The Oz Factor

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

The Oz Factor

 

Costumes and costume parties were not Jami Farrington’s strong point, but to boost morale and maybe get her mind off everything that had happened in the last few weeks - like the Federation-Arcturan War that happened but didn’t - she decided to play along. But what to wear to the Halloween hoedown? Good? Bad? Just plain ugly?

 

At first she considered dressing as a French maid, mostly because being in ship operations sometimes made her feel like one. But given the sexual overtones, she scrapped the idea, knowing the crude jokes and innuendos would haunt her for days. The maid’s alter-ego didn’t work for her either - CJAN and OPS didn’t mix, except that every time Ens Dolittle called with a backed up bodily waste recycler, Jami had the urge to check her uniform and see if it had morphed into janitor’s overalls. Strangely enough, the ensign hadn’t called since Jami had shown up at her door and plunked a plunger firmly on the her immaculate non-regulation coiffure.

 

Command rank did have its perks.

 

Eventually Jami had chosen a passable costume of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, which had its good points and its bad points, the worst point being the ruby slippers. Despite regulations about mandatory footwear in common areas on the ship - IE: anywhere outside your quarters - Jami had the ruby slippers in hand soon after she entered Manticore’s lift, and had proceeded to massage one foot, then the other, as the lift began its journey. At the envious expression of a junior officer next to her, Jami said, “Go for it,” while she worked the kinks out of her wrenched arches before the doors opened on deck six.

 

But she had to admit, the party had been a success, and Jami had enjoyed watching the crew and subconsciously psychoanalyzing their choices. Vilanne chose to be a Borg mistress and Jaisya a uniformed member of the Rihan Galae. Beran sported his Cardassian military uniform with Keb next to him as a rather impressive Klingon warrior - an interesting mix. Asteria changed species to Vulcan while Eva changed to Andorian, and Margaux was a voodoo priestess with Kyle in full Scottish regalia - another interesting combination. Kansas was a parochial school girl. Malcolm put together an 18th century Vulcan costume. Ian seemed the most appropriate, a holographic ghost continuously at his six. Jami noticed a few had come in dress uniform, and it looked as though some opted to stay home, but she did spy Sovak as a surprisingly convincing country hick, and she nearly lost her drink as Atragon let off steam.

 

She was Dorothy, but she really didn’t want to analyze that. And the ruby slippers? They rivaled the worst tortures from earth’s middle ages. Tossing them immediately into the recycler as she entered their quarters, Jami made a mental note to be more specific when replicating anything like that next time. “Ruby” referred to color and did not necessarily mean they should be made with rubies, nor should they be as hard as.

 

A hot shower and a cup of tea later, and Jami snuggled under the covers, recalling Atragon’s final words - appropriate on many levels. There’s no place like home, eh Jami?

 

She had to agree, even if home, at this point, was the USS Manticore on Maturin Station.