<USS Avalon> Truth in the Eye of the Beholder by Ens. Anthony Manson with Ens. Alder Shimbrodus (NPC)

Truth in the Eye of the Beholder

by Ens. Anthony Manson with Ens Alder Shimbrodus (NPC)



The shots of phaser fire sprung out, traveling faster then a conventional 
bullet, and then missing Anthony by just a few inches. He went back to leaning 
against the wall for cover. This holodeck game was not what he had expected to 
face. Alder had said target practice. Alder did not say anything about a game 
of capture the flag against Cardassians. He turned to look at Alder who was 
taking pot shots at the opposing team. He went back to hiding behind the wall 
that Anthony had shared refuge, and then noticed that he was looking at him.

"Something wrong."

Anthony shook his head, "oh, no. Whatever could be wrong is on that side trying 
to blow my head off...sorta." He saw Alder smile, but for him- he was not 
enjoying this. Target practice they say, Anthony thought. He was going to walk 
out of the holodeck, but then thought against it. He was, after all, invited 
here by his...friend. It would be especially rude to just drop the entire 
program and become the biggest party pooper this side of the quadrant. 

"Did you see where Sarah and Greg went?" Alder asked as he took another pot 
shot. But apparently, he nailed one as a distinctive groan was heard just 
before the fall of the metal phaser rifle. 

"Yeah, to the right is Sarah, left- Greg. Exactly where I don?t know." Anthony 
got up and took a shot, but missed. He was hoping to hit at least one, but the 
best he got was the Cardassian ducking for cover. Just as he was about to aim 
for the hiding alien, a second one took the place of the fallen Cardassian and 
added his firepower into the battle. And again, Anthony had to go back to 
hiding. 

Alder looked at him smiling. As far as Anthony could tell, the guy was having a 
hell of a time. Admittedly, this was fun. More fun than he ever had since...a 
long time. So far, the match was a stand off. Anthony and Alder were taking up 
defensive positions at their base to protect the flag from being captured while 
Sarah and Greg had wandered off to the opposing team?s stronghold. It wasn?t 
just the two that went, but a number of holographic team-members accompanied 
them as well. It was also the same for the base and for the opposing team. 

The original plan was to have a simple target practice, but Greg had suggested 
something more...festive to welcome Anthony. Everyone agreed, and it seemed as 
though Anthony had not real option to avoid it since they were already 
expecting him to participate in this initiation or whatever it was with phasers 
and ugly Cardassians.

Of course, the game was set withing safety parameters, but the terrain was 
rocky enough that falling onto one of those rocks was not going to be a 
pleasant experience. Anthony checked his phaser- it was near depletion. "How 
long have we been at this?"

"A good two hours now I think. The program is almost over." Alder took another 
shot.

Anthony was about to say something when the phaser fire had intensified just 
behind him, and then a series of cheers bellowed from the team. Men and women 
had their rifles up in joy. Both men came out of their hiding spots to see 
Sarah holding the flag, and Greg and the other team mates behind her.

Sarah was a slim woman with blonde hair that was neatly tied back, when it 
wasn?t- which was before the simulation- it was fluffy and straight, and gave 
this certain view of attraction that couldn?t be put to words. Like some dark 
allure, but at the same time, not at all. She had green eyes that seem deep 
enough to pierce through almost anything. Her skin also seem to shine from the 
contrast of the black uniform. Aside from the yellow block on her shoulders, 
she nearly looked translucent with the uniform.

Greg was a about Anthony?s height. Having a Hispanic look to him with dark 
hair, dark eyebrows, dark eyes, and a square very masculine jaw. He too seem 
perfectly at ease wherever he was, like a calm song that he could only hear. 
Greg had pale skin, and it looked like an off match to the entire skim of him. 
As if somewhere in the grand scheme of things, his genes didn?t go for a tan or 
something to match his dark features. . He wasn?t as pale as Sarah, and unlike 
the yellow block on her uniform, he wore a red.

Alder smiled, "awesome. You guys go to the flag just in time."

As if right on queue, the computer chimed in, "two hour limit has been 
exceeded. Program is now closing." And just like that, the rocky formation and 
landscape disappeared, as well as the bright sky; only to be replaced by the 
mechanics of the holo-projectors that made this game possible.

An hour later found all four at the mess hall. Everyone was in conversation, 
except for the occasionally quiet Anthony. Alder and the other two pried 
Anthony from his quiet nature, trying to get him to say anything. Anthony 
smiled, appreciating their efforts. Some part of him knew that he could be 
practically impossible whenever someone tried this; but this time- he 
just...let go. It was something he wasn?t accustomed with. Socializing was not 
his thing after all, certainly not within his nature. But then something 
clicked in and he realized that he genuinely liked it. And this group.

Not a moment after that was it long to take Anthony into a conversation. 
Although still a little cautious of what he wanted to say, and wanting not to 
talk also, he surprisingly kept up with them. A certain new found determination 
to find out where he could go with this.

After awhile, the conversation had died down as Greg was the first to get back 
to his quarters. Then Sarah left, leaving the two alone. The quietness had 
crept in, but something told Anthony that the silence was not going to last 
long.

"So, a Trill and a Ullian. Must be hard being from two different cultures." 
Alder said. He was comfortable in his seat as he rubbed his eyes. It was 
getting late, and from the last chronometer check, it was probably around 
twelve right now. 

"Actually, I never had any exposure to either. My family has been on earth for 
nearly a century," Anthony shrugged then, "I suppose having me or my sister 
experience the different sides of both worlds just never came up. In a way it?s 
good, since I perfectly fine with earth stuff."

"I suppose so. Aren?t you at all interested, though?"

"No, not really. I?m set in my ways about that kind of things, so it never came 
up."

"Living on Deneva was always...interesting. A lot of different people. A lot of 
business. But I was fortunate to have a family that lived in reasonable 
quietness away from the noise." Alder looked at Anthony. Wonder if I should 
tell him, he thought. But just as instantly he decided against it. 

"Never been to Deneva."

"You should, it?s beautiful there. I?d rather go home then spend it on Risa if 
I had my choice of vacation spots." Alder replied.

"No one could resist Risa." Anthony pressed.

"Meet the first."

Anthony smiled. He felt tired, ready to get some sleep. He got up, and just 
instinctively so did Alder. "I?d better get going."

"Which way you headed?"

"Deck three."

"I?ll go with ya."

Anthony nodded. They walked as they headed for the turbolift. It was revealed 
that Alder, Sarah, and Greg were just below Anthony, since most of the crew 
quarters resided here as well. Alder had the luck of getting his own quarters, 
whereas Sarah and Greg were sharing theirs with roommates. 

Deck three came about, Anthony walked out and turned, "well, catch you later."

"Good night." Alder responded. 

The turbolift doors closed. Alder stood there, and the doors opened again. 
Headed toward his quarters, he contemplated whether or not he should tell 
Anthony. After all, if any friend was going to be a friend, they ought to know 
the truth- at least that?s how Alder thought. But he was also wondering if that 
would be too soon. Trust is a like tree, it could either be strong- or it could 
be weak and wither away. He entered his quarters, half convince that he should 
tell him. But then again, he decided against it. His only venue was to wait it 
out, and see and make sure it was the safest thing to do. Anthony after all was 
a new challenge. Anything but social, he had made it a near personal goal to 
get Anthony out of his hard anti-social shell. 

Definitely later. 



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