Part Four

"Oh," Aubree gasped through their comm link as she and Geordi trekked through a narrow pass and up a soft slope to the sheltered cabin by the icefall, their skis leaving herringbone tracks in the icy powder. "Oh, Geordi, it's like walking into a painting! The light here…the snow on the pines… It's all so beautiful!"

Beneath his oxygen mask, Geordi beamed a huge smile. "You'll like it even better once we get inside," he said. "I hope you're hungry! The restaurant here makes a crab dish to die for. And the fusilli...! But, don't take my word for it. Let's go stow our stuff and—"

"But…" Aubree hesitated. "Not yet, Geordi. How about we stay out here a little longer? We both have plenty of oxygen in our tanks, and I'd like to get a closer look at that icefall. There's something about it I—"

"Later," Geordi said. "We can do anything you want. But, if we're to keep our schedule—"

"All right, OK. We'll stick to the schedule," Aubree said, and shot ahead on her skis as smoothly as a dolphin cutting through the water, making it to the cabin and through the artfully carved doors before Geordi managed to reactivate his power pack.

Geordi and Aubree checked their outdoor gear with the storage computer in the foyer airlock, then headed through a pair of sliding doors that glistened like sheets of translucent ice inlaid with patterns of pine cones and branches. Her light, summery dress didn't quite fit the ambiance of the wood-and-ice-themed great hall, with its exposed-beam ceilings and rustic furniture, but then, neither did Geordi's uniform.

"You look amazing," he told her, reaching out to take her arm. Aubree smiled, but her attention was on their surroundings.

"These graphics are amazing," she said, running appreciative fingers over the smoothly textured walls. "The attention to detail – every sound, every smell… It's a mind-jolt to realize this whole place is really just projections of light in one tiny little cube of a room. And there are more holodecks on the ship probably running right now!" She chuckled. "Imagine that…dozens of people exploring dozens of holographic worlds inside these tiny rooms, all lined up along the corridor. And you programmed all this?"

"Well, I did get some input from—"

The clatter of distant dishes echoed from the far end of the great hall, and Geordi smiled.

"Sounds like the dinner service has already started. Let's go. If you like the hall, you're gonna love the restaurant."

Where the hall had been dim and rustic, the restaurant was airy and bright with a high cathedral ceiling and a vast transparent aluminum wall that wrapped around the semi-circular space, offering a panoramic view of the icefall.

Geordi broke out his smoothest smile and led his date straight to the main entrance, greeting the hostess there with a suave: "La Forge. Reservations for two."

"Of course, Commander," the hostess replied warmly. "Your table is ready and waiting."

Geordi glanced at Aubree, a swell of pride filling him as he escorted his lovely date past row after row of seated diners who followed the couple with admiring eyes. But, Aubree didn't seem to notice their reactions. Once they'd been led to their table – a large, private booth with soft, roomy cushions – she excused herself and broke away despite his protest, weaving through the busy diners to examine the icefall more closely.

"I thought it was," she said when she came back, her tone not exactly accusing, but certainly sharper than before.

"What are you talking about?" Geordi said. "Come sit down."

"That icefall," she said, struggling not to crush the skirt of her dress as she scooted into the booth. "I thought it looked familiar, but now I'm certain. It's the same one I used to pass on my way to school. How could you possibly… I mean, you can't have done it on purpose?"

"So you like it?" Geordi said.

Aubree's dark eyes turned suspicious.

"Geordi, how did you ever—"

A waiter with ice-blue hair and skin the same powdery white as the snow and sky outside appeared at their table and smiled.

"Would you and the charming lady like a menu, sir?" he asked, holding out a pair of thin, flexible data cards. "Or, are you prepared to place your order?"

Aubree started to reach for a menu, but Geordi said, "We're ready to order." Aware she wouldn't see a wink behind his VISOR, he gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Trust me?"

"Well, I suppose, but I thought—"

"Great!" he said cheerily. "I'll have the fusilli, and for the lady, your finest ice crab. Extra spicy. Oh, and Trappist-style calamari to start with. And we'd like fresh bread, whipped butter and Centurion honey for the table."

"Excellent, sir. Anything to drink?"

"Geordi," Aubree tried again, but he waved her off with a knowing, 'leave it to me' smile.

"Something from the Picard vineyards of France," he said. "Your sommelier knows the vintage."

"Of course, sir. A splendid choice," the waiter said approvingly, and strode away.

"Picard vineyards?" Aubree repeated, and wrinkled her nose. "Surely, it can't be the same Picard?"

"You didn't know?" Geordi grinned. "The captain's family has owned a vineyard in France for generations."

"Well!" Aubree snorted in surprise. "You learn something new every day! But, Geordi, I really think—"

"I know, the service is great here, isn't it?" he said. "And the food's even better. Didn't I tell you I had our whole evening planned! All you gotta do is sit back and go with the flow. Oh – hold on! I almost forgot the music! Computer—"

"Music?" Aubree repeated. "Wait, no. Geordi, stop!"

Geordi looked surprised, and a little crestfallen.

"You don't like live music? But I thought—"

"I didn't say that," she said. "Geordi, I've been trying to talk to you."

"Oh, well if that's it, I'm sure they won't play too loud. I could even adjust the—"

"No!" Aubree exclaimed, then winced, covering her mouth with her hands. "No," she said quietly, but much more firmly. "You're not listening to me."

Geordi leaned back in confusion. "I was only trying to—"

"I know. I know you've been trying. I know you've been planning and programming and…"

Aubree sighed and ran a hand over her hair.

"I love live music," she said. "I love dancing, and spicy ice crab and Centurion honey butter on fresh baked bread. I love the icefall I used to ski past every day. That's what makes this all so…so…damn creepy! It's like…like somehow, you've managed to dig up all these little details about my past...about me... But, that's not—"

"I just wanted to take you somewhere fun. Some place familiar," Geordi said. "When I talked to your friends—"

"Wait," Aubree said, her expression falling. "You talked to my friends about this? But I never mention the icefall to... Oh my god." She stared at him in something like horror. "Did you contact my mother too?"

Geordi furrowed his brow, thoroughly befuddled by her reaction. "I wanted to design you the perfect program. You see—"

"No, Geordi," she said angrily. "No, I really don't. Look..." She sighed and shook her head. "No. This isn't working, Geordi. I'm sorry, but I think I should go."

"Go? What? But - Aubree," Geordi said, reaching across the table. "Just tell me what's wrong. What did I miss? Whatever it is, I can fix it."

Aubree lowered her eyes and pulled her hand away, her features tightening with realization.

"That's all this is to you, isn't it. All it ever was. This wasn't our chance to get to know each other. Your chance to get to know me. Because that's not what this was about. You don't really want to know who I am, what I want, why I left this sun-forsaken ice rock!"

"Of course I want to know you," Geordi said. "I designed this whole program for you, Aubree."

"Oh no you didn't," she snapped. "You designed this program for you, not for me. To serve as some sort of buffer between us so you could feel more confident and in control. Well, the buffer worked, Geordi. I can tell you don't need or want my input for this game. And, I'm not going to play the prop girlfriend just to fill out your 'perfect' program!"

"It's not like that," Geordi protested. "You're not a prop! Just…stay for dessert. You'll see, I've planned a whole—"

"No! You're not getting it!"

Aubree sighed again, her face pinched and drawn.

"Geordi, why didn't you just talk to me? We could have designed something together. Instead of this...eerie diorama..." She looked around the busy room and shivered a little.

"I..." Geordi turned his head away and pressed a hand to his forehead. "All right," he said. "Maybe you're right, maybe I have been...hogging the controls, as it were. I just… I guess, I wanted to impress you. I wanted you to like me."

Aubree pressed her lips together.

"I wouldn't have gone out with you if I didn't like you," she said. "But, Geordi, you have to know you can impress me just be being a—"

"Don't…" He held up a staying hand. "Don't say 'friend.' Please."

She nodded, then stood up and gave him a smile.

"You're a great engineer," she said. "I've never seen a program as incredible as this. But this scene..." She shook her head. "It's not for me. It never was. But hey. We could always try again. Maybe not a program this...intimate... But, you're always welcome to join me and my friends. I'll keep you in my contacts, OK?"

"Yeah," Geordi said. "Sounds fine. I'll...do the same..."

Aubree smiled again and walked away, her summery dress wafting like seafoam in her wake. Geordi sighed deeply and buried his face in his hands...only to feel a warm presence looming over him.

"Aubree...?"

"Your wine, sir," said the blue-haired waiter, holding up the bottle. "Would you like a sample before I pour?"

"No. Thanks. You can take it back, Jotu," Geordi told him. "I don't think I'll be staying." Rising heavily to his feet, he called, "Computer, end program."

To Be Concluded…

References Include - TNG: Booby Trap; Transfigurations; Galaxy's Child; Family.

Sorry for the long wait between updates, but the finale for this story is on its way. Stay tuned, and please review! :D

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!