"I am a competent armoury officer, I have served Starfleet in an exemplary fashion for over 15 years, I can do this." Malcolm let out a sigh as he stared at his closet; he took a quick glance at the clock on his desk, 16:45 he only had 15 minutes to meet Hoshi at the shuttle. "AAARGH"
Thankfully his door chime rang breaking him out of his agony of indecision. Muttering to himself Malcolm went to answer the door. Travis stood on the other side with a duffle at his feet, "Ready to go meet Hoshi's family Malcolm? I've never seen a Lion Dance, not enough room on a transport; have you ever seen one Malcolm? Hoshi told me you were coming with us and I figured she probably forgot to tell you where we are going, am I right?" Travis managed to get all his questions out in one breath, he was so excited to going he was practically vibrating.
"Us?" Malcolm replied weakly at this barrage of questions.
Travis noticed the mostly empty duffle sitting on the floor beside Malcolm's closet, "you haven't finished packing yet? Hoo Boy, we only have 10 minutes before we have to meet Hoshi and the Doc at the station." Travis quickly started to pull stuff out of Malcolm's closet, things that he knew Hoshi liked to see the armoury officer in. Looking over at his friend who stood in the middle of the room Travis realized that Malcolm was formulating his excuse not to go. "Did you back that cologne your sister sent you?" he asked, seeming to look at a shirt hanging in the back of Malcolm's closet, Travis called out "Cause you know Hoshi likes that one on you."
Hoshi stared at the communications panel, it hadn't been hard to tell her parents that she was bringing Travis and Dr. Pholx home, so why was she so scared to tell them about Malcolm. "Because you don't want a repeat of Jimmy Malone that's why" Hoshi said aloud.
Taking a deep breath Hoshi keyed in the codes, praying that her family wasn't home. Suddenly Hoshi's Mother Dashiki answered the vid com, "Hoshi" she cried in delight, taking in the apprehensive look on her daughter's face, "Oh Hoshi, your leave is cancelled and you can't come home."
As her Mother's face started to crumple, Hoshi hastened to reassure her, "No, Mom, I'm still coming home. It's just that, well," biting her lip, Hoshi finished in one breath, "I invited Malcolm to come home with me, he isn't going to visit his family and I thing he needs a family right now.
Dashiki smiled gently, "of course your friend Malcolm is most welcome my Daughter. You will be arriving tonight at 7:30?"
After confirming their arrival time Hoshi signed off.
"Hoshi hasn't spoken so fast since that time she asked permission for Jimmy Malone to take her to the prom." Hoshi's father Agama, circled his wife's waist in a hug. "So do you think it would be fair to sick Ama on this Malcolm, just so we can see what he's made of?"
Dashki laughed gaily and returned her husbands hug, she wondered though what this Malcolm Reed was really like.
As the shuttle took off towards Seattle, Washington with the four friends aboard, Hoshi outlined what events her friends could expect. Malcolm sat quietly and studied Hoshi, really looked at her, something he hadn't had a chance to do since they had docked for repairs. There was almost a manic quality to her, Hoshi's eyes glittered and there were spots of heightened colour on her pale face. Listening to the tone of Hoshi's voice rather than the words, Malcolm realized that Hoshi was afraid.
A burst of insight rolled over Malcolm, Hoshi had more than just her friends' loneliness in mind when she had extended the invitations. Malcolm Hoshi was hoping that Travis, Dr Phlox and he would be able to run interference between her and her family. Malcolm surmised that by throwing her friends into the centre of the Sato family reunion Hoshi would be able to dodge any unwanted questions.
As soon as the four Starfleet officers stepped off the landing pad they were engulfed in hugs from everyone present. They received hugs and kisses from the women and handshakes and backslaps from the men.
"Mom, Dad, Oh it's so good to see you" Hoshi hugged her parents hard, she untangled herself from the hug. "Mom, Dad, everyone these are my friends for enterprise Helmsman Travis Merryweather, Dr Phlox and Armoury Officer Lt Malcolm Reed."
Somewhere in the group a voice called out, "Jimmy Malone", Hoshi blushed furiously I will not kill my family, oh no, Travis is going to want the story out of me
A loud cough from the rear of the group broke into Hoshi's homicidal thoughts, the family parted to reveal an old Japanese woman dressed in a beautifully embroidered robe.
Hoshi bowed low, waiting until the old woman touched the crown of her head before speaking formally in Japanese, "Ama my heart is lightened with joy to see you."
"Bah, you are an ungrateful girl running off to the stars and leaving behind broken hearts." The love in Hoshi's grandmothers voice belied her words, "Come child greet me properly." Hoshi gracefully rose to her feet and hugged her grandmother with tears in her eyes, "Ama I have missed your wisdom" Hoshi whispered.
"Enough child, introduce me to all your handsome men," looking over at the men, Ama realized that the grey eyed one's attention had never left Hoshi for a moment. "I especially like the look of the storm eyed one"
Hoshi called the men over, "I would like to introduce my grandmother, Ama this is Travis Merryweather, the Helmsman for Enterprise."
Travis bowed as he had seen Hoshi do, this tiny woman reminded him of his own grandmother. I wonder if she gives Hoshi as much grief as my Gams does to me
Still speaking in Japanese, Ama said "Look at the size of that boy's shoulders, I wonder if he is that big all over?" at Hoshi's gasp, her Ama smacked her on the arm. "I may be an old woman to you but I still have a heart beat."
"I am extremely pleasured to meet you," Dr Phlox reached over and grasped Ama's hand and placed a kiss on the back of it, causing Ama to giggle like a school girl, Dr Phlox felt very pleased with himself this was the first time he had been able to use this earth custom shown to him by the ships engineer.
Finally Hoshi turned to introduce Malcolm, "Ama this is.."
"I know who this is, he is the one you are always writing home about." Ama interrupted.
Thank goodness Malcolm doesn't speak Japanese, I would be absolutely mortified if he knew how many times he shows up in my letters home
Bowing Malcolm said in flawless Japanese, "It is my honour to meet the grandmother of my honourable friend Hoshi Sato," raising his face enough Malcolm threw a wink at Ama, "now I know where she gets her courage and attitude."
Laughing Ama placed her hand on the crook of Malcolm's elbow and led him toward the ground cars that would take the party to the Sato family compound.
Hoshi stared in shock at the retreating backs of her friend and her grandmother, who were chatting, Malcolm chatting, like old friends.
"Hoshi, you never told us that Lt Reed spoke Japanese" her father exclaimed, Hoshi did not answer him only continued to stare in shock.