by Christina
Doctor Mark Zimmerman nodded as he checked the time. Twenty-three
hundred hours. Exactly. Time for a little golf. "Computer
transfer EMH to holodeck two."
He reappeared and frowned. Then rechecked the time. One minute
after the hour. The holodeck was in use--and whoever was here
had rudely overstayed his or her time. He noted the simple theater
and the fact he was in wings. He started to call out, but stopped,
transfixed, as music filled the hall.
He recognized the music, it was from the second act of Tosca.
A soprano joined in. A glorious sound. Curiosity drove him forward.
Who else on the crew shared his love of opera? Who had such a
voice? He stopped to enjoy the swelling music as an anguished
character sang about how cruelly fate has treated her; how she
had devoted her life to art, love, and prayer. He let the music
wash over him. Then it was over.
"Bravo," he called out after a second of silence. Then
he repeated the bravo. A woman appeared in the darkness.
"Doctor? Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I must have forgot to set
the timer. Forgive me, please?"
"Ensign Stevens?" He hesitated. The young, dark haired
woman stumbled as she started to gather up her stuff. "No,
please, don't go. Where did you learn to sing? That was divine."
"I had lessons." She dropped her towel. "I'm so
sorry. You won't report me for cutting into your holodeck time?"
He smiled. "Only if you sing for me, again."
She stared at him. "What?"
"Sing...You know, encore! Encore!"
"You really think I'm good?"
"So good, that I want to ask, what are you doing in Starfleet?"
"Tradition," Ensign Marie Stevens glanced at the floor.
"There wasn't much choice, since my third great grandfather
was Vice Admiral Cutler: all the family have chosen careers in
Starfleet."
"And what did you want?"
She smiled. "My teacher said I needed to chose between singing
and science. My family has already decided." She again glanced
at the floor. "What do you want me to sing?"
He hesitated, there were so many choices. "Sempre Libera."
"Traviatta it is." She ordered the orchestra to play,
then she joined in.
The Doctor stood, entraced.
***
The End