On The Holodeck

"Just about, sir." she cheered.

"Okay." Good. Maybe this could still work. "I just found out that holodeck three will be available in a few minutes for an hour or so. After that, it'll be not before tomorrow until you could run that simulation, and I wouldn't like to see that. Think you can make it? "

"Certainly, sir. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Perfect. Carry on."

Back in my office, I told the computer that beta would be holodeck 3. Then, all I could do was wait until Doyle made it there.

The two calls came in at almost the same time

"Target event two of program Burton-47 has been reached."

"Doyle to Commander Burton"

I couldn't help but grin at that.

"Go ahead"

"Sir, there's a simulated Lieutenant Poulson here with me. I don't know where he came from, and the computer can't remove him—and can't seem to figure out why. Any ideas? "

Plenty. "Stand by"

"Yes, sir."

I ended the transmission, and finished off the rest of my plan.

"Computer, what program is currently active in holodeck three? "

"Program Doyle-94, currently frozen."

"Transfer details of that program to this workstation."

"Transfer complete."

The program was a fairly standard simulation. She had the gamma bank of holodeck subprocessors perform the physics workload, while most of the critical data and her calculations were stored in delta bank. Good.

"Burton to Ensign Doyle"

"Doyle here."

"I found the problem; there's a glitch in one of the holodeck subprocessors."

"I'm on it, sir."

Oh no you don't. "No, Doyle, we don't have time for that. The problem is in subprocessor alpha-3. Are you using that one for your simulation? "

"No."

"Good, then it shouldn't affect your simulation. Proceed with that; I'll have a team look after the subprocessor later on."

"As you wish, sir. Doyle out."

As she signed out, I was worried that I might have been a bit too transparent. After all, if I really really really wanted to be sure, wouldn't I want her to deal with anything that might impact the correctness of her simulations, no matter how remote the chance? But she didn't seem to notice, or just didn't care, and went ahead with her job.

Perfect.

"Computer, activate internal monitors on holodecks two and three, and send the feeds to this workstation."

"Feeds active."

There they were, the both of them, each in their own simulated version of transporter room one, each performing a simulation of the calibration of the Heisenberg compensators, each with a simulated version of the other present. I watched as they went about their business, and waited for my time.

At one point, holo-Doyle in holodeck two seemed to be making better progress than real-Doyle in holodeck three, so I had to come up with a little bump in the road to slow her down. But then real-Doyle in holodeck three skipped a minor step—clearly she didn't want to do this, and wanted it over with as soon as possible—so I had holo-Poulson make a little mistake that she then had to correct. And then both Doyles dematerialized and rematerialized a test cylinder in perfect unison. Now was the time.

"Computer, status of transporter room four? "

"Transporter room four is not in use"

"Transfer coordinates from program Burton-47 to set up a site-to-site transport using transporter room four, and energize when programmed events occur in monitored location alpha"

"Site-to-site transport prepared. Waiting for event."

"Good. Activate delta event in program Burton-47 now."

I couldn't help but smile, as I watched holo-Doyle in holodeck two and holo-Poulson in holodeck three utter the exact same two sentences.

"Perhaps we should now try to dematerialize and rematerialize one of us now? It's probably going to be fine, but it might be best to try basic materialization/dematerialization first, before doing a full-blown transport? "

Real Doyle seemed a bit taken aback by that, but went ahead with it. "Sure, I'm game." I don't think she was convinced of the need, but then I didn't need her to be.

"You want to go? " holo-Poulson asked.

"Sure."

Real Poulson needed a bit more persuasion, however.

"Why? Isn't that what the test cylinders are for? I mean, if you're not sure, perhaps we should run another test with the cylinders? "

"No, I'm sure, it's just that I want to be thorough. Look, if you're unsure about this, I'll go."

"Whatever you say."

I watched both Doyles walk onto the transporter pad, and gave the command I'd been waiting to give all night.

"Computer, Final sequence of program Burton-47. Mark."

"Site-to-site transport ready," the computer said. "Realigning simulated persona in holodeck 3 with persona in holodeck 2. Realigning simulated persona in holodeck 2 with persona in holodeck 3. Enslaving site-to-site transport."

I watched carefully, as holo-Poulson and holo-Doyle mimicked the movements of their counterparts on the other holodeck precisely, and then both Poulsons engaged their transporter controls. When both Doyles rematerialized, I didn't see any difference. But then I didn't expect to.

"Computer, locate Ensign Doyle."

"Ensign Doyle is in holodeck 2."

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Poulson."

"Lieutenant Poulson is in holodeck 2."

Perfect. "Computer, end program Doyle-94 in holodeck 3."

"Program ended."

And that was that. It was out of my hands now. Chapter 5

On the holodeck

After Doyle rematerialized, Poulson stepped from behind the controls. "Well," she said. "This has been a pleasant experience. It's been nice working with you like this for a change."

"What do you mean by that? "

'Oh come on', she thought. 'Burton can't be that stupid. Does he really not see how Poulson is treating me? '

"Nothing, sir. Sorry."

'Weird,' Poulson thought. 'I thought I'd programmed her not to know anything about how I treat Jenny? I'll have to look into that. Not now, though. And what's with the "sir"? '

"Anyway, miss Doyle," Poulson said. "Now that your shift is over, would you care to join me for a drink? "

'Burton wants me to have a drink during my shift? ' Doyle thought, and started expecting the commander to walk in any minute now. 'What the heck, I'm game, we'll see what happens. And it might be nice to figure out how Poulson would treat me were he not to hate me...'

The drink quickly turned into two, and more, and before long, both Poulson and Doyle found they were telling each other their deepest secrets and desires, and liking the conversation. But then Doyle got up.

"I have to go," she said, thinking that this fantasy had taken long enough. She opened her mouth to tell the computer to end the program.

"Don't go," Poulson said. "You'd break my heart."

'I'd what? ' Doyle thought, but didn't say it.

"Not? What do you suggest, then? "

"Let's go somewhere more... private? "

'This can't be right,' Doyle thought. 'Burton wouldn't really want me to do this. I have to leave.' But then, this was so tempting.

"Please? I'll make sure you won't regret it."

'Oh, what the heck. It'll be his own fault if I do this.'

"Let's go." Doyle said. And added, whispering: "To your quarters."

Well, that wasn't really what Poulson had meant. As she proposed it, a thought flashed through his head that if running holodeck programs with templates of subordinates was totally not done according to Starfleet protocol, then going "to his quarters" with a holodeck version of one of his subordinates was completely out of the question. But he just couldn't resist the temptation.

"Okay."

They managed to walk over to his quarters only semi-decently; but when they were in, they couldn't help themselves anymore. The kiss was intense, for the both of them; it seemed to take forever. It was everything Barry had hoped for, and nothing Jenny had expected.

After what must have been more than ten minutes, he started moving his kisses to her neck, as she was panting heavily. His hand went to her collar, and he opened it. Tracing her flesh with more kisses as he opened each button of her uniform, he quickly bared her chest. Then, he started kissing her left breast, while feeling up her other with his right hand, and sucked the nipple in her mouth.

Meanwhile, she moved her hands below his shirt, and started kneading his muscles. As he kissed his way down her belly, she pulled his shirt over his head, baring him from the waist up.

He was in great shape, and a sight to behold. And as he started kissing her one breast and mauling her other, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

She took his head in both hands, and planted a kiss on his lips. Then, as she looked him squarely in the eye, she started pushing first his, then her own, pants down.

Words were not necessary; they both knew what they wanted. And as each stepped out of their final garments, they couldn't help but marvel over each other's body for a few moments. But then their lust took over, and they moved towards the bed, where he laid her gently down before joining her, his erection pressing against her thigh.

She took his warm length in her hand, and while looking and smiling at him, guided it into her moist channel.

It was all he could do not to come right then and there. He still couldn't believe what he was doing, and again, for a momentary flash he considered not going through with it. But then her moans and his bodily reactions took away all traces of rationalism, and they joined together in that ages old rhythm.

They fucked, his length eventually pressing against her cervix, until she yelled out his name in her climax, pulling him over the edge with her as she did so. And then they lay there for a moment, enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking for a few minutes, until finally Jenny spoke again, for the first time since they entered his quarters.

"I have to go, I'm sorry."

"That's okay. I understand."

"I don't think you do," she said, "but thanks for the sentiment, anyway."

She gave him a final kiss, and got up.

"Computer, end program." Chapter 6

Burton

I was overseeing some minor maintenance to the warp drive when I heard the door open, and someone storming through.

"You! "

Right, clearly he was angry. I should have expected as much. But then, I was still his superior officer, and that implies certain rules of behavior.

"Are you talking to me, Lieutenant? "

"Yes, Leo, I'm talking to you! You set me up, didn't you? "

Clearly, my formal greeting fell on deaf ears.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about, Lieutenant"

"Yes you do, sir," he said. The word was there, but the tone was bordering on insubordination. "Don't you try to deny it! "

That's when I saw Ensign Doyle standing in the doorway, looking a bit sheepishly. And next, I noticed a few little details. She was blushing, and her hair was a bit of a mess. His collar missed a pip.

Looks like my plans succeeded beyond my wildest expectations. But this was not the right place to discuss it.

"My office," I said to his face. And, "Both of you," over his shoulder.

He looked towards the door, looked back at me, and stormed to my office.

Jennifer just stood there, shocked. "Miss Doyle? " I said, inviting her to join us.

What could I do, deny what I did? Probably best not to do that. But then I didn't have to confirm what happened right away.

I decided to let him rage in my office for a while, and the full story came out. Indeed, my plans had succeeded beyond my wildest expectations. But then, his rage was now about at the point of confirming to poor Jenny that he was indeed a bully; he risked losing everything I'd so carefully tried to accomplish.

"All right, Barry, that's enough."

"No Leo, it isn't! "

"Yes it is, Barry! " I bellowed. "Sit down! "

He didn't expect me to raise my voice, so, shocked, did as he was told.

"Jennifer? You too. Have a seat."

She walked over from by the door, shyly, and had a seat on one of the other chairs. I noticed it was the one furthest away from Barry. This was not good.

"How long, Barry? "

"Sir? "

"How long will you keep fooling yourself? "

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir," he said. But he seemed to be calming down already.

"Yes you do, Barry," I replied, my voice as kind as I could get it now. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about."

"I'm... I'm sorry, sir, but I... I don't," he stuttered. "I..."

"Prove it."

"...What? "

"Look at her, Barry, and prove it. Tell me you don't love her."

He did. She looked back. In her bright eyes, I could only read confusion. He looked away; he couldn't do it.

"Don't take me for a fool, Barry, you know me better than that."

There was no response.

"Right. Let's see. You've been smitten with Jennifer here since the first day you met. True? "

He could only nod.

"But you thought that was improper, and against Starfleet protocol, and you decided to try to hide it. True? "

Another nod.

"Thought as much. Well, Barry, I'm afraid you've been overcompensating. You've been very strict with Jennifer. That's not you; I know you better than that. And that would have been okay, but then I found out what you've been doing on the holodeck these past few months."

He looked up, shocked.

"What? "

"The subprocessors, Barry. You didn't think you could hide that from me, did you? "

He was silent at that for a few moments, before replying.

"I suppose I shouldn't have, sir."

"Probably not, no."

I left that hanging for a few moments, before I turned to Ensign Doyle and started explaining.

"I'm sorry, miss Doyle. Yesterday I found out that the Lieutenant here had been guilty of a minor infraction against security regulations. He's tampered with the security protocols on the holodecks, so he could run fantasy simulations of his life with you. I decided to teach him a lesson, and turn his simulation into reality. I actually expected you to run away screaming once his intentions were clear, but by the looks of the two of you, I guess that's not what happened? "

"You guess correctly, sir," she said, the first thing I heard her say since Barry had been storming onto main engineering. And there was a tremble in her voice that I hadn't expected. Was she crying?

"Right. I'll leave the two of you alone then. I guess you have much to discuss."

They did indeed. The very next day, Jennifer Doyle walked to my office and handed me a PADD.

"What's this? "

"A transfer request, sir. I'd like a transfer to another department on this ship."

"I see." I said, thinking the worst. "Do you want me to talk to Lieutenant Poulson for you? I know him pretty..."

"No sir, that's not necessary," she said, laughing. "You misunderstand. I... we, that is, Barry and I, we decided to give this a chance."

"Ah. I see"

"Yes sir. But as you pointed out yesterday, it would be improper for him to be... involved... with a subordinate. So, hence, the transfer request."

"Right," I said. "Right." This was totally beyond my wildest expectations. "I'll see what I can do. Any specific preference? "

"Not really, no. As long as I stay on this ship, that is."

"Understood."

"Oh, and sir? "

"Yes, miss Doyle? "

"Thank you, sir."