I own nothing of Star Trek or any other series that might pop up. This is an AU

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Subject: 32 and grounded…

Not much has happened lately. In fact we've been really bored down in engineering. The science departments and linguists of course have lots to do as we have discovered two new planets. So we're sort of drifting in space between the two while the away teams do their work.

Obviously Scotty and I can only take so much down time, even with the new updates to read about. So Scotty might have tinkered with the warp drive one day and I might have been playing with the lasers and defense system, but it was NO reason to ground us! No one got hurt, and we didn't really need that scaffolding and catwalk anyway.

Apparently Kirk and Spock disagree… Which led to both of us being confined to quarters for a few days and we have strict instructions not to do any engineering work that they do not approve. To make it worse Spock, the evil pointy-eared dork, decided since we had so much time we needed to hold classes and seminars for the younger engineers.

Ok in reality that wasn't a bad idea, and I do like teaching the brats things, but it's the principle! He actually wanted us to have a test and grade papers! Can you believe that?

Thank goodness that our confinement has been lifted. Just in time for our monthly poker game! If you remember last time I told you about it we had to find a new place to have it. Some of the younger engineers kept finding us, or one of the other officers. God forbid if the hobgoblin finds out! No doubt it is a breach of several different regulations. Which probably is what makes it so much fun…

Anyway wish me luck. I heard a rumor Booth has saved up for this little game, and McCormick might be bringing his Spartan knife collection. You know how much I love knives.

Take care of yourself. Don't get killed.

Love,

Lexi

The six of them sat huddled together deep in the ship's bowels, a small box used for the table. All around them jetty tubes sat leading to various points in the ship. They knew to keep their voices down, even though the sound didn't travel too horribly from their location.

"Bloody 'ell!"

"How did you…"

"No way! Again!"

"Damn it!"

"That's the way it goes gents," McCormick cackled as he pulled the winnings from the latest round towards him. "Oh, and Lady."

"Bite me," Lexi huffed before taking a long swig from the bottle she had with her.

Various bottles of booze littered the table and the floor around them along with snacks. Poker chips were stacked in varying amounts in front of each member.

Booth grabbed the cards and started to shuffle them. "Alright, same game, whose in?"

Every one anteed up as it was far too early to end the night just yet. Soon the cards were dealt and each person shifted their cards in an effort to examine their hands. No one bothered looking at anyone else, as the bluffing would come on the second draw. The next few minutes remained silent as cards were dropped and exchanged for others, hoping for better luck on the second draw. Final bets were made and the bluffing went to an all new level. A few called, some folded, but only one took the pot with a pair of threes.

"Ha! Back in the game," crowed Lexi, grinning madly as she pulled the chips towards her.

"Damn! I don't know if I should call it a night or keep hoping the odds will favor me one time," Carter groused as he threw the cards towards Booth. "Deal better this time!"

"Hey man it's all the luck of the draw," the other defended. "Or have you noticed that I'm not exactly winning either?"

"Enough lads," Scotty snipped taking a shot of scotch. "If anyone is havin' a case o' hard luck it's meh." His accent had thickened over the course of the night, sometimes making it hard to understand him.

"Hurry up and deal, we only have another hour before people start wondering where we are," Rogers warned. "And what we're up to."

"What are you up to," a new voice with a familiar Russian accent startled the lot of them.

Several curses and cries of surprise left them as they turned to find Ensign Chekov squatting in one of the Jetty tubes watching them curiously.

"Damn It ta 'ell lad," Scotty managed to catch his breath first. "Don'a do tha'! Ye scared the piss out o' meh!"

"I am wery sorry. I jus' be heading to bed when I heard woices," the boy sat down watching them intently. "What ees game you play?"

"Poker," Booth informed him, showing him the deck. "Wanna play?"

"But ees zat not gambling? Ees against regulations," he frowned.

"Chekov, you're 19 years old, and live on a ship," Lexi gave the young man a look. "Surely you've done something or another that wasn't regulation in order to relax or have fun. This is something we do. We're not hurting anyone and everyone who plays knows exactly what they are getting into. We're all adults here."

"True," the smile on his face grew as he realized he was included in that statement. Many still treated him like a child because he was so much younger than the others, but not this group of people. "I do not know how to play. May I just watch for now? Maybe next time I join?"

"That's fine with us Pavel," Rogers nodded. "Just remember this is a secret game. Only the people here and a few other engineers know about it. Keep it on the down low and it's cool."

"Of course. I am not snitch," he promised, his serious face brought smiles to theirs. For the rest of the time they played the game they would explain why one hand won over another and the various rules. They even played a ghost hand so he could try his luck without risking any actual losses. They considered it a good night, after all they didn't often get to corrupt the younger generation.