Never Gonna Give In - Never Gonna Give It Up
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Chapter Two~ Burger Buns
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed shoveled another spoon-full of egg soup into his mouth, nearly choking on the previous portion he had failed to swallow in time. He was in a hurry, trying to rush through his lunch in an effort to speed up time. After lunch, a small crew was being sent down to the planet they had been scanning for the last two days.
They knew a good deal about the planet, Sub-Commander T'pol making every effort possible to ensure the crew knew what they were going into. The planet was called Tidule and consisted of mostly swampland, a few desert areas scattered here and there. Only one continent rested on the planet, split nearly in half by a vast river. As far as Enterprise knew, no humanoid species inhabited the planet. Captain Archer would be joining Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker in the exploration of the west side of the river.
The Mess Hall was crowded, people moving around and talking loudly about the mission, but Malcolm failed to notice them. His mind was on a one-way track, taking him to the surface of a dangerous planet, where only he could keep his crew alive.
"Lieutenant Reed!" Someone cried out in fear.
Malcolm turned to find who was pleading for his help, phase pistol in hand.
"Malcolm!"
Malcolm jumped, returning to the Mess Hall and his now cold soup.
"Where'd you go, Lieutenant?" Commander Tucker asked, dropping his own tray of food on the table across from Malcolm.
"Oh, Commander, I, uh, was just thinking." Malcolm tried desperately not to blush.
Trip gave him a knowing look and scooted closer so only Malcolm could hear him. "Someone I know?"
"What?" It took Malcolm a moment to understand what the commander meant. "No, Sir, nothing like that!"
"Whatever you say, Lieutenant." Trip leaned over his own tray, relishing in the taste of the cheeseburger Chef had prepared for lunch that day. Inside he was chuckling, thrilled, as always, to have gotten to Lieutenant Reed. It had become a game between the two, seeking the other's weaknesses and finding out just how far they could push them. They never intended to hurt each other, quite the contrary, it strengthened the bond of friendship between them. Friendly banter was the best way to pass the time.
"Are you ready to head out to Tidule?" Malcolm asked his friend.
Trip shrugged. "There really ain't that much to be prepared for."
"What do you mean?"
"You heard T'pol's briefing," Trip said, a hint of - what? Anger? Fear? - in his voice. "There ain't nuthin' but a bunch of bugs 'n' snakes on that planet."
Malcolm looked at Trip, unable to believe his ears. The commander was always ecstatic about new missions, always begging the captain to give him permission to go along. But now it was as if Trip had been dragged into going.
Trip poked at the bun of his burger with a finger, no longer hungry. He had been having a terrible feeling about this mission over the last couple days. It started out as nightmares whenever he found himself asleep, but it had begun to nag at him in his conscious hours, as well. Of course, he would never admit his unease to the Lieutenant. If he did, and nothing happened, he would never hear the end of it.
Malcolm cleared his throat, trying to end the awkward silence. "Well," Malcolm said, unable to think of any conversation. "I suppose I'll go get myself ready, then." My stood from his seat and picked up his tray, quickly leaving the commander alone at the table.
Trip flicked the top bun of his burger over the tray. What was wrong with him?
~@~@~@~ A/n: Another short chapter. Its starting off slow, but it gets better! (Does in my head, anyway.)
Chapter Two~ Burger Buns
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed shoveled another spoon-full of egg soup into his mouth, nearly choking on the previous portion he had failed to swallow in time. He was in a hurry, trying to rush through his lunch in an effort to speed up time. After lunch, a small crew was being sent down to the planet they had been scanning for the last two days.
They knew a good deal about the planet, Sub-Commander T'pol making every effort possible to ensure the crew knew what they were going into. The planet was called Tidule and consisted of mostly swampland, a few desert areas scattered here and there. Only one continent rested on the planet, split nearly in half by a vast river. As far as Enterprise knew, no humanoid species inhabited the planet. Captain Archer would be joining Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker in the exploration of the west side of the river.
The Mess Hall was crowded, people moving around and talking loudly about the mission, but Malcolm failed to notice them. His mind was on a one-way track, taking him to the surface of a dangerous planet, where only he could keep his crew alive.
"Lieutenant Reed!" Someone cried out in fear.
Malcolm turned to find who was pleading for his help, phase pistol in hand.
"Malcolm!"
Malcolm jumped, returning to the Mess Hall and his now cold soup.
"Where'd you go, Lieutenant?" Commander Tucker asked, dropping his own tray of food on the table across from Malcolm.
"Oh, Commander, I, uh, was just thinking." Malcolm tried desperately not to blush.
Trip gave him a knowing look and scooted closer so only Malcolm could hear him. "Someone I know?"
"What?" It took Malcolm a moment to understand what the commander meant. "No, Sir, nothing like that!"
"Whatever you say, Lieutenant." Trip leaned over his own tray, relishing in the taste of the cheeseburger Chef had prepared for lunch that day. Inside he was chuckling, thrilled, as always, to have gotten to Lieutenant Reed. It had become a game between the two, seeking the other's weaknesses and finding out just how far they could push them. They never intended to hurt each other, quite the contrary, it strengthened the bond of friendship between them. Friendly banter was the best way to pass the time.
"Are you ready to head out to Tidule?" Malcolm asked his friend.
Trip shrugged. "There really ain't that much to be prepared for."
"What do you mean?"
"You heard T'pol's briefing," Trip said, a hint of - what? Anger? Fear? - in his voice. "There ain't nuthin' but a bunch of bugs 'n' snakes on that planet."
Malcolm looked at Trip, unable to believe his ears. The commander was always ecstatic about new missions, always begging the captain to give him permission to go along. But now it was as if Trip had been dragged into going.
Trip poked at the bun of his burger with a finger, no longer hungry. He had been having a terrible feeling about this mission over the last couple days. It started out as nightmares whenever he found himself asleep, but it had begun to nag at him in his conscious hours, as well. Of course, he would never admit his unease to the Lieutenant. If he did, and nothing happened, he would never hear the end of it.
Malcolm cleared his throat, trying to end the awkward silence. "Well," Malcolm said, unable to think of any conversation. "I suppose I'll go get myself ready, then." My stood from his seat and picked up his tray, quickly leaving the commander alone at the table.
Trip flicked the top bun of his burger over the tray. What was wrong with him?
~@~@~@~ A/n: Another short chapter. Its starting off slow, but it gets better! (Does in my head, anyway.)