Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, don't make money off 'em.
Notes: "Musica" is the second story in the AU Switcheroo stories. It was not part of the original series (so this is brand new). This picks up a few days after "MWBB".
Travis embarks on a new scientific project. Certain members of the crew need to pass their phase pistol qualifications, including Hoshi. T'Pol, Kov and Phlox decide to explore the "Human side of life".
Eventual pairings: R/S, TnT (a little bit of Hayes/Sato in the beginning)
Rating: T
Please R&R. Thanks.
One
Captain's Log: February 7, 2154
Three days after the end of "May the Wind be at Our Backs"
We are entering the Keshwa sector, where Commander Mayweather has detected an unusual space phenomenon. A Class D white dwarf is in its final throes of life; it will eventually contract and fade out into a black dwarf. According to Travis, it had been a supergiant, but it released its outer layers of gas as the Keshwa Nebula, and this is what's left of it. It usually takes billions of years for a white dwarf to "cool", so to speak, so no one has actually seen one this far along in its process. Astronomy and Astrophysics have been hives of activity as they record all sorts of data from both the white dwarf and the nebula.
Travis loves the vastness of space------he was born and raised a Boomer. His family lives on the ECS Horizon, a cargo ship. He has the zest and the enthusiasm of someone half his age, and the crew looks to him for guidance. I'm glad to have him as my First and Science Officer.
---end log
*****
"Morning, Commander."
Travis grinned at his Science second-in-command as he stepped out of the turbolift. "Good morning, Ellen. Anything interesting happen on the night shift?"
"Got the latest readings for you," Lieutenant Ellen Varianis said. She nodded at the image on the screen: a dense, glowing sphere of gas, its internal fuel almost exhausted. It struggled to flare up once more in a burst of gamma rays. As Travis and Ellen watched, the readings spiked briefly before settling back into a constant stream.
"How often does that happen?" Travis asked.
Ellen shrugged and answered, "It's completely random, but when it comes, it blankets the sensors with static for a couple of seconds. We've had to make adjustments to compensate for it."
He sighed and touched the image of the dying star. "It'll take at least several more millennia before it burns itself out and the gravitational shifts finally settle."
"It's amazing to see all the changes first-hand, sir, but I wouldn't want to get overly close to 'em."
Travis nodded with a rueful laugh. "That's why we're watching from a safe distance. I think the Captain wouldn't appreciate us being caught by a gravity well."
"Or hit by radiation? Or any other number of potential mishaps?"
"Exactly, but if we don't take a few calculated risks, we'll never know what's out there. Besides, we can't pass up on an opportunity like this."
"Our contribution to science."
Travis chuckled; Ellen was a scientist to the core, and he appreciated her enthusiasm. "Exactly. Transfer the data to my PADD, Ellen. I'll look at it while I'm on-shift. Go get some rest."
"Yes, sir." She downloaded the info onto a PADD and gave it to him before leaving the Bridge. He settled into the command chair with it as the lift doors hissed again to admit Lieutenant T'Pol.
"Commander," the Vulcan greeted with a nod.
"Good morning, Lieutenant. Did you rest well?" Travis asked. T'Pol had regained her normal, serene demeanor; he'd worried about her after the strange mental assault she'd suffered nearly two weeks before. So far, there didn't seem to be any lasting side effects.
"I did indeed." She slid into the helm chair and brought up a status report. "It was a rather uneventful evening. I spent the time in meditation."
Travis fought a smile. As astronomer wouldn't have called it "uneventful", but it was all a point-of-view. He brought his attention back to his PADD. A series of chimes over the intercom announced the shift change from Delta to Alpha. Travis bade good bye to the Delta crew as the Alpha shift took their places. He noted it into the ship's log.
Midway through the shift, Commander Phlox called from Engineering. "Phlox to Mayweather."
Travis hit the comm. "Go ahead, Phlox."
"I've run a routine diagnostic on the warp engines and there's a slight drop in power output."
"Confirmed, sir," said Ensign Wu from the engineering station on the Bridge.
Travis frowned. Any drop in power, especially this close to a brown dwarf, was a worrying thing. "How much of a drop?"
"Three percent. Not enough to compromise any major systems. We can adjust easily enough."
"What caused it?"
"Unknown, but it may be a minor malfunction in the EPS grid. We're still working out the insects."
Travis grinned and tried not to laugh as T'Pol swung around in her seat with her eyebrow raised up to her hairline. "Bugs, Phlox," he said.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Working out the bugs."
Phlox chuckled at the correction. "Ah, thank you. In any case, I'll run another Level One Diagnostic as soon as we've balanced the energy flow."
Travis nodded, although Phlox couldn't see him. He trusted the Denobulan to take care of things. "All right, Phlox. Keep me updated."
"I certainly will, Commander. Phlox, out."
T'Pol's questioning look hadn't wavered one bit. "Human expressions are confusing. It will take both Commander Phlox and I some time to decipher their meanings."
"Our vernacular may be odd, but you'll get used to it." He thought about Trip Tucker and his colorful use of said vernacular. In that case, both Phlox and T'Pol were in for some surprises.
"I am uncertain if I will ever 'get used to it'."
He shook his head and replied, "Give it time, Lieutenant. Give it time."
*****
Captain Hoshi Sato sat at the computer in her quarters, reading Starfleet reports as she sipped her morning tea. The Columbia was completing Starfleet's formal contact with the Saurians. Hoshi chuckled at Captain Matt Hayes's official log entries. He'd also sent her his 'off the record' account of what happened; the introduction of Saurian Brandy had nearly caused a diplomatic incident.
"Tell Trip that good Kentucky bourbon is not the equivalent of a fair trade, as far as the Saurians are concerned. How was I to know that the Saurian chief was allergic to something in the bourbon? Luckily Rosie was able to neutralize the agent that was causing it---him?---trouble. Then the chief decided Nate Kemper's entire stock of Guinness was ample compensation for nearly killing him. Kemper's pissed about it...he wasn't expecting to lose his entire stash in less than a month."
Hoshi laughed at the humor in Matt's voice. "Rosie" was Matt's Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Rosie Arroyo, one of Malcolm's colleagues. Major Nathan Kemper was Trip Tucker's counterpart on Columbia. She could imagine the fit that Kemper had thrown at the loss of his beer.
"Anyway, we're headed to the Kapella system. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with drunk dinosaurs with tails the length of my arm. Everyone says hi, and hope to hear from you soon. Take care, Hoshi. I love you. Hayes, out."
She smiled and popped the comm chip out of its slot. Hoshi opened her desk drawer and place it with a stack of similar chips, tied in a neat bundle. She and Matt sent each other "letters" like these whenever they were on different assignments. It was a way to keep in touch during long deployments like this one. Hoshi sighed; it was going to be a long five years.
"Tucker to Sato."
She touched the comm button. "Sato."
"This is your five-minute ticker, Cap'n. Phase Pistol evals in the Armory at 0900."
Hoshi glanced at her chronometer which read 0855. "Thanks, Trip, I'll be right there."
"See you in five, Tucker out."
Hoshi chuckled and shut down her computer. Trip took those phase pistol evals seriously. The Armory Officer was as methodical in his domain as Phlox was in engineering or Malcolm Reed was in Sickbay. She shook her head. Of course, the Captain had to set a good example for her crew, and you never knew when a lucky shot could save your life.
When she stepped into the Armory, she was surprised to see Malcolm going through the holosimulation. Her CMO was the last person she'd expected to go through phase pistol training, but she was pleasantly surprised that he'd taken the initiative. Trip stood nearby and monitored Malcolm's progress.
"Time."
Malcolm glanced at him. "How was it?"
"Pretty good. Seventy-six percent." Trip raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but I didn't expect to see this kinda result from a medic. 'Do no harm' and all that."
Malcolm snorted good-naturedly. "My father designs weapons for Her Majesty's Navy. He wanted to make sure I could defend myself if need be." He shrugged and added, "And as a doctor, I know where to shoot to minimize the damage."
"Good point. Didn't think of it that way. Do no harm and all that." Trip nodded as he accepted the phase pistol. "Your dad sounds like a smart guy."
"I believe you two might get along, if you ever meet."
"Really? I've been reading up on some of his designs. Maybe we could have a chat on the subspace channel sometime? It'd be nice to talk to someone who knows the difference between an EM generator and a phase coil."
Malcolm laughed and shook his head. "Perhaps." He spotted Hoshi and nodded at her, his tone becoming more formal. "Captain."
"Good morning, Malcolm." She nodded back, but a part of her wished he wouldn't close himself off whenever she entered the room. He seemed to relax around a very few people, and Trip looked like one of them. She looked at Trip and asked in a humorous tone, "I assume he passes?"
"Sure did. I'm glad that I have to worry less about the CMO bein' able to defend himself. Makes my job a lot easier," he answered with a bright grin.
The doctor chuckled. "I try to. Now, if you would stay out of my Sickbay for more than just a few days at a time---"
"Believe me, Doc, I'm doin' my best. It's an occupational hazard."
"At least, try to cut down on the frequency of your visits, if you can."
"Can't make any promises, Doc. You know that."
Hoshi chuckled as Malcolm rolled his eyes to the ceiling, as if praying for guidance. "How's Kov settling in, Malcolm?"
"He's doing well. I've briefed him on procedures and he seems to be adjusting. He and Phlox are planning some sort of joint project, something about the study of Human customs---"
Trip winced and groaned, "Aw, God, Cap'n, you can't imagine the kind of questions the two of 'em have asked me already! Phlox ambushed me here in the Armory and asked about all sorts of stuff, including things you don't usually talk about in polite company! I think Graves damn near died of embarrassment when he asked her about her preferences for a mate...in all situations."
Hoshi waggled her eyebrows at him. "So, they're curious."
"Curious and blunt like no one's business. It'll be a miracle if Kov and Phlox get enough info without someone bein' offended." Trip exchanged the discharged pistol for a new one, which he handed to Hoshi. "Okay, whenever you're ready."
She adjusted her grip and her stance. "Ready."
"Go."
Hoshi fired at the holographic targets as they zipped around the Armory. The first run went well, and so did the second, but she wasn't prepared for what happened on the third. She fired at the target, but the beam went wide. Hoshi frowned and tried again. This time, the beam appeared to bend in mid-air, as if it had hit, and reflected, off an invisible mirror.
"Stop." Trip narrowed his eyes at the readings on his PADD. "What the hell kinda trick was that?"
She shook her head, mystified. "I don't know. I wasn't trying to be fancy."
"Maybe we oughta try that again." He reset the simulation. "Go."
Hoshi began again. This time, the beam bounced off the far wall, reflected off the ceiling, and went in the opposite direction of where it should have gone. Both Trip and Malcolm involuntarily ducked as it shot over their heads. If it had been a live beam, it would have singed Trip's hair.
"What the---" he exploded.
"You all right?" Hoshi asked. She flipped the safety on the phase pistol; they couldn't afford an accident with a faulty phase pistol.
"Yeah, fine." He glanced at Malcolm. "At least I know you saw it too, so I don't have to get my eyes checked."
Hoshi scowled. "Maybe it's the phase pistol, or the simulation itself."
"It worked for Malcolm, and for the six other people I tested this mornin'." Trip sighed. "I'll check it anyway, just to make sure, though. I'd hate to think our equipment's already breaking down less than a month out of Spacedock."
"Have Phlox look at it too. If it's an equipment malfunction, he could pinpoint the problem and fix it."
"Yes, Cap'n." Trip blew out a frustrated breath and ran his hand through his short-cropped hair. "In any case, you've done well enough to pass for this time out, so you won't have to go through another trial."
"Thanks, Trip." She handed him the pistol. "Let me know when you find the problem."
"Will do." He nodded at her and Malcolm, then climbed the ladder to the upper deck of the Armory. Hoshi sighed as she watched him go.
"It's probably an odd blip in the simulation. I'm sure it will be corrected soon."
Hoshi nodded. "I'm headed for my Ready Room on the Bridge. Are you going to Sickbay?" At his return nod, she went on, "Lunch at thirteen hundred, Captain's Mess?"
He seemed surprised at the invitation, but he hid it under a smile. "I'd be delighted to join you for lunch, Captain."
"I'll see you then." She left the Armory without a backward glance, and Malcolm followed, heading for Sickbay on E Deck.
