Movie Night
Posted on Fri Jun 10th, 2022 @ 4:53pm by Ranger Blue
Edited on on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 @ 12:49pm
1,102 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Roll With It
Location: Haumea Brig
Timeline: MD1: 17:15 hours
Nick put down the PaDD he’d been reading for the last hour and looked up to see his ‘guest’ bouncing a rubber ball against the floor, rebounding off the wall and back into his hand. He’d been doing it since he’d returned from his questioning, so Nick had activated the noise shield so as not to distract him while he read.
But even now, thirteen hours into his double shift, he had to admit he was bored. Lieutenant Issacks had warned him not to talk to their guest, but with three hours left and little else to do, Nick stood, stretched out his back and neck and then deactivated the sound barrier.
“So…uh,” he said, not really knowing where to start a conversation with a vigilante.
Ranger missed the ball and listened as it bounced hollowly off the floor. He turned his gaze to the ensign, a younger man who could be only a few years younger than him at most. “I’m sorry…I was lost in thought. Kind of like meditation when you get into a rhythm.
“Oh,” Nick responded sheepishly. He brushed the hair back from his eyes. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important?”
Ranger gestured around. “I’m the only exhibit in the zoo. Not much to interrupt.” In fact, he’d been trying to determine how he’d managed to wind up stuck on a Federation colony at all. His only conclusion, using Vulcan logic, was that he’d been set up. He should be dead, if that was the case.
“That said, you must be bored. To be honest, I’m beyond bored. You’re Ranger,” Nick said as if it was an introduction.
“And you are Ensign Nick Devers,” Ranger recalled. “And this is Haumea colony. Thanks for the intro, ensign.”
Nick blew out huffy breath. “You can keep being a boorish bore or you and I can decide on something more entertaining than sitting in silence.
Ranger sat up on his bunk and smirked. “Somebody’s not afraid of breaking the rules?”
“There’s no reason to annoy each other, last I was told you’re our guest. I guess,” Nick paused and rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll, I guess we haven’t been gracious hosts. Isn’t there something you’d rather do than sing repetitive songs and bounce your rubber ball?”
Ranger stood and came face to face with the ensign. His smirk turned into a smile. “Ensign…are you propositioning me?”
Nick’s face soured. “You wish.”
He moved across the room to turn the mute back on but just as his finger hovered over the button, Ranger relented. “Just a joke, ensign. You’re right, I’m bored and the meditation leads me down the same rabbit hole. So maybe you have something else we can do that won’t break your regulations?”
Nick threw up his hands. “I hadn’t expected to get this far, to be honest. Do you have any ideas?”
Ranger shook his head. Casting his eyes upward, as if penetrating some clouds of thought, he asked, “What day is it?”
“Stardate 87…”
“No, Nick, what day is it? Monday? Thursday?”
“Oh! It’s Friday. Does it matter?”
“On Tychen, it’s movie night,” Ranger answered as if proud of himself. “Do you have a fancy holoscreen or something we can watch a movie on?”
“They don’t provide fancy holoscreens in the brig. Too much interference with the power systems. Best I can do is pull up your LCARS display and let you watch your video.”
“It’s a movie, kid. It’s supposed to be a shared experience. For the idea to work, you have to come in here or let me out there.”
Nick sighed. “If I come in there, you can coerce me to let you out and if you come out here, you can access any system you want. I’m not stupid, Ranger.”
“I’m a Fenris Ranger, kid. In the new Wild West, we’re the sheriffs defending our people by any means necessary. We’re considered ‘the good guys’. My word is my bond. Now, you’ve treated me, your engineers are rebuilding my shuttle, I’ve blissfully remained in this holding cell despite know a half dozen ways out and your worried about me assaulting you? Seems silly when I say it aloud, doesn’t it?”
Nick grit his teeth and tapped his heel as he tried to come to a decision. “Give me your word that you won’t get me in trouble.”
“I give you my word,” Ranger answered solemnly.
Nick walked to the static field. He closed his eyes. He’d let his instincts lead him. “Computer lower containment field and reestablish the field once I’m inside the cell.”
=/\= Acknowledged. =/\=
Nick stepped inside and accessed the LCARS large display. He moved the bunk back against the containment field and adjusted it so they could sit on it like a couch. “Now what?”
Ranger moved from the replicator with two Coca Colas and made a return trip for popcorn with extra butter. “Now we watch the last movie I missed. Computer, play Flash Gordon circa 1980.”
Nick’s face turned again. “Flash Gordon?”
Ranger shrugged, “I hear it’s a sci-if classic. It was the last movie we were going to watch before I left Tychen.”
Emperor Ming Klytus, I'm bored. What plaything can you offer me today?
Klytus An obscure body in the S-K system, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet... Earth.
Emperor Ming How peaceful it looks.
He activates a console, and watches as earthquakes, floods, start to occur.
Klytus Most effective, Your Majesty. Will you destroy this, uh, Earth?
Emperor Ming Later. I like to play with things a while... before annihilation.
“Computer pause,” Nick called and the scene of blaring rock paused. He turned a skeptical eye to Ranger. “Are you serious?”
Ranger sighed. “We don’t have your holodecks to self-serve ourselves. This is entertainment where I live. You could at least give it a chance. Eat your popcorn, drink your soda and be quiet, huh?”
Nick rolled his eyes, smirked and settled down on to couch. Dropping his hand in the popcorn bucket, he said, “Resume,” before popping the crunchy, salty, buttery snack into his mouth.
The rock opera played on, and despite himself, he found the movie both ridiculous and amusing. If he was honest with himself, he was quite enjoying the ‘movie’.
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