"GAMES"

written by April Smith and Josetta Williams

edited by Wesley Street

1-97


NOTE: This story is the immediate sequel to "The Changes of Command" and is set prior to "For the Ones We Love."


"Congratulations on your promotion, sir." Prelana Sarena smiled at Xavier St. Jean seductively.

"Thank you, Ensign..."

"Ensign Prelana Sarena, medical technician. Is this seat taken?"

A sly smile crossed St. Jean's face. This could have potential, he thought to himself. His gaze slid from her face down her curvaceous body and back again. "No, please join us."

"Don't mind if I do." She took the seat beside him in Ten-Forward and his comrades began to make excuses to leave. They were not about to stand between Xavier St. Jean and fresh game. "Tell me, Lieutenant,"

Sarena began, "do you play pool?"

That was an interesting question. Most women did not come up to him and ask what games he liked to play. At least not ones you could play in public. "I've been known to play the occasional game. Why do you ask?"

Sarena ran her finger along the rim of her wine glass delicately.

"A friend of mine sent me a holo-program set in a New Orleans pool hall. I thought you might find it interesting."

Sitting back in his chair, St. Jean let out an amused laugh. "I wouldn't mind shooting a few rounds with you. Aren't you afraid I'll shark you and take your latinum?" "Wouldn't you like to play for 'something else?'"

That was an understatement. Ever since his son had arrived, St. Jean had had little time for 'something else.' "What did you have in mind?"

She pointed to his glass. "I can smell real whiskey a kilometer away. I've got a bottle of 2103 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey that I'd put up against anything you've got that you believe to be of equal value."

Oh, well, that wasn't as easy as he thought. Though, he wasn't about to give up. Besides, 2103 was the last year the Daniel's company was in business. A bottle of their whiskey was a hard sought treasure.

"So when do you want to have this little tournament?"

"Meet me in holodeck three in two hours." She stood to leave.

"Don't you want to know what I'm betting?"

She leaned over to him. "I trust you," she breathed, giving him a wink. "You challenged him to a game of pool? Why?" Kylah Dannon truly believed her friend had lost her mind completely.

"Because he's cute," Sarena answered matter-of-factly as the two strolled through the ship's corridors.

"Wait a minute," Kylah interrupted, holding up a hand. "I'm the man-hungry one in this dynamic duo."

Sarena grinned wolfishly. "Are you saying I can't go man chasing every once in a while?"

"Well, I'm not saying that, but..." Kylah hedged.

"But...?"

"It's so out of character for you."

The Betazoid's remark was met with a shrug. "So I'm trying to break out of the mold you've apparently put me in. Sue me."

Kylah shook her dark head and stuck her tongue out at Sarena, who laughed.

"Come on," the Bajoran said, grabbing her friend by the arm. "I need your help."

"Why? Are you planning on pulling a fast one over on St. Jean?" Kylah's eyes widened at the very idea.

"NO!" Sarena replied. "I need someone to referee."

"Referee? Is there going to be a fight?"

"There might be after I slaughter St. Jean on the tables. Now, come on." "Where is he?" Sarena was growing agitated. She paced the gold on black grid of the inactive holochamber.

"Maybe he won't show." Kylah had to admit, she wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't.

Sarena turned and gazed at the lieutenant for a long time. "What do you have against St. Jean, anyway?"

"He's so cocky and arrogant, always chasing after women..."

"You know," Sarena began, "if you changed that around to 'conceited and arrogant, always chasing after men' it really reminds me of a lieutenant I know."

Kylah made a face at her. She resented being compared to Xavier St. Jean. I mean, he wasn't even that cute. Then again, has to be the butt, she thought to herself.

"Speak of the devil," Kylah muttered to herself as the doors parted and St. Jean sauntered in. Definitely the butt, she decided.

"Hey there, Sarena," he said. "You ready to lose?"

"Not to you," she countered. Kylah snickered.

"And what are laughing at, my little raven-hared beauty," he asked saucily.

Kylah raised her eyebrows and fought off the urge to vomit. Carefully and slowly she walked over to where he was standing, stood inches from him and looked up into his eyes. "You know," she said in a low silky tone, "coming from most men, I'd like that little comment. Coming from you, it makes me want to loose my lunch."

St. Jean looked dumfounded at the manifest crew chief. "Ouch. Bad day at the office?"

"Don't mind her," Sarena volunteered.

"Ahem, back to the real reason we are here, ladies," St. Jean said, interrupted their verbal sparring. "We're here to play pool.

Not," he gave Sarena a pointed look, "to slam former CO's."

"Or to pick up women," Kylah could not resist adding.

"I'm not here to pick up women. I'm here to kick ass. The other is just perks," he defended. Sarena smiled lustily. Kylah rolled her dark eyes. She couldn't believe her friend was acting this way.

"ANYWAY," Kylah said, "would you two please start the game?"

"With pleasure," St. Jean answered.

"Let's see what you've got," Sarena said to him.

Kylah bit off another smart-aleck remark. "Yeah. I'm supposed to keep whatever you two are betting on until the game's over."

St. Jean had had his arm behind his back during this little exchange, and now pulled it out to reveal his betting tool.

"Oh my God," Sarena and Kylah both said in unison. In his hand was an object that both women would have killed for.

"An original, hard-back, signed copy of Crimson Mist," he said, handing it to Sarena for inspection. Crimson Mist was the first in a series of classic Cardassian enigma tales and an actual physical hard copy was extremely rare.

"Sarena," Kylah said, "if you lose this one, we'll throw him in an air-lock and blame it on Morgan."

"Deal."

"Ladies," St. Jean interrupted, "such viciousness is unbecoming of your sex! Now, I thought we were here to play a little pool."

Sarena sighed and handed Kylah the book, then pulled her bottle of whiskey out of a shoulder bag resting on the deck and handed her that also. "Computer, run Sarena program 12."

Suddenly, New Orleans, early 20th century, materialized around them. They were in a bar, smoke filled and a little dangerous feeling.

Jazz music could be heard softly in the background.

St. Jean looked around, then smiled. "I like it! Tres beaucoup!

Where did you get this program, anyway?"

"If I told you," Sarena answered, "I'd have to kill you."

"Apparently if I win I'm not going to live anyway," he shot back. "I can afford to live dangerously."

"Let's just say from a friend."

"You consider Quark a friend?" Kylah asked, incredulously.

"Well..."

"Who's Quark? Never mind," St. Jean said. "I have a feeling I don't want to know. Let's just play the game."

Sarena racked the balls and allowed St. Jean the honor of breaking. He moved like a professional and the sound of the cue ball hitting the triangle was like a gunshot. Kylah sat back on the barstool so that she was leaning on the bar behind her. All she could hear from the duo at the table was little comments as they tried to psyche each other out.

"So who do you have your money on," a familiar voice asked.

"Jazz! Hey!" Kylah exclaimed, turning to her friend. "What's up? I really don't have my money on either. Although I hope Sarena wins, I'm too busy contemplating the great mysteries of the galaxy."

"Such as...?" "Why in the worlds any woman would be attracted to Xavier St. Jean."

"Must be the butt," the faux-Q said, decisively.

"That was my first thought," Kylah said. "But not even Sarena goes for just a butt." Jazz gazed at him for along minute. "Well, he is really good-looking for a corporeal being..."

"Jazz!" Kylah said, betrayed.

"Oh, face it Kylah, the only reason you don't like him is that he reminds you so much of yourself."

"Does not!" Kylah puckered her full lips into a pout. "Does he remind you of me?"

"Well, yeah." Jazz answered. "Always chasing after the opposite sex. So sure that everyone of the opposite gender is going to fall at your feet and usually right. You're exactly alike."

Kylah let out a sigh. "I guess I never realized until now what my life had become."

Jazz patted Kylah's shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry. We all still love you, Kylah. We may not always like you, but..."

Suddenly a cheer erupted from around the table. Sarena was grinning smugly at St. Jean. "All right, hot shot, face it. You just can't handle Prelana Sarena."

St. Jean shook his head in disbelief and disappointment. "You're right. You won fair and square. The damn book's yours."

Sarena accepted the items Kylah offered her, then looked at her opponent. "So, you gonna buy me a drink now?"

"Why not? Come on." He offered her his arm.

"You know," Sarena said as they walked away, "we really out to do this again sometime."

"Yeah, we'll have to. But next time, I'll win, I hope you know."

"Oh no...!" Kylah buried her face in her hands. "'Oh no' is right! This is not good! I can't believe she's going to drink with that jerk! That gigolo! That male-"

"Don't even start!" Jazz interrupted.

Kylah was quiet for a minute. "I need to talk to Priscilla. She'll understand."


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