Messages From Earth: Picking up the Pieces

Vignette 1: Restitution

“There’s no other way, Jadz…” Liz Shelby sighed as she handed her old friend a cup of raktajino before sitting down next to her on the comfortable leather sofa that occupied the left wall of the Sutherland captain’s ready room, “…but for Starfleet to go public on this.”  Shaking her head, the captain took a sip of her replicated Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, “Too many people know about what happened for the Fleet to keep it ‘in house’.  Besides, if Starfleet tries to cover it up…”

“When it gets out…” The raven-haired Trill finished as she blew steam off her Klingon coffee, “…and it will…public trust in Starfleet will drop even lower than it is now.”

“Exactly!”  Liz exclaimed, “We have to be seen cleaning up our messes here.”

“So…” Jadzia asked, “...what about Red Squad?  Do they get away scot-free?”

Sighing deeply, Shelby answered back, her anger at the admirals’ decision evident in her voice, “Yeah…looks like they do—for now at least.  The official line is that the Valiant is on an extended mission circumnavigating the Federation and so any action against Red Squad will have to wait until they return.”

“I hate to say it…” Jadzia remarked, “But I’m not surprised.”

“It’s bullshit and you know it!”  Liz bit back bitterly, “Those brats should have to pay for what they did!  Five thousand people dead!  Hell, I even offered to go chase them down for Admiral Hanson when I confronted him with this.”

“So…” Jadzia asked, placing a comforting hand on her friend’s forearm, “What did J. P. say?”

“He said…” Shelby replied, calming down slightly, “…that another scandal involving Academy students happening just a few years after what happened with Nova Squad could cause irreparable harm to the Academy at a time where the need for good officers has never been greater.”

“Well…” Jadzia remarked, taking a sip of her raktajino, “…I hate to say it, but he does have a point.  Two scandals involving elite cadet squads within a five year period...”

“Doesn’t speak well for discipline at the Academy.”  The Sutherland’s captain finished.

“No, it doesn’t.”  Dax agreed, “Which is another mess Starfleet Command is going to have to clean up.”  Seeing the look of consternation on her friend’s face, Jadzia gently asked, “Have you seen Erika yet?”

Shaking her head, Shelby responded, “No.”  Head bowed, the starship captain continued, “I got her message begging me to come see her.”  Her eyes moistening, Liz looked up into the eyes of her dear friend, “Jadz…you should have seen her.  She’s lost everything.”

“All the more reason for you to see her, Betts.” Jadzia answered back, calling her by the name that Shelby only permitted those closest to her to use.  “She could use a friend now.”

“Even a former lover who screwed her over?”  Liz asked.

Nodding her head, Dax answered in the affirmative, “Especially an old lover who once made a mistake and understands how important it is to be forgiven.”

“Ok, Jadz…” Liz promised, her lips turning up into a shaky grin as she daubed the tears from her eyes, “I’ll go see her.” 

“Good.”  The lovely Trill answered back as she finished her raktajino.  Standing up, she smiled, “Thanks for the coffee, Liz, but I’m afraid I’ve got to get back to the Defiant.”

“I understand.” Shelby replied, her lips turning up into a warm smile, “And thanks for letting me use your shoulder to cry on.”

“Anytime, Liz…” Jadzia smiled back, “I’ve used yours often enough.”

***********************************************************************

After submitting to an identification and weapons scan carried out by a human lieutenant manning the security console, the door providing access to the confinement wing slid open.  Tilting her head towards another security trooper, the lieutenant apologized, “I’m sorry, Captain Shelby, but an escort must accompany you at all times while you’re in the ward.”

“I understand, Lieutenant.”  Liz replied in a flat tone.  “Thank you.”  Walking down the corridor with her escort at her side, Shelby observed out of the corner of her eyes the prisoners in their cells.  Admiral Barzhan, the Bolian former Commandant of the Academy, looked straight ahead, a vacant look in his eyes.  Captain Taras of the Potemkin, an officer with, until now, a distinguished and spotless record, well liked and well respected by all his peers, sat at the edge of his bed, his head in his hands, sobbing.  A Bolian woman unknown to Liz stood defiant, her eyes shooting daggers at the petite blonde captain as she walked past.  “Who’s she?”  Shelby asked, jerking her head in the direction of the Bolian woman.

“Lieutenant Commander Daneeka.”  The crewman replied with just a touch of sadness in her voice, “She used to be head of security here.”

“I take it she was well liked?”  Liz inquired.

Nodding her head, the crewman laconically responded, “Yes. Very.”

“I see…” Liz drawled as they reached the cell containing her former lover.  “Lower the forcefield.”  Shelby ordered.  Seeing that the crewman’s hesitancy, the captain added a stronger edge to her voice, “Lower the field.  You can raise it again once I enter.”

“Aye, Sir.”  The specialist acknowledged in a flat voice.

The field lowered, Liz stepped into the cell.  The moment she cleared the threshold, the humming returned, indicating that it had been restored.  “Liz?”

Looking down at the source of the forlorn voice that had just called her name, Liz saw Erika Benteen, sitting down at the edge of her bed, looking up at her.  As she gazed down on her, Shelby’s heart melted at the sight of Erika’s tearstained, red eyes.  The sight of her former lover, a woman as strong willed and determined as she, now nothing more than a shell of her former confident self, took the petite blonde starship captain aback.  “Oh, Erika…”

Her eyes momentarily flashing defiance, Benteen cried out bitterly, “I’m surprised you showed up.”

“I am too.”  Liz spat out as she turned her back, preparing to walk away only to stop at the heartfelt cry of “No!” from the tormented woman sitting on the bed.  Turning about, Shelby sighed as she sat down next to the disgraced captain, “I need to know why you did it?”

Holding her head erect, Erika explained, “I…we…thought it was the only way to save the Federation…”

“Do you know how many times I’ve heard that this week, Erika?” Liz interrupted; an impatient edge to her voice.

“It’s the truth!”  Benteen cried out.  “I know what you’re thinking…that I did it for the same reason you stabbed me in the back—for ambition.”  Liz’s face reddened with shame as she remembered how she had betrayed the trust of her former lover for a promotion back when they were both stationed on the Hornet.  “But that’s not the way it was.  I honestly thought that Leyton was right.  That we weren’t taking the Dominion or the changelings seriously enough…”

“Liz…” Erika sniffed as she looked up at her ex-lover, “I’m sorry for all those people who we…I…hurt and killed because of what we did.  But I’m not…” She said, her eyes once again flashing that look of indomitable will and determination that had drawn the blonde captain to her so many years ago, “I’m not sorry for believing that Admiral Leyton was right about the Dominion.  I believed then…and I still do…that it is the greatest threat we have faced since the Borg Incursion.  In some ways…” Benteen declared, her eyes and face reflecting the conviction of her beliefs, “…it’s an even greater threat in that unlike the Borg, the Dominion intends to stay.”

Shaking her head, Elizabeth replied, “For what it’s worth, Erika, I agree with you and Leyton that too many in the Federation Council and in Starfleet Command don’t take the Dominion seriously enough and that it’s going to bite us in the ass soon enough.  But…” The blonde captain admonished, “What you did was wrong.  It was not Starfleet’s decision to make.  The Federation President and Council proposes…Starfleet disposes.  That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way it has to be.”  Shaking her head, the blonde captain asked, “What I want to know…what I need to know…” she asked, her face now taking on a stern expression, “Is why you went along with that goddamned power blackout? You had to have known that people were going to die because of that?  Why did you do it?”

Her face reflecting her guilt, Benteen confessed, “I asked the admiral if we really had to go through with it.  I expressed my concerns to him about it. I asked him if he…if we…had fully taken into account what would happen.”

“And his response?”  Liz inquired, pressing her interrogation.

“He said that we had no choice…” Erika recalled, “That it was the only way to make the President understand how serious the threat was.”  Shaking her head, the forlorn captain sobbed, “But I never…ever…thought that…all those people…those little children…it wasn’t supposed to happen like that!”

“It never is…” Shelby whispered softly as she gave her shoulder for her former lover to cry on.  Looking down on her former lover, Liz asked in a soft, gentle tone as she ran her fingers through Benteen’s chestnut brown hair, “What else did you want to tell me?”

“I’m scared.” Erika whimpered, “Look…” She explained, her sobs dying down into sniffles now, “I…I know I have to pay for what I did…but…but Liz…” Her face now taking on a panicked look, the tormented woman pleaded, “I don’t want to go to Sundancer!  I’ve heard stories about that place…we all have.  I’d die if I have to go there!”

“No one’s talking about sending you to Supermax, Honey.”  Liz consoled as she continued to stroke the other woman’s hair. “There are a lot of penal colonies—true, there are some that are easier than others.” she admitted, adding, “There’s no reason to think that they’re going to send you to a hell-hole like Sundancer.”

Shaking her head as she pulled away from the other woman’s embrace, Erika Benteen flashed a brief, shaky smile.  “They have to make an example out of somebody.  If for no other reason than to serve as a warning to the rest of Starfleet.”  She declared, “They won’t send the admiral there.  Even after all that’s happened, he’s got enough powerful friends to ensure that he’ll be sent to New Zealand or some other comfortable penal colony.  But me…” She shrugged, “I was Admiral Leyton’s aide.  I knew most of his plans.  He made me captain and gave me the Lakota as a reward for my loyalty.  And…” She concluded, her eyes once again tearing, “I engaged the Defiant causing the deaths of a lot of good men and women.”  Daubing her eyes, she finished, “You see…I’m the perfect candidate.  They’re not just going to send me to Supermax—they’re going to toss me under it.”

Sighing as she admitted to herself that her former lover made perfect sense, Shelby, gazed deep into her frightened doe-like eyes.  “I can’t promise anything, Erika, but I’ll try.  I’ll talk to Admiral Hanson…”

********************************************************************

“Sir…” Captain Shelby pleaded as she sat down opposite her old mentor, “Captain Benteen sincerely regrets her part in the loss of life that took place.  Neither she nor I are asking that she not be punished…”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that.”  An uncharacteristically grim Admiral J. P. Hanson responded with a grunt. 

“It’s just that…” Liz continued, “…she’s afraid she might be sent to Sundancer…”

“She’s got good reason to be afraid.”  Hanson replied, “Seeing as she was Leyton’s right hand.”  Looking on his former protégé, the old admiral allowed his stern demeanor to slip just a little, “Liz…I know how close you and Captain Benteen were once and I sympathize with you.  Hell…I’m not a monster; I know how much of a hell hole that place can be.”  Shaking his head, the admiral declared, “I don’t want to send her there either, but a strong message has to be sent.”

“I understand that, Sir.”  Shelby replied, “But I think there is a way in which that message could be sent, while at the same time keeping Erika away from Sundancer…”

“Very well, Captain.”  The admiral responded as he shifted about in his seat, “I’m all ears.”

***********************************************************************

“Here’s the deal…” Shelby announced as she looked down on her old girlfriend sitting at the edge of her bed, “Reduction in rank to crewman recruit and five years in the New Zealand Penal Colony.  After the completion of your sentence, an evaluation will be made as to whether to restore you to active duty with the rank of ensign, if you wish to remain in the service, or to separate you either voluntarily or involuntarily from Starfleet.”  As the chestnut haired woman sitting before her sighed audibly in relief, Liz continued, “In exchange, you’re to plead guilty and take the stand against Leyton and the others.  You also have to fill out a deposition in which you reveal everything you know about Leyton’s plot and all of the conspirators involved with it that you have knowledge of.”  Taking her former lover’s silent nod of her head as understanding of the terms, Liz concluded, “Erika…if you knowingly leave anything out…if you say or do anything that’s contrary to the terms of this agreement, Admiral Hanson has instructed me to tell you that you will be, and, I quote, ‘Sent to Sundancer where you will be put in with the hardest of the hardest cases’.” Exhaling, the petite captain asked pointedly, “Do you understand and accept these terms?”

“Yes.”  Erika replied weakly, gratefully accepting the lifeline provided her. 

“Good.” Liz said, “I’ll tell Admiral Hanson.”

As her old lover turned to leave the cell, Erika Benteen called out, “And Liz…thank you…I mean it!”

Smiling a sad smile, Shelby responded with a sigh, “I owed you one, Erika.  Think of this as my way of making up for what I did to you.”  Turning about, the blonde captain said before she left, “Please, Erika....don’t let me down like I did you.”

*******************************************************************

Vignette 2: Coming Together

“Thanks for coming, Mom.”  Sam Lavelle said as he and his mother entered ‘Rick’s’, the Sutherland’s lounge.  “Here’s a good seat”, the roguishly handsome Canadian flight controller smiled as he guided his mother to a table close to the bar.

Sitting down at the table, Lieutenant Commander Charlotte Kincaid uttered in a flat tone as she flashed an insincere grin, “Nice place.”

“Mom…” Sam responded, raising his voice just a touch, “We’re trying to get along—remember…”

“I’m sorry, Sam…” The dark haired Potemkin science officer apologized, “It’s just that with everything that’s happened…”
 

“How is it on the Potemkin?”  Sam asked, his anger vanishing as he saw the look of consternation on his mother’s face, “Is it that bad?”

Taking a white wine from one of the volunteer crew waiters, Charlotte sighed, “Right now, everyone’s in a state of shock and morale amongst the crew has plummeted to rock bottom.  You have to understand…” She said, leaning across the table towards her son, “…just how much everyone on the Potemkin loved Captain Taras.  We’d all give our lives for him.”

“I’m not surprised.”  Sam commiserated, “I felt the same way about Captain Picard when I was on the Enterprise and about Captain Shelby now.  It seems…” The younger man observed, “…that the really good captains always get that response from their crews.”

“I guess so…” Charlotte allowed, for the first time acknowledging that her son’s faith in his captain might well have been well placed.  Shaking her head, the older woman declared somberly, “I’m not looking forward to testifying against the Captain.  I feel like…” she confessed, moisture coming from her eyes, “I feel like I’m stabbing him in the back.”

“No, you’re not, Mom.”  Sam reassured, placing his hand over that of his mother’s, “Mom, believe it or not, I do understand what you’re going through.  I read through the part of Captain Taras’ record that is public knowledge.  And you’re right—he’s done a lot of good.  He’s added to our scientific knowledge and his exploratory voyages rank right up there with the best of them.  Hell, I would have considered it an honor to have served with him some day.  And I also know that he never intended for any harm to happen to those people and he had nothing to do with the blackout.  But…” Lavelle pointed out, “…he did know about the plot and he was a part of it—and he has to stand account for that.  All he had to do Mom…” the dark haired young man asserted as he squeezed his mother’s hand, “…was come forward when he found out about it.  If he’d have done his duty when he had the chance, then maybe those five thousand plus people who are now dead—including those who were killed on the Lakota and Defiant—might still be alive today and their families instead of grieving for them might now be laughing and talking and playing with them.”

“I know…” Charlotte admitted, “And you’re right.  It’s just…” She shook her head, “I’ve served with Captain Taras for four years and…”

“It’s almost like having to testify against me or dad or the girls…” Sam empathized, “…in a way he’s family.”  His lips turning up into a sad smile, the young Canadian concluded, “But then, really, all of us who put on this uniform are kind of a family, aren’t we?”  Seeing his mother nodding her head, he continued, deliberately emphasizing the parallels between his mother’s experience with Captain Taras on the Potemkin with their own experiences as mother and son, “Let’s say that you found out that I was involved in the plot, what would you have done?”

“I’d have confronted you about it.”  Charlotte immediately answered.

“And hoped that I did the right thing.”  Sam completed, smiling as his mother nodded her head.  “But what if I didn’t?  What would you have done then?”

Fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat, Sam’s mother responded, “I honestly don’t know…but…” She quickly pointed out, “…you’re more than just a Starfleet officer, you’re also my son—that makes a big difference!”

Nodding his head, Sam conceded his mother’s point, “I understand where you’re coming from, Mom, but…” He contended, pressing his argument home, “Here’s the situation: I’ve broken my oath, put thousands of lives at risk, and my actions could possibly start a civil war.  What would you do if I did not turn myself in after you gave me the chance?”

Sighing, the older woman bowed her head as she confessed, “I’d have turned you in.”

“And you would have been right in doing so.”  Sam remarked, smiling fondly at his mother.  “It doesn’t mean you don’t love me…in fact, your doing so is actually a far better proof that you did love me.  It’s the same way with Captain Taras.  He made a mistake and now he has to pay for it.  That doesn’t mean you have to cut him out completely.  Although…” he admitted, “…the captain’s Starfleet career is probably through.  But that doesn’t mean that he can’t continue to make valuable contributions once he’s done his time.”

“You’re right.”  Charlotte acknowledged, her lips turning up into a sad smile, “It’s just going to take some time.”

“I understand, Mom.”  Sam replied in a sympathetic tone, “I think it’s going to take a while for all of us to get over this one.”

“Tell me about it!”  Charlotte sighed.  Then, taking a sip from her wine glass, she changed the subject, “So…where’s your friend?”

Momentarily nonplussed at the new topic of discussion, Sam stammered for a moment before answering, “Oh…you mean Maria?”  Cringing inwardly at the wicked gleam in his mother’s eye, the younger man continued, “Well…she went home…to Rio…to spend some time with her folks.  I’m supposed to beam down and meet her later on today.”  His face turning a brilliant scarlet, he confessed, “We’re planning on spending the day at Ipanema…”

“Uh Huh…” Sam’s mother grinned as the rest of their conversation turned to less weighty and more mundane matters until, looking at her chronometer, she gasped, “Damn!  I’ve got to go—I’ve got a duty shift in half an hour!”

“I’m sorry to keep you away for so long, Mom.” Sam apologized as he helped his mother out of her seat.

“That’s ok, dear.”  Charlotte replied as the pair made their way out of the lounge, “It was…nice…getting to know you again.  We’ve been apart for too long.”

“Same here, Mom…” The younger man answered back with a smile.  “Thanks for coming.”

********************************************************************

Walking hand in hand with Maria, Sam Lavelle, wearing a pair of surfer baggies, his shirtless chest showing off his lean, well-muscled physique, took in the sights, sounds, and smells of the beach.  Two children building a sandcastle, their parents nearby reclining on folding loungers, sipping pina coladas as they laughed at their young ones’ antics.  On the water, Sam spotted the tell-tale sales of windsurfers navigating their boards amongst the waves, the odd surfer miscalculating and falling into the water as his fellows laughed.  Closer to the shoreline, men, women and children played in the water, splashing each other or snorkeling.  And all under the umbrella of the protective sunscreen that carefully filtered out the dangerous ultraviolet and other radiation.

Smiling, Sam turned towards his companion, “It’s beautiful.”

“Yeah.”  Maria Django, wearing the skimpiest red bikini that Sam had ever seen, remarked in a fond voice as a flock of gulls sounded their calls off the shore, “I didn’t realize how much I missed it—I spent so much of my time as a child and teenager here.”

“The beach isn’t the only thing that’s beautiful…” Sam remarked as he regarded his attractive companion.

“Oh…” Maria replied flirtatiously as she pirouetted, showing off the revealing bikini—the top really nothing more than two triangles that only just covered her breasts, with the bottom a very narrow triangle that barely covered her front, and a thin string in the back that covered absolutely nothing.  “You like what you see?”

“Hell yeah!”  Sam exclaimed, flashing a leer as he drank in the dusky skinned woman’s beauty, her natural scent stirring his emotions even more.

Her lips turning up into a triumphant grin, Maria spotted out of the corner of her eye two women sunbathing topless on the beach.  A mischievous twinkle in her eye, the impetuous Brazilian native reached back, and, undoing her top, slipped out of it.  “Now how’s the view?”  She asked sweetly as she dangled the top from her index finger, chuckling merrily at her companion’s open mouthed astonishment.

“Uh…Duh…Ummm…” Sam stammered as his eyes took in Maria’s small firm breasts.  “They’re…Ummmm…”

“They’re real…” Maria grinned as she slipped an arm around her red faced friend’s waist, “…and they’re fantastic. Now come on!”  She laughed, “I want to walk some more…there’s a spot I want to show you.”

“Ok…” Sam answered back as the pair resumed their walk.  While the young Canadian couldn’t help but continue to sneak glances at his near naked companion’s breasts, they did manage to find other things to look at on the beach.  Coming to a pier, he asked, “Is that the spot?”

“No…” Maria responded, but it’s close.  “Come on though…it’s been years since I’ve been on it.”  Arm in arm, the couple walked down the pier, Maria chuckling with amusement as she caught Sam’s eyes continually drifting towards her chest.  Flashing a crooked grin, she teased as they reached the edge of the pier, “These things are better than tractor beams.”  Pausing for a moment at the edge, the experienced diver quickly judging the depth of the crystal clear water and finding it adequate dived in headfirst, executing a flawless dive, barely leaving a ripple as she entered the water.

Surprised at his impulsive companion’s sudden act, Sam’s heart skipped a beat she broke the surface, laughing.  “Come on in, Sam!”  She called out, “The water’s perfect!”  

Shaking his head in amusement, Sam, much more cautiously, entered the water feet first, reveling in the touch of the cool water on his skin.  Swimming over to his dusky skinned friend, he laughed, “You’re right!  It is perfect!”

“See…” She teased, “I told you.”  Pointing at some shells on the bottom, she asked, “How well can you hold your breath?”

“About as well as anyone else.”  Sam replied, a curious look on his face.  “Why?”

“Take a deep breath and don’t let go my hand.” Maria instructed, “There’s something I want to show you.”

After taking several deep breaths to oxygenate their blood, the pair dived down, Maria guiding her companion to where a blue and yellow invertebrate lay near rose and yellow coral.  Rising to the surface, the swimmers drank deeply of the fresh air.  “What did you think?”  Maria asked; a broad smile on her face.

“It was beautiful.”  Sam replied, “What was it?”

“Sea slug.”  Maria responded with a laugh as she saw the suddenly downcast look on her friend’s face, “Don’t let the name bother you.”  She teased as the pair tread water, “They’re really very beautiful.  They come in all colors and some of them get quite large.”

“Sounds like you know a lot about the subject.”  Sam remarked, barely able to restrain himself from immediately gathering the woman swimming next to him into his arms as he drank in her intoxicating fragrance.

“You forget…” Maria laughed, “Meu Pai—my father—owns a dive boat.  I used to go out with him all the time…” she chuckled, “Except when Mae caught me first.  Then she’d put me to work in the hotel.”  Laughing, she pointed to the beach.  “Race you to the shore!”

Falling quickly behind the much more experienced Maria, Sam settled for watching her body as she glided effortlessly through the water.  Breathing deeply and then exhaling, Sam’s face broke out into a wide grin as he continued to follow behind until finally, reaching a point where he could now stand up, he saw Maria already at the shoreline, smiling smugly.

“Slowpoke!”  She called out to him playfully as he drew closer to her until, reaching her; he scooped her up into his arms.  Her arms around his neck, her lips centimeters from his, she whispered, “I could get used to this.”  Without a word, Sam’s lips touched hers, gently, tentatively at first and then, feeling her eager response, hungrily.  The pair remained for what seemed hours like this, their lips locked, with her in his arms as the waves lapped at his feet until, reluctantly breaking contact, she put her feet back on the ground.  Putting her arm around friend, she said in a low, breathy voice, “C’mon, Sam…there’s one more thing I want to show you.”

The couple walked together wordlessly for nearly an hour, the sun slowly drying them off as it made its way closer to the horizon until they near a set of small sand dunes.  Breaking free of her companion’s embrace, she smiled shyly as her hands went to the slender ties holding her bottom in place.  Silently, she pulled at the ties until, the knots loosened, the bottom slid to the sandy beach, leaving her completely naked.  Her smile now more of a mischievous smirk, she bent down seductively.  Picking up the tiny piece of fabric, she tossed it at her totally flabbergasted escort.  Laughing merrily, she called out temptingly as she raced towards the dunes, “Catch me!” 

Mouth agape and eyes wide open, Sam stood dumbfounded, one hand clutching the red bikini bottom as he watched Maria’s naked form race towards the dunes.  Shaking his head in wonderment as his lips turned up into a broad grin, the youthful Canadian took off after her, ignoring the resistance offered by the thick beach sand as he drew ever closer to his prize until, reaching the dunes, he caught her.  Rushing to her, he grasped her in his arms for another hungry kiss.

Looking up into his eyes as they broke from their kiss, Maria breathed huskily, “Now that you caught me, what are you going to do with me?”

His lips curled up into a smile as he pulled her down behind the dunes, Sam whispered as he tossed the bikini bottom aside, “This.”

********************************************************************

Vignette 3: Bonding

“Sir?”  Looking up from her desk at the sound of Lieutenant Atoa’s voice coming through her comm badge, Captain Shelby responded, “Shelby here.  What is it Lieutenant?”

“Captain Bateson of the Bozeman would like to come on board, Sir.”  The New Kauaian tactical officer replied.

“Tell him I’ll meet him in the transporter room.”  Liz answered back as she got up out of her seat, a broad smile of anticipation on her face at meeting the time displaced captain.  Walking down the corridor, she greeted the various members of her crew as they came and went about their duties.  Then, spotting Lieutenant Lavelle exiting the quarters Ensigns Django and Barrows shared, she flashed a wicked grin, “Nice tan, Lieutenant.”

“Ummm…thank you, Sir.”  Her senior helmsman stammered, his face flushing red with embarrassment.

 Maintaining her smile, the captain decided to let the floundering fish off the hook, “Carry on, Mr. Lavelle.”  Chuckling softly as the handsome Canadian took off down the corridor at a fast walk, Liz continued on her way to the transporter room.  The doors whooshing open, the petite captain entered the chamber.

“Captain Bateson signals he’s ready to beam over, Sir.”  The transporter technician reported as the captain took her place next to the console.

“Energize.”  Liz ordered, her smile growing wider as the form of the bearded, balding sandy haired captain materialized.

“Permission to come on board, Sir.”  Bateson asked, reciting the traditional formula.

“Permission granted.”  Captain Shelby answered back, completing the ritual as she extended her hand, “It’s good to see you, Morgan.”

“You too, Liz.”  Captain Bateson smiled back as he took the hand of the granddaughter of the man he had once served under on the old USS Lexington.

As the pair walked down the corridor, Shelby nodded her head in greeting as Ensign Barrows passed them going the other way, eliciting a quick reaction from the roguish captain as he glanced down at her ample chest, receiving in return a sly wink from the impish engineer.  Chuckling softly, Liz whispered, her voice audible only to the man she was talking to, “It’s ok, Morgan.  You can quit pretending that you weren’t looking at Treasure’s tits just now.”

“I can see why you call her Treasure.”  Bateson chuckled as the pair entered the turbolift.  Once in the privacy of the lift cab, Morgan apologized, “I’m sorry we came too late to help out…”

“Don’t be.”  Liz replied softly, “It’s a bad situation, Morgan.  With the arrests of Captain Taras and Admiral Barzhan, morale’s in the crapper on the Potemkin and in the Academy.  Plus, arrest warrants have been issued throughout the fleet for the rest of the conspirators.   And…” She added somberly, “Erika’s scheduled to testify tomorrow at Leyton’s court-martial against him and the others.”

“Damn.”  Bateson swore as the lift doors opened on to the bridge.  Striding wordlessly across the bridge, the two captains walked into Shelby’s ready room.  Gazing at the portrait of Robert Wesley, looking just as he did when he was a commodore and the commanding officer of the Lexington, Morgan shook his head sadly, “I’m glad the Old Man’s not around to see this.  It would break his heart.”

Sighing deeply as she regarded the portrait of her long dead grandfather, Elizabeth nodded her head.  “Grandmamma wouldn’t have been too pleased about it either.”

“Tell me about it.”  Morgan replied grimly and then chuckled softly, “Aliz would have ripped Leyton a new one.”

Chuckling softly, Shelby walked over to the replicator, ordering two saurian brandies; the petite captain motioned for her guest to sit on the sofa.  Handing one of the goblets to him, Liz took a sip from the other as she sat down next to him.  “You know…” She confessed ruefully, “I wish I could have had the chance to have gotten to know them.  Poppy died long before I was born and nagyanya died before my second birthday.  All I have of her are pictures…” She said as she got up, walked to her desk, picked up one of the holographic images on her desk, and then returned, “…like this one.”  Smiling, she passed the image over to Morgan, who also smiled as he saw the three dimensional image of Wesley, now wearing the burgundy, black, and white uniform of an admiral from the later 23^rd century, standing next to and with his arm around his auburn haired wife, Aliz, who looked radiant in a long green dress, her ever present medallion hanging around her neck.  “And…” She smiled as she regarded the man next to her, “…stories.”

“So…” Morgan smiled as he took a sip from his saurian brandy, “You want another story about your grandmother from her days on the Lexington, eh?”

“Yeah…” Liz smiled.  “And please…” She begged, “Could it be a funny one? I could use a good laugh right about now.”

Bateson smiled warmly as he looked down on the young captain sitting beside him, her face resembling more than anything else to the time displaced captain that of a little girl.  “Ok…I don’t think you’ve heard this one.  This happened when I was still involved with Aliz’s friend, Jennifer Watley.”  He chuckled, “It happened about six months after that crap with the M-5.  The Lady had just put into orbit over Argelius for some rest and recreation and the three of us decided to go on shore leave together…”  As Morgan spun his yarn, Liz’s smile became a snicker, and then giggles, then a chuckle, and finally full blown laughter.  “After we got out of there…” He guffawed, “Aliz walked over to this street vendor, picked up two Thalian chocolate mousse pies, paid for them, calmly walked back over to where me and Jennifer were standing laughing our asses off—all without saying a word, mind you, and then proceeded to shove both of those pies in our faces warning us that if we ever pulled a stunt like that again it wouldn’t be chocolate that she’d be throwing at us next time!”

Laughing out loud, Elizabeth gasped, “Thanks Morgan, I needed that!”

“You looked like you did, Liz.”  The bearded captain replied with an almost fatherly grin.

“So…” Shelby queried as she refilled their glasses, “How long are you here?”

“We’re going to be here for a while.”  Bateson answered back with a wide grin.  “While they’re upgrading the Bozeman, I and my crew will have a new assignment.  His eyes gleaming, the time displaced captain declared, “I’m taking temporary command of the Enterprise-E.  We’ll be taking it out for its shakedown cruise—break it in for Jean-Luc.”

“That is good news!”  Liz exclaimed as the two officers touched their glasses together in a toast. “So they’re taking you out of the Border Service?”

“No…” Morgan replied, shaking his head.  “And, to be honest, I’m in no hurry to transfer back into the regular fleet.  I’ve done plenty of ‘exploring strange new worlds’ and ‘seeking out new life and new civilizations’ and ‘boldly going where no one has gone before’, and I’ve served with the ‘best of the best’ and even the not so ‘best of the best’.  Don’t get me wrong, Liz…” Bateson quickly added, “I’ve loved every minute of it.  But you know, what we do in the Border Service is important too…”

“I know, Morgan…” Liz quickly interjected, not wanting her friend to think that she was belittling his service, “…without you guys keeping things going, everything would fall apart.  Hell, I’ve read the reports of what some of the border cutters and their captains like this Akinola have done with what they have and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed—and you know I don’t impress easy.  It’s one thing going up against the bad guys in a Sovvie or a Galaxy or a Nebbie, its another thing entirely when you’re looking down the guns of an Orion or Cardie smuggler or a wolfpack of Maquis raiders or a Klingon bird of prey out for an easy kill and you’re in an Albacore—or a Soyuz.”  Liz concluded; a note of deep respect in her voice as she regarded the captain sitting next to her.

Hearing the younger captain’s words, Morgan replied modestly, “Thanks Liz, although we don’t have to take on Borg Cubes or Romulan warbirds or have to deal with life force sucking cosmic entities like you do.  It balances out in the end—we all do our part.”    A toothy grin forming on his face, he then quipped, “I’m not sure what would happen if you and ol’ Joseph ever got together, although I’d love to be there if you do.  I have a feeling you two would either hit it off at once and become fast friends, or you’d try to kill each other the moment you met, and there’s no way in hell I’d make a bet on which one it would be.”

Laughing, Elizabeth barely heard the enunciator.  Her laughter dying down as Lieutenant Lar’ragos’ voice came through, the captain turned apologetically towards her guest, “I’m sorry, Morgan…I got caught up and…”

“That’s all right, Liz.”  The bearded captain replied with a grin, “I can see myself out.”

“No.” Shelby smiled, “Stick around; I want you to meet these people.”  Pushing a button on her desk, her ready room door slid open admitting Pava and the two cadets.  “Come in.  Be seated.”  The captain directed, gesturing at the chairs in front of her desk.  “I’d like you to meet Captain Morgan Bateson of the USS Bozeman.  Captain…” She introduced as she stepped back behind her desk, “This is Lieutenant Pava Lar’ragos…”

“The man who brought the Federation flag back from the embassy at Tsenketh,” Morgan interjected immediately recognizing Pava from the newsfeeds.  Taking the El-Aurian’s hand in his in a firm grip, he pumped it enthusiastically, “Well done, Sir.  Very well done!”

“Thank you, Captain.”  Pava replied simply as Liz continued the introductions.

“And this is Cadet T’Pren…” She said, gesturing at the lithe Vulcan woman “…and Cadet Atris Nylysa.” She concluded, introducing the impish looking green skinned, white haired Troyian woman.  “They played a big part in helping resolve the recent unpleasantness.”

“Good work.”  Bateson praised as he shook both women’s hands before returning to his seat on the sofa.

“Now, Cadets…” Liz began as she took her seat behind her desk, “As to the reason for my asking you here.”  A slight smile crossing her face, she said, “I’ve entered commendations in your records for your participation in the current crisis and have a proposal for both of you.”  Immediately catching the young women’s attention, Shelby continued, “It just so happens that when the time comes for you to take your fourth year cruises, I’ll have a couple of slots open for cadet trainees.”  Her smile broadening, she proposed, “Your grades are high enough to permit you to go out into the fleet instead of having to do your cruise on one of the dedicated cadet ships.  How would you like to do your tours on the Sutherland?”

“Hell yeah!”  The Troyian woman, leaping to her feet, responded enthusiastically, until, remembering her place, she quickly settled down, concluding with a sedate, “Yes, Sir,” as she resumed her seat.

“And you, Cadet T’Pren?”  Liz asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“While I’m definitely tempted…” The young Vulcan responded, her voice filled with genuine disappointment at having to turn down the captain’s generous offer, “…my appearance on your ship might create undue tensions and I wouldn’t want to be responsible for that.”

“While I’m sure that Mr. Varok would be able to make the adjustment…” Liz replied, accepting the youthful cadet’s reasons, “I can understand why you might want to give both of yourselves time apart to adjust…”

“Captain?”  Morgan tentatively interrupted, not wanting to push himself into a situation where he might not be welcome.

“Yes.”  Shelby answered back, her smile and nod of the head signaling to the other captain that his intrusion was not unwelcome.

“I might have a solution for you and the young cadet.” He smiled, “By the time she’s ready to go on her cadet cruise, the Bozeman’s refit should be completed and we should be done with our shakedown cruise of the Enterprise-E.  If Cadet T’Pren is willing, I’m sure I could find room on the roster for a promising young officer.  That is…” He concluded, giving the young Vulcan woman an appraising gaze, “…if the young lady doesn’t mind serving on an old Soyuz class border cruiser crewed by a pack of 23^rd century dinosaurs.”

“It’d be a good opportunity for you…”  Shelby prompted. “In the Border Service on the Bozeman—especially if you switch over to tactical/security, you’ll get a much better and more intensive hands on experience—you’ll actually be participating in—and eventually leading—boarding parties and, you’ll take an active part in a lot of the other activities that come with running a starship.  You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to use your initiative…”

“I can guarantee you that…” Captain Bateson interjected, “So, Cadet, interested?”

“I’d strongly recommend that you take the captain up on his offer…” Pava said, joining the discussion.  “And then afterwards, provided of course that you receive a favorable end of cruise evaluation from Captain Bateson, and you’re still interested, then I’ll be happy to sponsor your application for Advanced Tactical Training.  It’ll take you a little longer to get out into the regular fleet…” Pava grinned, “…but when you do you’ll come in as a Lieutenant, JG rather than an ensign and you’ll get that second solid pip that much quicker than you would otherwise.”

“What do you say, Cadet?”  Liz asked; her smile still on her face as everyone awaited the young Vulcan’s response.

Her lips turning up into a wide grin, the emotional Vulcan replied with an enthusiastic, “Yes, Sir!”  Turning first towards Captain Bateson, her smile taking the time displaced captain by surprise at first before he recalled that one of the officers on his fellow Border Service skipper’s ship was also a Vulcan who showed her emotions, “I would be honored to serve on your ship.”  Then, turning her attention towards the El-Aurian, T’Pren grinned, “Thank you, Lieutenant.  I look forward to attending the school after my tour, and I’ll have my request for a change in specialties submitted as soon as I return to the Academy.”

“Great!”  Shelby exclaimed with a wide grin on her face.  “Now that we’ve got everything settled here, everyone…scoot!  Get out of my office—I’ve got work to do!”

“Yes, Sir!”  Pava grinned, snapping off a jaunty salute as he shepherded the two young cadets out of the captain’s office, “I’ll see you later, Captain.”

“I better be going too, Liz.”  Captain Bateson remarked after the others had left.  “I’ve got a stack of paperwork on my desk too.  Thanks for the drinks and the conversation.”

 “Thank you, Morgan!”  The petite captain responded, standing up on tip toes, giving her guest a chaste kiss on his cheek.  “I didn’t realize how badly I needed the cheering up.”

“Anytime, Liz…” The time displaced captain blushed as he made his way towards the exit, calling out over his shoulder, “And don’t forget, if you need anything—just call!”

As the door slid shut behind the time displaced captain, Liz’s eyes fell first to the portrait of her grandfather on the wall and then to the holoimage of her grandparents sitting on her desk.  Sighing mournfully, she pondered the cruelty of the fates for denying her the opportunity to ever get to know those two very special people.  Picking up a padd, an image appeared in her mind of her grandfather, sitting in the center chair of his starship, data slate in his lap filling out a report as her grandmother sat at the helm of the Constitution class ship, steering it towards whatever the fates had in store.  Her lips turning up into a slight smile as she turned to her own reports, Shelby remarked in a voice barely above a whisper, “I guess it’s true.  The more things change…the more they remain the same.”

******************************************************************

Vignette 4: Paying the Piper

“And when was the decision made to execute the sabotage of the Lisbon power distribution center?”  The prosecuting attorney, Captain Phillipa Louvois, queried of the woman currently sitting in the witness dock, Captain Erika Benteen as Elizabeth Shelby, sitting in the crowded spectator section of the courtroom looked on, giving her former lover an encouraging smile.

“Immediately after Admiral Leyton and Captain Sisko’s meeting with President Inyo.”  Benteen answered, “When the President authorized only limited security measures.”

“Instead of granting to the admiral the full control that he wanted?” 

“Yes.” Erika replied, nodding her head.

Addressing the three admirals sitting on the tribunal: vice admirals Hayes and Patterson and the full admiral occupying the center chair, Admiral Marcus Holt, brought back from retirement just for this trial, the prosecuting attorney announced, “I would like to enter these log entries made by Captain Benteen as evidence.”  Pausing for a moment to take a breath, Captain Louvois continued her examination, “Captain Benteen, according to your personal log, you stated that the original planning to carry out the blackout occurred three months before the Antwerp bombing.  Is that correct?”

“Yes.” On hearing her affirmation, low murmuring began to break out amongst the courtroom.  Captain Jean-Luc Picard, sitting amongst the spectators with Doctor Beverly Crusher, shook his head sadly as the red headed doctor placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.  Elliot Mitchell, the father of the two young children who had died in a transporter mishap that occurred as a result of the sabotage of the power grid looked on silently, grim faced as his wife, Sarah, her eyes totally devoid of life, looked on with a vacant stare, totally unaware of her surroundings.

“So…” Phillipa emphasized, framing her observation as a question, “…the planning behind Admiral Leyton’s plot took place at least three months prior to the bombing?”

“Yes.”  Benteen affirmed as the murmuring grew louder, eliciting in response a bang of the gavel from the presiding judge, Admiral Holt and a call for order.

“Who else was aware of the plan to sabotage the power distribution net?”

“Besides Admiral Leyton and myself…” Benteen replied as she began ticking off names, “Admiral Barzhan, Captain Taras, Lieutenant Commander Daneeka…”

“Thank you, Captain…” Louvois interrupted, presenting another padd after Benteen had listed several other names, “This is a total listing of the conspirators who were aware of the blackout.  I would like to enter this in as evidence.”

The examination and subsequent cross examination of Captain Benteen proceeded for the next few hours until, finally completed, Admiral Holt directed the witness to return to her seat.  Banging his gavel, the admiral adjourned the court for a brief recess before the final statements.  As the defendants filed out of the courtroom, Lieutenant Commander Daneeka, seeing Captain Shelby sitting in the audience, muttered under her breath, “I should have let Shelby sit on my face—maybe then I could have gotten sent to New Zealand.”

Returning a few hours later, Admiral Holt, ringing the ship’s bell, once again called the court into session.  Taking a deep breath, Captain Louvois began her closing statement, her voice resounding throughout the courtroom, her passion growing with every word she uttered.  “Admiral Leyton, Admiral Barzhan, Captain Taras, Captain Benteen, Lieutenant Commander Daneeka, and all of the other conspirators stand accused of a litany of crimes.  Conspiracy and incitement to mutiny…sedition…manslaughter…kidnapping and wrongful imprisonment…sabotage…the lists goes on.  But all of these crimes stem from one act—an act that these individuals, not under the influence of any form of physical or mental duress, chose to do of their own free will, while fully aware of the consequences of their actions.  That act was the deliberate, premeditated violation of their oath as Starfleet officers.  Had Admiral Leyton not chosen to violate his oath, we wouldn’t be here today; and had even one of the individuals sitting amongst the accused or now currently being charged had fulfilled the obligations of their oath and come forward with this plot, then over five thousand beings who are now no longer with us would be with their families and loved ones now.  All of us who put on this uniform…” She uttered, pulling at the fabric of her red and black top, “…have been given a weighty trust by the people of the Federation.  Yes, exploration and the expansion of our body of knowledge is an important mission for Starfleet.  But even more important is Starfleet’s relationship with the people to whom it has pledged its service.  And the worst thing…the most damaging thing…that can happen…is for that trust to be abused.  These people…” She declaimed, pointing her finger at the figures sitting on the other side of the courtroom, “Have violated that trust and must be punished!”

As the prosecuting officer sat down to a smattering of “Hear…hear’s” and applause, Admiral Holt once again gaveled the courtroom to order.  Addressing the defense attorney, he invited, “You may now make your closing statement.”  Several minutes later, after the defense attorney, finally took his seat after a relatively lackluster speech, the admirals conferred amongst themselves for several minutes before Admiral Holt once again rang the ship’s bell. 

“The accused will stand.”  He announced in a grave tone as the defendants all rose to their feet.  “This court finds the accused guilty of all charges.  Captain Benteen…” He began, “…this court will confirm the prior agreement reached between you and the Judge Advocate General’s office.  You are hereby immediately reduced in rank to crewman recruit and sentenced to a period of imprisonment not to exceed five years. Sentence to be served in the New Zealand Penal Colony.  You are also reminded that the terms of your plea agreement remain in effect throughout your imprisonment—failure to honor those terms will result in your immediate transfer to the Sundancer Maximum Security Prison Colony on 61 Virginis II.”

“Lieutenant Commander Daneeka.  You are hereby immediately reduced in rank to crewman recruit and sentenced to a period of imprisonment of no more than ten years.  Sentence to be served in the Sundancer Maximum Security Prison Colony on 61 Virginis II.”  On hearing her sentence, the young Bolian woman let out a breath of air as if she had been punched in the gut.  Recovering quickly, she took a deep breath, her defiant spirit returning as she glared first at ex-captain Benteen and then at Captain Shelby, knowing that the deal brokered by the blonde captain for her former paramour had, as one of its consequences, the result of her being sent to the Supermax facility to serve as an example for the rest of the Fleet instead of Leyton’s former aide.

“Captain Taras…” On hearing his name, the shamefaced Andorian officer looked up with tearstained eyes.  “You are hereby immediately reduced in rank to crewman recruit and sentenced to a period of imprisonment of no more than ten years.  Sentence to be served in the Sundancer Maximum Security Prison Colony on 61 Virginis.”  Collapsing to his seat on hearing the harsh sentence pronounced on him, Taras’ silent tears turned into uncontrolled sobbing as the admiral continued to issue his sentences.

“Admiral Barzhan…” Holt began, his voice taking on an especially stern tone, “You were given a position of extreme trust—that of educating the next generation of Starfleet officers—and you abused that trust horribly.  Therefore, you will immediately receive a dishonorable discharge from Starfleet with the rank of ensign and will be sentenced to a period of imprisonment not to exceed ten years.  Sentence to be served in the Tantalus V Penal Colony.”

“Admiral Leyton…while it is clear to all that you bear the responsibility for orchestrating this plot, your prior record of distinguished service to Starfleet and the Federation must be taken into account.  Therefore, you will receive a general discharge from Starfleet with the rank of captain and are sentenced to a period of imprisonment not to exceed five years.  Sentence to be served in the New Zealand Penal Colony.”  Gaveling the court to order as many within the audience expressed their displeasure at the lenient sentence handed out to the originator of the conspiracy; Admiral Holt announced in a loud and clear voice as he rang the ship’s bell, “These proceedings are hereby closed.”

Turning towards his good friend, Captain Picard, standing up, remarked somberly, “In all my years, Beverly, I don’t think I’ve ever been more ashamed of this uniform.” Shaking his head, he noted sadly, “What Leyton planned…what he did…I’m not sure which is the worse act…his scheme—or Admiral Cartwright’s plan to start a war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.”

“What counts, Jean-Luc…” Dr. Crusher consoled, “…is that in both cases Starfleet officers of principle stood up and took action.  Don’t ever forget that.”

“You’re right, Beverly…” The distinguished captain responded before sounding a cautionary note.  “But what happens on that day when there is no one there—either through cynicism, apathy, or fear—to take action?”

“I don’t think that day will ever come.”  The red headed doctor answered back confidently, “But if it should…” She amended, carefully considering her answer, “…then on that day we are truly lost.”

********************************************************************

Vignette 5: Reunions

“Goddammit to hell, Jadz!”  Liz Shelby cried out, pacing angrily up and down her ready room in front of the luxurious black sofa where her best friend, Jadzia Dax sat looking on with an amused expression on her face and a glass of Trillian aurea in her hand.  “Frinx!  I knew Leyton was going to skate and it still pisses me off every time I think about it!”

“You know…” The raven haired Trill remarked, “I just had this same discussion with Captain Sisko.”  Coolly sipping her drink, Jadzia commented, “It sucks…I know.  But what other outcome did you expect?  It’s obvious that Leyton had people outside Starfleet supporting him—powerful people.”  Drawing off her prior hosts’ Lela’s and Curzon’s experiences in the political arena, Dax speculated, “I’d bet that some of those friends of his are sitting right now on the Federation Council.”

“Yeah…” Liz replied, calming down as she ordered a rum and cola from the replicator, “You’re right.”  Shaking her head, the blonde captain joined her friend on the sofa, “I suppose we should be grateful that his coup didn’t succeed.  Otherwise we could be finding ourselves in the middle of a civil war right now.”

Nodding her head in agreement, Jadzia took another sip from her glass, “Yeah.  The Founders would have loved that—us doing their work for them.”  Finishing her drink, she set it down.  “So…what’s on your agenda for the day?  The beach?”  She smiled, “A casino?  Dancing?”

“I wish!”  Liz sighed melodramatically.  “No…my day’s about to get even worse than it is already.”  She groaned, gulping down her rum and cola, “I’m going home to see my father.”

***********************************************************************

“Welcome to The Nest!”  DeMara Deen smiled as she escorted her old friend from the Academy, Anara Rysyl into the lounge, both Tenarian and Deltan attracting more than their fair share of eyetracks as they made their way to a nearby table.  “How long has it been, Anara?”  DeMara asked, brushing back a stray strand of golden hair as she smiled warmly at her former classmate.

“Six years.”  Anara smiled back warmly as she regarded the woman seated across from her.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make it to your awards ceremony.”  The Deltan woman remarked ruefully, “But I did read your paper—even though I couldn’t understand most of it.” 

“That makes us even for you making me sit through that lecture on Vulcan art.”  DeMara laughed as the Eagle’s bartender, Bensu, came to the table bearing drinks.

“An Antarean Sunrise for you, DeMara,” The bartender cheerfully announced, placing a glass containing the colorful beverage in front of the young Tenarian woman, “And for your lovely guest, the mysterious bartender grinned, “Mareuvian tea.”

“So…” DeMara asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, “Is it true what they say about the Sutherland?”

**********************************************************************

Materializing before the front door of the large Wyoming ranch house that Phillip and Anna Shelby called home, Elizabeth Shelby, pulling down on her red and black uniform top, took a deep breath and exhaled before pressing the enunciator beside the front door.  “Mama…” She called out announcing herself, “It’s me…Liz…”

Moments later, the door slid open to reveal a still attractive woman whose athletic and youthful appearance completely belied her over sixty years of age. Short in height, lithe, her hair mostly auburn lightly touched by just the faintest traces of gray fell loose about her shoulders.  Her eyes falling upon the petite blonde Starfleet officer standing at her threshold, the older woman cried out in joy as she embraced her daughter in a tight hug, “Lany!”  Stepping back, Anna Shelby giving her daughter an appraising look, immediately spotted the lines around her eyes, “You’ve been working too long and hard, Dragam.” She observed disapprovingly.  “Isn’t that why you have a first officer?”

“Mother!”  Elizabeth sighed melodramatically, “In case you haven’t noticed, things have been a bit…hectic recently.”

“I’m sorry, dear.”  Anna apologized, “It’s just that…”

“I understand, Mama,” Liz interjected, giving her mother a fond grin.  Looking in the house, the prodigal daughter asked, “Can I come in?”

Her face flushing a bright crimson in embarrassment, Anna replied, “Of course, my lany!  I’m sorry…it’s just I’m so glad to see you...”

Entering, for the first time in years, her old home, Elizabeth’s eyes moistened as she whispered in a soft voice, “I forgot how beautiful this place is.” 

“You’re always welcome here, dear.”  Anna answered back as she guided her daughter to the sofa.

“Where’s father?”  Elizabeth asked, her voice taking on a slightly harder edge as she sat down on the plush couch, “I thought he was going to be here.”

“I’m sorry, dear…” Anna replied regretfully, “He’s got someone with him right now…”

“I see things haven’t changed at all.”  Liz growled as she began to turn back towards the door, “I’m sorry, Mama…I knew it was a mistake to even try.”

“No!”  Anna cried out, her eyes moistening, “Dragam…wait! Please.  He’ll come out.  I haven’t seen you in such a long time.  Please…” She begged, patting the sofa next to her, “Sit down…talk to me.  I want to hear all about what you’ve doing…”

Brushing the tears from her eyes, the younger woman walked back to the couch.  Sitting down next to her mother, Elizabeth’s lips turned up into a sad smile, “Sure, Mama…”

**********************************************************************

“Is what true about the Sutherland?” Anara asked in a playful tone as she sipped her drink.

“I was just curious about all the stories I’ve heard.”  DeMara replied with a grin.  “Whether there was any truth to them or just the usual tall tales that you hear.”

“Probably a little bit of both.”  Anara quipped, laughing merrily.  “If you want to know whether it’s a nonstop party on the ship, then the answer is most definitely, no.  We’re like any other ship—we have our good days and our bad days and our jobs come first.  But…” she added, her voice now taking on a note of fondness, “…we do like to relax after our work is done and well…” the olive skinned Deltan said in a teasing voice, “…we can be quite…creative…about how we have our fun.”

“I’m sure!”  DeMara laughed and then commented with a wide grin, “I think that’s good.”  Her thoughts now turning nostalgic, the young Tenarian asked in a fond voice, “Have you seen or heard anything from Jonar?”

Her mind flashing back to her years in the Academy, Anara, after several moments of reflection, finally placed the name with a face.  “Jonar Arik?”  Seeing her old classmate’s nod of the head in response, Anara replied in an apologetic tone, “Not since graduation.  I believe…” she recalled, “…that he was assigned to the Columbus and that they were going on a long range exploration mission into the Beta Quadrant. 

“Oh!” DeMara exclaimed, “That’s right!  Still…” she said in a slightly wistful tone, “It’d be nice to hear from him—he was…comfortable…to be around.” 

Chuckling, Anara jibed, “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard of one of us being described as being ‘comfortable’ to be around.”  Smiling gratefully as Bensu replaced their drinks, the olive skinned Deltan inquired of her old friend, “So, DeMara…how have you been doing?”

************************************************************************

Laughing at a story her mother had told her about her youth, Liz looked at her chronometer, seeing how much time had passed, she shook her head as her voice took on a grim tone, “Mama…he’s not coming.”

“No, Lany…don’t go!”  Anna pleaded as she stood up, motioning towards her husband’s combination office-den towards the rear of the house.  “Come on…” She entreated with renewed determination, tugging at her daughter’s sleeve, “I don’t care if he’s still in his meeting, we’re interrupting him.”

“All right, Mama!”  Elizabeth sighed resignedly, “We’ll go…”  As the two women walked towards Philip Shelby’s office, they heard two voices, one belonging to a stranger, while the other’s was most definitely that of the Shelby patriarch.

“So…can we count on you?”

“I’m not sure…” Shelby’s father replied, his voice taking on a skeptical quality, “While I do agree with a lot of your goals…I’m not sure I’m what you’re looking for.”

“You’re exactly what we’re looking for!”  The stranger exclaimed, his voice flattering and unctuous.  “A retired starship captain—the former captain of the USS Roosevelt—the man whose actions played a pivotal role in the defeat of the Tsen’kethi at the Battle of Acheron!   You’d be the perfect candidate!”

“Candidate? Candidate for what?”  Liz whispered to her mother as the two women withdrew out of sight range while still remaining close enough to listen in to the conversation.  Taking her mother’s shrug of the shoulder and shake of the head as an ‘I don’t know’, the young daughter continued her eavesdropping.

“Still…” Philip Shelby demurred, his voice now taking on a harder edge, “Even should I decide to run…there’s the issue of my…daughter…”

Immediately picking up on her father’s scorn as he mentioned that word, Elizabeth almost turned and walked away, stopping at the last moment as the stranger once again spoke.  “Don’t worry.  Dealing with her situation is easy.  We’ll just have one of our planted reporters ask you about it once you announce.  All you have to do then is publicly declare that you’ve had nothing to do with her for the past ten years and that you will continue to have nothing to do with her as long as she insists on engaging in her scandalous behavior, but that if she repents and promises to reform herself that you’ll welcome her back with the open arms of a loving father.  That’ll immunize you from any opposition attacks while at the same time putting forth the image of a loving, longsuffering father willing to forgive his prodigal daughter.  It’ll be great for votes.”

Not wanting to hear the rest of the conversation, Liz, tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned away, dashed out of the house, her mother close on her heels.  “Lany!  Lany!  Please!”  Anna cried out sobbing as her daughter moved her hand to her comm badge.  “Wait!”  Hesitating for a brief moment, Elizabeth brushed the tears away from her eyes.   

“Mother…” The younger woman sobbed, “Did you know?”

“About what just happened?”  Anna replied, shaking her head, “No.” 

Then, her forehead crinkled in thought, the older woman continued, “But a lot of his recent behavior makes more sense now.”

“What do you mean?”  Liz asked; her hand dropping from her chest to her side.

“He’s had a lot of meetings with people recently—most often with this Trill…” Anna said, “This is the first time they’ve met here though.  Normally they go into town.  And this is the first time I’ve ever heard him mention even the possibility of running for any sort of political office.”

“I wonder what sort of office he could be running for?  Unless…” Liz conjectured, “It’s for one of the open seats for the planetary council. And from there…” The blonde captain gasped, “…he could be eligible to run for the Federation Council.”  Shaking her head in disbelief, she exclaimed, “But he’s never shown any interest in politics before!”

“That changed…” Anna explained, “…when all this stuff with the changelings and the Dominion began.  A year ago he began talking about how dangerous the Dominion is and how weak and soft the Federation had gotten.  I just ignored it.  Do you think?”  Anna gasped, her eyes widening in panic, “That he might have had something to do with what Leyton did?”

“No.”  Liz quickly responded, squeezing her mother’s hand, “His name wasn’t on any of the lists and he wasn’t mentioned by any of the other conspirators.”

Sighing in relief, Anna, tears rolling down her cheeks, squeezed her daughter’s hand in return, “Thank you, Lany.”

“Mama…” Liz said in a low voice, “I have to go now.  But please, do me a favor?”

“Of course, Dragam!” Anna answered back, smiling through her tears, “What is it?”

“Let me know if you find out anything else about these friends of father’s, would you? I might not care too much for him…” She growled, barely restraining herself from sneering in front of her mother, “But, for what it’s worth, he is my father.”  Her harsh expression gentling, she added, “And I do love you.”  Her expression hardening once again, “And I’ve already decided that I hate them.”  She concluded, referring to her father’s mysterious friends.  Taking her mother’s gentle nod of the head as assent, Liz kissed the older woman on the cheeks as she touched her comm badge, “Shelby to Sutherland…one to beam up.”

*********************************************************************

“I’ve been doing well.”  DeMara replied, smiling as she took another sip from her drink.  Captain Owens…Michael…is a great captain and I love working with my crewmates.  There’s just so much to do and see!”  She exclaimed enthusiastically, her smile broadening.  Turning the focus back on her companion, the Tenarian asked, “So…is there anyone special in your life right now?”

“You know I’ve taken that damned Oath.”  Anara answered back, the faintest note of venom in her voice on her mentioning the Celibacy Oath.

“I know how much you hate that thing and how much more you hate the inhibitors, but that’s not what I asked.”  DeMara countered with a teasing grin, “I asked you if there was anyone—or anyones—special in your life right now!”

“Maybe…” Anara replied, a slight tremble to her voice, “If he can ever let go of his past…”

Reaching across the table, DeMara took her friend’s hand in hers, “It’s hard, isn’t it, competing with a memory.”

“You have no idea…” Anara sighed, “And what makes it worse is that I can remember every feeling he’s ever had for her…her smile…her laugh…the softness of her skin.  And I can remember his pain when she died and the emptiness that’s filled his soul since then.”

“Have you talked to him about it?”  DeMara gently probed, brushing back a stray lock of her hair.

“It’s not something you can easily talk about…” Anara said, shaking her head, “The intensity of his feelings…the depth of his loss.  He keeps it all locked in behind a mask of stoicism that would rival that of even a kolinhar master.”

“Then…” DeMara said in gentle, sympathetic tone, “You have to make a decision.  Is being with him is worth the pain and difficulty that chipping through that mask of his is going to take?”

“I know…” Anara responded as she and her Tenarian friend stood up, “And it’s a decision I’m going to have to make on my own.”  Smiling at DeMara as the pair made their way out of the Nest and towards the Eagle’s transporter room, the olive skinned Deltan said her goodbyes, “Thank you, DeMara…it has been good seeing you again.”

Smiling back at her former Academy classmate, DeMara Deen answered back, “It’s been good seeing you too…only next time…let’s not wait six years before we talk to each other again.

***********************************************************************

Stepping off the transporter pad, Liz strode straight towards her quarters, looking neither left nor right as she made her way through the corridors of her ship, acknowledging her crew’s greetings with a brusque nod or muttered “Hello.”  Her thoughts raced as images of Leyton, Erika, Sisko, Daneeka, Professor Davin, Admiral Hanson, her mother, and her father, her grandparents, all flooded her mind, each calling out to her.  Reaching her accommodations, the captain first ordered champagne from the replicator and then commanded the computer in a sharp voice, “Connect me with Sandy Moore and Jason Phillips in New Greenwich Village, New York and display on my wall monitor.” 

“Lizzy!”  Sandy called out as she saw her lover’s image on her monitor.  “Jason’s not here, Honey—he’s performing over at The Cycle.  Are you all right, Baby?  We’ve been following what’s been happening on the newsnet—that’s why we haven’t bothered you—we figured you were too busy and all…”

“I’m ok, Sandy…” Liz answered back as she set her champagne down on the end table by her bed, “I’m better than ok…” She grinned wickedly as she pulled off her top.  “In fact, honey…I was thinking…that since Raul had to cancel his party, we should have one of our own…”

“You mean…” Sandy squealed as her eyes took in the sinful look on the blonde captain’s face.

“That’s right, baby…” Liz answered back, “We’re going to have the biggest blast of the year!”

***********************************************************************

Vignette 6: Pajama Party

“A pajama party!”  Jadzia Dax exclaimed, blinking as she looked up from her seat on the comfortable sofa in her friend, Captain Elizabeth Shelby’s, ready room.  “Are you sure that’s such a good idea, Liz?  You remember what happened the last time you threw one of those?  Tom Paris crashing the party and you not knowing he was a cadet at the time…”

“Or that he was Admiral Paris’s son…” Liz blushed as she sipped her drink, “Yeah…yeah…I know…” Her lips turning up into a wicked grin, she quipped, “As I recall you were having a good time too with that Andorian…”  Looking down at her old friend, Liz pleaded with her eyes as well as her voice, “Come on, Jadz!  Say you’ll come…please!  It won’t be the same without you!”

Letting out an exasperated sigh, the raven haired Trill, tossing down her drink, agreed, “All right, Liz…I’ll be there!  You know I’ve never been one to turn down a good party.”

“Great!”  Shelby grinned, “You can go on ahead and tell Ben, Nerys, Julian, and the Chief they’re invited too.”

“Ok…” Dax agreed, “But I don’t think Ben’ll be able to make it.  He wanted to spend some more time with his father before we had to ship back out again.”  Holding her hand out as her friend freshened her drink, Jadzia asked, “So…who else are you inviting to this little party?”

Her grin growing even wider, Elizabeth answered, “Well…”

***********************************************************************

“Hmmm…” Commander Eugene Edison vocalized as he opened the message that he had just received from Captain Shelby, “Computer?” He inquired, “What is a ‘pajama party’?”

***********************************************************************

“This sounds like fun!”  DeMara Deen chuckled as she showed her invitation to Captain Michael Owens.  Seeing a copy of the invitation that she had just received in the Eagle’s captain’s hands, the golden haired Tenarian asked, “So…what are you going to wear?”

“I’m afraid I can’t make it…” Owens replied.  Seeing the crestfallen look on the younger woman’s face, Michael smiled warmly, “I’ve already made plans to meet up with some friends and go diving off the Great Barrier Reef.  But…” He said, his smile growing wider, “You go and have a good time.”

“You sure?”  DeMara asked, her voice wavering.

“Yes.”  Owens affirmed, nodding his head vigorously.  “Go on and have a good time and don’t worry about me—I can promise you that I’m going to have the time of my life.”

“Ok…” The youthful Tenarian replied, reluctantly turning away from the man who had become almost a father to her, “If you’re sure.”  Her smile returning, she giggled, “I’ve got to go find something to wear.”

************************************************************************

“That will definitely make an impression!”  Pava Lar’ragos leered from the comfortable double bed in which he lay as Nyota Dryer modeled a white lace corset for him.

“You sure?”  The lovely ebony-skinned New Kenyan replied flirtatiously, thrusting her chest out at him, “I was going to go with a chemise…”

“No…no…” The El-Aurian quickly responded, “It’s perfect.  Now…” He said, his leer returning, “Why don’t you slip out of it and get back in bed?”  As his beautiful bed-partner slowly stripped off her corset, Pava, admiring her sensuous movements smirked inwardly, Terrence Glover…you let this one get away from you?  You really are an ass.

************************************************************************

“What is a pajama party?”  Atris asked as she looked up at her Vulcan roommate who had also received an invitation.

Chuckling, T’Pren answered, “It’s a party where you come dressed in your nightwear—hence the term ‘pajama party’.

“But…” The young Troyian giggled, “You know I don’t wear anything when I go to bed.   And I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to go to the party naked…”

Her lips curled up in a wicked grin, T’Pren quipped, “While I don’t think Captain Shelby would mind, it probably wouldn’t be…appropriate…for this occasion.”  Calling up a display on her padd, she showed it to her roommate, “Why don’t you try this one on?”

“Oooohhh…” Atris replied, “That looks nice.”  Handing the padd back to her roommate, she asked, “What are you going to wear?”

“I was thinking about this…” The young Vulcan answered back, showing her friend the image that she had called up.

“This is going to be fun!”  Atris exclaimed as the two young cadets began making their plans.

**********************************************************************

As a pensive Morgan Bateson read the invitation in his hand, the wise captain nodded his head knowingly.  Turning towards his executive officer, Bateson cleared his throat, “Gabe? I’m going to have to take a pass on our card game tonight—I just got an invite to a party.”

***********************************************************************

Her body flowing with the beat, Liz, for the first time in days feeling truly, genuinely free danced as one of her lovers, Jason, playing a replicated Fender Stratocaster, looked down on her and Sandy, the Junoesque blonde woman dancing with her that both lovers shared.  As he and his band launched into an extended dance instrumental, the dancers’ movements became even more sensuous as the rhythm from the bands’ music took control until, their number finished, the band finished with a final flourish that left nearly everyone breathless.

Leaping off the stage, Jason rushed towards his lovers, kissing both of them.  “So, loves…how were we?”

Sandy, wearing a pastel blue babydoll nightie lined by faux fur, squealed as she hugged the dark haired bearded musician, “You were great baby!”

Coming up on the other side of the musician, Liz, at her most decadent tonight, wearing the almost transparent Andorian spider silk teddy that she had bought from Garak, along with a thin gossamer wrap, also embraced him, kissing him softly, “Honey…that was unbelievable.”

“Thanks, Loves.”  Jason replied, kissing both his lovers.  Scanning the room with his eyes, the British musician smiled at the revelers having a good time.  “Well, Liz…looks like you did it again.”

“Don’t I always, Baby?”  Liz responded as she hugged both of her paramours.  Breaking her embrace as she spotted her Trill friend coming towards them wearing a purple nightgown and with two full glasses of champagne in her hands, the petite captain called out, “Jadzia!  Over here!”

“Great party, Liz!”  Jadzia exclaimed as she handed her friend one of the champagne glasses.  Turning towards the roguishly handsome bearded Englishman standing to one side of her friend, the raven haired Trill complimented, “Great set, Jason.”

“That was nicely done.”  A voice with an English accent interjected.  Turning towards the source of the voice, Jason and the others saw a blonde haired, hazel eyed man conservatively clad in simple pajamas accompanied by a golden haired Tenarian woman wearing a pink low cut, chemise.

Immediately recognizing the blond Englishman from his time at Julliard, a wide smile appeared on Jason’s face, “Gene, old boy!  It’s been too long!  So…what are you doing now?”  His eyes then resting on the fair features of the Tenarian woman, the British musician asked, his manner now slightly flirtatious, “And who is this lovely woman?”

“DeMara…DeMara Deen.”  The young Tenarian replied with a smile.

“She’s the Eagle’s science officer.” Eugene supplied.

“So, Gene…” Liz interjected, smirking inwardly as she noticed her male lover beginning to flirt outrageously with the Tenarian woman, “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“It’s different…” Eugene replied, shifting about uncomfortably as his eyes took in the blonde captain’s dress…or rather lack thereof.  “But fun.”  He quickly added.

“Come on, Gene…isn’t it?”  Jadzia Dax prompted taking the Englishman by the arm as she chuckled inwardly at his vain efforts at hiding his discomfiture, “I’m famished, want to come with me to get something to eat?”  Not giving the first officer, now looking over his shoulder protectively at DeMara, who was at that moment laughing at a joke the charismatic Jason was telling her, a chance to protest, the raven haired Trill led him away.  “You look like you needed rescuing.” She whispered conspiratorially, “Don’t worry, Liz won’t hold it against you.”  Her expression now taking on a more concerned demeanor, she added, “And don’t worry about your friend.  Jason won’t do anything she doesn’t want to do.  Besides…” She chuckled, “If he did, Liz and Sandy would kill him.”

“Oh, I know.”  Eugene smiled back, “I know Jason from before I joined Starfleet.  He’s an outrageous skirt chaser, but he’s also a gentleman.”

“I see you do know Jason.”  Jadzia quipped back, laughing.  “So tell me, Gene…what’s life like on the Eagle?”

*********************************************************************

“That was fun!”  Nyota Dryer grinned as she led her companion for the evening, Pava Lar’ragos to a quiet area where a small group of people were gathered sitting or lying on cushions. 

Making himself comfortable one of the larger cushions, the El-Aurian security officer pulled his lover for the evening down on his lap.  Smirking as he observed a door sliding shut behind a couple, he joked, “At least this time Liz made sure there are plenty of rooms for people to sneak off to.”

“Yeah…” Nyota smiled back as she snuggled up close to the curly haired Pava, “I’ve got a great boss, don’t I?”

**********************************************************************

Licking her lips as she took in the sight of Manuele Atoa, the bare-chested Sutherland tactical officer who was at that moment juggling flaming torches to the beat of drums, Atris Nylysa was having the time of her life.  “Mmmmm…” The white haired Troyian beauty purred as idle fantasies rushed through her head.  “I’d love to start with that chest and work my way down…”

“Forget it, Sugar…” Her reverie broken, Atris pouted as she turned her head towards the voice, a tall, blonde haired buxom woman wearing a white babydoll nightie held up only by the woman’s ample chest.  “That hunk of beef is already spoken for.”   Seeing the confusion on the green skinned woman’s face the other woman flashed a wide, friendly grin, “Hi!  I’m Angela…Angela Barrows, but everyone calls me Treasure and this here…” Her smile growing wider, she motioned towards another woman, also blonde haired, wearing a fringed chemise; “Is my best friend, Candy.”

“Hi…I’m Atris…” The lovely cadet replied, shaking the other women’s hands.  “Are you two from the Sutherland?”

“Hell yeah!”   Treasure answered back, her smile still on her face, “Hey…I think I heard about you!  You’re that caydet that’s gonna be joinin’ us in a few months—right?”

“Yeah…” Atris said, nodding her head.

“Well then, Sugar, welcome aboard.  But don’t you have a friend—a Vulcan girl?” Treasure asked, her eyes scanning the giant hall

“T’Pren…” Atris supplied helpfully, “Yeah…” She said, a smirk forming on her face as she spotted her roommate cozying up to a human female, “But I think she’s kind of busy right now.” She said as she saw the young Vulcan and her new acquaintance make their way towards the back rooms, arm in arm.
 

Laughing, the buxom engineer quipped, “Yep…looks like she’s gonna be busy for a while.”  Then, spotting several attractive young men laughing and joking, she grinned, “What say we go over to those guys and see if we can’t get ‘busy’ ourselves?”

***********************************************************************

“Looks like everyone’s having a good time.”  Sandy whispered as she nuzzled Liz’s neck.

“Mmmmm…” The blonde starship captain purred, gasping in pleasure as her female lover nibbled her ear.  Moaning in protest as Sandy pulled out of their embrace; she was soon consoled by a gentle caress.

“I’ve got to go powder my nose and then hunt down Jason, Baby…” The Junoesque blonde sculptress purred, “Then I think it’s time for us to sneak off to one of the rooms.”  Her eyes twinkling mischievously, she added in a hopeful voice, “Maybe he’ll bring along that Tenarian girl and her friend?”

Remembering what she had read and heard about Commander Edison and his companion, Liz smiled as she shook her head, “I kind of doubt they’re going to want to join us…but…” she smirked as she saw another couple...an attractive man and women whom she didn’t recognize as being members of her crew, “….maybe they’ll want to join us?”

“Hmmm…” Sandy vocalized, “That’d be nice.”  Giving her lover a kiss, she smiled as she turned to walk away, “We’ll be back!”

“Good party, Liz.”  Turning at the sound of the familiar baritone voice, Shelby grinned widely, “Morgan!  I’m glad you could make it!”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”  The bearded captain replied with a toothy grin.  His smile vanishing, he asked in a quiet voice, “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“Sure.”  Liz replied as she led her friend to an unoccupied balcony.  Motioning for him to sit down next to her on a short white marble bench, she asked as she looked up into his eyes, “What’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, the time displaced captain responded, “I talked with your mother yesterday…shortly after you left her.  She told me all about what happened.”

Sighing, Liz took a sip of her champagne as she looked fondly on the man beside her, “Yeah…I kind of thought she’d give you a call.”  Shaking her head, she said in a sad voice, “I don’t know what to say, Morgan.  Every time I’ve tried…every time I’ve reached out…and…did Mama tell you what he said?  The way he said…’daughter’…it sounded like he was spitting the word out.  Like he wished I didn’t even exist.”

“Yeah…” Bateson sighed, “She did.  I don’t know what to say, Liz…”

“I’m not going to change because of him.”  Shelby declared, her eyes flashing defiance.  “If he can’t accept me for who and what I am…then…”

“Then that’s his problem.  Not yours.”  Morgan finished, nodding his head in agreement.  “All you can do, Liz…” The time displaced captain advised, “Is be true to yourself.  You’ve got plenty of friends and people who love you…and your mother loves you too.”  His face now taking on the demeanor of a loving father, Bateson pleaded, “Whatever you do, Liz…please…don’t cut her out of your life.”

“I won’t.”  Liz promised as she wiped away a tear, “Not anymore.”

“Good.”  Bateson smiled, “Now, I think we need to get back to the party, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”  Liz replied, returning her friend’s smile, “Jason and Sandy are probably waiting for me and…” She said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“You trying to set me up, Liz?”  Morgan asked in a playful voice.

“Mmmm…” Shelby teased as she shrugged her shoulders, “…could be…”

************************************************************************

“Morgan Bateson…this is Denise Murakawa…” Elizabeth introduced, “Denise is my chief medical officer.”

“Doctor…” Bateson uttered, politely offering his hand.

“Denise…please…” The doctor replied, her attractive floor length lacy black nightgown along with the silver crucifix hanging from her neck giving the Japanese-Centauran woman an air of elegance.

“Denise it is then.” The bearded captain smiled, “And it’s Morgan here.”

“Well…” Liz grinned as she spotted Jason and Sandy waving at her, standing beside the couple her and Sandy had seen earlier, “I’ll let you two get better acquainted.”  Hugging Morgan tightly, she kissed the time displaced man on the cheek.  “Thank you, Morgan—for everything.”

“Any time, Liz…” He whispered back, “Any time.”

***********************************************************************

“Well, look at what the cat drug in!” Captain Owens remarked as first DeMara Deen and then his first officer lumbered bleary eyed into the Eagle’s mess area, both of them heading straight for the replicators.  As DeMara ordered a cup of hot tea and Eugene ordered a huge mug of black coffee, he asked, “Did the two of you have a good time?"

Taking a sip of her tea, the Tenarian woman smiled, “Yeah…it was fun.”

Shaking his head as he remembered Shelby dressed in the spider silk teddy and then her walking off with her two lovers and another couple into one of the rooms, Eugene groaned through his hangover, “It’s true, Michael…it’s all true…”

********************************************************************

Waking up next to her El-Aurian lover, Nyota gently kissed him, “C’mon baby, it’s time to go.”

“Yeah…” Pava replied with a wry grin, “…you’re right.  All good things…”

“Must end…” Nyota finished ruefully as she looked down on the attractive man lying next to her.  “But…” She smiled as she caressed his cheek, “I guess they can wait one or two more hours.”

**********************************************************************

Lying next to one of the young men she had met at the party, Atris smiled as she remembered how easily she had bonded with both Treasure and Candy, very quickly becoming the third member of their little group.  Yep…she thought as she lay there, watching as her lover’s chest rose and fell, I’m going to like it on the Sutherland.

***********************************************************************

As T’Pren lay in the arms of the red headed human woman she had met at the party, she sighed contentedly.  For now, for this moment, the anger of her parents and family and her ostracism from Vulcan society did not bother her.  For this moment, all was right with the universe.  The moment wouldn’t last, T’Pren knew, but while it did, she was going to enjoy it.  Looking into her lover’s eyes, the young Vulcan woman’s lips turned up into a slight smile as she gently kissed her.  This moment, T’Pren decided, belonged to her.

************************************************************************

Waking up next to her good friend, Dr. Julian Bashir, Jadzia Dax quickly looked down, sighing with relief as she discovered that both of them were still fully dressed—well—as dressed as two people wearing their night clothes could be—she thought wryly as she nudged her friend back into wakefulness, “Come on, Julian…wake up.  We’ve got to find Chief O’Brien and get back to the Defiant.”  Shaking her head, she added in a slightly worried tone, “And let’s hope he didn’t do something he shouldn’t have.  The last I saw of him, he and Treasure were on the floor dancing.”  Several moments later, Jadzia sighed in relief as she spotted Chief O’Brien slumped over the bar, peacefully sleeping off the night’s revelry.  “Thank heavens!”  Jadzia exclaimed as she woke the chief up, “For a moment I was afraid I was going to be the cause of you and your wife’s divorce!  Come on…we better get back or Ben’s going to have us all up on charges.”

**********************************************************************

Feeling the warmth of its rays, Denise Murakawa gasped in delight at the sight of sun rising on the horizon.  “I can’t believe we talked all night!”  She exclaimed, turning her attention back to the man sharing the marble bench with her.

“I’m sorry…” Morgan Bateson said apologetically, “I didn’t mean to keep you up all night…”

“No…” Denise protested, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it gently, “I had fun…I enjoyed it and I loved your stories…especially those about your time on the Lexington.”

Chuckling, the roguishly handsome captain replied with self effacing modesty, “I think you and Liz are the only ones who do.”

“Well…” Dr. Murakawa pronounced, “That means that I and Captain Shelby are the only ones with any taste.  Seriously…” She said in a soft voice, “I enjoyed myself.”

“I did too.”  Morgan replied with a gentle grin as he stammered, “I hope…well…I know it’s not always the easiest thing…but it would be nice if we could…get together again.”

“I think I’d like that.” Denise answered back, her lips turning up into a shy smile as Morgan gently tilted her head up and kissed her tenderly, their lips gently grazing.

**********************************************************************

Waking up naked in the middle of the bed that she shared with Jason on one side of her and the woman they had just met on the other, Liz glanced down to the foot of the king-sized bed to see her other lover, Sandy, in the embrace of the man—David—Liz recalled as she remembered the night of complete abandon they all shared.  As she looked up at the ceiling, Liz replayed the conversation her father had with the strange man that she and her mother had overheard and then her mind flashed back to the talk that she had with Morgan Bateson. 

Her eyes taking on a determined look, the blonde captain vowed, speaking softly so as not to awaken the others slumbering peacefully, “Father.  I will not change for you or anyone else.  If you love me—then love me for who I am.  If not—then you can go to hell.  I am my own person and for better or worse, whether you like it or not, I’m going to be who I am.”

******************************************************************

Star Trek: Sutherland

Index