Circus, circus...

Posted on 14 Jul 2015 @ 8:12pm by EBH Mark I "Raven"

2,570 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: Starbase 84 - Holodeck 23
Timeline: MD02: 1000 hours

[ON]

"Okay, this is going to be so much fun!" exclaimed Raven, standing in the blank holodeck. She had gotten approval from the director for a special activity, and a bit of holodeck time as well, and had taken the Mercys and a few of the children their age down to the holodeck for what she hoped was something the would enjoy.

"What is going to be fun?" Delon demanded recalcitrantly, while casting his slightly older brother a furious stare. Revan on his part was smiling serenely as he held their sister by the hand. "What are you smiling about Revan, don't tell me you know because we both know you can't read holograms any more than I can read you."

Revan just smiled. "We're going to do something fun. I don't care what it is, if Raven says it's fun it'll be fun. Has she lied about things so far? No Delon...I trust her judgement. I thought you liked her."

Delon just stared, gritting his teeth and crossing his arms. "I doubt it'll be fun, it'll be some children's endeavour, you'll see." He gestured towards Raven. "GO on.....show us what will be such fun."

"Okay, close your eyes first," replied Raven, giving Delon a bit of a glare until he complied. "Computer, activate program Raven-1"

Almost instantaneously, the plain walls of the holodeck were replaced with a cavernous big top, filled with clowns, music, jugglers, animals, and all sorts of other attractions. "It's a circus!" exclaimed Raven as a laughing clown walked by. "Look, it's so much fun!"

Delon just stared, his eyes sparkling at the sight of wild animals, where Revan backpedaled at the sight of a clown, and hid behind Raven, shaking all over. "What is that?" he stammered, his arms clutched around Raven's waist to keep her in front of him.

"It's a clown," replied Raven, gently pushing Revan out from behind her. "Look, he's funny!" she exclaimed, in an effort to get Revan excited about the circus.

Seeing the little kid who was afraid of him, the clown reached into his pocket and produced a long, narrow balloon. Quickly, he blew it up, folded it into the shape of an animal. "It's a dog!" he exclaimed, as he leaned over to hand it to Revan.

Revan tried to get back behind Raven, trembling violently. Delon just laughed and accepted the balloon-dog. "This is awesome," he exclaimed, "you're such a baby Revan, he's harmless!" He turned to the clown. "What else can you make?"

The clown paused for a moment, placing his finger on his chin and miming being deep in thought. Then, with a snap of his fingers, he pulled out two more ballons and a few moments later had produced two swords. Tossing one to Delon, he leaped backwards and took on a fencing pose.

For a moment Delon looked at his 'sword' in a blank look, before his childish imagination took over and he followed suit, laughing loudly. "Oh Revan this is fun!" he cried out, while leaping after the clown, chasing it off with his balloon sword.

"N-no it isn't," Revan stuttered, wrenching his eyes closed.

"Of course it is!" exclaimed Raven, grabbing Revan by the hand. As she looked down at him, her emotion processing subroutines could tell that there was a 94% chance that he was distraught over something. Still holding his hand, Raven knelt down on one knee beside him. "Are you all right, Revan? You look scared."

The Betazoid boy shook his head, tears all but spilling down his cheeks, which were white as blood had drained from his face. He could tell Delon was having fun, but he didn't find the clown funny at all. "The clown scares me," he whispered, "I don't like it. I can't sense it, and I don't know what it is and it looks scary." Though he couldn't sense Raven either, at least there was a friendly face to put to the appearance, and he knew who had designed their caretaker. That, to him, made a huge difference.

Raven took one last look at Delon, who was occupied with his frolicking. "Would you like to come outside with me for a moment?" she asked, offering Revan her hand. "We can get a snow cone or some cotton candy and talk."

Revan nodded quietly, still shaking as he reached for her hand. "Snow cone," he whispered, "I don't like that fluffy candy, it hurts my teeth." He followed her outside, calming a little now that he was away from the clown. "What do you want to talk about Miss Raven?"

"Okay," Raven grabbed two snow cones from a vendor. As a hologram, she didn't really need food, but figured sharing a holographic snow cone with Revan would help them bond. As she handed one to Revan, she sat down on a curb beside him.

"I wanted to talk about the clown. It's okay if you're afraid of clowns, but I just wanted to know why you were so afraid of it. Part of growing up is learning to face your fears, and I thought maybe I could help you with that." Raven took a small bite of her raspberry snow cone; to her, the icy confection was little more than a tasteless nuisance. She would have to get someone to program her some taste buds if she were to enjoy eating.

"So, Revan, what do you find scary about that clown?"

Not really sure what to do with it, and thus just following her example, Revan too took a bite and was unable to place the flavour. Now simply holding it, he turned slightly and shrugged. "I can't see his face, the make-up is scary and the noises he makes. But most of all, I can't sense anything from him. I can't tell what his intentions are, and that frightens me. I don't sense you either, but I know who wrote your programming. I was there when your program was tested and so I know I can trust you. But that thing....no.... I don't like real clowns either."

Raven nodded along, not having realized that empaths might be uncomfortable around holograms and those they can't sense. "You know," she started, "most people can't sense anyone. We all travel through our lives not really sure what other people are thinking and feeling, only getting vague clues through their body lanugage and expressions."

"But then they're used to not knowing," Revan explained wisely, "my mother was Betazoid. I mean, adopted mother...and my adopted father is half Vulcan. I'm used to hearing whispers around me, feeling what others are feeling. I know which feelings and thoughts are and aren't mine, and I can you know...not listen to them but that doesn't mean I'm not aware. But with holograms I have no idea and it scares me. And clowns put on this different face and I don't know what's real and what isn't, and I can't see his face. I don't like masks miss Raven, I don't like not seeing someone's true face."

Raven placed a hand on Revan's shoulder. "What do you want to do? If this is uncomfortable for you, we can get rid of the clowns. But also, part of growing up is learning to face your fears, and if you want to go back in there, I'll be right by your side."

"I don't want to go back to the clown. But maybe we can see a trapeze act or something?" Revan really didn't want to go back to the clowns and if necessary he'd just wait here until they would go away.

"All right," replied Raven. "Computer, remove clowns." She looked back down at Revan. "There, they're gone. Why don't you run along and meet up with Delon, and I'll be with you shortly?"

Revan nodded, finished his snow cone and ran off.

As the lights underneath the big top dimmed, Raven was still nowhere to be found. That is, until she appeared in the center of the stage, underneath a bright spotlight, wearing a top hat and a gold-trimmed blouse.

"Ladies and getlemen," she shouted into a microphone, "boys and girls, children of all ages, welcome to Raven's circus, the greatest show on earth!"

Delon pouted a little because the clowns were gone, but Revan was clapping his hands. "Whohooo!" he called out, cupping his mouth with his hands.

For the next hour, the children were entertained by a variety of circus acts including trapeze artists, acrobats, contortionists, and animals -- and no clowns. As the high-wire act came to a close, Raven appeared on stage again, this time with two assistants wheeling out a large contraption covered with elaborate curtains.

"Now, for my final act, I'm going to need a volunteer," she called out, looking over the audience.

"Me, me!" both boys criend out, sticking up their arms to draw attention.

"You," called out Raven, pointing towards Revan, as a couple performers descended on the boy to help him down to the stage.

Revan beamed, his face a mask of excitement as the performers helped him down. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, feeling absolutely elated and beside himself with tension.

"What's your name, little boy?" asked Raven into the microphone, for the benefit of the holographic crowd.

Fidgeting shyly, Revan stood there for a second. "Revan," he whispered.

"Revan, I like that name," replied Raven with a smirk. "Now, Revan, you're a brave little boy, right?"

"Oh yes!" Revan nodded excitedly, smiling up at Raven. "Yes I am!"

"That's good, because I need a brave volunteer for this trick," replied Raven. As she did so, two stagehands pulled the curtains aside, revealing a large wheel with shackles on it. "It takes a very brave boy to step right up to the wheel of death, but I think we have one right here. Isn't that right?"

The crowd cheered jubiliantly in response to Raven. "Revan, this is a simple trick. My assistants will strap you in and spin you around, while I toss ten knives at the target and try not to hit you. Now, are you ready?" Raven gave Revan a little wink, to tell him that everything would be all right.

Revan swallowed as he looked at the wheel, suddenly not feeling so brave anymore. But catching Delon's smug look, he gave Raven a minute nod and walked with the assistants. He felt his heart beat wildly in his chest as the assistants fastened the straps for his safety. He held his breath, keeping his eyes on Raven's nose as the wheel started to spin.

"Here, hold on to this!" called out Raven as she turned back towards Revan and tossed one of her assistants an apple, which the assistant quickly pressed into the boy's hand.

"Hold on to the apple tight," she said as she began spinning Revan again.

Fingers tight around the apple to the point of his knuckles turning white, Revan held his breath.

"All right, Revan, are you ready?" asked Raven, before tilting her head as though she had just thought of something. "Oh right, I almost forgot. I'm supposed to be blindfolded."

Revan squealed and wrenched his eyes shut. On the bench in the crowd, Delon too held his breath as he watched, eyes wide. "Raven please," he cried out, "please be careful!"

Raven nodded as she tied the blindfold tightly around her eyes. "Don't try this at home, kids!" she called out before grabbing the first knife.

The trick was nothing special; in fact, there was very little to it, apart from Raven's programming. The internal sensors on the holodeck relayed the position of the target and of Revan to Raven at all times. Knowing the speed and trajectory necessary for the proper placement of the knives was thus a simple ballistic calculation, which Raven could do to dozens of decimal places in a split second. And being based on the EMH, she had inherited Shirley's dexterity, enabling her to throw the knife with better than surgical precision. Finally, the holodeck safeties would have prevented any harm had Revan unexpectedly flinched or something went wrong with Raven's calcuations.

In a manner of moments Raven had fired off ten knives in rapid succession, the audience cheering louder and louder with every blade that sunk itself into the wooden target. Nine of the knives hit nothing but wood, while the last went between Revan's fingers and pinned the apple he was holding to the target. As the audience burst into cheers, Raven took off her blindfold and walked towards Revan, who was being helped down by the holographic assitants.

"See, Revan," said Raven, holding him by the hand, "sometimes facing your fears isn't so hard when auntie Raven is around."

Revan stood trembling, feeling slightly disoriented as he clung to Raven. "I've..." he whispered, shaking all over, "I think I've..." He faltered, dropping his gaze. "I've peed my pants," he whispered sadly, as tears started to roll down his cheeks.

As the lights went out, signifying the end of the show, Raven froze for a moment, pondering the best way to respond. "It's okay," she said, reaching for a handkerchief and wiping his tears away. "Why don't we come to my dressing room and replicate you a new pair? Maybe something a little more stylish, like mine!"

The boy nodded minutely, his eyes still wide.

"Revan!" His Romulan brother came racing towards them, face equally white. "Delon are you alright?" He looked up at Raven. "Is he alright Miss Raven?"

"He's fine, Delon," said Raven, standing between him and Revan in order to spare the poor kid a little embarrassment. "Why don't you go run off and grab some cotton candy, and we'll meet up with you shortly." She paused for a moment, placing a finger on her chin. "Oh, and get me some too!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Delon nodded and tried to peer past Raven at his brother but she kept obscuring him. Finally relenting, he ran off. Revan sighed in relief, though he felt extremely small now. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Don't mention it," replied Raven as she held his hand and looked him up and down, analyzing the child with her fashion subroutines. "Hmmmmm... have you considered some dark jeans, perhaps accentuated with a belt and a leather jacket?"

"I'd like that Miss Raven," the boy whispered, while getting out of his wet pants and underpants. "I've always liked jeans...."

"Excellent!" she exclaimed, looking Revan up and down, her program automatically taking some measurements before she closed her eyes and tapped into the onboard replicator on the holodeck. A few moments later, a pile of black clothes appeared before her and Revan. "Now get dressed and we'll meet up with Delon and the others for some treats!"

*************************
A few minutes later...

Holding hands, Raven and Revan strolled out of the dressing room together, Revan decked out in a somewhat punkish ensemble featuring black jeans, a leather jacket, and a wallet chain. "...and according to historical records," said Raven, trying to explain to Revan the significance of his shirt, "The Clash were a pioneering band in the genre of punk rock on Earth in the late 1970s and early 1980s..."

[OFF]

EBH Mark I "Raven"
Emergency Babysitting Hologram
USS Galileo

Revan & Delon Mercy
Naois' Sons
USS Galileo
[PNPCs T'Vanna]

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