Surprise!
by Rob Morris
DECEMBER 21, 2272
As he left for the day, Jim placed the evil idea inside Lori's head.
"All I'm saying, honey, is that with your fair skin, you don't want to risk going out in the Bay winds unless you're covered head to toe. What Pavel Chekov would call a babushka. Now, keep covered up, okay?"
Like she was a fragile flower. OK. He was going to see the error of his ways. Literally. With a quick check of various duty assignments, she found out that all of Jim's friends were off-planet, most for the holidays.
"Babushka, Jim? I'll give you a pair of bouncing babushkas!"
The first thing after she got back from a light workday was to do was lock the outer walkway's door. Only she, Jim and Jim's Mom had that key, and more than one visitor would register, giving her time to get away. A sly smile creased her pretty face. It was time to knock her man's socks off.
"Admiral--it's time to get out of uniform."
The outer door registered one, wholly authorized visitor. Life signs were human. No weapons were detected. Lori ditched the light robe, far enough away that she wouldn't chicken out. Hearing a knock, she arched her arms behind her head, her own behind posed to the door.
"Come on in."
When the door opened, she closed her eyes, spun like a pirouette, shook her behind at the entrant, then turned and threw her arms upward, shaking her chest as she went.
"It's the very latest in winter wear, Admiral. What do you think?"
A voice, male but not Jim's, now was heard.
"Aunt Lori?"
Ciana's heart and nervous system nearly caused her death a month early. She stood there, frozen, choosing not to open her eyes, while acknowledging her 12-year old visitor in a weak, faltering voice.
"Hello, Peter."
