The Bet

One would assume that Ensign Sommers was looking forward to spending the evening in her quarters, especially since it had been a long and eventful day in engineering, but she was not. On the contrary, she could just imagine cleaning up after Ensign McKenzie, who she shared quarters with. Not exactly what Ensign Sommers, or anyone else for that matter, would call a relaxing time. Then again, she might get lucky and McKenzie had cleaned up after herself for once.

Who was she kidding? It was more likely that hell froze over . . . or that a certain Captain and Commander finally got it together.

Ensign Sommers arrived on Deck 6, where her quarters were located. The closer she got, though, the more she slowed down until she stopped right in front of the doors. Not really feeling up to entering, she contemplated going to the holodecks instead. Unfortunately, both holodecks were already occupied. Besides, she hadn't had holodeck time left anyway.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Ensign Sommers reluctantly entered her quarters - and was amazed by not tripping over anything. A good sign, she decided. Her relief was short - lived, though, as she had been too quick to judge the situation. Upon opening her eyes, Ensign Sommers couldn't help groaning. Very loud. Very long.

Chaos greeted the poor, exhausted Ensign. Data PADDS were scattered everywhere. Clothes either lay or hung over about every piece of furniture. And as many empty cups of coffee stood on the small table in the middle of the room.

Ensign Sommers groaned again.

Now one might think that she should leave the dirty job of cleaning up to Ensign McKenzie; her roommate had caused this mess anyway. However, Ensign Sommers being a very organized person, there was just no way she would relax, let alone find any sleep later on, as long as the quarters looked like hit by a photon torpedo. So, with the enthusiasm of someone who was just about kick a certain Ensign's butt out the next airlock, Ensign Sommers began to pick up empty cups of coffee to recycle them.

"Coffee," she muttered on her way back to the table to grab the next handful of cups. "Who the hell can stomach that stuff, anyway?"

"I can," an amused voice told her.

Ensign Sommers swung around, startled. Unfortunately, she managed to cover part of the table as well as the carpet with cold coffee in the process, for she hadn't quite realized that one of the cups hadn't been emptied yet.

"Damn!" Ensign Sommers exclaimed, her pissy mood finally getting the better of her. "I swear I'm gonna kill you, Adrienne!"

"Easy, Sharon. Just think for a minute - your life would be so boring without me to cheer you up."

"Boring? Without you?!" Sharon shrieked. "I would've the single best time of my life! It'd be quiet here. I wouldn't have to clean up twice a day. I could relax every now and then . . . I'd say that's something to look forward to!" The moment she noticed the hurt look crossing Adrienne's face, she regretted her words, though.

"I didn't know you had such a low opinion of me," Adrienne replied, seriously shocked. "Maybe I should ask Commander Chakotay for new quarters first thing in the morning. Looks to me as if that would solve many problems."

"I'm sorry," Sharon said softly. "I'm just a bit agitated, I suppose. I had quite a lousy day. Adrienne, forget what I just said, okay? I didn't mean it."

Adrienne settled on the couch. "You sure? I'd hate to think that you have such a lousy opinion of me."

"Hey, I always have an opinion," Sharon countered. "I just don't change it very often, so there's no need to worry. You're still my friend. A very stressing one, but a friend nevertheless."

Satisfied with that answer, Adrienne changed the topic. "So, what have you been up to before I so rudely interrupted you?"

"My, you can ask questions. Look around you," Sharon demanded while recycling another couple of cups. "What do you see?"

"Our quarters?"

"Very. Funny. You've been messing up our place again. Now, what could I have been doing? I'll give you a hint. I've been doing the same thing for six years now."

"Oops."

Sharon grinned. "That's about the best answer you could have come up with, dear."

Adrienne smiled guiltily. "Sorry," she offered. "Tell you what. Let's make a bet. The loser has to clean up from now on."

Sharon contemplated this for a moment. She had nothing to lose, actually. If she won, she would never have to clean up again. That would be quite an accomplishment. And if she lost, well everything would stay as it was. "I'm all ears."

"Rumor has it," Adrienne started off, "that the Captain and Commander have become romantically involved."

"Oooh pleeaaasee . . ."

"Let me finish before you start to count off the reason why that's unlikely."

"Okay, okay . . . continue."

"Well, as I said, rumor has it that they have become involved. My suggestion is that whoever of us proves that either right or wrong wins our little bet."

"That's it?" Sharon asked incredulously. "Well, dear, you'd better warm up to the thought of cleaning up our place then."

"You're such an optimistic person."

"I'm just realistic, that's all. My opinion is . . ."

"And you always have an opinion," Adrienne cut her off, giggling.

Sharon cast an angry look at her. "As I was saying, my opinion is that the Captain is too much concerned about protocol and such things to become involved with the Commander. And I'm gonna prove that in no time at all."

"And how will you do that, Miss - I'm - Always - Right?"

An evil grin began tugging at the corners of Sharon's mouth. "Oh, that's easy. I'm gonna ask the Captain."

"You're gonna ask the Captain," Adrienne repeated. Then, the words sank in. "You're gonna ask the Captain? Have you completely lost it now?! You can't just go to her and ask 'Oh, Captain? Would you tell me if you're hitting the sheets with the Commander, please'!"

"Why not?" Sharon asked innocently. "Her reaction will prove me right."

"Her reaction will be the last thing you'll see in this world!" Adrienne exclaimed. "She'll space you! Or throttle you . . . or both."

"Let's find out."

"Let's. Find. Out . . . Are you meaning to tell me to join you?" Adrienne put some distance between them, shaking her head. "No . . . no, no, no . . . you're not getting me killed! I love my life."

"But I need you to be there as a witness."

"May I define witness for you? 'A person who can tell what she/he has seen or heard.' How am I to accomplish that if I'm traveling the stars in a coffin?"

"Coward," Sharon teased, knowing exactly Adrienne would do anything to prove her wrong on that one.

Adrienne reached out for Sharon's arm, pulling her to the door. "Let's go. At least I'll get the chance to see your expression while she kills you."

*

Two extremely nervous ensigns were standing outside the Captain's quarters, looking anything but happy to be there.

"Sharon," Adrienne said quietly, having no clue why she was whispering. "We can still turn around and - probably not." Sharon had just announced their presence. "In case I don't get a chance later on, let me thank you for getting me killed."

"Anytime."

"And I have called you a friend," Adrienne muttered under her breath. "A fine friend you are."

"I've heard that."

"That was the purpose."

Sharon wanted to reply to that, but just then the doors opened, revealing a Captain who appeared to be a little out of breath.

The ability to speak left Sharon, along with the ability to think.

"Can I help you, Ensigns?" Kathryn Janeway asked, looking from one stunned - into - silence woman to the other.

Adrienne was the first who found her voice, much to her own surprise. "We're sorry to bother you, Captain, but yes, you can in fact help us. My roommate here has a death wish . . . er . . . a question."

Janeway's eyes fixed on Sharon. "Ensign Sommers, right?"

"Er . . . yes, Captain," Sharon replied, but her eyes were fixed on her friend. If looks were able to kill, Adrienne would drop dead to the floor. Well, they'd both be dead in a minute, anyway. So, why bother?

"What can I help you with, then?" Janeway demanded to know, getting a little bit impatient as the silence continued for several moments.

"Er . . . well, the thing is . . . we know it's none of our business, but . . . we've been wondering for years . . . so we decided to ask you . . . and . . . and it was really a stupid idea. We're sorry to have bothered you, Captain," Sharon finished. "Just forget that we were here. Good evening." She then turned and was about to drag Adrienne along as a male voice filtered through to their ears.

"Kathryn," the unmistakable voice of Commander Chakotay said, "get rid of whoever is outside and come back to bed."

The two ensigns stopped dead in their tracks.

"I'm sorry, Ensigns," Kathryn chuckled. "It seems as if I'm needed elsewhere . . . I guess you've got your answer, though."

Ensign Sommers and Ensign McKenzie remained unmoving for several minutes after the door had slid shut, starring at one another in utter disbelief.

"Woohoo!!!" Adrienne eventually screamed out. "I've won!!!"

Sharon, on the other hand, just shook her head. She had been so darn sure that the Captain would never get involved with the Commander, although they were the perfect match. Furthermore, she had been so darn sure that she was right!

Well, there was a first time for everything . . .

THE END

Feedback, please?