Perfect Scenario
Harry and Laili stood across from each other, trying to recover from Harry's last comment. Perhaps it was that they were both a little nervous, as it wasn't all that funny. When they both finally regained their composure, Harry turned his attention to the control panel in front of him.
"So…maybe we should start with something simple…like a park or something."
"Ok." She didn't sound entirely convinced that they should start small. She had an idea in her head and she wanted to get underway. The sooner she got the program finished, the sooner she could set about the task in her mind. Still, Laili leaned over Harry's shoulder to follow what he was doing.
"This sets the general parameters of the program," he explained. The control panel seemed easy enough to understand. She reached a hand out and pressed a series of buttons. A very large oak tree appeared in front of them.
"Oh…I don't think that's what I meant to create."
"It's ok. We're creating a park, remember. You need trees."
"Right…then we might as well create a few more." Together they scattered smaller trees throughout the holodeck. Laili couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous the foliage looked against the metal constructs of the holodeck.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked.
"It looks funny that's all. They look very out of place." Harry glanced around and then hit a button. Below their feet, shoots of rich green grass began to sprout. It unrolled like a large carpet across the floor.
"That's a little better."
"We need a sky." Laili fiddled a few buttons until a calm bluish-purple sky appeared above them.
"Is that what your sky looks like?" Harry inquired.
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
"Thank you. What does your sky look like?" Harry pressed a series of buttons and part of the sky turned a rich light blue.
"It's nice."
"I like your sky better." He hit another button and the portion that taken on the hue of Earth's sky disappeared, taking on the blue-purple of the rest of the sky. They stood in silence for a minute or two, admiring the work they'd done so far. It wasn't much but it had taken nearly half an hour. Laili walked around on the grass, running her hands along the coarse bark of the trees. It felt real, as real as being home. Harry watched her examine the world they'd created.
"How about we add some benches…or a path?"
"Go for it." She'd taken off at a run, letting the slight wind race over her skin. She looked much younger as she zigzagged through the tall trunks. Harry laughed as she did a cartwheel, barely missing the bench he'd created. He took off at a jog to join her.
"I can see why you find this so entertaining."
"Just wait until you try something harder. It can get a little…obsessive…in a good way of course." She smiled.
"Of course."
Several decks up, Seven walked towards the Mess Hall. She'd been looking for Harry for over half an hour. They had to input all of the astrometrics data into the database. Just as she reached the Mess Hall, the doors opened and Tom walked out.
"Lieutenant Paris."
"Oh…hi Seven. Can I help you?"
"I am looking for Ensign Kim. He was supposed to report to the astrometrics lab half an hour ago to assist me."
"No…haven't seen him in a while. Sorry. But if I see him, I'll let him know you're looking for him." With that he walked off, leaving Seven look at the spot he'd vacated in slight annoyance. Humans were proving once again to be erratic and disorganized. She let out a short breath before making her way down to the astrometrics lab. Tom had caught a turbolift down to Deck Six and was walking into Holodeck Two to find the park Laili and Harry had created. He followed the sound of voices in a few hundred meters until he found the pair seated on a bench.
"Hey, Tom."
"Hi. Seven of Nine's been looking for you…she says you were supposed to meet her in astrometrics half an hour ago." Harry looked confused and then embarrassed.
"I thought that was this afternoon."
"Harry, it is afternoon." The Ensign let out a groan and stood up.
"I should go. I'm really sorry."
"That's ok. Go, I don't want you to get in trouble on my account. I had fun…and I think I know what I'm doing now."
"Ok. I want to see what you come up with when you finish."
"You'll be the first to know." With that, Harry left the holodeck, lingering slightly in the doorway. Tom turned to Laili with a look of interest.
"What are you creating?"
"Oh…just a program."
"Want some help?"
"I don't want to take you away from your duties, Lieutenant."
"It's alright. I don't have a duty shift for a few more hours."
"To be honest, I sort of want to try it on my own. Learn from my own mistakes."
"Got it. Not a problem. Good luck. If you get stuck, you can always come find me."
"Thank you. I'll let you now if I need any help." Tom gave a small wave and left as well. Laili looked around her before addressing the computer. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing but she was used to winging things.
"Computer, end program." The computer beeped and the park fell away, leaving the metal skeleton of the deck in its place. She smiled to herself as she returned to control panel. She would have to make sure she did everything correctly. She didn't want anyone finding the program before it was ready.
On Deck Eight, Harry raced from the turbolift and into the lab. He found Seven standing over the console, beginning the data upload.
"Seven…sorry I'm late. I lost track of time." Seven didn't respond. Harry shuddered a little. The Borg cold shoulder was even icier than the human version. He simply walked to her side and picked up a set of data pads and cleared his throat.
"I'll…start uploading these…over there." He moved away quickly and started the task. Harry tried to focus on the task at hand but he couldn't stop thinking about Laili. He knew she didn't have any interest in him at all. But they got along so well, and they had a lot in common, including Seven of Nine. He chanced a glance over his shoulder at her and smiled a little. She was focused on the work in front of her, yet she still had a beautiful quality about her.
"I suggest you report on time for your next duty shift, Ensign. The Captain would not be pleased to learn you were late." Harry looked confused at first but shook the feeling.
"Yeah…it won't happen again."
Back on the holodeck, Laili was adjusting the physical size parameters of the program. She'd spent the better part of an hour creating the proper wall hangings and proper lighting. She was working from pure memory on the layout of the room. She hadn't seen it in almost two years. She and Kaelin had shared their first night in this very room. After fiddling with a few buttons, she looked around.
"Computer, display modifications." Before her eyes, a large couch-like object appeared as did several tables with bottles of oils and lotions. She would have to make sure everything was the proper consistency for what she planning. Laili walked around the console and picked up each bottle, allowing a few drops of each substance to slither from the neck of the bottle and onto her fingertips. She smiled as each texture touched her skin.
"These will do." She set the bottles down and looked around to make sure she hadn't missed anything. It had to be exact if it was to have the proper effect. Once she was satisfied with her work, she turned to address the computer once more.
"Computer, save program."
"Specify file name." She thought for a moment. She'd need to give it a name that would not raise suspicions among the Voyager crew.
"Home Scenario Alpha." The computer gave a beep of acknowledgement but the program didn't close. She looked around in confusion.
"Computer, why didn't the program shut down?"
"Please restate the question." Laili let out a breath. It would appear she had to close it down manually.
"Computer, close program." Like before, her surroundings disappeared, replacing themselves with the metal walls of the holodeck. Satisfied with her efforts, Laili made her way out of the holodeck and towards a turbolift. Her stomach was telling her she needed to eat something and soon. As she walked into the Mess Hall she spotted Harry and he waved her over.
"How was your shift?"
"Quiet…a little awkward. She didn't really say much."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's just eh way Seven of Nine is."
"So…how'd it go on the holodeck?" he asked. She couldn't keep from smiling broadly.
"Perfectly.