Thanks to SariahSariah, Commander Argus, campy, JPMod, Jokerisdaking, The Odd Little Turtle, Zaratan, surfost, daywalkr82, Ultimate Naco Topping, Taechunsa, Ezbok58a, JMAN2.0, JeanieBeanie33, momike, Theta-Alpha-One, jasminevr, nmorgendorffer, mattb3671, vanillalillies, conan98002, Ace Ian Combat, The Halfa Wannabe, Markv1.0, calamite, Yuri Sisteble, Android k/18, TexasDad, Cabriel, Michael Cross, and Emerald Dark Knight for reviewing.
Thanks again to campy for his indispensable beta and proofing work; the Romulan Ale is in the mail.
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In the mood for some seasonal fun? You might want to check out my two Christmas stories, It's a Ronderful Life and Kim Possible: So the Christmas Present Drama.
KP belongs to Disney, TNG to Paramount.
I.
As Ron sat in Ten Forward enjoying a drink with Chief O'Brien, he thought of how grateful he was that Kim had arranged for him to see and do different things on the ship: the activity kept him from wallowing in self-pity – and more important, from worrying about her. At home, and in San Francisco, Ron had always been able to keep an eye on Kim, be there to help, just in case something happened. She was usually more than capable of not only keeping herself safe, but him, too. But there were those odd times, especially on Olympus Mons, when his presence made all the difference.
Then Kim graduated and he had to adjust to the fact that she was on her own and would have to take care of herself or depend on others. For the past year Ron knew Kim could find herself in dangerous situations; but the idea had seemed abstract since she was so far away, and so he was able to accept his impotence. Now that he was out in deep space with her, the possibility of her coming in harm's way had taken on a palpable feel. He just wished the Away Team would return already; he knew he wouldn't get to see Kim tonight, but the knowledge that she was back on board would be a great relief to him.
Ron was staring into his synthale; since Guinan wasn't on duty, he and O'Brien had to settle for ersatz alcohol.
"She'll be okay," O'Brien said.
"Huh?" Ron asked, lost in his thoughts.
"I said she'll be okay. Ensign Possible. She's good, Ron, very good. And with Commander Riker in charge, the situation is surely under control."
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. It's just that …"
"How long have you felt this way about her?"
"Wha …?"
O'Brien grinned at Ron. "Don't be coy with me. You've got it bad for her. I'm not buying this 'best friend' malarkey. You want her. And based on the way she greeted you yesterday, I think she wants you …"
"I don't think so, Chief. KP and me, we've always hugged. Besides, she's already found Captain Perfect."
"What, Tom Carter?"
"Yeah," Ron grumbled, a frown on his face. "I'm not convinced that Mr. Data is the only android on this ship. Carter's too perfect. Brains, looks, the whole package. What KP always called a 'hottie.' She just doesn't see me that way," Ron sighed. "Nah, I'm just a friend. Always have been, always will be."
Miles O'Brien looked sympathetically at Ron. He couldn't say why, but he felt Ron was a much better fit for Kim. Maybe it was the way she seemed to come alive when she was waiting for Ron to materialize. O'Brien had come to think of Kim as quiet and diligent; but as she waited for Ron to arrive, the Chief couldn't help but be impressed by her ebullience. "You know, Ron, I wouldn't make any assumptions …"
"LaForge to O'Brien."
"O'Brien here."
"Sorry to bother you, Chief, but we have a cascading power fluctuation in the secondary transporter conduits; I thought you'd want to look at it."
"Definitely, sir. I'm on my way." O'Brien looked at Ron. "Sorry to run out on you …"
"It's okay, Chief. You've got a job to do." Then, with concern etched onto his face, Ron asked, "Is Kim going to be able to get back safely?" He hadn't understood most of what he'd just heard, but he did recognize the word 'transporter.'"
O'Brien smiled. "You can count on it. And Ron? It's Miles," the Irishman said, patting the younger man on the shoulder as he got up and left.
Ron looked out the window at the passing stars, then at his drink. Suddenly, he was feeling awfully lonely. He downed the synthale in one gulp, got up, and headed for the door. He wished Guinan was tending bar; he would have liked talking with her just now. And a real drink would have been welcome, too.
II.
Kim felt like she was exploring the galaxy's largest Erector set. After the discovery inside the array, she decided that an external search would be in order. Enterprise had conducted a scan that helped the Away Team focus its work on the outside of the structure. Kim and three others had donned EVA suits; once outside, they split into two parties and followed a search pattern that she devised.
She had been crawling around the exterior of the array for more than two hours. And as much as she enjoyed what she was doing, it was time to take a rest break.
"Lieutenant, let's take five. Give our eyes a chance to rest so we don't miss anything," she said into the microphone in her helmet.
"Sounds like a good idea, Ensign," the other officer replied before waving at her.
Kim smiled, pleased that her superior officer had no qualms about following her lead. He may have outranked her, but she was the lead security officer and this was now a security matter.
Kim turned to look around her. Looming beyond the array was the huge yet still graceful form of Enterprise. She had seen it from within a shuttle craft and from Spacedock. But out here in space, Enterprise just seemed so much more awesome. She took particular pride in the fact that her father had designed the great vessel.
The view of both ship and stars was incredible; she decided to take a moment to enjoy the spectacular sight. Kim soon found herself recalling the time she and Ron had donned EVA suits to practice for the Titan games. She wondered what he thought of the stars, then smiled as she realized she already knew: he'd set their breakfast table so they could look out the windows. That gladdened her; she never tired of looking at the stars. But then she scowled, realizing there was no way she'd get to talk with him about the view or anything else that night. She was far from done with her work here. She'd be lucky if she got to talk with Tom.
She returned to her search.
A few minutes later, she made her second discovery of the day. Something else had been removed.
"Lieutenant Chang, please come over here."
The communications engineer used his jet pack to make his way over to Kim. While she was happy to have made the find, part of her wished it had been Chang who'd found something. Kim wished she were using the jet pack; flying about outer space with just a pack and an EVA suit was ferociously cool.
The other officer set down beside her.
"Something's definitely missing," he said. "I just wish I knew what it was. Whatever it was, it was small."
Kim pondered the situation for a moment. "Let's image this section and send it back to Enterprise for analysis. They should be able to match it up against the exterior schematics of the array."
"Good idea, Ensign."
Kim took a 3D picture of the damaged area and transmitted it back to the ship. Then she contacted the First Officer to tell him about their discovery.
"Thanks for the update, Ensign. It sounds like our visitors have been busy. Good call on the exterior check, Possible."
"Thanks, sir," Kim replied, before ending the conversation. She then turned to Chang. "Well, time to get back to work."
III.
Ron was shuffling down the corridor when he and Worf bumped into each other.
The Klingon growled. He'd had a long day and was in a foul temper, with little patience for this buffoon.
Ron looked up and saw the menacing face of Enterprise's chief security officer. He, too, was in a bad mood. And he was suddenly annoyed that Worf was here where it was safe while Kim was out on the array. "Why don't you watch where you're going?" he snapped.
Worf was surprised. People never spoke to him that way. And the last person he expected to break from the familiar pattern of deference to which he had become accustomed was Ensign Possible's ridiculous friend. He glowered at Ron.
"And don't look at me that way, dude," Ron added testily. "I'm a Federation citizen. I pay your salary. You work for me. Show me some respect."
Worf was taken aback. Counselor Troi was right, the Klingon thought. Perhaps I have misjudged him. He has … spirit. He looked at Ron, then said, "Please accept my … apology." He paused, then added, "I would be honored if you would join me for a drink."
Now it was Ron's turn to be surprised. "Uh, thanks, but I just came from Ten Forward."
"I was not thinking of Ten Forward. We will go to my quarters. There we will have a real drink. One fit for warriors."
Ron couldn't help but think that the night had just become very weird. "Warriors, huh?" he asked.
Worf then smiled, a wild gleam in his eye. "Yes, warriors! Heirs to the glorious Kahless and all that is noble and true! Join me, Ron Stoppable, for a draught of blood wine."
"Ooo-kaaaay," Ron replied to Worf's invitation, unsure as to whether he had just agreed to join the Klingon for a nightcap or go into battle.
IV.
It had taken more than fifteen hours, but the Away Team had explored every part of the array, both inside and out. They failed to find any other damage or any other missing components other than the microlinear servoprocessor and a transponder.
The Starfleet personnel had reassembled at the beam-out point. The work they had done was important, if none too glamorous. Earlier in the day they had lunch, a set of ready-to-eat meals beamed over from the ship. Kim remembered thinking of Ron's cooking while she ate her prepackaged astronaut food. Commander Riker had noticed the wistful look on her face, and began asking questions. Kim was surprised by and pleased with Riker's enthusiastic reaction as she told him about Ron's profession and the culinary treats he had made for her over the years; the First Officer, she learned, liked to cook.
Kim looked at Will Riker, at the three solid pips, at his red uniform. She wondered if she would ever attain such rank. Kim was more confident of doing so today than she'd been just a few days ago. Being assigned to this mission had certainly helped. She'd have to thank Lieutenant Worf.
Yet despite her satisfaction, Kim was frustrated. She had to return to Enterprise with just two small clues with which to work. And then there was the matter of the dinner with Tom. She really didn't know how she was going to handle that. Intellectually, she was sure she should end things with him. But what was going on in her head was not the same as her heart or gut. There she felt turmoil. Independent of any emerging feelings for her best friend were her new concerns about her current boyfriend. She'd been with Tom for three months and still thought she was physically attracted to him. And she worried that once in his presence, her resolve would falter, and she'd stay with him for all the wrong reasons. For the first time ever, Kim was willing to honestly acknowledge her weakness for a handsome face.
As she thought all this, Kim Possible's thoughts were interrupted by the familiar whine of the dematerialization process. In just a few seconds, she was back aboard Enterprise.
V.
They were on their fourth bottle of blood wine. Worf was truly impressed. Most humans would have collapsed long ago; Ron, however, seemed to be holding his own, if barely. Further enhancing Worf's opinion of Ron was the latter's willingness to eat the heart of targ – and the fact that he'd raised no objections to listening to Worf's favorite operas, Lo, The Sword Shall Till the Soil of Battle Upon Which the Enemy was Slain and Die Walküre (both in the original Klingon, of course); Ron had even encouraged his host's singing, shouting "Hit the high notes! Hit the high notes!"
Worf, with an increasingly unsteady hand, poured more of the liquid into Ron's flagon.
"Sho, Whorf," Ron slurred. "Tell me. Why ish it that you shtayed behind and let Kim. A girl. Go in your plashe on the misshion? Why put her in danger?" Even intoxicated, Ron's protective instincts towards Kim asserted themselves. "Big ol' Klingon like you washn't afraid of going outshide, huh?"
For a moment, Worf's eyes narrowed, as he first took Ron's question as a grave insult. But then, in that moment of awareness that often precedes complete drunkenness, he understood what was motivating Ron.
"Ensign Possible is a warrior," he bellowed. "I chose to honor her by letting her go on the mission. I believed that it would help her win promotion."
Ron looked at Worf, then grinned. "Okay, thash cool. I won't have ta kick your butt. Ya know, you are one bon-diggity shenior offisher dude."
"Have some gagh," Worf replied, offering the Klingon delicacy to Ron, who, much to Worf's delight and surprise, ate some. "We must talk of serious matters now," the Klingon said, as he barely avoided dropping the plate of food as he set it down on the table.
Somehow, Worf's purposefulness of tone pierced Ron's alcohol-induced haze; he listened attentively.
"You must fight for her heart," Worf declared, as if he was announcing a combat objective.
"What?"
"You desire her. And you are a worthy mate for her. You will not let her remain with that .. that …"
"Pretty boy?" Ron suggested.
"Yes," Worf agreed. "Pretty boy," he added condescendingly. "You will win her affections." The latter was offered as a command.
"Yo, Klingon dude, you forget. He's got hair and teeth and brainsh …" Ron replied, a note of despair entering his voice.
"Perhaps. But you, Ron Stoppable, have something far more potent …"
Ron, curious, looked at Worf, who was grinning like a man going into battle with a truly fearsome and invincible weapon.
"… You have the heart of a Klingon!"
VI.
"Ensign, it's been a long day. Let's debrief tomorrow at 0730 hours."
"Yes, sir."
Kim and Riker had exited the transporter room and were heading in opposite directions when the First Officer called back to the younger officer.
"Kim, you did good work out there today," he said with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. Kim beamed at the compliment.
"Thank you, sir! See you tomorrow."
Kim strode down the corridor. She was tired, but exhilarated. They might be looking at a huge mystery with very few leads, but Commander Riker had just praised her efforts. She pressed her comm badge. Even if she couldn't see Ron, she could at least let him know she was back on board and say good night. But there was no response from his quarters. She thought about that for a moment. Ron could still be out with O'Brien. Or sleeping; Ron had always been a very sound sleeper. And the hour was late. And he might be suffering from space lag. She'd just have to tell him tomorrow.
She then contacted her boyfriend.
"Sorry, Tom, I just got back …" she said, apologetically.
"It's okay, Kim. If you're still up for it, I've got everything ready."
Kim sighed inwardly. What she most wanted now was to go to sleep. But she owed it to Tom to see him. She knew they had to talk.
"Why don't you give me fifteen to freshen up?"
"Great. See you soon, Kim."
A quarter of an hour later, Kim stood before the entrance to Holodeck Three. She took a deep breath before entering.
She found herself standing on a street in San Francisco, in Pacific Heights, outside the entrance to Sans Souci. If I was looking for a sign … Kim thought. Ron had written recently to tell her that he'd interviewed for a job there as associate executive chef. It was a long shot, he had said, but it was the best restaurant in the city and rarely had openings. At the very least, he'd explained, he'd had some face time with the chef. Kim smiled, thinking it was indeed a small, weird galaxy.
She walked in and found Tom waiting for her at a corner table by the window. That was the nice thing about the holodeck: While the food might not be as good as the real thing, you didn't need to wait two years for a reservation and you always got a good table.
Tom rose and gave Kim a kiss on the cheek.
Kim couldn't help but smile. Tom had really pulled out all the stops. As always, he looked dashing. Yet her heart no longer fluttered at the sight of him. She wondered. She had thought she and Tom had had something significant these past three months; but had she really only been crushing on him the whole time? She didn't like thinking that at 22 she could still be so … shallow?
"So, how was the mission?" he asked.
"Fifteen and a half hours for two clues," Kim replied.
"Sorry about that."
"No big. We'll figure this out. Besides, Commander Riker thought I did a good job. And I got to take a space walk." Kim, with great enthusiasm, began to go on about her extra-vehicular activities.
Tom shook his head, but grinned. "I don't think I'll ever understand you and your fascination with extreme sports, Kim."
But Ron does … And that's one of the reasons I want to be with him. Kim was stunned as she felt like the last 36 hours had been nothing but a series of unending revelations about herself and Ron.
"What is it Kim?" Tom asked.
Kim sighed. She looked at her companion. "You're not going to like this, Tom."
He laid down his utensils.
"Tom, I think we should just be friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes."
"But why? We've got something great, something special, going."
"Tom, it was special. But it's, it's just not right."
"It's him. It's Ron, isn't it? I should have known," Tom said bitterly.
"Tom, look …" Kim protested. "I'm not going to lie to you. I've realized I do have feelings, pretty intense ones, too, for Ron. But this is about us. It's not working."
"What do you mean?"
"Tom, last night when we were having drinks with Ron …"
Tom scowled.
"… and Yori and we began talking about meat you said something like 'Kim, we don't eat meat.'"
"So?"
"Tom, you don't speak for both of us. Yet you seem to think you should. And I've gone along with it. That is so not me. Or at least it isn't the me I used to be."
"So you going to call Ron and scarf down some fresh kill with him?" Tom gibed.
"Childish much? And so what if I did? That's my business, not yours."
"Kim, look, I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. But we can work this out. You don't really just want to throw this away, do you?"
"Tom, I think it's best this way. Please try to understand."
"Kim, you're just being rash. You haven't seen him in a year and you're excited he's around. But you know what? He'll leave in a couple of weeks and you'll be lonely and you're going to want us to get back together. And do you even really know him anymore? Does he know you? I know you. He doesn't."
"He's known me for eighteen years, Tom."
"You've changed since you last saw him."
"Yes, and that's the problem. I want to be the risk-taking Kim who said goodbye to Ron a year ago, not the diffident, tentative one he saw last night. I want to be the Kim who actually believes that anything is possible for a Possible. I can't be that person with you, Tom. I'm sorry."
Tom stared at Kim, unsure of what to think or say. Finally, he shook his head and gave his now-ex-girlfriend a rueful smile. "You're making a mistake, Kim. Trust me."
"I'm sorry, Tom," Kim said as she got up and headed for the exit.
"Kim …"
She turned back to her ex-boyfriend. "Yes?"
"See you around. If you change your mind …"
"Good night, Tom," she responded.
Kim then headed out of the holodeck, secure in the knowledge that she'd done the right thing. Now, more than ever, she wanted to be with her best friend who, hopefully, would want to be something more.
VII.
Miles O'Brien had decided to take a look at the EPS conduits to make sure they weren't damaged by the cascade. The conduits were scattered about the ship, which gave him the opportunity for a bit of a walkabout.
O'Brien had come off the turbolift and turned a corner when he had a surprise: Ron Stoppable was sprawled out in the corridor. The Chief knelt over to make sure Ron was okay. Ron's breath told it all – he was roaring drunk.
The Irishman hit his comm badge, "O'Brien to Possible."
Kim had just left her ex-boyfriend on the holodeck. "Possible here."
"You're needed on Deck 5. A, uh, security matter."
"I'm on my way, Chief," Kim responded, wondering why she would be needed in the heart of Senior Officer Country. She was stunned when she found Miles O'Brien standing over Ron's prone body.
"I'm sorry, Ensign, but I wasn't sure which of the guest quarters he was in and, to be honest, I need some help in moving him. He's dead weight," O'Brien noted, then, seeing the expression on her face, he quickly added, "He wasn't like this when we parted."
Kim was confused. Ron had never had a problem with alcohol before. Yet here he was, stone cold drunk.
Ron was momentarily shaken from his stupor. Through blurry vision, he saw that Kim and O'Brien had slung his arms around their shoulders, and were leading him somewhere.
"Yo, KP, you're looking mighty fine!" Ron belched, then added, "You too, Mi, Mi, Chief."
Kim and Miles brought Ron to the turbolift and to his quarters on Deck 6, then led him to the sleeping area where they let him flop down onto the bed; he was once again out cold.
"I'll be going now, sir."
"Thanks, Chief. Could we keep this quiet?"
"Of course," he answered before leaving.
Kim looked down at Ron, filled with disappointment. She had felt liberated after breaking up with Tom and had looked forward to talking with Ron. But here he was, inebriated; beyond inebriated. She didn't want to believe he'd turned into a lush. Yet the proof seemed to be right before her eyes. She was angry with him. But she also realized she was sad. She really had wanted things to work out with Ron. Maybe even to go the distance, as Guinan said. But if Ron had been hiding a drinking problem, Kim wondered what other unwelcome things there were to know about her best friend. Maybe Tom was right. Maybe she really didn't know Ron anymore …
VIII.
The next morning, after her meeting with Riker, Kim went to her bat'leth training session with Lieutenant Worf. She knew this was a privilege; only the most promising officers received instruction from him.
She was still agitated about the previous night. Ron had let her down. She just couldn't believe Ron would be so irresponsible. It was one thing to get tipsy, but she suspected he was lucky he hadn't vomited in the corridor. Images of him being found by Captain Picard began to fill her head; she shuddered.
Kim, wearing a gi, entered the holodeck, where she and Worf would train.
"Good morning, Ensign," the Klingon said, handing her a training bat'leth.
"Good morning, sir," she said, taking the proffered weapon.
They had been sparring for some time when Worf surprised her. "I misjudged your friend." Worf continued testing Kim; he brought his blade down in a sweeping arc.
So did I, Kim thought sadly, as she brought her weapon up to deflect Worf's attack.
Worf spun around and, as he came back towards Kim, extended his arm, the blade now coming around like a scythe. "He has the heart of a Klingon."
"Ron?" Kim exclaimed as she dropped to the floor, then kicked out with her feet, forcing Worf back.
"Good. Very good," he commended his student before turning back to the conversation. "Last night, he ate gagh with me. Only the Captain and Commander Riker have been bold enough to do that," he declared, his voice filled with admiration as he resumed the offensive, thrusting the bat'leth directly at Kim. "And heart of targ, too."
Kim was now having trouble parrying Worf's blows as she struggled to assimilate the idea of Ron and the Klingon socializing.
"And he appreciates blood wine …" Worf said approvingly as he swept his blade upwards, trying to hook Kim's weapon.
Kim recalled Ron lying on the floor on Deck 5. Oh no …
"… he kept pace with me throughout the night, flagon for flagon," Worf said, a wild glint in his eye, pleased as he recalled the previous evening and pleased as Kim fell back, narrowly avoiding his ploy.
Kim knew her superior officer had just paid Ron a signal compliment. No wonder Ron was passed out on the floor. She wondered how he got as far as he did; Klingons had a far higher tolerance level for their own alcohol than did humans.
Now that she knew how Ron got drunk, she also wanted to know why he was drinking with Worf; unfortunately she could not simply ask her superior officer. Worf was very protective of his private life. Instead, she asked a simple question, hoping that it might lead Worf to volunteer information. "Ron did that?"
"You sound surprised, Ensign," Worf said as he finally relieved Kim of her weapon, then brought her down to the mat.
"It's just that, Ron and heart of a Klingon …" she said, though she had to admit he had done some gutsy things with her over the years, even if he'd been screaming most of the time.
Worf narrowed his eyes and gazed at Kim. He extended his hand to help her to her feet. "Would you ever forget that your enemies can always surprise you?" he asked her; Kim responded by shaking her head no.
"You would do well to remember that of your friends, too," Worf advised.
TBC …