Chapter Fifteen: Shooting Star

Thirty minutes later, Trip set the pod to cruise control.

"What are you doing?" Hoshi asked, bewildered.

"This is our destination, darling," Trip sweet talked.

"In the middle of nowhere?"

"It's not 'nowhere'…it's somewhere," Trip answered. "You can unbuckle now."

"Why?"

"Just do it, Hoshi. I want to show you something and you can't see it if you're strapped down."

"Alright," Hoshi resigned. "So what exactly am I supposed to see?" she asked. She sat on Trip's lap and looked out the window.

"If Travis' pinpoints are accurate we should be seeing it right…about…now."

"Huh?"

"Hurry and make a wish!" Trip said, quickly. A bright light suddenly appeared.

"Oh…my…" Hoshi said, amazed, when the shooting star passed them.

"Did you make your wish?"

"Trip," Hoshi breathed. "That was absolutely beautiful. I've never seen shooting stars that close before." Hoshi cupped Trip's face and kissed him.

When they broke apart, Trip chuckled. "I take it you enjoyed that."

"Yeah, among other things." Hoshi smiled.

"You haven't answered my question. Did you make your wish?"

"Yes. You?"

"Hoshi, I don't need a shooting star to make a wish. I already have one. You."

She gently stroked Trip's face. "You are an amazing person."

"Come on." Trip scooted Hoshi off him and walked to the rear. He took out a picnic basket from a hidden compartment."

"You never cease to amaze me," Hoshi said, playfully.

He spread out a blanket and patted the spot next to him for Hoshi to sit.

"I thought we would get hungry, so I had chef make some treats," Trip said, taking out the delicacies from the basket.

"Pecan pie. Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey, there's other things besides pecan pie," Trip said, defensively. "See," he picked up slices of the other treats, "here's pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, and strawberry cheesecake."

"They're all sweets." She laughed.

"I figured it would be appropriate for such a sweet day."

Trip handed Hoshi a fork and they started on the pumpkin pie slice. "Mmm, sweet," he said.

"You know what's more sweet?" Hoshi whispered. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You."

Trip licked Hoshi lips. "You had a piece of pumpkin on you."

"That shouldn't be the only thing on me." She pushed him onto his back and kissed him. Trip slowly guided his fingers up Hoshi's bare arms. He pulled down her tank straps. Hoshi began to unbutton Trip's shirt.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Trip," Hoshi gasped, pulling away from him. "The comm. is beeping."

"Let it go." Trip kissed her again.

"Enterprise to Shuttlepod One. Enterprise to Shuttlepod One. We need you back, now."

Trip groaned. "For the love of—"

"Trip," Hoshi chastised. "We should head back."

-----

"Are you feeling what I'm feeling?" Trip asked. The launch bay was usually empty around this time but there was an eerie feeling.

Hoshi nodded. "This is weird, Trip. I think we should report to the bridge."

-----

Trip stepped onto the bridge and a blow came to his temple. He fell to the ground. Hoshi gasped. Before she could do anything, someone grabbed her roughly and she felt something cold pressed to her neck.