Sonata "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.10 1600

== Silvio's quarters and Holodeck==

Silvio yawned. He was tired but his shift was over and he was looking forward to some holodeck time. He needed to clear his head. He needed to focus and decide what to do. Miranda thought he was falling in love. He, naturally did not believe that, not for one small minute. Silvio believed that it took two people to fall in love, anything less than that was merely infatuation.

On his way back to his quarters he stopped off at the industrial replicators and replicated a complete tuxedo. He decided tonight was going to be convert night on the holodeck. After many years of not playing Silvio decided he was going to tickle the ivories again. Silvio returned to his quarters and donned the tux. He then went to holodeck on and called up a concert hall program. When the door opened he found himself standing on off stage at a concert hall.

Silvio took a moment to make sure he looked ok. He then stepped onto the stage containing a Baby Grand Piano. The hall pas packed with people waiting for his performance. As he make his way to the piano the audience applauded politely. Silvio sat down at the piano bench making sure that he did not sit on the tails of his tux. Silvio placed his hand over the keys and began to play. He started out with Piano Sonata in C major by Mozart. Silvio was amazed that he even remembered how to play it. It had been one of his favorites. At first his fingers missed some of the keys but by the time he was half way through the first movement he had relaxed and let the music take over. He closed his eyes and played. He did not even notice that someone had joined him on the holodeck.

Patia approached the holodeck with rapid strides. She had reserved the holodeck the day before for her lunch break. It was past time she practice her martial arts. If Lio knew how much she had been slacking off, he would read her the riot act. She could almost hear his voice echoing in her ears as he coached her through moves, drilled lectures about discipline into her and cheered her accomplishments. Moreso than anyone else in her family, she hated to disappoint her big brother.

She stopped abruptly at the entry to the holodeck. As she had attempted to enter her program, the console beeped. A message displayed across the screen. It stated "Holodeck session in progress." Patia slapped her hand against the wall, hard enough for her palm to sting, but not hard enough to cause any damage to the structure. She shook her head. It had been hard to clear her calendar for this appointment and now someone else had usurped her holodeck time. She tapped the console and the door slid open.

Her strides were quicker now, her frustration evident in her posture. As she walked through the archway, the soothing sounds of piano music wafted around her. Patia glanced around her. She stood at the back of a very large concert hall. People, in their formal wear, settled in row after row of plush, red seats. They all stared forward in rapt attention. She glanced down at her own attire. She was surprised to find she felt self conscious, and grossly under dressed. Slowly, she looked toward the stage. There was something familiar about the person seated at the piano. His dark hair curled wildly around his ears and brushed the top of his shirt collar at the back of his head. Almost without thought, Patia eased around the back of the concert hall. She reached the middle of the hall just as the pianist glanced toward the keys nearest to her.

Her gasp was audible in her ears. Actually, it must have been audible for several rows up since more than one person turned to hush her. Silvio had not been kidding when he had said he had trained as a classical pianist. She took several steps back and leaned against the wall. She crossed her right foot over her left ankle and eased into a comfortable position. Her eyes drifted shut as she felt the notes play along her spine.

Oblivious to anyone other than the holo-audience listening Silvio finished the first movement and began the second. IT was a more sedate movement and struggled to keep from rushing though it. Finally, after what seemed like a life time the second movement of the Sonata was done and he launched into the third and final movement. This was a much more upbeat movement. The truth be told, he enjoyed playing it the most out of the three. Silvio once again became lost in the music. In his minds eye he saw nothing other than the musical notes flowing by as he played them.

When the final notes of the third movement faded the audience began to applaud. Silvio stood up and accepted their applause with a bow. It was then that he noticed Counselor Zoei watching him in the audience. He spotted her because it appeared that she was dressed for a workout than a piano concert. Silvio felt panicked inside. He had not expected anyone, especially her to be listening to him. He did not know what to say.

Slowly, she raised her hands to clap in the polite, expected manner of the concert audience. When she saw he had noticed her, she nodded her acknowledgment of his performance.

"Oh, hello Counselor," he said. Silvio decided that given his confused feelings he would address her formally. The audience began to murmur and look around to see who he was talking to. The murmurs turned to gasps o astonishment when he came down from the stage to where they were and walked over to a woman who was clearly under dressed. "I did not realize you were here."

"Hello, Lieutenant. I have to say, I was a little surprised to find you here." Patia chuckled. "For all your claims of being out of practice, you play very well."

Silvio smiled happily as the compliment. "Thank you Pa... Counselor." Silvio noticed that the people in the audience were now becoming disturbed as the interruption. He shut down the program and the concert hall disappeared. "What brings you here?"

"I had reserved the holodeck for my martial arts practice. Imagine my surprise when, instead of blocks to break, I found you in the middle of a concert," Patia laughed.

"I am sorry, I thought I had reserved it." Silvio looked at his toes. "Perhaps I made a mistake."

Patia smiled slightly. "No worries either way, this was probably just as relaxing as board breaking, and less worries about breaking body parts. It is hard to say what happened. Accidental double booking is not unheard of here. I should let you get back to your program, though."

"That is ok, I am done," said Silvio. "How was your day today?"

"So far, so good. My last appointment of the day starts at 1700 and then I can wrap up my paperwork. All in all, it has been a nice day. How about yours?" Patia asked.

"I did not sleep well last night so it was a long day, but things are looking better now." Silvio smiled at Zoei.

"I am glad to hear it. I suppose I should get ready for my last appointment. Somehow, I don’t think I am quite prepared to be seeing anyone in my office," Patia glanced down. Although she was generally quite comfortable in her white uniform, today she felt exposed and unsure of herself.

"I think you look great," said Silvio. "But then I am not seeing you for a counseling session either." Silvio laughed.

"Ah, but that would be the rub," Patia winked.

Silvio laughed. "Well, I will let you get back to work. I will see you later tonight then. Perhaps we can have dinner in the mess hall." Silvio did not want to see Miranda, especially if he were with Patia.

"I had thought about coming back to the holodeck and having a traditional Betazid dinner. It has been a long, long time since I have had a meal from home. Would you rather do that?" Patia asked.

"I would love to. That sounds great," said Silvio. "What does one wear to a traditional Betazid dinner?" He looked at his tux, "Probably not a tuxedo."

"At my house, we wore our uniforms. My father was an ambassador, my brother was a military man, I was a private school attendee. My mother had her own uniform of sorts. My father was not a man that stood for informality," Patia chuckled.

"Ok, then." Silvio laughed. The two of them left the holodeck. "I will see you then."

"See you later," Patia replied. She turned down the corridor, headed for the turbo lift.

Silvio watched her walk away. It may not be love, he thought, but it was something. Something he had never felt before.