ROODLES

ACT I

By

Lashunda C. Johnson

Today I did the final rehearsal for my rescheduled concert at the Bill Gates Dome on Earth V. I had been rehearsing for four days. Yet, I was bit nervous since my solo concert involved all of my original songs, including the unreleased ones. Also I had to perform without a musical instrument yet with a mike headset. Both Alidar and Groen were there at all of the repetitions.

After three hours had passed, my solo concert started. As I entered the stage, the stadium was packed. I wore a long-sleeved sierra shirt, black pants, black Nikes, clear lip-gloss, and mike headset while my lengthy curls hung down. I looked around the crowd in the dark arena. Then I greeted them and began to sing "Bevsher", which was a tender ballad about Beverly Crusher and lasted 5:23. The next song was "In the Stars’ Mist", which a 3:10 doo-wop tune about my then burning love for Wesley. "10,000 Apologies", which was a slightly upbeat dance song about several of my crewmembers’ fake regards toward me, was written four months ago but wasn’t released. "LaBarre Wine", which was the title song of the Clear Blue Angels’ fifth album, was inspired by both Uncle Ren and Jean-Luc, my old man. "Sunny day, Yesterday", which was another Clear Blur Angels’ song, was inspired by Data and a shore leave on Earth V.

Soon I took a break and left to the stage. Shortly afterwards, I returned and did "Lord Van", which was a 4:20 disco melody about Van Morrison. "The Caribbean Man", which was a Mambo-style song about an old Terran friend of Uncle Ren, lasted 2:30. "Wednesday Aurora", which was a 3:50 up-beat ditty, was about a strange yet somewhat exhilarative time that I actually had alone with Riker. "Fallen Roses", which was a 4:20 tender ballad, was about a young mother who tried to tell her child the news of the death of her daughter’s favorite playmate and was secretly a tribute to Tasha Yar. "Love Blender", which was a 3:46 techo-disco dance tune, was about the many sides of love. "Gather’s Child", which was a 3:50 folk-rock song about Surak’ forgotten child, was co-written by Groen.

Later I took another break and changed into a reddish-brown ankle-length dress with long lacey sleeves, matching leather Nikes, a ponytail, and Klingon wine-colored lip balm before I returned to the stage. "Janis’ Wedding", which was a 4:20 up-beat folk-rock song about a Memphis hippie wedding at Tom Lee Park, was inspired about a dream that I had about Janis Joplin and Beale Street. "Winter Comes", which was a 4:00 acoustic soulful blues song about a girl who urged her father to take her away from the harsh reality, was motivated by my first tough years on Enterprise-D. "Believing Into You", which was a 3:40 Memphis rudimental disco dance melody, was about my relationship with Ro. "Goodbye Old Consociate", which was a 5:10 folk-blues song, was a tribute to my lost friends, including Yar. "The Space Shaman", which was a 4:20 Vulcan rock aria about three different magical guys, was invigorated by Badu and the Keeley Brothers. "KC Blues", which was a 4:17 Memphis blues/Vulcan hard rock number about my illness, helped me cope with the disease. "Dylan’s Eyes", which was a 5:10 R and B/soft rock ballad about Bob Dylan, was co-written by Krom, my adoptive father. "If I", which was a 3:58 Klingon Mambo tune about bitterness from a painful heartbreak, was motivated by Wesley’s horrible treatment toward me. "Goodbye Space Cowgirl", which was a 4:15 somewhat emotional ballad about a female Starfleet officer, was secretly about my real Mom. The last song was "Let the Champion Stand", which was a 3:40 raw Terran rock ballad, was about some of my crewmembers’ favoritism toward Wesley.

There was a brief silence when the song ended. Then enormous cheers almost drove me to deafness as the lights came on and brighten the entire stadium. I looked about and quickly noticed many familiar faces as the total crowd was on their feet. I tried not to appear shocked as I smiled and gave a graceful bow. I thanked them numerously with a rather soft voice. Soon I caught a large bouquet of Terran roses and bowed again before I left the stage. After I arrived in my dressing room, I sat down and tried to catch my breath from the incredible excitement.

It was 2368. Two months had passed since the end of Lashunda’s trial. She was now Lieutenant as she worked on the nightshift with Data at the Bridge. She piloted the ship as Data performed on the rest of the Bridge’s functions. She wore a standard blue uniform, clear lip-gloss, a black Starfleet fanny-pack, and a few black Klingon hair sticks to pin back the sides of her curly mane. Her locks came five inches past her shoulders while her thick yet curly nose-length bangs were parted in the middle. Data briefly looked at Lashunda as she worked busily on the helm. He noticed that she both lost 10 pounds and became slightly wan since her return from the Starfleet trial. During that time, he never spoke casually to her.

Since his very first encounter with Lashunda, they seem very close even though she was considered an outcast to the most of the Senior Bridge officers. He later found many similarities between him and Abba. He was also one of the few male officers that Lashunda let get close to her, yet Data was the only Starfleet male officer who knew all of her secrets. When he returned his attention to the screen, Lashunda realized that she had opened her new packages of clothes from her relatives yet. Recently she had tightened several waistlines of her old clothes because she was now very thin. Her new uniforms looked extremely baggy even though they were the smallest size that the ship’s stylist was able to find.

When her shift ended, Lashunda left the Bridge as the morning shift officers arrived yet most of them didn’t notice her. After she stepped off the Turbo-lift on her floor, many crewmembers gave her friendly morning greetings. Lt. Spencer returned with both a diminutive smile and a casual head bow. Then she arrived at her quarters before she took off her uniform top and replaced with a white Starfleet Academy sweatshirt. It felt slightly loose on her but she liked it that way.

Later she initiated to work on her Starfleet computer as she drank Earl Grey in her dark Starfleet Academy mug. After an hour had passed, she took a break and played the entire album of Queen’s "Night at the Opera". Queen was one of her favorite musical artists. She had most of their albums and taught herself to sing with their music’s help. Recently she discovered that Worf was secretly a Queen fan. Sometimes he would sing Queen songs in Klingonese publicly to hide his love for Terran music.

Shortly afterwards, she turned off her music and left her quarters. She took a walk in the ship’s tunnels as she sang Abba’s "The Winner Takes It All" thoughtfully. Inherently to her, it was about Wesley’s triumphs due to favoritism. For years, Lashunda was a loser to many and really hated every moment of it. She also wasn’t appreciated by some, especially the Captain. Within weeks of her Starfleet graduation, she gained 40 pounds and had to wear custom-made uniform for her then-large size.

She liked the darkness of the tunnels since they helped hide her from the harsh reality. When she finished her walk, she returned to her quarters and changed back into her full uniform. As she sat back in her desk chair, she rubbed her neck before she reviewed her work. She looked at the clock after the review and noticed that she had several moments before she went to the second shift, which was at the Stellar Cartography Department. She transferred there when she was promoted two weeks after the end of the trial. Her new boss were Cmdr. Zenith Pike, who was the former Enterprise Captain Chris Pike’s relative. Cmdr. Pike, who was two years younger than Riker, was a slightly tanned 6’1 Terran and bore resemblance between Chris Pike and George Clooney. The Hawaiian native was Riker’s former Starfleet Academy roommate and conveyed to the Enterprise-D three years ago even though both Riker and Zen rarely spoke to each other since Zen’s arrival.

"Morning Lt. Spencer," spoke Cmdr. Pike when Lashunda arrived.

"Morning," she answered as she went to her post. The Stellar Cartography crew worked until Riker and Adm. Quinn came. When Cmdr. Pike greeted them, Lt. Spencer looked briefly at them. It had been a while since she last had seen Adm. Quinn. The Admiral had changed a little during the last couple of years. Lashunda first met Adm. Quinn in stardate 41416.2. Though they had mostly brief encounters, he was always nice to her. Ironically, he was one of the Starfleet Admirals, who secretly helped her at her trial. Presently, he was among several Admirals, who were on the way to the Admiral Reception.

Admiral Quinn looked about when Shun-Luc left to another area and had her back to him. He didn’t notice her until her special Yeoman beep sounded from her communicator yet he only saw a glimpse of her when she dashed out. Lt. Spencer entered the Bridge from the back way. She was one of the few, who both knew and used the Bridge back way. Besides it was faster than the Bridge Turbo-lift.

"What is the problem, Captain," asked Lt. Spencer as she stood beside Picard. He and Troi both did a double take.

"I wish that you stop doing that," he said calmly yet Lt. Spencer didn’t care since it always gave her a thrill.

"Whatever you say, Captain," she remarked with a still face.

Subsequently the next day came. Adm. Quinn remained. Lt. Spencer was between shifts as she dived into the ship’s swimming pool. She wore a light green one-piece swimsuit as she went underwater. She swam to the bottom and stayed there for several moments inasmuch as she closed her eyes. She emerged from the water and exhaled. For a brief time, she felt at peace enfin. Soon Abba lay back and floated on her back as she thought about nothing.

After thirty minutes, she dried herself. Then she put on her baggy white Starfleet Academy sweats, white Starfleet socks, and leather white and blue Starfleet sneakers and placed her towels in her medium-sized gray and black backpack before she left. While she rode on the Turbo-lift, Picard proclaimed her to come to the Bridge on her communicator. She stepped off the Turbo-lift and was greeted by Adm. Hank Steed, one of the newly appointed senior officers of the Starfleet Command. Adm. Steed was a tall yet rather lanky matured man, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Clayton Moore. Even though the admiral was a few years older than Picard, he looked younger than the Enterprise Captain. Adm. Steed had almost shoulder-length dark gray locks with several strands of ashy brown and wore a red uniform and a smile as he shook the young woman’s hand. The admiral’s sea blue eyes shined when he introduced himself to her. Like Quinn, the Enterprise was taking to Space Station M-17 for the Admiral Reception.

Later Picard took Lt. Spencer to the Bridge computer to analyze ancient Bynar technology. Lashunda never trusted the Bynars since she knew that they were very insidious. Sometimes she wished that she were able to confront the Bynars, who ventured her ship several years. Unfortunately, she was on tour during that time. When she returned home, Data told her about the Bynar incident, yet she wasn’t completely surprised.

The Captain stood behind her and watched briefly before he joined Riker and Steed. Lashunda worked until the Captain ordered her to leave although she returned to the Bridge in her blue Starfleet uniform, a braided ponytail, light orange lip-gloss, and six-inched Starfleet platform boots shortly afterwards. She piloted the helm as the ship went to Space Station M-17.

Charlie Ray and Daniel walked down toward the Movie Theater as the Space Station M-17 floated in space. CR wore a black and purple long-sleeved shirt, purple pants, and black W. C. Fields shoes while Daniel wore an opened purple plaid shirt with long sleeves, black and purple Jeff Beck Band T-shirt, and black pants, and black FILA hi-tops. CR had twisted braids that came five inches past his shoulders while Daniel had a rather long crewcut. Their father, Captain Todd Jardine, commanded the station and lived with his family there for several years. Captain Jardine was a 6’4 Terran man and bore a mixed resemblance to Harrison Ford and Charlie Ray. His almost shoulder-length straight locks were a mixture of light brown and gray.

The Enterprise arrived when the Jardine Brothers came out of the theater. This was the second encounter between the Enterprise and the M-17 Space Station. Many of the young female Enterprise members found the Jardine Brothers dreamy with their movie stars looks although Lashunda thought that they were okay despite their handsome qualities. As the Jardine Brothers went to their quarters, Captain Rupert Winters of the USS Diefenbaker talked to Capt. Jardine in the Space Station Captain’s slightly large office. Captain Winters was an Australian-bred Terran 6’0 man with black wavy medium-length locks, ocean blue eyes, toast brown-colored slightly smooth skin, muscular build, and an unbelievable congruence to Mel Gibson. Captain Winters was several years younger than Captain Jardine.

After thirty minutes passed, most of the Enterprise crew went inside the station while a few, including Lashunda, remained on the ship. Lt. Spencer was in her quarters and drank Earl Grey as she worked at her desk. Lashunda ran her fingers through her hair as she sighed briefly before she returned to her work. Horatio Russell knocked on Lashunda’s door momentarily. Lt. Cmdr. Russell, who was an executive officer, was a rather slim yet tall young Terran man with black short straight locks, dark eyes, smooth beige skin, and an imposing resemblance to John Cusack. They knew each other since 2365 and played tennis together.

"Who is it?"

"It’s me." Lashunda opened the door.

"Hi Horatio," she said as she showed her braces with a smile.

Meanwhile, Cmdr. Blade Winters was on the Diefenbaker Bridge as he sat in his command chair. Cmdr. Winters was a tall yet muscular Terran male with light blue eyes, a black buzz cut, black lambchops-style sideburns, and an astounding mimesis to D. B. Sweeney. He was thinking about the two admirals that came with the Diefenbaker crew. Adm. Mitch Plant and Adm. Dwight Page both became full Starfleet admirals six years earlier. Adm. Plant was a 5’11 Terran male with closely chopped blacks curls, layered bangs, blue eyes, light toast brown skin, and an improbable semblance to Paul Michael Glaser and wore a red Admiral uniform. Adm. Page was a 6’1 Terran male with dark honey blonde almost medium-length straight locks, blue eyes, fair skin, blonde goatee, and an unbelievable likeness to David Soul and also sported a red Admiral uniform. Adm. Page was a tranquil, elegant middle-aged guy while Adm. Plant was a rugged yet sometimes vulnerable enthusiastic droll. Since their arrival, most of the ladies secretly wondered which Admiral was the cutest.

Lashunda and Horatio left the ship as they entered the space station. They bumped right into Adm. Page and Adm. Plant. Lashunda smelled the newly combined scent of "Rugged Autumn" (cologne) and "Pines and Watches" (soap) even though Adm. Page’s "Pines and Watches" was stronger since she stood extremely close to him. Soon Lashunda backed away from him with a couple of paces to avoid embarrassment as she pardoned her rudeness. Adm. Page accepted her apology with a cunning smile. Lt. Spencer shyly returned the grin. Momentarily, Capt. Jardine called the young admirals to his office and the duo gave the young Enterprise officers friendly waves as they left.

There was a short pause of silence as Horatio and Lashunda stood together. The silence was interrupted when a sound check started nearby at the Deforest’s Malt Shop. Marley was guest DJ for the Space Dance at the large eatery. Ziggy helped him with the equipment as Riker came in. Ziggy wore black pants, purple San Francisco sweatshirt, and black Reeboks while Marley wore multi-colored UCLA sweats and black sneakers. Jayelle, Ziggy’s girlfriend, became annoyed by Riker’s presence when Riker sat at a nearby table and ordered a meal. Jayelle "Angel" Carey, was a 5’4 young woman with lengthy brown hair, wore black shades, a green and blue Nike jogging suit, matching sneakers, light pink lip-gloss, and a ponytail.

"Hey babe, this party is going to be like roodles," remarked Jayelle. "Roodles" meant "Riding Doodles".

Later that evening, the Admiral Reception started. Lashunda wore a blue dress uniform, dark pink lip-gloss, a plain hair bun, and flat Starfleet dress boots. She walked about in the large banquet room as her Enterprise crewmates mingled with the other people. Lt. Spencer felt like a stranger among her fellow shipmates as she looked around and stood near the wall. As she continued to looked at them, she wanted to leave yet knew that she wasn’t allowed to. Several moments passed when Lashunda sat finally at the bar. With her back to almost everyone, Lt. Spencer felt a little better. As the reception went on, Shun-Luc occasionally looked over her shoulder.

The Association’s "Never My Love" began to play instrumentally on the banquet room’s jukebox as Capt. Jardine sat next to Lashunda. They greeted each other with casual head bows before Capt. Jardine ordered a drink. After he received his order, he took a sip from his tall glass of Terran root beer while Lashunda sat up straight in her seat. The young woman gave the older officer a small yet brief grin when he turned to her. He took another sip before he returned the smile.

"It’s some party," Todd spoke to break the ice.

"Yes," Lashunda remarked rather timidly. Worf walked past them and left the banquet room. Lashunda noticed that Worf had on the new cologne, "Regal Musk", that she gave to him for his birthday. Since Lashunda’s return, both Worf and Abba became closer. Worf cared for her deeply and thought her as a younger sister. He was also one of the few who didn’t criticize her ever-changing yet experimental hairstyles. Ironically, he always preferred her natural tresses the most.

Lashunda left an hour early yet took a walk. She walked near the malt shop and listened to the music for a while. Then she went to her quarters. The Enterprise was extremely quiet as it rested at the space station. Later Lashunda changed into her white sleeveless pajamas and black slippers after she unbounded her hair. She sat on her sofa as she played "Desert and Rain" by Paul Gross and David Keeley on her acoustic guitar instrumentally. There was a moment of silence before she sang Eric Carmen’s "All By Myself" with her guitar. The stars shined as she crooned with her "new" voice even though she had it about a year now. Lashunda put up her guitar and went to bed when the song ended.

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