Holodecks are hollow
Posted on Sun Mar 1st, 2026 @ 5:34am by Lieutenant T'seng & Lieutenant Tahlira Serin
1,681 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
A Day In The Life
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: One day before Orcrist's departure
Tahlira had been aboard the USS Orcrist for only a few days, long enough to settle in and meet several members of the crew. Now it was time to meett the other diplomatic officer aboard the ship, Lieutenant T’Seng. They would be working closely together, and Tahlira preferred to begin that partnership on the right note.
She didn’t want to arrive empty-handed, so she’d chosen a small gift. Approaching T’Seng’s quarters, Tahlira pressed the chime and waited. Dressed in her uniform, she held a padd tucked under one arm and a small gift box in the other.
The door opened revealing a woman with slightly pointed ears, her hair a golden brown like honey. It was loose, flowing being held back from her face with a hair band. Her facial structure had the high cheek bones that were vulcanoid. She was wearing a long sleeved dark purple tunic, with black trim, black pants with soft leather boots.
"Hello" her voice was melodic in nature.
Tahlira smiled. “Lieutenant T’seng, I presume?” She said. “I’m Tahlira Serin, Chief Diplomatic Officer. I thought it only proper to introduce myself in person…”
A sunny smile, T'seng stepping to one side to allow Tahlira entrance. "Welcome to my humble abode."
Her quarters were simply furnished, a few items that made it look like it was decorated from a fantasy setting. Medieval; sort of rustic look and yet comfortable.
Upon a table wich was barely big enough for four people, a quiver and a bow lay there, next to it was a short sword. The quiver was empty, the arrows were in a different quiver hanging on a hook upon the furthest wall.
Near the items on the table was a dark brown leather belt, with a black pouch.
"Please have a seat, either at the table or on the sofa there." gracefuly gesturing towards the table and then the sofa."
Tahlira stepped inside. She took a moment to glance around and absorb the atmosphere. The rustic touches gave the space an almost timeless quality, far removed from the sterile uniformity of most starship quarters. She looked to T'seng. "This is lovely." She said then offered the small box with both hands. "I bought you something." Inside was a Bajoran meditation stone. The stone itself was palm-size that shimmered faintly in soft amber light, etched with flowing script that translated roughly to "The spirit endures."
Giving out a gasp of delight, T'seng seeing the stone inside the box. "this is truly beautiful." gently taking it out of the box, cradling it in the palm of her hand. She reached out with her right hand gently caressing it, with her index finger.
"Thank you I love it." T'seng looked towards Tahlira.
Tahlira watched her reaction. She smiled as she saw delight in T'seng's expression. "I'm glad you like it. It's a Bajoran meditation stone. It's meant to bring focus and calm to the mind."
"Have you by chance done Archery? I was getting ready to go do some in the holo-deck. Care to come with?" T'seng giving Tahlira an invtiation.
Tahlira looked down toward the bow resting on the table. "Archery?" She said. "I can't say I've ever tried it. My aim tends to rely more on diplomacy than projectiles......but I'm not one to turn down a new experience. If you're patient with a beginner, I'd be honored to join you."
"Oh I don't mind at all teaching someone to use a bow. I will get the computer to make one for you on the holo-deck."
T'seng walked over to a small shelf where she placed the item that Tahlira had given to her. She paused as the soft light from the stone gently shedding light upon thhe small hollow.
She turned to the table to put the quiver over her shoulder, strapped the sword which was in its scabbard, around her waist. The last thing she picked up was the bow.
"Shall we?" T'seng leading the way out of her quarters.
[HoloDeck]
The archway opened to the scene of an ancient forest, the trees towered above with moss upon their large trunks. The forests floor was also green with velvety moss which caused the footsteps that the two made silent and still. Much like the forest itself. Morning mist wafted its way through the trees, lightly clouding the air.
T'seng looked towards Tahhlira. "I have a question, would you like to change your clothing to something else, one that you don't mind getting dirty?"
Tahlira stepped through the archway, her eyes lifting to take in the towering canopy and the muted glow filtering through the mist. The forest felt almost sacred. She drew in a slow breath taking in the environment before looking down at her uniform. "I think that might be wise." She said looking at T'seng. “Perhaps you could suggest something appropriate? Something that won’t make me look entirely out of place among the trees.”
"How about something like I am wearing, maybe a different color? its practical and comfortable as well." T'seng reaponded with a smile, "easy enough for you to request the outfit."
Tahlira examined T'seng's outfit.The long-sleeved dark purple tunic with black trim, paired with black pants and soft leather boots.
She nodded. "Excuse me for a moment." She said, stepping away to change.
A few minutes later, Tahlira returned wearing a similar outfit. She wore a long-sleeved black tunic with dark green trim, matching dark green pants, and soft leather boots with a blend of green and black in them to tie the outfit together.
"Better?" She asked.
"Yes that looks rather good on you, how does it feel to you?" T'seng asked.
She also gave a command to the computer. "Computer, please outfit Tahlira with a quiver, and a bow." the items shimmering into view laying upon the ground next to Tahlira.
T'seng crouched down to retrieve the items, "okay here you go" the colors of the equipment matched Tahlira's outfit. "Would you like some help in putting this on?"
Tahlira felt like something was missing with her outfit, but before she could place it, T'seng request a bow and quiver from the computer. She smiled. "Yes, please." She said turning slightly to allowed T'seng to help with the quiver. "I think the outfit will feel much better now."
T'seng was pleased that Tahlira liked the addition. "Sorry for being so presumptoius in making that addition. I was a little bit too eager?" an apologetic smile.
Tahlira shook her head. "Not at all." She said reassuringly. “It was a perfect addition."
T'seng had a relieved expression in her eyes. "Thank you. I was worried I had overstepped."
After having been out of touch with other denizens of the universe for ten years, T'seng needed to do more studying up and getting more intergrated with the others.
“You haven’t overstepped.” Tahlira reassured her with a small smile. She glanced down at the bow in her hands, testing its weight before looking back at T’Seng. “What do we do next?”
"Follow me, we just need to go down this path to where I have a practice area." T'seng leading the way.
The path twisted its way through the trees crossing over a small foot bridge to a clearing. There were several bales of hay stacked on top of each other, with targets upon them, There were smaller targets on a straw circle.
"Okay what do you think?"
Tahlira followed along the winding path, her gaze taking in the tranquil surroundings as they stepped into the clearing. The sight of the neatly arranged targets and hay bales gave her pause. She tilted her head slightly, studying the setup before looking back at T’Seng with a thoughtful smile. “I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to think." She admitted. “But it feels… fitting.”
"This is more of a manifestation in the well sort of real world that I was wandering in my mind. Familiar paths, only experiencing it, outside of the stasis field." T'seng responded. "You are the first person that I've shown."
Tahlira’s expression softened at that, her grip on the bow easing as she took in the weight of T’Seng’s words. “That means a great deal.” She said quietly. “Thank you for trusting me with something so… intimate.”
"You're welcome." T'seng smiling looking about at the scenery once more. "I will say that I prefer the real world to where I know I am alive and feeling the actual warmth upon my skin and evern the cold." turning towards Tahilira.
Tahlira nodded. “I understand. I wouldn’t call the holodeck a poor substitute—it’s an extraordinarily sophisticated piece of technology.” She said. “But there’s something about the real world that can’t be replicated. It’s… fuller. More immediate. More alive.”
"I agree." T'seng looked once more then turned her gaze back to her new found friend. "Okay lets do some shooting at the targets, then maybe we could find something else to do, while we are still at Earth."
T'seng retrieving her bow and getting ready to do some archery, lowering her bow she looked at Tahira.
"This is all well and good but, do you want to do something else or call it for the day? I am feeling that this isn't the same as being outdoors and having to test the wind, and deal with the natural elements when doing archery." T'seng giving an apologetic smile.
Tahlira loosed another arrow, less gracefully than she intended and watched it thud into the hay well outside the center ring. She lowered the bow slowly, a small breath escaping her lips.
“I suspect the targets are quite safe from me.” She said.
Resting the bow against her leg “Perhaps we should call it for now. And maybe find something more rewarding like food.
"Food sounds wonderful, i am starving." T'Seng calling for the program to end.
Lieutenant Tahlira Serin
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant T'seng
Diplomat
USS Orcrist
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