Title: The Big Show
Author: Annette Welsh-Shinya 01/99
Series: VOY
Part: 1/2
Rating: PG-13
Codes: P/T, J/C, K/7, EMH Doc, Tu, Vorick & the Engineering Gang, The Wildmans, & the "B" Crew
Summary: Spoilers for 30 Days. The crew conspires to get B'Elanna to the show for, well, a lot of reasons. This is the fourth in the 'Our Ship Voyager' series. Part 1 - The Gentlemen of the Club, Part 2 - The Stardust Trail, Part 3 - The Messhall Incident.
Disclaimer: This is the way we write our Trek, write our Trek, write our Trek. This is the way we write our Trek, so early in the morning. See Paramount. See fanfic. See Paramount see fanfic. See Paramount not sue over fanfic. Good, Paramount, good.
Warning: This is humour folks...or at least me trying to be funny.
Feedback: Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to. Flames will be consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting procedures per Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.
Email: parisienne1812@geocities.com
Posting: OK to ASC, ASCEM, BLTS, & PT Fever. Please notify me if you post anywhere else...I love to see my name in lights!

Note: OK...I promised myself I would never do it...write a song-inspired fanfic. Then I started thinking, always a scary thing, and it was too good to pass up. Then I said to myself, you haven't done a 'Tom tells B'Elanna he loves her' story, or a 'Day of Honor' story, or a 'Let's Put on a Show, My Uncle's got a great barn' story, or even a 'Mary Sue' story. So I did. You may rest easy, I didn't put Mary Sue in. Well, she might be over there in the corner, but she doesn't say a word - promise. Please indulge me as I show my age and the music that *I* like to listen to. Artist credits and author's notes at the end.

***

"Kim to Captain Janeway."

"Go ahead Mr. Kim."

"The Raven and the Sparrow are in flight. We are a go. Repeat, we are a go."

"Acknowledged, Mr. Kim. We're all set here. Janeway out."

***

"Neelix to the Captain."

"Janeway here. What is it, Neelix?"

"They're getting restless down here. I don't think we're are going to hold them off much longer."

"Don't worry, Neelix. I've got my best people on it. You just keep it down to a dull roar."

"I'll certainly do my best, Captain. Neelix out."

***

"Chakotay to Carey."

"Carey here."

"You all set down there, Joe? It could be a bit of a rough ride."

"We've battened down the hatches, sir. We'll be all right."

"Very good, Mr. Carey. Chakotay out."

***

"Naomi Wildman to Tom Paris."

"Tom Paris here."

"We're almost there, Tom. I'm a little nervous."

"You'll be great, Naomi. Don't worry. Seven?"

"Seven here."

"You know the drill, right?"

"I have memorized the parameters and have also worked out several other response scenarios should the need arise."

"OK. We're all set. Remember, show no fear."

"I am Borg."

"That's the spirit, Seven. Paris out."

***

"Doctor to Lt. Carey."

"Carey here."

"Have those replacements been replicated yet? How am I supposed to work without equipment? We're getting short of time here."

"There ready to go, Doctor. I've sent Crewman Sawra up your way with three sets."

"Finally! Doctor out."

***

"Vorick to Paris."

"Paris here."

"The set up is complete. Awaiting final countdown."

"That's great, Vorick. Standby."

"Acknowledged. Vorick out."

***

Seven and Naomi approached the door to Main Engineering. They stopped, looked at each other, and Naomi gave a short nod. After a moment, Seven returned the gesture. They entered. They were met by Joe Carey and Freddie Bristow, who put themselves in a flanking position on either side of the two visitors. They approached the starboard secondary plasma coolant regulation console, where Lt. B'Elanna Torres was performing the fourth level-three diagnostic of the day on it.

Like a predator sniffing it's herbivore prey, she raised her head and turned on the group. With a low snarl she said, "Get back. Don't come any closer. I won't be responsible for the consequences." With that, she turned back to the console and began furiously checking readings and making entries on her padd.

The group hesitated. Everyone but Seven actually took a small step back. Naomi looked at Seven and took a quick step back forward.

"You are presence is required," said Seven firmly. "You will accompany us."

"Back off, Borg!" said B'Elanna turning on her with fury. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You will comply," replied Seven with even more steel in her tone. "Or we will be forced to use stronger measures."

"Hah!" was all B'Elanna said, turning back around. Joe and Freddie looked at each other, and took another small step back. Seven looked at them derisively.

"Very well," said Seven. "Naomi Wildman, proceed."

Naomi stepped up to where B'Elanna was pretending to be taking readings and tugged at one sleeve of her tunic.

"Lt. Torres?"

"What?"

"You promised."

"I promised what?" grumbled Torres.

"You promised that you would take me to First Friday the next time my Mom had to work." said Naomi in small voice.

"So," said B'Elanna walking over to check on the power grid relays and their system back-ups for the fifth time that day. Naomi followed her, the others stood as still as statues.

"So, she has to work tonight. And I want to go. It's s'posed to be really great tonight," with a plaintive voice.

"Get Tom to take you. He's always going there. Or Harry. Or..."

"Tom's busy right now, and you promised. Remember?" said Naomi, her voice adamant, with just a hint of guilt-inducing whine.

B'Elanna turned at looked at her with raised eyebrows and said in a exasperated voice, "I promised?"

"Uh-huh," said Naomi, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"Do you know what day this is?" said B'Elanna intently.

"Sure. It's the first Friday of the month, I want to go to the show, and you..."

B'Elanna held up her hand, "I know, I know. I *promised*."

"Yes," beamed Naomi. She pulled at B'Elanna's hand. "Come one! Let's go. We don't want to be late."

B'Elanna barely had time to hand her padd to Joe Carey before Naomi drug her out the door. As they passed through the door, B'Elanna looked at Seven, "Not a word, Seven. Not a single word." Seven just raised her eyebrow implant. Joe and Freddie looked at each other and let out mutual sighs of relief.

B'Elanna stopped in the corridor outside Engineering and looked at Naomi. "Why are we going now? It doesn't start for another forty minutes."

Naomi just shook her head and put her hands on her hips. "You have to get dressed, silly," she said with an 'Oh, grownups' voice.

"What's wrong with what I've got on," B'Elanna grumbled, as they continued to the turbolift.

"Nothing, if you wish to smell like plasma coolant," said Seven.

"I like plasma coolant," said B'Elanna with a tight tone. "So does Tom," B'Elanna continued triumphantly looking at Seven.

"Yes, but I believe he prefers gardenia," replied Seven as they entered the turbolift. "Cargo Bay 2."

"And just how do you know that?" said B'Elanna, her voice totally devoid of any emotion. The atmosphere of the turbolift got suddenly several tens of millibars heavier.

"Ensign Paris told me the other day when we were discussing fashion styles and customs. He is assisting the Doctor with my cultural assimilation lessons."

"Oh," said B'Elanna and gave Seven a dirty look. "Just why are we going to Cargo Bay 2?"

"To retrieve your costume for the evening," replied Seven.

"Costume? I don't need any costume. Let's just stop by my quarters and I'll put on a clean tunic."

"Don't you want to look nice for Tom?" said Naomi with a smile.

"He's never complained about me wearing my uniform before," said B'Elanna, feeling the battle beginning to slip away from her.

"I think it would be really nice if you wore something different for the evening," said Naomi wistfully. "It's so much more romantic if you do."

"Romantic," spat B'Elanna, and looked upward. "It's like a really bad dream. I keep trying to get away, and they keep coming after me anyway. I'm never going to get away from the Day of Hell."

"Relax," said Seven as they entered Cargo Bay 2. "You will attend. Resistance is futile. " This earned her another dirty look from B'Elanna.

They walked over to an area where a screen had been set up, and some clothing was sitting on a cargo container. Seven handed the clothing to B'Elanna and said, "I have to report for my duties. Naomi Wildman will escort you." And she then turned and walked out of the bay without another word, leaving B'Elanna to stare at the clothes in her hands.

They were black. There was a pair of pants made of leather and a short top made of some slinky material she was unable to immediately identify. Sitting next to the screen were a pair of black boots with heels. She said, "You've got to be kidding."

"Are you almost ready, B'Elanna?" said Naomi somewhat anxiously. "We don't want to miss the show."

"Yeah, yeah," replied B'Elanna. "I'm almost ready," and she shook her head as she stripped off her uniform and put on the clothing. The top slid over her head quite nicely; the pants were another story. She thought that they had replicated a size too small. She had to tug them quite a bit so they came over her hips. When she finally got them fastened, she thought it would probably not be a good idea to sit down for a while - she may never get up again. She tugged on the boots and walked around the screen.

"Well," she said with a wry look at Naomi. "What do you think?"

"Perfect," clapped Naomi with a happy look. "Wait, just one more thing," and she dug into her pocket and produced a lipstick container. She handed it to B'Elanna and said, "This is just the color Tom likes."

B'Elanna took the lipstick and opened it. It was red, and not just any red. It was a deep, satiny, lush red. She looked up at Naomi's bright face and had to smile back, albeit with some trepidation. She walked over to Seven's mirror on the console and put it on. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she said, "How do you know so much about what Tom likes?"

"Just look at the time," said Naomi hurriedly. "We really need to get going if we want to get a good seat."

"Uh-huh," said B'Elanna, nodding knowingly. Something was up, but she couldn't tell what. They exited the cargo bay and made their way to the turbolift. As they exited the lift on the way to the holodeck, they were met by Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay. In fact, B'Elanna realized, they had been waiting specifically *for* them.

"Captain, Chakotay," she greeted them uneasily. "Going to the show?"

"Yes," replied Janeway in her husky, wry voice. "So are you, if I'm not mistaken." B'Elanna looked down at her outfit and rolled her eyes.

"Hi, Captain. Hi, Commander," said Naomi brightly.

"Good evening, Naomi," replied the Captain smiling at her.

"Hello, Naomi," said Chakotay. "You look very nice this evening."

Naomi blushed a little at this, but looked very happy. B'Elanna noticed the child's outfit for the first time. She was wearing a new outfit, pants and a jacket made of denim with a white shirt underneath, white canvas shoes peeped out from the bottom of the pants.

"Naomi," said B'Elanna, her voice rising with suspicion again. "Did Tom help you pick out that outfit?"

"Look at the time," said Janeway in a firm voice, although there was no chronometers nearby.

"Yes," agreed Chakotay, taking B'Elanna's arm. "We really need to get going. We want to get a good seat for tonight's show." B'Elanna didn't like the little glint that was in Chakotay's eyes, but allowed herself to be propelled to the holodeck entrance.

Strangely, there were no crowds awaiting entrance to the show at the holodeck doors. They entered and B'Elanna realized that the show program had been altered since the last time she had attended a First Friday session. It was a dark street, an alley almost, which led to a battered metal door. The door had no handle on it. B'Elanna looked at Chakotay and then Naomi, but they were looking at the door expectantly. Janeway walked right up and knocked on the door authoritatively. It was opened by Neelix.

"Captain," he beamed. "You made it...with everyone." There was more than his usual enthusiasm in his words. There was a note of - relief?

"Yes," Kathryn said, almost smugly. "We are *all* here. Shall we go in?"

"By all means, Captain," said Neelix, gesturing through the doorway. "We're just about ready to go. I'll give Tuvok the signal." Janeway nodded, and they all filed through the door. They walked through a dark corridor, then down a short flight of steps, and finally, stepped through some heavy curtains.

End Part 1