Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures

THE REAL YOU

CHAPTER 3

Wind blew against Kathryn as she skied down a steep slope, skillfully passing all obstacles in her way. Chakotay skied down after her, also flying passed all posts at warp-speed, but it was Kathryn who reached the finishing line first. Laughing from exhilaration, she raised up her goggles and turned to Chakotay.

"What a ride! What a ride!"

Chakotay skied up to her and swerved to a stop. "When you said you were good, I didn't think you meant that good."

"I'm modest, remember?" she teased. "When I say good, I mean brilliant."

Chakotay laughed and raised up his goggles. "You certainly are."

"Want to race again? Next run up?"

"Not me. I'm at my limit."

"Oh, you're no where near it. Come on, be brave!"

"Ok," Chakotay smiled. "If you insist."

Down another slope they sped, Kathryn definitely in the lead, but just as they reached the finishing line, Chakotay whizzed passed her.

"Oh well done!" Kathryn cried as they came to a stop. "Well done! I knew you weren't at your limit! Bravo!"

"Well done to you too," Chakotay smiled. "This run is a neck breaker. But you let me win, didn't you?"

"No," Kathryn laughed. "I swear."

"Then why do you look like you've just won gold at the Olympics?"

"Because I have," she said. "I've just met my match."

"Ah, I see," he smiled. This woman was clearly so brilliant at everything she did that she was bored of always coming up tops. She wanted someone to beat her. She wanted the fun of competition, the thrill of rivalry, and the stimulation of an equal.

"Another race?" she asked.

"You're determined to kill me, aren't you?" he teased.

"No," she laughed. "Just to beat you."

After three hours of the best skiing in her life, Kathryn slumped into an armchair at the resort's fancy lounge.

"Ooohhh...." she groaned. "My legs are so going to kill me tomorrow. I haven't skied this much since....I don't know how long since."

Chakotay smiled and sat opposite her. "What you need is a massage."

"I know. But the salons are all booked up. Isn't that typical? I'm just going to have to suffer. And without coffee too. I'm all for healthy living, but you'd think a place would have coffee on the menu."

"If you come back to my lodge," Chakotay said, "I can give you a massage. I'm qualified."

Kathryn tensed a little at those words. Although she felt sure that she could trust him, he had been friends with B'Elanna for years, she didn't know if she could trust herself. His lightest of touches set her ablaze, and if she'd reacted to a massage by his hologram, how much more would she react to one by him?

"Thanks, but I'm ok," she replied. "But if there's coffee going at your place, then I'm already there."

"Real and replicated," Chakotay laughed. "Take your pick."

At that, Kathryn got to her feet and picked up her bag. "Then what are we waiting for!"

Chakotay's lodge was a striking log-cabin halfway down the mountain that was beautifully situated next to a lake. It was rustic in appearance, yet at the same time ornate, and on its upper floor was a stunning canopied balcony that overlooked the water. Kathryn and Chakotay arrived outside the lodge by transport, and Kathryn immediately fell in love with the place.

"Oh Chakotay," she said, looking around. "This place is incredible! What a paradise!"

"I think so," he smiled. "That's why I choose here."

"And look at your lodge! It's wonderful!"

"Thank you. I built it myself."

"You did?"

"Yes. My father taught me how to build log-cabins when I was a boy. This is grander than anything he had in mind, but the skills are the same."

"I'm impressed. Very impressed. Tom didn't give your holo-character enough credit."

"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. But I don't suppose he thought log-cabin-making was a skill required in space."

"Well," she smiled, "in a chapter called Resolutions, it certainly was."

Chakotay laughed. "I really can't wait to try out this work of Tom's. He asked me to a few weeks ago, but as I've been the guinea pig in his works before, I kind of made excuses."

"The Captain Proton series?"

"Yes. I don't know how many times I was abducted and tied to a pole in some crazy third or fourth dimension."

"Been there, done that," Kathryn laughed.

"I'm hoping Tom will get it to me today so I can start it tonight. Apparently he wants to make some modifications first. Something about B'Elanna having gripes with things. I've told him not to modify it too much as I want the same experience you had."

"Then get in fast," Kathryn smiled, "because if B'Elanna has her way it will be a completely different novel by the time you get it."

"How did you experience it, exactly? Active, passive, both?"

"Mostly passive," she said, "but I did take part in quite a few chapters."

"Did you dress up?"

"Oh yes. A holo-novel isn't a holo-novel without dressing up. Of course, this didn't require much dressing up as we're all in uniform most of the time, but I got out my old Starfleet uniform and played with my hair a bit. It adds to the fun and I always find that dressing up helps me get into a part."

"Me too."

"I'd love to have taken part in the whole thing, I really would have, but it's a very long novel and I just don't have that much time for play."

"How long is very long?" Chakotay asked.

"Seven parts," she answered, "of twenty-something chapters each."

"That is long," he said. "Looks like it will have to be mostly passive for me too. But that explains why Tom's been using our holograms as a character template. If he had to write characters and dialogue, aswell as stories and setting, he'd be a senior citizen before he got it published!"

"Yes," Kathryn laughed. "Much easier to just concentrate on stories and let the characters react to them...with some tweaking here and there, of course."

"Did you get through the whole thing?"

"Every second. It took me almost a month, and lots of late-night watching, but I got there in the end."

"Then looks like I'm going to have skip some chapters if I want to get the overall picture fast. Any suggestions as to which chapters I should participate in? Anything I must?"

"Far be it from me to say," Kathryn smiled. "But I definitely advise against Unity, Unforgettable and Endgame."

"They're terrible?"

"From a certain perspective, definitely," she said, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, intrigued.

"You'll see," she smiled.

They walked towards the lodge and Kathryn's admiration for it grew with every new detail she saw.

"You really have done an outstanding job here, Chakotay," she said. "Outstanding! Look at the balcony, the porch! Oh I love it. Everything! And Justine would too. She'd so love it here."

"Then you must bring her. How about this weekend? I'd love to meet her."

"Then this weekend it is. But I really can't believe that you built this place. How long did it take?"

"About five years. I did it bit by bit. Of course, this was in my twenties. I wouldn't take on such a project now. I've done some modifications to it over the years, so it isn't exactly as I planned it then, but it's more or less what I originally envisaged."

"You're very talented. I could never design a house like this. It's amazing. I especially love the balcony. It's almost wasted on a bedroom."

"On a bedroom it would be indeed," Chakotay smiled. "That's why it leads off the lounge."

"An upside down house?" Kathryn cried. " Oh terrific!"

They reached the front porch and Chakotay took Kathryn up a few steps and into the lodge. It had a lovely reception room and Kathryn looked around it as Chakotay took her bag and jacket. To her left was a wide pine staircase that led to the upper floor, and to her right was a cozy sitting room with a stone chimney, a few sofa chairs of pinewood covered in colorful throws, and bright woven rugs.

"This is my second lounge," Chakotay said. "It 's handy if people can't make the stairs or are on a quick visit. Someday I might put a lift in, but for now there's just the stairs."

"It's lovely," Kathryn smiled. "Real cozy. How many bedrooms are there down here?"

"Only two, but they're spacious and ensuite. There's also a jacuzzi room."

"A jacuzzi room? Why didn't you say so before?"

Chakotay laughed. "Fancy a soak?"

"You bet! And with my coffee. There's nothing I like more than a long hot soak with a cup of coffee."

"An interesting combination. I'll have to try it."

"Indeed. But first take me to the balcony. I just have to see it."

Chakotay pointed at the stairs. "Then step this way, Ma'am."

The balcony was every bit as delightful as Kathryn had anticipated, especially as the view from it was magnificent, and she spent a good few minutes admiring it. Then Chakotay showed her his kitchen, which was big and sunny; his study, which had a lot of books in it; and his craft room, which was full of works in progress. When the tour was over, he took Kathryn to his jacuzzi room, which was small but everything a jacuzzi room should be, and while he made fresh coffee, Kathryn replicated a blue swimsuit and put it on.

"Fresh hot coffee," Chakotay said, returning to the room with a tray. "Fortified with vitamins and..."

His thoughts trailed away when he saw Kathryn standing before him in her swimsuit.

"Wow," he said, "you look good."

Kathryn smiled and was entranced herself at the sight of Chakotay in nothing but black swim-boxers. "So do you."

Chakotay smiled back and they gazed at each for a moment, then he went to place the tray beside the jacuzzi. As he did, Kathryn got into the jacuzzi and sunk into its warm bubbling water.

"Heaven," she said. "Pure heaven."

"The water warm enough?"

"Perfect."

Chakotay climbed into the tub now and sat opposite her.

"I have good news," he said. "Tom's sent me the holo-novel."

"With a long message all about how he's modified your character?"

"Yes," Chakotay laughed, "and a demo of how the characters will look when the novel's finished."

"Really? That's new. I didn't get that. Did you take a peek?"

"No. But we can before you leave, if you want."

"Oh yes, please."

Chakotay smiled and then turned to the tray of coffee. "How do you like your coffee? Cream? No sugar?"

"Black," Kathryn answered. "No sugar. Always black."

"Noted."

He poured her a cup of black coffee and then handed it to her.

"Thank you, Sir," she said, taking it gratefully.

Chakotay then filled up a cup for himself, stirring in cream and sugar, and then lay back against the padded side of the tub.

"This definitely is the life," Kathryn said, supping her drink indulgently, "coffee in a jacuzzi with a handsome man."

Chakotay smiled. "Let me return the compliment. A coffee in a jacuzzi with a beautiful woman."

"Careful, mister," Kathryn laughed. "Flattery might get you every where."

"I hope so," he teased.

After their soak, Kathryn and Chakotay made their way to the lounge to check out Tom's demo. The lounge was spacious, inviting, and had a huge stone chimney in which a pretend fire automatically lit up as soon as someone entered the room. In one half of the lounge, the closest half to the balcony, was a lovely sitting area of colorful couches and pine furniture, and in the other half of the room was a long glass dining table surrounded by six wooden chairs. Chakotay showed Kathryn over to a couch, and while she sat down he switched on his entertainment screen. This was on the wall opposite and was a good size. Chakotay then sat beside Kathryn and remotely selected the demo. It came straight on with a shot of Voyager's bridge.

"Nice bridge," Chakotay said.

"Nice ship," Kathryn smiled. "Much nicer than anything I've ever captained. But then, if you're going to be stranded in space for seven years, you don't want to be on something puny."

"No, indeed," Chakotay laughed.

A tall Native American man, with a forehead tattoo and straight hair to his shoulders, walked onto the bridge and sat next to the captain's empty chair. He was handsome, though in a different way to Chakotay, and was well-built and muscular.

"That's the new you," Kathryn laughed. "Commander Pakaday."

"It is?" Chakotay asked. "What's happened to my forehead?"

"Something to do with an ancient symbol and rubber tree people."

"Rubber tree people?" Chakotay laughed. "You're serious?"

"Not me, Tom. Suffice it to say, this isn't a work of historical accuracy or political correctness."

A beautiful woman, with long blonde hair and large green eyes, walked onto the bridge now and went to sit in the Captain's chair.

"Oh my," Kathryn cried. "If that's me, I've gone blonde, dropped some pounds, and shed a few years!"

Chakotay laughed.

The onscreen woman then turned to the onscreen man and spoke. "Commander Pakaday, hail the Ryzali."

"Definitely me," Chakotay laughed.

The connection was made and the onscreen woman got to her feet. "I'm Captain Katie Janey of the Federation Starship Voyager. I'd like to know, in fact I demand to know, why you are following us."

"Definitely me," Kathryn laughed.

A Half-Klingon woman with curly blonde hair stormed onto the bridge and hurried over to the Captain. "There's no point trying to be civil, Captain. They only have one agenda."

Seven-of-Nine now walked onto the bridge. "Lieutenant Terra is correct, Captain. They want to kill us."

"Is it me," Chakotay asked, "or is every woman on this ship blonde?"

"It seems so," Kathryn laughed. "Oh my. I hope B'Elanna hasn't seen this yet!"

Suddenly, the screen went blank and Tom's face appeared.

"I'm only kidding with the blondes, Chakotay," he said, "because I know you're laughing about that right now. It's just a little something I put together to rattle B'Elanna's cage and boy was she rattled. Kathryn, if you're watching, because B'Elanna tells me you have a hot date with Chakotay today, Captain Katie Janey's going to be a handsome nutmeg brown. Given my beloved wife's fiery temper, there's only one color Lieutenant Bella Terra, Chief Engineer and Ex-Maquis, can be, and that's flame red. Chakotay, I hope you enjoy my Delta Quadrant adventure, and Kathryn, I hope you enjoy Chakotay. Be good, or if you can't, becareful, and don't let the bed bugs bite! See you both soon!"

The message then ended and the screen went blank.

"Oh Tom," Kathryn laughed. "He cracks me up! I should have known it was a joke. He's always up to something!"

"He is," Chakotay replied. "And he clearly thinks we're up to a lot."

"Yes, for sure. And what's with that? Doesn't he think a couple can enjoy each other's company without hitting the sack?"

"If he and B'Elanna are anything to go by, definitely not," he smiled. "They came to stay with me once and kept me awake all night. It was like a pair of wild monkeys had been let loose in their room."

Kathryn laughed until her sides ached. And it was a good feeling. It had been years since she had laughed this much.

"But tell me," Chakotay said, his eyes twinkling, "does that mean you're enjoying my company?"

"If it means you're enjoying mine."

"I am. Very much."

"Then it does," she smiled.

They gazed into each others eyes, both losing themselves in the other, then Chakotay picked up the remote.

"Join me in watching a bit of this masterpiece that has Shakespeare worried?"

"I'd love to," Kathryn answered, "but I've got to be getting back. My mother's on vacation in Hawaii and I've got to pick Justine up from swimming."

"Ok. Some other time."

"But I don't have to leave right away," Kathryn said. "I have time for another coffee."

Chakotay smiled. "Then another coffee it is."

When it was time for Kathryn to leave, Chakotay walked her to a transporter station near his lodge. There were a few homes scattered around the lake, some big, others small, and the transporter served all residents.

"When I ran Tom's holo-novel," Kathryn said as they walked, "I thought the First Officer was too good to be true. I mean, he was handsome, brave, clever, loyal, thoughtful and caring. I didn't think for a moment that he was based on a real person. I thought he was an ideal concocted by Tom. But then B'Elanna said he was real and, now that I've met him, I have to say the real deal even excels the hologram. But you must have some faults, Chakotay. Fess up."

"Well," he teased, "I've always thought my weakness for auburn haired women to be one, but now I'm thinking it might be the making of me."

Kathryn laughed. "Let me add charmer to your list of virtues. But seriously, Chakotay, you can't be perfect. No one is."

"I don't know," he said. "You seem so to me."

They smiled at each other and then Chakotay pointed at a green building ahead. "That's the transporter station. It's self-service."

They went into the station and Chakotay activated the console. "Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"San Francisco," she answered. "Station 401."

Chakotay selected the station and a transporter pad lit up. Then he turned back to Kathryn.

"Before you go," he said, "I'd just like to tell you that I've had a wonderful time today."

"Me too," she replied. "It's strange. We've only known each other a couple of days, but I feel like I've known you forever."

"I feel the same. Being with you is so easy. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. I can just be myself. That's hard to find."

"It is. I've always found it difficult to connect with people, I mean really connect, but I've felt connected to you since I met your hologram."

"My mother always said that when you meet your soulmate, you know. I never believed her until now."

Kathryn smiled. "I bet you say that to all the ladies."

"Yes," he teased. "At every docking station."

Kathryn stepped onto the transporter pad. "See you Saturday."

Chakotay smiled. "I can't wait."

Kathryn smiled back, pressed a button, and then dematerialized.

END OF CHAPTER 3