CHAPTER 2: SOMEBUNNY DID IT
Only 1000 more minutes to go, thought Hoshi as she surveyed the chibis. Obviously everyone got hyper in the late afternoon, even her precious Mal.
Hoshi saw the first one coming. Mal had found a spoon from lunch that had dropped on the floor. Too late the Ensign noticed the glob of red on the handle of the spoon. She watched as Mal, with an intuitive sense for trajectory, hit the bowl of the spoon and sent the red jello flying.
Ching, splat!
"Waaaah!"
"Mal, did you have to hit the spoon?" Hoshi went to wipe the red jello off the screen so that Travis could resume playing his video game.
Mal bit his lip, picked up the spoon and gave it to Hoshi. "Sawee, Kwicket."
"Tell Trav you're sorry, he's the one you upset," said Hoshi.
"Sawee, Twav," said Mal.
The little boy walked slowly back to Hoshi with his shoulders hunched. His sad posture made Hoshi's heart break, so she told him, "Just don't do that again, all right?"
Mal nodded then said, "Sham did it."
"Well, that's one mischievous bunny, but don't let him get out of hand, okay."
Mal nodded again, but remained in front of Hoshi as if expecting more of a scolding. "You can go play now, Mal."
Mal looked up in surprise and quickly went to the table with the play-dough. Hoshi's attention was soon directed toward Jonny and Tripper.
"Grrrowl! Roar!" Tripper had taken one of Jonny's plastic lions and was menacing a herd of plastic gazelles.
"NO! The animals all have to live in peace! Lions lie down with the llamas," cried Jonny.
"Tripper, don't make the lion roar like that. Pretend all the animals are friends and you can play with Jonny."
"Naw, wanna play with blocks," said Tripper as he pounced his lion onto a gazelle before beating a hasty retreat.
Jonny picked up the lion and put him in a far corner away from the gazelles. The animal kingdom was again in peace until a play-dough arrow suddenly impaled a gazelle. Jonny's eyes began to well with tears.
Whaching. Whaching. Two more arrows struck a zebra and a giraffe exactly on the neck.
"Waah!"
"Mal!"
He looked up guiltily as Hoshi inspected his weapon. It was ingenious. The boy had taken an elastic snap that was holding the sheets onto the sleeping cots to use as a slingshot. Lieutenant Reed would be so proud of this improvisation! And the aim was absolutely superb. Still, the behavior had to be censured.
"Mal, go pick up your arrows and tell Jonny you're sorry," said Hoshi sternly. She watched the defeated shoulders of the boy as he walked to his victim.
"Sawee, Jonny," said Mal as he picked up his arrows. Jonny seemed placated when he grabbed the last arrow and squished the form out of it while Mal watched mutely. The dark-haired boy merely picked up the blob of play-dough and returned to his table.
"Sham again?" asked Hoshi to take some of the edge off.
Mal just nodded.
"Okay, no more arrows. There are lots of other things you can make with play-dough, so go back to having fun."
Ah, peace and not quite quiet, but at least it was subdued turmoil. The noises from the video game, Jonny's speeches about all the animals living in peace and Tripper's construction noises as he played with the blocks were still present but low-keyed. Until Mal struck again.
Flick, chook, crash. Flick, flick, chook, chook, crash, crash.
"Waah!"
"Mal!" Hoshi looked at Tripper's towers and was again amazed. Mal had apparently decided to make canon balls from the play dough and had merely flicked them to their target with his fingers. Damn, the boy had great aim!
Mal actually got out of his chair and hid under the table.
"It's all right, Tripper. Here, you can put them back together really fast. See?"
Tripper was still sniffling, but then waved off Hoshi's assistance saying, "I do it."
Hoshi walked to the table and knelt to look for Mal. He had his back turned and had wrapped his arms around his knees. Hoshi's anger dissipated as she noticed he was shaking in fright. What did he expect her to do to him? She called gently. "Mal, I know Sham did it again. Come out and apologize to Tripper for him or your bunny will have to sleep alone. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Hoshi saw the boy shake his head, but he still didn't move. "Nothing else is going to happen to you. Just tell Tripper you're sorry."
The boy turned his head to look at Hoshi. His eyes were wide in disbelief. She extended her hand to Mal and he finally let go of his huddle and crept out.
"Sawee, Twippah," said Mal quietly.
"Don't go knockin' my blocks off," said Tripper sternly. Mal merely nodded and walked back to his table.
Hoshi released a sigh. She realized she was seeing things in Mal that explained a lot about the grown Malcolm. She lost her heart to the boy when he turned to her quietly and said, "Sawee, Kwicket. I twy be good, not dispoint."
Hoshi rubbed the boy's back gently and said, "No, Mal, don't ever think that. You are a good boy; don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. And you could never disappoint me."
She could feel the boy relax, so she offered, "Let's build a fort with your play-dough, okay. I bet you'd like that."
Mal's eyes lit up. Yes, a fort, walls to hide behind. It was just the thing.
------
Dinner went reasonably well other than the belching contest among the boys. Mal had inadvertently started it with a spontaneous burp, his only entry into the contest. But all the boys were giggling as Tripper asserted his rightful place in the hall of fame of belching--for four-year olds, anyway.
Now Hoshi was in an argument with Phlox. "No, absolutely not. You shower them; I'll dry them off. I can do that with my eyes closed."
"But, Ensign, they're just children--"
"Who will return to being my superior officers when we catch up with Meikon Gu in the morning. I'm not going to blush every time I see them because I've seen them in the all together while they were chibified. It's--it's just too weird."
Phlox sighed. He had been ecstatic when he'd been able to pawn off the childcare duties to Hoshi. Having raised his own children he remembered the energy level required to keep up with youngsters all too well. He supposed he should be grateful that a quick shower would be all the care he needed to extend. Unless Meikon Gu didn't have a reversal process--but, no, one must maintain optimism in such circumstances.
"Here comes Number One."
"Just stand there while I hose you down, young man. Now turn." Phlox was amazed. The dark-haired boy had done exactly as instructed. This was no problem at all. Soap up, rinse off. "Done."
Hoshi wrapped the towel around Mal, but couldn't resist tickling him as she dried him off. His quiet giggles were a nice reward. She sent him off with his bedclothes and called, "Number Two."
"Good to see you, Jonny. Now move over a bit. Yes, I know the soap stings if it gets into your eyes. No, no, it's not time to go yet. Just move your head. I said move your head. Turn that way. Look, I cannot rinse out the soap if you quit dodging the spray." Really, one would never guess this human would grow up to play water polo given the lad's aversion to water. Phlox heaved a sigh once he was finished. Perhaps this was as difficult as he remembered. "Done."
Hoshi caught Jonny in the towel and the boy immediately insisted, "I do it."
"Number Three."
Travis Mayweather is nothing but a ball of energy, thought Phlox as he tried to corral the boy. First he was here, and then he was there. The encounter resulted in the Doctor getting as wet as his patient. "Done."
Hoshi was prepared and caught Trav by hooding him with a towel briefly to prevent further escape. This boy needed no excuse to giggle, but obliged when Hoshi sent him off with his clothing. "Number Four."
Phlox was ready for Tripper, however. Using the spray handle as a weapon, he used his larger bulk to prevent escape and targeted this chibi with a good soaking. This resulted in the youngster deciding to sing at the top of his lungs, but the song was incoherent to the adults. It was something to do with running through brambles and bushes and to the Gulf of Mexico. Phlox barely had the energy to call out, "Done."
Hoshi was armed and had accomplices. The other three chibis made a semicircle to prevent Tripper's escape, so Hoshi once again hooded the boy. His struggles came to naught when he uncovered his eyes to see all escape routes blocked. No streaking tonight!
After Hoshi did a quick rub down and handed Tripper his clothes, she turned to Mal and said, "Thanks for the idea, Mal. You boys really helped."
"Welcome, Kwicket," said Mal with a shy smile. He finally felt he had redeemed himself.
The boys settled down after a bedtime story about a samurai called Kenshin, one of Hoshi's favorite characters growing up. She relayed a story about how the hero and his friends helped out a circus in town and the boys seemed to enjoy it as much as Hoshi enjoyed remembering that particular episode.
Hoshi waited to tuck Mal into bed last. She could hear the other boys already breathing regularly indicating they had fallen asleep quickly. She pulled the bunny out of her pocket and said, "I hope your bunny doesn't plan any mischief tonight."
Mal smiled and hugged his bunny. "No, Kwicket. Sham sleeping."
"Good night, then," said Hoshi and gave Mal a kiss on the forehead.
"Kwicket?"
"Yes, Mal?"
"When I gwow up, will you mahwee me?"
Hoshi smiled tenderly and said, "Growing up takes a long time. You'll meet lots of other girls besides me by then."
"Oh." The disappointment was clearly in his voice.
"But you know what? I hope that when I have a little boy, he'll be just like you."
Mal closed his eyes and hugged Sham tightly as he rolled onto his side. His face held a look of sheer pleasure. As she patted his back, Hoshi realized she would miss the quiet chibi the most.
-----
"You'll be happy to know that the Enterprise has caught up with Meikon Gu, Ensign. It appears that he isn't some villain, but an absent-minded professor. He forgot to turn the beam off in his latest experiment before escorting the Enterprise officers on a tour of his ship. He was quite embarrassed and apologetic. Most important, he'll be able to reverse the process."
Phlox' voice sounded quite cheery as he added, "The boys will be men before they even have their breakfast."
"Thanks, Doctor. I'll wake them up and make sure they're dressed," said Hoshi into the intercom inside of decon. "Don't forget to send their full sized uniforms."
She woke up the chibis in her charge and quickly got them dressed.
"All right boys, you have to listen to Doctor Phlox and do exactly what he says. You'll get to go on the shuttlepod to another ship. It will be fun."
Tripper and Travis started jumping up and down, clapping their hands in delight. Jonny began to prepare a departure speech by saying, "Space, the last playground..."
Mal was very quiet, however. Hoshi saw the concerned look on his face, so she knelt down in front of him. "Don't worry, Mal. Everything will be all right."
"Will I see you, Kwicket?" he asked in earnest.
Hoshi took the small hand into her own. "Yes, you'll see me again. I promise."
It was time to go, but as the boys followed Phlox out of the medbay, Hoshi saw the dark head swivel and large blue eyes held her gaze. The little hand waved and they were gone.
*****
Only 1000 more minutes to go, thought Hoshi as she surveyed the chibis. Obviously everyone got hyper in the late afternoon, even her precious Mal.
Hoshi saw the first one coming. Mal had found a spoon from lunch that had dropped on the floor. Too late the Ensign noticed the glob of red on the handle of the spoon. She watched as Mal, with an intuitive sense for trajectory, hit the bowl of the spoon and sent the red jello flying.
Ching, splat!
"Waaaah!"
"Mal, did you have to hit the spoon?" Hoshi went to wipe the red jello off the screen so that Travis could resume playing his video game.
Mal bit his lip, picked up the spoon and gave it to Hoshi. "Sawee, Kwicket."
"Tell Trav you're sorry, he's the one you upset," said Hoshi.
"Sawee, Twav," said Mal.
The little boy walked slowly back to Hoshi with his shoulders hunched. His sad posture made Hoshi's heart break, so she told him, "Just don't do that again, all right?"
Mal nodded then said, "Sham did it."
"Well, that's one mischievous bunny, but don't let him get out of hand, okay."
Mal nodded again, but remained in front of Hoshi as if expecting more of a scolding. "You can go play now, Mal."
Mal looked up in surprise and quickly went to the table with the play-dough. Hoshi's attention was soon directed toward Jonny and Tripper.
"Grrrowl! Roar!" Tripper had taken one of Jonny's plastic lions and was menacing a herd of plastic gazelles.
"NO! The animals all have to live in peace! Lions lie down with the llamas," cried Jonny.
"Tripper, don't make the lion roar like that. Pretend all the animals are friends and you can play with Jonny."
"Naw, wanna play with blocks," said Tripper as he pounced his lion onto a gazelle before beating a hasty retreat.
Jonny picked up the lion and put him in a far corner away from the gazelles. The animal kingdom was again in peace until a play-dough arrow suddenly impaled a gazelle. Jonny's eyes began to well with tears.
Whaching. Whaching. Two more arrows struck a zebra and a giraffe exactly on the neck.
"Waah!"
"Mal!"
He looked up guiltily as Hoshi inspected his weapon. It was ingenious. The boy had taken an elastic snap that was holding the sheets onto the sleeping cots to use as a slingshot. Lieutenant Reed would be so proud of this improvisation! And the aim was absolutely superb. Still, the behavior had to be censured.
"Mal, go pick up your arrows and tell Jonny you're sorry," said Hoshi sternly. She watched the defeated shoulders of the boy as he walked to his victim.
"Sawee, Jonny," said Mal as he picked up his arrows. Jonny seemed placated when he grabbed the last arrow and squished the form out of it while Mal watched mutely. The dark-haired boy merely picked up the blob of play-dough and returned to his table.
"Sham again?" asked Hoshi to take some of the edge off.
Mal just nodded.
"Okay, no more arrows. There are lots of other things you can make with play-dough, so go back to having fun."
Ah, peace and not quite quiet, but at least it was subdued turmoil. The noises from the video game, Jonny's speeches about all the animals living in peace and Tripper's construction noises as he played with the blocks were still present but low-keyed. Until Mal struck again.
Flick, chook, crash. Flick, flick, chook, chook, crash, crash.
"Waah!"
"Mal!" Hoshi looked at Tripper's towers and was again amazed. Mal had apparently decided to make canon balls from the play dough and had merely flicked them to their target with his fingers. Damn, the boy had great aim!
Mal actually got out of his chair and hid under the table.
"It's all right, Tripper. Here, you can put them back together really fast. See?"
Tripper was still sniffling, but then waved off Hoshi's assistance saying, "I do it."
Hoshi walked to the table and knelt to look for Mal. He had his back turned and had wrapped his arms around his knees. Hoshi's anger dissipated as she noticed he was shaking in fright. What did he expect her to do to him? She called gently. "Mal, I know Sham did it again. Come out and apologize to Tripper for him or your bunny will have to sleep alone. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Hoshi saw the boy shake his head, but he still didn't move. "Nothing else is going to happen to you. Just tell Tripper you're sorry."
The boy turned his head to look at Hoshi. His eyes were wide in disbelief. She extended her hand to Mal and he finally let go of his huddle and crept out.
"Sawee, Twippah," said Mal quietly.
"Don't go knockin' my blocks off," said Tripper sternly. Mal merely nodded and walked back to his table.
Hoshi released a sigh. She realized she was seeing things in Mal that explained a lot about the grown Malcolm. She lost her heart to the boy when he turned to her quietly and said, "Sawee, Kwicket. I twy be good, not dispoint."
Hoshi rubbed the boy's back gently and said, "No, Mal, don't ever think that. You are a good boy; don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. And you could never disappoint me."
She could feel the boy relax, so she offered, "Let's build a fort with your play-dough, okay. I bet you'd like that."
Mal's eyes lit up. Yes, a fort, walls to hide behind. It was just the thing.
------
Dinner went reasonably well other than the belching contest among the boys. Mal had inadvertently started it with a spontaneous burp, his only entry into the contest. But all the boys were giggling as Tripper asserted his rightful place in the hall of fame of belching--for four-year olds, anyway.
Now Hoshi was in an argument with Phlox. "No, absolutely not. You shower them; I'll dry them off. I can do that with my eyes closed."
"But, Ensign, they're just children--"
"Who will return to being my superior officers when we catch up with Meikon Gu in the morning. I'm not going to blush every time I see them because I've seen them in the all together while they were chibified. It's--it's just too weird."
Phlox sighed. He had been ecstatic when he'd been able to pawn off the childcare duties to Hoshi. Having raised his own children he remembered the energy level required to keep up with youngsters all too well. He supposed he should be grateful that a quick shower would be all the care he needed to extend. Unless Meikon Gu didn't have a reversal process--but, no, one must maintain optimism in such circumstances.
"Here comes Number One."
"Just stand there while I hose you down, young man. Now turn." Phlox was amazed. The dark-haired boy had done exactly as instructed. This was no problem at all. Soap up, rinse off. "Done."
Hoshi wrapped the towel around Mal, but couldn't resist tickling him as she dried him off. His quiet giggles were a nice reward. She sent him off with his bedclothes and called, "Number Two."
"Good to see you, Jonny. Now move over a bit. Yes, I know the soap stings if it gets into your eyes. No, no, it's not time to go yet. Just move your head. I said move your head. Turn that way. Look, I cannot rinse out the soap if you quit dodging the spray." Really, one would never guess this human would grow up to play water polo given the lad's aversion to water. Phlox heaved a sigh once he was finished. Perhaps this was as difficult as he remembered. "Done."
Hoshi caught Jonny in the towel and the boy immediately insisted, "I do it."
"Number Three."
Travis Mayweather is nothing but a ball of energy, thought Phlox as he tried to corral the boy. First he was here, and then he was there. The encounter resulted in the Doctor getting as wet as his patient. "Done."
Hoshi was prepared and caught Trav by hooding him with a towel briefly to prevent further escape. This boy needed no excuse to giggle, but obliged when Hoshi sent him off with his clothing. "Number Four."
Phlox was ready for Tripper, however. Using the spray handle as a weapon, he used his larger bulk to prevent escape and targeted this chibi with a good soaking. This resulted in the youngster deciding to sing at the top of his lungs, but the song was incoherent to the adults. It was something to do with running through brambles and bushes and to the Gulf of Mexico. Phlox barely had the energy to call out, "Done."
Hoshi was armed and had accomplices. The other three chibis made a semicircle to prevent Tripper's escape, so Hoshi once again hooded the boy. His struggles came to naught when he uncovered his eyes to see all escape routes blocked. No streaking tonight!
After Hoshi did a quick rub down and handed Tripper his clothes, she turned to Mal and said, "Thanks for the idea, Mal. You boys really helped."
"Welcome, Kwicket," said Mal with a shy smile. He finally felt he had redeemed himself.
The boys settled down after a bedtime story about a samurai called Kenshin, one of Hoshi's favorite characters growing up. She relayed a story about how the hero and his friends helped out a circus in town and the boys seemed to enjoy it as much as Hoshi enjoyed remembering that particular episode.
Hoshi waited to tuck Mal into bed last. She could hear the other boys already breathing regularly indicating they had fallen asleep quickly. She pulled the bunny out of her pocket and said, "I hope your bunny doesn't plan any mischief tonight."
Mal smiled and hugged his bunny. "No, Kwicket. Sham sleeping."
"Good night, then," said Hoshi and gave Mal a kiss on the forehead.
"Kwicket?"
"Yes, Mal?"
"When I gwow up, will you mahwee me?"
Hoshi smiled tenderly and said, "Growing up takes a long time. You'll meet lots of other girls besides me by then."
"Oh." The disappointment was clearly in his voice.
"But you know what? I hope that when I have a little boy, he'll be just like you."
Mal closed his eyes and hugged Sham tightly as he rolled onto his side. His face held a look of sheer pleasure. As she patted his back, Hoshi realized she would miss the quiet chibi the most.
-----
"You'll be happy to know that the Enterprise has caught up with Meikon Gu, Ensign. It appears that he isn't some villain, but an absent-minded professor. He forgot to turn the beam off in his latest experiment before escorting the Enterprise officers on a tour of his ship. He was quite embarrassed and apologetic. Most important, he'll be able to reverse the process."
Phlox' voice sounded quite cheery as he added, "The boys will be men before they even have their breakfast."
"Thanks, Doctor. I'll wake them up and make sure they're dressed," said Hoshi into the intercom inside of decon. "Don't forget to send their full sized uniforms."
She woke up the chibis in her charge and quickly got them dressed.
"All right boys, you have to listen to Doctor Phlox and do exactly what he says. You'll get to go on the shuttlepod to another ship. It will be fun."
Tripper and Travis started jumping up and down, clapping their hands in delight. Jonny began to prepare a departure speech by saying, "Space, the last playground..."
Mal was very quiet, however. Hoshi saw the concerned look on his face, so she knelt down in front of him. "Don't worry, Mal. Everything will be all right."
"Will I see you, Kwicket?" he asked in earnest.
Hoshi took the small hand into her own. "Yes, you'll see me again. I promise."
It was time to go, but as the boys followed Phlox out of the medbay, Hoshi saw the dark head swivel and large blue eyes held her gaze. The little hand waved and they were gone.
*****