Secret Santa
October 15
Spock was convinced that Jim needed a new random number generator, a new hat or something. With the number of people in the command team, it made no sense that he would draw the same person every Christmas. While he could easily compute the odds, the math was just another proof of what he already knew. Spock suspected that Jim was manipulating the draw for his own amusement
As this was the third year, the problem was more interesting. The really easy gifts had already been found and given. This year it would take much more thought to find a gift that would stay within the rules.
The rules:
1) No gift could cost more than 20 credits.
2) Nothing risque.
3) No Alcohol.
4) Either practical or Humorous – unofficially there were bragging rights for gifts that managed to be both.
5) Gifts would be exchanged in person during to the December 24th team meeting.
Spock spent a great deal of time thinking about the gift. He came up with several ideas, which he checked with Uhura, to make sure that they were acceptable. Finally, he came up with the solution to his problem.
December 25
Staff Briefing Room
The command team was assembled for the Secret Santa gift exchange. Enterprise tradition was to begin the gift giving starting at the bottom of the seniority ladder. After much laughter, cheers and good natured ribbing all but two gifts had been given.
Spock walked over to Dr. McCoy and handed him a small package. McCoy opened it as though he were doing an autopsy, slicing the polystrips holding the wrapper closed. When the package opened McCoy found a pullover shirt with an electronic controller. There was a glowing green button on the controller, Bones pushed the button and a message scrolled across the shirt, "He's dead, Jim!" Bones clicked the button again, "I'm a doctor not a brick layer!" scrolled across the shirt. After another click, "Don't be so melodramatic. You were barely dead." Giving the button a final click, "Damn it Jim! Why do you have to be allergic to the universe?"
"Doctor, this is the full list of the twenty quotes the shirt will display." Spock handed McCoy a small envelope.