Engine Trouble… In More Ways Than One!
By Moonlit Sea
Disclaimer: I don't own Enterprise or the characters all I own is this fic and the character Lt. Karyn Kelly
A/N: if you have read this story already please reread again as I have made many changes to it. Thanks
/-Thoughts-/
Chapter 1 - Getting Back To Normal.
Beep beep beep beep the alarm echoed through Lieutenant Karyn Kelly's quarters. She opened her eyes to look at the clock but couldn't see a thing, her eyelids still heavy with sleep. She stretched and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then she turned onto her side and looked at her clock again. It said 05:30am. "It can't be five hundred thirty hours already," she sighed "Feels like I got no sleep." she dragged herself out of bed and got ready for her shift in engineering.
She was just about ready and was starting to put her hair up in a ponytail when her door chimed "Who is it?" she called, her voice sounding almost musical with it's Scottish burr.
"It's only me," a female voice replied. Karyn instantly recognized it as belong to one Ensign Hoshi Sato; she smiled to herself before saying, "Come in Hoshi."
The door opened and in walked Hoshi. She observed that Karyn was doing her hair and went to sit on Karyn's bed.
"So how are you feeling? Ready to go back to work?" she teased.
Karyn laughed a little "Yeah I'm fine now and as for getting back to work…" she paused a minute then looked at Hoshi through the mirror "I'll tell you when I get off my shift." They both laughed.
Karyn was pleased she could laugh again. Heck, she was pleased she could talk again! A week ago she had lost her voice and on top of that, she had gotten ill. She still remained her cheerful self, however… At least, until a couple of days ago when her mood had changed dramatically. Her mood had plummeted because of a letter she had received from home. Everyone tried to see what was wrong, to try and help, but she wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong. Eventually she hid away from the rest of the crew. She had stayed in her quarters wouldn't talk to anyone - not even the captain! Hoshi was pleased to see her friend bright and cheery again, but she still wondered why Karyn was upset a couple of days ago. She let it pass. If Karyn wanted to talk all she had to do was ask and Hoshi would listen.
"So are we ready?" she asked bringing Karyn out of her thoughts.
"Hm? Oh yeah I'm ready." Karyn replied.
They headed toward the door and stepped out into the corridor
"Got time for breakfast?" Karyn asked.
"Sure." Hoshi replied.
"Great." Karyn smiled. They headed toward the mess hall talking about all sorts of things as they went. Then Hoshi looked at Karyn seriously.
"Karyn…" she paused, searching for the right words.
"Yeah…" Seeing Hoshi was a little hesitant to continue, she said, "You know you can always ask me anything Hoshi." They stepped into the mess hall. It wasn't very full this time in the morning.
/-They all get up ten minutes before their shifts, I expect, then rush around-/ Karyn thought, after she collected her breakfast.
It was only when she sat down that at a far table that she noticed Hoshi was no longer behind her. Karyn scanned the room for her friend and found her talking to Ensign Travis Mayweather. They both came over to her a moment later. "Mind if I join you?" Travis asked.
"No not at all, please do." Karyn replied gesturing to one of the empty seats.
"Thanks." he said with a smile and sat down " So how are you feeling?"
"Better thanks." she smiled, then turned to Hoshi.
"So what did you want to ask me earlier Hoshi?"
"Oh it's nothing important Karyn."
"Okay." Karyn shrugged and went back to eating her breakfast.
The three of them just sat there in silence, eating their breakfast and wondering what to say to each other. A few minutes later, Karyn stood up.
"Well, I'd better get going. I don't wanna be late on my first day back."
"Don't work to hard," Travis said. The three laughed; they all knew that the commander only gave the light jobs to Karyn, although no one knew why. Someone had once said to Karyn that maybe it was because the commander secretly liked her but she dismissed it immediately and hoped there was another reason.
"I'll try not to," she replied and headed off towards engineering chuckling as she went. As soon as Karyn was out of earshot, Hoshi sighed.
"What's up?" Travis asked curiously.
"Nothing Travis. Don't worry about it. Come on we better get to the bridge."
Travis nodded, though still wondering what was up with Hoshi.
On the bridge everyone was in his or her usual place. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was at tactical and sub-commander T'Pol was at the science station. The only person missing was…
"Where's the captain?" Travis asked no one in particular.
"He's gone down to engineering to see the Commander," Malcolm answered.
Down in engineering Commander Charles Tucker III (commonly known as 'Trip') smiled as Karyn entered engineering.
"Mornin' Karyn," he said in his southern accent.
"Good Morning Commander."
"Feelin' better?"
"Yes thank you, Commander. A lot better."
"That's good."
Karyn smiled and went to work. Captain Jonathan Archer watched as he noticed Trip's sudden cheeriness.
"Is there something you're not telling me Trip?"
His tone made it clear that he was asking more as a friend, not as a captain.
Trip turned to his captain and long-time friend and looked at him as if he had just asked the strangest question in the world.
"Not that I know of Cap'n," he replied.
"You're sure?"
"Positive." he smiled to show there was nothing at all the matter. Archer wasn't so sure.
" Okay." There was faint skepticism in the word, but Trip let it slide. "I'll see you later, then." He headed out of engineering.
/-I gotta be more careful, -/ Trip thought to himself as he went back to work.