Cold Steel

Posted on Sun Oct 22, 2017 @ 1:46am by Lieutenant JG Logan Hunter & Lieutenant Commander Kelani Tetanal
Edited on on Mon Oct 23, 2017 @ 7:26am

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: MD 31, 1730 hours

Logan stared at the panel outside the holodeck as he awaited for Kelani to arrive. They had agreed to meet for a swashbuckling holodeck adventure, but there were so many to choose from and he didn't want to pick out something Kelani might not like.

Kelani hurried up to where Logan waited.

"My apologies, Logan," she said breathlessly, "There was a last minute complication at the end of my shift..."

Logan looked up at Kelani as she bounded up to him at the holodeck control panel. "No need to apologise milady. I was just looking for a suitable program to load." He took a step back and gestured. "Ladies choice."

Kelani smiled delightedly. "Such gallantry," she said archly, then studied the amazing number of choices available to them.

One caught her eye. "Would this one be acceptable?" She asked, indicating a program set in France at the time of Louis XIV.

Logan peered over her shoulder. The program offered a plot of action, romance and intrigue in nearly equal measures. "Looks great to me." He tapped the program twice to highlight it. "Computer, activate highlighted program, Chapter One, Scene One."

=^=Program activated, enter when ready.=^=

Logan gestured to the holodeck entrance. "After you Mademoiselle."

“My gallant gentleman.” Kelani replied with a smile as she moved to the doorway. “Shall we mon ami?”

Logan stepped up next to Kelani with an almost child-like glee. He held his hand out, palm up. "Together?"

Kelani smiled, easily picking up on Logan's pleasure. She placed her hand in his, agreeing, "Together."


Paris, France, Circa 1650

Logan looked down at himself, now clad in holographic overlay of a King's Musketeer uniform complete with rapier, main-gauche and a pair of flintlock pistols. He looked at Kelani and was awe struck at her outfit and how beautiful she looked in it. "You look...." A plethora of words came to mind... amazing, fantastic, gorgeous, ravishing, and beautiful... but none of them could capture her essence at the moment.

Kelani looked to Logan as they entered the Holodeck and was quite impressed with what she saw. Logan looked very much the swashbuckler, with the bright smile of a man who is happy with his life.

"My handsome Musketeer," she said softly as the jumble of thoughts from Logan became clear. Her cheeks went rosy as she said in a teasing tone, "Then I am presentable?"

Logan took a deep breath as he lifted her hand and gently brushed his lips to her knuckle. "Milady. All of France would go to war for you."

Kelani blushed, then smiled at Logan, saying, "And I am on the arm of the most handsome Musketeer in the realm--what more could I want?"

Her fingers tightened on his arm as she asked, "Shall we--mingle?" and she indicated the others moving about.

"By all means." Logan stepped out in to the pedestrian traffic, Kelani on his arm. ""Where would you like to go?"

"I'm not sure." Kelani said slowly as she looked around. " Perhaps we could join them?" She indicated a nearby group of ladies with their escorts.

Logan escorted Kelani to the group of what appeared to be Noble ladies and gentlemen in front of the Royal Palace. A smile came to Logan's face. "Must be a Royal Ball of some sort."

"Indeed," Kelani replied, her fingers unconsciously tightening on Logan's arm. "They may feel that we are intruding..."

Logan smiled and gave Kelani a wink. "That's an easy fix. Computer, provide us with appropriate identities for attending the Royal Ball."

There was a slight chirp as the Holo program updated. A man in the livery of a Royal Herald approached Kelani and Logan. "Captain, Contessa, please follow me."

Kelani smiled as things progressed. Logan was an attentive companion and adept at these scenarios. How fortunate she was!

She inclined her head just slightly to the Roysl Herald saying, “Of course.” She was becoming more and more intrigued with this scenario and the man sharing it with her.

The herald announced them as they entered a grand ball room with musicians set up on a raised platform, a banquet all along the far wall, and a lavish throne at one end of the hall. Logan nodded at the opulent decor. "His Majesty certainly knows how to put together a party."

“He does indeed,” Kelani replied, smiling. She looked around at the other lords and ladies present and said very softly, “I hope I remember the proper etiquette for this time period.”

Again she looked around, her face set in thoughtful lines.

Logan glanced about as well. "You seem a bit lost in thought."

"Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry. This scenario is very elaborate...I wonder if we will get to fence at all...." She blushed, saying, "I'm probably just being silly...."

"I'm sure that...." Logan was interrupted by a blow of trumpets, followed by a herald's announcement. "His Majesty, King Louis XIV of France."

Holo characters throughout the hall took a knee as the young King entered the Grand Hall. Logan looked at Kelani and then took a knee himself, his head bowed.

Kelani dropped into a deep curtsey, her head bowed.

Louis XIV stopped before Logan and Kelani. "Rise d'Artagnan and you as well milady."

Hiding her surprise as well as she could, Kelani rose, saying, "Yes, Majesty."

Logan rose at the King's command, his eyes glancing quickly to Kelani. He was lucky to do that too, for only a few steps away was a man dressed in the livery of a palace guard drawing his sword, a murderous expression on his face as he looked at Louis XIV, Logan's rapier practically sang as it left his scabbard and clashed with the would-be-assassin's blade. A twist of Logan sword and the blade fell to the ground before Kelani.

Kelani grabbed the blade and placed herself between the King and another assassin who charged them. As she engaged this new enemy, she caught a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye.

"Behind you!" She shouted to Logan as she continued to battle her opponent.

Logan spun around, barely deflecting an attack. Steel rang for a moment before Logan was able to riposte and thrust the point of his rapier into his opponent.

Kelani continued to battle her opponent, dispatching him after a few anxious moments. She stood protectively in front of the King, breathing fast as she scanned the crowd for more enemies, her sword at the ready.

A group of Palace Guards and King's Musketeers rushed into the Grand Hall. Guests parted ways as the armed men approaching ched the King and His impromptu protectors. Louis XIV placed a hand on both Kelani's and Logan's shoulders. "You have the gratitude of your King."

"It was our honor to be of service, Your Majesty," Kelani said, bowing her head respectfully.

She looked to Logan, wondering if he had anything to add.

Logan gave a nod of his head. "Your safety is gratitude enough Your Majesty."

Louis XIV looked about at the guards and guests. "Let us return to the festivities." He glanced at Kelani and Logan. "You both will of course join us at the head table for the feast."

“Thank you, Your Majesty,”. Kelani said with another curtsey, “We are honored to do so.”

Louis nodded to the Palace Steward to make the last minute changes. Ten minutes later King Louis XIV and his tables dinner guests were being seated.

Kelani looked about, bemused. This adventure was turning into an amazing experience.

She looked to Logan, smiling happily.

Logan smiled back at Kelani, giving her a mirthful wink as he leaned in and whispered. "We were able to save the King of France and fence at the same time."

"Indeed we did," Kelani replied, whisper-soft. "Best session I've ever had!"

Logan held up his wine goblet. "Here's to more and better sessions to come."

Kelani raised her glsss as well. "To more and better sessions--soon," she agreed.