Scotty was sitting at a table with Keenser drinking tea. It had been little over a month since the Enterprise was destroyed. The brilliant, lovely starship. Everyone had a number that matched each other determining each other as soulmates. Everyone except Scotty. Their personalities complimented each other. The captain, the commander, and the doctor, were almost as though one person. Their number was 966. Everyone was born with a random number. For as long as Scotty remembered, he wasn't born with a number.
He saw a group of children, some of whom were Vulcans and Deltans, in a group along a water fountain.
"Look at that," Scotty said. "The Vulcans quickly rebounded."
Keenser looked over to see one of the Vulcans was a bald boy with pointy ears. Keenser turned his head in the direction of the human tilting his head.
"Well, maybe not," Scotty said. "Some Vulcans were born with some. . . complications due to Nero."
Keenser stared at him.
"What?" Scotty said. "I read up on the Vulcan's recovery. It's addictin' tae read." He took another sip from the tea. "So what are ye and Kevin goin' tae dae?"
Keenser looked over toward the fountain.
"Ah, kissing on the fountain?" Scotty asked,wiggling his eyebrows.
Keenser looked over toward Scotty with a shrug.
"Lucky lad," Scotty said. "If Romaine were still here. . . We would be ice skatin' by now."
Keenser appeared to be sad.
"So are ye goin' tae be assigned tae another ship while the big A is bein' made?" Scotty asked, lightening the mood up.
Keenser nodded.
"That is goin' to be a bi' thin' for you." Scotty said. "But it won't be squat compared to the original girl."
Keenser pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
"What?" Scotty asked. "It is true."
Keenser looked over toward Scotty.
"Ye know. . ." Scotty twirled a little spoon in his cup. "Romaine had a number on her backside."
Keenser sighed, thinking, Oh god,here we go again.
"I didn't ask tae meet with ye for nae reason." Scotty said.
Keenser raised his head up.
"I know, I shouldn't be wallowing in my sorrow but . . ." Scotty said, taking the little spoon out placing it onto a recyclable napkin. "I am thinkin' of retirin' from Star Fleet and returnin' tae Earth." Keenser looked up in alarm, half in fright, his jaw dropping at the news. "I see numbers where-ever I go. I see them on alien's hands,forehead, and ankles."
Keenser blinked, coming to the realization that his best friend was leaving Star Fleet. Scotty was leaving poor old Keenser among new star fleet officers on another ship while the Enterprise A was being constructed. The thought of serving along someone else who understood him and his behavior was frightening. It was also a pain in the ass to start all over again. And scary. He had initially hoped, that with Kevin, to continue serving with his best friend. Now the idea was becoming dim and dimer by the second.
"I know I am a rare one, extremely rare," Scotty said. "Everyone is born with a number. Even Jaylah."
Keenser grunted.
"Jaylah does, I looked." Scotty said. "On her left ankle."
Keenser folded his arms then spoke in his native language.
"No, ye are nae leavin' because I'm leavin'," Scotty said. "That's nae how it works."
Keenser glared at Scotty.
"I know, I did brin' ye aboard the Enterprise. . ." Scotty said. "But that was only so ye wouldn't be alone." Scotty looked over toward the small, short alien. "Ye are my partner, and my friend."
Keenser picked up the napkin then dapped at his tears with it.
"Ah, dae nae cry," Scotty said. "We are nae exactly married."
Keenser smirked as a spark gleamed in his eyes.
"Nae, nae, nae," Scotty shook his hands. "We are not gettin' married. Ye have a number."
Keenser waved his ankle in the air once sliding down on to the seat showing off his number: 101010. It was in bold black ink like texture that stood out to the naked eye. Scotty shook his head taking another sip from the tea cup. When Keenser was determined, he was determined like hell to get what he wanted. Even to getting past several security measures to pass the academy with his number. Keenser lowered his foot. His number was a funny story. It was a code that could be used to hack through star fleet fire walls. So when his number was discovered, it set off alarms in the academy and they had to question the short alien if he had deliberately changed his number to a code. But getting married with Scotty, however, was another story. They were, on every sense of the word, friends with benefits.
"Nice try, though." Scotty said, sounding a bit comforted.
Keenser glared at Scotty.
"I know ye tryin' to cheer my up on that part," Scotty said. "But I am not up for another relationship like the one I had with Romaine. . . Nae yet." He took another sip of his tea. "I am goin' back to Scotland."
Keenser raised an eyebrow.
"Ye think it is a borin' place to be." Scotty said.
Keenser nodded.
"Have ye done nature narratin'?" Scotty asked.
Keenser shook his head.
"I did it for comedy a few years back before I went tae the academy." Scotty said. "I used tae work on cars. Every type of cars. Engines, car parts,and radios." Keenser took a sip of his tea, too, raising one of his eyebrow ridges. "My dad dubbed me the best mechanic on the face of the earth." Keenser put the tea cup down onto the table. "That is how I was able tae start up that car on Giles with plywire and oil."
Keenser considered that, then nodded.
"I have nae sent my resignation in." Scotty said. "I need some down time before I dae that."