Chapter Five
Captain Riker was bored.
The Titan was at maximum velocity, en route to the Caitian home world, Cait. He had finished reading the security reports, made a log entry and now had nothing to do.
Deanna was in Sickbay, being examined for anything out of the ordinary… and he was told to stay out until they were finished.
So he sat.
It seemed the minutes were dragging by slowly, as he stared at the foreword viewscreen, which at the moment was inactive. Then he thought of it. Captain Picard always took a stroll around the ship when he had nothing to do, or was waiting for something to happen. Riker glanced at his first officer.
"You have the bridge." He said. He then stood, and walked into the turbolift. "Deck eight lounge." He said to the turbolift controller. Riker smiled to himself, thinking if he had been on the Enterprise, he would have said Ten Forward. The Titan, being a much smaller vessel, had a smaller lounge and bar room. Just moments ago, a shift rotation took place… so he figured the room would be full of life.
A few moments later he walked in the lounge and smiled… for it was almost packed. The few people that noticed him come in, smiled and nodded. A few even addressed him by name. He worked his way to the bar, and grinned at his barkeeper.
"What's the special for tonight?" He asked the young man behind the bar.
"I got whatever you want Captain. Just don't ask for any Romulan Ale… I'm not supposed to have any." He grinned and replied.
"Damn, that's what I came down here for. Just give me something with a kick, and I will be happy." Riker said, as he turned and looked behind the room at the people.
"Here you are Sir. Guaranteed to make even the most boring day exciting." Riker turned back to him and looked down to a fiery orange beverage that seemed to be sparkling.
"Do I want to know what's in it?"
"Probably not."
"Then its perfect, thanks." He picked the drink up, and found an empty table to sit down at. Riker enjoyed people watching at a time like this, for he could sit back and enjoy his drink and watch his crew socialize.
He glanced up when the doors to the room opened, and saw a young man walk in carrying a padd. Riker thought a moment, trying to remember his name. Ah, Ensign Orlando Walker. Riker remembered his service record because it intrigued him that Orlando majored in three of the hardest sections of Starfleet Academy: Quantum Chemistry, Temporal Mechanics, and Transporter Mechanics. The young man was only twenty-four, as well.
Riker watched him sit down at a vacant table and glance at his padd, then his eyes darted up and scanned the room. He seemed to be looking for someone.
Probably looking for his girlfriend. Riker thought to himself. He took another drink, and sat the glass down. When he looked back up he saw another young man walk in, Darius McKinney.As far as Will could remember, Darius worked in the science lab, and had a strong interest in Archeology.
He watched Darius stop and look around the room, until his eyes stopped at Orlando. Orlando stood up the moment he saw Darius, and rushed to greet him. When they finally got to each other, they hugged and kissed each other on the lips.
Will Riker choked on his drink, and nearly spat it out. They sure didn't mention that in the personnel files. He thought. He wasn't looking for his girlfriend; he was looking for his boyfriend.
--
Picard materialized in main engineering of the Enterprise. He looked around at all the drydock personnel, who were all busy working on something.
"Captain, come take a look at this!" LaForge summoned from the other side of the room. He walked over to his chief engineer, trying to avoid the spare parts lying about everywhere. "Captain, part of the retrofits include installing holoemitters throughout the entire ship."
"I am aware of that." Picard replied as he crossed his arms.
"Well, someone at Starfleet Engineering developed a new holographic program, designed to act as an extension to the main computer core." Geordi said, as he turned around and pressed a few buttons on the computer panel.
"An holographic extension? What do you mean?"
"I am what he means." Spoke a voice from behind them. Picard turned around on his heel and jumped slightly.
A woman about his height, with dark curly shoulder-length hair stood there staring at him. She was in a Starfleet uniform, and had a look of being in command.
"Who are you?" Picard asked. Before she could answer, Geordi came up beside her. He ran his hand through her midsection, to show she was holographic.
"She… is the Enterprise." Geordi said, and grinned ear to ear. Picard raised his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I am your ship." She replied. "I am in essence, an avatar of the Enterprise. I will replace your ships… small-minded computer. I know everything going on in the ship at all times." Picards eyes got wide.
"Your sentient?"
"Every bit as much as you are." She replied. Suddenly, she flickered and became transparent. She then turned her head and glared at Geordi. "I can also tell you that nothing on the Enterprise is working correctly, at all."
Picard grinned and stood beside her to glare at Geordi.
"I like her already." Jean-Luc said, and smiled.
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