Disclaimer: CBS/Paramount owns Voyager and it's characters. The original characters and story are mine.
Author's note: I am preparing for my upcoming vacation which will begin in late April. Updates may be delayed, but never fear, I will finish this particular Naomi & Icheb story before I leave. I have plans for more adventures of the Lindbergh, it's first officer and newest ensign in the future.
After her first week of duty, Naomi Wildman was tired but happy with the way things were going. She hadn't seen Icheb except in passing, and they only exchanged greetings then. Icheb seemed to be keeping things on a purely professional level, which was probably the safest course of action at this juncture.
Her first day off coincided with the monthly ship Kadis Kot tournament. Mary had informed her that Icheb would win, he always won, but it was a point of pride for the second place contestant to make it to the final match against Icheb. Naomi had entered the tournament anyway. Only the two player form was used in the tournament, which was the brainchild of Icheb and had become quite popular. The games were single elimination format. Win and you continued, lose and you were out. Naomi looked forward to playing her favorite game again; she had missed her regular games with the various members of Voyager's crew.
She and Mary entered the Mess Hall together and the room was set up for the tournament. All the tables had boards and pieces ready for the contestants. Mary never played but she was one of the regular spectators, she told Naomi the spectators enjoyed not only watching the games, but discussing them as they watched. She said trying to predict who would win which game was as much fun, or maybe more fun, than playing. When the time for the tournament was to begin, the contestants found their assigned boards and play began.
Naomi had never met her first opponent who was an unjoined Trill Ensign from Security. The game ended rapidly because Naomi won easily. The next few hours were spent playing and in between games she and the other players would get a slight break. There was time for the players to get a snack or a beverage and relax for a few minutes before their next match. Naomi was having no trouble winning all of her games. She realized this was probably a side benefit from playing so many games against former Borg drones at such a young age. It had taught her to play at a very high level.
The number of contestants dwindled to only a few and finally the two remaining players were determined. There was to be an hour break between the qualifying games and the final match. Everyone was surprised when the final was to be between Icheb and Naomi. During the break word spread quickly and the group of spectators grew to include practically everyone who wasn't on duty.
Before the match started, Naomi addressed Icheb in a whisper, so they weren't overheard, "If I beat you, you're not going to sweep all the pieces onto the floor again, are you?"
Icheb's reply was in a whisper as well, "Since Rebi and Azan aren't here to cause trouble, I will try to restrain myself. Besides, you won't win." Icheb and Naomi both smiled at the memory of their first attempt to play Kadis Kot under Seven of Nine's strict guidelines. As they were getting seated Icheb continued the inside joke between the two of them by stating, no longer in a whisper, "Fun will now commence." Naomi broke into full fledged laughter, which was intensified when Icheb lifted one eyebrow in a dead on imitation of Seven.
Naomi heard the doctor say to Threm, the chief engineer, "See, I told you he's a funny guy."
To which the Bolian answered, "At least Ensign Wildman thinks so."
It was unclear if all the spectators were there for the game, or for the opportunity to see the First Officer and the Ensign in the spotlight. Even though Naomi and Icheb hadn't spent any time together since her first day on the ship, the rumors persisted. The whole ship was abuzz with speculation about the exact nature of their relationship. The prevailing opinion was that Icheb and Naomi were childhood sweethearts who had been reunited by way of the First Officer's direct action. Others opined they were just good friends. A few even thought they actually hated each other. However, that particular opinion was dismissed as someone's idea of a joke.
The game was close, but when it was over, the Kadis Kot King (another of Mary's nicknames for Icheb) had been dethroned. The Mess Hall was full of shocked individuals. Icheb had lost. After the group recovered from the shock, a round of applause filled the Mess Hall.
The ship wide communications system cut through the revelry as the Captain demanded, "Commander Icheb and Ensign Wildman report to the bridge immediately."
