<USS Avalon> "Stepping Back in Time"

Stepping Back in Time
By Lieutenant First Class Melanie Redgrave
and Junior Lieutenant Elijah Dareth

 

 

Elijah stared down at the clothing he'd just replicated.  Is this right? he 
asked himself, looking at a British WWII Royal Navy uniform.  What is she up to?

 

He shrugged and donned the uniform, not looking forward to the looks he'd get 
in the corridors on his way to meet Melanie in the holodeck.  She had left the 
invitation and instructions on a PADD for him.  

 

Sure enough, there were several stares and some whispers before he found 
himself standing outside the holodeck doors.  He entered the code she had given 
him and stepped inside.  

 

The holodeck had been transformed into a dimly lit, smoke filled, WWII USO. The 
room was crowded with men dressed in various British military uniforms and 
women wearing the fashions of the time. Melanie herself had on a tight, form 
fitting white dress that went to her mid shins, and showed just the right 
amount of cleavage. From her place on stage, she could see Elijah come into the 
holodeck.  

 

He looked so handsome in the uniform of His Majesty's Navy. She watched as he 
made his way through the crowd, clearly looking for her, and it made her smile 
as she finished the song she?d been singing. 

 

Smiling, he waited at the foot of the stairs for Melanie to finish.  Elijah 
assumed a parade rest type pose and couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful 
woman on stage.  

 

Melanie smiled down at the mass of service men who?d gathered around the stage 
but made a point of walking over to Elijah. She wanted them all to know that 
she already had a date for the evening. When she made it to the bottom of the 
stairs, she went to hug him but stopped. She?d told him to wear his rightful 
rank on the recreated uniform. A smile spread slowly across her lips as she 
fingered his collar lapels. "The last time I checked those were the insignia 
for Lieutenant JGs, not ensigns."

 

Feigning innocence, he replied, "You told me to wear my rank..." 

 

"You?ve been promoted?" she asked, but she didn?t wait for his reply. Melanie 
leaned in and gave Elijah a hug and kiss. "Congratulations, Lieutenant." 

 

Gladly accepting her affectionate response, he told her, "And Marksbury asked 
me to head up Security Team A in her absence this week.  She's working on some 
sort of training."  He searched her eyes for approval.  He had told Melanie a 
little of what had happened on the Acheron and she knew how concerned he was 
over his career not going anywhere.  Especially if it proved his father right.  

 

Melanie slipped her arms around Elijah?s and walked with him towards the bar. 
She was so glad that this Marksbury woman was seeing the potential in Elijah. 
He had the makings of a great officer as long as someone took the time to find 
it in him. "I told you, Eli, past mistakes are just that, mistakes that were 
made a long time ago, ones to learn from. Marksbury is a smart woman to see 
that you?ve grown and will continue to." 

 

The man working the bar smiled as Melanie and Elijah walked over. This program, 
like her La Bella Rosa program, was set during Earth?s early twentieth century 
and it was one of Melanie?s favorites. . Her father use to tease her about all 
her programs being set in that time period, he use to tell her she was born in 
the wrong century. "Good Evening Miss Redgrave, Lieutenant," The man nodded at 
each in turn before looking at Melanie. "The usual?"

 

Melanie smiled, "Yes please, Nigel."

 

The man nodded and quickly placed two bottles of ale in front of each of them. 

 

"You do this a lot?" Elijah asked, collecting the bottles and carrying them to 
a small table off the side of the dance floor.  The seven piece ensemble on 
stage was playing a Glen Miller number and those on the dance floor were 
dancing accordingly.  Elijah had to admit it was really interesting to be here. 
 He never had really changed time periods in the holodeck before.  Granted, 
Liza used to make him rehearse plays with her and such, but it was always a 
stage set, not like actually being there.  

 

A light pink colored Melanie?s cheeks as she slid onto the chair at the table. 
"Most of my programs take place between the 1920s and the 1940s," she admitted. 
"Some are like this, others are more elegant. Guess it?s a kind of odd time to 
be infatuated with, but I can?t help it. It was such a... romantic time

 

"So tell me, Ms. Redgrave, what is it that you wish for?  To be swept off your 
feet by a dashing lieutenant who strangely enough knows how to dance like 
that?" he said, nodding towards the dance floor.  "Or would you rather sit in 
whispered conversation listening to me tell you how amazing you look in that 
dress?"  His eyebrows perked and he grinned awaiting her response.  

 

The delight in her eyes couldn?t be missed. "You can really dance like that? I 
haven?t danced with anyone who wasn?t a hologram since my father died. He?s the 
one who taught me

 

"Oh yeah, Liza decided to try out for a part that involved swing dancing.  She 
begged and begged me and Trinity to learn with her.  Trin wouldn't have 
anything to do with it, but," he shrugged, "what can I say?  I love my sister.  
She said that dancing with a hologram just wasn't the same.  She wanted to be 
able to adapt to any human miscalculations and apparently I was the best 
candidate for mistakes."  He chuckled slightly at the memory.  "So would you 
like to dance, Melanie?"  

 

Melanie happily slipped her hand into Elijah?s. "I?d love to." She replied as 
he helped her to her feet. "And Liza was right, dancing with holograms is 
unnatural. They?re too perfect in the movements, not to mention hollow." 

 

Melanie allowed Elijah to walk to her to the dance floor and couldn?t help but 
smile at all the broken hearted holographic faces. "So was it Liza who taught 
you to send a girl flowers with notes that make them weak in the knees or was 
that all you??

 

He laughed as the song ended before they had even begun dancing.  "No, I 
managed to think of that one all by myself.  Guess I'm a silly romantic at 
heart too, Mel." He blushed slightly as he kissed her forehead.  They turned to 
look at the band master who instantly began another Miller number.  Elijah and 
Melanie began to 'Jitterbug', stopping every so often to call out 'Pennsylvania 
6-5-0-0-0' at the appropriate place in the music.  Nothing made him happier at 
that moment than seeing the laughter on her face as he twirled her in time to 
the music.  

 

When the music ended, Melanie fell breathlessly into Elijah?s arms. She 
couldn?t recall the last time she?d enjoyed dancing so much. "You?re very 
good." She told him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Melanie leaned in 
and kissed him quickly, smiling. "Thank you for the dance, and the flowers," 
she told him as the band begin playing a slower song.

 

Wrapping his arms tightly about her waist and pulling her close for the next 
dance, he whispered in her ear, "You're very welcome."  He then realised that 
neither one of them were actually moving with the music, but just standing 
there clinging to each other.  He looked around and noticed the few stares they 
were getting from the holo-guests.  "I, uh... think I'm not following 
protocol," he said, stepping back and placing Melanie at a proper ?six inch 
space between them? dance pose.  

 

Melanie laughed. "I liked the way you held me the first time better, but in 
this time line I guess that wouldn?t be proper social behavior." Melanie smiled 
as she moved closer to Elijah. "Computer remove all holo-characters but the 
band." 

 

"Oh, I like how you think, Ms. Redgrave," he quipped, pulling her close.  He 
closed his eyes and let the music carry them away as they seemed to float over 
the dance floor.  It was one of those perfect moments in time that he seemed to 
be experiencing more and more often as of late. 

 

It felt so nice to be held by someone. She felt safe and cared for when ever 
Elijah held her, be it a hug or dancing and sitting next to him talking with 
his arm around her. She sighed contently as she snuggled into her arms. "Did I 
happen to mention how incredibly handsome you are in that uniform?" 

 

"Mm...can't remember.  But I don't mind hearing it again," he smiled.  After a 
moment, a thought occurred to him, "When are you going to sing for me, Melanie? 
 I didn't get to hear your first performance.  And admittedly, I was a little 
preoccupied with you in that dress to even catch the last few notes."  

 

Melanie suddenly felt self-conscious. Singing for holograms was far different 
then singing for a real person, a real person she was certainly dating. "That 
was my last set. Maybe next time?" 

 

He tried to hide the disappointment on his face, noticing how self-conscious 
she suddenly seemed.  "Sure," he told her, secretly wishing that she felt like 
she could sing for him and not just holograms.  It bothered him to a degree, 
but it wasn't important, he told himself.  He was just used to living in a 
family of out-going performers.  Elijah was thankful when the next song picked 
up tempo and they could lose themselves in the music once again.  

 

When the music started to pick up again, Melanie called out for the computer to 
bring back the other characters. She and Elijah danced through two swing songs 
before she finally told him she needed a drink. "So when do I get to see one of 
your programs?" She asked as she took the drink from him.  

 

"My programs?  I don't really have many.  Just some more amusement parks and 
some workout simulations.  Nothing interesting."  It was obvious his demeanor 
had changed just a bit.  He wasn't smiling as broadly nor were his eyes 
twinkling when he did smile.  

 

She could sense the change in his mood and it made Melanie frown. She hoped 
that she hadn?t hurt his feelings by denying his request for her to sing. 
"What?s the matter, Elijah?" she asked as she reached out and took his hand.  

 

Taking her hand and placing a soft kiss upon it, Eli smiled.  "Nothing.  I'm 
just getting tired.  I have to get up early in the morning."  

 

Melanie knew there was something more. She was getting really good at reading 
him, but she decided to let it go for now. "Alright, I guess I should make it a 
night too. I have a meeting in the morning with one of my officers." Melanie 
stood up and waited for Elijah to join her. "Computer end program. Walk me 
home?" 

 

"Absolutely," he smiled.


                
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