Trials 04 Shadow's Trial Read online

  TRIALS FOUR: Shadow's Trials

  By Terri Zavaleta

  DISCLAIMER: Everyone knows (or everyone who counts) that Paramount

  owns the Star Trek Universe and its characters. This is my own work

  written as an outlet for creativity and not for profit. Special thanks

  to the PT Collective (y'all know who you are) who created the

  characters of Ethan Simms, Mikel Hudson, and Janine Lamont. Other

  characters you don't recognize are my own invention.

  TRIALS FOUR: Shadow's Trials

  *************

  It was the day after the night that, thanks to Ensign Ethan Simms,

  came to be known as Full Moon Night---though the term was actually

  meaningless on a starship traveling through space. That didn't

  matter. Everyone knew exactly what he meant.

  The Security Officer had dubbed the preceding evening with this title

  because of the sudden rash of wildly inappropriate and otherwise

  fascinating behaviors that had gone on---the kind of behaviors that on

  Earth used to be blamed on the presence of a full moon.

  These behaviors had resulted in Ethan and his partner, Mikel Hudson,

  being responsible for taking several crewmen into custody at the very

  beginning of their usually quiet third shift duty period with charges

  and counter-charges being tossed back and forth among the

  participants. Several crewmembers had also been seen coming and going

  from Sickbay under suspicious and/or noteworthy circumstances which

  added to fuel to the rapidly spreading flames of gossip.

  The ship's grapevine had never been presented simultaneously with so

  many juicy tidbits to mull over. First, there was the whole Malista

  Shadow/Harry Kim situation. It seemed that, contrary to the odds in

  the betting pool, Shadow and Kim were back together again and seemed

  closer than ever which pleased some and displeased others who'd taken

  an interest.

  In addition, it appeared that there was no truth to one of the wilder

  rumors---that Tom Paris had caused the rift in his best friend's

  relationship by attempting to start his own harem---beginning by

  recruiting Malista Shadow and B'Elanna Torres.

  The trio of Shadow, Torres, and Paris had been exercising on the

  holodeck---not engaging in sexual games. It was a circus program and

  they intended to demonstrate their new acrobatic skills at the next

  ship's talent show. They'd been wearing robes when entering and

  leaving the holodeck because they were wearing tight, revealing

  costumes appropriate to the setting and physical activities. Many

  people salivated at the thought---but refused to specify which member

  of the trio they were fantasizing about---if they weren't envisioning

  any combination or all three.

  The juiciest item of interest concerning the reconciliation dealt with

  the involvement of Ensign George Natwick. The original rumor was that

  the ensign had made an unwelcome move on Malista and that Harry Kim

  had come to her rescue---only to be beaten into unconsciousness by

  Natwick, who was in turn beaten into unconsciousness by Lt. Tom Paris.

  The source of this particular bit of reporting, known for flights of

  fancy, was immediately discredited by other witnesses who stated that

  Natwick went looking for Kim, rather than the other way around, and

  that at the time Malista was nowhere in view. It was also hard to

  credit that George Natwick, the massively muscle-bound Security

  Officer who taught self-defense classes, had been beaten into

  unconsciousness by anyone! Much less that the easy-going Tom Paris had

  done so---unassisted.

  Another twist on the story was that Natwick had attacked Kim at the

  request of Malista Shadow, who had subsequently been attacked herself

  by B'Elanna Torres in retaliation and that both women had wound up in

  Sickbay. Yet another version had the self-defense instructor

  attacking Tom Paris---no reason given---and being subdued by Malista,

  B'Elanna, and Harry who all ended up in Sickbay. This one was so

  farfetched it merited little attention and got no betting action at

  all.

  When the facts, according to the arresting officers, Mikel Hudson and

  Ethan Simms came out, the story was much less interesting, but still

  provided a lot of room for speculation for the bored crew of Voyager.

  When, why, and how had George Natwick gotten involved? What had he

  been doing alone with Malista in her quarters for approximately

  forty-five minutes? Where there was smoke, there was sure to be fire.

  Something must have been going on! Why else had he left her quarters

  and gone looking for Harry Kim apparently with murder on his mind? And

  now that Harry Kim and Malista Shadow were a couple once more, what

  about George Natwick?

  How in the name of Titan's ten moons had Tom Paris (of all people!)

  managed to not only pin Natwick, but subdue him, until his arrest? And

  emerge unscathed from the encounter? The pilot was known for being

  quick with a quip---not with his fists. Still, there was speculation

  that he might have learned a few tricks in prison. Which provoked a

  whole other topic of debate.

  Another item of much discussion was the arrest of the ship's

  librarian, Diane Russell on charges of assault. The idea of the shy,

  tiny woman knocking Freddie Bristow down (and adding insult to injury

  by kicking him) was so amusing that it was almost impossible to

  believe. It seemed so out of character, that many talebearers

  insisted that she had taken the blame for Aron Dalby, the hot-headed

  former Maquis and the new love of her life.

  Neither Aron nor Diane would comment and Freddie Bristow had decided

  to maintain an uncharacteristically low profile. He couldn't be found

  off duty, and was all but unapproachable on duty. He was, however,

  noticeably subdued and not interested in the pursuit of the fairer sex

  at this time. The gamblers began a pool on when he would begin a new

  chase---and who his next amorous target would be. They had to have

  *something* to bet on!

  *************

  "Everyone's staring," Malista hissed under her breath. She'd tried to

  avoid the messhall completely for breakfast that morning, but Harry

  had insisted that they'd done nothing wrong and to hide away from

  public view would just cause the speculation to increase in geometric

  proportions.

  "Don't look at them," Harry said with an amused smile. It felt strange

  to be the bold one of a pair. He was usually the quiet one who

  followed. He tugged on her hand, drawing her closer and slipping his

  arm around her waist. "Just look at me."

  She followed his instructions and found her green eyes ensnared in his

  dancing dark ones. He was smiling at her. Her own nervous expression

  melted into a smile. She'd rather look at him than anything or anyone

  else on the ship anyway. Keeping her eyes locked on his,
she trusted

  him to lead them to the table where Tom and B'Elanna were waiting.

  He made it without a misstep---almost a miracle, considering he wasn't

  watching where he was going. She was so beautiful he found it hard to

  take his eyes off her. And never more than when she smiled just for

  him. Of course, it wasn't terribly surprising that he didn't trip.

  It's impossible to trip---when you're walking on air.

  Kathryn Janeway smiled indulgently at the pair, before turning her

  attention back to her badly needed coffee. Chakotay raised an

  inquiring eyebrow in her direction. They both had gone a little short

  on sleep last night. It had been the beginning of the third shift

  when they'd been called to Sickbay and then to the brig in order to

  deal with the---consequences---of Full Moon Night, which had taken

  some time as well.

  "Yes, Commander?" the captain said dreamily as she savored her

  morning caffeine fix. Her expression was that of deep satisfaction.

  Her coffee was her one real indulgence and she tended to make it last

  as long as possible.

  "Nothing, Captain. Just thinking---how long do you think the peace

  will last this time?" His brown eyes were twinkling, though he kept a

  straight face. Her appreciation of coffee had an almost sensual affect

  on her. He half expected her to purr after each sip.

  She suppressed a smile. "Until the next full moon?"

  "Or until the next romance goes awry?" Chakotay added, nodding toward

  the isolated corner table.

  Freddie Bristow was trying to blend into the wall as he manfully

  struggled to eat his breakfast while pretending he didn't know that

  many of room's occupants were staring at him---and that those who

  weren't staring were talking about him. The young man was in for a

  rough few days. His physical bruises had been healed in Sickbay last

  night, but the embarrassment of the emotional beating he'd taken had,

  temporarily at least, subdued his youthful exuberance and egocentrism.

  The captain hastily set down her coffee cup, before a tremble of

  laughter could cause a spill. "Do you think he's finally learned a

  lesson? Or do you need to schedule him for some counseling?"

  Chakotay's face took on a pained expression. "Captain, perhaps at the

  next friendly planet we find, we could attempt to recruit a qualified

  ship's counselor?"

  She raised an eyebrow at him. With a sigh, she drained the last drop

  of coffee from her cup and studied its emptiness pensively, almost

  mournfully.

  "Would you like another cup of coffee, Captain?" Chakotay teased.

  She sent him a reproachful glance as she got to her feet. "Don't tempt

  me, Commander."

  "With coffee?" he asked, a shade too innocently, his dimples

  deepening.

  She narrowed her eyes at him as if sighting him with a weapon. "Let's

  get to the bridge."

  He got to his feet and followed her without another word. His eyes,

  though, brimmed with mischief---and something warmer.

  ************************

  It was a very long duty shift for those who'd stayed up till the early

  hours of the morning. B'Elanna Torres was not the type to be pumped

  for information or teased so she was left in peace to pursue her

  stated goal of making the Engineering Department one hundred percent

  efficient.

  Harry Kim and Tom Paris spent their shift on the bridge under the

  watchful eyes of the captain, the first officer, or both, so there was

  no opportunity for others to get at them in order to seek facts or

  express opinions.

  Malista Shadow, on the other hand, was assigned to Maintenance and

  Repair and, therefore, was out and about the ship carrying out her

  duties---which made her the most obvious source of information. And

  the most obvious target for the innuendoes, prying questions, and

  unsought advice offered by other crewmembers. It was unfortunate that

  she was also the least prepared of the foursome for dealing with that

  kind of public pressure. Some questions were idle curiosity, not meant

  to be taken as unkindly. Others were direct, pointed, and malicious.

 

 
  *any* substitute for his Libby?>

 

 

 
  operate. If you hurt him again, you'll be sorry!>

 
  he's had enough---he'll move on! What will you do then?>

 
  secret?>

 
  before?>

 

 
  open?>

 

 

 

 
  scared of Torres to go after Tom Paris?>

 
  gone after Chakotay. Or the captain.>

 

  She didn't know what to say. She wasn't assertive enough to confront

  them and tell them to leave her alone. So she tried ignoring them,

  hoping if they got no response they'd leave her alone. She

  withdrew---mentally and emotionally, when a physical retreat was

  impossible.

  Approaching her immediate supervisor, Malista waited to be noticed and

  then spoke. "Lt. Torres? I finished the realignment of the forward

  sensor arrays. Could I have my next assignment now?"

  The half Klingon looked up quickly, mildly startled and concerned. The

  formality in the young woman's manner didn't surprise Torres. They

  were on duty. It was the usual professional approach. What caught

  Torres off guard was Crewman Shadow's total neutrality.

  Crewman Shadow was no longer smiling as she had been at breakfast. In

  fact, Crewman Shadow had no expression at all. The carefully blank

  look that was turned toward the Chief Engineer reminded Torres

  forcefully of the defensive Malista that she'd hoped had been banished

  for good. "What's wrong?" B'Elanna snapped.

  Shadow stared at her dispassionately. "Nothing, Lieutenant. Could I

  have my next assignment, please? I don't mind working alone," she

  added, hoping she wasn't being too pushy and that Torres would take

  the hint. Malista had never been so conscious as she was at this

  moment of the difference in rank and the fact that this woman was her

  immediate supervisor. She didn't want the chief to think she was

  trying to take advantage of their off-duty friendship.

  B'Elanna frowned at her. She growled under her breath as she noticed


  the two of them were attracting stares from others in the section

  who'd just 'happened' to wander into the area at this particular time.

  The growl startled Malista into widening her eyes, but she remained

  silent.

  "Are the idiots getting to you?" Torres said, more loudly than

  necessary.

  There was a sudden flurry of movement as everyone within earshot

  quickly got busy and pretended deafness. No one wanted to draw the

  chief's wrath down on his or her head. She'd been in a good mood all

  morning. The staff preferred for her to stay that way. It made life in

  Engineering less nerve-wracking.

  Torres continued to meet Shadow's eyes unflinchingly, demanding a

  response. "Well?"

  The taller woman swallowed hard. "It's just---everyone's staring. And

  asking questions." For someone who had managed to remain practically

  invisible among the Voyager crew for three years, the sudden interest

  in her every move was difficult to deal with. She could count the

  number of her friends on her fingers and have a few left over. It was

  unnerving to think everyone on the ship was talking about her,

  watching her. It made her extremely self-conscious.

  B'Elanna scowled. No one had bothered *her* with such silliness. Of

  course, it didn't occur to her that no one would dare. Shaking her

  head, she checked her datapadd for the status of repairs. "Okay,

  Malista. Go to Shuttlebay One and go over the power coupling relays in

  the shuttles. They were low priority since we haven't been using them.