"Well, I think we made a good team there." Malcolm smiled at Hoshi as they finally left the cargo bay. The creature had taken up residence in a container ready for transport back to its home planet, and its erstwhile captives had been carried off for examination in Sickbay. "Your translation matrix and my EM field saved the day between them."
"I wouldn't have got anywhere with it without T'Pol's help," she admitted, colouring slightly. "It's not like any other language I've studied. It's more like a series of mathematical constructs than anything else. It's going to take a lot of work to make much sense of it."
"I'd imagine you'll open a few eyes in the linguistics field when you publish your report. You'll be the first to introduce the concept. That'll put your name in the history books."
"Right behind yours with the EM field. I know Starfleet has been working on that for a few years and never perfected it."
"It's not perfect yet." He glanced down a little bashfully at the PADD he held. "It'll need a bit more tweaking before it's any use for widespread applications. But it worked well enough in these conditions."
"Tell you what. Join me in the Mess tonight and we can drink to our success. I'll bring a bottle of sake."
"I've been saving a bottle of Johnny Walker in my quarters for a special occasion," he suggested.
"The captain won't be too impressed if we're both hung-over on the Bridge tomorrow morning." Her eyes twinkled.
"I'll promise not to get hammered if you will." They began walking down the corridor towards the turbo-lift.
"We're due for some shore leave soon. I think we'd better save getting drunk till then."
"Hmm. It's been the best part of a year since we left Earth. I'm quite looking forward to a break if we can find somewhere suitable. Trip's already suggested we combine our firepower."
"Oh, if you and Trip are going to hit the town I'll guarantee you get into trouble."
"Are you implying I can't look after myself, Ensign?" he demanded loftily, thumbing the lift control button.
"Maybe you can look after yourself, Lieutenant." She grinned. "But both of you? Fifty credits say you can't."
He folded his arms and tried to look forbidding, without much success. "Gambling on duty?"
"Call it a challenge. Are you in?"
"A red-blooded Englishman never refuses a challenge."
"It's a bet then." They shook hands on it. "If you both get drawn to go, it's play or pay. If you don't, the bet's off."
"I hope you're a good loser."
The lift arrived and they both got in. The silence as it took them to E Deck was comfortable. When it disgorged them they had to head in different directions, and they smiled at each other.
"See you in the Mess at 20:00," said Malcolm.
"Sure thing." She winked, and then turned and walked away.
He watched her for a couple of seconds and then turned to head for his own cabin, shaking his head. At a guess, he'd just violated a round dozen regulations, but what the hell. Some days you just had to live a little dangerously.