Farewell to Childish Things

[Alix Harford]

All across the fleet, crews are grappling with the aftermath of frontier day. I've especially enjoyed watching how it has made real changes to previously planned stories and lead to character growth. This sim from Charles Matthews is a funny, topically relevant example of a ending story that had been planned before the events of Frontier Day. It highlights how the characters just aren't easily picking up where they left off like they might have been able to after a regular mission. 

[sb118-astraeus] Lieutenant Charles Matthews - We All Need To Heal... Part One

 

((Pagrati Lounge, Deck 10, USS Astraeus))

 

((OOC – All views are IC and do not represent my own views or my thoughts on anyone as a writer))

 

Lieutenant Matthews nodded along, somewhat absentmindedly. He by no means found his fellow Officers boring but he had been in this discussion for a little while and it had seemed to be progressing without him needing to add much to the subject at hand. The tiny tidbits that he had offered had been skimmed past so quickly that he was starting to wonder if he should use his invisibility to fight crime or for some sort of nefarious scheme.

 

As he took a mouthful of his water, his mind shifted from contemplating being able to sheath himself in invisibility to the holodeck scenario that the others were trying to cook up. From what he could gather, it was starting to become a little too difficult to finalise the plans. After what had happened with Frontier Day, and the efforts being made to put the ship, the crew and Starfleet back together again, he’d just wanted the chance for a bit of fun and maybe the opportunity to punch and kick some things. After discussions with Commander Peters and now Commander Alentonis, the only thing that he knew for certain was that he was meant to be the Pink Ranger; an acrobatic member of the team that could summon the Pterodactyl zord. His knowledge didn’t go much further than that.

 

Tasen: So...archetype...background...name? Anything else we need to plot for this?

 

Shewytch: The ability to swing your legs? ::He smiled:: But I'm serious. This show was an action film, and you mentioned martial arts earlier. But I don't think many of us can master them to the level where we can show some kind of magic. At least I've only taken a basic course. Will there be any difficulties associated with this?

 

Charlie glanced at Slav as he took another sip from his glass, hiding a slight smirk as he looked at the Science Officer.

 

oO “Don’t think many of us can master them to the level where we can show some kind of magic”? Speak for yourself… Oo

 

Alentonis: Not a problem. While in the suits, your jump distance is tripled. Other than that, the program follows basic physics laws. If you are capable of gymnastics and want to adapt that into your fighting style, you can. You’d be surprised how realistic martial arts classes in a fictional universe can enhance your real-world combat abilities.

 

Caldwell: Guess we're all lucky it's just the holodeck, right?

 

Saa: So, some of it is style over substance…

 

He nodded slowly.

 

Matthews: From what I remember, there were a lot of over-the-top punches, kicks and leaps; and even more over-the-top noises that went along with it all!

 

Tasen: Response

 

Shewytch: So, I don't have to do all those stunt tricks? Is the programme already adapted to our realities? ::breathed a sigh of relief:: By the way, what is the playing time in the program? Is it long?

 

Alentonis: Unclear. Each episode was usually forty-three or so minutes long, not including credits or commercial breaks. Since we’re adapting it into a holodeck program, I haven’t figured that out.

 

Charlie felt his eyebrows twitch.

 

oO Why are we playing this episodically? We’re not, right? Just set us up and let us go; we have one story; we go until it finishes, and we can save the programme as and when it’s needed… Oo

 

Caldwell: OK, well I'm sure we're good to let you figure it out, Tim. So, what's next on the agenda?

 

Matthews was continuing to listen when he noticed Sevantha slowly trail off with what she was saying, and then suddenly shoot a look towards himself and Lieutenant Tasen.

 

Saa: I am not sure what else unless… ::briefly looking to both Tasen and Matthews:: ~Does Caldwell seem off to you?~

 

After their recent telepathic conversation, him hearing Saa in his head didn’t feel as quite as jarring as it once did, and the look she had given him had provided him with some sort of warning first.

 

Shifting the direction of his brown eyes, he glanced at Caldwell in an attempt to try and figure out what Sevan was referring to. He knew the woman from Betazoid must have heard something that had alarmed her and based on appearances, maybe she was right to be. He seemed to be fidgeting, breathing a little heavily; he looked nervous. Anxious, even. It wasn’t an emotional state that the helmsman had ever displayed in front of him before.

 

Matthews: ~I mean, he does seem to be acting a little out of character…~

 

Tasen: Response

 

Shewytch: :: to Alentonis :: Sir, a question about the story. Will it be similar in structure to the series? Like, at first, a quiet life, we play our roles somewhere in a holographic school, and then all the interesting stuff will happen? Or will we be thrown into a battlefield somewhere right away?

 

Alentonis: It wouldn’t be any fun to have the heroes start in the middle of the story, would it? It will probably be very similar in nature to Day of the Dumpster where we start out with a typical after school day at the juice bar and have something happen that will undoubtedly cause us to wind up at the command center. I’m still working on that part.

 

After turning his gaze away from Chris, the continued conversation finally started to sink in, and Charles had to really fight the urge to roll his eyes.

 

oO OK, this is going on for way too long. Yes, a little bit of a backstory or a brief character bio wouldn’t hurt, but I’m not messing around in the holodeck playing a teenager that’s studying trigonometry or the breakup of the supercontinent of Pangaea before I even get to kick the hell out of something. No. This needs to be happening faster. Even in shore leave, I’ve still got things to be doing. Reports, replacement crew members to run the rule over, trying to come up with some new Tactical and Security strategies and upgrades… Oo

 

To Be Continued...

 

[sb118-astraeus] Lieutenant Charles Matthews - We All Need To Heal... Part Two

 

((Pagrati Lounge, Deck 10, USS Astraeus))

 

Caldwell: Well, we'll leave you to work on that bit. So, anything else that requires us to discuss it?

 

Shewytch / Tasen: Responses

 

Matthews: I mean, are we… Is this becoming more complicated than it needs to be?

 

Saa: About being the leader…

 

Alentonis: You don’t have to be the leader if you don’t want to. We can have a different ranger color step up to the plate if you’d rather.

 

Thoughts about invisibility rushed back to Matthews with a vengeance.

 

oO Great(!) I am starting to lean towards evil… Oo

 

Saa: I just don’t have a lot of experience in it… Caldwell and Matt-

 

Caldwell: I don't mind who ends up being the leader.

 

He turned his attention back to Chris, and he was very much feeling that Saa was right about her previous concerns.

 

Caldwell: In fact, I don't mind about any of the details, look it's been nice to catch up, but I've got work I really need to get back to.

 

Charles felt an expression of worry spread across his face as he saw Sevantha shoot another look his way.

 

Matthews: Chris, everything alright?

 

Tasen: Response

 

Alentonis: Are you sure, Chris?

 

Caldwell: No, it's fine. You all just work out whatever it is you want, and I'll just play along.

 

Shewytch: Response

 

Caldwell: No, honestly, just figure out what it is you want to do, let me know what homework I need for it, and I'll be there. I'll catch you all later on.

 

Lieutenant Matthews watched, somewhat wide-eyed, as Caldwell got up from his chair and made his way out of the Pagrati Lounge. Despite what he had said, he was definitely not fine. Clearly, far from it.

After a second, he heard Sevantha talking out loud to the group, then he heard her within his head too.

 

Saa: I… am concerned. ::to Matthews and Tasen:: ~He’s spiraling.~

 

Alentonis: Me too. If you want to follow him, doc, I won’t stop ya.

 

He darted his eyes from Sevantha and towards Tim, feeling them narrow slightly as they came to a stop on the experienced Science Officer. Alentonis was a superior Officer, he’d always respect him and the chain of command, but the concern he admitted to apparently have for Caldwell’s wellbeing just didn’t come across as sincere.

 

oO Wait… You’re not going to follow him? Shouldn’t someone of his rank be checking on an Officer that clearly isn’t doing well? I know it’s shore leave but he should be, right? Oo

 

Charlie suddenly felt a little nervous and unsure of himself, which seemed a common occurrence since he’d been assigned to the Astraeus.

 

oO We’ve just been through hell, so many people died, so many people that didn’t were blown to hell and we’re here talking about which colour spandex we want to prance around in on the holodeck. It isn’t right… I’m the same rank as Caldwell but I’m a Chief, I should do something, right? It doesn’t matter if he isn’t a Tactical & Security Officer; he’s my friend… I think… Oo

 

Shewytch / Tasen: Response

 

Matthews: ::looking towards Saa:: ~If you’re going to check on him, I’m coming with you.~

 

Saa: …If I am going to play a believable leader, I have to make sure the team is alright… which means him. Please continue planning, I’m going to check on him.

 

Alentonis: If any of you want to bow out in favor of other activities, let me know. I mean, it’s just a game and I’m not as hyped about it as Cadfael. I’ll keep working on it if you all are still in.

 

He quickly finished the rest of his water, placing the empty glass back onto the table, and stood from his chair. In all honesty, the reactions from Lieutenant Commander Alentonis had surprised him. He and Caldwell went onto Probert Station together but yet, to Charlie at least, he seemed content to let Chris go off and struggle with whatever he was dealing with alone. Perhaps what had happened since this Power Rangers scenario was first mentioned had changed people; and not necessarily changed them for the better. People were deflated, trying to deal with things in whatever way they felt was best, and it just felt wrong.

 

Matthews glanced to the others before letting his eyes stop at Alentonis.

 

Matthews: It’s not necessarily in favour of other activities, Commander, but I’m stepping back. ::sighs, gestures:: Look at Chris. What’s he had? A panic attack?

 

He stopped for a second, looking at Gwen and thinking of when he found her breaking down in the Arboretum. He wasn’t going to mention it, not in front of everyone else, but the sadness she showed on her face that night would stay with him for quite a while. Her face was so expressive. He thought of his conversation with Sevantha in Sickbay, and the one with Divya in the Security Complex. The one with Kris and Esa too. People just weren’t doing well.

 

Matthews: Look at all of us. Frontier Day… it’s drained us to the point of collapse. Personally, I’ve got plenty to do, and that’s before I even try to get my head around what has gone on and attempt to move on from all of this. People died. Colleagues. Friends. We all need to mourn, and we all need to heal. ::shaking his head:: I don’t do that by playing Power Rangers. I’m sorry. You guys carry it on. Replace me or something. ::smiling weakly:: Give Rita what for... I’ll see you around.

 

Matthews turned on his heels and went off after Chris and Sevantha, grabbing the glass he’d just placed on the table and power walked towards the counter to quickly return it.

 

Shewytch / Tasen: Responses

 

Alentonis: I’ll try to get at least the call to power programmed before we leave Earth.

 

Shewytch / Tasen: Responses

 

As he continued, he could just about hear the others continue to talk, and almost broke out into a jog as he neared the large wooden doors. As they whooshed open and he stepped through them, he tried to reach out to Doctor Saa, wondering if there was a limited range on the cell signal of her brain.

 

Matthews: ~Sevantha, wait!~

 

End Scene for Matthews…