She wasn't sure what had woken her up as her eyes fluttered open. Karissa yawned
as her vision instantly adjusted to the darkened room, as if it were light.
She snuggled under the covers further, but she couldn't rest.
"Computer, what time is it?"
<It is 0500 hours>
With a sigh, knowing she wasn't going to sleep any longer, she sat up and ran a hand through her hair. Usually, she had been sleeping late. Kira had told her that she would experience that. But it seemed that since she had started receiving her treatments
to counteract the enzymes in her system she was starting to need a little less sleep. But she was still requiring more sleep than she had before she became pregnant.
She reached for her pills on the side table that stopped her nausea and dizziness and downed one quickly with a glass of water, along with some of the suppliments Kira had given her. As she got up, she took a shower and dressed in her uniform. She wanted to eat, but realized that she didn't want to stay in her quarters. She was antsy for some reason. Maybe a walk would settle her, she thought as she headed out the door of her quarters.
As she walked she found herself at the Mess Hall. Breakfast did sound good, and she went to the replicator. She ordered a vegetable omelet with home fries and guava juice. As she looked around, she saw that the place was empty. Except for one person . . . Will. He was sitting alone by the porthole, eating his breakfast and drinking a cup of coffee. Taking her tray of food, she went to him.
"May I join you?" she asked with a smile.
He nodded as he took a drink of his coffee.
As she sat, she could feel his emotions clearly. They were stirred up.
"What are you doing up at this hour?" he asked, gazing momentarily into her dark eyes, before turning them back to the coffee he held.
She smiled gently. "I woke up, and I just couldn't see to get back to sleep . . . What about you?" she asked, as she took a sip of her juice.
He shrugged, not meeting her gaze. "The same," he replied, eating some of his eggs.
It wasn't the complete truth, he thought, but it was just some facts he had omitted. Like the fact that he had woken up from a nightmare again. After nightmares like the ones he had been having, he could never get back to sleep. Confusion and conflicting emotions filled him.
"How are you doing?" she asked, meeting his eyes, and holding them in her gaze.
Though he knew there was no point in lying to her, he couldn't help himself. "I'm fine . . ."
"Will," she replied, "I know you're not . . ." She reached across the table and took one of his hands in her own.
"Karissa . . ."
"Talk to me . . . Please. You don't have to talk to me as a counselor. We're friends . . . More than friends . . . Just talk to me as a friend," she implored him.
He looked away as emotions emploded in him. She suddenly knew that if she had been anyone else, he would have snapped. But since it was her, he stayed calm and didn't react. He took a breath, and put his other hand over hers.
"I appreciate that you want to listen . . . That you want to help . . . But I can't talk about this. Not right now . . ." he admitted, to her.
For a moment, she was silent. She wanted to help him so much, but he had to be ready, and he wasn't. She smiled sadly and reached over and caressed his face.
"If you need to talk at anytime, you know where to find me," she replied.
He nodded. Gently, they withdrew their hands. She took another sip of her guava juice and decided that it was time for a subject change.
"By the way, did you get my invite to the party tonight?" she asked.
He smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did."
"So I can expect to see you there?" she asked.
"I would say so. I want a chance to win back the credits I lost last time to Ming," he explained.
She laughed. "Good!"
Ryan sat in his office, composing his report to Starfleet Command on the recent run-ins with the Klingons. "Please be advised that USS Ronin has encountered renegade Klingons in battle group strength in this sector. We have engaged the Klingons both in space and ground actions and have emerged victorious but this buildup should be monitored more closely. Suggest demarche with Klingon ambassador to discuss military deployments in areas of space not controlled by Klingon Empire under terms of Treaty of Khitomer. Tactical and navigational data attached. End com."
He stored the data to a PADD and summoned a communications yeoman. "Mr. Jaffe, please transmit this to Starfleet Command under Level 5 encryption, flash priority."
"Aye, sir," Jaffe said as he took the PADD and left Ryan's ready room.
Within moments a tight-beam tachyon
transmission was sent from the Ronin to the Starfleet Communications Center
in San Francisco on Earth. Thirty minutes after that every flag officer in the
Federation was either in a secure conference room in Starfleet Command Headquarters
or on a secure comm channel participating in a conference call. The Federation
Diplomatic
Corps had issued a formal request for demarche to the Klingon ambassador. The
Klingon ambassador quickly summoned his superiors in the Empire for instructions.
But as all this unfolded, Captain Ryan Evans felt a great wave of relief passing over him as he realized that he was on his way away from the hostilities. If anything were to happen, the odds were very much against the Ronin interrupting its mission to attend to the problem.
And now, he could relax and fully enjoy the evening festivities. He and Karissa (Mostly Karissa) had planned a large gathering of all the crew off duty in the holodeck. It was sure to be an enjoyable night with Karissa and would be even better, now that this was taken care of. On his desk, he reached on the small frame he had recently placed there with an image of Karissa within. He smiled.
Shara was sitting on her couch by the porthole reading a book on a PADD. Karissa had suggested it and she did find it quite interesting. She'd thought about going to the party that Karissa and the Captain were throwing, but wasn't sure if she was really up to attending any ship function yet. She still hadn't built back up her confidence. Slowly, she was starting to associate more with the other officers, and like Karissa had said, they were forgiving and willing to help her readjust to a new life. But she wasn't ready for a party. Not even one Karissa was throwing.
Cody was apprehensive as he approached the door to Shara's quarters. Since she'd come on board the Ronin she'd hardly been the most open and friendly of the crew. In fact, she'd almost seemed to have gone out of her way to make enemies. But according to Ming something had changed about her recently, and she was starting to open up more. Ming had made the suggestion to Cody that he invite Shara to the party. Cody was reluctant at first but decided to go ahead and at least try. It's not like I'm getting anywhere with Jenna, he thought, his mind going back to the ship's resident tease as he chimed the door to Shara's quarters.
With surprise, Shara put down the PADD. "Enter," she said. As she saw Cody enter, her dark eyes filled with more surprise.
Cody was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. "uhhh...Are you busy right now?" he asked.
"No . . . Not really," she replied softly. She could sense he was nervous. She, herself felt a little nervous as well, though she wasn't sure why. "I was just reading a book," she said.
"Well, if you don't mind waiting to find out the end, there's a party going on on the holodeck...thought you might like to join us!" Cody said. Apparently Shara had been a little too absorbed to notice that Cody was wearing traditional Lakota buckskins...something he did only at the urging of Karissa. Damn these things chafe! he thought.
"I had thought about going, but I . . . I don't know . . . I don't know if I would fit in much . . ." She said, meeting his eyes with her dark gaze. "Is that why you're wearing that outfit?" she asked a bit timidly.
"Actually, no," Cody joked. "It's a new uniform design I'm trying out for Starfleet Command. Ensign MacTavers is wearing a kilt, and you should see Katayama's kimono!!!! You never know until you try. Ming was the same way when he got here--off to a bit of a rough start, didn't really want to join in. Sometimes you've just got to take the plunge!" he urged. "Come on, it'll be fun! Besides--we're in for a long trip. You can't sit in here forever!"
"Do you think I would be welcomed?" she asked, with definite uncertainty in her voice and eyes. There had definitely been a change in her.
"Of course! If you weren't welcome you wouldn't have been invited! And if I didn't want you to come I wouldn't have stopped by," Cody said, not entirely sure in his conscious mind why he said that last part. "So at least one person wants you there for sure!"
"I don't even know what to wear," she smiled.
"Think of the Ancient West on Earth. You know--Gunsmoke, Bonanza, all the old 20th-century television shows! I'm sure the computer has lots of examples of the period's clothing in the database. I didn't have this hanging in the back of my closet, after all!" he said, laughing and hoping to take some of the edge off the situation for her.
"Well, if you wouldn't mind, maybe you would help me find something similar to what you're wearing," she said. "I like it . . ." She couldn't understand it, but her smile was truly genuine and she could almost feel her cheeks tint pink at her own comment. Never in her life had she been like this.
"Okay, if you really want to wear a deerhide sack dress I'm sure we can accomodate you!" Cody said.
"Sounds good to me," she replied. "Maybe something with some nice bead work . . . So what are one of these parties like anyway? I mean, what's going to happen there?"
"People will laugh, people will embarrass themselves, everyone will get drunk and somehow make it to their duty stations on time and fit for duty tomorrow," Cody said seriously. "You should have seen the beach party a few weeks ago! That was wild!"
She laughed, relaxing a bit. "Well, then I guess if nothing else, it should be very interesting. But since you're inviting me, would you do me a favor?"
"Yes, of course," Cody said. "What can I do for you?"
Her cheeks turned a dusky shade of rose as she looked away for a moment. "Would you stay close by, so I won't feel alone there?" She felt silly asking such a thing. She had never been the shy type before. But everything had so drastically changed for her, that she felt fragile in social settings now.
Cody seemed puzzled. "Of course. I've got no problem with that! But you shouldn't feel alone. I don't know about all the bigshots, but amongst us junior officers nobody's ever been on the outside unless he or she put himself there. You're always welcome at any of our formal events. Or even our informal events, seeing as how we've never had any formal events!"
She smiled. "Well, I have never really gotten too close to anyone before . . . Or, uh . . . A group of people rather . . ." She was stumbling over her words. Was she this much of an idiot now, she wondered. "You know, before coming here . . . I guess you would say I put myself on the outside . . . Now I just sort of feel in limbo . . ." She tried to explain.
"Don't worry about it--new duty posting, new chances!" Cody said, trying to encourage her. "Whatever happened before means nothing here! You haven't violated the Prime Directive or invited Species 8472 aboard, have you?"
At that, she laughed. "Not last time I checked."
"Then there's nothing you could have possibly done that would put anyone here on your bad side permanently! So come on!" Cody urged. "Get something to wear and laissez les bontemps roullez!"
"Which means?" she asked.
"'Let the good times roll!'" Cody said, pumping a fist in the air for emphasis. "Come on and get ready!"
With that, she laughed again with a brightness in her eyes that wasn't there before. "Okay!" she replied. "Give me about fifteen minutes!"
The atmosphere was filled with centuries old music played on a piano, as Ciara and Ming entered the Holodeck. The party was in full swing. Karissa and Ryan had decided to through a party to relieve some of the tension of the last couple of months. The theme was the Ancient West. The place looked like a saloon. There were girls dancing and singing on a small stage near a man playing piano. There was a bartender at the bar. There were stairs leading up to another floor and several other Western types there. There were several tables filled with Poker players. Some with holograms and officers and others with just officers. On the far wall was a long table set up with refreshments. Almost everyone had gotten into the spirit of the event and was dressed in period costumes. Karissa was in a fetching dress of black, trimmed in black and gold lace. Her dark hair was pulled back and arranged beautifully in an intricate bun. Ryan sat beside her at the poker table dressed in a black suit of the times, with a black and gold vest. His hat hung on a hat rack with many others. Beside him was A.J. dressed in jeans, boots and a white period shirt. And beside him was Will, also dressed in jeans and a tan period shirt. On the other side of Karissa was Kira. He was also dressed in a black suit, but his vest was silver and black. Beside him was Tyran. He was dressed in jeans and a light blue period shirt as well.
Ciara wore a dark blue dress trimmed with lace. Her hair was also pulled back and covered with some blue flowers and ribbons, since her hair wasn't that long. Ming was dressed in a pair of chinos with big leather chaps over them, a blue shirt with buttons on both sides, and a 10-gallon hat, all topped off with a red bandanna. As they watched the closest poker table they saw Karissa smile with glee as she put down her hand - a flush. The men tossed down their cards with good natured jibes. She laughed and raked in her chips.
"Maybe the next hand, you boys, will get lucky," she smiled with a definite twinkle in her dark eyes.
"I think you taught her too well," Ryan said to A.J. with a laugh.
"I was thinking the same thing, Sir," he smiled.
Ciara saw Shara and Cody at another table with a couple of holograms playing a game. The rest of the crew that were able to make it, were coming and going and generally enjoying the atmosphere. As Tyran got up from the table with Dinara's urging, Ming looked to Ciara.
"Go ahead and go. I'll go get us a couple of drinks," she said.
Ming walked toward the table and sat down ready to join in a hand of Poker.
A pile of chips materialized in front of Ming.
"Five-card draw; jokers wild, single draw. Red chips are five credits, white chips are ten credits, and blue chips are twenty-five credits. Ten credit ante," Karissa said as Ming pulled his chair up to the table.
Ming tossed in a white chip and was dealt a hand. Two queens, two fives, and a jack. Two pair. Not a great hand, Ming thought as he exchanged the jack. He got a joker and upped his bet another ten credits.
Ming stayed cool as it came time to show hands. The endless poker games in the junior officers' wardroom had taught him well; Will and Kira folded. Ryan set down three kings and looked rather smug until Ming set down his full house. Ryan swore upon seeing the hand.
Then Karissa set down her hand: four aces! Everyone groaned as Karissa raked in the chips again.
In one corner two crewmen, a Hispanic yeoman named Aragones and a rather long-faced gentleman named Martin, were having a quick-draw contest. Holographic dancing girls cavorted on the stage to the player piano music. Yes, I think I definitely like this ship better than the Von Braun! Ming thought as Ciara came up behind him with a beer for him and one for herself...
With all the festive hubbub in the air, no one noticed when the doors hissed open to reveal one more guest. Admiral Pike stepped through the doorway and looked around the smoky room. His manner was reserved as usual, and the expression on his face made it clear that he was having second thoughts about mingling in.
The Ancient West livery and decorations quickly had a calming effect on him however; it all took him back to his childhood days growing up in Mojave California. He'd even brought himself to don some off-duty pants and his old denim jacket.
A holographic serving girl sauntered by carrying a tray of drinks, and he deftly liberated a big mug of beer.
He sipped it appreciatively. Never having been one for indulging in holodeck activity, he never failed to be impressed by the realism, and the fact that they could squeeze an entire saloon and the town outside into one tiny holodeck.
He saw Will get up from the table and Tyran take his place. He also saw Kira sitting at a Poker table with Evans and his other top officers. As he approached the table, he saw Karissa stand up gathering her chips, into her antique style lace bag.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for a most enjoyable round of games!"
"Are you leaving us already, Kari?" Ryan asked as his hand slid around her waist, pulling her onto his lap.
She kissed him. "Only to go get a drink and maybe cause trouble at another table," she giggled.
"Ah . . . That's my girl," he laughed, kissing her once before releasing her from his grasp.
She caressed his face and stood up. Suddenly, she caught Admiral Pike's eye and smiled at him motioning him over to take her seat. With a bit of reluctance at first, he finally casually waked over and took Karissa's vacated seat.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he greeted.
"Admiral," Ryan replied in greeting, yet with surprise. "Care to join us for a game?"
"As a matter of fact, I would," Pike replied, setting his mug on the table as a stack of chips appeared before him. "Whose dealing?" he asked.
Karissa walked over to Ciara who had managed to find a table to sit at as she watched the show. In her hand, she carried a regular cola. Not everything was modeled after the Ancient West. She had seen to that. As she approached, Ciara saw her and smiled.
"Hey!" Ciara smiled. "This is quite a party! I didn't know you were so good and planning things like this."
"Its one of my many hidden talents," she laughed back.
Ciara's aqua eyes gazed at Karissa as she took a seat. "So how are you doing? Any more trouble with your pregnancy?" she asked. She was pretty sure there hadn't been since her and Ming had not been notified and anything with Karissa usually ended up involving them in some way, due her genetic engineering.
"Nope," Karissa replied with a gentle smile. "So far you and Ming solved the biggest problem. And Kira and Will have been taking excellent care of everything else," she replied. "How have you and Ming been? I have you hafven't been too busy in the lab . . ."
Ciara laughed, knowing Karissa's implication. "Well, not so busy that we don't get to have on occasion!" A devilish twinkle entered her eyes.
Karissa smiled, as he gaze wandered the room and looked at the other poker game going on.
Shara, Cody, Tyran, Dinara and Varn at the table laughing and having a good time. Dinara continually blowing her poker face with a laugh or crinkle to her nose. Even with Tyran's help, she wasn't fairing well, though seemed to be enjoying herself. Tyran was holding his own, like Varn, against Cody and Shara. Both seemed very skilled, as both had large piles of chips.
Suddenly, Ciara and Karissa both turned toward a loud commotion at the other poker table. A bunch of chips had gone flying, and a loud series of sneezes echoed through the saloon. That was followed by an even louder voice, saying. "Bloody cat!"
Karissa laughed as she saw Torasu on the poker table. He stood there and looked right at the Captain. Ryan sneezed again. Immediately Tyran was at the table picking up his wayward black cat. Karissa immediately wandered over.
"Captain, I'm sorry," Tyran said. "I can't imagine how he got out. I had him secured in my quarters. Honest . . ."
"You'll cut him some slack, won't you?" Karissa laughed as she leaned over and caressed Torasu's head. A loud purr issued from the cat.
Another sneeze came from Ryan. "Well, fine, but that cat has to go - Now!"
Gently, Karissa look Torasu from Tyran's arms. "Enjoy the party, Nige. I'll take care of Torasu."
He nodded and walked back to Dinara and the poker game. Karissa carried Torasu to the holodeck door and through them.
"Now, Torasu," she said, also giving the feelings to him telepathically. "If this were my party alone, I would have invited you . . . But you know the Captain isn't very fond of you . . . In fact, I think you did that deliberately to him/" She had a hard time suppressing a laugh. "Now, you really need to stop. I'll tell you what, you go back home and come see me tomorrow afternoon and we'll have lunch together, okay? A nice big plate of tuna for you . . .What do you say?"
His yellow eyes met her dark and he meowed.
"Okay, then behave yourself and go home," she said, gently putting him on the ground. She watched as he ran off down the corridor. Once sure he had gone, she re-entered the holodeck saloon and the party.
Cody and Shara left the saloon program. Both were well past drunk and very pleased with themselves: after outplaying everyone else at their table, they both folded on the last hand and would have each ended up with 2500 credits had real money been involved. "Ssssooo, everyone tells me I can't hold my likker," Cody slurred, "but I think I did juss fine tonight..." He started to collapse, but Shara caught him.
She laughed with the alcohol surging through her own system, but feeling more clear headed as the minutes ticked by. "I think you and I did fantastic holding our liquor and out playing everyone!" She had definitely had fun, she'd had to admit. Her fears had been unfounded.
"So, what's your secret?" Cody asked. "How did you manage to get the drop on everyone else?"
"I use to play at the Academy," she said. "Only . . . I guess I wasn't a very good winner . . ." she said, getting somber for a minute. "Too smug in my own abilities for my own good . . . But anyway," she said, trying to turn her mind from the unpleasant memories of herself. "That's where I learned and I do say I learned well!"
With that, she stumbled and almost took them both down, but then righted them just as quickly.
"Oh, good--I thought this carpet had a loose spot in it! Glad it wasn't just me!" Cody laughed, almost retching but managing to contain himself as they neared Shara's quarters.
Suddenly, she stopped. They were by her door. As Cody finally stood on his own, she leaned her back against the bulkhead and looked at him. Her dark eyes were bright with the laughter they had shared and a smile lit her face. "Thank you, Cody . . . Thanks for talking me into going to the party tonight . . . That was the best time I've had in . . . I don't even know how long . . ." she shrugged.
"It was my pleasure, ma'am!" he said. "I'm glad I asked you to come!"
"You are?" she asked, with a hint of shyness.
Suddenly Cody got shy. "I've got a reputation on this ship as a scammer. It's true to a certain extent, but no more true than anyone else on the Ronin and probably less true than a few others I can think of. But there are times when I am genuinely interested in a person and want to know that person better. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope we can do it again."
"I think I'd like that," she replied, meeting his gaze straight on suddenly.
Very tentatively, Cody opened his arms to embrace Shara. He'd heard--and seen firsthand--what she could do to someone who displeased her.
Scared, but as if drawn to him, she melted into his embrace. It was the first true embrace she'd had from a man since the Academy, but she quickly pushed the memories away. That was then and this was now, she thought. And Cody was so gentle, so kind . . . There was something about him . . .
Any apprehension Cody had felt up to that moment evaporated in the warmth of their embrace. "Thank you," he said gently.
"You're thanking me?" she asked puzzled, but unwilling to move from his arms.
"For not decapitating me," he said. "For a few seconds I wasn't sure how you were going to respond!"
With that she laughed. "I guess I could have done that . . . But I certainly don't want to . . ."
Dare I try it? Cody's alcohol-numbed mind was thinking as he kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Without hesitation, she turned her head, so their lips touched. She was going to make sure he knew what she felt.
"Whoa!" Cody said. "I wasn't expecting that!"
"I wasn't expecting any of this," she replied. "But I wouldn't mind you kissing me again."
With that, Cody kissed her more deliberately on the lips, tightening his embrace.
The kiss was like more alcohol to her senses. She was drowning in him. So much coursed through her that she couldn't even put it into words. When the kiss ended, she felt the vacancy in her he filled. She could explain it no other way to herself.
"Perhaps I should go now before I commit a lewd act in the corridor," Cody said, loosening the embrace. "Because God knows I'm tempted!"
She giggled. "I know the feeling . . . I would invite you in, but . . . I'm not sure it would be the wise thing to do, but I am definitely tempted . . ." Their eyes locked.
"Perhaps another time," Cody said. "For now, I'd better get back to my quarters before I have to arrest myself!"
She nodded. "Okay. Goodnight," she said. "And thank you again . . ." She stepped toward him and kissed him one more time. Reluctantly, she stepped away.
"Goodnight," he said in a voice that seemed to indicate he wasn't sure he'd ever see her again.
With a last lingering look, she entered her quarters, knowing that if she didn't, she would drag him into her quarters.
As the door slid shut behind her, she went to her couch and laid down on it. Karissa . . . I'm in trouble . . . she thought.
When Cody got back to his quarters, the first thing he did was to take a long shower. Showers were known to relieve other things besides chafing and hangovers...
As the evening finally wore down and the last person left the holodeck, Ryan held Karissa close.
"I'd say everyone had a good time," he said. "You're idea was splended. It was a wonderful way for the crew to unwind a bit."
"Well, as the Ship's Counselor, I think about these things," she said with a soft giggle and smile.
Tenderly he caressed her face. "And what do you think about us reserving one of the rooms upstairs for our own little celebration? It is our anniversary of sorts, isn't it?" he asked.
She thought about the date and then realized that three months ago they had known, without a doubt, they had feelings for one another. That was the day that had started them on the road to here.
"Three months . . ." she replied with a smile. "Has it only been three months?" she asked. "It seems like I've always had you in my life."
"I know . . ." he replied. "So shall we celebrate this little anniversary in style?"
"What did you have in mind?" she asked, gently biting her lower lip.
"Computer, change setting to AcientWest Saloon - Evans532."
Instantly, the saloon and tables melted away to be replace by a room with a large iron tub filled with soapy water. There were fresh cut flowers in vases and four poster bed with several pillows and a red rose on the bed. In a corner was a bottle of sparkling juice and candled were lit everywhere.
Karissa took a breath in as stunned surprised took over.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
She turned to him and without saying
a word, she kissed him. Letting her actions speak for her.