Title: The Thawing of the Ice Maiden
Author: Denise Sylk
Contact: denisesylk@hotmail.com
Rated: PG
Summary/Author's Notes: Everyone knows the story with Natasha Yar and Data and believes it to be her only romance. I’ve often wondered if Tasha Yar could have ever overcome her emotional hang-ups, come to terms and accept her femininity, and actually form a loving relationship with someone. This story tells of Tasha’s last weeks before her fateful meeting with Armus and her romance with a new addition to the crew of the Enterprise.
Disclaimer: Paramount owns.
The Thawing of The Ice Maiden by Denise Sylk.
*
After the episode with the USS Tsiolkovsky, the virus, and THAT liaison with Data, Tasha kept any romantic emotions well under control.
Tasha thought of the bridge crew as her family. The family she didn’t have as a child. This “family” she loved.
Although she was fond of Data, that “situation” was where their relationship had crossed the line, and would never be crossed again. Data was a friend, a good friend and that was how it was always going to be.
Tasha was tough, she had to be, she was the security chief of the USS Enterprise and her job was to… well, to look after the security of the ship, and the safety of her shipmates.
Recreation was athletics, combat sports and weapons training, no time for getting involved in anything less strenuous than a good workout, besides, it helped her sleep soundly in an empty bed.
During a rare appearance to a social event in Ten Forward Tasha overheard one outspoken crewman say to his fellow ensigns that he thought Worf was ultimately more approachable than “Tasha The Ice Maiden.” Tasha smiled but inside it hurt.
Many of the crew looked at Lieutenant Natasha Yar as rather an abrupt officer, even “masculine” in her professional attitude. It didn’t help that Tasha cultivated that image. It helped to keep unwarranted attention at bay, and her heart safe from any silly emotional involvements. An Ice Maiden indeed.
And then Henry Toulson arrived…
Lieutenant Henry Toulson was a computer, weapons systems, and tactical expert and had just been transferred from the USS Crazy Horse.
Captain Picard had glowing reports on Henry’s expertise and was quite keen to get this young man onboard the Enterprise despite the detrimental comments on his “less than professional” attitude.
Henry was a bit of a “comedian.” He was a good worker but he liked to have a laugh, a bit of fun, a good time, in short Henry didn’t take life too seriously.
Henry Edward Toulson, an only child, was born in 2337 to proud parents Harry and Lesley in the east end of London, England, Earth.
Despite his cavalier outlook on life Henry became quite an accomplished scholar and athlete.
What Henry did possess was a dream of space travel, “to boldly go…” he read somewhere once as a child and it grabbed his imagination, besides, he jokingly thought, the uniforms looked cool.
After finally deciding to pursue a career in Starfleet, and gaining entry to the Academy, he studied Computer Science, Weapons Systems, and Tactical History also going on to represent the Academy at Soccer, Karate, and Parrises Squares.
In all this Henry also managed to obtain the notorious reputation of getting the most reprimands for “comedic relief” in Academy history, serious doubts were cast over him ever becoming a successful Starfleet officer.
After graduating Henry worked hard (but keeping his “unique” philosophy on life) and now found himself, age 27, a lieutenant on board the flagship of Starfleet, The USS Enterprise. Not bad for a “Cockney Comedian” (as his history teacher once called him).
It was mid 2364.
Henry settled down quickly on board the Enterprise and soon became a popular member of the crew with his humorous banter and outgoing personality. He was also starting to make an impression on the Enterprise sporting community, creeping up the Parrises Squares rankings with some awesome results.
Henry decided to organise the first holographic soccer match where he coached an Enterprise team to take on the holographic Brazilian World Cup winning team of 1970, scoring the Enterprise goal as they bravely went down by four goals to one.
Worf gained popular notoriety in the match by getting sent off by the referee, Data, for “pole axing” a holographic Pele in the penalty area.
The post-match refreshments and entertainment in Ten Forward were a riotous affair with comical analysis on the game being prompted by Henry with Worf being the good-hearted butt of the comments.
Tasha rarely attended such functions but on this occasion she made an exception. She’d heard a lot about this Henry Toulson and wanted to find out a bit more, and besides, her crown as the Enterprise Parrises Squares champion could be under threat…
Moving closer to the group Henry, Worf, and Deanna, were in Tasha listened as Henry joked mercilessly with Worf over his performance in the game. Tasha smiled to herself “Worf is going to tear his head off in a minute” she thought.
Worf laughed his big Klingon laugh, which was a rarity in itself, and admitted how he tried to totally remove the holographic Pele from the game as a tactical move.
Deanna looked shocked to hear of such unethical tactics but Worf shifted the blame to Henry who admitted that he instructed Worf to “take Pele out” as he was causing the Enterprise team too many problems.
“When I told you Worf, I never expected you to drop kick him in the chest” said Henry, “I interpreted your instruction by neutralising Pele’s threat, which I did,” replied Worf.
“Yes but he got back up after Data sent you off” Henry exclaimed, “Then the next time we play I will have to kill him…” said Worf. “Ok, next time I tell you to take him out perhaps a moonlit dinner overlooking Lake Djamjia on Risa might be better…” replied Henry.
The group burst out laughing, Worf grinned, and Tasha gave the eavesdropping away by spraying a mouthful of drink over Geordie La Forge, who was unaware she’d been holding a pseudo conversation with in order to get nearer to the group without being too conspicuous.
Henry looked at Tasha and gave her a big smile “you alright there sweetheart?” he said. “Yes, Yes, fine, excuse me” replied Tasha. She could feel her face going red, “what is going on here?” she thought.
“Hello, my name is Henry Toulson, I joined a few weeks ago, you’re Lieutenant Yar aren’t you?” said Henry. “I hear you’re the queen of Parrises Squares on the Enterprise, and I’ve been told how much you are going to kick my arse when we finally play…”
“Er, Yes” replied Tasha. She felt so stupid with her inane answer.
“Is that, yes I am Lieutenant Yar, or yes I’m going to kick your arse?” Henry said with a grin.
Tasha had recovered some of her composure by now, “Yes to both,” she replied.
Henry smiled at Tasha and looked straight into her blue eyes, “Loser takes the winner out to dinner then ok?” he said.
“Loser cooks dinner for the winner,” replied Tasha.
“That’s fine with me, you a good cook then?” Henry said with a wink and a grin.
“Oh you are so gonna die Lieutenant Toulson” Tasha said and added with a smile “be afraid…”
Tasha and Henry spent the evening talking about everything and anything.
Henry went through his repertoire of jokes and funny anecdotes, and Tasha laughed and laughed, and found herself totally opening up to him like she never had before, and she couldn’t help herself.
Finally the evening came to an end. It was 00:00 and both were on duty in seven hours time.
Henry walked Tasha back to her quarters. “Well, that was the quickest an evening has ever passed for me,” said Henry, “I had a great time,” Tasha replied.
“Good, I know it’s an old cliché but can I call you tomorrow? Oops! I mean later today, we can get together after our shifts, play Parrises Squares and then you can cook me dinner…” he said.
“Call me” said Tasha, “and get yourself an apron, you don’t want to mess up your clothes while you’re cooking Toulson.”
Henry smiled, pulled Tasha to him, and they kissed. They were totally oblivious to a crewman walking past looking at them, the “Ice Maiden” and the “new guy” but, then again, they’d been like that all night…
Tasha had never felt this way before and it scared her a little. Henry Toulson had gotten under her skin.
Henry lay awake until around 03:30. He couldn’t get that bloody Tasha Yar woman out of his head. He couldn’t wait to get the shift out of the way and see her again. He was smitten.
As promised Henry called, leaving a person-to-person message on her cabin monitor for her to pick up when she got off duty.
Tasha had been thinking of him all day. During a break, Deanna and Beverly “interrogated” her for information on the English guy who she chatted to all night.
“I’ve never seen you laugh so much Tasha, what on earth was he saying to you?” asked Deanna.
“He was telling me all sorts of jokes and stories, some of them were quite awful but just the way he tells them makes me laugh, and he has this funny accent, he IS funny.” Said Tasha, “but not my type.”
Beverly chimed in, “The fact that he’s got a fit body doesn’t come into it at all then Tasha?”
Tasha blushed, “Look he’s just someone I had a chat with and that’s all, don’t read anything into it, we’re just friends.”
“Can we expect a full report then?” said Deanna. They all laughed.
Parrises Squares was at 19:00. By 20:50 Henry was the new unofficial champion.
“You were lucky Toulson” said Tasha. “Next time it’ll be a different story.”
“Nah! I eased up near the end, thought I’d give you a chance Tash,” He smiled that smile of his and Tasha “the Ice Maiden” just melted.
“We’ll see next time, go and get freshened up dinner will be served in thirty minutes” said Tasha in a stern voice.
“Ooooh, I love a voice of authority, I’m yours Tash,” he said jokingly.
And that’s exactly what she knew she wanted.
They had dinner together and breakfast together. Henry didn’t sleep in his bed that night.
From that moment on Natasha Yar and Henry Toulson were an item, albeit a secret item, but it was their business and no one else’s.
To all outward appearances Lieutenant Yar and Lieutenant Toulson were “sporting” buddies.
Tasha got her own back at Parrises Squares and Henry taught her how to cook a “decent” lasagne.
Henry created romantic hologram programmes for Tasha, places where they could walk, hand in hand along moonlit beaches, or picnic in summer meadows by babbling streams out of sight from the rest of the crew.
Things were really happening fast but neither of them cared. This looked like the real thing and they were happy but they kept their real relationship out of public view, at least for the time being.
On star date 41601 Tasha came to Henry’s quarters to tell him she was going on an Away Team Mission.
A shuttlecraft carrying Deanna Troi had crash landed on Vagra II and some alien life form was preventing a rescue mission.
“I need to go down with the rest of the team and ascertain the situation, I don’t know how long this is all going to take so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to see you later.” Said Tasha.
“Tash, I know you’ll think I’m being stupid but I feel a little uneasy about this, just do what you’ve got to do down there and don’t take any chances.”
“Toulson, it’s my job, anyway the only danger is getting the shuttlecraft crew to sickbay in time, people are hurt down there.”
“I understand but just get them out and get back safe. I mean it girl, no bloody risks.”
Tasha smooched up to Henry in a teasing way.
“Ooooh, I love a voice of authority, I’m yours Toulson”
“Yes you are Tash, and I’m yours, so no heroics.” he replied in a very solemn tone.
Toulson the Comedian had suddenly become Toulson the Deep.
“Hey, come on Henry I’m not going to do anything silly, I promise.”
“Yeah I know, I’m just being daft, go and kick some alien arse and tell me all about it when you get back.”
Henry kissed Tasha on the lips very softly, “I’ll see you later then Tash.”
Tasha smiled and turned to go, “Oi!” he said, “I love you.”
She turned back to Henry very slowly.
He went on, “I loved you from the moment I watched you playing Parrises Squares the day after I came aboard the Enterprise.”
“But that was weeks before we met.”
“I know that” he said.
“No one has ever told me they loved me.”
“Well you know now don’t you Tash.”
Tasha threw her arms around him and they kissed for a very long time.
“I love you too, Toulson.”
She withdrew from their embrace “See you later,” she said.
“Bye…” said Henry, and then she was gone
That was the last time Henry saw Natasha Yar alive.
After Tasha’s funeral Henry became a social recluse aboard the Enterprise, never venturing from his quarters between shifts.
He never told people about their relationship it was their secret and all he wanted to do was to be alone with his thoughts of her.
Six months later he finally resigned his commission despite long conversations with Captain Picard, Will Riker, and counselling from Deanna Troi.
Working on the same ship where she had been, to hear crewmates talk about her, was just too much to bear.
He wouldn’t say why he wanted to leave only that he did not want to stay in Starfleet, or on the Enterprise, and that he had come to realise that his future lay elsewhere.
Henry later went to Turkana IV, Tasha’s home planet, to teach in an orphanage but was shot, and later died, in 2370 by a rape gang while trying to protect a group of children.
Although the doctor who examined Henry said the wounds were not fatal it seems he had no will to live and simply “gave up.”
END