And don't forget to inspect the couplings in the consoles there."
Shadow nodded with a hint of a grateful smile. "We've almost finished
with the power coupling replacements?" she ventured.
"Yes," Torres replied vehemently. "I think we'll be through by end of
Beta shift tomorrow. And Kahless knows, it's taken long enough!" She
waved a hand in dismissal and returned her attention to her console.
Just the words 'power couplings' were enough to cause her to grimace.
Replacing the defective parts had been a massive undertaking.
Malista picked up her tool kit and some replacement power couplings
and went to Shuttlebay One---where only two crewmen were on duty---and
they would be too busy to talk to her. She knew that Torres had just
done her a favor. She appreciated it very much. Malista was able to
stay out of sight, and hopefully out of mind, for the remainder of her
shift.
*************
It took some persuasion to lure Malista to the holodeck later that
evening, but Tom insisted they all had something to celebrate. He used
his brotherly powers of persuasion---in other words, he complained,
whined, and tried to make her feel guilty for turning down his
invitation until she gave in. She had a sneaking suspicion that
B'Elanna had told him she was upset by the public attention she was
receiving.
Shadow decided Tom wanted the ship's gossips to get used to seeing the
four of them together and get it out of their systems. Malista did
manage to choose a corner table and deliberately sat with her back to
most of the crowd. After an hour, she was finally beginning to relax
and look around the club to see what everyone else was doing that
evening.
Jenny and Megan Delaney approached their table. Tom stiffened. Last
night, he'd almost lost his temper when Jenny had told him and Malista
about the rumors concerning their relationship. Earlier in the day he
had apologized to her for his brusqueness the night before. Now he was
wary of Jenny's occasional tactlessness, afraid she would be careless
of Malista's vulnerability.
B'Elanna placed a restraining, reassuring hand on Tom's wrist, but
eyed the twins suspiciously herself. They weren't by any means her
favorite people. Harry took Malista's hand in his and rubbed his thumb
across the base of hers soothingly.
"Malista---" the twins said in unison. They stopped and exchanged a
glance. Jenny continued alone. "We wanted to apologize for hurting
your feelings last night. We thought you should know about the gossip,
but we didn't mean to---"
"It's all right, Jenny. Megan. I shouldn't be so---sensitive."
Harry squeezed her hand in a show of support. He'd heard the rumor
himself a few days before it had come to the ears of Malista, Tom,
and B'Elanna. He'd had sharp words with the 'friend' who'd told him
that Tom was engaged in a three-cornered affair with Malista and
B'Elanna, and asked if that was why Harry was no longer friends with
any of them. Last night, after being dismissed from Sickbay, Harry had
spent a couple of hours reassuring Malista that he hadn't believed a
word of it---or been hurt by the talk which seemed to be her major
concern at that time.
"Could we talk to you a minute? In private?" Megan added. The twins
considered Malista a friend and were relieved she was prepared to
forgive them.
"Sure." With an apologetic glance at her companions, Shadow got to her
feet and followed the two Starfleet officers to a deserted corner of
the bar. The watching eyes of other crew members made note of their
progress.
The Delaney twins always attracted attention, in part because of their
remarkable good looks. The long copper-red hair and lovely features
would have been attractive on any woman. But when there were two?
Sensory overload.
It was almost impossible to tell which was which this evening. For a
change, they had dressed identically, wearing violet blouses and navy
similar. They were both determined to help Malista Shadow. They'd
unintentionally been responsible for causing her pain when she'd been
nothing but a friend to them. They couldn't live with that on their
consciences.
As soon as the three had settled onto the barstools, Megan whispered,
"What did George Natwick do?"
Shadow stiffened. "Why? What did you hear this time?" Her face gave
nothing away.
The sisters exchanged glances again. Their communication with each
other bordered on telepathic. They often didn't need words at all. "We
heard he followed you when you left the holodeck---and then the two of
you went to your quarters."
"And he stayed there for forty-five minutes. Then he went looking for
Harry Kim and tried to take his head off with one punch!"
"And Tom stopped him and he was arrested and then you and Harry showed
up together in Sickbay thirty minutes later. And no one pressed
charges for anything so he was released," Jenny finished the synopsis
in a rush as her breath ran out.
Shadow eyed them appraisingly. "That's all?"
"You don't want to hear the details, trust me," Megan said, laying a
hand on the taller woman's arm.
Malista sighed. "No, I suppose I don't."
"So exactly what did George do? Did he get out of line like he did at
the Cinco de Mayo party?" Jenny demanded.
Malista licked her lips, which felt suddenly dry. "Why do you want to
know?"
Jenny and Megan traded indignant looks. "Because if he did, we want to
help you get even with him!" they chorused.
"I warned him after that dance that he'd better leave you alone or
we'd make him sorry," Megan added.
Shadow was moved by their championship, but not sure how much she
wanted to confide in her friends. The Delaneys were not known for
their discretion. The three of them had become friends when the twins
had taken her under their wings and done their best to teach her how
to flirt and socialize with men.
"Malista, did he---hurt you?" Jenny asked. "I know you might not want
to tell Harry---"
"No!" she protested. "George didn't---he didn't---" She gulped. "I
did." She winced at the painfully embarrassing memory.
Megan and Jenny stared at her.
Lowering her voice to a whisper, Shadow leaned closer. "I tried to
seduce him. I wanted him to teach me---you know."
Jenny and Megan stared at her.
Malista shifted uncomfortably. "It was all right---at first. But
after a while--- when he was--- uh, kissing me and...I called
him---Harry."
The twins flinched. "Oooh," they groaned in unison, wearing identical
expressions of dismay. "Major mistake."
The other woman nodded. "Tell me about it," she moaned. "That ruined
the mood---and George told me no."
"He didn't---" said Jenny.
"He wouldn't---" Megan said.
They thought that over for a moment as Malista fanned herself with a
napkin, tryin
g to cool off her blushing cheeks. She couldn't meet
their eyes.
"That rat!" Jenny seethed.
"What?" That was not the reaction Shadow had expected. She blinked
in confusion.
"He rejected you!" Megan exclaimed indignantly.
Malista frowned. "Well, actually, I'm kind of glad he did. I don't
think Harry would have liked it if----"
"And he hit Harry!" Megan added, knowing that would be a sore point
for her friend.
That comment relit the smoldering embers of Shadow's anger. "That's
true. He did. And George promised not to tell anyone what
happened---but he told Harry I was doing stupid things!"
"That man is such a VOLE!" Jenny declared vehemently.
"And he HIT Harry!" Malista reiterated, getting into the mood now. She
could have forgiven Natwick for telling Harry to go to her---it had
sped their reconciliation. But no one was allowed to hurt Harry! Not
and get away with it!
"You have to get even with him," Megan announced.
"Revenge is a moral imperative," Malista agreed. "But how?"
Megan and Malista looked at Jenny who had fallen silent. Her eyes
were narrowed and her mouth pursed as she pondered the form of revenge
that would fit the crime. A wicked smile slowly crept across her
whole face. "Oh, I have the best idea."
With some trepidation, Shadow asked, "What do you think I should do?"
"We, Malista. *We* are going to get Natwick," Delaney corrected.
"Jenny, remember, he sort of did me a favor---I don't want to hurt
him! He could have taken advantage---"
"Oh, posh!" the redhead said scornfully. "We won't really hurt him.
The best revenge is the one where they're hoisted on their own
picard."
Megan's expression went blank. Malista took a split second to process
that remark then said, "I think the expression is 'hoist on his own
petard'."
Jenny focused on the brunette's face. "What? That doesn't make sense.
What's a petard? It makes sense if it's picard. You know, like the
captain of the Enterprise. He's not big, but believe me, he's tough!
If you made *him* mad, he would hoist your---forget it! It doesn't
matter. Computer, location of Ensign Natwick?"
"Ensign Natwick is in Holodeck One."
The trio spun and looked around Sandrine's. Sure enough. There he was.
Natwick was sitting alone at a table on the opposite side of the room.
They hadn't noticed him. He was glaring at the beer in his hand with a
sullen expression that didn't welcome anyone to join him.
"Oh, good," Jenny purred. "We'll start tonight."
"Start what?" Malista asked cautiously.
"Megan, remember what we did to Darok Pahkt at the Academy?" Her twin
nodded. Jenny continued, "You don't have to do a thing, Malista.
Megan and I will take care of everything."
"Somehow I don't feel reassured by that, Jenny. What are you going to
do?"
Megan smiled. "Don't worry about it, Malista. You can trust Jenny."
"I can trust Jenny to do what? I don't want George seriously
hurt---physically or emotionally. And I don't want to be responsible
for anyone else winding up in the brig!" Shadow protested.
The Delaney sisters each patted one of her hands soothingly. "We owe
you one. And Delaneys always pay their debts. Don't worry about it,
Malista. All *you* have to do," Jenny explained, "is smile."
"Smile?"
"Yes," the elder twin replied. "Megan and I are going over to talk to
Natwick and when he looks your way, I want you to smile at him."
"Just smile?" she repeated dubiously.
"Your sweetest smile," Megan corrected. "And if he asks you if you're
out to get him, you deny it. With a smile. An icky sweet smile. Smile
every single time you see him."
"I don't understand." Malista eyed the pair indecisively. "You promise
you won't do anything---rash?"
Jenny and Megan batted their violet eyes at their tall friend. "Would
we do that?" they chorused.
"Yes!" Shadow exclaimed. "That's why I'm worried about it!"
Megan pouted. "Darn, Jenny! She knows us pretty well."
"Oh, come on, Malista! The best revenge is when you make them do it to
themselves. We work best behind the scenes. We can be insidious."
"Like with Freddie Bristow," Megan sighed contentedly.
Malista's green eyes widened. "Freddie Bristow? *You* set him up? Is
that why Diane Russell---"
Two enigmatic smiles beamed her way. "Just smile sweetly every time
you catch George looking at you. That's all you have to do," Jenny
instructed.
With an uncertain frown, Malista nodded and returned to her table.
"What did they want?" Tom demanded as soon as Malista was in earshot.
"To apologize," Shadow answered, reseating herself between Harry and
B'Elanna.
"They did that while you were sitting here," he argued.
"Tom," his 'sister' said calmly, looking directly across the table and
catching his eyes with a compelling stare.
"What?" he muttered defensively.
"Stop it. I know you got upset with them last night---"
Torres snorted. "That's an understatement!" It had been the first
time she'd seen Tom get close to really losing his temper---a cold
state of fury. The thought of his transformation from easy-going
charmer to icily furious terror still chilled her blood.
Paris grimaced at her before returning his attention to his 'little
sister'. "I don't like the way---"
"They're my friends, Tom." Malista seemed to feel that settled the
matter. She held his eyes with her own until he gave in with a sigh.
Harry said nothing, but shifted uneasily in his seat. He wasn't
terribly comfortable with the idea of Malista associating with the
Delaneys either. The twins had actively encouraged her to date other
men, causing Harry to suffer agonies of jealousy. And they had
persuaded Malista to wear skimpy outfits! Not that Harry minded when
they were worn for his viewing alone, but.....
Paris opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and
closed it again. "Okay. But don't expect me to like it when someone
hurts you," he said finally. His eyes drifted toward Harry Kim
purposefully. "When *anyone* hurts you."
The ensign met his best friend's eyes squarely. "I don't plan on
hurting her again, Tom. Or letting anyone else hurt her either."
B'Elanna Torres clicked her tongue. "Both of you are getting carried
away with this topic of conversation. Malista is a big girl. She can
take care of herself."
"That's right. I can. From now on, I intend to handle my own problems.
So now, can we *please* change the subject?" Malista pleaded, shooting
a distressed glance from one man to the other.
"Okay," Paris said with a teasing smile. "As soon as you tell me what
the Delaneys really wanted!" There was a hint of implacability in his
eyes that made Malista wonder how anyone could fail to see the steel
core of determination behind the surface patina of cordial charm.
Malista lifted her chin defiantly. "They're going to help me get even
with George Natwick."
&nbs
p; Harry and Tom traded glances. "I thought we settled this last
night---" Kim began.
"Good," B'Elanna stated firmly. "Natwick's an even bigger pig than
you used to be, Paris!" She smiled to take the sting out of the
remark.
Tom gave up and shrugged. He didn't particularly like Natwick himself.
He didn't feel any urge to warn or defend him. "Well, if anyone can
take him down a peg, it's the Delaney twins. They make a fine art of
it. Trust me, Harry, you NEVER want to get either one of them mad at
you, much less both of them."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Tom frowned him down.
Protecting George Natwick wasn't worth risking upsetting Malista and
B'Elanna. The Delaneys wouldn't do any permanent damage---except maybe
to Natwick's ego. Besides, they could manage to keep themselves out of
the brig while exacting their revenge. Probably. Most likely. Well,
maybe. If Jenny didn't get carried away. This time.
Shadow glanced toward Natwick's table. Jenny and Megan were seated
there on either side of him, talking away earnestly. He looked across
the room at her. Malista obediently smiled as sweetly as she knew