Cadet Tilly Meets Captain Pike

Or Captain Pike Learns What Happened During His Vacation

Or So Much for Una's Foolproof Plan

Chris periodically glanced back at his passenger. She was bubbling with a mixture of excited, nervous and impatient energy. Bubbling over at times, as she was squirming and hardly able to stay in her seat.

Tilly was eager to check out the sophisticated shuttle but unsure about protocol. Was it OK to get up and walk around, look but not touch? Maybe touch if she were careful? Should she ask for permission?

Sensing her curiosity Chris called out, "We're past the Sol system, you can walk around now."

"Thanks. This ship is so cool." She responded, speaking very fast and in a higher pitch than usual. Oh no, she thought, you sound like a giddy teenager! Focus! Slow down! You are a well-trained Starfleet cadet! Sound like it! "Have you flown this model a lot?

"Actually, this is my first time." There was that intoxicating dimpled grin again. "But don't worry, I have a lot of flying experience."

Chris wondered briefly who she was and why she was hitching a ride on Enterprise. Maybe an ambassador's young daughter going to meet her family? The ship would be passing through several sectors of inhabited space on their way to the Romulan neutral zone. Whatever the reason, Una would already be aware of the passenger and on top of the situation, leaving nothing for him to do or worry about.

He felt a little guilty, not introducing himself and could hear his mother's voice in his head – Christopher! How impolite. I taught you better. And started to, but hesitated. She was completely absorbed studying the various control panels on the shuttle. There was no reason to interrupt her right now. And he wanted a couple final hours to be just Chris rather than 'the captain'. Satisfied, he returned to enjoying his almost solo flight.

"What's the range and speed of this ship, I assume it's wicked fast?" Tilly asked and without allowing time for an answer added, "If I were the Captain of the Enterprise, I would commandeer this as my personal shuttle – like a Captain's yacht."

That caused Chris to chuckle quietly. It was the fastest shuttle in the fleet, the only one of its kind. And he had muscled command to allocate it to Enterprise. What was the point of being the flagship commander if you couldn't demand and get the latest, greatest equipment for your crew? "It is, as you said, wicked fast. And has three times the range of the next best shuttle."

"I sometimes wish I had learned to fly." Tilly mused out loud. Then added in her head, not only to play with the ships. I've always had a weakness for pilots …

"There is plenty of time for that."

True. Almost two hours and I haven't joined the 'Beyond the Sol System Club' yet. Tilly shook her head vigorously and reminded herself, not the time or place!

Chris noticed her pronounced head shake and wondered if he had said something wrong. Maybe getting a pilot's license was a sensitive subject between her and her parents. Probably best to change topics. He'd ask a couple of questions, get her refocused and then get back to savoring his quiet, almost solo flight. "Will this be your first trip on a Constitution class ship?"

Tilly walked towards him, eyes shining with excitement. "Oh yes. I never even dared hope it would happen for me. And it's not just any Constitution class ship, it's Enterprise!"

Hearing the name of his ship out loud, spoken with such respect, was … nice. And a testament to her crew. Chris considered himself privileged to be part of such a talented and dedicated group. Her enthusiasm for, well everything, really is charming, he thought as he started to ask another question, but Tilly continued without stopping, "What about you, have you ever been on board a Constitution class ship before?"

Chris reminded himself it was unlikely their paths would cross once on board the ship. "Yes."

"Have you ever helmed a Constitution class ship before?

And reminded himself since the Enterprise was heading into deep space after a three-month patrol of the neutral zone, it was unlike they would meet again and he really, really wanted to be anonymous for this short remaining time. "Yes."

Her look of awe caught him off guard and combined with a proximity alert from the sensors, his attention was divided. Rather than ask a simple yes/no question that would gracefully finish their conversation, he asked an open-ended one. Which ended his quiet, almost solo flight.

ooooo

Chris glanced at the chronometer and projected flight path. Twenty minutes to Enterprise, he'd have to start their approach soon. His passenger was now snoring delicately in the seat next to him after answering his 'tell me a little about yourself' question chronologically and omitting few details. They had made it to the middle of her high school years before she couldn't fight off the need to sleep anymore. He surmised a late night, combined with an abundance of excitement and nervous energy had exhausted her.

After trying several times to pause her monologue and introduce himself, he gave up and offered what she seemed to need - someone's undivided attention. Judging from her shyness and hesitation when he first asked the question and then her increasing enthusiasm when she realized he truly was interested to know more about her, she must have felt overlooked and overshadowed. Especially by her family. That struck him as odd. What parent wouldn't be proud of her?

She liked ships and engineering. He decided to indulge them both and conduct a 360-degree external inspection of Enterprise from the shuttle and hailed the ship asking to be assigned a vector.

"Tilly?" He said softly, now aware she did not, in any way, like her first name. "Time to wake up." After no response, he called again, slightly louder. "We're almost to Enterprise." Still no response. "Tilly," he said at a normal volume, "Our approach for landing will take us around Enterprise."

That caught the attention of her subconscious and she suddenly sat up straight and blinked her eyes. Still a little groggy, she asked, "Did I fall asleep?"

He made sure his expression stayed neutral and nonchalant, assuming a young girl might find this uncomfortable. "Yes."

That is so embarrassing, please, please, please don't let me have snored or drooled. "Did you say we would see Enterprise soon?"

"About 10 minutes."

Tilly went to the back of the shuttle to freshen up. As she put her hair up she asked, "Will you be returning to space dock right away or staying on board Enterprise for a while?"

Chris, concentrating on positioning the shuttle correctly for their fly-by missed 'returning to space dock' and 'a while'. It seemed like an odd question, but he muttered, preoccupied, "I'll be on board."

Maybe he is the ship's helmsman! That was too much to hope for, almost too good to be true! He was so … kind … and cute … and … "I'm glad."

"There she is, hurry."

Tilly practically ran the few steps to the front of the shuttle. Someone had turned on the flood lights, illuminating the ship and creating a halo effect. Chris maneuvered and slowed the shuttle. They were now only a few dozen feet away from Enterprise's hull. Satisfied with their position he executed a complicated flight path, gliding in and out, left and right, over and under the larger ship, as if the shuttle were dancing around and with Enterprise. It was breathtaking.

I can't begin to comprehend the skill it takes to fly this close in and across that ship. I wonder if Captain Pike is nervous right now, Tilly thought and told herself to close her mouth which had fallen open in admiration. She tried to think of something poetic or even marginally impressive to say. All that came out was a long sigh and "She's beautiful."

The pilot nodded and Tilly thought she caught a brief pleased smile on his face.

The fly-by lasted half an hour but felt like a few minutes to Tilly. There was so much to see! Now she was even more thrilled about her new post – if that was possible. Obeying his request to sit down for landing, she couldn't help disobeying regulations and sitting on the edge of her seat and then jumping up the minute she felt the ship touch the deck. One part of her brain acknowledged how precise and smooth the landing was, another part was urging her to get going!

After securing the ship and shutting down the flight console, Chris turned and called to Tilly, intending to introduce himself before being swarmed by his officers. After the personal details she shared during their conversation, he didn't want her to be caught off guard.

Once Tilly was in motion, only an object of much, much greater force could stop her. She opened the doors and bounded down the ramp, forgetting her bags. Then stopped and took in the semi-circle of officers gathered around the back of the shuttle. Peering at the braid on their sleeves, she was surprised. Why would so many senior officers be here to greet me? But she had heard the crew on Enterprise was tight knit.

Chris was a few steps behind her, carrying her three bags.

"Cadet Sylvia Tilly …" Tilly started.

Interesting, the ambassador's daughter is also attending Starfleet Academy. Is the term over already? Chris thought.

"… reporting for duty sirs." Tilly finished.

"Captain Pike has returned to the ship," blared the ship-wide announcement.

How cool, Captain Pike and I arrived at the same time. Tilly thought. And thought some more. And then turned to her high-ranking bellhop and squeaked "Captain?"

Captain Pike sighed, stared at his uncomfortable first officer and mouthed, "Cadet?"