Chapter Seven
Trip accompanies Malcolm to the Grand Final
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later the ship had arrived at the space dock in Earth's orbit and most of the crew were eagerly preparing for some shore leave. Malcolm and Trip, with some friends for support, were headed for San Francisco where the contest final was being held. Captain Archer, together with Hoshi and Travis, was intending to enjoy every moment of the coming event. Malcolm, of course, was dreading it.
Hoshi had instructed Trip to make sure that Malcolm packed all his sexy outfits, but especially the leather trousers! Dress uniform would also be essential for the eventual winner, so Trip spent time helping his husband with his packing.
"OK, Mal." Trip gestured to the half-dozen bags on the bed, "I think that's about everything."
"Are you quite sure we've got enough?" Malcolm asked sarcastically. "Maybe we should pack one more bag just to be on the safe side."
"Nah." Trip laughed. "This'll do. You've got the essentials. Now we'd better get down to the shuttle bay. The Cap'n will be waiting for us."
Malcolm sighed and picking up some of the bags, made for the door. They only just managed to squeeze themselves and their luggage into the turbolift, to go down to the shuttle bay.
They were greeted by the captain and the two ensigns who were all out of uniform and were treating this as a holiday. Hoshi and Travis cheerfully grabbed the bags and stowed them into Shuttlepod One.
Malcolm looked at the pod and mused, "Considering the bad luck I usually have in this thing, I don't think I need worry about the outcome of this contest."
"Shut up and get in, Malcolm," Archer ordered, "or we'll never get there."
Obeying orders, he followed Trip into the pod and found his seat.
They had booked into a hotel close to the convention centre where the final was to be held, and were soon installed in their rooms. Archer had told the receptionist that Trip and Malcolm were just married, and the manager had insisted on giving them the bridal suite, the main feature of which was the enormous circular bed.
The ceremony was not till the next day, so the group had a chance to look round the city and see the sights. They were quite surprised to find the city plastered with pictures of all the ten finalists. They were everywhere - in shop windows, on hoardings and even on giant screens high up on tall buildings. Hoshi and Travis had great fun running around spotting Malcolm's picture in lots of different places. Starfleet was making the most of recruiting possibilities. Finally, they ended up in a small Italian cafe where they enjoyed various pastas, washed down with Chianti and cappuccino, before heading for their beds and a good night's sleep.
The ceremony was not due to start until 1400, so as they had no need to get up early, Trip and Malcolm made good use of the oversized bed, then shared a bath in an oversized circular Jacuzzi. Trip made sure that Malcolm dressed appropriately for the ceremony - the leather trousers were a 'must', and Malcolm topped them with a silver grey shirt. They met the others for lunch in the hotel dining room, where Hoshi complimented Malcolm on his outfit.
"That's a good choice, Malcolm," she commented, "that shirt goes well with your eyes."
"Thank you, Hoshi," he replied, "but I shall be glad when this is all over."
"Well, the results are in." Travis remarked, "It's really just a case of announcing the winner, isn't it?"
"Yes," Archer added, "but it's a four hour ceremony, so what are they going to do all that time?"
They found out when they got to the hall. The programme included musical entertainmen from several groups and solo artistes, interspersed with potted biographies of all the finalists and ending with the actual announcement of the winner.
There was a reserved section of the hall for the finalists and a companion, so Archer, Travis and Hoshi had to find themselves seats in the main body of the auditorium. Trip sat with Malcolm amongst the other contestants and their friends. Malcolm looked around at the others and soon spotted number forty-two sitting with a scholarly-looking type who was probably her boyfriend. He thought she looked even prettier in the flesh. She saw him looking her way and smiled. In return, he gave her his little half-smile, and a wink, which made her laugh. He nudged Trip and nodded towards her. Trip grinned and waved. She blew him a kiss! Then the lights went down and the programme started.
The MC was well chosen for the job. He had the audience laughing and relaxed within five minutes. Even Malcolm fell under his spell. He talked about the competition reminding everyone how the earlier heats had been run, and then explained the prizes that were 'up for grabs' by the winner and two runners-up. Trip and Malcolm had not heard about the prizes and so were quite interested in what they were. Lacey and Garrod's, the world's biggest international store, had promised the winner a year's free shopping. Considering that they sold everything from an egg cup to a private, luxury shuttlecraft, it gave the winner plenty of scope to indulge. Those coming second and third would each get two and one month's free shopping, respectively. A round of appreciative applause greeted this announcement, and the finalists were getting quite excited. Even Malcolm perked up.
"Just think what we could do with that, Trip," he whispered.
"Yeah. We could buy ourselves a house and furnish it from top to bottom at L & G's."
"Do they sell houses?" Malcolm wondered.
"Dunno. But we could soon find out."
"Stop it, Trip," Malcolm laughed. "You're counting your chickens."
"I can dream, can't I?"
They were entertained for ten minutes by a music group that was supposed to be wonderful, but really just made an awful noise. Well, that was Malcolm's opinion, anyway. Then a picture of the first finalist had appeared on a huge screen at the back of the stage, and a commentator started telling the audience all about him. He was number two; a personable young man aged nineteen, who was a cadet at Starfleet's Training Centre. People who knew him were interviewed and asked to give their opinions about him, so that the audience would know what sort of person he was. There were scenes from the Training Centre where all his friends were rooting for him. His parents, grandparents and two sisters all had their say.
Malcolm looked at Trip in horror.
"I hope they're not going to do that for everyone! Please don't tell me they've been interviewing my family, Trip"
"If they have, I haven't been told. I'm as surprised about this as you are."
"This is going to be SO embarrassing."
Trip took Malcolm's hand and squeezed it gently. "Hey, come on, darlin', it can't be that bad."
"I hope not." Malcolm smiled wanly, "You know, I'm really glad you're here with me."
Another 'musical' item followed, and then number eleven was given the same treatment. And so it continued, some music, followed by a potted biography. Number forty-two was an ensign doing astrometrics. Her name was Valencia and strangely enough, that's where she was born.
Inevitably they came to number seventy-three. Malcolm cringed to see his picture on this enormous screen, and slid down in his seat in an attempt to make himself invisible. Trip took a tight hold of Malcolm's hand and refused to let go.
"Number seventy-three is Malcolm Reed," the commentator told them, "a lieutenant serving on board the starship Enterprise. He is the weapons and tactical officer, and he is also chief of security, which makes him rather an important member of the crew. We were unable to interview his parents, but managed to contact his sister Madeleine, and Aunt Sherry."
"Oh, no!" Malcolm groaned. "Not Aunt Sherry. I dread to think what she will say."
"I know she's a little - well - dotty, but I'm sure she'll only speak well of you. After all, she is rather fond of you." Trip tried to ease Malcolm's concerns.
Malcolm needn't have worried as both his sister and aunt gave him glowing references. Aunt Sherry told them what a lovely boy he was. "Always well behaved, polite and reliable," she gushed. "I could tell you lots of stories about him but I don't suppose you've got time. And now he is grown up and exploring space, I'm so proud of him."
Next up on the screen came the faces of Hoshi and Travis who spoke about him from the point of view of his shipmates. They both seemed really pleased to be able to tell everyone what a loyal, dependable friend he was, and how he was always getting the Captain out of dangerous situations. They didn't spare him, but laid it on very thickly! They must have been interviewed just before the ceremony started, as they were shown in the vestibule of the conference hall.
Malcolm was very glad when the next musical item was announced.
Once all the finalists had been shown on the screen, the MC came onto the stage and said that there would be a half-hour interval before the actual announcing of the winners took place. This was to allow the finalists to go backstage and prepare themselves for the ordeal. So they and their friends were applauded as they left their seats to depart the auditorium, and, guided by an usher, to make their way to the 'green room' and make-up.
Trip and Malcolm were among the last to enter the, by now, crowded room. A bevy of girls were waiting to apply make-up and Malcolm was soon being attended to.
"But why?" he asked. "Surely this is unnecessary?"
"On the contrary," he was told, "without it you will look like death warmed up under those lights. And your friend will get made-up, too, because if you win, he will be expected to go on stage with you."
The make-up girl took one look at Malcolm - and her knees turned to jelly. She was entranced. Unfortunately, she then became so nervous that she was all fingers and thumbs, and kept dropping things. After Trip had picked up her tool for the third time, Malcolm turned to her and said, "Why don't you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and then start again?"
She did as he suggested and was able to complete her work without dropping anything else. She then worked on Trip before turning to one of the other finalists.
Those who were ready sat and chatted, getting to know each other. Valencia came over to Malcolm and introduced herself.
"Hi, I'm Valencia King. Val to my friends."
"Malcolm Reed. Pleased to meet you."
"Ha! Val and Mal. That's neat." Then she asked, indicating Trip, "Is he your bodyguard, your friend or what?"
"My husband." Malcolm answered.
"Aw, shucks." she pouted. "Just my luck for you to be already spoken for."
"I'm sure you'll meet the man of your dreams one day."
"I thought I had just done that."
Malcolm laughed. "You're young. You've plenty of time."
She sighed dramatically, "I knew you were just too good to be true."
He laughed again. "I'm surprised you haven't got loads of young men falling at your feet already."
"Well, there are one or two, if I'm honest about it. But I quite took a fancy to you."
"You can fancy as much as you like," Trip joined in, grinning, "just don't touch. OK?"
"OK," she said, holding her hands up, "I get the message." It was all in fun and they were soon chatting amicably together.
"So which of the ten finalists did you vote for?" Valencia asked Malcolm.
"Actually, I voted for you." Malcolm replied.
"Wow!" Her eyes lit up. "Really? And I voted for you."
They all laughed at this revelation, then Valencia wandered off to rejoin her boyfriend, and Malcolm began to mentally prepare himself for the next part of the proceedings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews, anyone? Please?