Reversal {Star Trek Enterprise Mirror Universe fan fiction}

Spotlight

Lili was in a large room, standing, as pitch black as before.

There were footsteps.

"Is that you?" she called out.

"Yes!" he said, steps quickening. "Talk to me, I'll follow your voice." His voice was familiar and unfamiliar, all at the same time.

"What should I talk about?"

"I dunno. Whatever you did today, okay?"

"Sure. I was, um, I made Pasta alla Puttanesca."

"What's that? How do you make it?" he asked, "Just keep talking."

"Yes, well, while the pasta water is boiling, you slice a boatload of garlic really thinly. And you cook it and anchovies and capers and a bunch of tomato paste in some extra virgin olive oil, then you toss it all together."

"What are capers?" his voice was closer.

"They're these little pickled flower buds. Very briny tasting. I ran out, and we won't get any more until we get other supplies, so I added more anchovies. It was a little too fishy, I think. Do you know why that dish has its name?"

"No, I don't." He was a lot closer.

"It's supposed to be 'pasta the way a whore would make it'. Possibly because of a strong, alluring smell, possibly because it's quick and dirty. Something like that." She stopped.

His breath was close. "Go on, if you like. I'm enjoying hearing you talking. We didn't talk before."

"Sure we did,” she said, “You said 'Oranges?' to me last night."

"Yes. Very seductive of me," he chuckled, then kissed her. He came up for air. "What is, what's your name?"

"I, um, I ...."

"Don't tell me you don't know it."

"Of course I know it. It's just, see, I'm a little scared."

"Scared?" he held her. "Of what?"

"Well, I don't want to exchange names – or anything really identifying – until we've seen each other’s faces."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because, you see," Lili said, "what if you don't like what I look like? Or I don't like you? I know it's shallow, but attraction is built on visuals, like it or not. What if you think I'm hopelessly ugly?"

=/\=

Dr. Phlox tested and tested the sample. He covered every eventuality. Something was not adding up.

He would have to convene a meeting, a subset of the Bridge crew. The two most senior female officers – T'Pol and Hoshi Sato – the Captain, and himself. He shook his head. Ensign O'Day had seemed so certain that there was consent. She had even asked for a birth control shot.

=/\=

"You won't be ugly. I am certain of that,” he said.

"How can you be so sure?" she cocked a hand on her hip, but he could not see the gesture.

"Because your features are symmetrical. I may not know the specifics, but symmetry is the basis for attractiveness. You'll be fine. It's just the details right now."

"But, but, I just."

"There's more to it, isn't there?" he probed.

"Yes. I have been, I have been burned before. If you, if you don't like me, I don't want you to feel obligated. And if you, if you reject me, I don't want to have a specific name to curse, And if I, well, if I can't accept you, I don't want you to be able to find me." She trembled slightly.