Captain Freeman and Commander Yilaan each sat on a fallen log, looking over a piece of parchment, under a cloudless sky. They were still on board the Bristol, though enjoying one of the captain's medieval era holodeck adventures. Both were dressed accordingly, wearing interwoven chain suits of body armor, and carrying swords and daggers at their belts. The parchment had a map on it, and it was being argued over.
"Siroc, we've been over this a thousand times!" Yilaan said to Captain Freeman.
"Yes, Lyssa, we have. I still don't understand why you think there's anything more here than meets the eye," the captain said to Yilaan, while pointing at the map.
She pulled out a necklace from her tunic. "This tells me so. There's been a band following us after we cleared that tower out for that ugly pig of a merchant, Calon. There can be only one thing they're after," Yilaan, in character as Lyssa, said while glancing at the saddlebags near her horse.
"Isn't there some way to get back to town before they can catch up with us?" Siroc asked.
"No. The horses would tire of the pressed journey," she responded. "They're able to catch up to us as it is; I don't know how they're doing it."
"Then we should find a defensible spot as we ride tomorrow and make our stand," Siroc said.
She smiled, "You're a brave man. Let us rest."
The two Bristol officers rested in their holodeck fantasy world for an hour or so, though making it seem like eight or nine, so that the next day would come at their bidding. They saddled up to ride their horses, which were of themselves no more real than the forest they were riding through, or the treasure in Lyssa's saddlebags.
After riding for about a half hour, Siroc spoke. "This place looks good. Why don't we make our stand here? How long do we have?"
Lyssa pulled out her necklace again, "I'd say only a matter of minutes." She looked up at Siroc with alarm, "They must've made up good time while we were sleeping!"
"Very well," said Siroc. He pulled his sword and readied it in his grip, as did Lyssa.
When the battle did come, the two were prepared. As the enemy troop moved to surround them, the two warriors put their backs to each other, glancing back once to wish each other luck with mere looks. Despite the holodeck safeguards which would prevent accidental fatality on the parts of the Bristol officers, both were as nervous as if they were really there.
Suddenly, with a shout, the opposition charged. Most were of poor skill and were quickly brushed aside by the mounted Bristol officers; however, they did receive a few scrapes for their efforts. At one point, one, who looked like he was a stronger warrior, engaged Siroc, and slew his horse with two thrusts that the latter was unable to parry away. Siroc pulled himself up just as the enemy came over to attempt to 'kill' him, and parried away a powerful blow. He glanced over and saw that Lyssa was busy with three opponents of her own, and realized he was going to have to deal with this powerful foe himself.
The two exchanged feints and parries as both tried for an advantage over the other. At one point, the enemy had Siroc pinned up against a tree, but as he moved in to deliver a potentially final blow, Siroc ducked away at the last second, and caught the opponent's side with his sword. The enemy yelped as real-looking blood began to come from the wound, but stood his ground against Siroc and fended away another attack. The wounded opponent began to weary, however, and soon Siroc was gaining a real advantage. Finally, the enemy, in moving backwards, tripped over a rock and fell. In typical Federation fashion, Siroc landed a blow on his forehead, knocking him out.
Lyssa, who had felled several opponents, only to see more take their place, suddenly called out, accidentally slipping out of character for an instant, "Captain! Behind you!"
Siroc whirled about just in time to parry away a blow from an enemy sneaking up behind him. The two fought briefly before Siroc finished him off. A few moments later, Lyssa finished off her opponents and strolled over to Siroc.
"Fun, eh?" she said. "Now that that danger's over, we can make for the city."
Siroc was more than a bit taken aback by her cavalier attitude towards the battle, which had resulted in the loss of one of their two horses, and numerous minor injuries to themselves. During the battles they fought to clear out Calon's tower, she had exhibited the same indifference when they had lost their two computer generated comrades. A cold trickle of sweat ran down his armored back as he wondered how much, if any, of that attitude carried into his first officer's real life. He thought he knew her well, as a strong, yet compassionate, person, after all they'd been through as shipmates. Still, she played the role a little too easily. After a mere moment's brooding on this, her voice snapped him back to the situation at hand.
"Well?" she asked, from her position on top of her horse. "You can ride with me if you like." Her smile was warm and inviting and squashed any half-wit notions of her being anything other than she appeared.
The two rode together for awhile and eventually reached the city, where they were well received by the overweight smelly human merchant named Calon. For the first several minutes after their arrival, Siroc was forced to wait in an antechamber outside, while Lyssa and the merchant discussed what went on. Siroc recalled the reason for this; that Lyssa was originally assigned by Calon to keep an eye on him and make sure things got done the way they were supposed to, but he was impatient to get his payment and be out of there all the same.
Siroc smiled at this; that he would actually be so wrapped up in this holodeck fantasy as to actually be concerned with his payment and things of that nature. He looked over and spied a scrawny maid looking him over; he gulped hard and looked at anything else but her until he was summoned into the meeting room. The room itself contained several tapestries, showing off the merchant's success by their very value, as well as a nondescript table and chairs. There was a flagon of ale and several goblets. Calon poured ale into one of them and handed it to Siroc.
"Sit down Siroc! Sit down! Lyssa has told me of your exploits, and those of your men," Calon said, his voice going from boisterous to benevolent. "Here, I believe, is what you've been waiting for," he continued, tossing Siroc a small pouch. "There is our agreed upon price. And something more for your loss," he added, pulling out a gold, gem incrusted necklace.
Siroc smiled carefully and snatched up both items, bowing his head. "You are most generous, Calon. Please, look me up again should you require other assistance."
"That I will, good warrior," Calon replied, raising his cup to him. "You are welcome to the hospitality of my estate for the next week if you choose, though I'd imagine you will be on the road before long."
"You speak truly sir, though I will take my leave here for a day or two and regain my strength. Again I thank you sir, and will speak long and loud of your generosity towards your hirelings," Siroc said emphatically. He could almost sense his first officer stifling a laugh next to him. 'Funny, sensing things is usually her job,' he thought, referring to her telepathic abilities as a Betazoid.
Calon smiled the smile of a rich man who feels very good about doing small things for those around him whom he considers to be his lessors. He nodded at Siroc and raised his cup to him, taking a healthy draught soon after.
At that moment, the ship's intercom beeped. "Sorry Captain," came the voice of the Brisol's Bajoran conn officer, Lt. Reiv. "You asked me to inform you when we were twenty minutes away from the nebula-like formation that Starfleet asked us to check out."
The captain sighed and nodded. Calon's face went deathly pale as he dropped his goblet and drew a dagger from his waist, in a motion far quicker than either Siroc or Lyssa thought was possible for the sloth-like merchant. "Spirits!" he hissed through clenched teeth. "They spoke to us! You heard them didn't you?"
Captain Freeman rolled his eyes. Lt. Reiv's voice came back over the intercom, "What was that Captain?"
"Uh, nothing, Lt. Thank you for the report; I'll be up shortly," Freeman said.
The merchant's mouth stood agape as Lyssa and Siroc got to their feet. "Computer, delete last minute of conversation, save program, and exit," Freeman ordered. The computer complied, and soon the image of the meeting room was replaced by the bare walls of the Holodeck. The door opened and the two of them stepped out.
Unable to hold it any longer, Yilaan burst out laughing, startling a passing crewman. "Did you see the look on his face when Reiv called?" she gasped between gales of laughter.
The captain had a wide grin on his face. "I did indeed. Truly priceless. I was surprised how quick he moved with that dagger."
Yilaan's laughter subsided somewhat, "As was I. Kind of makes me wonder if there's a thing or three we don't know about our generous host."
The captain nodded to her as the two of them entered a turbolift. "Deck Six," the captain said. Yilaan added a "Deck Eight," and the lift sped away.
"Thanks for coming along again Cecilia," the captain said.
Yilaan sighed with mock irritation, "You say that after every time we do this. You know I love those adventures."
The lift stopped at Deck Eight and Yilaan stepped out. "See you on the Bridge," she said lightly. The captain smiled as the doors to the lift closed.
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