I was bored. Everything is the property of Dammned Paramount.
Charles 'Trip' Tucker the Third, chief engineer aboard the USS Enterprise sighed. Ensign Mirthe van Buren was standing in front of him.
'Chief? What should I do about the malfunctions?' Asked Mirthe, looking at Chief Tucker who looked like he was sleep walking.
'Send a team down to find what the hell causes those glitches, ensign.' Sighed Trip, very tired.
'Chief, with all due respect, you have been working all day. It's almost midnight. You should rest.' Said Mirthe.
'Ensign… I can't sleep, I just want to be in engineering. I'll take a small break, go to the mess hall to eat some dinner. Now, get to work.' Said Trip. Mirthe went to work. Trip rubbed his eyes and decided to go to the mess hall to get some strong coffee. He walked through the corridor. The hallways were empty, most of the crew were asleep and the people on duty were working.
Trip hoped that there was some pecan pie left.
The mess hall was empty except for Subcommander T'Pol who was sitting at a big table. Her head was resting on a book. Trip coughed but she didn't respond. Then he saw her eyes were closed. Was she sleeping, in the mess hall? She must have been very tired to be napping in the mess hall, thought Trip chuckling. He took a cup of strong coffee and to his delight there was some pecan pie. He sat down in front of T'Pol and took a sip of his coffee.
Delicious.
He put his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her awake. T'Pol opened her eyes and she moaned softly.
'Commander?'
'Hey, T'Pol? Can't get in your quarters so you're napping in the mess hall?' Asked Trip chuckling. T'Pol sat upright and blinked twice.
'I am not here to 'nap', commander. I'm here for the book club.' Explained T'Pol.
'Enterprise has a book club!?'
'I started a book club. Doctor Phlox, Ensign Cutler and Corporal Cole come. Sometimes Captain Archer comes if he has time.' Said T'Pol.
'Well, you're pretty lonely. Where's everyone?' Asked Trip.
'Nobody has shown up.' Trip thought he saw a little bit sadness in the woman's face. He felt sorry for the Vulcan. 'I have been waiting for three hours. I have appeared to fell asleep.'
'You looked pretty cute.' Admitted Trip.
'Vulcans do not look 'cute'.' Said T'Pol defensively.
'Well, you looked very sweet. Tired?' Asked Trip.
'I am.' Whispered T'Pol.
'So what which book did you intend to discuss?' Asked Trip.
'We are reading Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone.' Said T'Pol and gave Trip the Harry Potter book.
'Harry Potter! You're kidding, that was my favorite book when I grew up!' Said Trip enthusiastically and flipped through the book.
'I find it very illogical, but interesting. I indentify the most with Hermione.' Said T'Pol.
'You're a lot like Hermione, smart, brave, beautiful, a bookworm and a great friend. And she's cute just like you.' Teased Trip. He handed her the book and brushed her fingers in the process. T'Pol shivered.
'I don't think anybody is going to show up for your book club, you better get to bed.' Said Trip kindly. T'Pol nodded at him.
'And, by the way, when do y'all get together for the club?' Asked Trip.
'Every Wednesday evening one hour after dinner.' Said T'Pol and exited the mess hall.
Trip made a mental note to keep the Wednesdays evenings free. He smiled and took a sip of his coffee.
T'Pol was a woman filled with surprises.