A. n. I forgot: I'm Italian so please be patient with my English :D
Unexpected
Starlog 8 – June 1st, 2151
This starship is so very crumpled! Yesterday all the lights went off on the whole B deck, today there was a gravity outage on E deck – I wonder how this ship can still be in one piece. Commander Tucker assured me that they were working on the problem and that they would've resolved it in a few minutes.
-I hope so, Commander. It's not a good thing to leave a whole deck without gravity.- I answered from the bridge, not able to keep the irritation from my voice. On a starship things should work almost perfectly, we can't keep having a problem every day.
-I know that, Lieutenant. Now if you don't mind I shall go back to the problem, so I'll have it resolved sooner!- his voice sounded irritated as well.
-Of course. Reed out.- I muttered.
That very moment the Captain called me asking what was going on (his quarters are on E deck).
-We are having a little trouble with the gravity plating on E deck. I hope it hasn't caused you any inconvenience- I answered him.
-Oh, no no, not at all- he answered with an almost panting voice. But of course, he was probably floating in his quarters – that thought made me almost laugh.
-Any idea when you might get it back online?- he asked.
-Commander Tucker says it should be any minute now, sir.- and that very moment I could see that the gravity on E deck was back. Suddenly I heard a really loud thud and a splash and the Captain's voice who thanked me from afar. Great. Apparently, he had been showering.
And after that, there were problems with the temperature regulation on C deck and there was a fire in Engineering too: a really wonderful morning. The captain left me in command and went to Engineering to see what was happening. Eventually, on Mr. Tucker's request, we dropped out of warp to work on the problem and finally found it out: an alien vessel was stealing our plasma exhaust to replenish their coils. And the vessel was invisible too!
Later, on the bridge, I met Mr. Tucker, who shot me an irritated and almost disdainful glare. Inwardly, I sent him to hell. I don't want to be a pest, I just want things to work properly, is that so hard to understand? I know that I'm too damn fussy sometimes, I know that I had probably been too harsh with him, especially considering that it wasn't his fault, but couldn't he at least try to understand the reason why I do so? I care for the ship and for the crew, it's my duty to protect them – and I don't feel quite well unless everything is working as it should. I probably am a dreadful buddy and an ever worse boyfriend, but I know how to do my work, bloody hell! And I don't want to be considered the nasty pain-in-the-ass, the ship's grim-reaper as it always happens.
Going back to the alien vessel, the Captain asked them to move off, which they instantly did. Since they needed help with their engines, the Captain had Mr. Tucker going to the vessel for some days to assist them. He's there now, but it seems that he's having some problems with the vessel's atmosphere. We shall see.
-O- -O- -O-
Starlog 9 – June 5, 2151
I was just telling myself that maybe I was really too harsh with Commander Tucker some days ago, that he had done his best after all. I was telling myself that, if I get too fussy and by-the-book, the people I'm learning to like will get sick and tired of me. So when he came back from the Xyrillian ship (having repaired it perfectly) I felt I owed him something:
-I'm afraid that I was rude to you some days ago, Commander. I apologize.- I told him, stiffening.
-Never mind, Lieutenant. You just want things to be done properly. Care to join me for lunch? I'm really hungry.-
I agreed and followed him. He was really very hungry, one could think he was actually starving. He even started eating without waiting for me.
-Didn't they feed you over there?- I asked, concerned. He was really eating a lot.
-You should've come with me, Malcolm.- he answered.
Then he told me about the Xyrillians, their holographic recreations, their ship. He was really nice and I regretted being so rude to him. Finally he left because he had a strange red mark on his wrist and I advised him to consult Dr Phlox about it. It must've been an allergic reaction he got with something on the Xyrillian vessel, I don't know. The fact is, half an hour later the Captain asked me and T'Pol to find the Xyrillians' location and get back to them, I don't know why. Probably the captain wanted to know what the hell had caused Commander Tucker such a nasty disease. Last time I saw him, some hours ago he had a very bad nausea and he even had to vomit. I hope he is better now.
We are still searching for them.
-o- -o- -o-
Starlog 10 – June 9, 2151
Still no Xyrillians in sight. Commander Tucker's condition hasn't improved much – he still has violent nausea and two red marks on his wrist- but he's not in sickbay, so his illness is probably not very serious.
I've had lunch with Ensign Sato lately. She's finally getting used to this ship even if she's still very anxious about this mission.
-Sometimes… I'm claustrophobic- she told me with a small smile.
I looked at her, bewildered: -And why did you choose to work on a starship?- I asked.
-Oh, no, I'm not that claustrophobic. I just don't like the turbolift and the environmental suits, that's all. But I'm fine with the starship.- she answered.
I silently appreciated her courage. Unless me, she's been able to confront her phobia and even to confess it to someone else. Even if, on a starship, her phobia is much more meaningful than mine.
-As for your question- she went on –it was mostly because of the languages. If this wasn't an exploration mission, I wouldn't have applied. I wanted so badly to make a good impression on Captain Archer…- she laughed briefly –When we first met I felt really sick, but I tried to do my best. And I succeeded.- she concluded with a smug smile.
So I was right, it was mostly because of the languages. But I was wrong about her not being ready for this mission, clearly she is. Probably more than me as well.
Now I must go back to search for that damn ship.
-O- -O- -O-
Starlog 11 – June 13, 2151
Mission completed, thank God. Yesterday we finally found the Xyrillian ship; too bad that it was hiding in a Klingon battle cruiser's plasma wake.
Clearly, to get the Xyrillians we had to speak with the Klingons first but they didn't feel like speaking. As a greeting they shot us with a torpedo that almost destroyed us – this must be their way to say "hello", since T'Pol says they could have easily destroyed our ship if they wanted to. The Captain tried to talk with them but they wouldn't listen and they even threatened to fire us again, until T'Pol eventually managed to convince them.
And then I finally found out what had happened to Commander Tucker on the Xyrillian ship and why we were searching for them: he was pregnant. If we weren't in such a bad situation, I would've laughed; now I understood his nausea and the red marks on his wrist, they were actually nipples! The captain had him showing his abdomen to the Klingons, who found it very entertaining and allowed Commander Tucker on the Xyrillian ship. In some way, he was able to give the baby back to its mother.
From what we understood, he hadn't actually mated with one of the Xyrillians, he was impregnated telepathically, or something like that. Actually, as much as I often find him irritating, I don't think Commander Tucker would jeopardize his carrier just for sex. At least it's been really funny – for us, I mean. And I didn't have to fire anyone.
Now we are on the road again.