Chapter Ten: Surprise!
Riker entered his quarters confused and concerned. Something was wrong with Deanna, but she had asked him to let it go. And so he would. He shrugged his worries off and concentrated on the next day, the day he would leave the Enterprise. 'Odd, I thought the lights were on when I left.'
~You had.~ Two simple words...they scared the sh*t out of him. He turned around, half expecting to see Deanna standing in the doorway. But there was no one, he was alone...he thought. 'Why did she send that to me? What does she want to say?' Deep in his heart he knew the answer; but he couldn't quite place it. For the second time that evening he shrugged his confusion off. He walked through the dark to the replicator.
"Ryaran coffee, extra salt." Two pairs of eyes watched him as he picked up the coffee and carried it back to the living area. Then he put the coffee on the table and plopped down in his chair.
"Computer: music, jazz, twentieth century Earth, any artist." Soft tones of music filled his ears and eased his mind, causing him not to notice the movements the beings behind him made. They turned their heads towards each other and seemed to communicate through their eyes. All four eyes briefly lit up before turning back to the human in front of them. As he sipped his coffee Will thought about the life he was going to build with Lyana. Oh sure he had to leave a lot behind, like Deanna said; everything he had worked for. Deanna... He hoped he would have a chance to properly say goodbye to her tomorrow.
He was certain that if it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't here today, and he wouldn't be looking at the same future. He still didn't notice the two creatures behind him. Each of them had picked a side of the ignorant Commander and approached him slowly and carefully. If one looked closer one could see the somewhat sadistic smile on their faces, the mischievous and wicked gleams in their eyes. But Will Riker didn't have eyes in the back of his head, nor did he have the empathy that would've warned Deanna. Thus, the creatures had a huge advantage. Suddenly he realized he was still sitting in the dark. His mouth was opening to order the computer to turn the lights on when he changed his mind.
"Computer: increase volume." The music immediately became a bit louder. The beings behind him exchanged looks apparently discussing the next move of action. Simultaneously each being reached behind itself and pulled something from its sides. Moving the objects to where their mouth would probably be they winked at each other, indicating it was time for the final phase of their plan. Behind them a third being moved to the right wall; still unnoticed by Will.
After waiting a few more moments the creature on his left side slowly nodded; three seconds later they took a deep breath, and then they straightened up a little. At the fifth second the creature near the wall placed his hand on the panel, closely monitoring the movements of his two companions. In the last second a wide smile washed over the two conspirators as they simultaneously jumped up from their hiding places; causing the third one to turn on the lights.
"SURPRISE!!!" Four loud, laughing voices penetrated Riker's ears, accompanied by the shrieking sound of birthday trumpets when at the same time his eyes registered two people jumping up at his side and the sudden light that appeared. With his heart in his throat, the Commander jumped out of his chair and turned around, grabbing his phaser and aiming at thin air.
"What the he..." His voice trailed off as he looked into the laughing face of a certain redheaded Doctor. His gaze shifted to the other side where he met the twinkling eyes of his Security Officer. Then he noticed the Chief Engineer standing at the light-panel with the broadest grin he had ever seen. The confusion and surprise wasn't complete until he saw the android accompanied by an openly laughing Captain emerge from his bathroom. Everyone except for Data and himself was laughing to no end at how confused and surprised he looked.
"Number One; you can put that phaser away now, we won't bite." Sheepishly Will looked at the phaser he that was still holding. As soon as his brain reconnected with the nerves and muscles in his arm he lowered the phaser and put it on the table.
Outside Deanna had followed everything and when she sensed the fear and adrenaline running through Will's body she couldn't help but laugh. She waited a few more moments before she punched in the code she knew by heart and re-entered his quarters.
"I thought you loved surprise parties Commander." He watched her walking in with new eyes; it was as if he had never, ever seen her before. Something had definitely changed. But to his dismay he couldn't quite pin it down. At that moment Geordi carried the cake in and the farewell party began.
~*+*~
Three hours later Deanna stumbled into her quarters. A bit too much real alcohol caused her room to spin around her. She didn't even bother undressing before tumbling into bed. The evening, or rather night, had gone much better than she had expected. She had managed to keep her mask in place and had not shown her anger or sadness about him leaving the Enterprise...her. Right now she didn't care whether or not he'd come to say goodbye to her the next morning, but she knew that as soon as she was sober again she would care. As she lay on her bed in the dark the alcohol overcame her and she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
~D.~