CHAPTER 1

Hoshi kept the pleasant look plastered on her face just long enough for her cabin door to close.

"Arg," she said, pausing only to take a deep breath, trying again with "Arrrrgggggggg!"

She ripped off her uniform and wadded it into a ball before throwing it on her bunk.

On came her comfort clothes -- red T-shirt and baggy red shorts, nicely faded; bunny slippers, pink and fluffy; and the piece de resistance, her stuffed friend, Sluggo, clutched against her chest.

"Computer: Sato personal log.

"I graduated second in my class. I speak 40 languages and am responsible for field testing a piece of equipment that is as important to Earth's space exploration as the captain's precious warp-five engine.

"And what does he have me do? Work on the UT? Study up on some of the newer languages?"

Hoshi held Sluggo up to her face, shaking the stuffed animal for emphasis as she paced from one end of her cabin to the next.

"No. He has me do a ship-wide newsletter! A friggin' newsletter!! Something that usually goes to the most useless person. And he expects me to believe that this is just as important as my job, like 'learning the language of possibly hostile aliens,' he says."

Hoshi paused in her pacing and rambling, remembering the pained look on Archer's face as she threatened to write the newsletter in Klingon.

It sure was fun to make him beg, she thought to herself.

"I have to do this because Starfleet wants it done. Fine. But just because the captain doesn't want to do this doesn't mean he gets off scott-free.

"Oh, no. It took a while, but I am getting paid for this.

"My choice of dessert once a month for a year, 15 minutes extra shower time once a week for a year," she grinned to herself as she continued, "and I get to pick the showing for movie night once a month for a year. Oh, is Trip gonna choke on his pecan pie." She giggled.

"Now I have to work on the damn thing. Computer, end recording."

Flopping down on her bunk, Hoshi took out a PADD and got down to business. Surprisingly, T'Pol had volunteered to be the first one interviewed.

"I see no reason why this should be prolonged. The sooner it is done, the sooner we can all get back to more logical tasks," Hoshi remembered the sub-commander saying as she briefly looked over at Archer.

"Now, let's see," she began, placing her finger against the side of her mouth.

"Nickname, such an obvious question. Hmm...most embarrassing moment on the ship. That should be a good one...especially for Trip," she chuckled.

"Ah, maybe have them say what the most surprising thing about them is."

Chewing on her lower lip for a moment, Hoshi considered trying to talk them into describing their idea of a perfect mate.

She lifted her hands in exasperation. "Great! I can also turn this into the Enterprise dating service. Maybe include cheesecake photos of the senior staff."

Laughing quietly as she tossed the PADD down beside her, Hoshi closed her eyes and thought of all the different types of cheesecake waiting for her to eat.