Christmas Concert, Part 3

Posted on Tue Mar 7th, 2023 @ 12:36am by Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair & Lieutenant Alisha Reno

1,108 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Christmas Vacation
Location: Proxima Centauri II

Christmas holidays at the Sinclair home on Proxima Centauri II had been truly fantastic. With so many sights to see and people to meet, it was hard for them to do everything they wanted, and there were no waking moments of peace at all, but to spend holidays with family and friends, and introduce them to Alisha, was exactly how Jane wanted to spend her time.

On their fourth day planetside, Alisha had to excuse herself, citing meetings with local Starfleet Intelligence staff that couldn't be missed. This gave Jane and Ellen some much needed mother-daughter time, and allowed Alisha to prepare.

At 1730 hours, Jane and her mother found themselves at the Wen Yi Memorial Concert Hall, making their way to their front row seats for the Elena Girardi concert.

Ellen rarely had opportunities to dress nice anymore, but Jane -- using the expert lessons Alisha had given her -- picked a spectacular black dress that made the woman feel younger than ever. Jane, meanwhile, chose the same purple A-line that she wore on her first date with Alisha.

"How did you get these seats?" Ellen asked.

"Alisha got them," Jane answered, technically truthfully. "She and Elena Girardi are old friends. She got us the tickets, but Alisha couldn't come, so she suggested I take you." Also technically not a lie.

The concert hall slowly filled, and just a few minutes after 1800 hours, the lights darkened and the show began.

**
"Ever, Ever After"

The curtain slid open soundlessly as a spotlight fixed about halfway down, shining onto Elena Girardi as she leaned out of a tower reminiscent of Rapunzel, the headset mic left her hands free to hang onto the golden rope that trailed to the floor.

"Storybook endings, fairytales coming true
Deep down inside we wanna believe they still do,"

She hopped off of the balcony and began to slide down the rope

"In our secretest heart, it's our favorite part of the story
Let's just admit we all wanna make it to,"

She hit the bottom, showing off the crystal clear heels she wore,

"Ever ever after
If we just don't get it our own way
Ever ever after
It may only be a wish away,"

Elena made a gesture, the sleeveless gown began growing a wispy material, the entire garment changing color towards a light blue,

"Start a new fashion, wear your heart on your sleeve
Sometimes you reach what's real just by making believe,"

She reached up, using something to tie her flowing red hair into a ponytail in one move, flipping it over a shoulder, even while moving forward to wards the crowd,

"Unafraid, unashamed
There is a joy to be claimed in this world
You even might wind up being glad to be you,

Ever ever after
Though the world will tell you it's not smart
Ever ever after
The world can be yours if you let your heart
Believe in ever after,"

Her arms flung out to the side and she began to spin, her dress began to glow, brightening and brightening until it obscured her body,

"No wonder your heart feels it's flying
Your head feels it's spinning
Each happy ending's a brand new beginning
Let yourself be enchanted, you just might breakthrough,"

One more flash of light and she was dressed in more fantastical gown, with an offset hem of golden-red glimmering hue, one shoulder bare, with a shawl of gauzy gold,

"To ever, ever after
Forever could even start today
Ever ever after
Maybe it's just one wish away
Your ever ever after
Ever ever after
(I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss)
Oh, whoa, whoa
For ever ever after"

As she trailed off, there was applause and cheering, to which she waved around to the entire crowd with a wide grin, "Good evening Proxima Centauri Two!" She waited out the subsequent cheer, "Thank you all for coming tonight, I found myself in the area and wanted to do a little something to support you and your absolutely wonderful support for the orphans that you and your world are known for! I want you to know that every centicred that is coming into this concert is going to the Orphans Fund to continue that amazing spirit of giving!" Another cheer, "But enough talking, ya'll came here to hear some music!"

A wave of her hand and the band that had been busy setting up behind her started up into a jaunty tune and Elena turned back, already beginning to dance to it before she spun around and made instant eye contact with someone as she began, "I know everybody wants you, that ain't no secret...."

**

The lights rose, and many hours after Ellen Sinclair usually went to bed, she and her daughter left the auditorium and made their way home, being smart and using the public transporters.

As expected, Alisha wasn't there. "I guess her meeting went later than she thought," Jane had offered.

Fooling no one.

"I was right to give her the name Jìnéngxīya," she observed as she hung her coat and took off her shoes. "She really is talented."

Jane's brow furrowed in confusion, but her mother was having none of it.

"Don't give me that look, Xiaozhēn," she continued. "Alisha arrives on Proxima. She gets us tickets to a concert that happens to overlap exactly when you plan to be here, which wasn't even announced until you confirmed you were visiting. Front row tickets." She hung her coat up and reached to take Jane's. "And I know you, Jane. I saw how you looked at her. And how she looked at you." She grinned at her now blushing daughter. "Dibs was for you, wasn't it?"

"...Maybe," Jane conceded. "You won't say anything?"

Ellen pantomimed locking her lips. "She may need to sign a poster though. Something I can put in the garage."

"I think that can be arranged," Jane said, giving her mother a hug. "Thank you."

"Of course, Xiaozhēn. Now, off to bed! It's late!"

**

The next day was another busy one. A bit of tourism, a lunch with old friends, and then they were back on the Ahiru, set to return to the Myogi, with heads full of memories, hearts full of love, and monogrammed aprons labeled "小珍" (Xiaozhēn, Little Jane) and "技能西亚" (Jìnéngxīya, Talented Alisha).

END


Posting by (in order of appearance):

Lieutenant Junior Grade Jane Sinclair
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Myogi (NCC-65918)

Lieutenant Junior Grade Alisha Reno
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Myogi (NCC-65918)

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