HOLOCHARACTERS

STEVEN PRICE

The holographic character Steven Price is seen in [#116 Someone To Watch Over Me]. He is a quiet, dark-haired young man, bookish in character as he sits at a table on his own with a drink and reading a book. But he is not one of the original holocharacters programmed by Tom Paris, but is added by the Doctor in mid-2375 in order to provide a suitable male with whom Seven can practice romantic interaction as part of her social lessons. This is the first of the practical exercises and is titled 'Lesson 2: Encounter in a Public Place'.

The Chez Sandrine holoprogram is initiated. There is soft piano music, to which a romantically-engaged couple dance. There are holographic customers quietly talking or fetching drinks at the bar. Seven: "Our location?" Doctor: "Chez Sandrine. It's on Earth, in a city called Marseilles." He takes her over to the bar, past the piano. "Ensign Paris whiled away a good portion of his Academy years here, no doubt to the detriment of his scholastic performance."

When they reach the bar, the Doctor tells her: "Now, pull up a bar stool," and they sit, "and pretend," handing her a PADD, "you've come here to meet the man of your dreams."

He turns to her, reading from his PADD: "'Hi, there.'" Seven, with flat intonation, simply reading her PADD: "'Hello.'" Doctor: "'Come here often?'"

Seven: "'This is my first time.'" Doctor: "'You must be new in town. How do you like the south of France?'" Seven, reading without inflexion or inserting punctuation into her speech: "It is very quaint exactly as I've always pictured it.'" Doctor: "'May I buy you a drink?'" Seven, proffering back the PADD: "I don't require a liquid supplement at this time."

Doctor, pushing the PADD back toward her: "You're not giving this a fair chance." Seven: "This exercise is pointless." Doctor: "It may seem pointless, but small talk is a vital dating skill. It helps to establish a rapport with your companion." Seven, scathingly: "Perhaps there's something to be said for assimilation after all."

Doctor: "Alright, why don't you try your own approach on...."

The Doctor indicates a hologram, "that gentleman over there. Go ahead."

Seven: "Very well." For pointers she pulls up the Doctor's arm which is holding the PADD containing the conversation scenario.

She gets up and walks over to the hologram. Tonelessly: "Hello." Hologram, looking up and seeing the attractive young woman: "Hello." Seven: "May I buy you a drink?"

Hologram: "Er......" He looks quickly at his glass which is not empty. "Sure." He gets up and offers a hand: "Steven Price, and you are?" She shakes his hand firmly, too firmly as he rubs the underside of his hand afterwards. Seven: "Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of-" She recollects herself. "You may call me Seven." Hologram Price: "Seven. That's an unusual name. Please, have a seat."

Reluctantly, she does so, making no disguise of the fact she thinks this is tiresom and does not wish to be there.

Paris wanders in and goes up to the bar: "Looks like Sandrine's is under new management. Who deleted my pool table?" Doctor: "Shh! School is in session." Paris: "More social lessons?" Doctor: "Watch. You might learn something."

Hologram Price: "Curious jewellery." Seven: "It's a Borg implant. I was a drone." Hologram Price: "Oh, so then it's a family heirloom." He laughs but she does not join in and his laughter falls flat so he stops.

Seven: "Borg do not have families. They have unimatrices." Hologram Price: "Well, in that case, why don't you tell me about your," searching for the singular form of 'unimatrices', "unimatrix."

Doctor: "They're hitting it off, don't you think?" Paris: "He's a hologram." Doctor: "Your point?" Paris: "Well, you programmed him to interact with Seven. Real people don't respond the same way." Doctor: "Under my guidance, she'll be dating real people in no time."

Paris: "You're teaching Seven how to date? Ha! Talk about the blind leading the blind." He takes a mouthful of his drink. Doctor: "I've had my share of romantic encounters." Paris, with his mouth still full, nods sceptically. "Mmm." Doctor: "Are you implying that Seven couldn't get a date?" Paris: "Are you kidding? Half the men on this ship would jump at the chance. But getting a date is one thing, keeping it from turning into a disaster is another."

Doctor: "I have every confidence in her social skills."
Paris: "Well, fine. Let's say you get her a date. This is the Holodeck. The cards are stacked in her favour. But if you want to really put her to the test you have to do it in the real world, where anything can happen."

Doctor: "Mr Neelix is hosting a reception for the Kadi Ambassador on Thursday night. Not only will Seven arrive with a date, she will have him eating out of the palm of her hand." Paris: "Put your latinum where your mouth is. If Seven brings a date to the reception, and leaves with the same date, on good terms, without causing a diplomatic incident, I will work double shifts in Sickbay for the next month." Doctor: "And if she fails?" Paris: "I get a month off." Doctor: "It's a bet." They shake hands.

The Doctor turns, now more intent than ever on seeing signs of Seven's progress.

Hologram Price, as Seven abruptly stands up: "Where are you going?"

Seven: "Our small talk is terminated." She abruptly leaves holo-Price who is disappointed but does not protest.

She returns to the bar and tells the Doctor confidently: "I have mastered this exercise. We can proceed to the next."

Paris laughs and comments to the Doctor, a comment Seven does not of course fully understand: "If I were you, I'd start looking for somebody to fill in for me." The Doctor is not amused.

After this exercise which Seven does not in fact master, contrary to what she believes, the hologram Steven Price is not seen again. Presumably the Doctor deletes him from the holoscenario, although this is not explained or inferred in the episode, because the flirtation between hologram Price and Seven fails miserably.