Party Time

Posted on Mon Dec 6, 2021 @ 9:40pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

2,929 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Archangel
Location: Castelnaudary Ward Room

Camille Lévesque had just finished packing up the last of her supplies from the Victory science lab. Her work computer folders had been cleaned out and everything that had ongoing value for her was on data chips and packed. Her favourite lab coats were packed away. Her one living specimen, the sessile feeder she bought on that desert planet (which she had taken to calling gourmand as a little joke for how it ate basically anything) had been put in transporter stasis.

As she stood at the door of her lab for one last time, empty of anything that belonged to her, her eyes began to water.

“Tu vas me manquer, labo.”

She had not been expecting to be caught up in a transporter beam.

The room in which she re-materialized was pitch black, like the interior of a deep cave where no natural light could go.

“What’s happening?” she yelled. “Show yourself! Nicole, is that you?”

A small spark appeared in the air. It flitted around like Tinkerbell, leaving a trail of light. Finally it hovered in front of Camille and began to spell out S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E.

The lights flew on, and the Castelnaudary's mess hall appeared, over a dozen people crowded along the walls, cheering and applauding.

"Did it work?" Penny said, bouncing on her toes. "Did we surprise you? My research said this is a traditional farewell."

"And we couldn't deny her a good tradition," Amber said, grinning.

“It worked very well,” Camille said, a wide smile on her face and tears of joy in her eyes. “Merci! But I’m not the only one leaving. Where is Nicole?”

"Well," Penny said, "if my calculations are correct, Nicole should be here in about four...three...two...one..."

The transporter sounded again, and Nicole appeared, phaser rifle in hand, eyes blazing red and swinging the barrel around wildly, making everyone shout in shock and duck down for cover. "Nobody move!" she said, then stopped as she saw the assembled crowd. "What the...."

"Surprise!" Penny shouted, this time alone.

Nicole lowered her weapon, still breathing out a snarl. "What...I got an alert that someone had beamed Camille away without authorization..."

"Yeah, that's what made it a surprise!" Penny said, happily. "And it worked! And I correctly surmised that you'd rush in after her!"

"Didn't account for the rifle, though," Amber said, telekenetically yanking it out of Nicole's distracted grip and flying it across the room into her own, then putting it down on a nearby table.

"Sorry," Nicole said, then looked around again, and then sheepishly at Camille. "Hi..."

“Hi!” Camille said. She draped her arms around Nicole. “Mon héroine.”

Nicole blushed heavily, then smiled and gave Camille a kiss.

Camille looked at the assembled group. All of the friends she had made on her first journey aboard the Castelnaudary. Tiffany. Amber. Meesa. Jasmine. Tommy. Quite a few others.

“Amber, we’re not exactly dressed for a party,” Camille observed. “Tu peux nous aider?”

Amber's eyes rolled a bit. Blue and gold sparks flashed, and a swirl of energy surrounded the girls, leaving them in more casual dresses. "Better?" Amber said.

“Très bien!” said Camille, looking approvingly at her own dress and Nicole’s.

"Good," Amber said. "Now, while I may not be the ranking officer in the room, I would like to take point here and insist that we all start having a good time. So, please raise a glass from wherever you've tossed it in fear," she gave Nicole a pointed look, receiving a squinty-eyed stare in response, "and raise a glass to the happy couple, and their future together." Everyone picked up a glass and held it aloft. "Hear hear," the others said.

With that, everyone broke away from the walls and began to cluster about, talking. One cranberry uniform came up smiled at Nicole. "Congratulations, kid," she said, giving Nicole a hug. "You'll be Captain before you know it."

Nicole grinned. "Thanks, April," she said, hugging the Captain back.

"I'm sorry I can't stay," April said, sadly, "but my ship has to head back out to do some cleanup work. No rest for the weary."

"I'm sorry," Nicole said. "I wish I could help."

"No you don't," Captain Dragon said, laughing. "Besides, you need to spend some time with your family." She gave Nicole's shoulder a squeeze, shook Camille's hand. "Take care of her," she said.

“She’ll be safe with me,” Camille said, returning the handshake and giving April a smile.

The Bajoran woman nodded to both of them and stepped away as Meesa and Hunter approached, each offering a drink. "So, this is finally it, hm? Out for good?"

"Out for now," Nicole said, taking the glass from Hunter. "We may be back someday."

“I don’t intend to be out of Starfleet forever,” Camille said. “I’ve been offered some incredible opportunities by being here. Surely I’ll be back too. Maybe even serving with this wildly diverse group. If you’d have me.”

"Stranger things have happened," Meesa said, amused.

“I wanted to ask,” said Camille, “whatever happened after we shut down that relay station? The one we found on our way to Cass’s wedding?” She had not seen any reporting afterward, despite pressing people for something whenever she could.

Hunter's hand never left Meesa's waist and his smile didn't waver, but his tone changed to one of artificial confused. "What relay station?" he said.

Meesa finished her drink and gave Camille a smile. "I could use another," she said, looking at Hunter. "Would you mind?"

He took her glass and went back to the buffet table towards the back. She folded her arms and looked at Camille. "You know," she said, quietly, "it's really a shame you took ill on that trip. While you were throwing up in your quarters, you missed the most spectacular solar flares. They reached all the way out to the center of the solar system. It was quite a sight to behold, seeing them wash over the objects in their path."

Camille was confused but only momentarily. “Ah.” She would never get a complete answer, but she seemed to understand the gist of it. Maybe. But such was life sometimes, especially with this group. “But what’s going on here?” she asked, gesturing between Meesa and Hunter, who was still fetching a drink.

Meesa looked back at Hunter and shrugged a bit. "He's...got some charm to him," she said, loftily. "I don't know if it's going anywhere, but it's a nice diversion while it lasts."

Nicole smirked. "You like him, just admit it. You were the only one who didn't give him a hard time during his audition."

Meesa shrugged again and didn't answer as Hunter came back with her drink, his hand going back to her waist, which made Camille grin.

“I do want to thank you for your help though, Meesa,” Camille said. “Nicole has taught me much more Rigelian but I’d be much weaker without your first lesson.” She looked at Nicole. “Elle est excellente avec la langue,” she said, gesturing back to Meesa.

Nicole gave Camille a head tilt and confused look, then realized what she'd said and grinned. "Yes well, I'm sure we can all appreciate her for her tongue," Nicole said, laughed as Hunter choked while swallowing his drink.

Penny appeared and latched onto Camille's arm. "Sorry for the scare earlier," she said, giving them both a quick hug. "I just needed an efficient way of getting you both here without you suspecting what I was up to."

“I love it,” Camille said, returning the hug. “A party to celebrate Nicole and me leaving? The scare was worth it.”

Nicole let out a non-committal grumble, then coughed as Camille's elbow hit her stomach. "It was very thoughtful," she said, finally.

"Not the worst scare we've ever had from her," Amber noted, coming over. She looked at the other three as well. "Penny, Meesa, John, would you all excuse us?"

They nodded and left. Amber looked at the two guests of honor, and smiled. "I couldn't help but overhear what you said earlier, about serving on this ship someday." She looked down at her drink in her hands for a moment, then back up at Camille. "I wish I could adequately express to you how flattering that is for us, but I regret to say, it's highly unlikely."

Camille’s brow furrowed. “Why not?” It wasn’t just that she was confused. She was also a bit hurt.

"I have been Admiral Markus' majordomo since I was a child," she said. "I know him better, I believe, than anyone else in this room, with one possible exception." She inclined her head to Nicole. "And I can tell you that his criterion for his recruits is very strict, and one of the highest is that they are fundamentally, completely alone."

“Alone?”

"Alone," Amber repeated. "A child who was the only survivor of the massacre of her brethren. A troublemaker who couldn't keep out of jail. A young girl taken from her abusive family. A spy of a now destroyed army, sent to infiltrate us. A single remaining member of a lost species. A person whose family was taken from them by evil men. An observer sent to study us." She looked at Nicole. "A unique being, afraid to feel a connection to others."

She looked back at Camille. "Each of us was alone in this galaxy, until we were brought together, and given a purpose. Admiral Markus did that for us. It's a tradition of his."

“Why?” Camille asked. Traditions seldom came from nowhere, and their origins were often enlightening, in one way or another.

"Once upon a time," Amber said, "the country of France wished to expand, protect and enforce the rules in its colonies. It did so through a quasi-voluntary group, known as the Légion étrangère. Some were French men, but many were from all over the world, even from countries that were not under French control, or even allies. These men were often without a home, without culture, sometimes free men, sometimes criminals. All were taken in, all were trained in an elite guard, and all fought, not for France, but for the Legion. Their motto was Legio Patria Nostra, 'the Legion is our Fatherland.' They made their group their home, their family. It produced some of the finest, most honorable soldiers the Earth had known since the Roman Empire. These men could even become French citizens after a few years of service, their crimes forgiven, their status within French society one of honor and respect. They earned freedom, redemption, and a place in the world."

She gave Camille a smile. "You have a homeland, a family, and someone to come home to. You don't need us, and while we can always use a good scientist, your place isn't here." She looked at Meesa and Hunter, chatting on the other side of the room with Tommy. "They'll eventually settle down together, I hope," Amber said. "And perhaps someday, Tommy and I will earn our places back in normal society. Not today, not tomorrow, but maybe someday. And then, the League will find new members, new orphans of the galaxy who'll hear the call to serve." She looked back at Camille. "Live your life, and be happy in it. I'm sure we'll bump into each other again, though. We're like bad pennies, as the old saying goes."

Camille couldn’t help but wipe a tear from her eye. Not for herself, but for the others, who were indeed alone in this vast universe. “I hope so,” she said. “And I hope you find your own slice of normal life apart from this one day.”

Amber smiled. "Thank you. I have a family here, a brigade to lead, and someone to come home to. It may not be a picket fence on a quiet planet, but it's where I'm happy, and have a purpose. It's enough for now." She took a breath and gave both of them a hug. "It's been a privilege," she said, and inclined her head. "If you'll excuse me." She walked back across the room and put her arm around Tommy, who hugged her back and kissed her temple.

When Amber left, it was just Camille and Nicole for a moment. “I like this idea. That I have a home and you to come home to, even if you’re not going to be physically on the same planet as me a lot of the time.”

"Mother used to say, 'home is where the heart is.' I never really understood that phrase. I just assumed it meant Rigel, because that's where I grew up, and I do love it there." She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Then my home was the Nazareth, surrounded by these lunatics. They became family, and I loved them, and that ship was my home. Then the Ommadawn, and now...." She took Camille's hand. "I don't care what planet I'm on, or what ship I'm on. You're where my home is."

“And you’re where my home is,” Camille replied, eyes wet once again.

Tommy came over and grabbed Nicole and gave her a swing around. "C'mon Dollface. Time to dance. This is a party right? Let's not make the telepath all misty-eyed."

Nicole let out a laugh and hugged him. "If my other half doesn't mind?" She smiled at Camille.

Meesa appeared with a refill for Camille and clinked their glasses. "Ever seen an Iotian dance? It's poetry in motion. That awkward poetry that doesn't really rhyme, but poetry." She smirked at Tommy.

Camille adopted a mock-serious look. “A culture’s dances are very important, Meesa. And they must be studied and observed.” She then grinned. “Vas-y.”

Nicole blew Camille a kiss and let Tommy sweep her into a free corner to dance.

"You know," Meesa said, "I remember a time when she was downright cranky." She took a long sip from her drink. "Then again, I'm not one to talk." She took another drink. "You're braver than I am. I don't think I could ship off to a planet like that. I enjoy being on the go too much."

“They’re giving me a giant lab, a staff, and an excursion vessel,” Camille replied. “I’d get bored if I were stuck planetside. But excursions will be fun. I think the craft they’re giving me is a refurbished Sydney-class.” She took a sip of her own drink.

"Not bad," Meesa admitted. "Here's to the private sector," she added, clinking their glasses again.

“I’ll also probably still take on some Starfleet consulting work,” Camille said. “My work with the Victory garnered some attention among Starfleet Science personnel. Multiversal bioweapons. Delta Quadrant biodiversity.”

Meesa nodded. "I had a similar offer from S.C.E. after my time on the Ommadawn. Almost transferred there, but in the end decided I wasn't ready. Plus, Tommy's helpless without me," she took on a feigned attitude of being put upon. "This ship would just fall apart if I wasn't here to put it together." She grinned. "And...I suppose John is a fun distraction as well."

“He’s a lucky man,” Camille said with a wink. “I have that on very good authority.”

Meesa grinned and clinked their glasses again, taking another drink. "I'll remind him."

“Did Nicole ever tell you about the redesign I did to the furniture in the quarters we had here?” Camille asked. “Those emitters were fun to reprogram.”

"No," Meesa said, curious. "You redesigned the furniture? To look like what?"

Camille grinned. “Are the quarters empty? Or were they assigned to someone?”

"Well, they're guest quarters, so empty at the moment, until we get guests aboard," Meesa said.

“When the party winds down,” Camille said, “we’ll go on down to see. You, me, Nicole, Penny.”

"See what, exactly?" Meesa said, eyes narrowing.

“A little hot tub program," Camille said with a grin. "Let’s just say I’ve been working on my endurance,” she added with a wink.

Meesa's smile lit up and she clinked her glass against Camille's again, turning back to watch the others dance, blowing John a kiss. John came over, gallantly--and somewhat comically--bowed, and offered his hand. Meesa took it, rolled her eyes a bit at Camille, but smiled, and allowed him to pull her to the dance floor.

Penny then rushed up and grabbed Camille. "Come on, it's your party too! Let's dance!" she shouted, happily, pulling Camille along with her.

The Québécoise girl laughed as she was pulled onto the dance floor. Thinking back on her time spent aboard the Victory, this had to be one of Camille’s happiest moments. Her career was moving forward. The person she loved the most was coming with her on this glorious new chapter in her life. Her best friend, whom she would miss dreadfully, was making one of her last days aboard the ship a pleasant one, giving her this incredible memory of all those who cared about her.

She danced among the group, and took Nicole’s hand as she got close enough to do so, and enjoyed the simple moment of camaraderie among people she considered not just comrades-in-arms, but friends.

 

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