There were several inspirations for this story.  The primary inspiration was the song 'Carry on Dancing' by Savage Garden, written by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, and quoted throughout the story.  Other inspirations included the masked ball scene from "William Shakespear's Romeo + Juliet" and the rumours about this year's school formal (I don't even want to think  how many people tried to spike the punch).  Be warned: this is one weird story.

Star Trek Voyager is the property of Paramount Pictures.  'Carry On Dancing' is the property of Savage Garden.

Summary:  Janeway and Chakotay go to a masked ball on an alien world, but reality is being altered by the presence of a certain couple of super-beings.  Warning: if you're hoping for witty repartee or technobabble to explain the events herein -- don't hold your breath.

* * *

The moonlight...
Shines down interstellar beams
And the groove tonight
Is something more than you've ever seen
The stars and planets taking shape
A stolen kiss has come too late

The party is wild.

The people of Rylara have cast off the staid reserve of their everyday life and, protected by their masks, are now enjoying the uninhibited atmosphere of the Festival of Joy.  Tomorrow they will resume their normal lifestyle, but tonight is the Festival.  The Great Hall has been thrown open; the wealthy celebrate at the masked ball, while others dance in the streets.

Standing in the entrance of the Great Hall are a group of non-Rylarans.  They too live in a structured , organised environment, but they are visitors to this world, and they are hesitant to throw away their reserve.

Finally, one says, "It's a party.  How hard can it be?"

The smallest of the group, also the leader, says, "There's an atmosphere about this place.  It's almost intoxicating..."

The one who spoke first replies, "Aw, c'mon, Captain.  You know we won't get into trouble here."

The leader considers it for a few moments more, and then agrees.  Their faces hidden by their masks, the people from the stars join the party.

* * *

There are other guests from the stars that night, but unlike the people of Voyager, they have no invitation.

The male, choosing to look like a masked Rylaran, turns to his mate.  "It should be interesting tonight," he tells her.

She smiles.  "The Rylarans believe that tonight is a night of magic," she says.

The male watches the Voyager crew, in particular, the captain.  "You never know."

* * *

In the moonlight...
Carry on, keep romancing
Carry on, carry on dancing

Kathryn Janeway is unaware of the male's scrutiny;  all her attention is on her first officer.  Amidst the extravagance of the Hall, the simplicity of Chakotay's clothing heightens his attraction, and she knows he feels the same towards her.

The night is young; they dance.  Perhaps at midnight the spell will wear off, but for now, they will dance.

* * *

In the moonlight...
Carry on, keep romancing
Carry on, carry on dancing

There is an urgency in the air.

The two aliens distort everything.  Sometimes they intend to, though not always.  Their existence alone distorts reality.

Over in one corner, Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres dance, but they are beneath the notice of the aliens.  But in another corner, almost another world all together, Kathryn and Chakotay are also dancing.

There is an urgency in the air.  The musicians are tense, they speed up.  The dance becomes frenzied, wild, insane.

Tom and B'Elanna are part of this dance, they are part of the frenzy.  But Kathryn and Chakotay are in a reality of their own;  the dance is irrelevant.

* * *

They watch...

Their identities are not important, but they are known to Janeway and Chakotay.  If the humans were aware of their presence, then this story would be different, but for now, they remain unaware.

They watch.

The human couple intrigue them beyond anything else at that time.  Nothing else has ever seemed so strong in the face of such power.

The aliens watch.  The dance grows wilder.

* * *

You're never safe 'till you see the dawn
And if the clock strikes past midnight
The hope is gone to move under...

The moonlight...

Kathryn and Chakotay move to a beat heard only by themselves.  It is as primal as the sound of the hunt and as sophisticated as the most beautiful art, but only they can hear it.

Around them, the dance spins out of control, mirroring the passion which throbbed within them.  They remained unaware.

The world outside themselves is of no concern.  Kathryn and Chakotay dance to their unheard music.

* * *

The star people - for they are of the universe and the universe is of them - watch.

"There is magic tonight," she female says.

The male is staring, captivated, at Janeway.  She once rejected him, and although he has a mate now, the memory of Janeway is still powerful.

"Magic..." he whispers, and reality shifts.

* * *

It is midnight, but no clocks chime.  No spells end, the dance continues.

There is no going back.

* * *

Move. Closer. Passion. Stronger.

Lost in their dance, hypnotised by each other, Kathryn and Chakotay dance.

Their cheeks brush, their mouths touch.  The dance around them is a whirlpool, out of control, but for Kathryn and Chakotay, the kiss is all they need to think about now.

There is no going back.

* * *

There is magic, but only the aliens are really aware of it.

Around them, reality shifts, splits, grows...

* * *

There's a magic only two can tell
In the dark night
Ultra violet is a wicked spell
Stars and planets taking shape
A stolen kiss has come too late

Midnight is long past.  Soon dawn will come, the dance will end.  The sunlight will remind the Rylarans of their routine, their responsibilities, their lives.  The people of Voyager will remember their positions, their duties.

But dawn is not yet here.

Lying together in a small sheltered courtyard, Kathryn and Chakotay continue their dance, now silent, now whispering excitedly, oblivious to the changing reality.

Outside in the Main Hall, Tom and B'Elanna dance, but the frenzy is wearing off and the dance is slowing down.

* * *

The aliens watch...

* * *

Magic...

* * *

The first light of dawn streaks across the sky.

Kathryn and Chakotay do not notice, but the dancers outside are resting, exhaustion finally winning.

In the moonlight...
Carry on, keep romancing
Carry on, carry on dancing

The dance has ended, the people are going home.  Kathryn and Chakotay are waking up, only now remembering their crewmates.  They dress quickly, thinking about the night, and their future.

A part of them will dance forever.

In the moonlight...
Carry on, keep romancing
Carry on, carry on dancing

The aliens have lost interest now.  They will return, but for now the excitement is over.

The people go home, continue with their lives.

A part of them will dance forever.

Moving on...moving all night

In another world, another universe, another reality...

Kathryn and Chakotay dance...

* * *

END

Questions, comments, etc. to elizabath_barr@yahoo.com.au

Copyright © 1998 Elizabeth M Barr

Star Trek and Star Trek Voyager and all related characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.  No profit is derived from this story.