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Chapter 2
First Date
Captain's Log: 'We are on route to Starbase 41. The colonist will be dropped off to await transportation to their original destination.'
Captain's personal log: 'Ensign Kyree provided me with the recording she made of the ancient drawings. The comparison is astonishing. Oradica and Marmicon 9 are very distant from each other. Whatever race visited both planets did so millions of years ago. That is if the Ensign's childhood memories of the drawings on Oradica are accurate.'
Picard sipped at his Earl Grey tea. Idly wondering about the young Ensign. The first couple days, Kyree had been given time to explore the ship. Reports from Riker and others told him, she had visited with the injured from the Hopewell often, engineering had been her first stop after that and then of course Ten-Forward. Guinan had told him all Kyree came for was to stare out into the stars. Even Guinan seemed taken by this new crewman. She said there's something about her that is familiar. Whatever, the Ensign will start duty tomorrow. Picard checked to see where Riker had put her. Engineering, Picard wondered if Geordi ever got tired of the new ones. Riker seemed to test them out in engineering quite a bit. Not that LaForge would complain if they could do the job. Shaking off his self-indulgence, Picard looked to other matters at hand that need his attention.
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The personnel in engineering paid little attention to the thrumming of the engine core. The sound vibrated through the ship and could be heard or felt if one listened for it. The only other sound in the department was a lone voice practicing lines as he checked the monitors.
'Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear,' Lt. Barclay changed his voice slightly.
'Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing: They call me Katherine that do talk of me,' He went back to his regular voice.
'You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst. But, Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-Hall,' Barclay's memory faltered. He paused to look at a PAD he carried. 'My super-dainty Kate, for dainties are all cates; and therefore, Kate take this of me, Kate of my consolation;-Hearing thy mildness prais'd om everytown, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,- Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,-- Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife,' Barclay let out his the breath he had taken to say it all.
The Lt. paused to continue his monitor check. He did not hear Ensign Kryee enter quietly into engineering. Shift change wasn't for another hour yet. He didn't expect anyone. Barclay checked the PAD to find his place. He muttered several lines under his breath. He flipped through passages he wasn't interested in practicing. He began again.
'Nay, I will win my wager better yet; And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience. See where she comes, and brings your forward wives as prisoners to her womanly persuasion,' Barclay pointed. Kyree frowned and stared hard where he pointed. But the Ensign didn't say anything.
'Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not; off with that bauble, throw it underfoot,' He said in a commanding tone. Skipping a by another speech, he continued. 'Why there's a wench! - Come on, and kiss me, Kate,' Barclay made a big flourish with his hand and turned to see the confused face of the Ensign. His face flushed and he started to stammer.
'I was just uh,' Barclay felt his throat go tight.
'Who where you talking too Lt.? Kyree asked still looking around.
'Nobody. You see I'm trying out for this part,' Barclay tried to explain. He saw the understanding on her face.
'Oh in a play. I have seen one,' Kyree nodded. Then realizing her manners she presented herself to a superior officer.
'Ensign Kyree reporting for duty, Sir,' she stood at attention.
Barclay had to smile slightly. Rarely did even the junior officers call him, sir. Geordi wasn't strict on that protocol. And he didn't command the presence for people to say it automatically. He had seen the young woman in Ten-Forward the other night, staring out the huge viewing windows. Barclay was an expert in appearing to be interested in something but really watching the people around him. He knew that's what Kyree had been doing. A few times she had lost herself in the view. But he could tell she was watching people. Her ears would flick whenever her name had been mention, even those far across the room from her. Barclay stared at the ensign a little bit too long. He became embarrassed as he answered her.
'Oh, welcome to engineering, Ensign,' He tried hard to think of something to say. 'I guess I could show you around.... I… don't know… where Commander LaForge will want you to be.'
'Could I not just help you finish what you where doing? Until Commander LaForge arrives,' Kyree nodded toward the monitors.
'Ah.... yes...I see...no…Reason...why you couldn't' Barclay's hands shook as he put down the PAD. 'I was just doing routine checks and adjustments,' His voice evened out as he talked about his work. Kyree moved to stand beside him. Barclay was surprised to find her eyes almost level with his. Hazel green eyes that didn't match her cat like ears.
'You are called?' Kyree asked.
'Barclay! Lt. Reginald Barclay...I should have.,' He kicked himself for not introducing himself to her. He turned back to the monitor and demonstrated what he was doing. Soon he left her do a set on her own since she proved to him she could do it. He went to check something else. Kyree was at the monitor when Commander LaForge came in.
'Ensign, What are you doing there? And where is Lt. Barclay?' LaForge looked around for the missing officer.
'Lt. Barclay went to check the flow regulators. The readings were off,' Kyree stood at attention to her new duty officer. If she was reading him right, he was angry. About what she had no idea.
'Ensign, You're early,' Geordi forced himself to relax. Barclay wouldn't have left her if she couldn't handle it. 'As soon as you're done there, I want to get you started doing a maintenance check on all the systems. I know it's hum drum work but that's where you start.' Her ears flicked at his words.
'Sir, May I ask?' Kyree sounded like Data.
'Always.'
'Hum Drum? Does that have anything to do with the engine noise?'
'It means boring. Not very interesting,' Geordi clarified. His words caused her ears to flick again but she didn't ask another question. The Ensign quickly finished the monitor check. Geordi set her to task on the maintenance tests. He knew it would take her most of the day to completely go through all the systems.
Geordi worked trying to fix the flow regulator problem Barclay had found. At first it appeared to be a simple problem, an adjustment of the flow. But it proved to be more difficult than he anticipated. He couldn't quite stop the calibration at the right time. Exasperated he called for Data to help him. Maybe the android with quicker reflexes could do the adjustment.
'I see your problem. The delay time as you look at the monitor screen then back to stop the alignment is too great,' Data told him after Geordi explain the problem.
'I know that, Data. Can you do better? That's what I need to know,' Geordi told his friend.
'We will find out,' Data quipped as he started the alteration run. Three times the android did the change but again the adjustment went past the targeted number. Data frowned as he and Geordi stared at the offending read out.
'Perhaps, the tool could be programmed to stop the flow at the desired rate,' Data suggested.
'Yea, I didn't want to go that route. It shouldn't have taken this long to change it,' Geordi drummed his fingers on the engineering station.
'Sir?' Kyree came up behind Geordi.
'What is it Ensign,' Geordi answered, a little more crossly than he intended. He hated being interrupted when he was thinking.
'The hum changes when you are doing the adjustments. Perhaps I could change it to the sound,' Kyree volunteered. Geordi and Data exchanged looks.
'You couldn't do any worse than the both of us,' Geordi finally said. Stepping aside Data offered the Ensign the tool he had been using.
'It needs to be set at this reading,' Geordi pointed to the PAD he picked up. Kyree nodded.
'I will need to run the program once to hear the tone at that before the setting,' She proceeded at her commander's nod. 'Now I will make the adjustment,' not watching the monitor she poised to use the implement. A flick of her ears told them she had used the device. A quick check told Data and Geordi the woman had done it, in one try.
'You did it!' Geordi let his enthusiasm show. 'That's great. You saved us a lot of work and time Ensign,' Geordi grinned at her. 'Good work!'
'Your hearing must be able to distinguish tones more accurately than most humans,' Data commented. Kyree studied the android quietly.
'Yes, Sir,' She finally said. The Commander seemed to need her to respond to his statement. Kyree grew uncomfortable. 'I will return to the maintenance,' the woman retreated to the terminal she had been using.
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Riker caught up with Geordi in Ten-Forward. He asked about the new officer.
'I tell you, Commander, the only one who can do maintenance runs faster is Data. It should have taken her all day to do it. She took three hours,' Geordi marveled.
'She is fast!' Riker echoed in wonder. He smiled as Guinan placed a drink in front of him.
'Be careful. She can hear you,' the woman's eyes pointed to the corner where Ensign Kyree sat looking out the huge windows. The two men followed Guinan's gaze. 'Does she talk to you?' Riker whispered to the bartender.
'No. But she is very polite,' the slight smile was familiar to everyone.
'That doesn't say much,' He countered.
'Really? I think it says a lot,' Guinan reflected as she drifted away.
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Dr. Crusher didn't always pick the best actors for the parts. They all knew that. The Doctor believed everyone should get a shot at the lead from time to time. Her convictions also held the better actors learned more from the smaller parts. Kyree slipped into the try outs to watch. Most didn't notice or pay attention to her arrival. Nothing sneaked passed Crusher. Beverly could even tell whom she had come to watch. Always the matchmaker Beverly purposely made Barclay go last. All the women trying out for the lead female part already had made the attempt.
'Reg, we need someone to read with you,' Looking around she quickly asks Kyree before someone else can volunteer.
'Would you please read with Lt. Barclay, Kyree?' Beverly prodded. 'It would really help us out.'
'If you wish, I will help,' Kyree took the PAD, the doctor held out at her.
'This is the scene we are doing,' Beverly pointed to Kyree's lines. The woman glanced at them then handed the PAD back to the Dr.
'But you'll need to refer it, Kyree,' Crusher told her.
'I know what to say,' Kyree repeated her lines for the Doctor.
'I stand corrected,' Crusher grinned. 'Please take your place with Lt. Barclay.'
As the two performed, the chemistry between them was obvious. Barclay even seemed less nervous.
'That was great. We have our leads!' Beverly announced.
'But I am not trying out. I was just helping,' Kyree protested. She looked at Barclay. A barely audible 'please!' slipped from his lips. 'Very well, I will try,' Kyree agreed to the delight of Dr. Crusher.
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'I appreciate the help, Ensign,' Barclay said as Kyree helped him finish his shift. 'You don't have to come in early to help me.' The woman's ears flattened slightly.
'Do I annoy you? When I come in early?' Kyree watched his face closely.
The man flushed. 'No! I didn't mean that,' He stammered trying to find the right words. 'Most find this pretty boring,' He bailed out.
'Hum drum?' Kyree smiled at him. Barclay flushed for a different reason. Working close with her in Engineering and at rehearsals began to generate some conflicting feelings for him. Barclay nodded at her use of the slang. Gathering all the courage he could, Barclay blurted out.
'Would you want to do something? Together, I mean,' He got lost in her expressive eyes.
'But we are doing something together now. And when we practice the play,' Kyree pointed out.
'You're right we are,' Barclay's nerve was fading fast. 'I could show you around the ship,' He tried again.
'I have seen most of it,' Kyree said. But she could see by Barclay's reaction she was missing the point of his questions.
'Perhaps we could have dinner together,' Barclay tried one more time.'
Now Kyree understood, the symbolic pre-mating ritual of eating. The young woman experienced the event at the academy. After the first couple of times she declined other invitations. The males expected her to act like human females. Kyree sighed and dropped her eyes. Her upbringing gave her no background for encounters with males. Not that any Oradican male would want her. She looked up into his eyes. His shy non-aggressive demeanor put her at ease. To her own surprise Kyree found herself saying.
'Yes, Lt. I will eat with you,' Shock registered on Barclay's face.
'You will? I mean good...ah...how about after your shift,' Barclay amazed himself as he managed a clearheaded question.
'That would be acceptable,' Kyree agreed. Not knowing what more to say, the pair turned back to interrupted work.
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Ten-Forward was unusually crowded as Barclay and Kyree entered. They were both still in uniform. Pausing to search for a table, Barclay spied an open one. Pointing to it he ushered Kyree to a seat. Barclay noticed his hands shaking as he held her chair for her. Forcing himself to breath deep Barclay took his seat. All the questions he had thought of during the day had vanished from his mind. His mouth went dry as he desperately tried to think of something. Slowly he realized Kyree was as uncomfortable as he was. Her ears flattened to the noise level in the bar. Every so often they would flick at some conversation she overheard.
'Ah How do you like the Enterprise?' Barclay wanted to kick himself for asking such a stupid question.
'I like the Enterprise very fine,' Kyree said stiffly.
'Do you like working in Engineering?' Barclay felt his questions return to his brain.
'Yes, I like the department,' Kyree's short answers were getting him nowhere.
'You will find the people here are the best,' Barclay tried a different approach. They paused to order dinner from Guinan
'I have not met very many,' Kyree commented. I will be leaving Engineering in two days. I am scheduled to report to Lt. Worf,' Finally more than just an answer to his question. Then the content registered.
'Worf? Security department?' Barclay sounded worried.
'I am stronger than human males,' Kyree assured him.
'Really? I...I didn't know that,' Barclay responded. 'Are all Oradican stronger?'
'I do not think so. I am different,' her voice showed no emotion to the subject.
Guinan brought their meal. She smiled encouragement to Barclay as she left. Steam rose from the plates. They picked quietly at their meals. Barclay stared at his food. The hum of the voices throbbed in his head. He looked up and around at the others. Familiar faces looked back. A flash of pride went through Barclay. Being here with Kyree, he couldn't believe it himself. Admiringly he gazed at his date. Kyree's eyes met his. He could tell when she was distracted by another conversation by her eyes shifting.
'What are the people saying?' Barclay asked. 'I can tell you hear them,' he took a bite.
'They are surprised to see us together,' Kyree began. She seemed confused about something. 'What does 'cradle robbing' mean?' The color faded from Barclay's face. He swallowed hard. The food got caught in his throat. He started coughing and grabbed for his water glass.