"Good morning, everyone! I hope that you all slept well." The Doctor stated to the small crowd of staff members that had gathered around the holodeck doors.
Everyone was looking at everyone else's costumes. Harry had the traditional breeches, shirt, vest, shoes, and cape on, topped off with a white half mask, black leather gloves, and having his jet-black hair slicked back. Even though Harry wasn't going to show up in character until chapter three, he wanted to get in costume. He thought that he could take the mask and cape off, and sit in the audience during the performance. The Doctor and Tuvok both had suites on, while the Doctor had a large top hat to top off his costume. Neelix was dressed in rather ugly attire, with clothes that looked similar to rags hanging off of his body. Captain Janeway had a large red skirt on, an ugly hat sitting atop her auburn hair, and a mess of a top bodice on.
Chakotay had on a costume that appeared to be a male version of what the Captain was wearing. Tom was dressed in a simple suite, his black shoes shining. Ensign Wildman and B'Elanna were both in stringy skirts with bells attached to the top waist band, and had only a half, tight tank top on for shirts. Ensign Wildman was clearly uncomfortable with the lack of clothing, while B'Elanna –who wasn't pleased being dressed this way in front of her fellow crew mates- hid her discomfort.
Seven of Nine was dressed in a rather dull black dress that reached the floor, and she was holding a walking stick.
"I disagree with my costume." She stated bluntly.
"Why, Seven! I thought it looked good on you." The Doctor responded.
Seven gave him a look of distress, displaying how much she disagreed with her character- and her costume.
"I'll trade with you, Seven." B'Elanna muttered.
"Alright, alright. Let's get started, shall we?" The Doctor said before Seven had a chance to respond. The holodeck doors opened, and once the crew was inside, the Doctor started the program, and immediately, the crew was in a late 1800's opera house, surrounded by the voices of busy actors, hair stylists, and costume designers.
The Doctor let out a prided smile as he watched his fellow crew mates- and his family- gasp in awe at the sight before them.
"Are you ready for rehearsals, Senorita Carlotta?" A man with short, curly grey hair asked Captain Janeway. Kathryn looked excitedly towards the Doctor and Chakotay, and then followed the man to the stage.
Seven, who had memorized every precise move she was to make, quickly shuffled B'Elanna and Ensign Wildman to their positions, and gave instructions to the other chorus girls. They watched as Neelix crawled up the stairs, and took his position at the wheel that controlled the backdrops used for the operas.
Since the managers –Tuvok and the Doctor- where replacing the old manager that had previously ran the Opera House, so they positioned themselves at the entrance, waiting for the previous owner to greet them.
Finally, after a few minutes, the old manager- a rather chubby man with a gay personality- came into the Doctor's and Tuvok's view.
"Good day, monsieurs. Welcome to the Paris Opera House. If you would follow me, we are in the middle of rehearsals for the opera Hannibal." The gentleman welcomed. He started to walk towards the large stage, and the two Starfleet crewmen were eager to follow.
"Madame Giry, Maestro, Carlotta, everyone please listen. As you all know, there have been rumors of my official retirement. I want to announce that these are all true, and would like to introduce you to your new managers; Mr. Firmin, and Mr. Andre."
There were faked gasps across the stage as Chakotay, Captain Janeway, and Seven pretended to be surprised. B'Elanna and Samantha Wildman were off in a corner, pretending to practice their ballet moves.
The Doctor looked over towards Tuvok, who was supposed to announce their new patron. When Tuvok didn't say anything, the Doctor jabbed his holographic elbow into Tuvok's ribs. Tuvok, understanding the gesture, started to introduce the Vicomte.
"I would like to introduce our new patron, the Vicomte de Chagney." Tuvok muttered, not so sure that he liked the role he was playing.
There was a round of applause as Tom made his grand entrance onto the stage. The holographic characters didn't suspect that the old Raoul –Patrick Wilson- had been replaced with a real guy, Tom Paris.
"My parents and I are honored to support all of the arts, especially opera." Tom said with a smile. The Doctor gave him a glance from the corner of his eye- Tom had taken out part of his line. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.
Kathryn Janeway made her way to Tom's position, and put her hand out for him to kiss. Tom, glancing quickly at B'Elanna, quickly smiled and kissed his Captain's hand, hoping she would not hold this against him in the future. This is a holonovel. Tom reminded himself. What I do here doesn't reflect on my real life, does it? It's just role playing.
Chakotay, remembering that he was to give a rather squeaky cough right after Raoul kissed Carlotta's hand, coughed as high as he could, hoping to gain some attention.
"Ah, yes. This is Pianji, our male lead soprano." The ex-manager introduced.
Tom couldn't help but smile. He had known Chakotay for years now- he thought it was ironic that he was being introduced to him.
"Ah, yes. It's an honor, Signor, to have met you, but I'm afraid I'm keeping you from…practicing your opera…or something like that." Tom mumbled, trying to remember the exact lines.
Chakotay stifled a laugh as he saw the Doctor's face turn red with fury. Captain Janeway, who obviously didn't study Tom's lines that much, didn't know what Chakotay found funny.
Tom exited the scene, while passing by B'Elanna and Samantha.
"It's Raoul! At the house, by the sea, I suppose you could say we were childhood sweethearts. But he wouldn't remember me." B'Elanna said dreamily as Tom walked by.
"Oh, Christine! He's so handsome!" Samantha assured her friend. "He just didn't see you."
The Maestro quickly shooed off the new managers, and they resumed the rehearsals. As the chorus came onto the stage, dancing in their skimpy costumes, Tuvok couldn't help but realize that B'Elanna had an excellent talent in ballet.
"We take particular pride in our ballet, Monsieur." Seven interrupted Tuvok's thoughts. The Doctor, who was doing very well in acting his part, mentioned the beauty of 'the blonde angel'.
"My very own daughter, Meg Giry." Seven commented.
"And that exceptional beauty!" Tuvok said as B'Elanna danced by. He wasn't comfortable speaking that way of another man's wife, but it was part of his role, and he didn't want the Doctor to display the human emotion known as anger towards him.
As the song ended, and the grand finale was made, Captain Janeway, acting out her character, started to complain about someone stepping on her dress. She marched off of the stage, and placed herself in front of her new managers.
"My gown is too long, half of the chorus girls stepped on the train of my dress, you managers just care about the half-clothes chorus girls, and I hate my hat!" Carlotta said as she pointed to the unusually large bulk of red hair and gold metal twisted together on top of her head. Tuvok thought the hat looked rather uncomfortable, and didn't blame the Captain for hating it so much.
"Signora, these things to happen." The previous manager said, trying to calm down Captain Janeway.
"For the past three years, these things have been happening. And did you stop them from happening? No. And you two…" Kathryn said, pointing at the Doctor and her Chief of Security. "…you are as bad as him. 'These things to happen.' Gah! If you don't these things from happening, I do not happen!"
With the last sentence, Janeway marched away, demanding to see her puppies.
"What do we do, Doc- I mean, Firmin?" Tuvok asked his fellow manager.
"Beg. Plead. Whatever it takes to get her to sing." The Doctor replied.
Tuvok raised his pointed eyebrows. He didn't like the idea of begging at the feet of his captain.
"Maestro, isn't there a aria at the beginning of act three? Why don't you sing it for us, Signora Carlotta?" Tuvok called out.
"If my managers command, I shall sing. Maestro?" Captain Janeway said in an amazingly accurate Italian accent.
" If my diva commands." The Maestro said. He motioned for the orchestra to start playing, and Captain Janeway took her position, preparing herself for the aria she had practiced last night in her quarters.
"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while. Please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your hea-" This was Neelix's cue. He quickly released the backdrop, allowing it to fall on his captain mid-song.
There were screams from various characters as they watched the backdrop fall. They rapidly retrieved Janeway from under the fallen prop, and asked Bouquet- that would be Neelix- what happened.
"Don't look at me! I was just standing at my post! It must be a ghost." Neelix proclaimed proudly.
Meanwhile, Captain Janeway was throwing a fit. She was leaving, she said, for good. She marched off of the stage once more, and she didn't stop at the useless calls of Tuvok and the Doctor.
"Now who will sing for us? We will have to cancel the opera tonight, for we have lost our star!" The Doctor shouted in faked agony.
Seven stepped into her role. "Christine Daae could sing it, sir." She said blankly, while putting her hand on B'Elanna's shoulder.
Tuvok raised his Vulcan eyebrows. "I chorus girl? Don't be silly." He stated.
"Let her sing for you, monsieur. She has been well taught." Seven, speaking in a precise French accent, countered.
"Let her sing, Andre. She's very pretty." The Doctor said as B'Elanna walked out onto the stage. By now, Raoul had already left the Opera House. (In all reality, he was standing outside, trying to pass the time he wasn't needed by talking to the guards that stood by the doors.)
The music started to play, and B'Elanna sang innocently.
"Think of me. Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye." She started, looking reluctantly at Tuvok. Tuvok nodded his head, motioning her to continue singing.
"Remember me once in a while. Please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free, if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me." The music was playing its solo now, and B'Elanna had a few seconds to breathe before she had to sing again. Ensign Wildman smiled as the scenery suddenly changed, and the Opera House was suddenly full of people. B'Elanna watched as a holographic, white gown appeared on her body, and as Tom appeared in the audience. She was amazed at the technology this holonovel had. Previous holonovels she had used didn't have the ability to change scenery like this. Before she knew it, it was her time to sing again.
"We never said our love was evergreen or as unchanging as the sea, but if you can still remember, stop and think of me. Think of all the things we've shared and seen. Don't think about the way things might have been. Think of me. Think of me waking silent and resign. Imagine me, trying too hard to put you from my mind. Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do. There will never be a day when I won't think of you!" B'Elanna smiled as the audience cheered.
The crew looked up towards Raoul's box, waiting for his part of the song.
"Can it be? Can it be Christine? Bravo!" Tom sang from his box. In the movie, Tom knew he was supposed to descend down the main staircase, and sing his song. But, because the other crew members wouldn't be able to see if he did that, he remained in his box.
"Long ago, it seemed so long ago! How young and innocent we were. She may not remember me, but I remember her." He finished. Immediately, B'Elanna began to sing again.
"Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade. They have their season, so do we. But please promise that sometime you will think…" B'Elanna then sang a series of different notes, without any particular lyrics. "…of me!" The music finished, and the crowd went wild. Samantha and Seven were clapping loudly, and the Captain, who had managed to change into the clothes worn back then and sneak into the audience- shouted a series of compliments. Tuvok and the Doctor were cheering from their box. B'Elanna –breathless and tired- smiled, and bowed to her audience.
Suddenly, they were all looking at the dreary walls of the holodeck. The computer announced "Chapter One of holonovel Phantom of the Opera finished."
"I think that's enough for today, people. We have work that needs to be done. Anyone up to another chapter, maybe two days from now?" Captain Janeway asked.
Everyone- even Neelix, who had very little lines- agreed to be at the holodeck at 08:00 two days from then. Everyone exited the holodeck.
B'Elanna had forgotten that the white gown was just a hologram, so when she went through the holodeck doors, she was surprised to find herself standing in the chilly corridors of Voyager in nothing but her skimpy chorus girl costume that she had arrived in earlier that morning. Harry, who was also in the audience, laughed as B'Elanna made a mad dash for her and Tom's quarters. Samantha Wildman, who also had the chorus girl costume, quickly said her goodbyes, and –blushing- made her way to her quarters, where she would shower, put on her uniform, and report for duty.
