So... Does Horatio go looking for answers? Of course he does... Wouldn't be him otherwise...
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 16
Will Riker sighed, the Ambassador’s request for a ‘friendly’ chat had not turned out to be as innocent as it seemed. When they had first walked onto the holodeck, Horatio had asked what the Commander chose when he wanted to relax.
Will had shown him several programs of sports –or landscapes, but Horatio had shaken his head, “It’s not quite what I had in mind – I want something more… personal.”
Will thought for a moment, “Well in that case, you can build your own program, just tell the computer what you want, and then, when it is to your liking, save it.”
Horatio considered for a moment and nodded slightly, “I see, can you show me something? Just to give me an idea.”
Inadvertently, Will chose the Jazz club which had become his favourite program over the last few years. He was just about to halt it, when Horatio stopped him. “This is wonderful Will; this is exactly what I was thinking of, though it is a little empty…”
Will had chuckled, “You fancy a little company Horatio?”
The red-head returned the chuckle, “I understand you always came here for… company…”
The Commander closed his eyes and sighed, “Who told you about Minuet?”
“Guinan, though Counsellor Troi confirmed it.”
Will was confused, “Ehliena? I had no idea she…”
“No… Deanna, she agreed with Guinan that it would help me to understand why Ehliena is… uncomfortable around me.”
Directing the Ambassador to a chair and asking the waiter to get drinks, Will smiled softly. “Minuet was part of a program that was written by the Bynars to get my attention and to help the Captain and I solve a puzzle. She, quite literally, took my breath away.”
“She was so… real… I could never quite get her out of my head – for ages afterwards, I would come in here and try to recreate her, but I never managed. It was probably just as well, I could have lost myself in here – instead of making a real relationship outside.”
Horatio was surprised, “But no-one in here is real. I don’t quite understand.”
Will sighed, “That’s just it, in reality, no-one here is real apart from us. But to me Minuet was real – very much so…”
The Ambassador smiled his understanding, “Ah… Now I see… In Ehliena’s eyes, though she knows Lt Caine is just a character in a 21st century TV show; in here he is as real to her as any crew member.” He sighed, “and I came along and made Horatio come to life. It was a mistake.”
Will stepped in quickly, “No. You didn’t make a mistake – that was my fault. I wanted to see Ehliena’s face when you changed; I’ve been teasing her about her fondness for the 20th and 21st century shows – especially the Miami one - for years.”
“Guinan said we should warn her about your choice of personality, but I didn’t want to. If we had told her – she would have been prepared, and none of this would have happened.”
“Is that why Guinan suggested that I speak with you?”
Will grinned, “Of course – it’s her way of saying ‘I told you so’…” A thought came to his mind and he chuckled, “Have you met your namesake yet?”
The Ambassador shook his head, “Do you think I should?”
Will nodded, “It’s just a thought – then you’ll have an idea of what Ehliena sees when you’re together.”
“Hmm, I see your point, ok, let’s give it a try.”
Will stopped the program, “Computer, load… 21st century TV program CSI Miami, Season… 3, Episode 7.”
Horatio gave him a questioning look, “Why are you being so specific? You could just run them from the beginning couldn’t you?”
The Commander laughed and gave him a wink, “because I happen to know that it’s one of Ehliena’s favourites.” Pulling out a couple of recliners, he invited Horatio to sit down. “Computer, Run program.”