Chapter Seven
Surprises
The morning after, a full day after her very long and very emotional discussion with Rev. McCabe, Liz Cutler is walking alone to the Mess Hall, looking forward to breakfast when she hears a call behind her. "Hello, mommy!" She turns, momentarily annoyed at having her 'condition' announced so blatantly, but stops in mid-frown, seeing Hoshi and Jim Cein approaching.
"Hi. And would you please not do that! No one knows, and I'm trying to keep it that way until I screw up enough nerve to go see the Captain." She kisses Jim, and then gives Hoshi a dark look.
"You haven't seen him yet, Beth?" Jim asks, concerned. Implicit in his tone is his real question – 'what are you waiting for?' He does not say it, however.
"I've been juggling anxieties ever since Monday. I've spoken to Mother McCabe three times already. Yesterday I was with her for most of the morning! Thank God she didn't mention about us getting married!"
Hoshi notices the look on Jim's face, though he gets very quiet, and thinks she should change the subject. This is a conversation best left for privacy, and it would be too obvious to excuse herself. "I wouldn't mention the words 'bridal shower' to Tia, if I were you."
"Oh, God, No!" Liz exclaims as they resume walking. "She came to me the evening before last, all ultra-hyper – as if that's anything new – and went on about throwing me a huge bash! Apparently on Aura when a woman gets pregnant it's a tremendous thing."
"Well, her heart's in the right place; at least figuratively." Hoshi admits, remembering that in Auran physiology the six-chambered heart is about ten centimeters lower than in a human's chest. "And remember, on Aura it would be. A woman's only fertile one day every eighteen of our weeks, and if she doesn't conceive, it means the dasreer."
Liz's expression darkens as she remembers that horrible day when she and Hoshi had learned first hand about that black aspect of Auran physiology. And she felt a little guilty when she realized at least two more had to have passed since. She had forecast that this most recent one, the first one since her Luuru, would be worse than any before, and she had been correct. She had broken down from her 'stubborn' insistence about enduring the agony, as women of her race had come to endure and had sought Phlox's aid. He had sedated her until the worst of the pain was over.
Coupled with Tia's admission that she would never be able to escape from that cyclical fate even if she could conceive, Liz could understand her motivation. It would be only during her actual pregnancy, if any, that she could be free of it. Once completed, she would again be subject to this curse.
"What's a 'dasreer'?" Jim asks. He had never heard the term.
Liz looks up at him, her expression grim. "A reason to be desperate."
Something in her ominous tone makes him not want to find out.
x
"I guess," she says, continuing to Hoshi, "getting away from that, even for a while, would be a major cause for celebration."
"That's not it at all. It's because the birth rate on Aura is low. Really low."
"What do you mean?" Liz asks. She isn't asking about the question itself, but the underlying one.
"Aurans are fertile only one day every eighteen weeks, as you know. To keep the species going, evolution has created this powerful pheromone. Remember the 'roses'?" Liz did, all too well. On Elanis IV, in the confined space of a shuttlepod, the unexpected onset of that fertility had more of an effect on Travis Mayweather than what should have happened.
Properly, it should have had no effect upon him at all, as he is not Auran. But the confined space of the pod concentrated the effect to the point that Travis and Liz herself were affected by it. That any human could be affected was unexpected, and every time since that that phase of her life cycle came about again Tia had locked herself away securely in her quarters.
"The effect of the minklasii is powerful, and an unbonded woman will often sequester herself as Tia does, even knowing that the dasreer will be the result."
"That rots!"
"But the alternative is that any male nearby –."
"Don't say anything more. I get it. And that really rots!"
"Then I won't even go into how the Silurians screwed things up by interfering when they took over."
"Please don't!"
"So, you can see where it would be the biggest thing ever if someone did get pregnant."
"I guess so." She sighs. "But I'm glad I got through to her that things are different with us. We don't make that big a deal of it."
"Speak for yourself!" Jim says.
"Oh, it's not that, honey. It's just … well… I'm just …" She stops short, making them stop and turn a moment later to face her. "I'm just getting used to it myself. I didn't want anyone to know until I'm ready to tell them. Okay?"
"Okay." They resume walking.
"The first thing I want to do is to find out where I stand. I want to stay on Enterprise, but I don't even know if I can do that. It's not up to me. I'm sure Starfleet is going to put me through a farging wringer over this! But I won't know where I stand until I see the Captain. I can't go any further until I speak to him about it."
"Speak to me about what?"
x
She turns, startled at the sound of his voice at her left. They had had the cosmic misfortune to be passing the intersection of two corridors just as he had come down the other. "Captain!" She tries to pull herself together. "You startled me!"
"Sorry." He says mildly. "I wouldn't want to do anything to upset you in your condition."
She freezes; then looks up at him guiltily. "You … how did you know?"
He gives her a wry smile. "Ensign, this ship can do warp 5 for a time, but you know scuttlebutt maintains warp 9 with no trouble at all."
"Damn!"
Archer falls into step with them. They are just a few dozen meters from the Mess Hall, and continue in a slow walk. "I did want to congratulate you, however. Both of you."
"Thank you, sir." Each says in turn.
"Unfortunately, something else has come to my attention I have a bit of a problem with."
Liz's pleasure turns to apprehension, her smile disintegrating. "Sir?"
"Yes. Something about a four-day Festival?"
She stops, burying her face in her hands. "Oh, NO!" She cries. "She didn't!" She looks up at the tall man. "Captain, I swear to you, this is not … I told her 'no'! I realize Aura has its customs, and sometimes she's a bit too enthusiastic… all right, most times she's a bit too enthusiastic; but I definitely told her 'No'!"
"So did I." He tells her, trying to balance firmness with understanding. "I have no problem with you and your friends getting together for a celebration – this is certainly worth it, but a four day ship-wide bash is just out of the question."
"Yes, sir. I'm really sorry, sir. I'll talk to her – again!" She tries to keep her temper under control as they walk the last few meters to the Mess, but it is hard. "It's bad enough she told people without my permission! I wanted it kept quiet, at least until I was ready. The last thing I wanted is for people to know and make a big deal out of this. It is not a big deal; and the last thing I want is to walk into a room and have a dozen people holler 'surprise'!" She pushes the button to open the door.
"SURPRISE!" The entire ship yells.
x
Liz stands like a statue in the doorway, staring in a confusing welter of thrilled horror at the crowd that has to number almost seventy strong, in a room decked out with party ribbons, balloons and assorted decorations. She is barely aware of Hoshi throwing her arms about her and kissing her cheek, then Jim embracing her a bit more sedately (in public view) and kissing her as well.
She finally manages to tear her eyes away from the cheering throng awaiting her within and look up at the Captain. His stern expression has vanished into a 'party face'.
"I said four days were out of the question." He tells her, putting his arm about her shoulders and guiding (helping) her into the room. She can barely move on her own as he brings her into the mad throng. "I have no problem with a couple of hours."
x
The party instantly takes on a life of its own. Ann Anderson has selected a collection of party music mostly from the latter half of the 20th Century, which she often maintains is unequaled for sheer enthusiasm and exuberance. 'Celebration' sets the tone, which announces to everyone that there is a party going on that would be a celebration to last throughout the year – Liz feels like fainting at the concept – and urges everyone to come out on the dance floor to celebrate the good times to come. Other similar pieces follow, and occasionally Ann herself takes the single microphone set upon a small square platform in the corner, adding her voice to the melee.
It seems that everyone who can fit into the room is there, and Liz is so dizzy with the thrill of so many friends coming out to celebrate her 'condition' that she finds she is actually forgetting to be anxious over it.
"Congratulations." A familiar voice from behind her calls out. Liz turns, seeing who has greeted her.
"Andrea! You're up!" She exclaims, throwing her arms about the blonde woman, though with a measure of care despite her enthusiasm.
"Just got discharged this morning – right on time. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this!" Andrea Carstairs does not allow anything to dampen her enthusiasm, even though she is still careful in her movements, even while pulling her friend into an even more expansive hug.
"It wouldn't be the same without you!"
Even as she says it, Liz knows how encompassing her words are. The crew had suffered through a long time of heartache; of attacks from both without and within; and if this celebration is to be a signal that the times of hardship are ending, she is very glad of it!
"Congratulations, Child." She hears a voice behind her and turns, hugging Patricia McCabe happily.
She holds the taller woman close enough to whisper privately over the music; "I've decided," she 'announced', "completely and finally. No going back."
"And?" Patricia asks; her voice equally low. She realizes she is holding her breath in anticipation.
"I hope you have a section in your book for Baptism."
Patricia smiles happily. "I've already marked the page." She kisses Liz on her cheek.
x
It is a good hour of talking with Captain Archer and Lt. John Abrams, head of Life Sciences and Hoshi and Tia and Trip and Malcolm and Patricia and T'Pol and Seamus and Cynthia and Dina and Tom and Phlox and Travis and Jennifer and Harry and Mary and Jim and Sally and Sam and Sarah and … She quickly loses track in the crush of good friends when she feels a tug on her arm. Ann Anderson is almost dragging her, despite her efforts to resist, up to the improvised platform and pushing a microphone into her hand. The music drops to a barely audible point as Ann steps off and everyone is looking at her expectantly.
She stares back at them, unable to stop doing her best 'deer-in-the-headlights' imitation until she catches Ann's motion, and remembers to raise the microphone. "I – ah." She stops, disconcerted at her amplified voice. The damn thing would be on!
"I … just want to thank everyone." She says, her voice wavering. "I don't know what to say. I've been here an hour, and I still can't believe it. Thank you, Captain, for letting us have this. Tia, the instigator of this pod wreck – I'll get you for this!" Laughter from her many friends. "Hoshi, Mary, Dina, Andrea; all my friends – ah." Her voice breaks. "I'm gonna cry, you know! Ann, come back and take this damn thing before I really embarrass myself!"
Ann Anderson takes the mike as Liz hurries off the platform to applause she could have done without, going to Jim who hugs her as she tries to stop trembling, and the music picks up into another exuberant dance number that distracts most of the people in the room. In due course, Liz finds a drink pressed into her hands and herself surrounded by Hoshi, Tia, Cathy, Melinda, Jennifer, Dina and several other friends by the improvised 'bar' when the music again dims. Most of those in the room turn expectantly toward the platform in the corner, but even before Liz can turn completely, she hears a familiar amplified voice.
"Thank you, Ann." Jim Cein says; then addresses the packed room. "I'd also like to thank everyone for coming. You're all crazy, you realize that." Scattered laughter. "I understand there's some tradition that only women speak at these things, or am I wrong? Anyway, I have only one question."
"What's that?" Malcolm calls accommodatingly.
"Beth?" Everyone in the room looks at her. "Will you marry me?"
x
Liz is barely fortunate that the glass in her hand is empty, because it falls to the floor with a sharp crash. She is absolutely stunned! She is so completely astonished she cannot move, and when Hoshi enthusiastically throws her arms around her and hugs her she squeezes the answer out of her, but it is too quiet a breath for anyone but the Linguist to hear.
Hoshi lets her go and Liz has to be turned by her friends, and she walks like an automaton up to the 'dais', more deeply shocked than when she'd discovered her pregnancy. She reaches out to Jim and they hug, but as she presses her head to his chest she keeps her eyes closed, unable to speak.
The room erupts in applause at that moment, everyone joining in the moment except Hoshi Sato, who stands by the bar staring at her friend. Melinda Johnston, standing next to her, nudges her and she starts to clap as well, but there is no spirit in it.
x
Captain Archer, an eye on the chronometer – Alpha shift is already over an hour late – decides there is no better moment to draw the morning to a close. At an arranged signal, Ann Anderson retrieves the microphone from Jim Cein's hand as he holds Liz close and begins the 'Last Dance'.
It is a classic 'last song', one that starts slowly, announcing that this is the last dance, the last chance for love and the need to have one's love beside her. It is enough to get some of the couples out on the floor; Jim and Liz, Trip and Tia, Malcolm and Patricia, Hoshi and Shamus O'Cathain, Travis and Jennifer Farber and many others.
Jonathan Archer, standing by the sidelines, astonishes T'Pol by extending his hand to her. She does not know what to say, but after several seconds she allows herself to be very reluctantly drawn out onto the floor. Most other couples hold one another close as the romantic ballad progresses, but those who know the song are ready when, about a minute and a half later, it breaks into an ebullient rock beat that cannot be danced to except separately and with extreme enthusiasm!
Tia and T'Pol, not being human, are caught off guard by the sudden shift but Tia, with her months of experience with Trip and Earth's music, is able to get into the rock beat very quickly, leaving T'Pol the only one motionless in a room of gyrating humans and associate aliens.
Archer, having forgotten the song, feels quite sorry for his uncomfortable First Officer and the embarrassing situation he'd drawn her into until, about thirty seconds into the dance, T'Pol starts to move as her shipmates do, and his mouth drops as the Vulcan starts to dance with an enthusiasm the others can only approach!
He is so astounded watching her that he misses several steps of his own, and by this point every person in the room is gyrating to the energetic rhythm. Archer swears to remember every instant of this dance. It is a moment he knows he will never see again as Captain of this or of any other ship!
Epilogue
Party snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are not the best way to begin a shift, but no one is heard complaining, not even the Chef, who had made sure that the food that was consumed was nutritious enough that it would get everyone through to lunch. Clean-up of the Mess Hall is not an overwhelming chore, and in due time Alpha shift assumes their considerably delayed stations. At least, Archer reflects, there would be little morning fatigue among the crew. Elation and exhaustion, yes; but not fatigue.
The last ones in the Mess Hall are, in fact, Hoshi and Liz, the latter of whom had insisted on being part of the clean-up detail. Actually, Liz is reluctant for it to end, and had spent the last part of the 'pod wreck' with her closest friends. But when it is time to leave the large room, Hoshi still hangs back. "You okay?" She asks her friend.
"Okay?" Liz exclaims. "My friends just threw me the biggest party of my life and you ask if I'm 'okay'?"
Hoshi glances at the door. She does not know how long they will have for privacy. "I heard your answer to Jim's question."
Liz's grin vanishes and crumples the napkin she is holding. "You know, your hearing is worse than a fragging Vulcan's!"
"It wasn't hard; you whispered it right into my ear."
"You squeezed it out of me!" She turns away, infuriated. "Damn him! How could he do that! I didn't see that coming at all!" She turns on her friend. "Did you know he was going to do that?"
"Well, no, but every time you mentioned marriage he sort of got this look in his eyes, so yes; I guess you could say I saw it coming. But I didn't expect him to do it then either."
Liz clenches her fists, stalking away, not trusting her voice.
"Did you tell him?"
"Are you kidding? In front of everybody! Create another scene? Enough of my private life is going public, even without what that damned Mary Tigat did just last week!" She turns back, her face red. "Damn it, damn it, damn it! Why couldn't he ask me in private? Over dinner? Something!"
"I don't know. I guess he –."
"Got caught up in the moment, yeah; I got that too." She falls dejectedly into a chair. "Damn it, how did my life get so fragged up in just three days!"
Hoshi shakes her head sympathetically. "I don't know."
"I don't want to hurt him. I love him! But I don't want to marry him!"
"Then what are you going to do?"
She shrugs. "I asked 'Mom' that same question." She sits quietly for a few moments, then gets up and strides purposefully for the door.
"Where are you going?" Hoshi asks as Liz presses the button next to the door, letting herself out.
"To put the answer into effect. Jim and I have a hell of a lot to talk about!"