Day Three
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"Good morning, Lieutenant," T'Pol greeted Malcolm as he entered the bridge. "I trust that you are ready for today's assignments?"
Malcolm's back stiffened a little.
"Actually, I hoped we could spend another day in the armoury Sub-Commander, it's important that the targeting scanners are recalibrated every three days."
T'Pol barely blinked.
"You did not mention this before, I have already prepared work for you to conduct on the bridge."
"I apologise for the short notice, Sub-Commander but the fact remains I'm needed in the armoury. If we are to continue this exchange scheme today, you'll have to come with me."
T'Pol had raised an eyebrow at his tone of voice.
"Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"
Malcolm hesitated a little, then said;
"Yes, actually, there is. I don't appreciate being set work to do like some newly graduated cadet."
"I see," T'Pol said.
"And I didn't appreciate your criticisms of ship security yesterday. With all due respect, Sub-Commander, I found them ill-founded and disrespectful."
"Is there anything else?" T'Pol asked.
Malcolm thought for a moment.
"No… no I don't think so."
"Lieutenant, I have given you the wrong impression," she enunciated clearly. "I never intended to criticise your methods – I merely believed you wanted my input. I have a great deal of respect for your professionalism and discipline, and I would be sorry if I had made you think otherwise."
Malcolm looked a little taken aback.
"I appreciate your saying so, Sub-Commander," he replied, looking a little guilty and feeling a little silly. "Shall we start again?"
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"That's right, Ensign, keep grinding the exoskeletons until they are a fine powder – no lumps! That's very important, remember!"
"No lumps," Travis repeated, grinding the pestle and mortar even more fiercely. "Just how many of these things do I have to grind?"
"Ukahlian beetles are my favoured source for analgesic, Ensign," Phlox smiled. "Every time you have a headache, this is what you're getting. So… just think how many times you have a bad headache and multiply it by seventy."
"Going by this week, that'll be quite a lot," Travis said under his breath. "You sure we're going to have enough of these guys?" he asked aloud, peering into the sand box containing the beetles.
Phlox looked as well.
"Hm, you could be right. Finish what you've got there, and we'll continue next time you're in sickbay. There should be plenty of them to choose from then."
"In two days?" Travis asked uncertainly.
"These beetles have an uncommonly fast reproductive period – in two days we'll have an ample supply, I assure you."
"That's a relief," Travis said.
"Hi, are you busy?" a new voice called from the door.
Travis and Phlox turned round.
"Hoshi!" Phlox smiled. "What can we do for you?"
Hoshi walked over and rolled up her sleeve carefully.
"I burnt my arm with some vent plasma in engineering," she said. "It's only small but it's really sore."
"Ooh, Hoshi, that looks nasty," Travis said with a grimace, as he looked at her arm.
"Yeah, thanks," Hoshi said, staring at him.
Phlox steered her over to a bio bed.
"Sit down, Ensign, we'll see what we can do for you."
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"Very good shooting, Sub-commander!" Malcolm called out, as the training simulation ran to an end.
"Your modifications to the phase pistols are impressive," T'Pol replied. "I would be interested to see your records."
"I'd be happy to show them to you," Malcolm said, pleased. "It's not something I can always get the Captain to show an interest in. He thinks I'm being pedantic about upgrading our hand weapons again and again."
"The Captain has mentioned your suggestions for increased security on away missions. I would be interested in seeing those as well."
"Actually, I'm glad you mentioned those," Malcolm said keenly, locking the phase pistols away. "I've been wanting to talk to you about Vulcan protocols for first contact. I'm interested in getting better security scans of a planet before we visit. At the moment, we spend far too much time going down blind."
"I would be happy to assist you," T'Pol agreed.
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"There now, Ensign, does that feel better?"
Hoshi tested her arm gingerly.
"Yes, much better, thank you, Doctor."
"Commander Tucker was right to send you up here straight away," Phlox continued. "It shouldn't scar."
Hoshi bit her lip.
"Commander Tucker doesn't know I'm here," she said. "He thinks I'm in the mess hall."
"He wasn't aware of your injury?" Phlox asked surprised.
"No, not exactly. It happened right at the end of shift, I thought it was easier just to come straight here."
"Hoshi, you should've said something!" Travis said, "It could've been serious."
"But it wasn't – it was nothing. I've had worse burns from cooking oil, honestly, Travis."
Phlox looked at Hoshi carefully.
"Ensign, was there a reason you didn't tell Commander Tucker about what happened?"
Hoshi sighed.
"I didn't want any fuss… I've been causing enough bother in engineering this week."
Phlox smiled.
"Ah,"
"What?" Hoshi asked.
"You were trying to cover up a mistake – it's perfectly understandable," Phlox shrugged.
"No!" Hoshi protested. "No, I just… I didn't want… I guess I didn't want Commander Tucker to know I couldn't do what he'd asked me to," Hoshi said at last. "I suppose I thought he'd be less impressed or something. I know, okay, it's stupid. It's just that me and engineering… it's been a nightmare."
Phlox sat down on the opposite bio bed to Hoshi.
"You know, Ensign, there's no shame in admitting our weaknesses. That's the whole point of this week's exercise. We're all learning to do things we couldn't before, aren't we Ensign Mayweather?" Phlox turned to Travis.
Travis, who had been observing Phlox and Hoshi acutely, nodded his head to the doctor.
"Yes, sir,"
"And I don't believe you could make Commander Tucker think badly of you," Phlox was smiling again. "He's been telling everyone who'll listen what a good partner you've been this week."
"He has?" Hoshi asked, surprised.
Phlox nodded and stood up.
"Now you're dismissed, Ensign, so promise me – next time a plasma conduit explodes in your vicinity you'll tell someone straight away?" he said sternly.
"Okay," Hoshi laughed. "And good luck with the flying lessons, Doctor. Travis," she nodded to her friend as she left them.
"Now, Ensign," Phlox said cheerfully, turning to Travis, "where did we get to with our Ukahlian Beetles?"
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Later on in the Mess Hall
"Hey, Malcolm," Trip greeted his friend. "Can I join you?"
Malcolm shifted his tray of food over in order to make room for Trip.
"By all means. Not dining with the captain tonight?"
Trip set himself down at the table.
"Nah, I'm too exhausted to be enthusiastic tonight."
"How are things going with Hoshi?" Malcolm asked with a grin.
"Better. She's a real quick learner," Trip said, with a lop-sided grin. "She's gettin' the hang of bein' an engineer a lot quicker than I am a translator. I really lucked-out getting' Hoshi as my partner this week… she's a good student as well as the best teacher." Seeing Malcolm looking at him, eyebrows raised, caused Trip to clear his throat and ask; "What about you and T'Pol? I guess she wouldn't have been anyone's first choice for this week. I hear you were havin' problems."
"Not at all," Malcolm said, swallowing quickly. "Maybe it took me some time for me to understand her, techniques, shall we say. But I've come to have a lot of respect for the Sub-Commander."
Trip looked at him.
"Are you kiddin' me? All she ever does is complain! There's no way I'd ever want her hangin' around Engineerin' tellin' me the way to do everything."
Malcolm shook his head.
"I think you're underestimating her – she's really quite encouraging."
Trip dropped his spoon.
"T'Pol? Encouraging? Are you feelin' alrigh', Malcolm?"
"I'm feeling fine, Trip," Malcolm grinned. "I think being partnered with the Sub-Commander this week could prove to be very beneficial."
"Well, now I've heard it all," Trip said, shaking his head. Then, his eyes darkened as a new thought crossed his mind. "You have been behavin' yourself, ain't ya, Malcolm? You haven't been takin' advantage of havin' T'Pol all to yourself for once? I know you… admire her, shall we say?"
Malcolm spluttered a little over his tea.
"No – no not at all!" he protested. "I wouldn't dream of – "
"Alrigh', alrigh', I didn't think so," Trip interrupted him. "I guess the Cap'n will be pleased his little scheme's workin'."
"I'm sure," Malcolm nodded, recovering himself. "It's worked this time, but let's hope he doesn't feel the need to make it a regular event," he grimaced.
"Huh - don't count on it," was all Trip offered in reply.
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To be continued… please read/review!