"That's the second time this week the core's superheated, Trip!" Archer looked at the warp core and shook his head.
"I've been trying every trick in the book, Captain. We might have to bring it in to Starfleet engineering if it gets much worse."
"Let's hope it's finished soon," Archer said, and turned to the communications panel to send a message to Starfleet. He instantly knew that was a mistake. Hoshi looked like she was having a nervous breakdown, and he couldn't help but crack a smile.
The result was a murderous stare from Hoshi and a slap on the back from Mayweather. "Looks like you've got a mutiny on your hands, there, Captain!" he said, laughing.
T'Pol raised one eyebrow. "I fail to see the amusement in ostracizing a fellow crewman."
Trip massaged his eyes and said, rather icily, "Just like you to ruin everyone's—" he looked at Hoshi guiltily, "fun."
Archer shrugged. "You know, she's right, Trip. We're sorry, Hoshi." She gave him a sulky stare.
"So," Mayweather broke in, "where were we going before the…unfortunate disaster?"
"We were going to the Klingon outpost on Daq'tar V—" he grinned as Hoshi shook her head at the pronunciation. "I guess what goes around, comes around, eh, Ensign?"
She raised her eyebrows innocently. "Yes, sir!" she said loftily.
"As I was saying…we heard about a dispute going on there about food rations. One side says the other is hoarding the food, and so on. Starfleet, in its infinite wisdom, has sent us to deal with it."
"I sure as heck know how to deal with it," Reed mumbled, fingering the M-33 at his belt.
"Keep your shirt on, Lieutenant, and keep those weapons to yourself before you kill us all," Trip accentuated the remark with an exaggerated drawl. Mayweather and Reed exchanged amused glances.
"Hopefully it won't come to that, Malcolm," Archer said, and, as an afterthought, "sorry."
"There's always next time," Reed replied mechanically, as if to convince himself.
"Mayweather…ahead at Warp 4.5!"
"On it, sir."
***
After duty shifts were over, Reed moved to go off the bridge. Mayweather watched him closely, though, because he could tell by the devious expression that he was about to do something. When he looked at Hoshi he almost laughed out loud. Apparently, she was reviewing a language database and was totally oblivious to everything around her. Reed walked up, phaser pistol out, and walked up and pointed it at her head. Trip had caught on by now and was purposefully distracting T'Pol. Once the pistol was within a centimeter of her head, he whispered, "Boo!"
Hoshi squealed and almost fell out of her chair. Looking to the Captain didn't help her much either—he somehow was laughing and trying to look disappointed in Reed at the same time.
She smiled sarcastically. "Very funny, Mr. Reed," she said, and walked out of the room with surprising dignity.
***
Enterprise dropped out of Warp at 1200 hours sharp as it normally did. Archer pulled out his communicator. "Reed! Time to get up here. We've come across an asteroid field, and we have a few torpedoes…"
"Say no more, sir—I'll be right there!" Reed yelled in ecstasy.
Less than a minute later, Reed was standing at his post. A red button flashed that indicated that he had locked on to an asteroid. Time for one big explosion…
He pushed the button. "An Chaq, chu'Naq!" computer said.
Reed was
dismayed. "What's going on here? It won't fire the bloody torpedo! Sounds like a Klingon chap's been into our
computer systems…" his eyes narrowed. "No,
no Klingon's been in the system. I'm
beginning to see the picture here." He
walked over to Hoshi's post. "Would you
happen to know what that computer just said?"
"I'm too busy watching my back
to check the language database."
Trip looked over at Mayweather and mouthed, "Hoshi, one, Reed, nothing."
"What does it say?" Reed asked impatiently.
"I believe it says, 'password required'," she said smugly.
Trip whistled silently, and Mayweather held up 2 fingers.
Presently, Reed walked over to the Captain. "Lieutenant Malcolm Reed reporting for duty, sir!"
"Take your post…if you can get it to work!" Archer smirked. The whole bridge snickered.
T'Pol would never admit it, but Trip swore he saw her smile a little.
***
Later that day in the Mess hall, Reed walked over to where Hoshi was eating. He bent down and said, "Q'in an'na," something he desperately hoped was Klingon for "sorry".
Hoshi grinned. "Close enough. And it's ok. You can have your weapons back now. Friends?"
Reed shrugged. "Friends."
