Received: from [66.218.66.31] by n12.grp.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 06 Jun 2004 00:24:15 -0000 X-Sender: campbratcher@psci.net X-Apparently-To: ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com Received: (qmail 94701 invoked from network); 6 Jun 2004 00:24:14 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.66.172) by m25.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 6 Jun 2004 00:24:14 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO mailstore.psci.net) (63.65.184.2) by mta4.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 6 Jun 2004 00:24:14 -0000 Received: from max (as4-d59-rp-psci.psci.net [63.92.109.155]) by mailstore.psci.net (8.12.2/8.12.2) with SMTP id i560NuQX024361 for ; Sat, 5 Jun 2004 19:23:57 -0500 Message-ID: <011f01c44b5c$a2dec780$9b6d5c3f@max> To: "ASCEM-S" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 X-eGroups-Remote-IP: 63.65.184.2 From: "Keith & Jessica Bratcher" X-Yahoo-Profile: sileya MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEM-S-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list ASCEM-S@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2004 19:24:30 -0500 Subject: [ASCEM-S] NEW VOY/DS9 Cardinal Attractors 4/8 (J/G) [NC-17] Reply-To: "Keith & Jessica Bratcher" Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-ELNK-AV: 0 Please see part 1 for codes, disclaimer, and warnings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardinal Attractors, part 4/8 by Penumbra (c) 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The following evening, Picard's Halloween party turned out raucous and very entertaining -- much like such things tended to do when generally sensible adults were plied with intoxicants and given free reign to play out their favourite holosuite fantasies. Janeway found herself quite enjoying the spectacle in all its silliness and felt right at home in her baroque gold and pewter dress that came with a whalebone corset and a neckline so generous that it had produced more double-takes than her chosen companion. "I'll never stop being intrigued by the lengths to which humans will go to celebrate their holidays," said companion commented and offered Janeway a congenial smile. For a moment, Garak's eyes trailed one of the waiters, who had chosen an abbreviated angel costume. "Although this custom seems to trump all else in strangeness, including Christmas." Janeway could only agree as she looked around: strange seemed to be the overall theme. The outfits present ranged from the exquisite (Ambassador Troi in an uncharacteristically subdued replica of ancient Betazoid coronation robes) to the silly (an unnamed gentleman Janeway suspected was Captain Riker in a gorilla suit) and from the elaborate (Jean-Luc Picard himself in a 17th-century captain's outfit, tights and all) to the thematically appropriate (Captain Data as Frankenstein's monster, complete with neck bolts and a missing arm). In addition to the colourful guests, costumed waiting staff and assorted decorative suits of armour crowded the wine cellars where the party was held. In the catacomb of caverns and rooms, rows and rows of dusty bottles lining the walls and massive oak barrels of Chateau Picard provided ambiance along with ample opportunity to sample their host's grape products. The juxtaposition of costumes with the sombre cellars was interesting, as was the carefully modulated mood lighting and appropriately unobtrusive selection of classical music. All in all, Janeway surmised, Picard had done a wonderful job. "It's not often I get to indulge in playacting any more," Janeway said and tried in vain to remember when she had last relaxed with a holonovel. "And you're right in that the circumstances provided by Halloween are quite unique." Garak hummed in agreement. "Sometimes, I rue my people's inability to have a good time." "Don't tell me Cardassians are adverse to celebration?" "Oh, quite the contrary, Kathryn," Garak said smoothly and stepped aside to let a pair of women in togas pass. "However, our aesthetics in that regard tend to lean more towards the practical rather than the whimsical. Such a mindset does not lend itself to such elaborate traditions such as this Halloween of yours," he said at length, gesturing at the milling crowd. "We Cardassians are, at heart, a simple people." Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Janeway grabbed another glass of wine from a passing waiter's tray. She could find many adjectives to describe Cardassians but 'simple' wouldn't be among them. "You didn't have to go through so much trouble to procure a costume, though. You could've just worn one of your old uniforms, for example, and none would've been the wiser." "Well, yes. But you see, the agency I was associated with was a remarkably practical collection of individuals. There never was any use for the usual trappings of such organisations -- inspirational slogans, rank markings, or even uniforms," Garak said and glanced at his side, a sly smile on his lips. "Besides, wouldn't it be an insult to our host not to take the invitation as seriously as he has obviously taken the arrangements?" "You're right, of course," Janeway admitted. "Although Jean-Luc tends to be very informal about such things." Garak gave Janeway a look. "Perhaps. But in any event, it would've been terribly uncouth of me to wear a reminder of my former life, given Captain Picard's less than pleasant history with the Order," he said smoothly, yet with a measure of odd satisfaction. "So perhaps it's merely fortuitous I was not tempted by such a choice." "Perhaps so," Janeway muttered, frowning. She made a mental note not to discuss Garak's work history with their host, if only because Garak's apparent knowledge of Picard's torture in the hands of Gul Madred of the Obsidian Order raised some uncomfortable questions. "Regardless, I'm glad you succeeded in finding an outfit on such short notice," she said and gave Garak an evaluating look. Garak's chosen costume -- a ceremonial warrior's armour and accessories of unknown origin to Janeway -- was indeed worth a look or two. The outfit was a remarkably complex contraption of small, interlinking plates with etched decorations flowing from one plate to another from his hips and elbows to his chest, gathering across the triangular cuirass into a sea of swirling lines. Towards the abdomen the aegis tapered to a sharp, curving point where the bodice met the battle skirt which, in turn, covered Garak's legs from hips to mid-calf in wide strips of hide and layered tasses. The golden metal plates were carefully set in the dark chartreuse leather that had a pattern of gleaming, transparent scales that reflected the light whenever Garak moved. The ensemble was completed by similarly plated boots and his gleaming hair that was slicked back and up into an elaborate, oiled maze of ringlets that rivalled Janeway's own baroque hairdo in complexity. She nodded to herself, approving of Garak's choice -- a unique costume, yet eminently suitable for the broad, muscular build of its carrier. Making a mental note to ask about the significance of the armour, she focused on Garak's eyes again. Their cool regard was disturbing in its intensity and it reminded Janeway again who and what she was dealing with. "I hope it wasn't too much trouble," she said, recovering from her momentary lapse. "Considering it certainly didn't come out of any standard clothing replicator." "Producing this costume at a day's notice was, shall we say, challenging," Garak said and rapped his fingers against the vambrace on his other arm. Hedging for a moment, Janeway decided to take the opening provided for her and steer the conversation to her intended topic for the evening -- something she'd been itching to do ever since she'd read Garak's Intel file earlier that day. "Challenging, for a man of your employment history?" she said and cocked her head. "Somehow, I doubt that." "A good tailor, not even one as accomplished as I was, can't make many sartorial miracles," Garak demurred. "But that wasn't what I was referring to, Mr. Garak. The challenge posed by costume acquisition mustn't have been that hard for a man used to delivering much more, shall we say, delicate goods." Janeway paused deliberately, her eyes narrowing as she gave Garak her best look. To her consternation, the look that usually made men twice her size fidget produced in Garak nothing more than a minute twitch of his eyeridges. "Delicate?" Janeway nodded. "For the son of Tain, a costume is not really a challenge at all, is it?" she asked, her voice gone throaty and low. She was quite enjoying this flirtation with obvious danger -- and danger what was Garak was, dark and deadly. Taking such risks was nothing new to Janeway, of course. She'd met people like Garak before -- people with a thin veneer of civilisation masking the stained depths of their souls. They tended to be the dark centres of gravitation in any crowd, these men and women who seduce almost accidentally as they draw people to them like moths to a flame...until they get too close and are burned by the fire. The air between fairly sang with tension, even when Garak's pose didn't change one iota. "You're quite right, Kathryn," he said evenly, and there was no malice in his voice, no surprise of any kind at her words. If anything, there was intrigue in the way he spoke and in the unblinking way he was looking at Janeway. "My assignments within the Order tended to be much more complex than acquiring a Halloween costume. I thank you for the perspective." Frustrated again, Janeway downed the rest of her wine. "Doesn't it ever get boring, Mr. Garak?" "Doesn't what get boring?" "Not being surprised by much of anything." The look of delight on Garak's face was instantaneous. "Oh, but my dear admiral, you're so very wrong," he said, smiling as he sipped his drink. "You continuously provide me with surprises and for that, I must thank you. It's rarely that I meet someone so...engaging." Amused despite herself, Janeway smiled and let go of her frustration; it would get her nowhere with Garak. The man had not only an uncanny talent in speaking more with unsaid words than what he really said but also in managing to turn whatever conversational topic they had to an argument or small talk, depending on his needs. It was time to move to safer grounds. "You continue to surprise me as well, Garak. For example, this remarkable costume that you're wearing. I assume it has special significance?" Garak touched the filigreed breastplate and smiled. "It's a Hebitian ceremonial costume -- a historical relic from my home planet." Intrigued, Janeway leaned in and studied the fine swirls and curves of the decorations engraved into the dully-gleaming golden metal. Although she was not quite as passionate about xenoarchaeology as Picard was, it was something of a hobby of hers. "The real thing?" she murmured, resisting the urge to touch the breastplate where it curved over Garak's broad chest. "Alas, a reproduction. Our Hebitian ancestors had a body shape that is quite different from modern Cardassian build, so certain artistic license needed to be taken for me to be able to don it." Janeway nodded as she studied the outfit. It was an intricate, barbaric costume that spoke of a complex and well-evolved civilisation of warriors and wealth, and the influence of Hebitian culture in modern Cardassian military uniforms was obvious. Hiding vulnerabilities and presenting strengths, it was quite a telling choice for Garak: historical, heavy with symbolism, and somehow grotesque in all its beauty. "It's remarkable, not to mention beautiful." "Thank you. As is yours," Garak said, his tone warm and rich with appreciation. The look he gave Janeway was speculative enough to make her feel suddenly warm, and she was certain it had nothing to do with the drinks she'd had. "A historical period piece as well, if I'm not mistaken?" "You're not," Janeway said and gestured down at her dress and its layers of skirts. "From a more elaborate if less civilised period of Earth history, some six hundred years ago. The styles of the time are often referred to by the ruler of the time -- in this case, Louis XIII of France." "A most interesting costume, admiral. The colours are perfect for your complexion and the shape..." Garak said, trailing off as he touched one of the bones of her corset with his fingertips. "Undoubtedly painful, but very flattering regardless," he finished. "An excellent choice." The sudden and unexpectedly effusive praise made Janeway feel flushed, terribly flattered and somewhat uneasy at the same time. It was the kind of unease that when coupled with her slight intoxication, it made her mind ponder several unusual things -- for example, Garak's reported preference for men or whether the rest of him was as solidly built as his corded, thick arms suggested. The hint of muscled thigh the battle skirt sometimes afforded was certainly tantalising to Janeway, as were her idle musings about the patterns Garak's scales and ridges would take under his clothes. Janeway was pulled out of her pleasant speculations by a hand that landed on her shoulder and a greeting that was pronounced with a tad too much volume and with the slurred syllables of moderate intoxication. "Admiral Janeway!" Janeway turned to the intruder and her eyes alighted in recognition. "Mr. Kim," she said and tried very hard not to laugh. Her erstwhile Ops officer was decked in a glorious Emperor Ming costume with the tall, embroidered hat on his head set at a jaunty angle. "I didn't realise you'd be here." Kim smiled and his eyes gleamed in a way that spoke of copious enjoyment of Chateau Picard's offerings. "I've spent the past six months designing Enterprise's new engine components with Mr. LaForge. During that time, I've come to know Captain Picard quite well," he said with obvious pride in his voice. "And you?" "Oh, Jean-Luc is an old friend," Janeway said with an airy wave of her hand. "Of course, admiral," Kim said. As his gaze turned from Janeway to her companion, his eyes widened. "Wow. Now that's what I call a costume." Janeway glanced at Garak just in time to see his small smile and nod. "Thank you," he intoned. "Much appreciated." "It must've taken you an awful lot of time," Kim continued, narrowing his eyes as he studied Garak's countenance. "Is it latex or some sort of a holographic mask?" That time, Janeway couldn't help her laughter, especially when she heard the slight purr of amusement from Garak. "Neither, I'm afraid," Garak answered evenly and with calm Janeway was certain she'd never manage under such circumstances. Kim frowned, his drunken gaze still tracing the intricacies of Garak's ridges. "What'd'ya mean neither?" "Mr. Kim," Janeway said firmly before Garak could explain further. She waited until Kim's eyes came to her again. "He means it's not a mask," she continued and laid her hand on Garak's forearm. The metal of his vambrace was smooth and warm to the touch. "This is Ambassador Garak of the New Cardassian Republic. Mr. Garak, Lieutenant Commander Kim of Starfleet Engineering." Kim's eyes widened even as a delicate rosy hue rose to his cheeks and Janeway found his look of utter consternation and mortification the most humorous thing she'd seen all evening. Biting the inside of her lip to keep from laughing out loud, she turned to Garak just in time to see the amused smile twitching on his lips. "Charmed, commander," Garak said, tolerant humour colouring his pleasant tenor voice. "I'm, uh, terribly sorry, your Excellency," Kim said, sounding suddenly degrees more sober. "It's just that, well..." "One doesn't see many real Cardassians on Earth," Garak finished his sentence, complete with a slight, urbane smile. "Your mistake is understandable." Kim sighed, obviously relieved that an impending diplomatic disaster had been averted. He offered an apprehensive smile yet still refused to meet Garak's eyes. "No offence meant, ambassador." "None taken, I assure you," Garak replied and cocked an eyebrow at Janeway. "Now, my dear Kathryn, it seems we've both exhausted our drinks. Shall we?" he added, extending his arm towards the freestanding bar by the far wall. "Of course, darling," Janeway drawled, ignoring Kim's renewed puzzlement at the familiarities. "Enjoy your evening, Mr. Kim," Janeway said with a parting wink and started towards the bar. As she pushed into the crowd, she was aware of both Kim's dumfounded gaze on her back and Garak's warm hand on her waist guiding her through the crowd. Both made her smile. The bar area was slightly less crowded than the main causeways and Janeway exhaled in relief; being corseted in a crowd was somewhat claustrophobic and thus, any extra space was welcome. She flicked open her fan and put it to use as Garak conversed with the sommelier. "What a charming young man, your Mr. Kim. So earnest and innocent still," Garak said and handed Janeway a new glass of wine. "He reminds me of someone I used to know." Janeway swirled the wine in the glass. Since it was impossible to determine the exact colour of the drink in the low lighting, she kept her eyes on Garak. The implications of his contemplative tone of voice were unmistakable. "Do you ever stop looking?" she asked, genuinely curious and somewhat bothered for reasons she didn't feel like examining too closely. "Why should I?" Garak replied before sniffing at his wine. "I must say, Captain Picard's vintages are quite remarkable," he added. Janeway could only agree; the heady, complicated bouquet was quite enjoyable even for her amateur's palate. "He's married, for starters," she persisted. "And don't you have a partner?" Garak frowned. "You're referring to Alejandro?" "The young man that accompanied you to the anniversary celebrations? Yes." Garak paused for a moment before he spoke again, and when he did, his voice had gone low and quiet, almost intimate. "My dear Kathryn, we Cardassians are inordinately fond of all things that come in threes," he said and paused to take a sip of his wine. "So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that there are exactly three things a Cardassian needs: something to pass time with," he continued, ticking off the items with his fingers, "something to enjoy, and something to love." "And in which of those categories does your Alejandro fall in? Or in all three?" Garak studied her with interest, obviously thinking carefully before answering. "Let's just say that my one and only love is -- and always will be -- Cardassia." "I see," Janeway said with a smile for she was genuinely amused. There was something to be said about the eloquence of Garak's roundabout way of conveying information. "And what about me, Garak? Into which category do I belong?" "I've experienced many ways with which to pass time, but few quite as enjoyable as you are, my dear admiral," Garak said with a small, fleeting smile. "Although I suspect I've yet to encounter the full range of your considerable charms." Janeway narrowed her eyes. The invitation was there and she was tempted, oh so very tempted, to take Garak up on it -- to have this adventure he was offering. However, a few things were still nagging at the small part of her brain still operating despite the alcohol and Garak's pheromones, both of which were wreaking havoc on her self-control. Deciding on the direct approach, Janeway set her now empty glass down on the bar before focusing on Garak again. "I thought you preferred men," she said bluntly, deciding to forego inquiries regarding his motives because they would certainly be futile. "Preference does not always imply exclusivity, Kathryn," Garak said, his voice gone quiet and private again. This non-reaction to her question didn't ambush Janeway in any way; it was expected. "As I predicted yesterday, you'd be surprised at what I enjoy." Without thought, Janeway reached out and touched the thin ridge on Garak's chin. She traced its straight line up to the shape of his earlobe, observing with curiosity the effect her touch had: the thick scales decorating Garak's neckridges bristled and the smooth, inviting skin underneath darkened to a dusky pewter grey. She didn't know whether the reaction signified anger -- or arousal. Her fingers again on Garak's chin, Janeway looked into his eyes. They seemed ancient, yet the intense look in them was more accessible than she'd ever seen it before. "Strange, how a man like you can be so soft-spoken," she murmured, almost absently, as she learned the alien shape of his face and decided it was arousal that darkened Garak's skin. "Equally strange is how a beautiful creature like you can be so hard inside." Janeway smiled when Garak captured her hand and pressed it against the warm, hard metal of his cuirass. The texture of the etched metal was almost as interesting as the textures of his skin. "I'm not hard," she objected, feeling a bit breathless under Garak's unwavering regard. "Merely principled." Garak leaned in closer until his cheek was but a hair's breadth away from Janeway's. "We'll see about that," he hissed into her ear, and his breath was like fire on her skin. "The things I will do to you, Kathryn...I can make you forget your precious principles." The cadence of his low voice was fairly hypnotising. "I've met and persevered over many men like you, Garak," Janeway whispered, her voice gone thick with the heat skittering through her veins. She could almost hear the hard edge of Garak's smile in his reply. "You've never met a man quite like me." She knew to expect the kiss, yet she did not; the act was familiar but his touch was as alien as anything she'd ever experienced. Garak's mouth on hers was as hot as the feel of his hand on her waist, and when he drew her up against his body, Janeway couldn't help the small sound of surprise she made at the back of her throat. That sound turned into an appreciative moan when Garak's tongue traced her lower lip and then the inside of her mouth, inquisitive and demanding. Janeway breathed in his scent, revelled in feel of the agile, slender tongue in her mouth and his equally skilled hands on her bodice, his touch tracing paths of fire across her nerves. Sliding her hand into the slick mass of curls on Garak's head, Janeway sought to deepen the contact. With his mouth ravishing hers in a kiss unlike any she'd had before -- so foreign in textures yet familiar and primal in the reactions it triggered in her -- she felt herself sinking into a sea of want, the need to touch more of him and have his skin slide against hers. She moved her other hand along his waist, between the leather strips of his battle skirt and down the elongated curve of his thigh. Her fingertips found the pliable edge of a ridge there and it was hot to the touch, its scales soft as flower petals as they shivered under her fingers. Janeway didn't know whether it was her bold touch or simply his need for oxygen that made Garak break the kiss but she didn't really care, either. Still leaning against him, Janeway kept her eyes closed and simply enjoyed the proximity and his complex scent. Sandalwood and bergamot and burning leaves, she decided hazily through her arousal and conceded Garak's point: he was like no other man she'd ever met. "We are causing quite a stir amongst the natives," Garak whispered into her ear, obviously amused. "Mmm, undoubtedly," Janeway hummed and took a deep breath. "What sort of a reaction would we get if we were to leave now?" she asked, eyes still closed and her chin resting on Garak's shoulder. "Certain if restrained outrage and persistent rumours, at least," Garak theorised, matching her smug tone with his own. "Possibly a few speculative looks of both dismay and envy." With effort, Janeway straightened and opened her eyes. "In that case, let's not keep our audience waiting. Walk me to my transport, Ambassador Garak?" With one of his minute bows and a decidedly sly smile, Garak offered his arm to Janeway. "It would be my sincere pleasure to do so, my dear admiral." "Of course it would be," Janeway muttered and took his arm. As they made their way through the crowd, she mused that at least there was one thing Garak had in common with most of the men she'd met: he did know how to play the gentleman when necessary. ----------------------------- End of part 4/8. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]