A Simple Starship Wedding

Posted on Fri Sep 14th, 2018 @ 8:44pm by Commander Rita Paris & Captain Enalia Telvan & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Maica III 47

Mission: Holographic Horrors
Location: USS Hera, Deck 4, Main Shuttlecraft Deck
Timeline: 2395, stardate 72703.8

"I'm going to need this flight deck cleared by ten hundred hours, people. That'll give us two hours to scrub her spic and span before the whole crew shows up down here, including Herself. And she's liable to be wearing something fancy, so if she gets grease on her because my flight deck isn't clean, I'm going to be a very cranky old lady!" Lieutenant Commander Rita Paris called out good-naturedly to motivate her flight deck crew.

"I know she isn't moving, Mister Flurglvrt. Get a sled up underneath her and get her on a lift, so she can drop to the maintenance bay, it isn't rocket science. Miss Teschmacher, glad to see you on distribution duty, let's get those sprayers in hands and get this all hosed down and blown dry. Computer?" the unconventionally-uniformed executive called out.

There was a chirrup of reply, so she continued. "Is it possible to project onto the bay doors a real-time holographic representation of the view outside the doors?"

"Processing," the computer chirruped and a few more chirrups followed. After a few more seconds, the door was replaced with a holographic curtain of the space outside.

"You know the forcefields would use a lot fewer resources if that's all you wanted." Maica commented as she sauntered up behind her human doppelganger. "Computer, please extend the projection to all exterior walls. Confirmation Maica three seven one. Party planning mode."

"Confirmed. Processing." After a few more chirrups, the outer walls were covered with the starscape as well, the sides of the flight deck now seemingly open to the vacuum of space.

"I did not, actually. In this case, given the concentration of the crew that are likely going to be here, safety first kicked in and it seemed like a needless risk. Which somehow makes me feel like I am turning into my father in my old age," Rita laughed musically, looking around and taking in the view with an appreciative nod. "Very nice, thank you. I take it this is where the party planner kicks into gear?"

The emerald skinned beauty smiled brightly. "Indeed. The cakes and finger foods are almost done and the wine is chilled. The only wines we have in large enough quantities are the Artan family rose wines, if that's okay. As for decorations, the maids have prepared tables and everything should be ready to be transported over in a few hours as soon as the cake decorators are finished. There's a second reception area inside the main hall of the castle where they're setting up overflow space. We'll be recording the ceremony and broadcasting it live so they can take part as well. As for the main decorations here, once the floors are clear and clean, I'll be loading the decor I've set up and we can get you gussied up."

"Mrs. Tel- right. Maica. I very much appreciate you bringing your expertise to all of this. And I can tell you really, really know how to throw a party." Rita spun around slowly, taking it all in before inhaling slowly, then squaring her shoulders and bringing up a small smile. "Ma'am? I very much do not want a Big Wedding. I was going to be content with just he and me and the captain, a groomsman and a bridesmaid for witnesses and then we'd be off on our honeymoon."

"The captain offered the cathedral, but no, I want a Starfleet wedding," Rita began to pace in a circle about the beautiful Orion woman. "So the flight deck she says. Invite the crew. Okay, says I, it's the crew of our starship who feel like showing up and aren't on duty, sure, it's a shipmate thing. Now a second reception area? Broadcasting? Ma'am..." Up until now, Paris had comported herself as she would any other day. Watching her wedding grow into much much more than she had anticipated or desired, she was rapidly transforming into a nervous bride. "I very much appreciate your help but I really don't want a big wedding... please?"

Maica smiled her patented smile and wrapped one arm around Rita. "Don't worry, love. We'll only have a hundred or so people here and everyone else will be at the main hall at the castle or watching it at their posts. It won't even seem like a big thing and I promise every pirate will be perfectly behaved." Pursing her lips, she looked up at the ceiling a moment. "Computer, extend wall projection to the ceiling." This time there was no delay from the computer as it extended the starfield.

"Ma'am? I'm asking with all due appreciation of you and your craft, but I am asking. Please don't make this a big thing," Rita pulled away from the steering arm around the shoulder and stepped forward to face Maica. "It is a wonderful gift that you are offering, and I'm sure I'm a fool for passing it by. But please- I'm asking you, as the bride- please don't make this a big thing. I don't want a spectacle. This is a formality. Something to let the rest of the universe understand what we've known for years."

"That's all. I'm not wearing a wedding dress nor is he wearing a tuxedo. We're not wearing our hideous dress uniforms. Just us, the way we are," Paris tugged at the long sleeves of her gold mod minidress, "as Starfleet officers, on a Starfleet starship. That's who we are, and that's what we want."

Maica sighed somberly. "And what about all your friends that want to attend? The rest of the crew? A lot of the Artans want to celebrate with you as well. I've had three bands, four poets, a mime, and a chainsaw juggler volunteer to perform for you. You're both famous for not only being on 'Nalia's crew, but for who you are yourselves and you have admirers."

Sighing again, Maica gave in. "I can at least make the flight deck part small but I'm not denying everyone the rights to the main hall. The food is already prepped."

"Well, what's a wedding day without guilt?" Rita shook her head, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. All my friends? I'm lucky if I have a dozen friends. How are we famous, we're classified? How did the Artans know? That last part she suspected was the captain in action. Somehow this had ceased to be about her, and was now part of some greater spectacle in which apparently she no longer had a vote. The internal desire to point out to the captain's wife that she outranked her was making Rita's eye twitch a little, but something else arose as well.

You told the Captain you prefer the open hand over the one holding the phaser. So prove it, big shot. How can you get through to partyzilla to make her understand that you want the opposite of what she wants, that manipulating you is pissing you off, and that this isn't about her or the Artans or anyone else, it is about you and Sonak?

There was her answer. Tapping her left breast, Rita smiled placidly. "Computer, please request Lieutenant Sonak meet me on the flight deck. Thank you."

He was just out of his meditation and finishing putting on a uniform fresh out of the replicator when the computer call resonated in the quarters he shared with Rita.

"Lieutenant Sonak; your presence is requested by the first officer on the main flight deck."

"Computer; confirm my arrival in precisely two point two minutes, mark."

And so saying, he stepped out into the corridor and proceeded to the designated area at a brisk yet easy pace. When he entered, he took all in the vast emptiness of the shuttle launching area, now devoid of all vehicles lowered into their parking bays. It was made all the more vast by a holographic projection of a starfield all around and over head. In this large empty area, he spotted instantly his bride in conversation with an Orion female he recognized from the ship's manifest as the sentient holographic mate of their commanding officer. He did not need his sharp Vulcan hearing or acute vision to perceive the annoyance of Rita; even at this distance, he could feel it through their bonding.

He walked up to them and made a small bow towards Maica III 47.

"Thank you for your efforts regarding to our rather sudden personal request, Miss. We are accordingly grateful."

Taking in the spectacular starscape with a view f the Fortress to the fore, Sonak looked around again.

"This display is both inspiring and humbling; a good metaphor to Miss Paris and I respectively."

"It is that," Rita replied, a taut smile in place. "Sonak, this is Maica, Maica, Sonak. I was attempting to explain to Maica that a hundred guests on the flight deck while everyone else will be at the main hall at the castle or watching it at their posts as it is broadcast is a much larger affair than we were hoping for, as we just wanted something small and private. Although apparently now there is the diplomatic quagmire of risking alienating friends who want to attend, the rest of the crew, a lot of the Artans who want to celebrate with us as well. Apparently despite our classified existences we're both famous, not only for being on the Captain's crew aboard the top-secret Starfleet Intelligence starship, but for who we are. It seems we have admirers. Mr. Sonak. So with all of that in mind, I was attempting to resolve the situation diplomatically, but thus far emotional appeal fails to sway the locals."

Stepping over to stand next to Sonak- after all, they were currently on duty, and both had long ago agreed to refrain from public displays of affection on duty- the gold-clad commander nevertheless stood beside him as she rallied. "So, my logical groom... might I request assistance in attempting to sway these negotiations?"

Maica comported herself as soundly as she could, her hands clasped in a meditative pose in front of her belly. "Small and private is all fine and well, but after the leaked security footage of your heartfelt reunion on this very spot, many people at least know the rumors about the two of you and want to wish you well in your union. Would it not be logical to at least allow them that much? Even if it's from a remote location, watching a closed loop broadcast of your wedding?"

"Although..." Pursing her lips, the emerald beauty stared intently across the deck for a moment. "I think I have an idea... What if I built an open air chapel, we had only a few special guests and close friends... But broadcast the main ceremony to the main hall for everyone else and let them entertain themselves? Then if you want you could watch the recordings of their entertainment gifts to you later?"

"An acceptable proposition, if you agree with it," Sonak said in answer to Maica, but his gaze was set on Rita.

Then his grey eyes went around them a moment before settling again on the Orion woman.

"I am not yet as well versed in this holographic technology as I should be; but would it not be possible to 'encase' us in a isolated, private setting more comfortable to us, while allowing the rest of the attendance to witness the whole affair, without us being at least overtly conscious of their presence?"

“Broadcast celebrity… wouldn’t Daddy be so proud,” Rita muttered. Being manipulated by guilt over circumstances beyond her control sat poorly with her- after all, her entire childhood had been spent dealing with similar situations, and as an adult she recognized and resented it. But apparently she got little vote in any of this- one way or another, their private little ceremony apparently had to be witnessed by however many strangers, because it seemed they’d now gone viral. Wouldn’t have happened if you had kept it professional on the flight deck, the voice of her father mocked her, and it irritated her that one moment of unprofessionalism then would now cost her.

“Do we at least get a say in the ceremony or the vows?” Rita asked with resignation as she crossed her arms. In this moment she was regretting the whole idea and wished she’d never brought it up. There had to be any number of quickie little wedding chapels on some of the tourist spots that would be recognized by the UFP. Instead she had opted for a Starfleet wedding that was now going to be a multimedia extravaganza.

"Everything that you say and do and wear during the ceremony is entirely up to the two of you." Maica bowed her head, having nothing to say about that. She was just here to plan the party aspect of the ceremony. "There are some minor protocols that 'Nalia will have to follow like calling the gathering, declaring you married, and powers vested in her... But everything else is up to you. You could even have a traditional nude Betazoid wedding if you want. I'm just here to plan the party side of things."

The product of a conservative society, Rita managed to begin upraising a finger, her mouth gaping open in protest before the determined datagal continued.

"On that note... I've finished compiling a chapel and I'd like your thoughts on it." Snapping her fingers, Maica glanced over at the center of the flight deck where a small open roof and open front chapel made entirely of white and pink flowered vines shimmered into view. Inside was a simple podium for the captain and about a dozen chairs for guests. To either side was room for one bridesmaid and one groomsman. "Simple... Quaint... And you'll never know the rest of the crew was waiting to congratulate you afterwards."

First it was the stars in the sky, now it was a chapel made of flowers. A girl just can't have a plain wedding in the future. Or is this part of the pirate thing, it's always got to be a party? Whatever it was, Rita considered a diplomatic request for just the flight deck back. It was so... girly. All she wanted was a starship wedding.

Diplomacy. Apparently it ain't about you, lady, it's about appeasing the masses apparently. Welcome to the mission your wedding turned out to be. Now suck it up and do the mission.

"That's fine. Thank you, Maica. Very considerate," Rita smiled, nodded, then looked around at her flight deck crew who all suddenly found something to do. "Lieutenant Sonak, would you walk with me please?"

Maica sighed heavily, having been able to read Rita's heart rate, pupil dilation, pheromone levels, perspiration, and a few other things to get her emotional response as clearly as if she were empathic. "You don't really like it or anything else... I'll... Try to come up with something else. You two discuss whatever you need to and I'll work on this." Without another word, she headed off to the little chapel and started waving at it and mumbling computer code, tearing it apart and rebuilding the holographic construct a piece at a time.

"Ma'am? What part of 'I don't want a big wedding' didn't you get? I've pleaded with you repeatedly, but you can't please someone else if you won't listen to them," Rita stepped over to put her hand on the bared emerald shoulder. "If we're not willing to be changed by what the other person is saying, then we aren't listening. Tell you what. Compromise."

Looking skyward, Rita spoke up. "Computer? Can you holographically replicate the chapel of a Constitution class starship? Not the refit, the original models?" It was not a command, but a question she was asking the starship.

After a few chirrups and a shimmer, a grey metal box with a yellow door appeared on the flight deck about the size of a small shuttle appeared next to the remains of the chapel Maica was working on. Presumedly a recreation of an original constitution class chapel was inside. "This is the only data available."

Maica just turned to look at the little box and hung her head. "I am listening... I am making it smaller... If you want it that small, you might as well just have it in her office." All that was left of the chapel she had been working on was four chairs, the podium, and a few retro, brightly colored panels covered in floral designs.

"That was kind of my original plan, ma'am. Okay, look, fine, just... I'm going for that walk. Mr. Sonak?" Rita was already in motion as she spoke, headed off the flight deck. Guess you won't be winning any awards at the peace prize this year, Diplomatorita.

Sonak easily fell in step with her.

"My telepathic powers may be severely stunted in this universe, but it doesn't take any to sense that your emotional state is turning negative towards this whole enterprise," he offered in his usual deadpan tone.

"The whole point of a simple starship wedding was to avoid a huge dog and pony show- that's turn of phrase for a spectacle," Rita explained as they strode through the corridors of Deck 4. "Okay, family secrets time, you ready? My father had a wedding book for me. No kidding, he would collect images and files and he chose the venue, was revising the guest list every year. For which he would guilt me, because every year that passed reduced my chances of getting married to a good prospect, according to him."

"Shows what he knew. I'm 162 and I landed the best guy around." Rita waggled her eyebrows at the seemingly impassive Vulcan. "The point is, that's what he kept trying to railroad me into, so I grew to resent it. And I'm being railroaded into it now, and I dislike it just as much if not moreso."

As she strode along, Rita began to talk animatedly with her hands. "I didn't want to broadcast anything. How did this suddenly become political? I just wanted a simple ceremony, and... I'm uncomfortable with all of this. I know it was to define our relationship to the rest of the universe, but I didn't think it needed to be a multimedia extravaganza. And that woman is trying to manipulate me emotionally and it is really, really making me upset. Angry. Yes, angry."

When she was on a tear like this, it helped her to define her feelings, both to herself getting in touch with them and for Sonak, who over the years had grown rather deft at reading her emotional states and the subtleties therein. Yet he still appreciated that she identified them for him, and suspected it helped her frame her own mind.

"I would not be so presumptuous as to state that I understand how you feel," Sonak said after a moment. "But I can estimate that this is distressing for you. Therefore, this is unsatisfactory for me."

Pivoting, Sonak stopped before her, bringing her to a sudden halt as he looked her straight in the eye.

"That this has become a social event larger than expected and swelled with added events and significance is out of our control. It is something we now must accept as fact. External parties wish to broadcast it and make a... social occasion over it, to enjoy for themselves. The logical thing to do at this point is to allow them... to have their fun, I believe is the correct expression. You are a pilot; you know that the best way to ride an incoming and unavoidable wave is to turn into it."

Then his voice took a surprisingly softer tone.

"However, as for the bonding ceremony proper, I would dare to remind you that this is our wedding and this is your project; and you are her superior officer. You or I are not doing this to please her, nor anyone else; but to affirm to one another our bonding, in a solemn manner of our choosing. Therefore, it is up to you to order her what we want as a ceremony; and it is up to her, not to please herself with it, but to comply with your exact wishes as her way to truly contribute to your happiness on this day. As for the rest of the universe, they have no say as to how we will express our bonding. They can... take it or leave it, as I believe these Ferengi space merchants would say."

Straightening, Sonak adopted a stoic mein once more.

"The only other alternatives I can see are either to let them do whatever they want with our wedding... or cancel the whole affair. I do not think these last two options would be satisfactory. But if we compromise with their... spectacle as long as it doesn't intrude on our actual bonding ritual, I think it will not be unreasonable for you and I to tell them exactly how this ritual, our ceremony, should be performed."

With that, Rita began to slowly pace around Sonak. "As you say, it is beyond our control. The spectacle is inevitably occurring. Which... again, we're a Starfleet Intel vessel, aren't we? Isn't a whole lot of this supposed to be classified? Not important, focus on the problem at hand." As she paced, Rita tucked one arm under her bosom to support the other as she gnawed on her thumbnail. "I just wanted you, me, starship that looks like a starship..."

Rita stopped before Sonak, as her eyes sought out his own. "I want a wedding in a little chapel like we used to have on the Exeter, and the Constitution. We can have the big party on the flight deck and the Artans who I still don't get why they give a phloog, but there it is. But our ceremony... seats for a few people, room for us and the captain and just...private. Not covered in flowers in a springtime glade or exposed to the reaches of space. Just us and our shipmates."

"I don't have to see anyone , so I can try to not think about the fact that people are watching. We've kept it professional for so many years, it's... anyway. Do you think that might work as a compromise? It was your suggestion, after all. Apparently Maica will hate it, but it isn't her wedding. So, good plan?" At that, Rita sighed and made a rather hopeful face. "If not I can always try clubbing her with rank, though I doubt it would work..."

"I agree. This is the twenty-fourth century after all; onlookers can watch the ritual itself as a lifelike holographic display in some other location of magnificence of their choosing, just as if we were there among them, while we have it the way we wish. A quiet but sincere pledge between us, before our captain and a few chosen witnesses, in the modesty of the old Exeter ceremonial room. No one is entitled to deny this to us. After what we have been through, we are deserving of having our moment together."

A deep and contented sigh reverberated through the agitated aviator, as she started happily into the eyes of her logical lover, hands clasped behind her back "How you always know the exact right thing to say is beyond me, Sonak. Yet somehow you do. How did I of all people ever manage to get this lucky?"

His left eyebrow went up slightly.

"I know what to say because I am logical. Clearly your 'luck' is due to you being a very perceptive and intelligent Human woman."

"Logical you are, indeed indeed..." Stepping past the blue-clad scientist, Rita began leading him back toward the shuttlecraft bay. While she would have preferred to give him a hug or hold hands, they were on deck and on duty, and their years of 'keeping it professional' were a hard habit to break. Besides, Sonak knew how she felt, and he had once again gotten her through the emotional crisis with logic, just as she often got him through logical problems with intuitive leaps.

Time to face the wedding planner again.

Re-emerging onto the flight deck, Rita took a deep breath for whatever was awaiting them this time.

Maica was there at least. Her hair was in disarray and all that was left of the chapel she had made was the podium. The grey box next to her had been cracked open and spread apart so she could see the walls individually, but otherwise, no changes had been made to it. The ceiling was just floating there above her.

Turning back to Rita, Maica looked crestfallen. "While you were away, I called 'Nalia and we talked a bit as well. She wanted to offer the use of the family Cathedral again. There's no tech allowed inside and you can just have a small bonding ceremony there before we break out the wedding reception and party. Alternately, we could do it in one of the conference rooms or holodecks reskinned to look like this..." She motioned at the scattered walls around her, her lips pursed. She wanted to call them garish, but they were an important part of their history and she didn't want to be insulting. "I just ask that we remove a few symbols beforehand. Especially in light of our recent and impending missions involving beings that they relate to."

Sonak nodded and looked at Rita.

"Vulcans abandoned all religious practices and the faith mindset in favor of logic and reason several millennia ago. Those symbols only hold cultural and historical curiosity and thus are irrelevant to me as far as the planned ritual is concerned. What about you? I am willing to accommodate your beliefs if you have any."

"I believe in you and me, and that the constants of the universe always come with exceptions," Rita quipped back, before turning to Maica. "We come in peace. I offer a compromise- do your multimedia extravaganza. We will cheerfully party with the crew on the flight deck and anyone else that wishes to join- we have the capacity for fifteen hundred people here, so whomever wishes to attend we should able to accommodate."

"You can throw one hell of a wingding, and all we ask is we have the ceremony appear to be private, at least for us. Shut out the rest of the world in our little drab grey and blue chapel. Sans religious iconography lest it offend is fine, given that they hold no personal significance to either of us. We can exchange our vows before a small gathering of our friends and shipmates, bound by maritime law. Then we'll be happy to dance and carouse and revel with anyone who wishes to celebrate our union with us." Rita eyed the holographic hostess hopefully. "Will that satisfy all parties involved?"

Maica waved her hands at the walls around them, bringing them back together. The podium had been replaced with the wooden Starfleet one she had made previously and most of the iconography was washed from the chapel, but otherwise, it remained the same. Smiling, her hair returned to normal as she turned back to the couple. "That works perfectly as long as you can have your vows ready in the next forty eight minutes. Thank you."

"We'll wing it. We're both good at this," Rita replied, wondering if that too would further frazzle the entity whom had chosen to insert herself and generate so much internal stress about all of this, when it was not even her affair. Turning she cocked her head to regard her groom. "Another triumph for logical thinking?"

Sonak didn't hesitate in his reply.

"Klingons would say it is not the words but the scent that matters, and words come later. But I prefer the Human saying; what is well conceived frames itself clearly, thus the words for it come easily. Nothing is better conceived and framed than what we have for one another."

Rita Paris sighed and shook her head with a wistful smile. "That's my guy..."