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After the Ball is Over
by Zlanna

Deanna Troi and Will Riker sat side by side on the couch in Troi's quarters holding hands while Glenn Miller's The Nearness of You played softly in the background. They had been sitting together for nearly an hour, discussing Deanna's plan, Riker arguing that there was absolutely no reason for Deanna to put herself through the operation and Deanna arguing that the operation was only minor and completely reversible. Riker frowned as announced her decision to proceed with the plan. "You don't have to do this for me you know."

"I'm doing it for both of us, Will. It is about time we have the freedom to behave like adults in love. I resent this restrictive environment on the Enterprise sometimes. On Betazed we would never have this problem. Bev says the procedure is not dangerous at all." Troi leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. "Come on. Help me pack. I need to leave in an hour. " Everything will be all right."

Riker continued to review all his arguments. Lwaxana disapproving had produced nothing but a triumphant grin from Deanna. His insistence that she reverse the procedure by their wedding that was scheduled in a five weeks had received only a quick dismissal as she agreed it would be disastrous if she were to be married without reversing the operation. She probably would never have come up with the idea at all for the operation if it hadn't been for the fact that the Enterprise had been chosen as the reception hall for the annual Federation Day celebration. Starfleet had decided that the reveilles would be more easily contained on a large starship than on the space station. Data's reference to the fact that this year Federation Day fell on October 31, which was the old Earth holiday of Halloween had led to a long discussion among the Federation Day planning committee that the decorations would reflect the old traditions including a masked ball. Three days would be spent in space dock, more than enough time for Bev to take Deanna to the station to do the operation. It could be reversed later on the Enterprise. Reluctantly Will realized he had run out of arguments. Then again, Deanna had piqued his interest when she had described the operation. The fact that she would be without her empathic abilities for 24 hours seemed a small price to pay and in fact he was looking forward to being on equal footing with her, if only briefly. Finally giving in he helped her pack then escorted her to the transporter pad where he handed her over to Beverly. The two women looked like school girls whispering then giggling on the pad, cooking up their mischief.

The next day, Transporter Chief Lieutenant Freyermuth's eyes began to glaze over. He had transported exactly 42 different groups onto the Enterprise for the diplomatic reception to celebrate Federation Day and he was only half way through the scheduled transports. Pulling himself back to the task at hand, he checked his readings and gracefully pulled the levers to bring aboard the next patch of visitors. Looking up briefly he checked the scheduled arrivals' names and then glanced over the crowd. A green Orion woman was standing provocatively on the pad. Her scantily clad body was already drawing the stares of most of the males present in the transport room. Rechecking the passenger list for an Orion passenger, he finally smiled and waved the group through. As she passed by his station, the green skinned beauty winked at the Chief turning his color deep red.

Her green skin glistened in the orange glow of the Halloween decorated ten-forward lounge as she made her way over to the tall human standing next to a red-head. The Orion drank in the tight fitting, black leather pants that clung to the thighs of the man she intended to seduce. He wore a ruffled shirt that was tucked inside the pants and opened to the waist revealing a matte of soft, dark hair. A deep blue velvet coat accented the broad shoulders and his blue eyes shone behind the elaborate feathered decorated mask he wore. His attention had been directed toward a woman whose elaborate red hair style was piled high on her head with the eighteenth century European gown she was wearing. The red- head held no interest for him once he saw the Orion approaching.

Doctor Crusher followed Will Riker's gaze.

"Careful, Casanova. Orion woman are very hard to resist."

"Resist, Doctor? Now why in the world would I want to resist her?" Riker took in the long expanse of leg that showed through the split skirt that hugged the hips of the approaching woman. Her dress hung low and revealed much of the woman's attributes as she slinked over to the bar where he was standing. "What would you like to drink?" he asked her. His voice was low and seductive, not the usual boisterous voice he often used in such social occasions. Beside him Crusher hit him lightly on the shoulder before she moved on in mock disgust.

The dark eyes of the woman challenged Riker's blue eyes in a game that was already several moves ahead of the dialogue. "I want nothing to drink. What I would like is you."

Bowing slightly, the First Officer straightened up. "At your service, M'am."

Slowly a smile crept across her face. Daringly she placed her hands behind his neck. She pulled him towards her and brought her mouth up to his. Stopping she whispered, "Servicing me is exactly what I have planned. Tonight as you beg for me to stop I will remind you that you came willingly. Are you aware, that human males cannot resist Orion women?"

Riker found himself swallowing hard, his pulse already racing from the quick, heavy beating of his heart. "I have heard the stories."

"And are you aware, that once you fall in love with an Orion woman, you will never be able to fall in love with another?"

"You mean an all encompassing love, like with a Betazoid?"

"Yes. Like an Imzadi love." Her smile danced on her lips, alternatively slightly cruel and slightly amused.

"Its too late. I'm already in love with you." Riker replied. His eyes never strayed from her face, marveling at her every feature.

"Then that is good, since I have already chosen you." She lustily licked her lips.

"Why?" His breathing was labored but he caught it when she brought her lips to his. Her hands dug deep into his back as she kissed him with such passion that he felt himself sway as he felt to reestablish his control.

"Because you complete me."

Data stood fascinated as he catalogued the heart rates and fluctuating temperatures of the males in the reception room in response to the Orion woman's entrance. He watched her survey the room, resting her gaze on Commander Riker briefly before making her way to him.

"Gee, what is it about him anyway?" LaForge complained. " Its not enough he is engaged to Counselor Troi. As soon as she is off the ship he is chasing another woman!"

"Actually, Geordi, the woman approached Commander Riker immediately upon entering the room. It is as if she already knows him."

"I don't know." Geordi polished off his synthenol. "I don't understand how the guy does it. What is it about him that women chase him like that? I can't get a date and he just stands there and they are all over him. Look at that! They are already kissing and he just met her!"

"She is quite, uninhibited, isn't she?" Data confirmed.

"Data! Quit staring!" Geordi complained as he realized he too had been staring at the couple.

"But Geordi, I do not believe that either the Commander nor the woman will notice my staring. They appear to be quite preoccupied with each other." Data watched Riker slide his hand around the waist of the woman, then guide her to the dance floor. The music was seductive, fitting the mood of the two dancers perfectly. On the dance floor the Orion woman let her fingers slide over the muscles of her partner's arm, then slowly she brought her hand back up to his shoulder and began to glide down his side.

Copyright 1997 by Zlanna.

I only do this for the pleasure of Imzadi fans. If you enjoyed the story or if you have suggestions, please send your comments to Zlanna@AOL.com.