CHAPTER 2 - THE ASSIGNMENT
~2 ½ weeks earlier~
She had been obviously waiting for him. When he had entered his quarters, he was startled to discover a small form curled up on his bed. She looked so peaceful. He gingerly brushed the black hair from her face so that he could discern her Asian features.
She opened her eyes, and gave him a sweet smile. "Hi."
He pulled her up, towards him. He paused for a few seconds and looked deeply into her eyes; then, he took her into his arms, and brought her mouth to his. When they broke apart, he gazed into her eyes, and whispered, "Hi to you, too."-
- His reverie was interrupted when she leaned back in her chair and turned to look in his direction. Malcolm quickly glanced down, and pretended to be engrossed in whatever was displayed on his console at the bridge tactical station. He hoped that she had not noticed that he had been secretly observing her, and silently berated himself for being distracted - albeit pleasantly distracted.
Hoshi had been immersed in her current assignment - translating another alien language. After many hours of tinkering with the Universal Translator, she was finally successful when she entered an ingenuous algorithm, which resolved the difficulty in enunciating the dominant guttural sound of the language. A large smile signaled her satisfaction.
She scanned the bridge, in the hopes that someone had noticed her triumph. Hoshi had caught Malcolm looking at her in her peripheral vision, but when she turned to meet his eye, he had already returned to reading data from the console in front of him.
The remaining bridge crew had not noticed her elation either. Travis sat at the helm, staring absent-mindedly into space. T'pol stood at her station, completing the monthly efficiency reports. Trip had just entered the turbolift, after conferring with T'pol on upgrade plans for the warp nacelles. The captain was holed up in his ready room, having just received a transmission from Starfleet headquarters.
As if on cue, Captain Archer now entered the bridge. His smile rivaled that of Hoshi's. Pointing to her and to Malcolm, he cheerfully announced, "Ensign. Lieutenant. You are going on a very exciting away mission." He then retreated to his ready room.
With no planets in sight and nothing on the long range sensors, they gave each other puzzled looks. Then, both stood and followed their captain.
*********************
Archer sat with his feet up on his desk, hands behind his head and torso leaning back in his chair. He looked like someone with a secret he was dying to share. "Please. Have a seat."
They complied. Hoshi shifted in her seat - uneasiness growing at the prospect of another away mission. Malcolm, on the other hand, sat very still and very straight.
"At ease, Lieutenant," Archer chuckled. He was always amused by the way his armory officer was so 'by the book'. "I bet you are both wondering what this is all about."
"Yes, sir," they answered in unison.
"I have just received a communiqué from Admiral Forrest. We are currently negotiating a treaty with the planet of Bathos. Apparently, your talents, Hoshi, have become legendary, and you have been specifically requested for first contact."
"Way to go Ensign." Malcolm gave her a quick smile and a gentle congratulatory punch in the arm.
Archer continued, "You have already been sent some information on them. They need help programming their UT's for the English and Vulcan language. Hopefully, you will be able to set up our UT within the next few days."
Proudly, Hoshi replied, "Captain, I have just completed the programming. The UT should work just fine."
"Excellent." Archer's decision to bring Hoshi on this maiden voyage was once again validated. "They have also asked for you to set up a few classes on language basics for a few of their high-ranking officials."
"Excuse me, sir," Malcolm interjected. "Why am I to accompany the Ensign?" Knowing what his talents were, he supposed that this mission carried potential risk. Obviously, he could be of little service to Hoshi in the classroom.
"Well, this treaty may involve a military alliance. You are to assess their capabilities, as well as advise them on Starfleet protocols." Archer stifled his laughter as he observed that Malcolm had straightened even more in his seat (if that were possible) upon hearing the words 'military alliance'. "Your presence has also been specifically requested."
"Way to go, Lieutenant." Hoshi reciprocated his earlier endorsement, as well as gave him a less-than-gentle punch in his arm.
Rubbing his shoulder, he gave her an insincere scowl. "So, when are we to leave, sir?"
"We are approximately 4 days from Bathos at warp 4. Enterprise will take you most of the way. Then you will have another half day trip in a shuttle. The Bathosans have requested only a small contingent participate in this first official visit." Archer's disappointment was evident. "We have been asked to investigate a nearby quasar. We'll be back to get you in about 2 weeks."
"Two weeks, sir?" both asked in unison, again.
"Oh, don't worry. I've seen the itinerary, and you both will be too busy to miss us."
Hoshi and Malcolm nodded in agreement.
"You are dismissed." Watching them scramble out the door, Archer was pleased by their enthusiasm. 'I just hope that they don't get into any trouble.'
TBC. . .
A/N: I am going to have to build-up the plot somewhat before the action really starts so please be patient. The muse is rather flighty right now, as well.
~2 ½ weeks earlier~
She had been obviously waiting for him. When he had entered his quarters, he was startled to discover a small form curled up on his bed. She looked so peaceful. He gingerly brushed the black hair from her face so that he could discern her Asian features.
She opened her eyes, and gave him a sweet smile. "Hi."
He pulled her up, towards him. He paused for a few seconds and looked deeply into her eyes; then, he took her into his arms, and brought her mouth to his. When they broke apart, he gazed into her eyes, and whispered, "Hi to you, too."-
- His reverie was interrupted when she leaned back in her chair and turned to look in his direction. Malcolm quickly glanced down, and pretended to be engrossed in whatever was displayed on his console at the bridge tactical station. He hoped that she had not noticed that he had been secretly observing her, and silently berated himself for being distracted - albeit pleasantly distracted.
Hoshi had been immersed in her current assignment - translating another alien language. After many hours of tinkering with the Universal Translator, she was finally successful when she entered an ingenuous algorithm, which resolved the difficulty in enunciating the dominant guttural sound of the language. A large smile signaled her satisfaction.
She scanned the bridge, in the hopes that someone had noticed her triumph. Hoshi had caught Malcolm looking at her in her peripheral vision, but when she turned to meet his eye, he had already returned to reading data from the console in front of him.
The remaining bridge crew had not noticed her elation either. Travis sat at the helm, staring absent-mindedly into space. T'pol stood at her station, completing the monthly efficiency reports. Trip had just entered the turbolift, after conferring with T'pol on upgrade plans for the warp nacelles. The captain was holed up in his ready room, having just received a transmission from Starfleet headquarters.
As if on cue, Captain Archer now entered the bridge. His smile rivaled that of Hoshi's. Pointing to her and to Malcolm, he cheerfully announced, "Ensign. Lieutenant. You are going on a very exciting away mission." He then retreated to his ready room.
With no planets in sight and nothing on the long range sensors, they gave each other puzzled looks. Then, both stood and followed their captain.
*********************
Archer sat with his feet up on his desk, hands behind his head and torso leaning back in his chair. He looked like someone with a secret he was dying to share. "Please. Have a seat."
They complied. Hoshi shifted in her seat - uneasiness growing at the prospect of another away mission. Malcolm, on the other hand, sat very still and very straight.
"At ease, Lieutenant," Archer chuckled. He was always amused by the way his armory officer was so 'by the book'. "I bet you are both wondering what this is all about."
"Yes, sir," they answered in unison.
"I have just received a communiqué from Admiral Forrest. We are currently negotiating a treaty with the planet of Bathos. Apparently, your talents, Hoshi, have become legendary, and you have been specifically requested for first contact."
"Way to go Ensign." Malcolm gave her a quick smile and a gentle congratulatory punch in the arm.
Archer continued, "You have already been sent some information on them. They need help programming their UT's for the English and Vulcan language. Hopefully, you will be able to set up our UT within the next few days."
Proudly, Hoshi replied, "Captain, I have just completed the programming. The UT should work just fine."
"Excellent." Archer's decision to bring Hoshi on this maiden voyage was once again validated. "They have also asked for you to set up a few classes on language basics for a few of their high-ranking officials."
"Excuse me, sir," Malcolm interjected. "Why am I to accompany the Ensign?" Knowing what his talents were, he supposed that this mission carried potential risk. Obviously, he could be of little service to Hoshi in the classroom.
"Well, this treaty may involve a military alliance. You are to assess their capabilities, as well as advise them on Starfleet protocols." Archer stifled his laughter as he observed that Malcolm had straightened even more in his seat (if that were possible) upon hearing the words 'military alliance'. "Your presence has also been specifically requested."
"Way to go, Lieutenant." Hoshi reciprocated his earlier endorsement, as well as gave him a less-than-gentle punch in his arm.
Rubbing his shoulder, he gave her an insincere scowl. "So, when are we to leave, sir?"
"We are approximately 4 days from Bathos at warp 4. Enterprise will take you most of the way. Then you will have another half day trip in a shuttle. The Bathosans have requested only a small contingent participate in this first official visit." Archer's disappointment was evident. "We have been asked to investigate a nearby quasar. We'll be back to get you in about 2 weeks."
"Two weeks, sir?" both asked in unison, again.
"Oh, don't worry. I've seen the itinerary, and you both will be too busy to miss us."
Hoshi and Malcolm nodded in agreement.
"You are dismissed." Watching them scramble out the door, Archer was pleased by their enthusiasm. 'I just hope that they don't get into any trouble.'
TBC. . .
A/N: I am going to have to build-up the plot somewhat before the action really starts so please be patient. The muse is rather flighty right now, as well.