The power of friendship part 2

Posted on Tue Sep 27th, 2022 @ 9:57am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali

Mission: *CD*
Location: Holodeck

— Previously —

I think you both should follow me" the bouncer snarled as he waited for them both to follow him. He grabbed two towels from a nearby pile and tossed them towards them. "No clothes, hacking into access panels... something tells me you're up to no good you two..."

— Now —

Aurora wrapped the towel around her covering up as best as she could. Looking at Rhenora she wondered what was going to happen next.

Rhenora kept her eyes open, looking for an opportunity to flee or fight in a situation where they would have an advantage. She kept Aurora close, and wondering when someone would realise they were stuck in the holodeck.

"How long did you book the holodeck for?" She whispered.

“A couple of hours” Aurora whispered back. “I’m due to meet Savar for lunch so when I don’t turn up he’ll know something’s wrong, he might already know if he’s picked up on my emotions.”

" So we just need to keep ourselves out of trouble until then. No pressure" Rhenora laughed at the irony. Coming to the holodeck to relax only to be stuck in a program that seemed to have a vengeance.

“Are you sure this place is going to be safe?” Aurora motioned to the storm now raging outside. “The weather has gone mad, what if the sea level rises? We could drown!” She tried not to show fear, but it was one of her greatest fears.

Savar was in his and Aurora's quarters meditating when he felt Aurora's flash of fear through the bond they shared. His eyes opened and he concentrated to see if he felt anything else. A moment passed then another and there had been nothing else, since the flash of fear he had felt earlier. However now he was alert for any other flashes he might receive.

Back in the holodeck Aurora was keeping a wary eye on what was now something akin to a hurricane raging outside their place of refuge. Her fears were confirmed as a shout for help went up from the lobby area, water was running in the doors and starting to pool in the lobby. “Lets get higher” she looked at Rhenora. “I don’t like this at all.”

Again, Savar felt a momentary flash of fear and then it was gone. he extend his mind to contact Aurora and check on her well being. *Aurora, my love, are you well?*

Aurora heard Savar’s voice in her mind. She looked towards Rhenora. “It’s Savar, I hear him.” She focused her thoughts in response. *Savar...we’re stuck in the holodeck. We’re trying to get out!*

Savar *heard* Aurora's panicked call for help. *I am on my way to your location now Aurora.* He replied telepathically.

" I think you're right about this storm" Rhenora replied, the burly security guard taking off at a run to save some of the opulent furniture from the rising water. It appeared there were bigger fish to fry other than two women trying to tinker with an access panel. Said access panel was about to the covered in the incoming tide, cutting them off from being able to free themselves.

The Captain looked around, trying to get her bearings as people started screaming and running. The wind was picking up ferociously, ripping off all kinds of foliage and hurtling it through the resort. Windows shattered with the barrage, adding flying broken glass to the mix. Rhenora pushed Aurora down behind a table before flipping it only its edge to provide some rudimentary cover.

“This is crazy!” Aurora kept her head down. “We need to get higher, this place looked tall enough from outside!”

Savar had reached the holodeck and tried to enter but the door would not open. "Computer, open the arch and disengage program." He stated forcibly. But there was no reply. *I am outside the holodeck Aurora. The computer does not respond to any orders*

Aurora heard Savar’s voice in her mind. *There’s a short in the controls! We can’t get to it.* she looked to Rhenora. “Savar is outside, he’s trying to help.”

"Well at least we know that someone's trying to bust us out of here" Rhenora shouted over the din, bracing as another window shattered. She looked around for deeper and higher protection, spying a set of stairs further down the corridor. "So you think you can make it to those stairs?"

Outside the holodeck, Savar had removed the access panel to the control box. Aurora had mentioned a short in the controls. He bent forward to get a better look, to see if he could determine where the short was and how to overcome it.

The water continued to rise, waves crashing through the first story of the resort driven by the raging winds of the hurricane. Seeing their time running out Rhenora grabbed Aurora's hand and took off towards the stairs, arm raised to shield her face from the flying debris.

Aurora covered her own face as they ran as fast as their legs could carry them. As they eventually got to the top of the flight of stairs Aurora had to sit down on the floor to catch her breath.
“Are you...alright?” She looked at Rhenora making sure she was okay especially with all the flying debris.

From what she could feel she was mostly intact, although there were some cuts from the flying glass that had caused the occasional streak of blood to trickle down her arm or face. "I'm well enough, you ok?" She asked Aurora who was breathing heavily.

“I’m fine...” She paused as she lifted her hand, which had been resting on her side. “I think...”

Giving Aurora a chance to catch her breath, Rhenora took a moment to see what this top floor had to offer. It would be high enough to keep out of the rising floodwater, however was much more exposed than the lower levels. Their options appeared to be few.

Savar continued to study the control box. He believed he has found the short. Now, all he had to do was repair it at least temporarily to Aurora and Rhenora out of the holodeck.

Not game enough to go too far away from the stairwell the Captain returned, taking a better look at her companion. "Are you sure you're ok?" She asked cautiously

Aurora nodded as she checked her side. “It’s just a flesh wound, and it’s not deep. I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “So much for a relaxing break on the holodeck huh?”

Rhenora scooted over, inspecting the wound and tying it off with a strip of material from the sarong she had been wearing. "Make sure you get that tended to when we get out of here" she said gently, casting her eyes over the counsellor to see if she had any further injuries.

“I will I promise” Aurora smiled. “I’ve had worse, at least we’re above the water level now. Hopefully Savar will be able to get us out of here soon!”

Outside the holodeck, Savar felt like he had discovered the short. *Aurora, I believe I have located the short in the access panel. I am going to attempt to open the hollow deck doors.* He sent telepathically to Aurora.

"Just...hang...tight" Rhenora muttered as the wind battered them from the outside. There was no door to protect them from the incoming wind and rain, leaving them soaked to the skin but thankfully not in danger of being swept away by the rising tide.

Aurora nodded as she sat in a huddled up position, she was starting to get very cold. Her hands were freezing, and being in soaking wet clothes wasn't helping. “I’ll...try!” She sat shivering, hoping she wasn’t going to catch hypothermia from the cold.

The storm showed little sign of abating, the only sounds they could here were the wind and the water. It was cold, wet and miserable but they were alive, at least for the time being. Soon they would reach the eye of the storm, a blessed few moments of peace before it all began again.

Aurora looked at Rhenora. “I just...want to get out of here!” She could only hope Savar would soon have them out of the holodeck.”

" I'm with you on that, I'm sure Savar is on the problem, and will have us out of here in a jiffy. You just need to hang on until he does. The flood won't get us, we just may need a month long hot shower after this to warm up again" There was the twisted humour that always got the Bajoran through the tough times.

Savar was now sure he had found the short and made what he thought was the appropriate repair. *Aurora, I am going to attempt opening the arch. You and Captain Kaylen be ready. *

Aurora shivered. *We’ll be...r...ready.* she looked towards Rhenora. “Savar says he’s going to...t...try opening the arch.”

"Best news I've heard all day" Rhenora retorted, head bent against the wind and the rain soaking her to the bone. She was starting to feel the chill and was most looking forward to getting warm again. She kept her eyes peeled for the arch appearing, ever hopeful.

Savar had isolated the short and repaired it. Now it was time to if his repairs would prove to be successful. He gave a final inspection of his work, replaced the access panel and said Computer display arch." For a moment there was nothing then the arch appeared. He wasted no time entering the holodeck and into a hurricane. Wind and rain pelted him. "Aurora! Captain Kaylen!" He called out as he looked for them. "Computer end program." Nothing. So he continued his search for Aurora and Rhenora.

Rhenora saw the Arch appear, down at ground level in a section of the resort not yet flooded. He would have to cross a large body of water still rising. "Savar!" The Captain shouted over the raging wind and rain, her words swept away in a torrent of the storm.

Aurora brightened up at the sudden realisation that Savar had found a way in. Standing up she stood waving trying to draw his attention. “Savar! We’re here!!”

Savar stopped his search as he thought he had heard something over the howl of the wind and downpour of rain. He listened intently and then his eyes spotted Aurora waving at him from across the resort.

"Thank the Prophets" Rhenora whispered to herself as Savar saw them. Soon they would be out of there.

Aurora looked towards Rhenora. “We need to head down to Savar, it’s our only way to get out!”

Savar saw Aurora and began to move toward her and Rhenora. he moved carefully to avoid falling. Once he reached them, he could get them to safety which in this case was getting out of the holodeck.

Kaylen helped Aurora to her feet and maneuvered them back down the stairwells. She could almost feel the warm water of her shower cascading across her freezing skin.

Aurora was shivering in her soaking clothes, being wet wasn’t helping her wounds to dry out. Just seeing Savar had given her the strength she needed to keep going. She paused as they came to the barrier of the flood between them. “It’s too deep!” She looked at Rhenora. “I don’t want to drown!!”


Savar had reached the water's edge and he could see the panicked look on Aurora's face. "Captain! Aurora! Stay there!" He shouted above the wind as he looked for something to help the pair traverse the water. He looked about the beach equipment that was in disarray from the storm and then he saw it. Some cord used to hold the umbrellas together when not in use. He tore one end free from it's holding. He coiled the rope and threw one to Aurora and Rhenora. "Tie it off." He shouted as he took his end pulled it taunt and tied it off to a nearby railing. Before he waded into the water. "Come Aurora, I will help you and the Captain both."

Rhenora tied off the rope, creating a tenious way of crossing the high water. "Aurora, I'll help you across, hold onto the rope with both hands, and whatever you do - don't let go. Got it?" The Bajoran said earnestly.

Savar had moved more than halfway across the flood waters, "Aurora, Captain, come across the eye of the storm should be coming over us shortly. It will give a few minutes relief from the wind and rain."

Aurora held out her hand as she started forward, hoping Savar would be able to reach out and take hers. He gave her strength just by being there. Her other hand gripped onto Rhenora, keeping them together.

Savar had anchored himself the best he was able to with the rushing water swirling around his legs. He extended his arm to Aurora. Once he got his hand on her, he wouldn't let go until she was safe. He would then use his upper body for Rhenora to grab onto and then they all could get to safety together.

Reaching out as she waded through the water Aurora gripped onto Savar’s hand just as the wind and rain started to ebb away. The waters became less fierce as she clung onto Rhenora, being piggy in the middle between her Imzadi and friend.

Savar's hand closed around Aurora's in a grip of iron and pulled her toward him. "Grab onto my back Captain and we will all get out of here." Savar proclaimed.

"Get Aurora to safety first!" Rhenora replied back, her grip on the rope was strong and she was determine to enjoy a cup of extra hot coffee in a deliciously warm bath.

"Captain." Savar started but stopped in the time it took to debate Rhenora he could get Aurora to safety and come back for the captain. He nodded and turned and with powerful strides took Aurora to safety.

Getting to safety Aurora motioned back to Rhenora, the storm was fast rolling in again. “I’m okay! Go get Rhenora!”

After getting Aurora to the arch, Savar turned and headed back into the water to retrieve Rhenora before the storm built back to its full intensity.

"Bugger it" Rhenora swore as the rain kicked up again, along with the wind indicating that the eye of the storm had passed and there was another hour of hell before it let up completely. She had two options, wait it out and hope it didn't get worse whilst Savar got Aurora safely out of the holodeck, or trust the rope through the now deep raging water. She wanted a warm bath, badly. So the rope it was. Holding on with as much grip as she had left I'd her hands she moved into the water, fighting against the current to traverse the short distance.

Savar had waded back into the swirling waters and had slowly made his way to Rhenora who had a death grip on the rope. His hand extended to her, "Let us leave this place, Captain." Then as if reading her mind, he added, "I am sure you want a big cup of steaming hot coffee to warm you after this adventure."

That and an hours long hot bath" Rhenora grumbled as she extracted herself from the cold water. Both she and Aurora were chilled from head to toe with freezing rain and sea water.

Aurora stood shivering as Rhenora was helped out of the water, she couldn’t wait to get warm again.

"Yes, I am sure Aurora feels like you do Captain. However our first stop should be Sickbay so you and Aurora may be examined after this incident." Savar pointed out.

"Really?" There was a resigned sigh in her voice as her teeth chattered against her will. "I guess that warm bath will have to wait". She obediently followed them through the arch and back out into the corridor, free at last from the horrors of the holodeck