Jukebox Java

Posted on 30 Jul 2013 @ 2:14pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton

1,420 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2 - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD-02 0620hrs

ON:

With bleary eyes and a stifled yawn, John Holliday rounded the final corner between him and the Mess Hall, grateful to see the doors part in front of him, and the smell of coffee hit his senses like a quantum torpedo.

The night shift had been long, with Galileo conducting multiple operations to try and ascertain the location of their stricken companion ship, the Venture. Having taken a moment to excuse himself frmo the Bridge, John had headed to find solace in the replicator, and ordered himself the largest raktajino that the memory was capable of producing.

With a satisfied grunt, he picked up the large mug from the tray and headed to find a table. Luckily this late into the day there were very few other officers on duty, and the array of sofas in one corner of the Mess were entirely vacant. Collapsing into one of them, he closed his eyes and leant back, relaxing for the first time in hours.

From the far corner of the lounge John started to hear someone playing a guitar, it was melodic, then it stopped for a bit and began again. It sounded like someone was practicing.

Opening his eyes, the XO scanned the area in front of him, trying to hone in on the sounds until eventually he spotted a single officer. With no other person in the Mess, the Commander had no reason to be courteous, and instead just shouted out across the void.

"A little late to be staging a concert don't you think?"

Jacob looked up from his guitar as he heard the commander's voice. "Sir? Oh, no concert involved, I come here often to work on my music Commander as the lounge has some excellent acoustics."

The Commander had never really thought of the lounge for it's acoustic reasons - mainly that it was a good place to come, drink coffee, shout at some junior officers, and then retreat to the safety of his office. Nevertheless, he had to admit that when empty, the almost cavernous room (in comparison to some of the more cramped areas of the ship) was extremely effective for music.

"I'm not much of a musician myself. Toyed with the guitar in my Academy days but that's about as far as I got. Happier on the phaser range than in the concert room."

John felt a little out of place conversing with his crew, usually his conversations were limited to giving orders, chewing out people for mistakes, and catching up on mission reports. He had been advised during his command training that keeping your crew "on side" was a good thing, as it meant they would be more effective in a crunch, but the XO had found the stick just as good as the carrot.

Jacob smiled, "I enjoy the phaser range as much as any other Starfleet officer I suspect, but there is a time for all things Commander. Music invigorates me like nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I also love to train and to work out and create new holosims, but its music that enhances my life. For me, there is almost nothing more satisfying." He put his six string guitar on its stand and then picked up his twelve string and made sure it was in tune and then began to play and sing in his deep, easy to listen to voice:

"This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry
It introduced me to some friends of mine
And brightened up some days
It helped me make it through some lonely nights
Oh, what a friend to have on a cold and lonely night

This old guitar gave me my lovely lady
It opened up her eyes and ears to me
It brought us close together
I guess it broke her heart
It opened up the space for us to be
What a lovely place and a lovely space to be

This old guitar gave me my life my living
All the things you know I love to do
To serenade the stars that shine
From a sunny mountainside
Most of all to sing my songs for you
I love to sing my songs for you
Yes, I do, you know
I love to sing my songs for you"
(http://youtu.be/mtgf5J1Q4Yw)

He then looked up at the Commander to see his reaction.

John hadn't been much of a musician, but he had always thought that learning an instrument might have given him an outlet for the stress and weight of command. The Lieutenant certainly had a voice that was well suited to guitar music, and the commander could do nothing other than give a polite applause in return.

"Very nice Mr Pendleton. Should we ever decide that Galileo needs a band I will know who to draft first of all."

Jacob smiled wider, "Had one at the Academy. It was a lot of fun I must say. Perhaps, if I could be so bold, perhaps we could have a talent show some time? Everyone get together, have some fun, some laughs and just a way to share all of the gifts we all have? What do you think about that?"

Holliday paused for a moment in thought. He had seen such nights take place during his time at the Academy, both as a cadet and as an instructor. They had seemed generally popular with both groups, but he had never seen the reason for them particuarly.

"I can think of a half dozen reasons why not to but then again, after a survey mission, the crew probably deserves some R&R...submit a request to me in writing and I will bring it up with the Captain when I next meet with her. Does that sound agreeable?"

"Agreeable indeed Sir, agreeable indeed." Jacob smiled even more, "So in writing and in triplicate with at least three references Commander?" He chuckled as his reply was in a teasing, funny tone.

"Damn right Lieutenant." John replied with a chuckle as he took another swig from the now-cooling mug of Klingon coffee in his hand.

"Someone has to keep you guitar playing hippies in order on this ship - might as well be me." he called back with his own teasing tone.

Jacob laughed, and then in overacted mock shock, "Excuse me Commander! I am not a guitar playing hippie! I am an Ar-teest..." then he couldn't stop laughing due to making his voice sound ultra egotistical and again, overacted.

"Keep up with that attitude and I'll have you scrubbing plasma conduits for a fortnight." The XO replied, stifling laughter of his own. After all, whilst the junior officers were at the beginning of their careers, John had a position of authority to uphold, and being seen belly-laughing with his subordinates simply wouldn't have appeared proper.

"Just make sure your 'art' doesn't mean you miss duty shifts and start a convent in the cargo bay."

"Aww.." Jacob continued, "You're no fun.. and.. how did you know what I wanted to do? Are you psychic or somethin'?" He couldn't stop laughing, but he most appreciated a moment of levity with his XO.

"No I'm just a very very good Starfleet Commander." John replied, finishing off the final gulps of coffee in his mug, feeling a little sad that the beverage had come to an end, but suitably happy that he was now caffinated enough to get through the rest of his shift.

"Now speaking of being a Commander, if you will excuse me Lieutenant, I believe there is a mission report awaiting my attention."

Jacob stood at attention and respect to his Commander, "I shall not keep you further then Commander. I do appreciate this time with you I must say. And yes, I agree, you are a very, very good Commander... even if you won't let me start a Cult of the Egotistical Scientists..." He smiled at John.

Standing, the XO took his mug back to the replicator and watched as it dissolved back into nothingness. With a wry smile he turned back to his subordinate and gave him a curteous nod.

"No...but the John Holliday Appreciation Society is welcome to meet whenever. Good morning Lieutenant."

Jacob called after him, "Ok, Ill get right on that.." He laughed, shook his head and went back to his practicing.

[OFF]

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Jacob Pendleton
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

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