Shane and Talia knew that Banshee Squadron was going to be on station as of that very first watch. Both women had arranged for The El Taco to be the host of the party -- with a significant deposit, but neither woman was responsible for any damages resulting from that last party... Food and drink was settled on, and entertainment was found. A dozen member of the theater group on station had a party plan which included male strippers that were available on the day of the party. Now, who to invite?
They sat at one of the computer terminals and invited right off the bat Commander Mallory and Kassia. Commander Carter still maintained a mail drop on station, so they sent her a notice for the squadron. Then Talia pulled up the engineering crew lists and saw six women listed and invited them. Shannon nodded and agreed, and Talia asked, "Who else was around when the Banshees were on station?"
With a flip of her dark brown hair, Shane said, "Paul D, Captain Morgan, Colonel Tarik, Commander Wallace... Major Boyle. Let's look at the ground crew lists -- some of them should have been here." They pulled up the crew lists and Shannon found six of them to invite. They composed the following invitation:
Our Friend and colleague is getting Married to Garek Loren in a few short days and we are having a send private send off of Tradition for Kim Tycho-engineer and Pilot. Please RSVP your attendance to Lt. Shannon Vansen, 58th Squadron ASAP. The party will be at El Taco, Tomorrow at 2100hrs.
Talia hit the send key and they both got up and headed for the lounge attached to the briefing room for a cold one before the staff meeting.
Lee, Max, Sam, Jo and Alex were sitting around in the common room surrounding the suites they'd been given for their stay, while Kimmie was off with Garek somewhere, no doubt. They were all pretty bored, but none of them really felt like going out. Sam and Jo were playing three-dimensional chess while Alex watched, Max was reading something on a small PADD, and Carter tried to keep herself amused by looking up material on the Smelly Jelly on the room's computer terminal. After that, she accessed her station mail account and found 150 items ... but the first on the list was the invitation to the 'Bridal Shower'. "Hey, Shane Vansen from the 58th has planned the bridal shower for tomorrow night!"
"Already? Those jarheads can move pretty fast when there's a party involved," commented Max dryly. "Where at?"
Carter read the rest of the invitation, then said, "The El Taco down in the Promenade."
"Well, that's a nice touch at least. It's one of Tycho's favorite spots."
Alex had been listening in; she'd never been a big fan of 3D chess -- too much thinking -- and welcomed the distraction. "So.... Are we going?" she asked.
The reaction to her query was instant and pronounced: Max's PADD sank slowly to her lap and she looked at Alex with a dangerous expression that shouted 'I can't believe you just asked that!'; Jo froze in mid-chess move and just stared open-mouthed; and even the normally introverted Sam ventured an opinion in the form of her eyes rolling in disbelief.
Carter caught the caustic look in Max's eye and decided to intervene on the inexperienced Alex's behalf before Max could wipe the walls with her, and answered the rookie's question.
"Yes, we're going."
Shannon and Talia took their wrapped packages and waited at the El Taco. The place was set up and a few male employees still lurked around. The ruggedly handsome manager, Rick, was busy shooing them out the back -- it was 'girls only' here tonight! Talia moved to the sound system and programmed in some riotous music. Shannon helped the crew set up a table with punch -- spiked -- and mini finger cakes. Shannon started a gift table. She asked, "Computer, what time is it?"
[2045 hours,] the computer stated.
"Talia, I'm off to go escort Kim here. Everyone should start showing." As she said that, several of the flight crew in civvies showed and placed packages on the table. Shannon greeted several people on her way out.
Shannon arrived at Kim Tycho's quarters and rang the buzzer. Kim answered and appeared to be home alone. "Hi. I need you to join me, Lieutenant," Shannon ordered in her most authoritative voice.
"Why?" Kim asked, confused by the tone and the person making the order.
Shannon glanced in Kim's eyes and had to smother the urge to smile. "Just grab your jacket and get a move on it. You'll see when we get there." Kim shook her head and left a message for Garek and followed Shannon into the hallway. A few minutes later they arrived at a darkened restaurant. Shannon pushed Kim through the doors and the lights came on and everyone waiting yelled, "Surprise!"
While Shane was gone Banshee squadron had arrived. After several drinks, Kim made her way around greeting everyone there. Finally, Max and Lee grabbed Kim and hoisted her up to sit on the countertop. For the next hour they ate and drank three of the large bowls of spiked punch. With a lot of laughing they had Kim start opening the packages... "Don't break the ribbons, Kim," Shane announced.
"Why?" a very tipsy Kim asked.
"That's the number of kids you'll have!" Several members of the audience yelled together.
There were lots of sexy outfits and a how-to-book which was making its rounds through the group. A paper plate was used and Shannon threaded the ribbons into it and made a mock bouquet for the bride. "Well you only broke two, Kim." Kim laughed so hard she almost fell off the countertop where she sat cross-legged. More guests than just Kim were well on their way to drunk. From the kitchen area two rows of six guys wearing leather pants and vests and white ruffled shirts paraded out into an area Talia had managed to keep clear of partiers. The music changed and the guys mock saluted the bride-to-be and then started dancing, and at a signal in the music, started slowly stripping off their clothing... For the next half hour they teased and stripped.
A seriously squiffed Kim Tycho staggered into her quarters in the God-forsaken hours of the morning. Actually, she was carried into her quarters by Max and Jo, who were themselves only slightly less marinated than she, but at least still able to self-navigate. Barely. They dumped their comatose confrere unceremoniously onto her bed, sloppily turned and started unsteadily back towards the door and their own beds. They didn't get very far -- all those bowls of spiked punch were finally catching up to them, and they slumped slowly to the floor, back-to-back, dead to the world.
Across the room, from the bed, came muddled, delerious mumblings about two kids....
Shane and Talia helped the guys from El Taco pick up before they stumbled off to their own quarters.