Love Trigonometry

Love Trigonometry

Harry and Laili sat at a table in the Mess Hall enjoying their meal. Harry looked around the room, realizing they were mostly alone. They could still hear Neelix in the galley but he didn't generally leave while he was still cooking.

"It's quiet in here," Laili commented.

"Yeah…I just noticed that too. It's nice."

"Yeah…it is. Your friend is a good cook." Harry just laughed. Neelix had been doing his best to make things edible to give their guests a good impression.

"So…how are your quarters?"

"They're fine. I feel bad for your crew, having to bunk with strangers."

"We were all strangers once." She nodded as she finished her drink.

"Hey…I'm off duty for the next hour or so. Have you ever been on a holodeck?"

"No…I don't think so."

"Come on. I'll show you. It's great. Tom and I spent hours on there…it's a great way to relax."

"It sounds fun." He stood, offering his hand and she took it with a smile. They walked out of the Mess Hall and caught a turbolift just as the doors began to close.

"Deck Six."

"I keep forgetting how big the ship is. Our ship only had four decks." The lift descended four decks down, stopping on deck five to pick up several passengers. When it came to a final halt on deck six, Harry led Laili out of the now crowded tube and led her to the left.

"It's this way. You're really going to love it." He hit a few buttons and the doors slid open. They walked in to find themselves on a mountain overlooking an ocean. The moon was just beginning to rise.

"It's beautiful."

"It's one of my favorites. It's the Ktarian moonrise simulation. It's one of the planets in the Alpha Quadrant."

"It's amazing. It's so calming. Do you know any Ktarians?"

"I don't know if you've seen her but Naomi is half Ktarian. She was the first and only child born on Voyager."

"It must get lonely being the only child."

"I think she likes being on Voyager…I mean it's all she's known. She's having fun with a few kids from your ship."

"Good. I'm glad she has found some children her own age to play with for a little while." They stood in silence, watching the moon continue its ascent into the sky. Harry inched a little closer to Laili, gently placing his hand on top of hers.

"Look, there." He pointed to something blinking in the sky. She turned her gaze to where his finger was directed.

"A shooting star."

"One of my more aesthetic achievements with this simulation."

"You created this?"

"Yeah…it's kind of a hobby of mine."

"Do you think you could show me how to do it some time?" Harry grinned.

"I'd love to."

"How about now?"

"Now…I have a staff briefing. But I promise we'll do it after."

"I'll look forward to it." Harry tried to hide the blush creeping onto his cheeks as he walked out of the holodeck. Laili stayed where she was for a while, just enjoying to beauty of the images before her. She had to hand it to Harry; he had a flare for beauty.

Five decks up, Harry joined the rest of the senior staff in the Briefing Room. He noticed Seven of Nine sitting by herself. She did not appear to be happy to be there. Harry caught Tom's eye as he moved to sit near her. The pilot just shook his head slightly at his friend. Before Harry had the chance to say anything to Seven, the doors slid open and Kathryn walked in. She took her seat and looked around at her staff.

"I know this taking some of you away from your duty shifts but I felt it was important we meet to discuss a few things related to our guests."

"Is something wrong?" the Doctor asked.

"No, nothing is wrong." She took a breath. "I spent a good portion of last night talking with Radella and I've learned some things about her people." All eyes were glued to her, waiting for to explain. She took a moment to try and compose her next statement with care. She didn't want it to come across sounding hostile or negative.

"She explained why there were only women on their transport."

"There are no men on their planet." She was met with mostly blank stares; all except for the Doctor. He looked positively ecstatic.

"How fascinating."

"Before you get too excited, Doctor I've been informed you are not to pester them about anything regarding their private lives."

"But Captain…this is an amazing opportunity."

"Doctor, I gave you an order."

"Yes, Captain." He looked away in disappointment.

"Wait…hold on, I'm confused," B'Elanna interjected.

"They're not interested in guys, if you catch my drift," Tom said just loud enough for everyone else to hear.

"Oh." She looked a little embarrassed.

"Now, I understand this is a little startling but we're going to be respectful of their culture."

"Will we have to…leave our quarters if…?" Neelix couldn't finish his question.

"I don't know, Neelix. Radella was reluctant to share that information with me. For now, we will assume nothing of that nature will be happening." They all sat expecting there to be more.

"That's all. Dismissed. I'd appreciate if you would inform the people who work under you. Remind them that the Dreagan are our guests."

"Aye Captain."

Harry was a few meters out of the Briefing Room when Tom caught up with him.

"Why so glum, Harry?" They walked to a turbolift.

"I should have known it was too good to be true."

"No…Harry you didn't…"

"Fall for one of them? Yeah…"

"Harry, you really need some new lessons in dating."

"I didn't know!" As the lift moved downwards, Harry let out a groan.

"What?"

"I told her I'd show her how to use the holodeck."

"Just because she's not interested in you doesn't mean you can't still be friends Harry."

"I guess you're right. I'll see you later." Harry stepped off on Deck Six and nearly collided with Laili.

"Sorry Harry."

"It's ok."

"I didn't think you'd be back so soon. I wasn't sure how to shut down the program…so it's still running."

"Oh…yeah…are you still interested in learning how to use the holodeck?"

"Absolutely."

"Great." Harry didn't sound as enthused has he had earlier. They retuned to Holodeck Two and Harry shut the moonrise simulation down.

"Come on…we can construct a new program from inside." As soon as the doors closed, Laili walked to the console Harry pointed to. She could sense he was apprehensive about something.

"Is something bothering you, Harry?"

"No…of course not…why would it be?"

"You just seem nervous and you didn't before." Harry bit the inside of his lip for a moment. He didn't want to seem rude bringing up her romantic persuasions but he got the feeling she was persistent.

"Uh…the Captain told us…" By the tone of his voice and the fact that he trailed off, Laili could fill in the blank for herself.

"Oh, that figures Radella would have informed your Captain." Harry just nodded. Laili couldn't help smiling a little.

"I'm sorry…I must have been giving off mixed signals. I apologize if I led you on in any way, Harry."

"No…it's ok. It seems to happen a lot…"

"You're a really sweet guy and I'm sure you'll find the right girl when the time is right."

"Thanks. So…do you have a girlfriend back home?"

"Yes. She's a sweetheart. We met a few years ago. We've been married for two years. You'd like her. She's got a great sense of humor and she would have loved the moonrise."

"you seem like a good pair."

"Yeah…we were lucky to find each other." Something in her voice didn't seem entirely sincere.

"But…I couldn't help noticing some of your crewmembers."

"Oh?" She nodded, looking guiltily at her hands.

"Like who?"

"Well…one crewmember specifically. It wasn't that I meant to notice her. It was just very hard to not notice."

"You're going to make me start guessing aren't you?" She laughed.

"Only if you want to. But if you think really hard you'd only need one guess." Harry stroked his chin in thought for a moment or two. Laili stood next to him, holding her breath. She hoped he wouldn't be too mad when he figured it out. As if a light had gone off in his head, Harry's eyes widened.

"Seven of Nine?"

"Guilty…I didn't want to say anything…I know you like her…and I shouldn't be looking at her that way…I have a wife but…you can understand can't you?"

"Yeah…I can." He didn't sound upset or even that surprised.

"Sadly, I don't think either of us have a chance with her."

"Well I can see why she wouldn't be interested in me but…I thought you said she offered to…"

"Yeah but…I think I was sending her mixed signals."

"Well we're just a mess of mixed signals then aren't we?" Harry laughed and nodded his head.

"Yeah. Like some strange love geometric construction."