It took a few weeks before they could get together the semblance of a party. There were plenty of other things to do – and T'Pol was insistent on looking for planets for agriculture – but Captain Archer wanted some of the shuffling of personnel to at least begin already. The tension was palpable. It was only a matter of time before couples would start to form, so his idea was to nudge them along.
The Observation Lounge was decorated for a beach party. There was no real sand, but a large metal disk – it was a replacement transporter pad, truth be told – was pressed into service. It was bolted to plastic side walls and the whole thing was made watertight. Then it was filled with water, thereby creating a small wading pool. Tripp and the remainder of Engineering worked on creating other reminders of the beach as well. They fashioned wire and tubing into what looked like palm trees and even islands.
Chip Masterson promised music. He gathered up every beach and summer tune he could find, even very old ones, and created a massive playlist for the festivities.
Lili, Craig, Brian and Will put together beach fare, including replicated chicken from a formula they had gotten from the database. They grilled it with a tomato-based barbecue sauce and hoped that it would pass muster with the rest of the crew.
It felt absurd to be holding a party in shifts, but it was the only way to truly have good coverage. The night shift went first. Security Crewman Deborah Haddon found herself talking to Chip as he adjusted the volume level and fretted over whether the music was just so. "I swear," she said to him, "it's worse than if you were trying to negotiate peace with the Klingons, or something."
"Heh," he smiled a little, "I just want it to be right. Uh, Deb, speaking of right, you do know that it was you and me, right?"
"Why do you think I'm talking to you?"
"Aha."
Ethan Shapiro found himself with Karin Bernstein, and it was very uncomfortable. "I guess I ended up with Josh," she ventured, referring to one of the two other Jewish men on board, Josh Rosen.
"Yeah, you did."
"Ethan, I know what else happened. To you, I mean. I don't know what to say."
"Nobody knows what to say anymore," he shrugged. "Rest assured, I won't do that. That isn't something that's gonna be on instant replay, or anything. I am not gonna attempt suicide over you. Not, uh, not again, that is. We're cool."
"Oh, uh, okay. Josh, huh, I wonder why not Andrew?" she said. Andrew Miller was standing nearby, with a plastic cupful of cola in his hands that he sipped on occasion as he looked around a bit furtively. Karin left Ethan's side and went over to talk to him. "You look lost."
"Oh, uh, Shelby isn't on the night shift."
"Oh," Karin said, the light dawning, "did she convert?"
"I guess so," he said, "you were with Josh. I, uh, heh, it's funny. I got good at helping out Doctor Phlox. I delivered your daughter."
"Amazing," she shook her head and walking away, feeling as if he had seen her naked.
Security Crewman Mark Reilly chatted with Pilot Sterling Hutchinson as Security Crewman Azar Hamidi and Tactical Ensign Aidan MacKenzie looked on. "So I ended up with Ingrid. And it was after a riot! I have no idea how, or even why, they'd be fighting over me. How weird is that?"
"I dunno, man," Sterling replied. "I got Christina Parsons from the MACOs. How'd I land a honey like her? And I barely talk to her. What gives?"
Josh Rosen came in and made a beeline for Karin. "Sorry I'm late," he said, "Tucker and I got to talking about how to maintain the field better. Did I miss anything?"
"Oh, just a boatload of awkwardness," she replied. "You and me, eh?"
"Yeah, you and me, Angel."
She smiled a little at that. "I don't have a clue as to how to get it all started."
"I do," he said, "but you'll need to follow me over, uh, here." He walked a lot closer to the viewing window.
"And what's so special about right over here?" Karin asked.
"It's where I'm gonna kiss you for the first time."
"In front of all these people?"
"Would someplace else be better?"
"Well, yeah," she said, "and I think Bree's on duty."
"Your roommate?" She nodded. "You ready to take me to your quarters?" he asked, a little anxious.
"Yeah," she said, "look, Josh, I don't normally move this fast. But I know we work out. So, um, whaddaya say?"
"I say this party is lame. No offense to Masterson. Let's get outta Dodge."
As they left, Ethan turned to Andy and said, "No time like the present, eh?"
"I guess not," Andrew replied. "I can barely think up what to say to Shelby that isn't work-related."
"You'll think of something, man."
=/\=
When the second shift arrived for their own version of the party, similar scenes played out. Pilot Chris Harris sat by himself. He wasn't interested in anyone, male or female.
José Torres came in from Engineering, and Lucas Donnelly from Tactical. They stood, awkwardly, looking at the passing parade. Maryam Haroun came in, and so did Ramih Azar. He got her a cola and looked at her. "It appears you chose Azar Hamidi over me," he said.
"I read my logs," she replied, tugging nervously on her hijab. "I had asked Doctor Phlox to assist me with the decision. At home," she paused a little. The word made her choke up a bit, as it did to all of them, "well, at home my parents would choose. It appears I treated the doctor a bit like my own father."
"I am certain he did the right thing for you," replied Ramih. "My wife was Nanette Myers. She converted to Islam and we dated. Or perhaps we dated a bit first. It is somewhat unclear."
"And our children married each other," Maryam looked down, "It is so strange to speak of those who have not yet been conceived."
"I believe Phlox made the best possible choice for you," said Ramih, "and so I will not push it and try for you. Is that all right? Or would you prefer it if I were to go after you, and court you?"
She blanched. "Uh, no, no thank you. It seems best for me to go with Azar, and for you to be with, with Nanette." She got out of there as quickly as possible.
Lucas looked up when Navigator Preston Jennings entered the room. He came over. "Second verse, same as the first?" he asked.
"You mean you and me? Uh, I was thinking about Todd."
"And I was thinking about Constantine," Lucas admitted, "but here we are."
"Yeah, here we are, I guess." They left together as about half of the MACO contingent looked on.
=/\=
By the time the day shift got their crack at the party, the music on Chip's playlist had completely veered away from contemporary music. Instead, it was older tunes, such as Jan and Dean.
There were whistles and heads turning when a lot of the women showed up. It was a beach party, and they seemed to be the only people into it. Hence a lot of them were attired in Starfleet regulation swimwear.
Not everyone approached the person they had ended up with. Hoshi was approached by Brooks Haynem, Eddie Hamboyan and Ethan Novakovich, but she politely waved them off and they retreated respectfully. Dan Chang came closer and took her arm. "Yanno what they say," he said.
She glared at him. He dropped her arm. "There are ten o'clock girls, midnight girls, two o'clock girls and four o'clock girls. Ya wanna know the difference?"
Hoshi remained impassive, standing there in a swimsuit, fuming at his audacity. The physical contact and the ensuant conversation were not by her invitation.
"Y'see," he said, "Ten o'clock girls are super-hot. The hottest of the hot, know what I'm sayin'? They get scooped up first. Then at midnight, the second tier gets picked up. That's chicks like Haddon. Then at two AM, er, oh two hundred hours, dontcha know, the third tier gets grabbed. That's, like, Tanner and Creighton and those. And then all that's left are the four o'clock girls. If they get picked up at all, it's only then, after everyone else is taken, and a guy wants something better than his own hand, do ya know what I'm sayin'?"
Hoshi turned away, but Dan got right back in her face. "O'Day and Money and Socorro – they are all totally four o'clock girls. And those Ikaarans? I saw their pictures, some of 'em. And even the captain's wife was no better than maybe two o'clock."
"Is there some reason why you're telling me this?" she asked sharply.
"I am telling you this because you, Sweetheart, are a ten o'clock girl. You know, twenty hundred hours, baby! Never mind what the real time is. I'm just sayin' you got it goin' on. And you got a chance to go home with me."
"I don't think so."
"What? You're gonna let history just repeat itself, and decide it all for ya? Girl, you're fine, you're the pick of the litter! Only Crossman and T'Pol are even close, and I don't want no alien chick. And redheads are bitches."
She turned away again and he got right back in her face. He grabbed her arm again. "I am not finished talking to you, baby."
"Leave me alone."
Jay was standing in a corner, wondering why he was even there. He took in the exchange although he didn't hear most of it. He came over. "Take a hint, Chang, and take a hike."
"Or what, Major? You're not the boss of me anymore."
"I still outrank you, Crewman."
Lili and Craig were putting out more food. She jogged his elbow. "This might be about to get ugly."
The doors swished open, and the Quartermaster, Sekar Khan, arrived. He immediately went over to Hoshi and bowed. "I was wondering if you would do me the honor."
It was a Beach Boys song, a fairly slow number – Surfer Girl. She blinked twice. "I, uh, I thought you'd never ask." She took his hand and, despite the fact that neither of them was very good, they started to dance.
Others joined in – Susie Money and Mario Lattimer, Judy Kelly and Michael Rostov, and Mara Brodsky and Walter Woods, for starters. Chang and Hayes found themselves stranded in the middle of the impromptu dance floor.
Hayes walked over to where Lili and Craig were. "That guy's trouble," Craig said, referring to Dan.
"Yeah," said Jay. He looked at Lili. "Tell me if he ever bothers you, all right? And, uh, he was totally outta line. What he said about you – it was unnecessarily cruel."
"It's okay," Lili gritted her teeth, "I didn't choose him last time, and I sure as hell wouldn't choose him this time, either."
"But it's not just that," Jay agreed, "it's also that it was so downright mean. And it was wrong, too. You're not just some, some piece of meat to be graded by a government inspector or something."
Craig went into the back to get more clean plates. Lili looked at Jay. "I wonder if this is at all like how we, you know, got started."
"I, uh, I dunno," Jay said, as the door swished open and the captain and Lieutenant Reed arrived. "My head isn't there. I've, uh, I gotta get over someone."
"Oh. I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't have assumed you'd be receptive."
"It is, it is not you," Jay stated, "It's me. I, well, right now I just feel kinda damaged."
The doors opened up again, and Lili's roommate, Jenny Crossman, arrived. She, too, was wearing a swimsuit, but she'd cut the midriff out of it, so it was a two-piece. There were more whistles, and Chang went over to her.
Malcolm came over to where Lili and Jay were. "And the dance begins, eh? And I don't mean the one set to music."
"I should tell ya, Reed," Jay muttered, "Chang has been acting like an ass."
"I don't believe we have a regulation against that, specifically," Malcolm quipped.
"No, Malcolm," Lili disagreed, "he was really nasty." Just then, Jennifer slapped Dan. Turning on her heel, she left quickly. Lili added, "I'd better see if she's okay."
She hustled out to follow the beautiful redhead. "Jenny!" Lili called. "Wait up!"
Jenny slowed down. "Don't ask me to go back there."
"I won't, don't worry," Lili stated, "He was mean, eh?"
"He said something terrible about you and Patti Socorro. I won't repeat it."
"He said probably the same thing to Hoshi."
"God, he's awful," Jennifer made a face, "I never really talked to him before. He was just one of the MACOs, yanno? But, man oh man! It's like we got knocked back here and, and, God, I think some people get it in their heads to just start acting like animals."
There were footsteps coming down the hallway. It was Malcolm. "Ensign Crossman," he said, "Major Hayes informed me that Crewman Chang was not only rude to you. He was also rude to Ensign Sato. Private Todd has been called, and he will bring Chang to his quarters and will confine him there for a day."
"Thank you, sir," Jenny was still a bit shaky. "I never want to have to talk to him again."
"I'll wager that Ensign Sato has a similar preference. I can, uh; I can switch him with Crewman Azar Hamidi. Chang could work the night shift."
"I don't want to make you shuffle everyone around just for me," said Jenny.
"He also insulted Ensign O'Day, Crewman Socorro and Private Money. Plus, Mister Hamidi would, I am certain, prefer the days or perhaps second shift. I shall think of something."
"Thanks again." Jenny departed.
Lili looked at Malcolm. "That was really nice of you."
"I don't want him insulting you, either, you know. I know that he was chosen for this mission for a reason. But perhaps that reason is diminished if not absent altogether now. And right now he's just behaving like a braying ass."
As if on cue, Private Todd came by. "I guess our friend hasn't had enough of punishments, eh?" he said as he walked by.
"Are you returning to the festivities?" Malcolm asked Lili.
"I've gotta work so, yeah. Poor Craig can't handle everything on his own."
"May I say something?"
"Sure," she allowed.
"The moment I learned that he had insulted you," Malcolm stated, "I felt as if he had struck me as well. Does that, is that plausible?"
"Sure it is," she nodded. They returned to the party as Todd escorted Chang out.
=/\=
In a corner, Eddie Hamboyan and Brian Delacroix were talking. "I drew an Ikaaran card. What about you?" Eddie asked.
"Me, too," said Brian, "I wonder what we'll do now."
"Damned if I know," Eddie answered.
Brooks Haynem went over to Sandra Sloane. "Nice suit," he said to her.
"Uh, thanks. I kinda pieced things together from my logs. I think we hooked up while we were serving our sentences on that Paradise planet," she said.
"That sounds right. I just want you to know, I mean, it's kinda shocking the stuff from, from before. But we both did shocking things."
"Yours weren't as bad as mine," she pointed out.
"Be that as it may," he said, "I just want you to know, I won't hold it against you."
"You really mean that?" she was skeptical.
"I do," Brooks offered, "if ya wanna make a go of it, I, uh, I'd like to, Sandra."
=/\=
Karin Bernstein's Personal Log, August twelfth, 2037
It's not like home, I'll tell ya.
Josh is; he's okay. I do like him. I like all three of them. I still have no idea why I didn't try for Miller first. Who knows?
As for Ethan, he ended up with an Ikaaran woman, it seems. And now that might not ever happen. I don't want to hurt him – I don't want anyone to be hurt – but I figure that there are a good twenty or so guys who are going to be caught with the short end of the stick.
=/\=
Jonathan Archer's Personal Log, August twelfth, 2037
The party was more or less what I expected. I watched as people got together, or didn't. There are couples who crossed shift lines, like Andrew Miller and Shelby Pike, and Azar Hamidi and Maryam Haroun. They obviously didn't have their chances tonight.
But it was, overall, a decent turnout and it served its purpose.
I have read my older logs, and I held back then. And now, I feel even more compelled to step back. I cannot stand in the way of what happens to many of these people.
Not everyone works out. Not everyone is happy. As we all read more and more, not only of our own logs, but also of public records and duty rosters and even replicator files, I figure that people will get clearer pictures of what truly happened.
I was happy with that Ikaaran woman, Ebrona. And now I'll never meet her. It doesn't really make me feel empty or saddened, as the logs seem so distant and so not me that I cannot figure out who the guy writing them really was. They have my name on them but they might as well be José Torres's logs and not mine.
I wonder if others who had Ikaaran brides feel similarly.
=/\=
T'Pol's Personal Log, August twelfth, 2037
The festivities were accomplished as planned. The crew's three shifts evidently enjoyed themselves.
As for Commander Tucker, he has held back. Perhaps that is for the best.
=/\=
Daniel Chang's Personal Log, August twelfth, 2037
I'm going after T'Pol next. Alien or no, I am not going through this without a hottie to bang.