THE LIST, Part 2
By Ellie, 2008
Disclaimer: Again, as usual, I'm using these wonderful characters without permission, and plead that the titan that is "Par" doesn't sue me. (I promise, there's no money involved here!)
1842.
The time was passing damn slowly.
Kathryn Janeway paced throughout her quarters, not knowing what to think of the appointment she'd had with the Doctor earlier that day. The most passionate and pressing of the emotions she was experiencing was anger. Where did he get off evaluating her mental state, anyway? He was no counselor, and he certainly had no business questioning her personal life or what she chose to do with her spare time.
Part of her also felt suspicious. Why had the Doctor, now, after all those months, insisted that she come in for her yearly physical? Hadn't she been scanned a multitude of times within the past months? She could distinctly recall being checked over by the EMH himself, just two weeks ago, after their last away mission. Why hadn't that information proved sufficient? Never before had emotional well-being been a topic of a routine physical, either. Something about the situation smelled fishy to her, but she couldn't place a finger on what the Doctor's true motivation might be.
But deep down, below the anger and the doubt, there was a part of Kathryn that was grateful for the opportunity her doctor had supplied her with. The PADD she'd been given suggested that she take part in an activity she hadn't done in ages: dating. The Doctor had created a program for her that simulated just this activity. He was thorough and careful in his programming, creating a scene that would allow Kathryn to engage in basic human interactions with a variety of holocharacters displaying some of the traits that the Doctor suspected she would admire in a man. It would allow her to have fun, no strings attached, and to hopefully exercise those social muscles that were slowly degrading with each passing day on Voyager.
1849.
Completely at a loss as to what to wear, Kathryn had chosen something casual, simple, and classic. After much deliberation, she'd decided that a simple tunic and trousers would be fine for this occasion. She was aware of the possibility that the Doctor would find some excuse to drop in on her, perhaps to ensure that his efforts were successful, and she didn't want to appear too eager to be participating in the program. As the captain, it was important that she make it clear that in any normal circumstance this action would have been wildly inappropriate, and certainly not something she would condone. However, there were certain allowances to be made in this situation, and try as she could to deny it, Kathryn was human after all.
After placing the last strands of her hair in place, Kathryn deemed herself ready. She made her way to Holodeck One, coolly ignoring the sideways glances her crew gave in reaction to seeing their captain out of uniform.
"Computer, initiate program EMH J-two-six-eight," she called as she passed through the doors of the holodeck. The grid transformed into an Irish pub before her eyes, a phenomenon that the child in Kathryn still found very satisfying.
The room was devoid of life, and before Kathryn could question it, the Doctor materialized before her eyes.
"Captain Janeway," he began with a smile. "I'm pleased you've agreed to run this program I've created for you. I am a holographic representation of your… holographic doctor," he chuckled to himself.
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Your function exactly?"
"Guide, I suppose," he replied.
She choked back a laugh. "Dating isn't an activity that requires a guide, Doctor. It's hardly a trek through the wilderness."
"Says the woman who hasn't been on a date in…"
"I get the point."
He smiled. "Very well. This atmosphere is suitable, I presume?"
"Charming."
"Excellent. Let's get started then. The ingenious holoprogrammer who created this program allowed for two separate starting points of the subject's choosing. You may either begin on an outing with a randomly selected partner, or begin with the bar full of potential partners for you to choose from. Your preference?"
Reluctant to choose either, Kathryn said, "I suppose the latter." The idea of being stuck with one so-called 'partner' that had been randomly chosen by the computer hardly seemed ideal.
"An excellent choice, Captain. If you need me, just call," he said.
And with that, the Doctor vanished and a room full of suitors appeared. Laughing at the situation to herself, Kathryn entered the crowd and bellied up to the bar.
"Brown ale, please," she called to the bartender, taking a seat.
She surveyed the room from her barstool. The crowd was mostly men of about her age, with a few women sprinkled in here and there. She inwardly wondered about that particular choice, but was interrupted when a large glass of amber-colored syntheholic beer appeared before her.
"A brown ale for the lady," the bartender announced in a thick Irish accent, winking at her. "Anythin' else I can help you with?"
"No, thank you," she replied with a smile.
She sipped the beer slowly, enjoying the flavor of the brew. Before she could place her glass down, a man slid into the seat beside her.
"Come here often?" He asked her, a slight slur evident in his diction.
"No," she offered, giving him a chance. "New in town."
"Well," he drawled, "need a tour guide?"
Kathryn chuckled inwardly. "Am I to assume you're offering your services?"
"In a manner of speaking, and depending on your meaning," he replied, offering her a cheesy grin.
"Nope," she said to herself, "Computer, delete character."
The computer beeped in response and Kathryn smiled, satisfied. She picked up her drink and headed for a table. Before long, she was cycling through men, date after date, as if it were a speed-dating service. She met each man and gave him a chance, waiting a minute or so before deleting his character because he was too short, too arrogant, or too meek. She couldn't place a finger on just why, but for some reason, none of these men lived up to her standards. She toyed with the idea that they felt perhaps too holographic, but after receiving a spray to the face from the comedian with a lisp, she discounted the theory. She also considered the possibility that she had been subconsciously comparing each of them to Mark, but that explanation didn't feel right to her either.
"Computer, delete character," Kathryn said with a sigh. She'd seen what felt like dozens of men, but none of them had triggered her interest. Had she drawn so far into her protective shell of being captain that she could no longer complete the basic tasks that made her human?
The bar was nearly empty, and Kathryn was ready to give up. Draining her glass of beer, she got up from her table and headed for the door of the pub. It opened before she could reach the handle, however, to reveal none other than Commander Chakotay.
"What are you doing here, Commander?" she asked, alarmed.
"Excuse me?"
"I don't really think it's appropriate…"
"Have we met?" he asked her, extending his hand.
Kathryn took a breath. Would the Doctor actually be so presumptuous to create a Chakotay hologram? She tapped her commbadge. "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay."
"Commander Chakotay is on the bridge."
The holographic Chakotay looked at her patiently, still extending his hand. Unsure how exactly to proceed, she fell back on the basic principles her mother had taught her: manners.
"No, I suppose not," she said, taking his hand. "I'm Kathryn."
"Chakotay. Nice to meet you."
