The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 39
"Engineering to captain Arthur."
"Arthur here. Go ahead Louis."
"We have accessed some more files in the DS2 main computer. There is also a holodeck program called 'Invitation Alpha One' on the list. I thought you might be interested."
As the captain couldn't leave ops, he had no choice but sending cadet Thomas to holodeck one to find out what this program was all about. Thomas, who wasn't really born to stand guard at the sickbay entrance the entire day, was happy to take the opportunity to be part of the investigation of the two engineers. Only thirty seconds later, he entered the holodeck. There was no program running so he called the arch to input some instructions. As the arch appeared, Thomas punched in his personal access code and waited.
"Cadet Thomas to engineering. There seems to be a problem to start the holodeck program 'Invitation Alpha One', sir."
"According our readings here the program is running. Maybe it is something very small. A small object or something like that. You can move around a little and see if there is something on the floor or against the wall."
"Acknowledged, sir. I will report if I find anything."
Thomas started to walk, but the black and yellow grid didn't have any secrets. As the young cadet took his tricorder to examine the holodeck even better, he didn't get any readings.
Just as he would contact chief engineer Louis again, part of the grid started to change. First it was the ceiling, which was replaced by, what seemed to be a blue sky. Then came the smell of flowers. The ground under his feet was getting soft and the grass appeared. Of course Thomas knew earth as he was an academy student in San Francisco, but this fresh air made him a little dizzy and he almost fell in the grass.
Now there was nothing left of the black and yellow grid. Nature in all her beauty spread herself out before him. No words. The tricorder made a warning sound. As Thomas looked at the little display, he noticed that the oxygen level was 23 percent, a small amount above normal.
"Computer," ordered the cadet, "adjust the oxygen level in holodeck one."
There was no answer. When Thomas tried again, there was no answer. Engineering didn't respond either. His tricorder seemed to register wat he saw. Flowers, grass, soil ... human life ! Was he really on a planet now. No, he had to keep his head cool. This was DS2 holodeck one, period. Some technical malfunction caused all of this. He heard singing, singing of children. The singing came closer. Thomas started walking towards the singing. Maybe an answer could be found there. Only a minute later the academy student was surrounded by at least twenty children about eight or nine years old.
"Who are you, sir ?" one of them asked.
"I am Thomas. I come from a distant place. Where am I ?"
All children started singing again, but although they sang words that Thomas could understand, the song itself didn't have any meaning. Some children started pushing
him in one direction. He had to go along with them or they would overrun him. After a few kilometers walk, the group arrived at a little town. The houses were made simple and
with what seemed to be Federation materials. There were two main streets, crossing each other in the middle of town. The group of children pushed Thomas to one of the buildings which was bigger than the others. This was the school and there was the teacher standing in the open door. She was beautiful ...