Chapter 1-New Ensign on a New Mission
I stood at attention nervously, desperately trying to make the butterflies in my stomach fly in formation.
After what seemed like forever, Captain Kirk walked into the meeting room, followed by a friendly-looking man in a red shirt, a little beady-eyed alien (also in a red shirt) and a very grumpy-looking man in a blue shirt.
The aforementioned grumpy-looking science officer spoke first. "Dammit, Jim, why'd you bring me along? I'm a doctor, not an engineer!"
Kirk grinned. "Partially to annoy you, and partially because I think you'll like her."
The man—not alien—in operations sighed. "Can we get on with the stinkin' introductions? I'd like to meet the lass before she's fifty!"
I gave a quiet smirk. "Permission to speak freely, Captain?"
"Permission granted, Ensign."
"I'd like to get on with the introductions as well, before I die of nervousness!"
The science officer rolled his eyes. "You do realize that it's impossible—"
"BONES! SHUT UP!" Both Kirk and the man in operations yelled, turning to the science officer—Bones?—obviously annoyed.
"And he's the one with the metaphors," Kirk muttered.
"Hey! I heard that!"
As the group got into an argument, I turned to the little alien, who had been quiet the entire time. "Since they probably won't get to the formal introductions for a while: Hi, I'm Ensign Victoria Saralonde."
"Keenser," was all he said. Keenser went up to the man in operations and stared at him for a while.
Finally, he got the message. "Captain? Can we get on with the introductions now? As I said, I'd like to meet the lass within a year!"
"Yes, Scotty." He turned to me. "Apologies, Ensign." Kirk pointed to the man in operations. "This is Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott, chief engineer."
"Please, call me Scotty," the man said.
Kirk then pointed to Keenser, who shook his head. "Okay, I see you've already met Keenser."
Finally, he pointed to the very grouchy science officer. "This is Dr. Leonard McCoy. I brought him because I thought you'd like to know that he is from Georgia as well."
I smiled at this. When I spoke, I let my Southern accent slip into my voice. "Well, then, I guess I'll have to brush up on my insert stereotypical Southern recreational activity here skills so I can enjoy some quality time with this Georgian gentleman."
Dr. McCoy tipped an imaginary hat. "Anytime, darlin'."
Kirk muttered something about a man named Spock raising an eyebrow before turning to me. "I'll just leave you with Scotty & Keenser so they can show you around the ship." At this, he grabbed Dr. McCoy by the arm and forcibly dragged him out of the room.
After the doors shut, Scotty turned to me. "Come on, lass, we've got to get you acquainted with the ship."
We walked out of the meeting room, Scotty in the lead.
