This wasn't going to be easy, thought Malcolm, as the senior staff headed to the Observation Lounge to greet the new crew members. However, orders were orders and if there was one thing Reed excelled at, it was respecting the chain of command. This mission was of the utmost importance, he didn't need that point reinforced. Qo'nos could be an incredible ally and would almost certainly give the Romulans pause for thought should they decide to take up where the Xindi left off…
"At ease…"
Malcolm was still lost in his own thoughts when the Captain's words penetrated the fog in his mind. It took him a moment to register the five crewmen standing in relaxed stance in front of them.
He glanced briefly at each before his eyes came to rest on a familiar but long since matured face. The wiry frame not unlike his, unmistakable shock of short-cropped, flame-red hair and bright green eyes with a glint in them so bright it would have put a binary star to shame. It had been eight years since he'd laid eyes on Meara Shaw, someone he'd considered his closest friend in Starfleet Academy, and more if she'd given any indication that she had been remotely interested.
Hayes was watching the series of expressions wash over Reed's face with abject fascination. "Something wrong, Sir? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Reed shook himself out of his reverie and composed his features. "Something like that, Major."
"…..so though you know you are the cream of Starfleet in order to have been chosen to serve aboard Enterprise, we expect it not to go to your heads," Archer concluded, with that trademark playful smile he used to charm all his crew.
"You've already met my first officer, Sub-Commander T'Pol," who gave a slight nod in acknowledgement to the new arrivals. "Crewmen Johnson and Richards, and Ensign Faulkner? This is my Chief Engineer and the man who will be bossing you around from now on, Commander Charles Tucker."
"Trip to ma friends but Sir to yawl," he said with just a hint of humour.
Looking at Reed, Archer continued, "Ensign Shaw and Crewman Marsh are part of the security staff and will be serving under Lieutenant Malcolm Reed."
Shaw immediately stepped forward and extended her hand. Her face expressionless, aside from that sparkle in her eye that Reed had never forgotten. "Lieutenant Reed. It's a pleasure to see you again. It's been too long."
Archer raised an eyebrow, T'Pol's expression a mirror of his own.
Reed noticed Tucker's mouth begin to flap open and say something to embarrass him no doubt.
"Ensign Shaw. Indeed. It's been a while. Serving Starfleet has obviously agreed with you. Crewman Marsh. Welcome aboard." Reed stepped back. "If you would both report to the Armoury at 0700 in the morning, we can assign you your duties. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some duties of my own to attend before the next shift. See you both in the morning."
Malcolm turned on his heel to exit the Lounge and glanced back to see Hayes introducing himself and Archer and T'Pol making small talk with the new Engineering crew. He didn't miss the knowing look on Tucker's face. Damn the man. He'd dig until he hit gold. Malcolm had always made a point of keeping a cool and professional distance from his colleagues. His role demanded nothing less than that. It was too easy to lose himself. He'd learned that the hard way. He saw every life on board Enterprise as his personal responsibility, no one no more or less important than the other. And now this. Of all the ships in all the Sol system… Damn. He'd imagined it wasn't going to be easy. He'd had no idea.
"You two know each other? Hotdamn, Malcolm, every time I think we're gettin' to the bottom of the mystery that is our Armoury Officer, another layer jus' gets peeled back!"
True to Trip form, after the meet and greet, he had followed the slightly perturbed Lieutenant to his quarters to grill him about his former life and where Meara Shaw fit into the picture.
"Well obviously I knew her long before her sojourn into diplomacy. We were cadets. I was — like a big brother to her I suppose, she being two years behind me."
"So how'd ya end up being pals? It's rare that senior cadets would collude with their younger counterparts…"
"I…. rescued her from a tricky situation. Outside one of the lesser known haunts of Starfleet personnel."
"Ha! Malcolm Reed. Born protector…"
"Actually, it turned out she was more than capable of looking out for herself. When a couple more thugs - for want of a better word - crawled out of the shadows, she actually came to my rescue. The rest, as they say, is history."
Trip was sitting on his bed, waiting for more, but Malcolm wasn't really in the mood. "Well, if you don't mind, Commander, I have some reports to finish on the Armoury upgrades and repairs for Captain Archer."
Trip knew when the exceedingly British tone surfaced, he wouldn't get any more out of Malcolm. He drained his glass and stood up. "Just so ya know, Malcolm, this conversation ain't over," he stated with a smirk.
Yes. Malcolm knew that look. As if he didn't have enough to occupy his mind with the the largely unknown Klingon-shaped element looming on his horizon…
Hayes had planned on getting a headstart on the rest of the Armoury personnel. And on a more personal level, he loved being in the Armoury working away, before Malcolm arrived. He knew it grated him and Hayes enjoyed stoking that fire occasionally, just to keep the Lieutenant on his toes. Edgy, yeah. That's the way a Head of Security should be.
He entered the Mess at 0520 expecting to find it deserted. Much to his surprise, Ensign Shaw was sitting with a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs, seemingly glued to a PADD. Hayes went to the drinks dispenser and watched her thoughtfully. She looked fragile on the surface, though when he spoke to her yesterday, he could sense a latent strength beneath that practically seared his skin. And since then, he'd read her file and well…., astounding didn't come close.
"Coffee. Black." If she noticed his presence, she didn't acknowledge it.
He'd also been rather curious about Reed's reaction, and the surprise knowledge that they had been acquainted in a previous life. This piqued Hayes' curiosity. He'd been trying to penetrate that steely British reserve for months. Well, maybe he'd get some insights from Shaw, something he could use to rattle that cage.
"May I join you, Ensign?" Shaw looked up, a picture of intense concentration. She seemed to have to mentally shake herself to respond. She stood up in deference to rank.
"Major! Of course. Please. My apologies I was a little absorbed in my reading."
Hayes glanced down at the PADD. "You're reading… Klingon?"
She flashed him a rather disarming smile. Hayes wasn't sure anyone - man, woman or alien - had any right to look that good so early in the morning.
"Hoshi was kind enough to give me some pointers. I've read all the available material but there's no substitute for firsthand experience."
"I couldn't agree more. Ensign." They both sat, sipping their drinks in silence for a few moments.
"So. Ensign." Shaw looked at Hayes over the rim of her cup. "You know, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep calling you that, knowing what I know."
"On the contrary Major, you are doing an excellent job. And I plan to make it as easy as possible for you and Lieutenant Reed to adjust to my presence. In fact, I'm pretty good at blending into the scenery. Most of the time, you won't even know I'm in the Armoury."
Hayes smiled. "I guess you don't become an incredible diplomat without possessing certain skills. And you, Ensign, seem to possess a helluva lot of skills…."
So for the next hour, Hayes and Shaw talked about some of her adventures in combat training, trading stories and some of their more hair-raising missions. Hayes hadn't felt so comfortable talking to another human being in a long time.
Laughter in the Mess? At 0620. Malcolm stood outside the door for a moment to assess this unusual situation. He froze. Recognising Hayes' voice, mingling with that of Meara Shaw.
Damn. What on earth could they be laughing about? No… Not him, surely? Calm down, Malcolm. Stop being so bloody paranoid. He braced himself and pressed the entry button.
"Tea. Hot." Hayes and Ambassador - No Malcolm, Ensign - Shaw were still chuckling about something by the time he made his way over to their table. "A little early for levity, isn't it?"
They finally noticed Reed's presence and both stood. In unison they said, "Good morning, Sir."
"Please, don't stand on my account. We're not on duty just yet." He took a seat opposite Hayes. "Care to share the source of your mirth?" he enquired nonchalantly. Well, as nonchalantly as he could manage.
Hayes spoke. "The, err, Ensign and I were just sharing war stories about combat training. Turns out she's met a few MACOs that are actually mutual acquaintances. We were just comparing notes."
Reed noticed Hayes was practically glowing as he exchanged glances over his coffee cup with Shaw. Reed looked at her. That ever-present glint, infuriating in its attractiveness, held his gaze.
Reed cleared his throat before bringing his own cup to his lips. "I see. As long as she's not sharing any Academy tales? Those files are classified. Right, Ensign Shaw?"
"Oh absolutely, Sir. Couldn't have crewmates getting hold of such sensitive information. I'd hate to be the cause of an increased flow of traffic to Sickbay." Her words, however, were offset by the slight smile on her lips and the glance she threw Hayes.
"Glad to hear it, Ensign. See you both in the Armoury in 30 minutes." He rose and Hayes and Shaw followed suit. "No dawdling." He threw the comment over his shoulder as he strode with as much bluster as he could muster out the door.
"Well, I'd better get going. Wouldn't want to be late on my first day," Shaw stated as she drained her cup and grabbed her PADD.
She leaned down and in a low conspiratorial tone, whispered to Hayes. "I reckon you are more than up to being on the receiving end of a few bruises from our Head of Security, Major. What do you say you join me for a drink after our shift and I divulge some dirt from those classified Academy files?"
Hayes' grin would have had Phlox testing him for Denobulan DNA. "It would be my pleasure, Ensign Shaw."
With a quick nod and a wink, she departed.