Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

Chapter 5 -- Mess Hall Conversations

The Mess Hall was busy but Hoshi and Travis had managed to find a free table by one of the windows. They had both opted for ravioli and were tucking in.

Travis asked, "How are you getting on with our visitor? Have you learnt his language yet?"

Hoshi gave a rueful grin. "He seems more interested in learning ours! He doesn't want to speak Histian as he says there are so few of his species it's not worth me taking the effort over it." She sighed and speared another piece of pasta. "Of course, that is exactly why I'd like to learn something of it, but he's only given me a few phrases and to be honest, I haven't enough to string the simplest sentence together."

Travis gave her a sympathetic smile, "Well, I don't suppose you can force him. He seems a pleasant enough guy though. He's got some very interesting stories." He didn't like to mention the tenor of those tales to Hoshi, not that he would be embarrassed or anything... He gave an involuntary broad grin as he remembered the one about the females on Trappa, a planet not far from their course. Now how could he nudge Enterprise in that direction without being busted?

Hoshi grinned back at him. She had a pretty good idea what Travis might be thinking about. She said, trying to bring the conversation back to more cultural matters, "Simit's been telling me about some of his people's customs and social organization, which is interesting."

"Uh, yes. Very interesting." Travis' mind was still elsewhere.

Hoshi spied Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed entering the Mess Hall and indicated to them the spare seats at their table. As she did so, she said out of the corner of her mouth, "I hope the Lieutenant's in a better mood today. He's the one person who doesn't seem to like Simit."

Travis snorted, "He still thinks he's a security risk, but after three days of no suspicious activity I think even Malcolm is beginning to think he's being overly wary." He lowered his voice, "Did you know he ordered O'Donnell to deliberately have Simit meet the Captain when he was walking his dog?! He told me that Porthos is particularly sensitive to Suliban!"

Hoshi spluttered and almost choked "What?! Really?" She laughed. "Did Simit pass the test?"

"With flying colors! Porthos took quite a liking to Mr Simit."

Hoshi giggled as she envisaged Malcolm seriously entering the Porthos-sensor data in his security log. Number of tail wags versus woofs! She shared her mental picture with Travis, who wondered about how to calibrate Porthos, and the two of them were still laughing with a slightly hysterical edge when Malcolm and Trip sat down at the table.

Trip smiled at them inquiringly, "Care to let us in on the joke?"

"Oh, it's nothing, Commander," said Hoshi, trying to calm down. She dared not look at Malcolm. "We were just... talking," she ended lamely, with an apologetic glance at Travis.

Travis rolled his eyes but couldn't do any better. Instead, he decided to change the subject, "How are the phase cannon modifications going?" He knew that would divert at least Malcolm's attention. As it happened, Travis had chosen a good topic for the purpose.

"Very smoothly," replied Malcolm, happily loading his fork, "We are getting some encouraging results. When we apply the mods to all three cannon, we should see a two per cent increase in output power." He grinned at his companions.

Trip nodded, "Yeah. We've made a lot of progress today."

"Are you going to the movie tonight?" Hoshi asked Malcolm, not wanting to get caught in a conversation about the merits of various technical improvements to phase cannons.

Malcolm paused in his eating, his fork halfway to his mouth. In a considering tone, he said, "I hadn't been planning to, but perhaps I deserve a break."

Hoshi nodded in agreement. "Yes. Treat yourself." She was all for getting the Lieutenant to relax a little. He spent far too much time working, in her opinion, and surely that much time communing with armaments couldn't be healthy?

"What's showing anyway?" inquired Malcolm, who really didn't pay much attention to the film shows.

Trip beamed around the table, with the air of one bestowing a great gift, "A classic. You'll love it!"

Malcolm viewed him skeptically. "Hmm. Why aren't I convinced when I hear you say that?!"

"You should be. You know I've got impeccable taste."

"Haa haa," said Malcolm dryly and sounding far from convinced.

Trip paused for effect, building the anticipation, then said, "It's 'An American Werewolf in London'."

Malcolm choked and looked at Trip in amazement, "You're joking! You call that a classic film?"

Trip was not phased by this reaction by one iota, "Absolutely. Plus you get to see home, as an added bonus."

"Commander, contrary to what some might think, not all British people come from London you know!"

"I'm sure you've visited there plenty of times." Trip winked at Hoshi and Travis.

Malcolm muttered, "Give me strength!" and rolled his eyes heavenwards, to Trip's immense amusement which he made no effort to hide. He loved to tweak the Lieutenant's tail.

At that moment, Simit arrived and hovered uncertainly by their table. "Hello everyone," he said.

This was met with a general murmuring of greetings from the officers. There was enough space to accommodate him at the table and Trip extended a polite invitation.

"Please join us."

"Thank you," said Simit, sitting down and smiling at the welcoming faces. Even Malcolm managed a less hostile glare than he normally favored Simit with.

Malcolm cleared his throat, "Mr Simit, I hope you are enjoying your visit with us?" Malcolm was, to his credit, trying to be obliging. He even managed a smile of sorts, although the uncharitable might have called it a grimace.

"Yes, thank you. I'm finding it very intriguing," Simit said, beaming around the company.

They discussed Simit's tours of Engineering, Sick Bay and Hydroponics. He assured his new friends that it was all most interesting and he was particularly enjoying watching the teamwork of the crew.

Eventually, to Hoshi and Travis' huge delight, Simit said, "Yesterday Crewman O'Donnell was kind enough to introduce me to the Captain's dog. A most beguiling creature."

Malcolm shifted uneasily at this revelation. "Ah yes. Good," he said, frowning at his plate.

"And how did you two get along?" asked Hoshi with an innocent air, determined to keep the topic alive.

"Very well indeed. He quite took to me," Simit said happily. "The Captain joked that he is a most valued member of the crew."

"Yes, he is," said Hoshi. "Porthos has some unique qualities." She gave Malcolm a sideways look and was gratified to see the beginnings of a blush.

Before Hoshi could say any more, Malcolm pushed his chair from the table and stood up. "Um yes. Well, I must be getting on. Please excuse me." He cast a slightly wild look around the company and virtually bolted for the door.

"See you tonight?" called Travis.

"Possibly," shot back Malcolm over his shoulder as he disappeared through the door.

Simit looked after Malcolm regretfully. "I don't know what it is, but Lieutenant Reed makes me feel most ill at ease, and now it seems I am doing the same to him. What's the matter with me?"

Trip replied kindly, "I wouldn't take it personally."

Simit shook his head, in a very human fashion. "But he studies me in a most disquieting manner. It makes me feel quite guilty."

Trip grunted. "It's always the same with these security types. No matter how innocent you are, you always feel like you've committed the most heinous crime. It goes with the job, I think."

Simit felt disappointed. He had got on well with everyone else he'd met on the Enterprise, no - Enterprise, he corrected himself mentally, but Malcolm Reed was a different matter entirely. Ironic really.

Trip noted Simit's unhappiness but had just the thing to cheer him up. "Ah, now Mr Simit, since you've become acquainted with Porthos, I think you'll be interested in going to the movie tonight. It's most apt."

Hoshi protested, "Oh. How can you say that!"

Trip gave her a wicked grin and started in on his pie.

TBC