Birdies, Beer, and Whatever We Don't Say at Work

Posted on 05 Nov 2026 @ 8:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley & Lieutenant Commander Remington Dodd

8,141 words; about a 41 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Holodeck 02, USS Tomcat
Timeline: Shore-Leave

[ON:]

Leland washed his face and then washed it over again. He now was in the habit of looking around every corner of his Quarters, every shadow in the room. Every nook and bulkhead was suspicious now. The scent, that sweet agony was now burned in to his nostrils.

Having decided earlier that this day was no other, just as fine as he would make it, he had a holodeck time scheduled in the system with Remy. His mind was reeling. He had taken a few sedatives to calm down his mind, and try and keep the thoughts at what had just happened… The night before.
He breathed in, and held his oxygen, counting 1..2..3… And then exhailing 1…2…3… The damage was done. Now, he would not let the damage occur any longer. If he had his way, he would ride out whatever these… Whatever they were, do their thing and then pray it was all they had wanted from him and then ensure that they would not be around when Cass or Martha was around.

Having shucked on his golf tee, a bright blue polo shirt and his best pair of usual khaki cargo shorts, he belted up, and placed on his golf shoes. Funny. He always wore a pair of golf shoes only ever when he met up with Remy. Golf was their thing. It was fun! This… This would be fun. This was supposed to be a joyful time. A time that they both could talk about their new assignments and give pointers to each other as brothers who truly looked out for each other… Leland wouldn’t let an ounce of fleeting thoughts of that… Obtrusiveness… That literal violation take over what he was going to enjoy with Remy. “Remy… Thank god I get to see you. Thank god.” He breathed out. He placed a smile on his face, and then relaxed feeling the sedatives he had stashed away while on extremely stressful past engineering projects, the last time having had used sedatives, when he was overseeing the retrofit of the Tomcat. That was now over half a year past. He was proud of it, and he finally had the chance to impart all the new schematics that he, himself, had welded into the new core and parameters at Spacedock. He had hoped that Remy would be pleased since Remy was his mentor in all things Engineering. Leland just furthered that knowledge with his own prowess.

Exiting his quarters, Leland carried with him a classic looking six pack of tall boys, cans of beer from a bygone era. The six cans weighed on him as he walked down the hallway, now and then grinning to passerbys.

“Chief… Where you going with that… You’d better save me one for later…” Ensign Willox stated. Ensign Willox walking past with a friend of his by his side.

Leland chuckled and gave a casual, friendly salute. “You wish! You got Dillan with you. You’d best find your own beer. That won’t be too hard, eh?” He quipped.

Just rounding the corner in the now sparsely populated Tomcat at this time of their shoreleave, Leland spotted Remy, who at this very same moment was meeting Leland at the holodeck.

“Remy! Your on time!” Leland quipped, as he reached forward with a large bro-worthy high-five! He truly was happy to see his literal blood brother! He was happy to see that Remy was so happy as well. Remy excelled in Engineering and always was the Tomcat’s Main Engineer since time immemorial. The man was a literal legend in Starfleet Engineering Corps.

"I actually thought I was running late. I just came from the the station." Remy replied. "Glad we coordinated our attire." Remy was also wearing a pair of Khaki cargo shorts and a similar blue polo, a matching golfing glove and tan golf shoes. He also had a six pack of brew but they were Coor's Banquet.

"Anyway, I am glad you picked this as our transition meeting. It will make it more relaxing to take the details we each need to share. Shall we enter the holodeck?"

"Damn. You look good bro! How was the station. What were you doing?" Leland was curious. "Let me guess. Some unnamed female caught your eye again?" He lent a mischevous grin.

"Well, you will not get her name from me yet, but yes a wonderful woman did catch my eye and then more of me." Remy replied. "But I hope Banquet is alright, the replicator was not cooperating in her quarters so I picked from what was on file."

Entering in to the holodeck, Leland nodded at Remy's Coor's Banquet stack. "Dang... I will need to trade you one of mine for one of yours... You always have good taste. I brought some chilled Molson's." He gestured.

"Your just as smooth as that Molson's so no worries there. We can surely work out that trade." Remy replied as the holodeck doors opened to welcome the duo to the clubhouse of Leland's program.

Leland stood just inside the clubhouse doors and let Remy look through the glass at the first tee..."I programmed the whole eighteen myself..." he said. "It is a par seventy two with four par threes... ten par fours and four par fives..."

He tipped his head at the board...

"The back tees run about sixty four hundred meters... The members markers are fifty eight hundred if you don't want to punish yourself first thing... There are fourteen fairways and the par threes just hop straight at the green... The rough is tighter than it looks and the greens are running a ten... Wind is coming out of the northwest and there is water on seven... twelve and seventeen..."

He glanced over...

"You want the back tees or the shorter ones..."

"Makes me no difference, I am merely here for the companionship of my li'l bro and to share knowledge of my old post to the new prince of the ship." Remy responded.

Leland turned toward the path and lifted two fingers..."Cart..."
A self guided hover cart slid out of the side bay and settled by the steps... wide and quiet... the kind you sit in for a while... It had seats up front and a lounge bench in the back... with soft light under the canopy... There was a replicator pad between the seats and a chilled rail for drinks... and the music was already going low...

"It drives itself and it stops when you want it to... We can drink... sit... play... whatever... The first tee is through them doors when your ready..."

Not verbally responding, Remy walked over to the bar and ordered two Jose Cuervo shots and walked back over to Leland. Handing one to Leland, "Here is to a continued bond between brothers with a kindred spirit between them. May we always find the good in one another, and be the support the other needs in the worst of times as well as the grandest of times." Remy then tossed back the shot and tossed the glass at the floor. It shattered but the safety protocols were in place to make the glass fragments dissipate back into the energy matrix.

Leland watched Remy as he took the drink and downed it in one simple gesture. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. This was the Remy that Leland remembered.

Looking at his shot glass, at the amber liquid in it, he then tossed it back himself. The burn hit the back of his throat quite nicely.

“I can tell you still have some of that post orgasmic stamina flowing through you…” Hawksley laughed. He loved it. “Brother. I feel you!” He then chucked backwards towards the floor, a shattering sound as well.

“Shall we, Chief?” Leland grunted and gave a nice hard slap to Remy’s right back shoulder blade, well defined as he was…

“That was a real nice toast, Brother… All I can say to that is simple. Ditto! Feelings are mutual, my Bro!”

They then walked out through the doorway to the nice, open, sunlit greenery of trees and fairways of the hallowed Augusta, Georgia, grounds.

"Wow, you recreated Augusta since this is likely the only way either of us would ever be able to play these greens. Had I known, I would have worn a green jacket to make myself feel more part of the legacy." Remy responded upon seeing the course.

"Yes, I have ended my streak of celibacy and hope that I will have a chance to make this relationship thrive. I won't go more into at this time, if you can understand." Remy stated as he knew Leland would be having all sorts of questions.

"I just want to let you know, in time I will share all with you since I seldom keep anything from you." Remy added. "By the way, are you okay? I sense something has is bothering you something heavy."

"Yes. I always wanted to try out the Agusta program. Later on, if its not too long, we can try out the green suits back at the club. Snap a few holoshots. Would be nice. I don't nearly have enough of us, want one on that XO desk of mine." Hawksley had winked playful.

Leland then toyed with his wrist watch, pretending to check the time when Remy had sussed out, as he always does so well, that Leland was a bit holding something. It was indeed something. It was a violation to his quarters, while he was sleeping in his bed, and some kind of Grey entity with large black eyes, small head, and short of stature had then taken Leland to... To wherever it was that they... He blacked out multiple times, through agonizing pain, and then, feelings of violations of his very manhood.

"Remy... What makes you think that. Me and Cass... We are doing..." Hawksley smiled, truely when he did think of Cass. She was one of the only people, other than Remy, who understood Leland. "Cass and me. We are a dynamic duo... She's my Baby... I have never felt this way... Never. Not. Ever." He simply stated.

"You can quit with the mental block now, or whatever it is that I forced on you months back now..." Leland chuckled. "I can't believe I made you go through that... But thanks man." He offered a jokingly punch to Remy's hard bicep.

Time then went on through the course. Leland was now speaking to Dodd regarding the new truss grid work, that was completed on Starbase 51, when the Tomcat had went through its complete strip down to its spaceframe, and then re-working back up, component by component, system by system, complete with nearly having killed himself in an explosion in dry -dock.

"So... Thats why I compensated for the IT-77-FOLD Working of the HCR Di-hydrazine distribution. I waited nearly two weeks for a reply from Starfleet Engineering Corps on follow-up guidance. And their response was basically... "Just go ahead and do it Leland..." He scoffed, shaking his head. Leland then cracked open his first beer can of Molson, taking in the cold beer. He swallowed. Then Leland pointed at Dodd, watching him taking his stance on the 10th Green now, readying his driver to take the shot...

"That's why. I don't trust those paper pushers... They have a whole new Tech Consultative Process... Lt. Commander Wilson... GONE.... Lt. Commander Reynolds... GONE!! They were the good ones, you could always you know... Speak off the record with those two... Now its Ka'Gesh... Lt. Commander Ka'Gesh, excuse me!... But. Now its all passive agressive control with them. You'll find out as soon as you get back that logged complaint I sent in last month... Its probably just returning to your desk in Engineering now!" Leland got to really speaking his mind when he was on the Golf Course with Remy.

Leland and Remy were colleagues and yet brothers at heart. They had a way to gripe about anything and everything, including each other. Yet, they never seemed to take it personally. They had a manly bond that was deep to their core.

"Well, I am sure you will get more of that sort of stress, as XO. You will field many of the crew's complaints and witness a lot of department heads all seeking your direction. Lieutenant Commander Ka'Gesh will still be a thorn in your side but now you will sort of be more equal as the XO. One thing you will learn in the first few days, You are always on deck. I mean you are always going to be tested by the Captain and any other superior officer that comes aboard." Remy stated to follow the flow that Leland just dished out. "Dignitaries are something a blessing and yet can be a headache as well. Non-telepaths don't realize all the double thoughts that Dignitaries do when they talk to anyone. They can say one thing but think the exact opposite and yet expect you to address both concepts. I would be happy to help in those situations if I am in the room."

Remy then took a long swig of his Banquet. "I know you and Cass are doing well, but there is something else bothering you. I have sensed it since we were in the corridor. But you will talk when you are good and ready and I should drop it." Remy then went to align his shot. He placed his tee and ball and took his stance. "I am not sure I have ever had a good shot in months. I also have not really had a chance to play a full round of golf in ages, been mostly just in the driving range scenario."

Remy then looked down the fairway and took his swing. The golf ball flew almost directly to the hole and dropped just ten feet form the hole. "Wow, I would not have imagined that on my first shot at this hole." Remy then walked over to Leland. "So have you worked with the new captain before? I can't remember."

"Yes!" Leland perked up. "I have worked with Alex's husband. Commander Sharpe. The Commander had considerable knowledge of the Tomcat retrofit. He had dealt with the program upgrade specifics as handed down by Starfleet Engineering Corps in conjunction with Utopia Planitia Yards. Fascinating man! He is Captain Somers' husband. Captain Somers' sister, of course! Isn't that a real mind explosion." Leland chuckled, shaking his head. "We both get to be XO's with the Somers sisters. I count that as a blessing."

"I guess you could say that. I feel you get the tougher of the two. I have met Commander Sharpe at one time or another. Never really worked directly with him, but have a respect for him having to be part of the Somers family had to keep him on his toes." Remy responded. "But I bet you got to know him rather well during the refit, I wish I could have experienced that relationship."

"Yes. You would have liked him a lot. I wish you could have met him. I am sure you will at some point. He had me on my toes with the Engineering specs, calculations, theory, design, and practice of logistical timeframes. It was... Overwhelming. But certainly something I am proud of." Leland nodded in his humbled nature. "I certainly wasn't cocky with him, as we are with each other, Bro!" He then punched Dodd in the shoulder again for emphasis, jokingly.

[TAG: LELAND: may need to tweak, because Dodd and Sharpe had met a few times before.

Leland listened to the wise words of his confidant. "Understood." Leland paused, as it was his turn now. "Nice shot, by the way...!!" He smiled. He enjoyed watching a good shot, nice, even and through with a powerful swing. He held his left hand above his eyesight, his bionic eye scanning the flight of the golf ball hitting the green at a perfect distance for another good tap or two to sink.

"I am concerned that..." Hawksley thought through how he wanted to convey his next question to Dodd. "Making the wrong decision. I know when I am wrong, I can admit that. I learn from my mistakes. I can move on. I don't have any ego that will limit me from admitting that." He narrowed his brow in thought as he played with his driver on the green, swishing it slowly in the curated greens... "Just. How did the crew treat you as XO? You are very well liked, Dodd. And then to take that step up in authority. Did you find you had to change who you were, at least socially? Did people look at you differently?" Leland had a lot of good friends on the Tomcat. He didn't want them to think he had changed.

"I understand. The big part of the XO is to make some very unpopular decisions at times. Big ones. Again, I am prepared for that. But. Did people resent you for certain decisions- friends who were in your Department, Etc. We are not a big ship. How did you manage if you did have to make changes to your social being? I know, I've seen it. When the XO walks in, some Cadets stop talking."

"I know it was a change from what expected. I did not let it bother me since I already sensed much of what they were feeling. I did my best to not treat anyone any differently than when I was Chief Engineer." Remy responded. "However, I know some of the crew resented me to a small degree. I was one of those in the day, I would stop talking when I sensed them approaching our to respect but after being the XO, I know the demand. You will have your days where all the negative aspects come to the surface and then you have your days where you are just a crewman on the ship." Remy paused and took a drink of his Banquet. "My advise is to just be you and seek assistance if you need it. Just do what you feel is right in the moment even if you feel it will have others upset with you. You in essence have the whole ship in your hands as XO. The captain will be seeking to get a second opinion from you that she may expect to counter her initial opinion and that is fine. You need to be aware of all the options and help lean the outcome to the more positive end results. To quote an old proverb 'The Needs of the Many out weigh the Needs of the Few.' I did not make the best decisions as XO or as acting captain. But the outcome was not disastrous for the crew or the ship so all was well in the end.

You will have a new experience and under a new captain in command of the ship. I have served with Jasmine since I came aboard and I will have to adjust to being the Chief again but I am not too concerned as I have worked with the new captain briefly and she will be good to the crew as long as we continue on in service for Starfleet. Our little ship is praised by others for we have a reputation that sets standards among the rest of of the crews on all the other ships in our sector. You will be a great XO and I feel you will be the perfect person to be at the New Captain Somers' side. She can be one touch cookie but if she crumbles you will be there to help her keep it together." Remy concluded.

Leland paused. "There was an incident. I don't really know if what happened was real. I am still trying to understand." At this point, Leland did run a full set of medical diagnostics on himself in a private suite on the holodeck. He didn't dare go to Ross at this point. He didn't want to make an issue. The biggest. Having to investigate him for losing his mind from an Alien Grey, coming in and 'taking him' to.... Somewhere... Wherever it was... It was... So humiliating... So demeaning... So excruciating... All those feelings still festering within.

"I felt something was bothering you. Brother, you are safe with me. I sensed trouble within you for a few days and hoped you would want to talk about it. I am open to you for this. Talk to me." Remy replied with deep concern. His little brother meant a lot to him and to see him in this sort of uncomfortable sensation, was alarming for Remy.

"Ok. I will just come right out..." He breathed. Wincing as he held his hand to his face, he chugged the rest of his Molson and then threw the can to the green.

"It's... Something I researched. Umn." His face was reddening... "I think. These things. These Grey type of... Aliens... These things abducted me in my quarters two nights ago.... Around 0300 Hours..." He shook his head, his face visibly shaken, but also being content with just wanting to talk about it. "I am telling you... I know you know that this is in confidence. But they... Whatever 'they' are... They literally took me, slowed down time... It seems they did that. The worker bees in the dock stopped. I remember everything did... No sound. They were telepathic, telling me things. Fuck Dodd... I...It's a real piece. I'm a real piece of work, man!" He uncovered his face to see Dodd's reaction. Leland then teed up within seconds, and then cracked his driver, hitting his own golf ball down the course... Nearly siding up to Dodd's green.

"Seriously... WTF is wrong with me lately?!" He burst into a nervous laugh.

"Bro, that is a horrific experience. There is nothing wrong with you." Remy responded and stepped over to Leland and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You are not the only one to have this experience, I have been told the same thing by a few crewmembers over the years. I have have kept it quiet because I help them block the memories per their request." Remy continued. "You have taken a huge step by coming out to tell someone. Therefore, you are perfectly fine. If I may ask, how many times can you recall this happen if any?"

Leland paused. His breathing levelled as he took in the information. “For me, it was only the one time. What do you mean there have been other experiences onboard the Tomcat, over the years?” Leland’s face showed complete shock and dismay.

"I have heard of this same experience for a few years from random crew members." Remy responded. "I have talked with at least fifteen crew in the time I have been on the crew. It just sort of came up and I would listen and let them get it all out and feel better about sharing the experience. I would then sometimes offer to help them out by either offering to block the memory or alter it."

He then hopped on to the floating Golf flotilla as they made their way to the next green. As time passed, Leland was thinking things through. Leland grabbed the last can he had, and then traded it with Dodd’s Coors Banquet. He cracked it open and took a sip, then chugged it down, already having a bit of a buzz going from the five other Molson’s.

“So, Bro… What do you propose?” They were now at the last golf green, just the final small taps to get their game to the finish. It had been a great day for a game, and a great overall score between them both, with Dodd ahead, as he was a bit more seasoned in Golfing than Leland.

“I… They said they would be back for me. I don’t know what that means, but it is unsettling. Have you had any others on the ship where these… Beings come back? I feel you have a lot of information we need to discuss this over. Of course, I would like this to remain between me and you. This sounds like the kind of thing that I should handle myself as XO, until we can grasp a good understanding before we tell any higher-ups. If you catch my drift, Bro.” He smiled, a bit more relaxed now… A bit of a slur in his vocabulary, whereas Dodd’s Betazoid Metabolism easily kept him with it. “If I killed one… Can I kill one?! HE made me so angry, Dodd. He took… From ME down there…” Hawksley pointed to his cargo-shorted crotch.

"I have heard three others say that same thing, that they would be back. But only one other crewmember came to me saying they have had more than one encounter." Remy responded. "I never sense any presence on the ship when they have all claimed it happened. I was on the Starbase when you had your experience. Several of the crew that came to me have stated they had bodily fluids and cell samples collected. I should not say this but one crewmember said they made him arouse himself and they took every drop he could provide. Two female crew had egg cells removed per their experience."

"I am thinking they have a means to keep you in a state of disbelief. I don't think you could even get a hand on one of them. The crew that came to me all state they are somehow removed from the ship and taken into a room similar to a doctor's examination room. One crewmember told me that he knew they were aliens but yet they shifted to look like familiar people so he would be more comfortable." Remy continued. "So, I must ask, Have any of your relatives ever mentioned any sort of experience or anything as unusual?"

"I was literally paralized." Leland was still traumatized by the violation. Never in his life had he felt so hopeless, disenfranchised. He was a big guy.

"It didn't seem like any doctor's room I ever visited. As an Engineer, Dodd. You and me both. They were... Highly advanced. Beyond anything I think we could presently fight back." Leland played with a tee stub in his large hands anxiously... "They could speak to me, telepathically. But I could not speak to them. They could read my replies to them; my anger they sensed. But they didn't seem to care, nor understand my own emotions in the situation." Hawksley added.

"My Father. Daniel. He..." Hawksley answered the important question. "In not-so-certain dialogue. He has talked about odd experiences he has had before... But he never did talk more about it. It's not something we discussed past the few times he did. I thought there was something more. But I didn't press. I don't press Dad on something. It's our relationship."

"Well, that is interesting." Remy replied, "I had looked into some cases of this sort of experience. Many have a family history of this sort of experience. Only a small percentage of them have multiple visits with the same person. Of those, that person had up to ten experiences, and each one was more evasive than the previous one, as they wanted more and more from their subject. The records state that when they follow a family line, the aliens are looking for how the subject's bloodline adapts over time, and they monitor the genetic mutations from generation to generation. So maybe they are using humans as part of a cloning experiment. The crew that has reported any sort of abduction experience to me were all human. However, one was half human and half Betazoid." Remy then looked to Leland. "Do you really feel like you want to kill one, or are you more angry that you were not able to fight back and stop the process?"

Hawksley agreed. "You are right, Remy." He acknowledged. "I am just stating that because I am angry. Furious. If I could have killed one, had the chance, I would have. But I couldn't move." Leland then stepped off of the Golf flotilla.

"If this is happening." He gestured to Dodd as he also got off the flotilla onto the green now, which had stopped just outside of the clubhouse on the Augusta greens. Women were drinking and laughing on Patios that overlooked the greens surrounding the clubhouse. At any other time, they might stop just to humor the program. All in good fun. But... This was a major concern they needed to discuss together. "I am glad. I am impressed you have been documenting these cases with the crew. I share your concerns. I fear that we are wildlife to them, and we are in their Zoo. We should investigate with further rounds of Officer briefings. Supportive assistance and a report to Starfleet, all within confidential channels for further guidance." Hawksley felt his XO mentality finally breaking through without even noticing it.

"So here is the funny thing. Starfleet is well aware of the documented cases regarding alien abductions and they have been since their founding. The Federation has always sought to have means for the victims to be able to be assisted but most victims do not want to come forward publicly. I have just done my study for a hobby and to be a supportive outlet for those of you that have experienced this ordeal and remember it. From what I can tell after a few years of following this topic, most victims do not know they have been abducted at all. Those that have come to me say they still feel it was merely a dream. They have no physical proof that anything happened. One victim did however had a pain in their arm and upon examination a medical scan did show where that arm had been removed and then reattached. But since the aliens have that technology, that proof is hard to find as they typically can conceal their work."

"But if you want to try to address this with Starfleet, go to Commodore Somers first and address this with her. I would be there to support you if you so desire." Remy concluded. "But now can we go and see if those ladies what to shred with a pair of studs?"

"I value everything you say. And that is a sound decision. I will opt to wait on it. No need to max out the plasma nodes at this point before a new mission ahead." He nodded slowly, then let the second statement sink in.

Leland grinned, that deep mischievous smile of his whenever Remy proposed some good ol' fun. Of course this was just holograms; if anything, it was good exercise when Leland himself would next meet up with Cass. His heart had fluttered just thinking about her, and he wondered in that instant as well how Martha was doing with Chief Ashton on the Churchill.

"That sounds like a damn amazing idea, Remy. If you won't tell Cass, I won't tell your unnamed Starbase desire..." He then teased since it was so much fun to tease his older Bro... "I mean, it wouldn't be too hard to find out within the sensors exactly where you were, what room you were in, and exactly who was involved..." He slapped Remy playfully on his large shoulders. "Let's go! I want to see the best you can do!"

They both then walked up towards the Patio, each in their best Golf attire... "Ladies... Do you mind if us two gents have a seat with you?" Hawksley placed his hands on his hips, gesturing around the crowded patio in the summer sun... "I don't see any other tables radiating as bright as your tables, Ladies." He winked at Dodd.

"Ladies, don't mind this oaf, he is trying to hide his handicap by flirting." Remy stated. "However, the winner here clearly is the one who is not trying to butter anyone up." Dodd then accepts a seat in between the brunette and the redhead. This leave the only open seat across the table next to the bleached blonde bimbo and two empty chairs. "Well, buddy, that round of golf was worthy of some cigars and more brews."

Leland deadpanned Remy. "Yes. I think I need another drink; it will help me take in your remarkable dating qualities..." He chuckled.

Excusing himself, he looked at the blonde-haired, busty programmed female. She was cute and nice, but appearance alone wouldn't lead Leland to judge her as a bimbo. But the programming often was culturally true. In most cases.

At the bar, Leland leaned inward to the desk and reached for six more tall boys, judging by the time they had left on the holodeck. "This should do well..." Hawksley grunted, as he then grasped the cold canned brews. He magically found that the two brands they offered were Coors Banquet and Labatt's. "How's that for entertaining... Somebody must have updated the replicator logs to the hosting programming." His Engineering worked out how that could happen.

"Cigars... Cigars...." Hawksley then found a wooden box and opened it up. There were two large cigars. He grabbed them both, but Hawksley then replicated a pack of Benson & Hedges, King's, and a lighter.

Sitting back down, Leland was thinking through things. He turned to his right side to the lady next to him. "Hello. What finds you today on such a beautiful course? I hope you're not sitting here while your husband plays?" Hawksley then set three Coors Banquet beers to Remy along with the cigars and the lighter. Leland sat down with his Labatt's and cracked one open, setting his carton down. He relaxed into his chair, taking in the view.

"My name is Rachel. It is nice to meet you." She shook her tousled, long blonde hair, wearing a golf top and skirt. "Do you mind offering me a light?" She motioned to Leland's pack.

"Of course. Any gentleman like myself would." He then shot a glance to Remy. "This Oaf knows a few things..." He lit the cigarette from his pack, now between her lips, Rachel leaning in as Hawksley lit it for her...

"And no. I am here with my girlfriends. We just... Enjoy the scenery..." She smiled, relaxing, and smiled at her two girlfriends across the table next to Dodd.

"Well, how about that. We had a great discussion about turning over our previous duties to one another and enjoyed swinging out on the course and now we get the company of some beautiful beings who happen to love the scenery at a golf course." Remy replied as he looked to the brunette and leaned in for kiss to her cheek. "Well, what is your story besides falling from heaven? I bet you have a husband or boyfriend out on the course, don't you?"

"I am here because I love golf and all the golfers." Then the brunette moved her left hand to Remy's thigh and adjusted the leg of his shorts to have her fingers go under. "I really love the drivers, if you know what I mean."

"Well, I can tell what you mean." Remy stated as her fingers were moving to explore. "I don't even know your name."

"Oh, I am Veronica and she is Janice."

"Alright. Veronica, I normally need to know more about you before I let you handle the drivers and irons. And I also feel that maybe we need to go someplace a bit more intimate for a hands on lesson." Remy then reach for a beer and took a long swig. "Bro, This day has been a blast."

"Ok, Remy. Blast off then!" Hawksley grunted. Half annoyed, half happy that he was so full of energy. Remy really was back to his old endearing self.

Leland shifted in his seat next to Rachel. The other two girls had drifted over once Veronica got busy with Remy, both of them grinning like they had something planned.

Rachel leaned in close. Her knee bumped his under the table.

"You don’t talk much for a big guy," she said. "We could go somewhere quieter if you want. Just the three of us."

The one named Mariah slid into the empty chair on his other side and set her drink down. "Yeah. You look like you know what you’re doing with those hands."

Leland’s face went a little tight. He glanced at Remy, who was already half laughing at something Veronica whispered. Then he looked back at the two of them.

"Alright... hold on a second," he muttered. He reached over and tapped the little control panel built into the edge of the table. A soft chime answered. The holodeck's social intensity dropped a few notches. The girls blinked, sat back a fraction, and the heavy push in their smiles eased off.

"There," Leland said, quieter. "That's better. You two don't have to... you know."

Rachel tilted her head, still smiling but lighter now. "We were just having fun Leland."

"I know," he said. He took a sip of his Labatt' " and set it down. "Thing is... I've got a wife. Cassandra. Cass Hawksley. She's... she's it for me."

Mariah's eyebrows went up, but she didn't pull away. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Leland rubbed the back of his neck. "She's got this way of humming when she's working on things. Just a little tune under her breath... Doesn't even know she's doing it half the time. And she always steals the covers! Every night. I'll wake up and she's got them all bundled under her chin like she's freezing, and I’m over there with one ankle sticking out." Leland thought of her face. He smiled.

Rachel rested her chin on her hand. "Aww."

"...And she laughs with her whole face," he went on, voice dropping a bit. "Like she's surprised every time something's funny. I could listen to that for hours. She's... she's my person."

The two girls looked at each other, then back at him. Mariah let out a soft little sound.

"That's actually really sweet," she said.

Rachel nodded. "Most guys don't talk about their wives like that."

Leland shrugged, a small crooked smile on his face. "Most guys don't have Cass."

Across the table Remy caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. Leland just tipped his can in a quiet toast and took another drink. "Remy will though! He's just having fun right now."

"For now, but after the last two nights I think I may be ready to settle down sooner than I thought I would be." Remy replied. "I am going to have fun until at least the end of today and then decide what my future will hold." Remy then slid his hand down the back of Veronica and she then giggled and blushed a bit as she then moved her hands to Remy's thighs. Remy was going with what the program was doing as if he had a hand-job from a hologram it would not be the first but likely his last if he settles down with one of his two conquests of the last two days.

Leland sat there. He watched as Remy indeed had presence with the Woman. Remy at heart was a lover. Remy took great care and consideration for anyone, be friend or lover.

He could not help but a slight, sly grin form at the corner of his mouth. "See..." Hawksley turned to both Rachel and Mariah. "Remy is a lover. He is not a fighter. Well..." Hawksley then tipped his beverage to the side, gesturing to the hand of Veronica's. "Maybe a fighter too. Don't let Remy fool you. He cares, but as this is a holodeck program... I feel for Veronica."

"How so?" Rachel asked, curious.

"Hmmn?" Hawksley recognized that sensuality that Remy was receiving from Veronica.

"He is a tender lover?" Mariah intoned, turning to look at Rachel. "Does he like more than one woman?" She asked. Leland seeing as she started to get antsy in her chair.

"It's alright. I am fine. I can hit a few drivers..." Hawksley winked at the two women. "Go have fun!"

"But I want to know. What kind of lover is he?" Rachel turned looking to Veronica, and then back to Mariah.

"Yeah.." Mariah questioned with lust in her eyes at Remy.

"He will destroy her..."

"That's not nic-" Rachel was then cut off by Leland, clarifying.

"I mean Sexually.... Sexually, Girls." Hawksley gruffed.

"Ooooooooo oooohhhh... Okkk..." They both then got up from their chairs... "Veronica... Two more can play with Remy, right?" Rachel then clasped Mariah's hands and got out of their chair, fixating on Remy's hands.

"Bye, ladies." Hawksley laughed to himself.

Remy was enjoying the attention and yet he knew they were holograms. Then it clicked. Leland likely accessed a program that Remy had at one time tweaked to be more erotic and realized he saved the altered version as the main shell of the program. So anyone who access the Augusta setting, would get this sort of clubhouse offering. Leland happened to be very strong willed and rejected the attention and thus the program rebounded to have the characters all lust after Remy. As a trooper, he would play along and see how long he could handle it all.

The ladies all huddled around Remy, who realized it was too much. "Computer delete the clubhouse bunnies." Then like that the ladies were gone. "Leland, hold up. I am sorry about that. By the way, Yesterday, I go word that we can start trails of the SANS project. I have all the department heads and the command staff uploaded in the suits for each and then I have basic suits for the Marines all ready to go for this trial. Would you want to help prepare a presentation to our new captain?"

"Dodd... I.. I am not a cock blocker!" Hawksley had got up from his seat. "I'm not pouting. I know you can sense that. I want you to have fun, bro. I love seeing you like this, again." Leland giggled a bit.

"Fine. If you won't, then... There has been the SANS project I want to talk to you about. I want to know how the project is going. Even though I am not in the department any longer, I would still love to sit in on things. It's a great idea. We need this type of technology within the fleet. There is no better place to see this development but on the Tomcat." Leland was truthful. Dodd had the development of the SANS project underway.

"Come on. One last driver... And we can then shut this down. But we need to talk about this." Hawksley then walked with Dodd through the patio area to the tee shots.

"Last I remember. You were readying the prototype for the testing phase." He gestured to the drivers near Dodd. "Drive me, Chief!"

"Wow, I never realized how much I miss being call 'Chief'." Remy replied. "That makes me feel really good deep inside."

Dodd stepped up to the tee at the driving range and took a swing. "Well, the cards are all in order now and we have actual authorization to do a trial of the SANS stating now and ending at the end of our fifth mission from now. After that time, the data and reports of the testers will be reviewed by the Kavis Alpha IV Nanite Colony and we can either move to permanent use or have to discontinue all use." Remy stated to answer the last question from Leland. "I am happy to be back in my old position as I would have more flexibility to make the trial worthy of working out all the bugs and get them safe for all applications. The prototypes for the trial are primarily the Adaptive Environmental Suit aspects but they have other applications that will be tested on the side along the way."

"Kavis Alpha," Leland remarked, thinking. "Look at you, Mr. Hoity Toity!" He laughed jokingly. "It is promising technology. I would really be interested in the thermodynamics of the thresholds of the nanite lattice structures your sythensizing Remy."

Leland then eased his stance, focusing his tee and golf ball. They had little federation insignias on them. Swinging his right hand upward, meeting his backswing to his upper shoulders, and following through forward with a fluidic crack!

"What testing parameters will you use for long-term thresholds of the suit's ability?" Hawksley returned to his resting stance. "I could see your suits for long-term usage on inhospitable worlds." The applications were numerous. It could potentially open a whole long term exploration, mining, sciences on new worlds long since deemed inhospitable to Starfleet operations.

"Well long term is what I am hoping to achieve. The parameters for testing will be open to us as we do the testing. My prototype can withstand temperatures that can freeze magma in minutes. I have tested it on Pacificia underwater up to four miles and only had to surface because I needed to make my shuttle flight back to the starbase. My prototype can replicate a tricorder and all the essential engineering tools one with my skill set could need in the field. The prototype for you will have all the command protocols integrated for your use as if you were still on the bridge of a ship, same for the captain. There are even five units that are more or less adaptive medical chambers for the doctor to use in medical emergencies when not on a ship or near a sickbay. There are so many dynamics that need to be fine tuned and that is what I need from you. To be a tester and help me get the testing done on our next five missions or the in between time. So maybe we could take our next shore leave to some place to do some rugged testing of the suits. But for now if you can find a means for me to be on any away teams, I would like to be able to get them in action." Remy replied.

"I feel the Marines would like their version of the suits as they can replicate the standard arms and thus allow them to carry the extra gear they may need in the field." Dodd continued. "The suits for any fighter pilots, will have a flight suit mode and a life support mode for evacuating from the fighter or in the event of a crash landing." They are very versatile for just about any situation. The programming was approved by the Kavis Alpha IV Colony and while the suits may seem like they are sentient, they are not. They are a very sophisticated technological achievement and can sense the environment and work with the wearer to help them adapt to survive."

"I really value your assistance with this going forward and hope to achieve great things for not only the Tomcat but for Starfleet as a whole." Remy concluded. "I do hope it will keep each of us on track of attempting to behave as we settle in to the new roles we have."

"Sounds solid Remy. Long term testing is the way to go and the parameters will sort themselves out once we start running the suits hard. I can talk to the CO about getting you on some away teams so we get real field data sooner rather then later." Leland agreed.

"The marine and pilot modes are smart additions, extra gear and crash life support will make them practical for more then just bridge officers. The medical chambers too, that covers a big gap when we are stuck off ship."I value being part of this. If it keep the crew sharp while we settle into the new roles, that is a win for the Tomcat and Starfleet both." Leland replied. Just striped a clean one down the middle of the range.

"Feels good to hit something that actually goes where I want it for a change!"

With that the holodeck program ended and the exit opened. Dodd and Hawksley departed to go about the direction that each would take with a new captain and a new mission before them.

[OFF]

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