CHAPTER 5: THE HOMECOMING
Day 8
"Congratulations on the success of your mission, Hoshi!" Captain Jonathan Archer sat at the dinner table in the Captain's mess beaming at his Communications Officer. The away team had landed quite a coup by obtaining the mining agreement with the Evanais. Even the Vulcans had appeared as impressed as Vulcans ever get. His young friend was gaining quite a reputation as a diplomat. Commander Trip Tucker nodded his agreement as he raised his glass.
"Looks like now's the time to ask the Cap'n for any favors, Hoshi," said the Chief Engineer, thinking she'd ask for another day off duty or perhaps a chance to cook in Chef's galley.
"Actually, sir, I would like your support in starting a volleyball league, but with three players per team so that there'd be plenty of competition. I already have a team in mind that I'd want to field." Hoshi was beaming with pride as she thought of her teammates. She knew just whom she would challenge first.
"Volleyball? Well, I guess there's no way we can do waterpolo on this ship. Alright, you organize it and you have my full support. So, do you want to be on my team?" Jon Archer asked smiling.
"With all due respect, sir, I intend to be the captain of my own team. And on their behalf, I challenge the team of your selection to the first match." Hoshi was feeling bold, but somehow she knew Malcolm and T'Pol would agree.
"Well, Trip, it looks like we've just been challenged," said Archer with a smile.
"You think you can beat me and the Cap'n?" asked Trip with amusement.
"You'll need one more teammate. I think Travis would jump at the chance. What do you say?"
"I say piece of cake. Let's get this little romp scheduled." Trip was anticipating a quick defeat of Hoshi's team. She was just a slip of a woman. How difficult could it be to beat her, especially with Jon and Travis on his team? Trip noticed Jon giving him one of his looks.
"And who's going to have the honor of being on Team Hoshi?" asked Jon.
"Malcolm and T'Pol, of course," said Hoshi, laughing when Trip sputtered and choked on his tea.
"I still wish Malcolm and T'Pol had joined us for dinner," said the Captain, finally containing his laughter. "T'Pol said she needed to catch up on her meditation. Malcolm said he needed to see what a week of neglecting the armory had done to the place, then added that you deserved all the recognition for the success of the mission. I'll just have to wait to get their side of the story over the next few days."
The officers finished their meal in camaraderie. Ensign Sato felt as if she were as important to the crew as these two men always tried to tell her. Some things you just have to learn for yourself. After the meal Trip soon left to do a final check on his babies, the warp engines. With a loud exhalation, Hoshi then turned to Jon.
"There's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about in private. Let's consider a hypothetical situation where two of your senior staff have an interest in pursuing a romantic relationship..."
------
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was a mess. He had spent the day catching up on all the little problems that had appeared out of nowhere as soon as he returned to the ship. He had valve sealant all over his clothes, lubricating oil that had dripped on his hair and a lonely ache in his heart as he thought about their Communications Officer.
They were back on the ship and Evanai already seemed distant in his memory. She's a colleague, he had been telling himself all day. It was just the sun, the sand and the surf. Don't be stupid and expect anything more. You outrank her and you know how inappropriate any romance would be. Just be thankful she's your friend. A very beautiful friend. With a warm, soft body. And very kissable lips. And--he was resigned to staying awake tonight because he knew he'd spend the night just tossing and turning.
Reed continued to mumble to himself unintelligibly while he stared at phase canon components from the spare unit that had been manufactured. They had been sitting on the table for the past two days according to his armory crew. No one had wanted to touch them until the Armory Officer had inspected the quality of the work.
Reed sighed. The unit was in as much disarray as his emotions where Ensign Hoshi Sato were concerned. His attention was suddenly drawn away from the metal parts as he registered the soft voice just below his right ear.
"Alright, Cabana Boy, you have duties in my quarters in 30 minutes. That should give you enough time to shower and get fresh clothes or I'll change your nickname to Stinky."
Malcolm turned his head to catch Hoshi's gaze and noted the apprehension in her eyes that contradicted the confident tone she had used.
"If you don't show up, I'll assume you've resigned your position. No questions asked." She turned quickly on her heel and walked away without looking back.
Malcolm returned his gaze to the task at hand. He immediately brought his head up to look to the exit, then to the table strewn with parts as he digested Hoshi's words. He looked to the exit again, then down again at the phase canon components that seemed to be mocking his indecision by their very inertia.
He suddenly realized that he was seeing what had become his life in the weapon components that lay on the table: cold, hard, nothing organic, nothing that could feel or grow. Is this what he wanted his life to be?
Duty, he thought. Malcolm Reed was never one to deny a call to duty. He walked away from the armory briskly as he realized he'd wasted too much time already. Perhaps he'd change into a red shirt? Hoshi did seem to like red.
------
The Vulcan female put away her candles as she finished her meditation. She would need to discuss her most recent away mission with her mentors back on Vulcan. Perhaps they could provide more insight into her actions on Evanai.
A sudden thought struck her. Perhaps she should speak to Captain Archer about her personal experience on Evanai and not just give him the facts of the mission. She wondered what comments their Chief Engineer would make on the events as well.
T'Pol walked to her bed and got under the covers. She turned to get comfortable by lying on her stomach with the blanket just below her waist. She closed her eyes to sleep, her body covered in a red t-shirt with white letters that said Spike.
*****
For those who are interested, Hoshi's team won the volleyball game against Archer's team. T'Pol and Trip really got into several exchanges at the net, though.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Day 8
"Congratulations on the success of your mission, Hoshi!" Captain Jonathan Archer sat at the dinner table in the Captain's mess beaming at his Communications Officer. The away team had landed quite a coup by obtaining the mining agreement with the Evanais. Even the Vulcans had appeared as impressed as Vulcans ever get. His young friend was gaining quite a reputation as a diplomat. Commander Trip Tucker nodded his agreement as he raised his glass.
"Looks like now's the time to ask the Cap'n for any favors, Hoshi," said the Chief Engineer, thinking she'd ask for another day off duty or perhaps a chance to cook in Chef's galley.
"Actually, sir, I would like your support in starting a volleyball league, but with three players per team so that there'd be plenty of competition. I already have a team in mind that I'd want to field." Hoshi was beaming with pride as she thought of her teammates. She knew just whom she would challenge first.
"Volleyball? Well, I guess there's no way we can do waterpolo on this ship. Alright, you organize it and you have my full support. So, do you want to be on my team?" Jon Archer asked smiling.
"With all due respect, sir, I intend to be the captain of my own team. And on their behalf, I challenge the team of your selection to the first match." Hoshi was feeling bold, but somehow she knew Malcolm and T'Pol would agree.
"Well, Trip, it looks like we've just been challenged," said Archer with a smile.
"You think you can beat me and the Cap'n?" asked Trip with amusement.
"You'll need one more teammate. I think Travis would jump at the chance. What do you say?"
"I say piece of cake. Let's get this little romp scheduled." Trip was anticipating a quick defeat of Hoshi's team. She was just a slip of a woman. How difficult could it be to beat her, especially with Jon and Travis on his team? Trip noticed Jon giving him one of his looks.
"And who's going to have the honor of being on Team Hoshi?" asked Jon.
"Malcolm and T'Pol, of course," said Hoshi, laughing when Trip sputtered and choked on his tea.
"I still wish Malcolm and T'Pol had joined us for dinner," said the Captain, finally containing his laughter. "T'Pol said she needed to catch up on her meditation. Malcolm said he needed to see what a week of neglecting the armory had done to the place, then added that you deserved all the recognition for the success of the mission. I'll just have to wait to get their side of the story over the next few days."
The officers finished their meal in camaraderie. Ensign Sato felt as if she were as important to the crew as these two men always tried to tell her. Some things you just have to learn for yourself. After the meal Trip soon left to do a final check on his babies, the warp engines. With a loud exhalation, Hoshi then turned to Jon.
"There's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about in private. Let's consider a hypothetical situation where two of your senior staff have an interest in pursuing a romantic relationship..."
------
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was a mess. He had spent the day catching up on all the little problems that had appeared out of nowhere as soon as he returned to the ship. He had valve sealant all over his clothes, lubricating oil that had dripped on his hair and a lonely ache in his heart as he thought about their Communications Officer.
They were back on the ship and Evanai already seemed distant in his memory. She's a colleague, he had been telling himself all day. It was just the sun, the sand and the surf. Don't be stupid and expect anything more. You outrank her and you know how inappropriate any romance would be. Just be thankful she's your friend. A very beautiful friend. With a warm, soft body. And very kissable lips. And--he was resigned to staying awake tonight because he knew he'd spend the night just tossing and turning.
Reed continued to mumble to himself unintelligibly while he stared at phase canon components from the spare unit that had been manufactured. They had been sitting on the table for the past two days according to his armory crew. No one had wanted to touch them until the Armory Officer had inspected the quality of the work.
Reed sighed. The unit was in as much disarray as his emotions where Ensign Hoshi Sato were concerned. His attention was suddenly drawn away from the metal parts as he registered the soft voice just below his right ear.
"Alright, Cabana Boy, you have duties in my quarters in 30 minutes. That should give you enough time to shower and get fresh clothes or I'll change your nickname to Stinky."
Malcolm turned his head to catch Hoshi's gaze and noted the apprehension in her eyes that contradicted the confident tone she had used.
"If you don't show up, I'll assume you've resigned your position. No questions asked." She turned quickly on her heel and walked away without looking back.
Malcolm returned his gaze to the task at hand. He immediately brought his head up to look to the exit, then to the table strewn with parts as he digested Hoshi's words. He looked to the exit again, then down again at the phase canon components that seemed to be mocking his indecision by their very inertia.
He suddenly realized that he was seeing what had become his life in the weapon components that lay on the table: cold, hard, nothing organic, nothing that could feel or grow. Is this what he wanted his life to be?
Duty, he thought. Malcolm Reed was never one to deny a call to duty. He walked away from the armory briskly as he realized he'd wasted too much time already. Perhaps he'd change into a red shirt? Hoshi did seem to like red.
------
The Vulcan female put away her candles as she finished her meditation. She would need to discuss her most recent away mission with her mentors back on Vulcan. Perhaps they could provide more insight into her actions on Evanai.
A sudden thought struck her. Perhaps she should speak to Captain Archer about her personal experience on Evanai and not just give him the facts of the mission. She wondered what comments their Chief Engineer would make on the events as well.
T'Pol walked to her bed and got under the covers. She turned to get comfortable by lying on her stomach with the blanket just below her waist. She closed her eyes to sleep, her body covered in a red t-shirt with white letters that said Spike.
*****
For those who are interested, Hoshi's team won the volleyball game against Archer's team. T'Pol and Trip really got into several exchanges at the net, though.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for taking the time to read.