Dinner

Leila, Elvira, and Acelynn sat at the oval-shaped cherry wood table in Leila's quarters, awaiting their guests. Leila sat at the head of the table, while Elvira and Acelynn took their usual places on either side. Leila checked her watch once more, for the fifth time in the past three minutes.

"Where are they?" she grumbled. "If they're so much as a minute late, so help me…" she threatened.

"I'm sure they're on their way," responded Elvira, also looking toward the door.
"I wonder who they'll bring with them," Acelynn added, looking excited. Suddenly the chimes rang seven o' clock. At that precise moment, a knock sounded at the door.

"This is Captain Kirk and two guests, reporting for dinner at seven, as requested," Kirk's voice announced through the door.

"Is he serious?" Leila quietly exploded. "He's mocking me!" Acelynn immediately burst into laughter, and Elvira didn't look to be too far behind her. Leila regained control of herself enough to call, "You may enter."

The door opened and the three figures stepped in. Leila had been right; Bones was one of Kirk's accompanying guests. The girls did not recognize the other, a young dirty-blond Starfleet member. Leila glanced over at Acelynn and caught her warm smile directed at the newcomer. Without bidding, Kirk sat at the other head of the table, directly across from Leila. Bones took the spot next to Elvira, both of whom seeming quite happy about the seating arrangement. The other guest sat next to Acelynn, who gave him another sparkling smile. Leila called out to the cadets who were on serving duty that night, and platters and bottles of wine were instantly placed on the table. As soon as the cadets left, the pleasantries began.

"We're so pleased you were able to join us tonight," Leila welcomed, pointedly looking at only Bones and the newcomer.

"We appreciate the invitation," Kirk replied, not seeming at all offended. "May I take this opportunity to introduce my guests, Captain Leila?"

"Of course, Captain Kirk." If he could do it, so could she.

"This is, as you know, Bones, the senior medical officer of both the Enterprise and, now that our crews are combined, the Stargazer for this mission." Leila did not miss the fact that this was a statement, not a request, but she let it slide. She should start picking her arguments, or else every other word would cause a debate. Plus, she had no concerns about Bones and Elvira working together. She imagined they would like it very much…

"It's so good to see you again, Doctor," Elvira purred, flashing an impeccable smile.

"Likewise, Doctor," Bones replied, his own teeth glittering in a rather attractive smile.

"And this," Kirk continued, gesturing to the other guest, "is Chekov, one of the best Ensign Officers, navigators, and security and tactical officers you'll find in this part of the galaxy. Especially accounting for his young age." Chekov beamed under the compliment. Here Kirk paused, apparently debating how to go about his next words. "Chekov had been assigned to the tertiary control room for the duration of this mission. However, I'm sure the crew and the mission will benefit if Chekov holds a position on the bridge, as he did on the Enterprise." Was this a request? Slowly Leila nodded her consent. Kirk seemed content. Chekov stared from Kirk to Leila, openmouthed.

"So pleased to meet you!" he greeted in a heavy Russian accent. Acelynn's eyes widened in delight. Leila gave a soft chuckle as she and Elvira exchanged glances. They both knew from past experience that Acelynn loved guys with accents. "Sank you so much! You vill not regret zis promotion! I have been all ower space wis ze Enterprise, and I have learned so much about all ze wast galaxies! I vill do my best to serve zis wessel as well as I can!" Chekov finished, smiling a broad grin. Acelynn sidled a little closer to him.

"Well," Elvira exclaimed, "you sure are enthusiastic!" Chekov blushed a little, but his grin was still in place as the other diners chuckled. The introductions were soon overtaken by smaller conversations about pasts, the differences between Starfleet and the Alliance, and the current mission.

"So, how did you three meet?" Kirk questioned. "You seem to be pretty good friends. Were you all just assigned to the same ship?" Acelynn laughed.

"No, we knew each other long before that," she grinned.

"We were in the same year at the Alliance Academy. We knew each other there, if just barely," Elvira explained. "Then one day a professor grouped us three together for an assignment. Something about making a miniature model of our ideal ship."

"I don't know how, considering none of us took the project seriously, but somehow we pulled off an A. The professor even put our ship on exhibit!" laughed Leila, picking up the story. "I still think that he's been drinking," she confided to her friends, remembering a past discussion.

"Definitely," agreed Acelynn. "There's no way he could've been sober."

"Well anyway, that's when we started actually becoming good friends," continued Elvira. "During the rest of our schooling, we each made some pretty influential friends in our departments. So, when the time came to be assigned to a ship…" she shrugged.

"…we all happened to be commissioned to the same one," Leila grinned. "And we've been best friends ever since."

"I see," commented Bones. "So you've been friends ever since school? And you've never gotten tired of each other? Amazing…" He threw a look at Kirk, who chuckled.

"Bones and I met when we both joined Starfleet. We met Spock three years later. Somehow we all balance each other out," Kirk explained, grinning at his friend.

"Spock?" Elvira asked. "I've heard of him. A half-Vulcan half-human, isn't he?" Bones nodded.

"Yeah, Spock's certainly a character," the other doctor laughed. "Brilliant guy, but he loses a little on the humanity side of things."

"He couldn't make it on this trip, though," Kirk continued. "He's off planet for a diplomatic run with the Vulcan elders." Elvira nodded, clearly disappointed she would not be able to meet this Spock.

"I have been vondering," Chekov spoke up, changing topics, "how do you tell ze rank on zis wessel? You do not have different colors to detect rank." Leila held back a grin; she could almost see Acelynn's heart melt like butter in the sun whenever he spoke.

"Well it's like this." Acelynn immediately launched into a very detailed description of the Alliance members' uniforms. Much too detailed for Leila's liking. She had to fight to hold back a blush one or two times. Acelynn ended with, "So, you see, the cuffs on the uniform determine what rank or job someone has. Captains have three cuffs, first officers and senior medical officers have two, and everyone else has one."

"Wery interesting," Chekov responded, eyes only for Acelynn. Leila was sure he had only heard about half of what she had said.

"And soon, because I was just promoted to senior medical officer, I'll get my new cuffs!" Elvira informed excitedly.

"Mmm, and I'll be happy to put them on for you," Bones murmured. Elvira blushed deeply, but Leila could tell that she didn't altogether mind the comment. In fact, she was probably entertaining the idea that very moment. Kirk snickered at the exchange. Sensing the danger of a like comment directed at her, Leila quickly changed subjects.

"So how exactly are we planning on penetrating the atmosphere?" she questioned, voicing the first things that popped into her head. Apparently this was the wrong topic to bring up. Chekov immediately began babbling in a long string of descriptions, algorithms, and theories. Leila swore that half of what he said wasn't even in English. She sat, dumbfounded, staring at the ensign.

"…and as you vell know ze technology onboard and incorporated in zis wessel has ze potential and welocity to…" he chattered on. Suddenly Kirk held up a hand to stop Chekov, who halted mid-sentence. Kirk wore a grin of pure mockery. 'Uh-oh,' thought Leila. 'Here it comes.'

"You mean to tell me," Kirk began, his smirk growing wider by the second, "that you, you the Alliance members with all your fancy ships and technology, don't even know what to do with it?"

"Excuse me," Leila retaliated, thoroughly irritated, "but I happen to know exactly what to do with our technology. I have been captain of this ship for two years. I assure you that I am fully competent in all respects."

"Ah," Kirk replied calmly, "but you don't know how to use the technology in a situation like this." Leila began to interrupt, but Kirk pushed on. "Bones, I'm beginning to think that we could have gotten along better in our very own Enterprise. This ship has nothing useful to it," he provoked. That was it. Kirk could try to degrade her and she would have less of a problem with it. She could walk away, or fight back if the need arose. But to defame her ship? Her Stargazer? No. That just wasn't done. As a captain, he should know that.

"I seem to remember, Mister Kirk," Leila retorted each word laced with a deadly combination of fury and outrage, "that my ship has the more advanced technology. My ship is the reason you have even the slightest shot at penetrating Tremonillian's outer atmosphere. My ship, Kirk. Mine. Remember that." The atmosphere around the table tensed. Kirk didn't seem to feel that, or else he brushed it off.

"Well, you know what I always say, Bones," he exclaimed brightly, reaching over to slap his friend on the back.

"What do you always say?" Bones replied, partially wary of the answer.

"What matters isn't how advanced your technology is," Kirk grinned. "It's how you handle what you've got." Kirk chose this moment to throw a broad wink at Leila, anticipating that she would blush and change the conversation, like always. Leila, however, wasn't done.

"Did you just admit to you…technology…not being…state of the art?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow at him. Both Elvira and Acelynn burst into identical coughing fits that suspiciously resembled uncontrollable laughter. Kirk's face turned the slightest shade of pink. Chekov looked uncomfortable, and Bones reached for the glass of wine in front of him before he could make any incriminating facial expressions. Kirk recovered almost instantly.

"You just want to know that so you can imagine how my technology works, don't you? You know, you don't need to keep imagining. You're always welcome to explore my ship and see for yourself," he smirked.

"I think I'll have to decline the offer. I have entirely –," Leila's retort was cut off by Bones, who had drained his glass of wine.

"Well, it's late," he hinted. "We had better get going. Thank you for dinner. We will see you tomorrow." Leila glared across the table at Kirk, who seemed to have recovered all of his good humor. He got up and moved to the door.

"Yes, you're right, Bones. Goodnight, ladies. Sweet dreams," he grinned, looking only at Leila. Chekov rose and walked to the door also.

"Sank you for dinner," he expressed. "I hope to see you all again wery soon." Leila noticed that he gazed singularly at Acelynn as he spoke. Bones proceeded to the door also.
"It was very gracious of you to invite us," he emphasized. "We will be seeing you tomorrow."

This seemed to hold a certain amount of excitement for both him and Elvira. He turned at swiftly strode out the door, with Chekov in his wake. Kirk stayed unmoving for a moment, still grinning devilishly at Leila.

"'Till tomorrow," he repeated, before spinning around through the door, which he shut behind him. As soon as the door clicked shut, Leila slouched in her seat. She eyed the wine glass in front of her.

"This will be a long mission," she professed, ignoring the wine glass and lifting the whole bottle to her lips.