“Early Rihanara”
written by Cyndi Fryar, Stephanie Gabai, Greg ( ? ),
Jillian Locke, and David Moody

The White Star lounge on board the USS Victory was mainly empty. Not even the jolly countenance of her resident chef Vladimir Novikov was to be seen behind the counter. When the doors parted before Lenti Utex he spied four of his crewmembers sitting quietly. By themselves. He strode in, self-assured and feeling refreshed, even at this late hour, and called out, “So,” clapping his hands together. “Anyone up for a good old bowl of eggnog? I hear it’s Christmas on the Terran colonies.”

With a nod, Commander Kennit accepted. "Sounds good to me.. "

The gathered crew moved to sit at the largest table in the lounge, which was built to easily accommodate seven people.

Serenity looked up from where she was sitting with her daughter, reading a book. "No thank you captain. Not good for me." The little girl gave a pout cause she would know it meant NO for her as well.

Utex, having ordered a bowl of the syrupy beverage from the Lounge replicator, stopped in his step. "Well why don't you come on over anyway, Lieutenant," noticing the little girl also present. "And you to . . . Raye, is it?" Utex cleared his throat, looking around at the crewmembers gathered. "I hear it's sort of a tradition to tell stories around a good bowl of this stuff," he said, gesturing at the bowl in his hands.

Marissa figured that although she didn't observe the holiday, it was still a fun custom to drink eggnog like back in the Academy.

Sito moved gingerly to the large table and nodded once, "I will try some of this eggnog." She smirked and then looked at some of the gathered faces. "Unless it is a bad thing." A light chuckle escaped from her throat.

Raye jumped up with a grin. "Can we mama?" She asked.

Sere sighed and nodded. "Okay, but you have to behave."

The girl nodded. "I will." Sere stood up slowly.

Marissa joined the gathering group and said, "Thank you, Captain."

Raye bounded over and scrambled up into a chair. Sere sat beside her, feeling rather tired. She could not wait for Kesar to get off work.

Utex turned over the stack of glasses in his hands after setting down the punch bowl. Before taking his seat, Lenti handed one to each of those gathered, then excused himself and sheepishly headed over tot he replicator, ordered one more glass for himself, then rediscovered his seat and the comfort of sitting in it.

Sito pulled out a seat slowly and sat down on the edge of it looking at the glass. She frowned. "I never think I ever celebrated this ritual really." She said softly. "So many things always came up."

Utex peered at her out of the corner of his eye, doling a glass of the sickly sweet fluid out to Commander Kennit. "Such as," he prodded.

Sipping from her glass, Rhea said quietly "When I was growing up we always spent this time of year up in the mountains. Skiing, snow ball fights and hunting for Sasquatch."

"It's an interesting drink. It's like a milkshake with egg in it," joked Marissa to Sito.

Kennit's smile was mischievous, making her eyes sparkle. "Its really good with a shot of rum added for a little extra kick."

Utex turned toward Rhea warmly. "Sas-kwach?" He rolled the word around in his mouth, considering, then told her, "Sounds tasty. Some sort of bird?" Then, smiling at the Captain she said "No, Sasquatch is .. kinda like an ape man. Used to also be called Bigfoot."

"Uhm." She spoke in a quiet tone and brought up a quick smile in place of anything else that might have shown. "I was busy the past few years."

Raye looked at Sere who whispered in her ear. "The young girl went to the replicator. She returned with a jug of Lemonade. Sere poured her a glass and then one for herself.

Utex lightly kicked Commander Kennit's shin under the table. "Like that," he whispered.

She took the glass looking at Marissa and took a sip quickly. Her eyebrows shot up and the smile reached her eyes. "Mmmm."

Kennit's right eyebrow arched ever so slightly, then she promptly kicked him back gently without comment.

"Get a room." Sere muttered under her breath as she sipped her drink.

Utex jumped slightly, a lone drop of nog spilling into his lap. He looked at Rhea silently and questioningly.

Sito tried to keep the chuckle from escaping, and had to concentrate on the glass in her hands to stop from officially being amused by the Captain and the XO.

Kennit managed a perfectly innocent expression, patently ignoring the Captain's look now while still managing to hand him a small napkin to clean his pants with. Sipping her drink, she said, "This could use a little nutmeg."

Marissa made a small smile, thinking to herself, 'It was nice seeing people get a chance to relax once in a while.'

Utex' head cocked to one side, pointedly away from Rhea and towards Raye Jackson. "Did your Mommy tell you about Santa's Mark VII warp-sled?"

Marissa continued her slight smile, trying to respect her gathered friends' private thoughts, although, she did seem to know a little about what was going on, she felt it her obligation to not reveal what she knew.

"What's he bringing you," Lenti asked the five-year-old.

Raye looked at her mother and said. "A baby brother and a baby sister."

Sere laughed.

Marissa laughed as well.

Sito looked over at the little girl wearing a warm smile on her features. She had always liked the idea of Christmas. It was such a nice ritual to practice and seemed to make so many people happy.

Utex laughed heartily, setting his glass on the table. "Let's hope he does, at that," he said, raising his glass. "Sounds like a toast to me," he explained, his face creased with laughter.

"Oh no.." Sere said, "I have three months to go."

Marissa raised her glass as well and toasted, "Here's to healthy children."

Rhea lifted her glass, "To healthy babies."

"Two healthy babies," Utex quipped, smilingly.

Marissa smiled at his play on words.

Sere just smiled and shook her head,

"And that their happiest days be the absolute worst of their future." Sito added as she raised her glass. She frowned. "I hope that came out right." She chuckled and raised it the rest of the way.

Utex looked at each face as he spoke, "We don't have Christmas on Trill," he told them. "But we do have something called Rihanara," he said. "It's the celebrated date of the first joining of a symbiont to a host. We all gather together and celebrate the joy of life. Some families even give the kids small gifts to symbolize the reception of host, symbiont, and new life from years ago. Anyone else do something like that?" Utex asked.

Marissa looked puzzled at Sito's odd wording, then shook her head and took a sip of eggnog.

Raye meanwhile sipped her drink and looked around. Sere leaned back in her chair and shifted slightly.

Utex mused under his breath, "Wonder what they do on Romulus . . . "

Sito took a big gulp and smiled into the remainder of the concoction in her glass. It was definitely sweet; she had to give it that. 'Sweet is good,' She thought and took another sip.

Marissa replied, "Everyday should be a celebration of life." She raised her glass for another toast, "To Life!"

Sito raised the glass again to that one. She thought for a moment before saying, "We should call up the Romulans and ask them. Imagine the look on their faces on that call?"

Sito chuckled.

Sere stood up suddenly. "Raye... can you please go find your father? "

Raye nodded and took off.

Utex looked slightly alarmed, "You gonna have him tell us," he asked.

Marissa laughed out loud at Sito's joke.

"No Captain. .." She broke off.

Rhea sat silently, the talk of new birth and the holiday time of year bringing back the echoing memories of her former husband, his death and the subsequent loss of the child she'd carried. Taking another drink from her egg nog, she half wished it DID have a shot of rum in it..

Sito finally laughed and added, "Uhm hello sir, could you tell us what you do for a Christmas type celebration?" She shook her head. "I could see the slack jawed look of bewilderment for a moment before they killed the connection."

Sere slowly turned to the XO. "Ma'am.. can you call medical please?"

Marissa giggled and then sipped some more eggnog.

Kennit blinked, then replied "Of course.. what's wrong?"

Marissa turned to Sere, "Is it time?"

Utex laughed aloud, then his face went slack and perhaps even slightly pale as his command facade slipped partially into place. "Is something wrong, Lieutenant," he asked.

"Yes sir... I think the twins want out."

Kennit hit her comm badge, "Kennit to sickbay.. "

"No no no;" Utex insisted. "She's still a few months -- you're still a few months -- are you sure? Um, are you . . " He stopped realizing he was saying nothing of any import anyway.

Sito looked over and the smile faded as she looked at Sere. <Tag>

Sere winced as pain ran through her again. "I am sure... unless this could be my body rejecting them..." she winced.

Speaking quickly, Rhea said "Someone from sickbay is on the way, unless you'd rather initiate a site to site transport?"

Utex switched to command mode, standing and stripping his black and gray duty jacket. He moved toward the woman and hung an arm around her in comfort. "No site to site, Commander," he demanded. "Not during labor," he recalled. She shook her head. "No.. transport... dangerous."

Marissa began to check Sere's basic health signs, including asking to check pulse and her temperature.

Rhea moved out of the way, backing away to let someone else deal with the medical crisis that was more qualified.

Sere let out a small gasp of pain.

Sito backed her seat up a bit so people could get better access to Sere. A look of concern crossed her face, but she figured on letting someone else help who was better trained medically. She wished she could do something but sat silently and waited.

Marissa recalled some of her basic first aid training to aid her in helping Sere, before Sickbay could respond. Marissa turned to Sito, "Go over to the kitchen and find the first aid kit, now!"

"Call Kesar..argh!" Sere managed

Sito moved quickly with a fluid grace. She put the glass to the table and started towards the kitchen quickly.

Utex tapped his commbadge. "Lieutenant Jerricho," he called. "Report immediately to the White Star lounge."

Marissa asked Sere, "Where does it hurt?" and then turned to the Captain and XO, "Clear off this table."

Sere shot the woman a disbelieving look. "I am in labor and you are asking me where does it hurt? I am not giving birth in here.!"

Sito vanished into the kitchen and came back out a few moments later with a grayish case in one hand. She knelt near Sere and opened the case quickly. She held it out a bit in view and simply said, "Captain."

Marissa grabbed the tricorder from the case and scanned Sere. After a few seconds, "Everything looks good, Sere. Some people from Sickbay will be here shortly. We're here. Kesar is on the way."

Sere just felt like screaming of all the DUMB questions to ask a woman in labor.

Utex asked the woman, "How far apart."

"Five minutes," she managed as another one hit. "Still time."

Tapping his commbadge, Utex called for Chief Medical Officer Frobisher, who, by all rights, was likely aboard the Livingston at the moment. The computer told him so, and he proceeded to roll up the sleeves of his maroon shirt. "Find me some towels, Counselor," he said.

"Rhea," he said. "Have you done this before," he asked his XO.

Kennit shook her head.

Sito stood and slowly and placed the case and the remainder of its contents on the table and got near Sere again. She looked at the Captain, "If there is time, I can help take her to Sickbay. One arm around me and we start slowly." She shrugged. "Just a thought sir."

Sito and Utex left the room, Jackson in tow between them, while Kennit took care of Raye Jackson.

"It's okay," Sito tried to take on a soothing tone. "We are almost there. You are doing fine," She paused. "Uhm, Lieutenant Jackson. We are making good time.".