Surfs Up!

Posted on 30 Nov 2025 @ 8:58pm by Lieutenant Thex sh'Zoarhi & 1st Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews & 1st Lieutenant Gavin Ross Dr. & Master Sergeant Thomas Zang

2,097 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Out of Character Discussion
Location: Holodeck 02, USS Themistocles
Timeline: Current

[ON]

= Holodeck 02 =

Nestled between swaying palm trees and vibrant hibiscus blossoms, the tropical beach on the holodeck basked in the sun's golden glow. The air is thick with the sweet scent of salt and coconut, and the rhythmic symphony of waves crashing against the shore creates an inviting atmosphere.

Gavin had breathed inward as he stepped onto the powdery, white sand beach. The horizon stretches before the friends. Cerulean waters meet the sky in a blend of blues. The surf is alive with energy, attracting seasoned surfers and enthusiastic beginners. Their boards cut gracefully through the rolling waves.

To Gavin, Cassandra, Thomas, and Thex, a lively crowd gathered around a surf school where expert instructors demonstrated the perfect stance. Others cheered on their friends as they rode the waves for the first time. The sound of laughter and the occasional whoop of joy created an ambiance of camaraderie and excitement.

“Oh, man! This is exciting!” Ross raised his sizeable right hand for a high-five. “Surf Team! High Five Up!” He beamed excitedly as his eyes creased along the facial features of an endearing, friendly smile. The sun was in their faces as Leland chose to wear sunglasses.

“I know nothing about Surfing; I’m a Canadian Country Boy…” Doc Ross addressed his friends, in awe at seeing all the surfers and newbies starting on the various sizes of clear shimmering waves.

Thex looking even more sexier than she normally did out of uniform in the bikini style recommended by Allen had a smile on her face as she looked around the scene before high-fiving Ross. "I tried surfing when i was in the academy. Wasn't very good but it was fun."

Ross grinned at Thex's sight. He could not help but notice her femininity. "Uh. That means you have way more experience than us, probably." He paused as they walked with their boards. You will need to show us. Or we can have a professional come over, too." He laughed.

" I'm afraid i wasn't very good. Fell of a few times and banged my head on the board once." Thex replied with an embarrassed grin upon her blue face.

Cassandra was in a wet suit. Covered from neck to ankle. If she remembered anything about her brief attempt at surfing it was that the waters off the coast of southern California were cold. Sure this beach was not based off from those beaches. The warm sun and sand felt far more inviting than the ominous rocky shores near Port Hueneme. Still she'd take no chances. She also gave Gavin a high five as she smiled at the group of friends around her. She felt excited as well the energy of the room made her almost bounce in anticipation of the good times to come. "I didn't even manage to get on my board." Cassandra confessed. "Waves kept knocking me back and flipping it over on me. I'm glad to finally give it another try after all these years."

Thomas walked in wearing pants, a T-shirt and a hat with a blanket and ice chest in hand. He waved to the group as he walked over. He kept a bit of distance from the lapping waves. "Sorry I'm late, I was getting some stuff ready."

Cassandra couldn't help but smile at Thomas. She waved back and even walked over to meet him. "You need a hand with anything?" She asked eyeing the blanket and ice chest.

Gavin smiled and waved at Thomas. Ross himself was wearing a pair of swim trunks and his t-shirt. He burned well in the hot sun, even if it were holodeck photons.

He shucked off his backpack and straps and set it on the sand. As a doctor, he brought a med kit and other sunscreen if Thex, Thomas, and Cassandra wanted some. “The breeze.” The smell of the fresh saltwater misting off the coast was beautiful. “This is gorgeous.”

Thomas smiled at Cassandra. "I've got it, it's not that cumbersome." He said to Cass. He turned to look at Ross. "Yeah, the breeze does feel great. What do you think Thex?"

" It feels great. Reminds me of Risa or the beaches back at the academy." Thex said with a smile on her face as she breathed in the sea air.

Ross smiled as he ran into the water, splashing through the oncoming waves until he eventually tripped into the ocean. Laughing, he stood up from the water, watching as his surfboard floated beside him and was pushed back to the shore sands.

“We need a teacher!” Gavin rushed back to the beach by Thex’s side.

Cassandra had noticed some hesitation on Thomas's part. As much as she wanted to rush into the waves herself she opted to hang back near him. "Everything okay?" She asked him.


"Yeah, I'm fine Cass. I'll just set up an area here for us to relax while you go have a great time surfing." Thomas said with a smile. His eyes went to the water and the waves. "Hell, I might even build a sand castle." He grinned.

"Or you can come swimming with me." Cassandra suggested.

Thomas looks at the other two then back at Cassandra. "Is there a way I can take a raincheck on the swimming Cass?" He asked. He shifted from foot to foot uneasily as he stared at the waves washing up on shore. He had set himself a few yards up from the water line.

Cassandra noticed his unease and setting down her board. "Actually I think I'll hang out here with you. If you don't mind." She offered Thomas a reassuring smile. "We can build a sand castle or something."

The sun hung high in a sapphire sky, casting sparkling glimmers over the rolling waves. The setting was an idyllic tropical paradise simulated within the Holodeck, a perfect break from life aboard the USS Themistocles. Marine Medic Gavin Ross, a wiry figure with sandy brown hair, stood knee-deep in water, adjusting the strap of his surfboard while eyeing the approaching swell.

"Think we can ride one this time?" he shouted over the roar of the surf, a grin plastered across his face to Thex.

" Your on. " Thex said following with a smile upon her shappire face.


With a competitive spark igniting between them, the two paddled out, battling the gentle push of the waves. Ross struggled to maintain his balance, his board bobbing beneath him as he wrestled with the rhythm of the ocean. Each wave presented a new opportunity, an invitation to conquer or crash.

Gavin tried to channel his inner surfer. “Alright, I’ve got it this time!" He paddled harder, feeling the swell rise beneath him. Just as he stood, the wave laughed back—a fickle mistress—flipping him headfirst into the ocean.

Underwater, the world turned a serene blue as bubbles danced around him. Resurfacing, Gavin sputtered and coughed, a huge grin breaking through the droplets on his face. “Show me how it’s done, oh wise Engineering Chief!” He grinned.

Thex let out a playful laugh as she leaned into the wave doing her best to remember what the teacher had told her so long ago. Doing her best to keep her balance for a moment she stood atop the wave feeling like she had it. Only to topple over and fall into the water. Surfacing she gave a playful laugh as she wiped her white hair out of her face. " How was that?" She asked Gavin.


Meanwhile back on the beach.

Cassandra had ditched the wet suit. Opting for a Tshirt and shorts over her standard issue one piece swimsuit. She'd gathered supplies and with Thomas's help had a good start on a rather nice looking sand castle going. Every once in a while she'd look out to watch Hawksley and Thex playing in the waves. Then she'd glance over at Thomas and feel herself smile. It was so great to be amongst friends. To be around people who she cared about and could have fun with. Even if she wasn't surfing the waves with Thex and Gavin she was still having a great time just being here with Tommy. "So you don't like the ocean?" She finally ventured to ask as she picked out a lovely pinkish shell and added it to the decorative base of their creation.

Thomas glanced out at Ross and Thex then looked back at Cassandra. "Yeah, I've had a strong fear of the ocean for as long as I can remember. I don't remember why but I can't get too close without having a bad anxiety attack." He explained as he started on a tower.

Cassandra nodded listening to his confession, "Everyone is afraid of something." She said smiling over at him. "I myself have a fear of being alone. Silly isn't it? I mean know why I'm afraid of that in particular thing. From a young age I was afraid that I was a burden to my foster family. That eventually they might grow tired of my misdeeds and send me away to live on Earth amoungst strangers. That eventually grew into a fear of losing my family altogether. I didn't really give you a chance when we first got together because I was afraid that if I let you get to close to me that I would likely lose you as well." She confessed. "What I have learned since then, with the death of my foster parents and nearly losing Ctirr as well, is that I can not let myself be controlled by fear. Loss is a part of life. Though I still fear loss, I also have learned to embrace and cherish the time I do have with those I care about." She explained as she moved onto digging the trench around the castle a bit deeper.

Thomas smiled at Cassandra. "Your fear is more founded than my fear to be sure." He let out a chuckle. "Just remember that as long as I'm around, you won't be alone. You will always have me, your brother and your star fleet family. As long as you keep them close, you will never be alone. It might feel that way from time to time but we will always be there for you."

Cassandra smiled warmly at him. He was right of course. She noticed the other two playing in the waves and then looked back at Thomas. "Thank you."

[TAG:] Gavin, Thomas


Gavin had laid it on the surfboard, rode the board, stabilizing himself with his weight, mentally focused on riding the board, and then felt the gravity of the wave curl, jumping the base of the board, riding the tip of the ascending glass rip tide, and diving into the pile of water headfirst.

" You okay Gavin?" Thex said from her bord as her friend resurfaced.

Ross felt the air get sucked out of his lungs and therefore edged higher, breaking his stride, and breaking through the surface of the water. Breathing outward at Thex, Ross turned back to the beach. “I am good. It's a bit refreshing! Hahaha!” Gavin laughed at the big wave.

“How about we relax in the sun, Thex?” Ross had his ice box a few feet away from Zang and Matthews.

" Sounds great. " the blue girl responded as she began to paddle back to the shore keeping an eye Ross to make sure he was okay.

Gavin cleared his chest, breathing in the deep, breezy, calm, warm air rushing in from the warm, sunny day. The smell of the Atlantic Ocean was relaxing as he looked at Thex.

Cracking open a blanket and then setting it down, Ross smiled at Thex. "A drink?" He opened the ice box.

" Sure." She said taking the offered soda before taking a seat on the blanket.

Gavin had removed his black pair of earphones and lay on the beach. Laying alongside Thex on the warm beach, he had his shirt off to feel the warm sun's rays and their generative properties for the body—in short amounts, of course!

Ross relaxed, feeling the holodeck optimal setting for a setting environment. “So incredible out!” It was entirely green, July out.

Thex smiled as the cool soda went down her troat. Life was good. Just the sand, sea and her friends.

Gavin lay there. The sun's warmth was perfect for him in this simulation, as he had felt the heat from one sun in the planetary system.

Any more would be too much for him.

The smell of the ocean spray and beach clean and sandalwood.

 

RSS Feed