PARTY OF FOUR
Part Four
There was a wonderful party ambience buzzing in Tom’s quarters. He had programmed the perfect selection of old party tunes and the illumination was dimmed appropriately. Tuvok was in the corner with the doctor, trying hard to discreetly bend backward to avoid contact with the EMH’s animated gestures. Neelix was standing over the table inspecting both the food and its presentation. He picked up a snack and munched on it with a thoughtful expression on his face. Harry was busy putting the beer that Tom was replicating into a tub full of ice, but was happily falling behind. The captain and commander had left the bridge ten minutes ago and were expected as soon as they ditched their uniforms and got into civvies like the rest of them. B’Elanna was standing in the middle of the room with Seven. She looked shell-shocked but Seven appeared to be her usual calm self. A closer look at the Borg would have revealed the new twinkle in her blue eyes that betrayed her composure.
The buzzer sounded and Tom called for the doors to open. The command team came laughing into the room and two beers were immediately slapped into their hands. The doctor wondered again how they always looked younger when they were together and out of uniform but, as usual, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Be turned towards them and gave them a stiff wave of greeting before grabbing Seven’s sweater and pulling her into another corner.
"You mean that’s why you’re wearing normal clothes?" she hissed.
"Well, not specifically, Lieutenant. I just found that I had no desire to squeeze into another bodysuit when we returned to Voyager. I have acquired a taste for looser clothing."
"Well, you look great, Seven, but that’s not what I mean. Are you saying that you and Harry are an item?"
"I have no idea – what is an ‘item’?"
"Seven," the frustrated Klingon growled, "Cut it out! I can add two and two together and that kiss in the transporter room when you were both beamed up and then him calling you a pet name just a minute ago gives me four! He finally nailed you – don’t deny it!"
Seven sighed but her eyes still danced. "I must have the doctor give me a lesson on vernacular language. If you mean, Lieutenant, that Harry and I have reached an agreement on our mutual intimate lives, then you are, indeed, correct."
"I knew it! Harry always said that your resistance was futile! But what does "Little One" stand for?"
"Well," said Seven with satisfaction as she turned to go greet the new arrivals. "Let’s just say that it doesn’t refer to any part of Harry."
"Tom, just how did you and B’Elanna figure out that the readings you were receiving were based on a counterpoint calculation? I mean, it’s not exactly a common phenomenon."
Harry and Tom were replicating yet another round of beer - very exuberantly. The party was in its third hour and their natural enthusiasm, not to mention the beer, was catching up to them. Their lower legs were soaked from the ice water made from the melted ice in the bucket and the carpet was starting to squish. Tuvok decided from across the room to keep one eye on them – it wouldn’t do to have two senior officers relegated to the brig on such a happy occasion.
"Harry, I have no idea. We were just sitting in the messhall trying to eat but we just didn’t have the stomach for it, you know? Four of our favourite people lost on that moon, not knowing if you all were dead or alive, not knowing how to locate you let alone rescue you – I tell you, Harry, it wasn’t a fun two days."
"Well, it wasn’t a day at the beach for us, either. Although," Harry grinned, "it did have its high points."
"Points that we have yet to discuss, Harry. Especially the two that instantly come to mind."
"Watch it, Tom. If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, back off." He deliberately stamped his foot near Tom and watched in satisfaction as a tiny cascade of water hit Tom’s boot.
Tom laughed. "Oh brother, you’re dead. Say farewell to your life as you knew it, Harry; you have been officially assimilated. Anyway, we were both just sitting there, sinking into that dreary music that Neelix has started to pipe into the hall, and then Be looks up at me and says something that clicks in my brain and that was it. We were off to the races."
Harry laughed as he dropped four more bottles into the bucket.
"Careful with the backsplash, Mr Kim!" cried Neelix as he received a spray of water to his legs.
"Sorry, Neelix, wasn’t paying attention. You’re piping music into the messhall now?"
"Yes, I got the idea from Tom’s twentieth century research files. Apparently it was a very popular method back around the millennium to increase productivity and contentment. I thought I’d give it a try and report my findings to the captain when she returned."
"Contentment in the messhall, now there’s a concept," joined the doctor. "I’ll contribute to your data, Mr Neelix, with statistics on the usual upset stomachs and violent reactions from both before and after your experiment."
Tom laughed. "And I’ve got much better selections for your musak programme, Neelix. Mahler just put Be and I into a trance, for goodness sake. Next time ask me for advice first."
"You almost sound like you recognised it, Tom. I mean, if it had been Elvis Pretzlly I might believe you, but classical music? That doesn’t sound like you."
"I may not play an instrument, Harry, but I know music. I have my deeper side and it was Mahler."
"Mahler?" Commander Chakotay overheard the name and stepped into the group. "What’s this about Mahler?"
"Nothing, Chakotay. I was just telling Harry about how Be and I figured out we were dealing with a counterpoint situation but the conversation swerved into background music. This crowd just can’t keep their eye on the ball!"
Everyone laughed and Be joined in. "Well, the rest of us have been keeping our eye on the beer and it’s not getting any closer, so hurry up you men!"
Tom and Harry snapped off two cheeky salutes and shouted, "Yes Ma’am! It’s all yours!"
"Idiots!" She punched them both on their saluting arms and dragged the bucket to the makeshift bar.
Before going back to Kathryn Chakotay clapped his hand on Tom’s shoulder and said softly, "That trance you had was almost like a vision quest, Tom. You opened your mind to what was being offered, even if you didn’t recognise it. I’m putting in a commendation for you and B’Elanna tomorrow. If we hadn’t been lucky down there you two would have been the only reason the four of us are alive today. Way to go, Lieutenant."
Tom stared open-mouthed at the first officer’s retreating back. He still didn’t understand – he’d have to go over everything very carefully with B’Elanna later tonight. Well okay, tomorrow morning. Late.
"Good party, isn’t it Tuvok?"
"Indeed, Captain, it is a pleasant way to spend time with one’s friends and associates. But not too often."
Janeway laughed. "Oh Tuvok, what would I do without you?"
"I hope we never find out, Captain."
Her laugh faded into a soft smile. "Thanks for minding the store, Tuvok. I haven’t had one concern for years knowing that the command could fall to either you or Commander Chakotay. It’s not said often enough but I’m very happy to have you here on Voyager."
"Thank you, Captain, but I wouldn’t spend much time worrying about that possibility. The commander would never let you go too far afield and I am re-reading the section on regulations concerning captains going on away missions. I believe I have found one that will allow me to attach your nameplate to a cell in the brig if I feel it becomes necessary. As head of security, of course."
"Of course – I’ll keep that in mind, Commander. Although regulations have started to lose their shine for me." She looked down into her glass and her old friend watched her with a knowing expression on his face. Then suddenly her face popped back up with a bright smile.
"If I do fail to come back one day, will you do me a personal favour, Tuvok?"
"It would be my pleasure, Captain."
"Please don’t let Neelix pack my things. I’m sure he’d put my very personal things in with my official logs and wouldn’t that just shock poor Admiral Necheyev all to hell!"
Tuvok nodded knowingly. "You have my promise, Captain. And the report waiting for your perusal tomorrow morning advises that I have some training scheduled for Mr Neelix in away-mission organisation. Your next off-ship adventure will be arranged much better than this past one. Good evening, Commander Chakotay; good to have you back safely."
"Thank you, Tuvok. It’s good to be home." Chakotay had come up behind Janeway in his usual position, behind and a little to her left. She twisted her head up to look at him.
"It’s time, isn’t it?"
"Yes, Captain. It’s time."
"I guess we’d better make the rounds and say goodnight to everyone then. Tuvok, thank you again. You are a rock."
"Goodnight, Captain. Goodnight, Commander. Have a pleasant evening."
"I thought we were going to our Academy party, Chakotay. Why are we going back to your quarters?"
"It’s just for a second, Kathryn. I want to pick up something important."
He didn’t continue and Kathryn finally looked up at him. "You’re not going to tell me, are you?" she asked.
"You don’t have long to wait and besides, it’s just a detail." They reached his door and he pressed his access code. He was in and back out with two wrapped packages before she could count to ten. "Let’s go," he grinned.
The holodeck door opened with its usual heavy sound and they stepped in. Again Kathryn was confused.
"Chakotay, this is not a party." She peered around. "It’s a couple of dressing rooms!"
"That’s right, Kathryn." He shoved one of the packages into her arms. "We’ve got five minutes to change into this and then the programme converts to a good, old-fashioned Academy semester-break party. And don’t be slow because if you’re not totally dressed when it changes, I won’t be responsible for my actions."
They both hurried into a room and Chakotay heard her peal of laughter. He grinned himself as he pulled out an Academy cadet uniform, circa at least 25 years earlier. He might not fit into his old size but he felt confident that he could still wow the girls. Women. Well, hopefully the one woman who counted, at least.
He pulled his boots on and sat on the bench to wait.
The walls around him began to blur and he found himself sitting at a tiny table with three other cadets. Raucous laughter could be heard over the blaring music and his companions were obviously in a race to see who could empty those pints first. He looked around for Kathryn.
She was across the room, just standing up from a large round table of screaming girls. She was looking around dazed-like and the expression on her face was definitely one of pain.
"Computer, lower the volume of the music by ten percent." Some of the pain behind his own eyes eased and she also looked a trifle relieved, but there was still the continual sound that maintained the constant din in his head. He was just about to stand when a huge paw clapped him on his shoulder and an overflowing pint was shoved into his hand. "DRINK!" was etched permanently onto his eardrum.
The place was a madhouse. Had he programmed this party correctly? He could remember the fun he’d had and the girls he’d ……uh, met, but he couldn’t remember the pandemonium and the feeling of being in the middle of a Cardassian riot. His eyes searched her out again and found her trying to diplomatically decline the advances of a third year animal. He slammed his pint down and jumped to his feet, his chair bouncing back to hit a prostrate second year cadet on the head. As he strode across the room his mind recalled a few unexplained injuries he’d woken up with after these parties. Chairs, ey?
His fist was already flying when both Kathryn and the animal felt his approach and turned towards him. The uppercut caught the young man perfectly and Chakotay’s follow-through did the job. The cadet dropped to the floor and stayed there. They both looked at him and then up at each other.
"Good shot," she shouted.
"Thanks. I think this is all coming back to me now." He rubbed his fist.
"Yeah? What would you have done if he’d gotten up?"
"Thrown you over my shoulder and run like hell. Just how big is he, anyway." He hated yelling.
"Big enough. And a quarter Naussican, too, I’d say. Holy shit, Chakotay, he could have killed you."
"Nah. The really dirty fighting doesn’t get taught until fourth year and experience in both Starfleet and the Maquis would have saved my ass. At least, you can let me believe that."
They both looked around at the chaos. Some idiot was actually swinging naked from the light fixture of the room. Chakotay shook his head in disgust and turned to pull her away from this debauchery. He sighed.
"Kathryn, you can stop looking at him now," he yelled at her.
"What? Oh, yeah sure. Sorry. Chakotay, I don’t remember this general feeling of pandemonium – where did you get the parameters for this programme?"
"Well, my memories, of course…." he bellowed.
"That’s it? This is how you spent your Academy free time?!"
"NO! Tom helped me out, too!"
He saw her eyes roll and he just barely caught her reply. "Well, that figures!" she screeched.
"And….. well, Tuvok had some great input! Don’t forget, he taught here." His throat was on fire.
‘TUVOK?!?"
They both looked around at anarchy. There were currently two group fist fights going on – the men’s to their left and the girls’… women’s…. to their right. And for some reason the bartender was starting to throw full bottles into the crowd.
"So, this is Tuvok’s opinion of Academy parties!" she shrieked. "Chakotay, if Tuvok feels this way I think maybe it’s time we left! Who knows what his opinion is on how it works its way to the end!"
He grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the main doors. "I’m way ahead of you, Kathryn. Whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand. Let’s get the hell out of here!"
They almost made it. They were within fifteen feet of the exit when the two main doors swooshed open.
A gang of at least twenty young men and women barged in, eyes lit with purpose and each holding a blunt instrument. Who or what the hell did they represent in Tuvok’s warped brain?
Fifteen minutes later Chakotay and Kathryn stumbled across the gracious lawns of Starfleet Academy. Their uniforms were ripped and their faces and hair were disheveled, but there was no mistaking their laughter. Finally they came to the dorm and stopped at the door.
Chakotay pulled her towards him, smiling down at her with tenderness. He let his fingers trace around her face and then bent down to kiss her gently. He didn’t draw away when it was over.
"You’re one hell of a fun date, Janeway," he whispered.
She kept her eyes closed as she smiled. "And you sure know how to show a girl a good time, Chakotay."
"Well, that’s my plan," he said as he began to kiss her along her jaw. "Your place or mine, Kathryn?"
She threw her head back and he continued his ministrations on her neck and throat, slyly unfastening her tunic. "Well, if you programmed this from any of my records, I’m afraid I had three roommates."
"That could be fun, too," he murmured in her ear.
She brought her own mouth up to his ear, and after a nibble that sent a shiver through him, she whispered. "Mister, you haven’t even proven that you can handle me yet, so don’t get too ambitious."
"Okay," he said softly. "I’ll just practise on you." And, before she could answer he put a hand behind her neck and bent his face down to cover her mouth with a kiss. She didn’t back off and he slowly parted his lips and flicked his tongue in a silent command. Her mouth opened to receive him and her arms snaked around his neck. Suddenly, he pulled her tightly against himself and let his other hand cup her bottom, gently stoking and squeezing it. Just as his hand started sliding up over her hip and in under her tunic, she stiffened and pushed him away.
"Chakotay," she gasped, "take me to bed. Now."
He pressed the entrance code and then they were out of the lift, speeding to his door. With one smooth action he lifted her over his threshold and pushed her up against the wall. In another second her tunic and vest were on the floor and he had both of her hands held firmly above her head while his other hand pinned her. The door swooshed shut and he put his mouth against her ear.
"I love you, Kathryn." His knee separated her legs and with a quick hoist he had her straddling his thigh. He gently pushed his thigh into her and she moaned. "And I always will, don’t ever forget it." Another push, another moan. He worked his thigh rhythmically into her while he scattered open mouth kisses across her chest. His mouth found a breast and he started sucking and nipping at it through her brassiere. Her mouth opened but nothing came out except a guttural moan. She pushed her breast against his mouth and he bit down.
Her head rolled from side to side and she returned the pressure against his thigh. He dropped her trapped arms and grabbed her butt, pulling her up against his erection. She brought both of her legs around his waist and started to dig her nails through his hair and on the back of his neck. He continued to dry hump her as he groaned into her ear, "I don’t want any of your roommates, Kathryn, I just want you. You’re more than enough woman for me. Just tell me when you think I can handle you. Then I’ll take you to bed."
"Oh gawd, Chakotay, you’ve been handling me for six years now!"
He smiled against her neck. At last, she’d finally caught up. He looked into those beautiful eyes and gently lowered her to her feet. He held her close as her shaking faded away.
"Then let’s go home, Kathryn. I’m not 21 years old anymore and I don’t want to treat you like just another party girl – at least not tonight." He grinned and she couldn’t help but respond with a tiny one of her own. "Kathryn, I want you in my life and in my own bed. Can you agree to that? Can we grow old together?"
"I guess we’ll have time to do that over the next 25,000 light years," she said softly. Looking up at that precious face brought a soft smile to her own. "I love you, too, Chakotay. I think I’d better stick close to you so that you don’t get so far ahead of me again. This has been fun, but you’re right. Let’s go home."
They turned and started walking and Chakotay called for the holodeck door. Halfway down the corridor Kathryn stopped dead.
"Chakotay, our clothes! We forgot our clothes! And," she hissed, "look at us – we’re in Cadet uniforms!"
He shrugged. "Hell, no one will recognise them as that, Kathryn – don’t you realise how old they are? They’re antiques!"
She let him gather her close to him again, his arm across her shoulders, and they started walking again.
"You know what I’ve been thinking, Kathryn?"
"Yes."
He chuckled. "Not that, although I’m sure it’ll be the only thing on my mind in five minutes. But, about our wedding song…."
She raised an eyebrow. "Our wedding song?"
"UmmMmm. I think Mahler would be a good choice, don’t you?"
The End
