Paint and Powder
A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.
Enterprise: Valentine's Day
2266
"Venus, if you do
I promise that I always will be true
I'll give her all the love I have to give
As long as we both shall live~!"
"Hey, Venus!
Oh, Venus!
Make my wish come true~!"
There was applause for young Yeoman Diane Pines as she finished the song on the stage in Enterprise's mess hall. Blushing, she bowed her head and walked off the stage, handing the microphone to young Ensign Chekov. He grinned encouragingly at her, and nodded to the crowd of off-duty officers.
"That was Yeoman Diane Pines with the ancient Earth ballad, 'Venus!' Wasn't she wonderful?"
Much murmuring of agreement ensued. Spock was sitting in the background, observing the proceedings with his usual dispassionate eye. Lieutenant Uhura was sitting next to him, smiling broadly.
"Any thoughts, Mister Spock?" Uhura asked.
"Several," Spock stated, "primarily on the human notion to turn everything into a social occasion."
Uhura giggled.
"It's something we all celebrate, Mister Spock! Enjoying ourselves, bonding! We can't do it telepathically, after all."
Spock cocked an eyebrow, and nodded.
"Granted," he said, "though kareoke does involve a great deal of dubious musical expression."
McCoy, sitting nearby with a beer in hand, snorted.
"That's half the the fun, Spock!" McCoy cried out. "Overcoming fear and self doubt!"
"Often with alcohol as a key lubricant," Spock observed. McCoy grinned and nodded.
"Now you got it!"
The doors opened, and Kirk entered. A number of officers began to rise in respect, but Kirk shook his head and held out his hand.
"At ease, everyone," he said softly, as Chekov and Sulu went into a bawdy Russian song. He sat alone, his shoulders held ramrod straight and tense. McCoy then saw Enterprise's holographic avatar materialize on the far side of the mess hall, smiling a bit too tensely.
His eyes met Spock's. McCoy got up, moved over, and sat on Spock's other side.
"They still fighting?" He murmured.
"So it would seem," Spock said softly. Uhura frowned.
"I've never seen Enterprise so moody," she muttered.
"Honestly, it's Jim's fault," McCoy snorted, "he let that Elaan of Troyius walk all over him, provoke him-"
"That is hardly his fault," Spock stated, "the captain was being affected by her tears. The fact he resisted her at all is a testament to his willpower."
"Granted," McCoy muttered, "but still... They gotta carry on like two high schoolers and that's annoying."
"She is, in human terms, approaching the developmental stages of late teenagerhood, where when I first came aboard she was essentially an adolescent," Spock observed.
Both men looked over at Uhura, who shook her head with a sigh.
"I have talked to her, a lot," she said, "but in this case she's just unreachable! The captain apologized, didn't he?"
"Of course he did," McCoy scoffed, "but there are women who just won't take that and move on. Especially teenagers."
Uhura nodded grimly.
"My cousin was the same way over a guy when we were in high school," she admitted, "she didn't forgive him until he did something stupid and romantic..."
McCoy and Uhura looked at eachother, as though speaking telepathically. Spock cocked an eyebrow. McCoy grinned.
"I'll work on Jim, you keep Enterprise here," he said.
"Given she can observe everything happening on the ship all the time, that seems unnecessary," Spock stated.
"It'll help, believe me Spock," Uhura said, getting up and walking over to the holotank. McCoy headed over to Jim. Spock watched both in action.
McCoy spoke animatedly to Jim, who frowned and argued back. Uhura spoke more softly to Enterprise, with a sly bent to her body language: Enterprise smiled tensely, but nodded.
Finally, Chekov and Sulu finished their song. Sulu headed down to many cheers, and Chekov stayed on stage, looking around with a bright grin.
"All right! Who next? Who next to-?"
He stopped when Kirk walked up to the stage.
"Ah, Keptin-"
"If you please, Mister Chekov," Kirk said with a smile. Chekov handed the microphone over, and stepped off the stage. Kirk stepped on, and smiled out at the now very interested crowd.
"This is... Well... The person who knows will know who it is for," he said.
Enterprise leaned forward in her holotank, eyes wide, as Jim began to sing an ancient Earth ballad.
"Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go 'round and 'round, you're on my mind
Restless hearts, sleep alone tonight
Sendin' all my love along the wire
They say that the road ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line, it's been you and me
And lovin' a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
Faithfully
Circus life under the big-top world
We all need the clowns to make us smile
Through space and time, always another show
Wonderin' where I am lost without you
And being apart ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
Faithfully
Whoa-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Faithfully
I'm still yours
I'm forever yours
Forever yours
Faithfully~..."
Kirk finished, and was applauded happily, loudly, and raucously by the crew. He bowed, grinned, and stepped off. He handed the microphone back off to Chekov, and walked over to the starry eyed Enterprise in her holotank.
"Enterprise," he said.
"Captain," she replied.
"So... How was it?" He asked.
Enterprise beamed.
"Absolutely dreadful," she said honestly, "Steve Perry is rolling over in his grave."
Kirk frowned.
"I see," he murmured.
Enterprise still smiled, and reached out a hand to press against the holotank.
"But, I liked it," she said quietly, a light blush on her cheeks.
Kirk smiled back, and pressed his hand against hers, divided only by the holotank. They stayed that way for a moment, before Kirk felt eyes on him. He pulled his hand back and glared at the all too smug McCoy and Uhura, now sitting innocently with Spock.
"As you were," he stated, heading off and out the doors. Enterprise's avatar vanished, mere moments behind him. Uhura and McCoy clanked their glasses together.
"A successful operation, Lieutenant," he said.
"Agreed, Doctor," Uhura replied with a smile.
Spock shook his head.
"I used to look forward to when she develops past this into adulthood," he said, "but I suspect that, thanks to you, Enterprise will remain childlike in many ways."
"Would you have her, or us, in any other way, sir?" Uhura asked playfully.
Spock might have smiled. It may have been a trick of the light.
"Perhaps not."
Just feeling a bit schmaltzy. And hey, I love Journey, sooo...
Songs were "Venus" by Frankie Avalon and "Faithfully" by Journey.