. It's never been easy being a woman, but these clothes proved it. I mean the look was worth it, but the effort was there as well."

She took the bustle from Catherine, "It'd probably be easier dressing here rather than in the holodeck, but we might turn some heads as we went." She winked at that last statement. "You should see the looks I get when I go to the holodeck in my ballet leotard. Your call on where to change."

"Here is fine" She said distractedly, "I'm serious about the instructions though is there a video or something. The most complicated thing I wear is fasten zip or zip fasten..." willing to try but not entirely sure how to go about it. This steampunk sounded fun but she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about the clothing choices, wondering if it was too late to insist on pants.

Jazmin nodded. "Okay," she picked up the bundle and headed into Catherine's bedroom and laying out everything on the bed. She began instructing Catherine on how to put on the garments. "When you've got these things on, I'll help you with the bustle and then we'll get the rest on."

She stepped out of the bedroom to give Catherine some privacy. "Just yell when you're ready."

The underlayers while numerous were at least fairly easy to get on, "Let's armor up." She called, in for a penny in for a pound.

Jazmin helped Catherine finish dressing, then put on her own outfit. She absolutely loved the look and smiled broadly. "Wow, you're gorgeous in that dress!"

Jazmin twirled, letting the skirts skirts flare outwards as she did. "How do I look?"

Catherine smile, a hint of shy uncertainly flittering over her features before her usual confidence came back into play. "Like a proper lady and not just a moose pretending." She joked but with a hint of sincerity. Jazmin
did look nice, more elegant than Cooper felt. "Let's rock this joint..." She said striking a pose.

"The last thing that you should ever compare yourself to is a moose. I see an elegant lady, absolutely killing that outfit." Jazmin smiled, obviously excited, "make that two elegant ladies that would make saints into sinners," she donned her top hat and led the way out into the corridor. She paused, giving a small curtsy. "Shall we milady?"

The two women reached the holodeck without incident, although the appreciative looks that some of the crewmembers gave them bolstered Jazmin's confidence. A few crewmembers looked at them strangely, but she saw their expressions change after a few moments when they must have concluded what they were up to. It wasn't common for crewmembers to go to the holodeck in costume, but it wasn't unheard of either.

Jazmin tapped at the holodeck controls and the door slid open with its signature "swish" and they entered into a world frozen in time.

Part II Coming Soon

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