Girls' Night 2: Girls' Night Out
By Chibi-Kaz
Ships: R/S, very vague T/T, M/C
Features O.C.s, random made-up alien beefcake…..
Spoilers: Seasons 1 & 2. AU thanks to season 3.
GAME
"All I'm saying is, it seems pretty clear that the humanoid form is the most successful in nearly all environments!"
"Say Hominid rather than Humanoid and I'll consider agreeing. I just don't think Klingons are very human!"
Amani sighed. "Fine! Hominid! But evolution on almost every planet we've run into has shown it: walking upright is inevitable, and walking upright increases intelligence, therefore sentient HOMINID life forms are inevitable." She turned back to the mirror to continue affixing beads to the ends of her cornrow braids.
"Actually," Liz commented from the mirror in the bathroom, "Klingons are very human. 99.823 percent genetic match. That's closer than chimps!"
Jess groaned from her spot on the bed. "Yeah, but do YOU wanna make love to a chimp?"
Hoshi giggled from where she stood before the closet, picking out clothing. "Better not ask Liz!"
"HOSHI!" Liz wailed, offended, while the others laughed.
Over the last 3 months, the four human women, plus T'Pol, had become collectively known as "The Girls". Tonight they prepared for a very special occasion – a two-day furlough on X'nthyn, a Minsharra class planet inhabited by a technologically advanced race of people who welcomed the Enterprise and its crew enthusiastically. After a week of meetings and formal cultural exchanges, during which the Captain for once allowed Lt. Reed free rein on investigations, all parties declared themselves the best of friends, and a leave schedule had been generated for the Enterprise. Though not as universally cosmopolitan as Risa, X'nthyn still boasted a thriving space-port, several urban regions, a widely diverse ecology, and a generous, fun-loving people. Word was that the X'nthyn Prime Minister's son had done the most to press for the Enterprise's interests after a rousing day of surfing with Travis Mayweather.
Thanks to the machinations of SubCommander T'Pol, all five women had leave at the same time. T'Pol had initially been reluctant to join them, but the human women convinced her to join them. The chance to all be together on leave presented an opportunity for study, Liz told T'Pol, too good to pass up.
As for the arrangement of the schedule, T'Pol merely asserted that they would all best relieve their stress if given the opportunity to enjoy the planet together. Upon hearing this, the Captain simply nodded wisely and privately wondered if all Starfleet captains would feel henpecked at some point during their careers.
The four human women were gathered in Hoshi's room, deciding on what to wear for the first night planet side. They'd already picked out a good nightclub to enjoy.
"You know, that missing point-one-seven-seven percent is pretty significant. You all have never been on a Klingon ship. I have." Hoshi shuddered theatrically. "Oh, the smell….!"
Amani sighed. "Yes, but I do love a good, manly, musk!" Jess sniggered behind her.
Liz poked her head out of the lavatory. "According to Phlox, the X'nthyns are a 99.873 match to humans."
"So what you're saying is, protection is key, right?"
"JESSICA!"
"Hoshi," Amani said in a maternal voice through the laughter, "I certainly hope you packed properly this time!"
Now they all laughed at the Communications Officer. Hoshi wished they'd get over the whole Risa thing. It wasn't like she'd planned on 'getting a little' on leave. Not like Tucker and Reed, who'd made no bones about their goals. Though this time, both men were much more subdued about their first leaves in a year.
As if by telepathy, Jessica changed the subject. "So, Commander Tucker wasn't nearly as much of a randy idiot as he was at Risa."
"That's because I overheard Reed telling him in the mess that if he got dragged along on another, now let me get this right, ahem 'asinine quest for meaningless buggery', he'd shoot Tucker out the torpedo bays into the nearest supernova!"
Hoshi smiled. "This time they're taking Travis with them. I just hope Travis doesn't end up hurt again."
"Well, there are no Denobulans to find this time," observed Liz. "He should be fine."
A buzz at the door indicated the last member of The Girls had arrived. Hoshi quickly palmed the door open to reveal SubCommander T'Pol.
"Ladies.' She greeted them gravely and stepped in. Over her shoulder she bore a duffel bag. "I see that preparations are underway."
"Yep!" Jessica shifted over on the bed to allow T'Pol to sit. "Are you staying in the same hotel with us after all?"
T'Pol nodded. "The captain was rather insistent that I remain on the surface for all of my leave. I do not think he understood that Vulcans have no need for… vacations."
"Oh, T'Pol! We know you're just coming long for the learning experience." Amani smiled at her in the mirror. "Are you sure you won't borrow something to wear?" Amani had the best clothes collection of them all by far, and she was closest in height and build to the Vulcan. Currently, she wore a cream colored linen skirt slit to the thighs with a matching off-the-shoulder blouse. The beads in her braids were gold, cream, and turquoise and matched the pseudo-egyptian beaded collar around her neck. Hoshi had pronounced her a post-modern Nefertiri.
"No, thank you Ensign, but I will only be observing, not participating."
"Hard to not participate in a nightclub," Liz commented as she finally abandoned the lav. She had on a faux-leather miniskirt, knee-high boots, and a lavender baby-doll shirt. Jessica had twigged her about the 'dirty-cute' ensemble and had sung an old 21st century pop song at her, something about 'hit me baby'. However, Jessica couldn't cast too many stones, since her skin-tight leather pants and tank top declaring "Indian Motorcycles – 250 Year of Excellence" were just as risqué in their own way. Hoshi actually seemed the most demure of the four, having finally settled on her favorite red dress.
T'Pol glanced over at Hoshi, and clearly made an effort at humor by stating, "I see you're attempting the same strategy. Has Ensign Ngorodi painted your nails?"
The women cracked up. Hoshi blushed and said, "Hey, it worked on Risa, just not on Malcolm!"
Amani gasped suddenly.
"What?" "What's the problem?" "Amani?"
"She's got that look!" Amani pointed at T'Pol.
"What look?" Liz asked.
"The look that says if she were human, she'd be grinning like a cat in the cream."
T'Pol merely raised a brow. "An interesting image, considering that felines are unable to 'grin', as you put it, and cream tends to have a negative effect on most feline digestive systems."
Amani shook her head. "I think you're as susceptible to feeling smug as the rest of us. So spill it."
Tilting up her chin just a fraction, T'Pol replied, "I merely informed Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed of our plans for the evening, including the name of the hotel and the name of the 'nightclub' establishment. As a precaution, of course."
"Precaution?" queried Liz.
"Should the Commander or the Lieutenant need to contact myself or any of us."
"Oh, very wise!"
"Yes, yes indeed."
The human women tried to maintain equal seriousness to the Vulcan, but all failed miserably. Giggling, they assured T'Pol that while her logic was perfectly sound, her actions had been tantamount to inviting the men to join them. T'Pol admitted she knew perfectly well the information would be taken as such.
"Commander Tucker is at least predictable in his illogical behavior." She observed, much to the Girls' amusement.
Shortly thereafter, the five females descended on Shuttle Two, piloted by Travis Mayweather.
"Boy! Did I draw the lucky straw. Ladies," Travis gallantly offered his hand to assist each woman into the shuttle. Of course, T'Pol ignored it, but the others each took a moment to flirt with the handsome pilot. "I understand," Travis went on, as he settled into the operations seat, "that you ladies have quite the evening planned."
"You've spoken with Trip and Malcolm, haven't you?" Hoshi asked.
"Yep! Trip was pretty up in arms about it at lunch, but Malc calmed him down."
Jessica looked offended. "What was the Commander's problem?"
Travis grinned. "Seems he thought visiting a nightclub was pretty risky, but Malcolm had already cleared the place. It was part of the cultural recommendations database."
"Was it?" Amani drawled.
"Sure was." Travis expertly maneuvered the launch of the small craft and began their descent to the surface of X'nthyn. "Of course, I had already asked Gyrin about good night spots. Seems he was on the committee that compiled the cultural database for us." He graciously accepted the Girls' congratulations on his cleverness. Travis Mayweather had certainly found his soul-twin in Gyrin Fyflot, the Prime Minister's son.