Fan Fiction
TITLE: Halloween on the Holodeck
AUTHOR: Kate
RATING: PG
CODES: C/T
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I am in no way affiliated with Paramount. I do not own Star Trek, the characters, or the star ship Voyager. I am not making any profit from this story. Thank you to the CT group for supplying the challenge, Briana for acting as a beta reader and C.J. and Path for offering to act as a beta.
SUMMARY: Months after the destruction of the intimate relationship between Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres, they each take the chance to move on.
�What�s that about my temper?� B�Elanna Torres demanded in a low, threatening tone, placing her tray next to Harry�s at the long table.
Tom Paris, who was still in line for the day�s meal, hastily stepped behind Tuvok, the security officer. If Harry had managed to enrage the tempestuous engineer, he wanted a phaser in between him and his half-Klingon ex-lover.
Oblivious to the danger, the Delaney twins looked up from Harry Kim and Joe Carey to smile at the lieutenant. �B�Elanna, your ears must be burning.� Jenny Delaney said cheerily. �We were just talking about how wonderful it would be to have a Halloween party in Engineering. The warp core provides such a nice ambient lighting, don�t you think, Harry?�
�I had nothing to do with that suggestion.� Joe said, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he looked for an object to place between his face and the Chief.
�Out. Of. The. Question.� B�Elanna bit off each word so it was its own sentence. �There is delicate equipment there. It�s a hazardous area. Do you understand what that means?� She took one of the calming meditation breaths that Tuvok and Chakotay had worked on with her.
Meg wrinkled her nose. Jenny pouted. B�Elanna silenced their protests with a Look that clearly said �If you don�t like it, go to Sto-Vo-Kor. Engineering is mine.�
�I agree with the lieutenant.� Tuvok said, in his clipped precise tones. �Engineering is a sensitive area, and if the crew partakes of spirits, as seems to be a custom for nearly all Earth holidays, it would be unwise to have them in a sensitive area of the ship.�
Foiled by the combined might of the Chief Engineer and Security Chief, Meg and Jenny settled back petulantly.
�There�s no reason we couldn�t do it on the holodeck.� Harry suggested lightly. �We�ll just write a program. So you can keep the warp core lighting effect but also have more Halloween stuff.� He smiled, proud of himself.
�That�s right.� Jenny cooed. �We don�t have to have all those nasty conduits and stations everywhere.�
B�Elanna choked on her soup, and a vein began to pulse. �Nasty conduits?� She repeated, a tremor in her voice.
Tom regarded her warily. Was it better to quarantine her and risk getting ripped apart himself or let her go for Jenny�s jugular? Higher motives won out over self-preservation. �She didn�t mean it, B�Elanna.� He said.
The lightning rod effect took place. �And you�re an engineer now, Paris?�
�Well you�re hardly a stellar cartographer.�
�Will you two knock it off?� Meg Delaney asked. �For heaven�s sake, just because you broke up doesn�t mean you have to gnaw on each other�s bones every chance you get.�
Tom sent her a tight smile. �So, what�s this about a party?�
�For Halloween.� Jenny said. �It was my favorite holiday when we were living on Earth.� She included her sister easily.
�Costumes are the best.� Meg agreed.
�You didn�t go in for ghost stories?� Harry teased.
�Never.� Jenny shivered. �At least, not without someone there to hold on to.� She flirted.
Harry swallowed. Meg rolled her eyes at B�Elanna, as though to say �Men. So easy to play with.�
�I admit, I have never seen the point to masquerading as someone or something else and demanding a reward.� Tuvok said, back stiff.
Neelix bustled over at the word candy. �It�s the first break I�ve had in my line in an hour.� He beamed. �My leola root soup must be just terrific!�
No one wanted to contradict him directly, but Jenny did manage to say, �Is everyone going to replicate costumes for the party then?�
�Masks at least.� Meg declared. �But we can�t use the holodeck. That�s the problem. They�re already reserved that night.�
�Cargo bay 2?� Neelix asked. �What is this Halloween, anyway? Everyone seems very excited about it.�
�It�s an Earth holiday.� Tom broke his glaring match with B�Elanna to answer. �Kids dress up in costumes and walk from house to house trick-or-treating.� The cook looked blank. �Asking for candy.� He clarified.
�Older kids make mischief though.� B�Elanna said sharply.
�By the light of the moon, no doubt.� Neelix said, delighted. �What wonderful imaginations your people had.�
�Don�t let them fool you, Neelix.� Jenny said earnestly. �Halloween is really scary. All these animals can come at you. Ravens, werewolves and vampires. And black bats and black cats and--,�
�You sound like Dr. Seuss.� B�Elanna said, standing. �I�ve got to get going.�
�You barely touched your leola soup.� Neelix said, looking crushed.
�You�ve got a line.� She answered simply, dropping her tray at the station and leaving the mess hall with a dark cloud floating behind her.
�Don�t worry about her.� Tom told Neelix and Jenny. �She just hates Halloween.�
�Why?� Harry asked.
�Mischief.� Tom shrugged. �I get the sense that on Kessik IV, the teenagers directed lot of mischief at the only two Klingons in the colony.�
Harry, the perpetual innocent, looked bewildered. �But racism died out centuries ago.�
Jenny touched his shoulder. �Who taught you Ethics in the Academy?�
�Discrimination has always, and will always be part of human societies in some form.� Tom said bitterly. �It�s like the wolf in sheep�s clothing. Hides itself in all sorts of bizarre and fascinating ways.�
�The wolf. That�s a traditional part of Halloween, right?� Joe Carey asked, uncomfortably aware of his own prejudices against Klingons.
�Werewolves.� Tom said. �There are some great old scary movies about that.� He winked suggestively at Jenny. �Good to watch with someone else.�
Harry sent Tom a �gee thanks buddy� look.
�Well, who reserved the holodeck? As morale officer I could address them about the crew�s need to recognize holidays from home.� Neelix offered helpfully, returning from his duties as chef and server.
�That information is confidential.� Tuvok said dryly. �For exactly this reason. Pressure to give up reserved holodeck time could foment resentment among the crew.� �Ease up Tuvok. Who wouldn�t want to come to a Halloween party?� Tom said jovially.
�B�Elanna.� Harry ticked off crew members on his fingers. �Dalby. Chakotay?�
�Why wouldn�t the commander participate?� Neelix�s face drooped.
�He honors his ancestors. Halloween is just a little bit tacky and trashy.� Harry explained.
�Tacky and trashy never stopped any of us from enjoying Sandrines.� Megan pointed out. �No offense, Tom.�
He held up his hands. �None taken.�
�Besides, can�t you just imagine what kind of costume he would show up in?� Jenny asked.
Delightedly, Jenny and Megan�s eyes locked, as they shared what Voyager crew members called �a twin moment.�
�She would strangle us.� Jenny muttered.
�Would so be worth it though.� Meg grinned.
�For the benefit of those of us who haven�t shared a brain since childhood�� Harry reminded them gently.
�We think we should set up B�Elanna and the Commander.� Meg said boldly, meeting Tom�s eyes. �Maybe if she moves on socially, it�ll prove to you that you can too.�
Harry shifted uncomfortably, uncertain about being at ground zero when the bomb detonated.
Tom didn�t say a word, but Joe Carey stood nervously. �I�m not participating in any conversation about the Chief�s love life or lack thereof. I like being in one piece. I don�t particularly get jollies from visiting sickbay and the doctor.�
�Wimp.� Tom called. �I participated--�
�Shut up, Tom.� Harry told the conn officer, as Chakotay entered the mess hall.
The first officer nodded amiably at Paris, Kim, the Delaney twins and Tuvok, but selected a seat at a separate table, where he began to review a data padd. He ate distractedly. Paris frowned at the behavior change. It was like B�Elanna to focus on work during meals, but the first officer believed in giving each action its own time.
�Commander.� Paris called cheerfully, against his better judgment, as Jenny stared at him, slack jawed and Meg kicked him under the table.
Chakotay turned. �Mr. Paris.�
Harry sighed. Relations between the first officer and conn officer had been strained since, weeks before, Ensign Vorik had triggered blood fever in B�Elanna. She had turned to Paris, and he had helped her. But introducing intimacy too quickly and under such intense conditions damaged their friendship, which had been growing towards more. The relationship failed spectacularly and publicly. The destruction of the first serious Starfleet/Maquis romantic relationship had placed a damper over the whole ship, with former Maquis taking B�Elanna�s part and Starfleet taking Tom�s side.
The Delaneys had decided to cut the tension with a party, and Halloween was the perfect excuse.
�We�re giving a Halloween party, but the holodeck is reserved for Friday night. Is the cargo bay available?�
�I�ll check.� Chakotay said. �Who reserved the holodeck time?�
�Computer won�t say.� Jenny pouted. �But if you happened to find out, could you send them in our direction? The crew needs to party.� She tossed her pretty head. �Plus, I�m dying to dress up in a really slutty costume. I don�t make enough people drool.�
�Jenny!� Her sister scolded.
Harry Kim choked on the soup and Tom Paris had to be physically restrained from making a remark. Tuvok stood and left with dignity, while the commander turned back to his padd.
�Come on boys, I know you want details about my costume.� Jenny teased.
�Shut up.� Megan said.
�I�ll give you a hint.� She said, delighting in Harry�s blush, as he resisted eye contact with determination. �Leopard print thong.�
This time, every man in the messhall choked on his meal.
�It�s just a real shame we can�t have the party unless we find out who reserved the holodeck time.� She said angelically. �I couldn�t wear that costume to cargo bay 2. I�d freeze to death.�
�Enough. They�re motivated to find a place for the party.� Megan hissed.
Jenny grinned. �They�re motivated to do more than that.�
�Jenny, when was the last time--,�
�Finish that question and I�ll throw you out an airlock.� Jenny said sweetly. �Harry, are you done? You can walk me to my next shift.�
Harry, who was not done, dropped his tray without qualm. �Later, Tom.�
�And Jenny wonders why I tell her she has no subtlety.� Megan said dryly.
�Jenn�s a trip.� Tom acknowledged. �But you know, her in a leopard print thong would do more for morale than any quantity of leola root.�
Megan sighed. �You really are a pig, aren�t you?�
�I have a reputation to maintain.� Paris said. �You know I don�t mean it that way. Jenny�s just one of those girls who is so out there about her body. She loves displaying it.
�I just wish that she realized that every time she displays her body, she displays mine too.� Megan sighed. �I�m sorry, I�m really being a drag.�
�Hey, no.� He covered her hand with his. �You�re worried that guys see Jenny naked and think it�s you?�
Megan made an unladylike sound. �Well, we are identical twins, so obviously we�re interchangeable.�
�No.� Tom said. �No, I know you�re not.�
Megan met his eyes. �Maybe you aren�t a pig. You should worry less about that reputation.� She checked her chrono. �Oh God, I�ve got bridge duty and I�m gonna be late. The captain�ll have me for breakfast.�
�Coffee with a side of Megan?� Tom teased, as she fled.
Chakotay turned to look at the younger man. �You really want to know who has the holodeck time?�
�Yes.� Tom said. �Everyone really needs to just cut loose for a night.�
�Think about the only person on this ship who can order the computer to keep information confidential.�
�The captain.� Tom realized.
~*~*~*~*~*
�How did you convince the captain to give us the holodeck again?� Megan asked, as she and Paris stood in the gridded room and began to write a program.
�Let�s just say that a version of B�Elanna�s pool boys are going to be running around here in costumes matching Jenny�s.�
�Leopard print thongs and the captain.� Megan shuddered. �I did not need that mental picture, Tom.� She hit his shoulder. �Seriously, now. How did you do it?�
�I presented a logical argument.�
�And when that didn�t work?�
�I turned the ensign on her. You know no one can say no to Harry when he puts on his earnest face.�
Megan grinned. �Looks like Jenny might have to make good on that promise.�
�She could just wear sandals.� Tom said. �Thong is a slang term for a piece of footwear popular with surfers from the twentieth century. Flip flops was another word, I think.�
Megan smiled. �I�ll pass that on. Thanks.�
Companionably, they began to hash out decorating.
~*~*~*~*~*~
�Chakotay, no.� B�Elanna argued. �I don�t want to go to some stupid Halloween party. I don�t see the point to dressing up for one night to go hang around people I see every day who are just going to analyze every move I make to see if I�m about to beat Tom, his latest flirtation, or jump somebody else.�
Chakotay raised a quizzical eyebrow. �Thought you were over Tom. You said you were happy for him and Megan.�
�I am.� B�Elanna said, sharply.
�So, you don�t have to worry about acting out in front of the crew.�
�I�m not worried.� She said defensively.
�Then what is wrong?�
She sighed. �I hate Halloween. Growing up it was always an excuse for older kids to put on masks and pick on me or egg the house. One year they threw rocks and broke windows. By then, we knew security wouldn�t come. My mother ran out on the porch with a batleh. Scared that bunch of kids half to death. So they complained to their parents, who called security, and wouldn�t you know they reprimanded my mother for scaring children and refused to record her statement about the broken windows and my black eye.�
Chakotay frowned. �So an injustice happened when you were a child. Don�t let it affect your pleasure in today.�
�Couldn�t we just stay in? We�ll have fun, I promise.� She suggestively caressed his tattoo.
Chakotay�s mouth turned down. �You don�t want anyone to know about us.�
�It�s not that.� She sighed. �I do, but I don�t think we�re ready. I mean, everyone saw me and Paris from a million klicks away, and they saw the end too. But us -- they�ll either think I�m getting favors or that I threatened you into a relationship.�
Chakotay made a face at her.
�I thought making faces was below your dignity.� She said, settling into his lap.
�You�re not over Paris.� He kissed her ear. �If you were, you�d be ready to face him and his new love interest, with me.�
�Guilt is not fair.� B�Elanna complained.
�Effective though. What should we go as?�
�So we�re definitely going together?�
�Consider it our public debut as a couple.�
�I don�t know what I want to be. Wear.� She corrected hastily, but he could see the wheels turning in her mind.
