Begin the Beguine

[Gage Silver 0]

Gage wore a transparent frown as he watched the shore party disperse from the corner shop at Main and Union, and their rendezvous point. High-risk officers had opted not to buddy up and wandered off alone in spite of his repeated admonishment to the contrary. Sweeping his gaze over the joint security personnel that remained, Gage balanced his rifle in his right hand and signaled Gonzales and Yamanaka with the left. The Sergeant reacted with a snap and as he neared, Gage lightly grasped the shorter, hispanic male at the collar; the younger, Japanese female trailing up behind him. Receiving instructions in undertones, the two nodded and a clap to Gonzales’s back sent them in Scooter’s footsteps.

 

Gage knew he could count on Souter. Shalin was callow and impulsive but drawn to the path of least resistance and wouldn’t take extremes to shake his teammate. Gage could picture Shalin lazing in a cafe or park, grinning privately at the perceived futility of Souter’s job. There was far more to Souter’s responsibilities than just watching Shalin, but whether on the move or stationary, Souter would see it through. Better that patience came easily to the witty and laidback Montana-born Marine, and he’d take it in stride as he kept a keen eye on his teammate’s back. The only drawback laid in Shalin: too busy resenting and plotting ways to get rid of Souter to effectively watch his back in return. Gage had a limited number of security ashore and already faced a terrible dispersal of assets with two dedicated to Commander Wesley. He’d have to bank on Shalin coming to his senses in time to help Souter. Gage wouldn’t soon forget if something happened to the Marine. Or any harm that could have been avoided with precautions and teamwork, for that matter.

 

At the other end of the spectrum was Commander Wesley: private, accustomed to doing things her way and apparently skilled enough to get past most of security [Pistol Packin’ Momma]. (Funny, everyone forgot about that embarrassment.) Gage felt certain the Green Baron* would object to the burden of a partner, given that she often acted like she believed she didn’t need one. There was a time and a place for going solo; a crowded and foreign town center in this situation wasn’t one of them and everybody needed a teammate in his opinion. But Gage didn’t have spying in mind when he sent Gonzales and Yamanaka behind her. He knew he’d probably argue with her until he was blue in the face. No need to set her off and start a game of cat and mouse. He simply wanted someone in the same general area, so if or when she needed backup, their response time would be short.

 

Gods help him at the inquiry if it wasn’t short enough.

 

On the other hand, the Captain, T’Aral and the others had teamed up in pairs to his knowledge and relief. With each other or members of security: didn’t matter as long as they had someone to watch their backs and keep them sharp. Sure, running into trouble ashore wasn’t their plan and they might not run into any at all. Some might justify going alone in retrospect if nothing happened. But the point was to be prepared for the unexpected because it’s unexpected. Zero hour was a bad time to regret not having reinforcements nearby. There was nothing like waiting on your backup for over an hour. Or a day. Or two.

 

“As the others are exploring within the city, I think I’d like to begin without and catalogue some of the flora and fauna for Innogen,” Shavra piped up from a short distance aside, still standing where Gage had brushed her off his arm.

 

Mid-sentence in discussing Souter with Granger, Gage abruptly stopped. He eyed Shavra and she smiled cheerfully before starting for the edge of the city. He shot a brief glance at Cass.

 

‘I’ll go with her,” he said and didn’t look back as he followed. “You catch up with Moa. Get up high, if you can. Lemme know what you see.”

 

***

The sun was two and a half hours higher in the sky since they’d arrived ashore and they hadn’t made it more than three klicks around the city’s outer wall. Gage focused on their unfamiliar surroundings as they travelled. But Shavra immediately revealed an unsuspecting and carefree nature, carrying most of the conversation with small-talk and commentary that Gage didn’t always answer or openly discourage.

 

“How interesting,” she observed as she leaned over a stubby bush of blue red-veined leaves and pink blossoms. She raised her hand again, shading the blossoms from the sunlight and watching in awe as they appeared to glitter with spots of light. They were unaware of the science and medical teams that were scouring the area or that Shavra was duplicating their work. Maybe it didn’t matter. That it mattered to Gage, depreciated or complicated his position in acting security obviously wasn’t a concern. All’s well that ends well?

 

“Missed your calling,” Gage remarked offhand, eyes out as he tugged at the collars of his tan shirt and dark brown duster from his neck. Sensors had promised a balmy high of 25.5C (78F), but it was getting hot.

 

Shavra pulled her hand back and gave him a puzzled look. “Pardon?”

 

“The way you’re hovering over that tricorder,” Gage explained as he slowly passed a few meters in front of her to circle the area. “Should’ve been a Scientist. Look like you know what you’re doing, at any rate.”

 

“Ah,” she smiled. “Unfortunately, while I do have an affinity for natural science, I didn’t score high enough on the academy entrance exams to pursue a career in science.”

 

“Really,” Gage mused a bit absently as he focused on scanning the 360.

 

Finished with her scans of the bush, Shavra raised, folded her tricorder into a shoulder bag, and returned to the narrow path worn down to the soil. “Yes. But I’d previously obtained an equivalent four-year degree on Delta IV, and was eligible to enter Officer Candidate School. So I entered Starfleet through the Officer Candidate program and was billeted as a Deck Officer.”

 

She glanced back as he fell in a few meters behind her. “Does that surprise you?”

 

Gage shrugged. “Why would it surprise me?”

 

“I’ve found that Humans often assume that other species - such as Deltans - are, on a whole, more intelligent than they are, and expect us to individually score above average. In fact, I’ve noticed this misconception is often accompanied by a sense of jealousy,” she explained. “You truly aren’t surprised?”

 

“That kind of assumes we all think alike, doesn’t it?” Gage remarked.

 

Shavra glanced down at the path and Gage could hear the smile in her voice. “Yes, I suppose it does.”

 

“So you didn’t ask to come along because you’re secretly a scientist in beige.”

 

“No, but perhaps I will be, someday.” She walked a few more paces; then stopped to turn and fix Gage with her dark eyes. “Does it disappoint you?”

 

“What? That you didn’t pass?” Gage slowed but kept eyes on the forest around them.

 

“Yes.”

 

For a brief moment he locked her gaze. “No, why should it?” he asked, sounding bemused but sincere.

 

In stark contrast to the beginning of their friendship, she shied away and turned her back. “On one hand, as you weren’t surprised, one might conclude that you dismiss stereotypes and judge each individual on their merits. But, on the other hand, it’s possible that you have also come to expect that my performance-- What I mean to say is simply that I hope I don’t disappoint you,” she gingerly replied, resuming her stroll.

 

Gage quietly sighed. “Passing or failing the test doesn’t mean a hell of a lot. More important that you didn’t give up. You know who you are, where you want to be, and you’re here. Dedication counts a lot more than being the smartest fish in the sea.” Gage glanced at the Deltan in front of him, her brunette updo swaying. The hair was fake, but in the last few hours, he’d begun to forget that she was naturally bald underneath. That she wasn’t Human. Was that wrong?

 

“Thank you,” she murmured, barely audible.

 

Real silence settled between them for the next five minutes. They stopped as Shavra catalogued a small bird - or maybe more of a bug, but less menacing than a giant wasp. Gage thought they’d discovered a fairy at first glance, mistaking its flowing black and teal body for hair and a miniature dress. This bug was largely formless, lacking recognizable arms and legs or the tiny face of a Human-like creature with diaphanous wings. But after hearing the word fairy, Shavra was hooked and had to drag the last detail out of Gage on the subject as they continued further on the path. Gage half wondered if she just wanted to hear him talk after doing the bulk of it herself; he usually carried their conversations.

 

“Gage?” said Shavra as he finished.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“May I tell you something...personal?”

 

“Shoot.”

 

Gage thought he heard the sound of stifled laughter. “That’s an odd thing to say.”

 

“Old Earth slang, habit,” Gage shrugged, still focused more on their surroundings and yet he noticed the change in her voice and body language. It was hard to miss.

 

“Gage,” she said, sobering. “We’ve only begun to know each other, but I feel as though we’ve made a strong connection in the last few days.”

 

“Okay,” Gage replied awkwardly as she paused.

 

“Do you feel it as well?” she asked.

 

Gage felt a rising consternation. “I donno; maybe, I guess.”

 

Gage couldn’t shake the impression of a ballerina as she gracefully spun on the path and glided toward him.

 

“When I told you that I too believe in monogamy, there’s more to it--”

 

Gage interjected: “Shavra, can’t this wait until we get back to the ship?”

 

“Please,” she lightly objected. “This is important and will only take a moment. And this place is,” she glanced to each side, “freeing to my mind; more so than the ship.”

 

She lowered her eyes. “As you know, an open lifestyle is the dominant philosophy of my people. But there are a few, like myself, that don’t subscribe to the same ideals. From the time I was a little girl and read the Human story called Sleeping Beauty, I’ve dreamed of a monogamous relationship.” Gage looked aghast at the mention of her favorite fairy tale and she stopped.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“Uh,” Gage shook his head. “No, just hope you’re not talking about the version I’m thinking of.”

 

“There’s another?”

 

“Never mind,” Gage quickly deflected. She hummed at him.

 

“Since that time,” she resumed and slowly regained her train of thought. “I’ve desired to meet a monogamist like myself and live our lives together until death. Someone who had abstained and saved himself for the relationship that he would swear to share only with me, and I with him. Like the old Human weddings that were once common on Earth.

 

“But,” her voice gloomily dropped, “the incident between us changed things. I was initially heartbroken.”

 

Seeing the shadow that dimmed his expression, Shavra quickly but clumsily amended: “Not because of you and I don’t fault you for what happened, please don’t think that. I was heartbroken because, though what we shared was only telepathic, it’s a special part of the experience for a Deltan and I’m no longer--” She searched for the word. “Untouched.”

 

Gage sighed and rubbed his face, feeling mentally wearied. Assurances aside, she was still unloading a weight on his shoulders that he didn’t feel up to carrying.

 

“But after we made amends and I had thought about the situation for some time,” she continued, “the truth occurred to me.”

 

“How’s that?” he asked warily, the desire to move on written in his face.

 

Her answered shocked Gage. She kissed him.

 

“What the...?” he balked at her. That she had feelings for him was clear, whether sincere or, more likely, a perceived necessity. But somehow he hadn’t seen this move coming.

 

“I believe you’re the one,” she explained with a sweet smile.

 

“Shavra, this ain’t the time...” He stopped to listen to a familiar voice in his earpiece.

 

Cass: reporting their status in the blind. But she’d barely given her position when the transmission cut.

 

Gage visibly tensed. “Cass? This is Gage. Status?”

 

“What’s happening?” Shavra asked as her smile faded and she dropped from her toes. He didn’t answer her, already spinning on his heel and moving back toward the city’s entrance.

 

“Cass? This is Gage. What’s your status?” Even before he had a reply, he’d broken into a sprint and left Shavra dazed.

 

Predictably, Cass answered a second later and brought Gage to a skidding halt at the crest of a knoll, breathing heavily but relieved. Cass was okay; Moa was okay. She’d paused for unexpected foot traffic nearby to keep from being overheard. Listening to the explanation, Gage cursed his instinctive panic and crisply turned back to rejoin Shavra, irritated with himself.

 

“Is everything alright?”

 

“Yeah,” he exhaled, unconsciously pacing in front of her.

 

A hand to his chest brought him to a standstill. “Where were we then?” Shavra asked with a smile that morphed into a surprisingly mischievous grin. Gripping the lapel of his duster, she leaned in closer, intending to kiss again.

 

“Not doing this,” Gage snapped and gently pushed her back by the shoulders. “We’ll talk later.” He looked at his watch. “Right now, we’ve got about an hour to get back. We’ll make it in half if we double-time it. Let’s go.”

 

He left no room for objections; just a young woman who trailed behind and wore the hint of embarrassed dread on her face.

 

 

----------------------

*Pun reference to the Red Baron: Skilled and renowned WWI German ace fighter pilot, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, with 80 air victories to his name. Killed by a single .303 to the chest, fired at him from the ground while flying low near the Somme River in pursuit of a Canadian novice flying a Sopwith Camel.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Gage Silver