.
A week. One full week. And not a word about what had happened. Trip hadn't expected the full story. But still.
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
Trip knew that Hoshi had a habit of talking with Porthos when she took him for a walk. And this time, he was counting on it.
He fitted the small collar around Porthos's neck just as Hoshi came in to get him.
"What's that?" Hoshi asked, completely unaware.
"Oh, it's a new tracking system. So that if he escapes, we can find him." It was true. But the collar had some extra modifications.
Hoshi took the bait and led Porthos for his walk.
Trip hurried back to his quarters and put on the earphones. He quickly called the Captain to make sure that he was still in his ready room. Jon would call this unethical. But his method of "they'll tell us eventually" was just plain boring. So Trip had whipped us this listening system.
He heard Hoshi start speaking.
"Come here, Porthos. Let's go this way."
Trip called up Porthos's position on his screen. They could be heading anywhere.
"We just have to visit Phlox. I have a message for him."
He watched as the small dot went into sickbay.
"Here you go," Hoshi said.
"Thank you, Ensign," Phlox answered. "Have you continued taking the pills?" "Yes. But I've hardly felt sick. Are you sure that this thing was real?"
"Quite sure. It is a rare virus, but can be potent."
Trip had thought that the virus was a lie.
"Thank you, Phlox."
"Good night Ensign."
"Where do you want to now Porthos? The Captain isn't going to be happy if I don't exhaust you."
Trip leaned back in his chair and reached for a beer. Why couldn't he relax as he eaves dropped. Trip turned around as he thought he heard a door open. Porthos's footsteps increased, and the door closed again. He checked his screen and saw that Porthos was now in hydroponics. "What are you doing here boy?" Malcolm said. "Is that a new collar?" Trip winced. Malcolm was smart, and just might recognise the listener on Porthos's new collar. "What's Trip been doing with you? Let's take a look at this." Thankfully, the door opened again. "There you are!" said Hoshi. Trip wasn't sure if she was speaking to Malcolm or Porthos. "Pretty flower for a beautiful woman," Malcolm said. "Well, let me say thank you, then." Trip took off the headphones quickly and turned off his monitors. Then he started laughing. Trip considered for a moment whether he should tell Jon. After all, it was his plan. But then the full extortion value of this evidence made Trip reconsider. The things he could Malcolm do to keep this secret. Two crewmen walked by Trip's cabin quickly as the menacing laughter increased. .
Jon considered his plan a failure. On the bridge there was no sign that anything had happened between Hoshi and Malcolm. Oh well. It had been a good plan. And Phlox's little virus had turned out to be real. What do you know.
Now, Jon moved onto his next plan. With Starfleet's new fraternisation rules, setting people up just wasn't as fun anymore. No, something new and better needed to be done. Like a swimming pool where the crew could play water polo.
Jon pulled up the schematics for the ship, and realised that they could actually make one. If only that one pipe burst.
Lying at Jon's feet was Porthos, who groaned. Hadn't his master done enough? He had brought Hoshi and Malcolm together, which meant that his walks were always cut short. The poor humans. Everyone knew since it was a small ship. Dogs, in contrast, were always respectful of each other's relationships. Primitive humans. It was amazing that his master's plan had even worked. Some things are a combination of boredom, planning and just plain dumb luck. And now Travis had started liking Liz, something only he and T'Pol knew, on account of the ridiculous amounts of pheromones.
In fact, Porthos could hardly go onto the bridge anymore on account of those stinking pheromones. He didn't understand how T'Pol could endure it. Must be that nasal suppressant stuff. Porthos made a mental note, something which he had learned from his master, to "get lost" in T'Pol's quarters next time. And just happen to get to her nasal suppressant.
What can a dog do when love is in the air? .