Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 7, Episode 15

"Lower Decks"

based on the original story by Ronald Wilkerson and Jean Louise Matthias

[Author's Commentary: To those wondering, this is going to be a novelization of Season 7's fifteenth episode. I'll be adding scenes and even making some veeerrrry-minor changes to some parts of the episode. I am working on the entire novel but I'll only upload Chapter 1 of 5. If you guys are interested in the rest of the story, let me know through your comments and reviews and I will gladly post the rest. They are much appreciated.

This is my first ever Star Trek fanfiction, so this is a practice for me as the outline of another Star Trek: TNG story that takes place within the same season and year (not an episode novelization) is still being worked on. So, this will be practice for me.]

[Copyright notice: STAR TREK, STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION, as well as all respective trademarks, are property of CBS Paramount Television. No copyright infringement is or was intended during the writing and publishing of this novel. The author (in this case, myself) believes that the content falls within fair use clause of their trademarks and copyrights.]

CHAPTER 1

Year 2370
NCC 1701-D USS Enterprise - Ten Forward Lounge

Ten Forward was filled with the late-night crew and non-Starfleet patrons. Commander William T. Riker sat tirefully at the bar, expecting his drink to be delivered within a timely fashion.

Riker turned back scanned the lounge. He noticed a table occupied with four young officers at one table. At another he saw a familiar woman wearing a blue science uniform sitting alone. She had flowing, auburn-colored, Cinderella-fashion, abundant hair with gentle waves. It had to be Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi, he thought. This was the way Troi wore her hair in 2370.

He started over to her, carrying a red pad. Deanna Troi sat alone at one of the bright white tables. On the table was a board game with slots, some of which were occupied with red and blue balls.

"Deanna," Riker called out to her from behind. A startled Troi flinched as she pivoted to see the red-uniformed First Officer approaching her. When she saw Riker, she sheepishly giggled and greeted him. Riker chuckled a bit as well himself. "Sorry, counselor!" he said warmly with a grin. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, it's alright," she laughed playfully.

"You have a moment?"

"Oh, yes! Have a seat!" she invited as she brushed the game to the side of the table with her arm. "So, how are those Crew Evaluations coming?" Troi inquired, fingering her pad.

"They're alright!" Riker replied brightly as he fingered his own. Then he looked at her. "I've been thinking a great deal about who to promote as an assistant maintainance worker for the Nacelle Lab. I had a particular crewmember in mind. Her name is Commander Caroline Fletcher. She works at Main Engineering. Was there someone you had in mind, Counselor?"

"Yes," Troi replied firmly. "Commander Andrea Carstairs. She's a science officer who worked on Deck 5 for a short time."

Ensign Sam Lavelle and Alyssa Ogawa was listening as closely as he could, but Troi and Riker could barely be heard. The other two Ensigns accompanying him minded their own business. "Are they over there talking about Crew Evaluations?" wondered he.

"If they are, what's it matter?" replied the Vulcan Taurik with a deep low-pitched voice, and dark Asian-like tanned skin.

"We're being evaluated on our performance," were the grim words out of his mouth. "Excuse me!" he called out to Ben, getting his attention as he went over, bending down to their level. "Could you do us a huge huge favor?"

"Sure," said Ben. "Anything. Just say the word."

"Okay. You see those two, over there?" Ensign Lavelle pointed over to where Wil Riker and Deanna Troi were sitting. "We believe we overheard them talking about Crew Evaluations and were wondering if you could go find out for us... please?"

"Okay!" Ben said willingly.

Then he head off to clean a table, not far from Deanna and Riker.

"Fletcher has more experience with propulsion systems," said Riker as he fingered buttons on his pad.

"But Carstairs is better with people," advised Troi, giving Riker a glance. "Considering that this is a supervisory position, I'd go with her."

Riker's mind was made up about Fletcher, however. But he knew Troi had a sturdy point as he tapped data into his pad. "I guess you're right," he said glumly. Just then, a thought struck his mind. He remembered something. He looked at Deanna an unsure look. "Didn't we just do crew evaluation reports?"

Troi looked up at him with confidence in her dark eyes. She remembered as though she had just did them. "Three months ago!"

Riker held his fisted hand over his stretched lips as he let out a yarn. "Seems like three weeks," he said tirefully. "Why don't we give everybody a promotion, and call it a night." Riker looked at his listener with brightened eyes. "Commander!"

Troi was instantly filled with glee. Her eyes were the next pair to be brightened. She loved being referred to as a Commander and was anxiously waiting to be one. "Fine with me, Captain!" she said happily.

Riker was distracted by the presence of the nearby busboy. "Could we have two coffees, please?"

"Y'all sure may!" replied the energetic waitor. "Better not consume too much, though! Much sleep is gonna be needed shortly."

Amused by Ben's joking reply, Troi and Riker exploded in laughter. The two wanted to avoid disturbing the other attendees at this late time of night. So, they managed to keep they volume to a minimum. However, they could be heard across Ten Forward, by a not-so-happy red-uniformed crewmember.

"What's so funny?" wondered Ensign Sam Lavelle. "What's so funny about crew evaluations?"

"Don't worry 'bout it, Sam!" Ensign Alyssa Ogawa delivered a friendly pat on the arm.

"Can't we just try and have a good time here," said a yellow-uniformed female, who was something of a Banjoran legend.

"Sorry, Sito!" said Lavelle bitterly. "I can't have a good time when my career is being decided across the room." Visibly frustrated, he had no choice but to remember the one thing his mother would tell him - thoughts create things. He desperately wanted a promotion, and there was one main reason for it. Lavelle closed his eyes and held his crossed fingers on either side of his head, chanting aloud, "Think promotion, promotion, promotion..."

Taurik was listening carefully, watching in the same way. "You can't really believe that what you're doing will influence the outcome of your evaluation," said he.

Lavelle opened his eyes. They were filled with anger and contempt. Slightly offended, he dismissed what the Vulcan had said and faded his eyes to a close once again and continued, "Promotion. Promotion. Promotion. Promotion. Promotion."

"It's a time-honored strategy, Taurik," said Ogawa with a finger beside her head.

"The Vedeks of the Janalan order maintain a round-the-clock chant for the well-being of the Bajoran people," added Sito with half a grin.

"Considering the history of your planet, that doesn't exactly validate what he's doing," replied Taurik.

"Promote me, please!" he grumbled, lowering his fingers. "So I can make Lieutenant... and have my very own room!"

"If you're unhappy sharing quarters with me, then you should put in for a new room assignment," recommened Taurik. After a brief pause, he then added, "Just in case you're not promoted."

Alyssa Ogawa let out a giggle as she held her beverage and Sam Lavelle even magaged to grin.

"I've been thinking about who to promote to ops," Riker told Troi.

"You mean the new night duty officer?" Troi asked in a way of requesting confirmation.

Riker nodded to confirm before continuing, "Lavelle is an obvious candidate." Ben set his coffee down in front of him before serving Troi. "But I'm mostly considering Ensign Sito."

"Thank you," Troi said as she looked up at Ben, already taking a sip from her coffee.

"You're welcome," said Ben, not too long before shooting her a sly smile. "You sure about dessert?"

"Yes! Don't tempt me!" she firmly replied.

Ben grinned at both of them before starting away. Troi giggled a bit before taking her second sip from her mug. Ben, trying to look ever so innocent went back over to where the four Ensigns were seated, lightly bobbing his tray. Lavelle was the first to notice him, then Sito.

"So, are they working on crew evaluations?" asked Lavelle, trying not to sound too eager to find out.

"Yep!" Ben confirmed happily.

"What are they talking about?" asked Sito, leaning in.

"It's not my place to say!" said the busboy teasingly.

"Come on, Ben!" Sito begged.

"Please!" Lavelle begged.

"Okay," said Ben. "But I'm not sure you two are gonna like it." He leaned down as to respect their privacy. "Apparently, you two are up for the same job." Upon disclosing this information, Ben had worn a merry look on his face. The faces of Sito and Lavelle were anything but. They didn't like the sound of this, at all.

"Did you hear what position?" Sito asked, hoping desperately that this wasn't as bad as she and Lavelle thought.

Ben sighed, his facial expression not looking as gleeful. "Don't shoot the messenger for the bad news, but I think I heard it was the ops part."


[So, that's gonna do it for Chapter 1. Please let me know what you think of this piece and let me know if you're interested in further chapters! :)]