By Lt. Commander Keiran O'Sullivan
80206.2
Concurrent with Escape Artist
-=Arch to Holodeck Two, Deck 8=-
80206.2
Concurrent with Escape Artist
-=Arch to Holodeck Two, Deck 8=-
A small, clear, sweet voice greeted the ears of the officers who had been sent to scan the holodecks for unauthorized listening devices. The melody it sang was haunting; the words, heartrending. They told the story of a little soul lost, dreaming of a castle upon a cloud.
Lair Arie stood center stage, singing in this holographic reproduction of the Barbican Theater of London, England, on Earth.
She was wearing a dress befitting the waif role she was playing, and she was certainly dirty enough from the day's exertions to give the costume an added authenticity.
Dirt smudged her face and arms, evidence of time spent gleefully rolling in the flowerbeds of the arboretum, chasing after Sunshine's favorite tennis ball.
This was a forbidden activity, but one she had indulged in nevertheless; telling her new and naive Vulcan attendant that the Vedek did not mind at all if she did so.
The holographic image of a large, toothless woman approached Arie and began barking out orders. Trying to focus on her vocal performance as her mother had taught her to, Arie continued singing at her next cue.
"Well look at that would ye." O'Sullivan shook his head. He recognized the play- it was surely Les Miserables.
The role of Jean Valjean was one of his favorites to visit, and revisit in his own free time on the holodeck. But he had not yet had a chance to upload his copy of the program into Sera's computer. Apparently someone else aboard ship not only already had a similar program, but was running it.
He was intrigued.
"I've got this one lad," He told his reluctant partner in scanning for bugs, Dane Cristiane.
Cristiane, who was about to begin his third shift of the past day and was even crankier than usual, nodded blankly.
"You go on then, get some supper and two hours sleep. Then report back to the bridge for your communications shift."
Cristine could not believe what he was hearing. O'Sullivan had taken perverse delight in busting his ass since the moment he had set foot aboard the Sera- was he really showing him mercy for the first time now?
Not knowing what to say, if anything, Dane gaped at the barrel-chested Security chief.
"Yes, boy. Food. Sleep. Go on, yeah. Before I change my mind."
"Yes, Sir." Cristiane said, for the first time without a hint of sarcasm as he hurried down the corridor.
"Computer, what program is running?"
^Lair 523 Alpha^
"Les Miserables?"
^Affirmative.^
"Is Commander Lair the one using this program?"
^Affirmative^
*So, * thought Keiran. *The child on stage must be a hologram, and Lair must be offstage awaiting her cue. * He wondered which character she had chosen to portray.
He didn't want to scare her by entering the deck unannounced, even though she had left it unlocked.
"Security to Commander Lair."
There was no response. Now, Keiran began to worry. What if she was ill, or injured, or the deck was malfunctioning?
He quickened his steps as he moved through the house, which appeared to be empty, and made his way backstage.
"Computer, locate Lair Kellyn."
^Lair Kellyn is on holodeck two.^
"Oh hell. I know that." He growled. "Computer, freeze program."
He watched as the figures in the wings of the stage all stopped moving. Curiously, the little girl dressed as Young Cosette did not. As he observed her more closely now, he saw that she had ridges on her nose, and petite points at the top of each ear poking out from beneath the sides of her beret.
She blinked rapidly in confusion, looking around. "Computer, continue program." She instructed calmly.
As the figures around her began to move again, she shrugged, thinking that maybe it was a glitch in the program, and she simply continued.
"So, young Miss Lair has decided to perform solo, has she?" O'Sullivan shook his head. He was about to tap his badge to summon Salvek, but something about the manner of the child gave him pause.
He decided instead to investigate a little first, before involving the child's parents.
"Computer, remove holographic character Valjean." He stood in the wings just off stage now, and Arie accelerated the program, wanting to get in a hurry to the next part where she got to sing.
She knew it was only a matter of time until she got caught, and she didn't want to waste any.
Keiran waited and watched.
As Arie moved to stand near the prop well from which she was to act as though she was drawing water, he approached slowly from the wings.
Keiran softly sang the perfect lyrics...telling her not to be afraid, asking her to tell him her name.
Arie jumped back a step as she looked up. . .and up. . .and up. . . and saw a tall, bearded man in uniform. The one who was Chief of Security aboard their new ship.
He was moving toward her, instead of the hologram she had been expecting.
"I'm called Cosette." She answered meekly, in character.
"Computer, freeze program." He commanded.
Keiran held his hand out to her, and she questioned him with large brown eyes.
"Am I in trouble?" Arie asked nervously, as the orchestra stopped playing, and he led her to the edge of the stage.
Keiran sat down, his long legs dangling over the edge and off into the void, and gestured for her to sit too.
"I'm not entirely sure yet, Miss Arie." Keiran's eyes twinkled as he attempted to draw her out. "Should you be in trouble?"
"Yes." Arie admitted sheepishly. "I should."
Lt. Commander Keiran O'Sullivan
Acting Chief of Security (and Irish Tenor)
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Acting Chief of Security (and Irish Tenor)
USS Serendipity NCC-2012