Holodeck Spy Novel Part One

Posted on Sun Jul 6th, 2025 @ 8:04pm by Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono

1,837 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Wounds From the Mirror
Location: Holodeck One
Timeline: Between main plot

Kate and Ben entered the holodeck and then locked it behind them so they wouldn't be interrupted and their adventure could run its course. They were CIA agents a team and they had just rented a Chevy Camaro and then driven over to the local college where they were to investigate a crime. They had been selected by the Assistant Director personally to handle this case. Ben looked over at Kate as they were about to get into the car. She beyond pretty, she was cute with a killer smile and a fantastic sense of humor and a keen, smart intelligence. "Tell me again why we are here? He grumbled as he slid into the driver's seat and started the car.

"K'so, Berkeleys new prototype 'quantum bit CCD' is a target for a spy that already took the schematics for a refractor plate. The plate is useless without the chip. The chip, is twelve billion megapixels. It's set to be combined with the refractor setup in order to create the most powerful optical spy satellite ever created since the prototype sent up on the 47B out of Vandenberg three years ago." Kate said. "It has no zoom. It just records everything and any agency with access can use the system simultaneously without needing to request to borrow time on the satellite because all they do is expand the section of the CCD they need." Kate explained. She squeaked with excitement, "makes me wish I was an analyst! Imagine what you can see with that thing! But... Anyway... We have to catch who is stealing the schematics and prevent them from taking the chip."

"Right. I knew that." Ben answered but glad Kate was here to supply the details of what they were charged with finding out. They had no back up unless they call in the rest of the CIA to assist them. Which was loathe to do. They were on their own.

Ben started the car and they drove to the college. "Got any ideas on this one Kate? " He asked his partner. He always like to hear her theories on a case.


"I was thinking we steal the chip first and lock it up. We can replace it with this old chip I took out of a cell phone and then lock the real one up hidden." Kate said. "Then we can stake the lab out and see who shows up and tadaaa! We can find our PRC Spy and send him back to China. Oh and get his student visa revoked." Kate said. "... After we ask him if he knows anything about a fed leak which is why we're here instead of Capetown... Surfing."

Ben chuckled at her comment about surfing. Kate loved to surf. He thought she would surf in the bathroom if she could get a wave machine in there. "Right piece of cake. We could have this case wrapped up by lunch tomorrow." He commented. "Then got on jet for Capetown."

Kate stepped out of the car when they got to the lab. There was a man waiting for them at the door.

"Are you two the technicians for the hood vacuum in the lab?" The young man asked. "Security will have to see you in after the safety measures are taken offline. The staff is out of town so they put it on full-measure. Not even security personnel are allowed inside."

Kate looked over to Ben and smiled.
"Aww okay." She stepped back into the car after they talked with the technician. When the doors closed she smiled.

"We can sneak in there tonight, take the chip, and purge the computers after we save the data." She shrugged, "unless you got a better plan. It's just what I'm thinking." She practically danced in her seat.

Ben chuckled at Kate's excitement. "Never let it be said I stand int the way of your excitement." He bantered back, Let's go get something to eat and come back tonight and we'll still the chip." He suggested Though one of these days, Kate's excitement was going to be her undoing. "what are you in the mood for?" He asked as he started the car and they drove away. "Should be simple enough to break in." He noted. "Simple lock on the main door though the door to where the chip is kept should be more complex."

Kate laughed. Having been from this perceived century, she knew what to ask for.

"I heard there was a luxury restaurant called Taco Bell... JUST KIDDING! mmm not sure what's good around here. Did the agency give us any money? Government and all..." She reached into her suit pocket and searched for a card.

"I brought some of my own money, they can reimburse me plus I have a spending card like you to charge it to. "No, not Taco Bell. I want a real sit down dinner. What out Outback Steak House?" He asked.

"Steakhouse sounds good!" Kate said. *a few minutes later they were there and waiting for their food*

"Seems too easy?" She asked as she contemplated the plan .

Ben looked up from his str=eak and baked potato. "What seems too easy Kate?" He asked waiting to hear her reply before he dug into his meal. "Come on, out with it."

Kate flipped through her phone.
"The security measures show just one alarm and that's it but.. there this spraying system and it's not a fire suppression system. What is that?" Kate pointed the screen to Ben's face. Breaking character she whispered, "the Holodeck always throws a curve ball."

Ben stared at the image for a few seconds and frowned. "It is a powder with micro RFID tags that are the size of dust that get all over an intruder to be tracked. The only way to circumvent it is to get naked and run into a carwash or something." He grumbled.
Kate nodded and looked up ponds and lakes nearby the college.

"Okay... Let's go to a store and get me a second set of clothes." She said. "do you think the ship hears our conversations and feeds our jokes into the game?" Kate mused as she found one a minutes walk away from the campus.

Ben atared at her, "What, your going to get naked? Are you sure about this Kate? There should be another way." He answered weakly. he didn't want to have Kate ger naked for this but he struggled to find another option for them.

Kate laughed, "It's like, personal theater. Not going to let the Washingtons computer win. So, going to get a painters jumpsuit, complete with a mask and shield. Painters shoe coverings. Then, a pair of jeans, a nice coat, undies, and two shirts... New pair of shoes and socks..." Kate made the list on her phone while they ate. "I'll go in, snag the chip, get out, strip down, dive in, jump out, you pick me up..."

Ben sighed, "Now that sounds too easy." He pointed out. "Nothing we plan goes that smoothly so maybe the law of averages is on our side for once." He observed. "We'll try it your way and hope for the best." Though he had his doubts. Something always went wrong.

"For sure!" She took a bite of food and talked with a shure of herself smile while talking through her teeth. "My plans ALWAYS work sometimes..." Kate said.


*Five hours later*

Kate and Ben snuck up to the facility. "... I haven't used that gun in ever a year. I was positive I put it in my bag. I mean do you ever carry yours?" Kate asked as she tried to justify not having a weapon. She shook her head as she used a car jack and the edge of the sidewalk to slowly bow the lab door inward until the inside sensor tripped and allowed the door to open as if the computer assumed that someone was walking out from the inside. From there, she planted an IR strobe in front of the entrance to the lab that would blind the camera.

She strolled inside the lobby with Ben while she started stepping into the painters suit.

"I must have left that thing in my safe at home." She mused in character.

"I never leave home without it." He whispered as he patted his side to where his gun rested. "Okay. Go get the chip and replace it and I'll meet you outside. and get you to the lake." he answered as he helped Kate with the painter's suit. and goggles. "One thing is for sure no one will know it's you in that get up."

Kate slipped the painters suit and the mask on and pulled her shoes off since she wouldn't need the during the dive into the lake. Getting into the building was easy enough. She took a piece of cardboard and kicked it under the door. The interior sensor read it as movement and the doors opened, effectively bypssing the biometric security node out front.

She waved to Ben and stepped inside the facility with a bounding leap. College security was probably already on their way to go find her the moment the camera's caught the cardboard square sliding across the carpet of the research lab. Kate quickly ran inside and replaced the CCD chip card with a blank one of lesser quality and ran through the facility.

She could hear people entering into the hallway just as she left out the emergency exit on the other side of the building. She couldn't believe it! They were going to beat the holodeck storyline this time and all it took was a painters suit. She was thinking out of character though; she still had to make it to the campus lake. Dropping the chip into a bag she stripped completely and jumped into the water. *Eff-Youuu Washington Computer* Kate thought as she scrabeled out the other side.


Ben arrived just in time as she jumped into his passenger seat dripping from head to toe holding nothing but a bag with a chip in it.

"We should like totally try the Kobiashi Maru sometime, I think we could totally give the computer a run for its money!" Kate wrung the water out of her short black hair as she giggled and turned to see a barrage of flashlights far behind them, unable to catch her and unable to keep them tagged with micro-rfid trackers.

Ben was the ultimate gentleman. he kept hos eyes on the road and off Kate as he rummaged for a towel she could cover herself with. "I think that's a good idea. We make a good team and we can try whatever we want, somethings gotta work right?"

Ben nodded and kept looking ahead, "We do make a good team." He agreed. "As for somethings got to work, no doubt in my mind on that score Kate. No doubt whatsoever." He finished with a smile, finally turning his head to look at her.

 

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