Are You Being Served?

Posted on Fri Nov 20th, 2020 @ 2:47am by Commodore Jane Saulitis

Mission: End of Line
Location: Somewhere on the station?
Timeline: MD 01- Prior to "When the Moon Is Round"
749 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Jane had already been interrupted once in her thoughts and lamentations about the last mission. She just wanted to be left alone. A pleasure station however, didn't seem like the place to let that happen. Still, it was better than the ship because at least no one here knew her by her rank or position. She wasn't in uniform and she didn't plan to be during her shoreleave. Hanover could handle things just fine on Majestic, she needed a break from all the daily activity.

===

///SYS-ACTIVATED!
passive-personnel-scan=true”
;Saulitis-commodore-Jane
;commanding-officer
/GENERATE:
;char-Shabol=true
;protocol-engage:
;generate-trust-rapport
:activate

===

The grinning Shabol hologram shimmered into existence behind the strolling woman, his program rapidly compiling all of the personality subroutines he would need to obtain the trust of the Majestic’s commanding officer. Fed by the ship’s cultural and personnel database, the Starbase computer equipped him with the most appropriate personality tools to win over Saulitis. “Commodore!” Shabol yelled, in a characteristically and booming happy voice.

Jane jumped about a meter and spun around with her arms up in front of her as if fending off an unseen foe. She said a few choice phrases and glared at the hologram intently before replying. "Well you got my attention. What do you want? Trying to give me a heart attack?"

Quickly closing the distance between the two, Shabol embraced the Commodore with a deep hug and a tight squeeze; "oh my dearest Commodore! No no no! Of course not!" he said, stepping back. "I am here to serve, I exist simply for your pleasure and relaxation..." he rounded the woman, looking her up and down as he did so; "perhaps some clothes shopping?" he suggested, as an almost Denobulan smile was generated across his face.

"Actually, if it's all the same to you, I would love some conversation." Jane said though she actually thought Bolians were a little bit annoying given their penchant to talk her ear off and boast about things but she knew that was stereotyping and probably a bit racist and she didn't want to become that kind of Captain. "I heard you had a . . . unusual conversation with a member of my crew."

Shabol linked an arm with Commodore, and set off further into the station; "Oh my darling Commodore I'm sure I have positively no idea what you are talking about" the hologram said, his personality algorithms working to ascertain the best way to settle the officer's concerns.

"Really? She mentioned it to another crew member who mentioned it to me. A Vulcan woman named T'Par. Not ringing any bells in that computer system of yours?" Jane had a smile on her face but she didn't believe for one second that he didn't know what she was talking about. A computer system this advanced should keep track of everything on the station. Any glitches should have been isolated and repaired. She contemplated calling someone from her ship to check out the circuits.

Shabol's programming decided it best to try and manoeuvre around the topic; no good could come of it by remaining in this discussion, and the Starbase had goals to achieve in short order. "Commodore I'm sure I simply have no idea why such a lovely young lady should dine alone!" he made an obvious exaggeration of noticing there was nobody with her, and continued; "perhaps we should find someone for you? A handsome young Trill perhaos? Or a dignified older Betazoid...mmm?"

"I'm married," Jane replied, slightly annoyed that he'd changed the subject, but she didn't show it. "Happily." She clarified. Unfortunately Hak wouldn't do her any good with a computer system, they didn't have a mind to read, not like a being. "Why don't we have dinner together? Just the two of us, just as friends. A little friendly conversation never hurt anyone and I'm famished. What do you say?"

The hologram's matrix took a second to process the change in strategy from the commodore; she had immediately switched from being mildly difficult to overly willing and the strategic parameters in Shabol's program were having a hard time deducing why. "My dearest Commodore I should be delighted...what say you in two hours I shall take you somewhere magical?"

"You Mr., have yourself a deal. Two hours. You just let me know where." The Captain didn't say anything else, she just walked away. She wanted to have a conversation with the one person who had witnessed the odd behavior from the hologram and that was T'Par.