Make the Endeavor
(a few days after: The Devil Wants To Know)
Janeway sat in the holodeck, a pensive look on her face. Or, at least, it would have been pensive had she not been behaving like she was incredibly drunk. At the moment it was more of a "what is that smell?!" look. The "arena" created for Talent Night had become a popular place to visit now; mainly because it incorporated the darkness (and the bar) of Sandrine's, and the happy atmosphere of the resort program. Janeway addressed the dark-wavy-haired, wide blue-green eyed woman who was sitting on the stage.
"Play something for me," she croaked, leaning back in a chair. The woman sighed.
"What now?" she asked. "I've already played your song ten times tonight."
Janeway eyed the holoprogram. "Then play something else!"
"Like what?"
"Something... with a good beat. I feel like dancing."
The woman smiled. "Alright then."
Janeway watched as the woman climbed to her feet and cued something up on the sound system. Janeway herself got her feet and hopped up to edge of the stage and sat down. She grinned happily as a piano chorded.
"I lie in an early bed, thinking late thoughts
Waiting for the black to replace my blue
I do not struggle in your web because it was my aim to get caught
But daddy longlegs, I feel that I'm finally growing weary
Of waiting to be consumed by you"
Janeway thumped her heels on the stage as the heavy tango beat started up.
"Give me the first taste, let it begin heaven cannot wait
Forever
Darlin, just start the chase- I'll let you win but you must
Make the endeavor"
Unaware that she was doing so, Janeway began singing along.
"Oh, your love gives me a heart condition
Adagio breezes fill my skin with sudden red
Your hungry flirt borders intrusion
I'm building memories on things we have not said
Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly my love, not nearly my love, not nearly"
Janeway had jumped up onto the stage now and was dancing in her own small circle.
"Give me the first taste, let it begin heaven cannot wait
Forever
Darling, just start the chase- I'll let you win, but you must
Make the endeavor"
By the time the music stopped Janeway was lightheaded again, and the woman Janeway was calling "Apple" was laughing. Janeway finally sat down and hummed to herself.
"Apple," Janeway called after a few minutes, "you don't mind playing it again, do you?"
"'Course not, Captain," Apple smiled. Janeway looked around
the holodeck, glad that it was pretty much empty, except for a snickering few
over at the bar.
"Not at all," Janeway said.
"What are you doing, Captain?"
"I'm dancing," she told her.
"I'm not quite sure what that is," Seven said, rising to her feet.
"Well, would you like to learn?" Janeway was still swaying slightly to the beat of the music.
"I suppose." Seven regarded her Captain. "Is this what humans do for entertainment?"
"Sometimes," Janeway laughed. "I just felt like doing something different tonight."
"Oh," Seven said softly. "What do I do first?"
"Well.. can you feel the rhythm of the music?"
"The rhythm?"
Janeway paused in mid-step. "The beat, Seven. Don't you feel it?"
"No," Seven admitted. Janeway's face scrunched in thought, and then she took the young woman in hand and led her to the stage.
"Here, put your hand on the stage, like this." Janeway rested her hand palm down on the floor of the stage. Seven copied her actions. "What do you feel?"
It took a moment for Seven to reply. "A vibration in the wood. What am I supposed to be feeling?"
"That's it," Janeway smiled. "Songs have different rhythms. This song happens to have a beat that is very good to dance to."
"It does?"
"Yes, it does," Janeway smiled. She waved at Apple to continue singing. "You can count the beat. One, two-three. One, two-three. Long, short-short."
"I get it now," Seven said, moving her head now in time with the music.
"Alright, for a first taste of dancing, you must get into the feel of the music. On one, move to your left, and on two-three move to your right."
Janeway watched Seven of Nine practicing "getting rhythm".
"That's good!" Janeway commented after several measures. "Do you feel it?"
"I do," Seven smiled. "Now what?"
"Whatever feels natural," Janeway said. Seven mimicked Janeway for a bit, and then found her own movement.
After dancing through the song two more times, Janeway made Apple stop the music. Seven of Nine jerked like she had been kicked.
"Why did we stop?"
"You want to keep dancing?"
"Yes, I believe so."
"Well, okay. Let's try something else. The one, two-three won't really work on this song... but I think you can find the beat now." Janeway told Apple to start up the song she had sung for the talent show. Seven smirked in recognition, and quickly found a proper groove to dance to. Janeway sang along with Apple, and after the second verse Seven joined in too.
"What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love."
Janeway was dimmly aware of the sound of clapping as the music faded out again. She turned quickly and found Chakotay standing near the entrance to the holodeck.
"I didn't realize that I we had an audience," Janeway laughed.
"Well, I just couldn't resist watching you two lovely ladies... dance... like that."
"Very funny," Janeway said, hopping off the stage. Seven had Apple singing again.
"She likes that, doesn't she?"
"Very much, I think," Janeway grinned as she strolled over to Chakotay. "So, did you have a reason for coming here?"
"I was going to ask if you were hungry for dinner, but you're obviously busy," Chakotay gestured at Seven, who was having Apple teach her the words to a song.
"She won't mind me going, I think," Janeway decided.
"I won't mind, Captain!!" Seven yelled, over the boom of the music. Janeway turned back to Chakotay with a grin on her face.
"See, I told you so..."