Copyright
1999, Lyta. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be re-posted in part
or in full without written permission from me.
Disclaimer:
Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict is copyright 1998, Tribune
Entertainment Co. Its characters are used without permission, no infringement
is intended.
Rating:
G
Title:
Something To Talk About
Author:
Lyta
Lyta_1028@yahoo.com
Author’s
Note: This was written in response to a story challenge posted on the
Philosophy Sphere by Morwen, to write a story with Renee, bubble gum, an even
the requires Liam to get/wear a tuxedo, hail and a Star Trek reference.
“Something To
Talk About”
Liam Kincaid winced as he walked back
toward to ballroom. He’d been dealing with a splitting headache all evening, the
music was too loud for his current tolerance, and outside it was hailing. The
music was by far more preferable than having the sound of hail hitting the roof
grate on his already frayed nerves.
He paused by the entrance and surveyed the
situation, there had been no security problems though he had a bad feeling it
was premature to be relieved. Then again it could just be his pessimism
talking.
Then he heard a noise that made him want
to go back in the hallway and listen to the hail, his eyes locked onto a
Volunteer stationed by a side entrance chewing gum very loudly.
“Volunteer!” Liam practically barked. Part
of his mind wanted to let the Volunteer have it for behaving in such an unprofessional
manner, the other part noted worriedly that he sounded too much like Sandoval
at that moment. For once in his life, Liam didn’t even care how much his
behavior mirrored that of the implant.
“Yes, Major?” The Volunteer asked
nervously. It was rare that Da’an’s protector lost his patience and it made the
young man extremely nervous.
“Lose the gum.”
“Oh, right. Yes sir!” The Volunteer all
but ran to the nearest trashcan, nearly knocking Renee Palmer over in his
haste. She walked up to Liam, opened her purse, pulled out a bottle of aspirin,
opened it and handed one to Liam.
Liam nodded his thanks and went off to
find a glass of water, returning a minute later. “Thanks.” He said softly.
“You looked as though you needed it.”
Renee replied. “I’ve never seen you chew out a Volunteer like that before.”
Liam leaned over to her and whispered conspiratorially.
“I think I’m out past my bedtime.”
“Cute. Maybe I should have kept my aspirin
and just let you suffer.”
“Maybe you should have.”
“But then I would not have the excuse to
drag you out onto the dance floor.”
Liam’s face went ashen. “Dance?”
Renee laughed. “You do know how to dance,
right Kincaid?”
“Well yes…”
“Then come on, I insist.” Renee
practically dragged him over to the dance floor. “Step on my toes and I’ll pay
Augur to make the next few days very interesting.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Liam
moaned.
“You clean up well. Don’t blush its true,
and there are a few business associates around.”
Liam understood. “You want to make them
jealous.”
Renee nodded. “I don’t get to yell at
Volunteers, so I have to get my kicks somehow. You know for someone who I had
to drag out here you seem to be enjoying yourself.”
“Let me see: this is the first time I’ve
ever danced with anyone and I’m going it well enough to placate Ms. Renee
Palmer.”
“A night of firsts. Any others?”
“My first tuxedo.”
“Don’t look now but Zo’or is staring at
us.”
Liam turned them around casually a bit
before his gaze came to rest on the Synod leader. “Glaring is more like it.”
“You know, when I was a teenager and
watched hours of B rated sci-fi I thought a lot about what aliens were like. I thought
they’d be more like the ones on Star Trek, but I never imagined I’d be dancing
with a man 1/3 Kimera while a Taelon glared at us.”
Liam smirked. “I think Da’an and Mr. Spock
might get along nicely.”
Renee considered this. “You might be on to
something there.”
They danced in silence until the song came
to an end. Just as Renee was about to ask if he wanted to take a break, she’d
never admit it but her feet were killing her in those awful shoes, Liam leaned
forward and kissed her on the lips. He pulled away with a smile and whispered
in her ear. “Now we’ve given them something to talk about.”
Renee looked at the knot of business
associates, who were now pointedly not looking at her. She caught side of Da’an’s
amused expression and Zo’or’s somewhat scandalized one.
“Yes, we have, haven’t we.”