Frostbite

Posted on Sun May 3rd, 2026 @ 10:06pm by Lieutenant Commander Kuzos & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari
Edited on on Mon May 4th, 2026 @ 11:45am

2,188 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: 9a. Oubliette - Short Treks
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Prior to new mission

All yours :-)

Thank you! :)


Kuzos walked in an accelerated pace towards Aidan's quarters. he had come across a form of recreation he wanted to try but he didn't want to experience it alone. he wanted someone else to share it with him and that was Aidan.

After a few minutes of brisk walking he stood in front of Aidan's quarters. He stabbed his finger on the chime as he waited for Aidan to answer. In the back of his mind he hoped he wasn't interrupting any family time Aidan might be having with his daughter but this idea was exciting and he didn't want to wait, for who knew when they would get some free time again.

As it was, Aidan hasn't picked up his daughter from the ship's daycare yet, having just come home from his shift. "Come in," he called, smiling brightly as the Vorta stepped inside."Kuzos, what brings you to my humble home," he asked, his smile widening. "You look positively excited, what's going on?

"Hello Aidan." Kuzos answered excitedly, his smile positively radiating. "I was searching for some recreational activities that could be done in the holodeck and I believe I have found one but i would like you to come along and take part as well. Sherlock can come along as well if you decide it is alright and he agrees."

"Sherlock can decide for himself if he thinks he can participate," Aidan chuckled, "and if not he'll be gone just as fast. What kind of program did you find?" While naturally curious, he seemed even more so now as the mystery was prolonged. "I've got an hour or two before I have to pick Saeri up but you're welcome to join us for dinner if you like."

"It's a snowboarding program. You get on a snowboard and travel down either a course or just down the hill with no set destination in mind other then reaching the bottom of the hill in one piece.. Okay with Sherlock. I appreciate the offer Aidan but I don't want to cut into your time and your dinner with Saeri."

"I know what a snowboard is," the Trill chuckled, "but it's not something I've done before. Skiing yes, plenty of times. It's kind of funny how heights don't seem to affect me when going down a mountain at high speed. And you're not imposing Kuzos, it's only dinner... it's not like I'm bringing home a date." The comment was innocent -and honest - but he wasn't sure how the Vorta would react. "Just dinner," he added by way of clarification while watching the other man closely, looking for any chance in body language or expression.

Kuzos shook his head from side to side, "No Aidan. This is your time with your daughter." He answered firmly. "I'm glad to know you know what a snowboard is. Shall we go and try the program out? Wait you said you need to get Saeri in an hour or two. Perhaps it would be best if we scheduled this for when you have more time."

"I have plenty of time," the Trill reiterated, "have you ever been snowboarding before? Or at all in an arctic environment?" His expression changed to mild concern though his enthusiasm was no less curved. "Yes let's go. I assume your program will provide us with what we need?"

Kuzos looked at Aidan with a 'Are you joking?' expression on his face. "I am a Vorta, not an Eskimo. Aidan and the answer is no." He replied before going on, "Yes, the program will provide all we need in regard to equipment and clothing."

"I'm a Trill, not an Eskimo," Aidan chuckled, clearly amused. "You'll either love it or you'll hate it but don't worry, I won't be offended if you do. I thrive in the cold, not in heat but even I have limits. I was once caught in a blizzard on Risa, at least I think it was Risa...when the weather systems were sabotaged. Image being in nice weather gear and a blizzard hits. I was left blind for weeks. But don't worry, the safeties will be engaged so nothing bad can happen."

Ever honest, Aidan was true to his words. "If anything, we'll just have a snow hike or we'll sleigh down the mountain. We'll have a slow decline... I've never used the steep ones because I'm terrified of heights." Realising he was babbling from excitement he offered an embarrassed smile. "Sorry.... I'm ready to go now, truly."

Kuzos stood silently as Aidan talked about the cold and either loving or hating it. "I am willing to endure the cold to use this program and see what it has to offer us.. Now let us be off to the holodeck so we can experience snowboarding first hand." He replied smiling.

The trip to the holodeck was a short one and Aidan waited patiently for his new friend to load the program. As soon as he stepped inside, their uniforms were replaced by snug but comfortable ski-suits, gloves, boots and goggles. Conveniently, the program has placed them on the top of a slope. "Here we go," he grinned, looking sideways. "We'll turn on the instructions because while I can ski, snowboarding isn't among my arctic skills."

Kuzos looked at Aidan as they stood at the top of the slope. A snowboard waiting for them. "What instructions? It is a snowboard. How hard can it be? We get on it and go down the hill and hope we don't fall off or crash into a tree. Which might be an experience in and of itself." He mused. " If nothing else, you would have story for Saeri."

"Well..." Aidan pulled the goggles over his eyes, set the board down into the snow and clicked his boots into the supports. "Good thing the safeties are on full," he grinned, "just click your boots in, and down we go...one way or another."

Kuzos was grinning like the Cheshire cat. His smile went from ear to ear as he slid the goggles over his eyes. He followed Aidan's instructions as he climbed onto the board. Clicking his boots into the supports and sitting down behind Aidan. "Ready." His reply simple but direct.

"Remember, I haven't done this before either," Aidan warned him, silently wondering how he was supposed to get moving. With both feet stuck to the board he tried to hop forward and suddenly found himself in a rapid forward motion. "Whoa!" He cried out, wildly flailing his arms to regain some semblance of balance. In the end he went head over heels and sprawled in the snow.

Kuzos only had time to yell "Aidan!" as the snowboard gathered momentum and went shooting down the slope. For his part Kuzos hunched down as the snowboard rushed past the trees lining the course. He also realized he was helpless to control the board and was subject to wherever gravity and it's momentum took it. He was literally along for the ride. He closed his eyes as the air whistled past his face but opened them a few seconds later realizing he wanted to see where he was headed and maybe be able to jump off if he had to.

The Trill watched in amazement as the Vorta zoomed by at high speed. He worked himself up to a standing position, clicked the boot that has come loose back into the support and set out to follow. It took a fair number of tumbles before he finally gained some semblance of balance and an idea of how to manage some steering. It seemed to work similarly to skiing even if the body position was somewhat different. "Are you alright?" He asked as he caught up with his friend.

The snowboard had ended up embedded in a snow bank with Kuzos still aboard. Kuzos was covered in snow still seated on the snowboard. He turned his snow covered goggles to look at Aidan a huge if slightly dazed smile on his face. "That was fantastic! All except crashing of course."

Aidan grinned back at the snow covered security chief and reached out to help him back into his feet. "Can't learn without crashing," he laughed, brushing the show off his own snowsuit. "Want to try that again? We'll have to take that tow over there back to the top."


"Quite right. Trial and Error." Kuzos remarked as the snow off his suit. "I most definitely want to try again. That was quite exhilarating." He looked to the nearby tow. "What are we waiting for?"


"You," Aidan grinned as he detached the board and shuffled through the deep snow towards the tow. There, he clicked the board under his feet again and grabbed the anchor. Once up, he waited for Kuzos before starting the next soar, balance and tumble trip down the slope. And once more, he was grateful for the safeties or he probably wouldn't have survived the collision with a small pine that obviously wouldn't move out of the way.

"Wait no longer. Lets get going." Kuzos replied as the pair made their way up the slope and moments later went off on another mad descent. They whipped past tree at a breakneck speed. As the snowboard was doing its best impression of a runaway missile. Until it's journey ended up in thicket of small pine trees that were imitating statues. "That was even better!" He exclaimed looking over at Aidan. "Are you alright?

"A little dazed," Aidan admitted, shaking his head, "but otherwise fine. My ego took a dent though.. I'll tell you that. What about you? You didn't hit anything did you?"

Kuzos stood and shook the snow off his suit and patted himself. " No broken bones. I seem to have jammed my knee when we collided with the trees. Otherwise I am fine."

"Perhaps we should have gone with an instructor after all," Aidan concluded with an apologetic smile, "or gone skiing, at least there i know the mechanics. Do you want to try again? Is your knee up for that?"

"We can try skiing next time." Kuzos suggested. "Yes, let's go one more time. My knee can stand it and besides It will be close to the time you need to get Saeri."

"I have plenty of time," Aidan answered as they trudged back to the tow. "Let's try to avoid the trees this time? Safeties or not, it's not a good idea to use them for breaking measures. It's better to just drop down in the snow if you're dead set in stopping."

"I think avoiding the trees is a given at this point. I would much rather end up in a snow bank than in the trees." Kuzos remarked as the pair made their way back up the hill. Upon reaching the top, Kuzos turned to his friend, " is there a way we can at steer the board even marginally? I feel as if I am on a runaway missile."

"You are on a runaway missile," Aidan grinned, "however if this works anything like skiing, tilting the board by leaning forwards or backwards a fraction should work. But...I'm not sure here, only way to find out is to try." He shifted, then set off and tried leaning back and forth. It took trial and error and several tumbles into the snow to figure out how much was needed.

Kuzos was like a kid. He was giddy with excitement as Aidan had figured out how at least partially control the direction and speed of the board. "Much better!" He remarked happily. "At least now we have some control are where we are headed and at what speed."

"You could theoretically practice the leaning to and fro in your quarters," Aidan observed, "but I think this is enough excitement for today. Are you certain you won't join us for dinner? Saeri wouldn't mind at all."

"I can certainly try if nothing else. I have to get better. I can't get any worse." Kuzos replied. "I am quite certain Aidan perhaps another time. Now is for you and your daughter."

"As you wish." Aidan chuckled. "No you definitely can't get worse and you handled yourself quite well for a first time in the snow. Did you enjoy it?"

Kuzos bowed his head at Aidan's comment. "Thank you Aidan and yes I enjoyed myself tremendously. I look forward to the next time."

"Next time we'll also make a snowman," the Trill smiled as he pattern the Vorta on his arm in a friendly gesture. "Let me know when and I'll make the time. Maybe I'll bring Saeri too, she loves the cold as much as I do." He clicked off the board and started towards the appearing exit. "Have a good evening," he called over his shoulder.

"A snowman would be a nice touch and please bring Saeri so she can enjoy this program as well." He looked after the retreating Aidan. "Enjoy your evening and dinner." Kuzos replied as he headed for the exit and then on to his own quarters.

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