Well, as usual, this story seems to be getting larger and longer than initially anticipated. But, as long as you're having fun, I'll be happy to follow it through a few more chapters. :) I'm not sure yet if it'll have two or three more at this point, but I hope you'll enjoy the ride along with me as Geordi strives to engineer 'the perfect date'. Thanks so much for your reviews! :)
Part Two
Geordi stood in the hallway outside Lt. Chambers's quarters, turning a small, heart-shaped candy box around and around in his hands as he waited for his watch to read exactly 19:30 hours.
He pressed her door chime the moment the numbers changed, bouncing on his heels a little as he waited for the door to open.
And waited.
And waited.
After another twenty seconds, he pressed the chime again.
"Geordi! Hey!"
The call came from down the hall. Geordi turned to see Lt. Chambers, waving as she jogged toward him from the direction of the turbolift.
"Hey, Aubree! You look hot," he said – then realized how that would sound to someone without a VISOR. "No – I mean, your heat signature. It's, uh, pretty high. Not that you don't look, uh—"
Fortunately, the young officer cut him off with a laugh.
"I just came from the gym," she said, a little breathless as she came to a stop beside him. "This ship really has the most amazing facilities! Bob McIntyre was really nice about showing me around – do you know Bob? Security officer?"
"I, uh… Well, I'm not really sure…"
"Great guy. Come on, let's go inside," she said, lifting the privacy lock and leading the way through the sliding doors to her quarters.
Geordi followed a little uncertainly, standing just inside the main living room while she flitted around, clearing stray clothes and work padds from her small sofa and coffee table as she continued to talk.
"That's one of the best things about a new assignment, I think," she was saying. "It's such a fantastic chance to meet people from all over the Federation. You know, go out, make friends, get to know what the ship's all about! You can sit down if you want."
"Huh? Oh…" Geordi smiled a little sheepishly. "Yeah, thanks."
"You mind if I grab a quick sonic shower?" she asked, already halfway to her room. "I didn't have time at the gym. That is – I meant to, but I was having such a great time trying out all that amazing training equipment, I guess the time just ran away with me! It'll just take a sec to wash my hair and change."
"Sure, sure," Geordi said, shooting a glance at her wall clock as he sat at the edge of her sofa. "Whatever you need to do."
She laughed from the other room.
"You know, Farrell was right about you. You really are a sweet guy. Just make yourself comfortable, I'll be right out!"
"Comfortable…right…"
Geordi wrinkled his brow over his VISOR, wondering if, for some people, 'comfortable' was actually a euphemism for 'awkward.' He liked to consider himself a laid-back sort of guy, but this was their first real date. He'd worked hard to plan a special evening and, he had to admit, he was finding Aubree's casual attitude a little…disconcerting.
As the sound of her shower started up, he stood and began to pace around, working to keep his thoughts in the living room with the cut flowers on the glass coffee table, the hanging textile art on the walls…
"Oh, Geordi!" Aubree's voice called over the shower, "I was thinking about where we could go tonight! I've been to Ten-Forward – only for drinks so far – but, I've heard it's the social hub of the ship, and—"
"You can forget Ten-Forward," Geordi called back to her. "I've got something much better lined up for tonight."
"Oh, yeah? What did you have in mind?"
The shower sounds stopped, and he could hear her rummaging around in her closet.
"How about a romantic ski trip," he said. "The holodeck's already booked. We can stay as long as we like."
"What? Wait - hold on—!" she called. "I just need another minute…"
Geordi sighed and began to pace again, still turning his heart-shaped candy box around and around in his hands.
"Thanks for being such a good sport," Aubree said, striding out of her quarters in a flowy, lilac dress that both she and Geordi found to be tight in all the right places. Two elegant combs held her dark hair back from her face, while the rest flowed past her narrow shoulders in waves.
"Do you like them?" she asked, indicating the combs. "They used to be my grandmother's. She brought them with her from Vietnam when she and my grandfather moved to the Trappist system."
"They're lovely," Geordi said honestly, his VISOR picking up on the prismatic light refracted by the polished shell surface. "Was your grandfather also from Vietnam?"
"No, Egypt," she said. "And my father's family originally came from, um, oh gosh… Sri Lanka, that's it." She laughed. "Goodness, I've been charting the stars too long. I need to brush up on my Earth geography. Did you grow up on Earth?"
"Uh, no," Geordi said. "No, I'm a Fleet brat. Me and my sister both."
"You have a sister?"
"Yeah, Ariana," he said. "The two of us grew up hopping from base to base, ship to ship… Wherever our parents ended up getting assigned."
"That sounds amazing!" Aubree exclaimed. "Your whole childhood must have been, like, one long adventure!"
"I don't know if I'd go that far…" he muttered, but Aubree barely heard.
"My family lived in the middle of nowhere, a few kilometers out from this little mountain village," she said. "Pretty for the tourists, who got to leave once the skiing season was over, but for us kids who had to live there, that snowball planet was the most boring place in the universe. Joining Starfleet was my big escape! So, what were you saying about the holodeck?"
"Ah," Geordi said, and brightened. Finally, this date was getting on track!
Holding out his box of candy – just as he'd planned to had she been there to open the door – he said, "Aubree, this is for you. Happy Valentine's Day."
"Oh – that's right! It is Valentine's Day!" Aubree grinned, taking the box and untying the ribbon. "Oh, and they're chocolates! You are so thoughtful! But, I could never eat these by myself – you want one?"
"Maybe after dinner," Geordi said, taking the box and setting it down on her coffee table. "I've got the whole evening planned. Listen to this."
He smiled, using his hands to help him paint the picture he'd been building in his mind all week.
"We're at the Ice Castle Resort on Trappist C," he said. "After a scenic ride up the mountain, we ski our way to this cozy little cabin by an icefall, sheltered by pines."
"A cabin?"
"Not just a cabin," Geordi told her. "It's really a five-star restaurant. There's live music, a dance floor. And the menu is truly top-notch. I'm telling you, you have got to taste this food to believe it."
"Wow…" Aubree said. "That sounds, um…well…"
"Hey, OK, I know what you're going to say. It sounds a bit much for a first date, right?" Geordi said, and she gave a nod-like shrug. "But, hey – this is Valentine's Day! What's the fun of a holiday if you don't go all out? So, ready to get this evening started?"
Aubree glanced down at her dress.
"Well, I wasn't really expecting... Maybe I should change—"
"No, no, you look perfect!" Geordi assured her, eager to get back on schedule. "Besides, the holodeck can provide anything we might need."
"Well, if you're sure—"
"Absolutely," Geordi said, and took her hand. "Aubree, it's gonna be great. I promise."
Aubree regarded him for a moment longer then, slowly, began to smile.
"OK," she said. "I was kind of hoping we could have dinner with some of my new friends, but I've been wanting to try the holodeck too. Are the graphics here really as good as I've heard?"
"Better," Geordi said, practically leaning toward the door. "Trust me, after a few minutes you forget you're on a holodeck at all. So…coming?"
"Yeah, let's go," Aubree said, and laughed as they stepped out into the corridor.
"What's so funny?" he asked, checking his watch. Only six minutes behind his intended schedule…not too bad…
"Oh, but this is perfect!" she said, surprising the engineer by wrapping her arm around his. "First a security officer shows me all the little tricks and secrets of the gym, and now the chief engineer is taking me on a tour of the holodeck! I knew I'd love this assignment! Thanks, Geordi."
"Yeah, well…" He smiled, putting on his best 'suave' look. "You just wait. This program I've set up for us will totally blow you away."
To Be Continued…
Reviews are always welcome! I'd love to know what you think! :)