It was a long time before Katlin found any sleep, and when she finally did the windowless room ensured it was the middle of the afternoon before she woke up. Katlin fumbled for a clock. Fifteen hundred hours? she thought. Are you kidding me?
On the nightstand next to her bed, a PADD was chiming for her attention. Nineteen messages. One from Captain Picard, noting that she had been successfully reinstated in Starfleet. One from Ambassador Rio, informing her that the dinner would begin at eighteen hundred hours. And the last sixteen messages were from her mother. Katlin groaned dismissed the remaining letters until later. She didn't think she could deal with her mother, on top of everything.
Katlin rose to order some coffee from the replicator, but found that it was already filled with a white cardboard box. Giving it a sleepy stink-eye, she put in on a table to open it.
There was a note inside. "You look good in blue," with the word "in" struck through.
Beneath the note was a blue dress, and Katlin pulled it up by the shoulders. Despite herself, she gasped. Sleeveless, it had a flowing cowl neckline of sheer, shimmering blue, with crystals sewn into the fabric. It was floor length, and Katlin swung it around to see that it was backless, but with a trailing shawl that could be wrapped around for warmth – or modesty. Katlin bit her lip and then stuffed the dress back into the box. She could decide later.
Coffee first. Katlin replicated a large breakfast, and sat at her table, trying to eat. After a while she threw her fork down in disgust and had a lengthy shower. Afterwards, she sat with her hair in a towel, flipping through the replicator manual. A nice black dress, she thought. No, a dress uniform. Even better. She ordered up a standard command dress uniform and put it on. She sized herself up in the mirror.
Like a toy soldier. She thought. She glanced back at the blue dress, still spilling out of its box. Well, no harm in trying it on.
Katlin shucked out of the stiff uniform and pulled the dress over her head. Katlin stared at her reflection.
The dress matched her eyes exactly. Katlin swallowed. She looked beautiful. She pulled the shawl up over her back and threw it around her neck, and the extra fabric only added to her allure. She imagined what Riker would say, his smug grin, his knowing look. Katlin started to pull the dress off, and then hesitated.
What are you afraid of? Katlin asked herself. You've robbed a bank, smuggled drugs, exploded out of a shuttlecraft and kissed William T. Riker two – no, three times! She turned to see the back of the dress. Dammit, it looked amazing. She gave herself a smile over one shoulder. You know what? Geronimo.
She pinned her hair up and left to find the party.
It wasn't hard. The sound of music led her down the hallways, to the main ballroom. It was an enormous rotunda, and Yvestaltians milled on the main floor and on a balcony lining the rotunda. The entire room was lit with brilliant chandeliers, and Katlin blinked at the glow. Waiters dressed in all black wove through the crowd, balancing trays of champagne. A ten-piece band played in the corner, and brightly dressed guests waltzed in time to the music.
In the center of the rotunda, on a raised dais, the Yllium detonator was rotating slowly, the purple light sending odd colored shadows across the floor. Katlin stared. It made her uneasy. Surely something like that should be locked away, not put on display like a trophy? Katlin was struck by the sudden image of Xenia, lying dead on the floor, blood pooling around her head. Katlin shook her head to clear the thought and took a glass of champagne from the nearest waiter. She downed it in three long gulps and set the glass aside. She coughed, and raised her head to scan the crowd.
Most of the people were completely unfamiliar, but there were a few Starfleet generals and admirals Katlin thought she recognized. And then she spotted Riker, across the room.
He was dressed in a black tunic – not exactly a dress uniform, but cut along the same lines, with the gold pips of his rank buttoned on the high collar. Katlin felt her pulse quicken at the sight of him. He was leaning against a bar, shoulders at that unmistakable awkward angle, hands folded, smiling at the Yvestaltian woman talking to him. As if he could sense her eyes, Riker looked up and caught Katlin's glance. His smile widened and he held up on finger. Just a minute.
Katlin nodded, feeling a slow smile spread across her face.
"You should be honored," a voice said at her shoulder.
"I- what?" Katlin turned to see Ambassador Steelax standing beside her in a gray dress. "Oh, hello, Ambassador."
The ambassador sipped at her drink. "The president and vice-president of Yvestalta are here," the Ambassador said, pointing out two dark-eyed women towards the other end of the rotunda. "And the minister of finance, and defense. You've done our planet a great service."
"Thank you – I am honored."
The ambassador took another sip, regarding her with dark, unreadable eyes. "But I feel the need to warn you."
"Warn me?"
"William Riker has a reputation for a reason, you know."
"I – I- " Katlin stammered.
"Men like him are very good at what they do," the ambassador said quietly. "They've had a lot of practice. They can make you feel special, like you're the only one they really care about."
Katlin felt the blood drain from her face.
The ambassador put a hand on her shoulder. "Has he taken advantage of you?"
"No!" Katlin said.
"Well, if he hasn't laid a hand on you yet, he's planning to. It's an addiction. He'll take his hit and move on. You know that, don't you?"
Katlin made a strangled noise.
"Be on your guard." The ambassador looked past her. "Greetings, Admiral Walker, General Bobi."
Katlin glanced up and nodded at the Admiral and the General, both of whom were wearing dress uniforms. Katlin suddenly regretted wearing the blue dress.
"And here's the man of the hour," Admiral Walker said.
Katlin turned to find Riker behind her, holding two glasses of champagne. He smiled and handed one to Katlin. She took it with trembling fingers.
"Admiral, General," Riker greeted them both with a smile and a handshake. "But please, most of the credit goes to this one here." Riker put an arm around Katlin.
"Really?" The admiral said with a laugh. "She looks far too straight-laced to have caused this much trouble."
"Oh, don't let that demure face fool you," Riker said. "She loosens up after a few drinks." Riker slapped her back and Katlin sloshed her champagne. Everyone laughed but her.
"Makes me wish I was a young man again," the admiral said, taking a drink.
"Get in line," Riker said. "I'm not finished with her yet."
Katlin set her drink down so hard the stem cracked. "I need some air." She pulled herself from Riker's grip.
She shouldered her way through the crowd, trying to catch her breath, trying to ignore the sudden pounding in her head. Riker's words echoed in her ears. I'm not finished with her yet.
She found a stone balcony open to the outside air, and she braced herself against the railing, gulping at the warm summer air. The sound of the party was muted behind her. A bird warbled from the gardens. The sun began to set and Katlin grit her teeth as it slipped below the horizon.
"Katlin?"
She didn't turn around. She didn't want Riker to see her face. She heard his footsteps approach. She turned her head away.
"You know," Riker said, leaning against the balustrade. "Your skin is still glowing."
"It is not," Katlin growled.
"It is to me." Riker paused. "Listen, Katlin, I've been thinking, maybe when we get back to the Enterprise we could put in for some shore leave together. You know. Rob a few banks, steal a few cars." He smiled. "Have a little fun."
Katlin turned to him, eyes blazing. "After you've gotten a few drinks in me, though, right?"
Riker stood up, and took a step back to size up her face. "Katlin?"
"What kind of thing was that to say?" Katlin demanded. "And in front of an admiral?"
"I was only joking," Riker said.
"I know you were only joking!" Katlin spat. "That's all you ever do."
Riker stared at her. "What's gotten in to you?"
"Nothing."
"Katlin," he reached for her.
"You know what, just stay back." Katlin stepped backwards, out of his reach.
Riker paused. He cleared his throat. "I thought you wanted –"
"I've changed my mind." Katlin snapped.
"Because you can't take a joke?" Riker's voice tightened.
"Because I won't BE a joke."
"You don't think I'm sincere?"
Katlin searched his eyes. "I think you think you're sincere."
Riker laughed sarcastically. "But you know better."
Katlin steeled herself. "How many women are better off because they knew you, William?"
Riker fell silent. The party behind them continued in a soft murmur. He stared at her, jaw clenched. When he spoke, his voice was strained. "It's Commander Riker then, Lieutenant," he said.
"What?"
"Isn't that what you want now? A strictly professional relationship?"
"Yes!" Katlin snarled.
"Yes, what?" Riker demanded.
"Yes, sir!" Katlin gave him a mocking salute.
"Dismissed, Lieutenant." Riker made it sound like a slur.
Katlin grabbed dual handfuls of her skirt and stormed off. There was a staircase at the side of the balcony and she took the steps two at a time, not caring where they led. She brushed past a pair of Yvestaltians and fled into the gardens.
She finally found a place to hide. Set back from a statue of a Yvestaltian woman, there was a small stone bench nearly surrounded by shrubbery. She sat, stuffing her fist into her mouth, trying to muffle her sobs. The sun had truly set, and the gardens were dark, lit only by fireflies and the soft glow of the party behind her.
She heard footsteps approaching, and she held her breath, wiping the tears from her face. She wouldn't let Riker catch her like this, that was for sure.
The footsteps approached the opening in her hedge.
But it wasn't Riker.
It was Xenia.
Katlin froze.
Xenia smiled up at the statue, the glow from the party illuminating her face. She reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a small silver disk, affixing it to the base of the statue. She moved on.
Katlin's heart began to pound. Xenia was dead. Dead. Katlin listened as the footsteps faded, and then slunk silently out of the hedge. She approached the statue, and pulled at the silver disk. It came away in her hand. She held it up to the dim light, but it looked unremarkable. She closed her fist around the disk, and fled back towards the rotunda.
As she pounded up the steps to the balcony, she noticed another silver disk, this one affixed to the side of the stairs. She snatched it. On the balcony, she found three more.
Katlin hurried into the rotunda, where party was still going full-force. Katlin nearly tackled the nearest waiter. "Tell me," she said, out of breath. "Has Captain Picard arrived?"
"No," the waiter said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her.
Katlin groaned uneasily. "Where is Commander Riker?"
"I believe he has retired for the evening."
Katlin ran.
She skidded down the guest corridor and halted outside Riker's door. She pounded against the wood. "Riker! Riker, get up, I need to talk to you! Now!" She tried the handle. It was locked. She pounded harder. "William Riker, unlock this door! NOW!" She screamed in frustration, throwing her shoulder against the door.
The handle on the door turned from the inside and Katlin stepped back. The door opened to reveal Ambassador Steelax, her dress unbuttoned to the waist. Katlin started. "Oh," she said.
"We're busy," the ambassador said.
Katlin paused for a moment. "I don't care!" she yelped. She attempted to push past the ambassador. "Riker, I need to talk to you!"
Riker's voice echoed from inside the room. "Just get out of here, Katelin."
Katlin froze.
The ambassador smirked and slammed the door in her face.
