The Vissian doctor is a friendly chap; Phlox and he would get on. After carefully checking the medical database we sent over, he gives me a shot of something that gets rid of the hell's headache that's been pounding between my temples since I woke up, and something else that enables me to stand up like a Starfleet officer rather than wilting like a dying lily in a jar with no water in it.
Almost as an afterthought he passes me a discreet container of stuff 'for application as required'. That'll come in handy; I was beginning to think I'd have to pack the family jewels in cotton wool till they recover.
The captains are due back today. I hope Captain Archer had a successful adventure in Captain Drennik's company. It will be good to listen to him telling everyone about it – hopefully T'Pol will do her usual turn of trying to squash him by telling him what the Vulcans think about it (usually not very much) and with any luck Trip will put in an appearance and the three of them will bicker while Hoshi, Travis and I pretend not to be even listening. Travis, the lucky bastard, can hide his grin simply by facing forward. Hoshi and I have to be more discreet.
Fortunately I have lots of interesting armoury things to talk about with Em and Bernhard. I may even be able to ignore the lurking smiles. If necessary, I even can mention Risa. Trip and I may have had an unfortunate encounter during our visit, but I happen to know that Em had a rather unfortunate event of her own that she probably hopes I haven't heard about. Bernhard's OK – he knows when to fish and when to cut bait. He'll wait to smile till I'm not looking.
Trip has apparently returned to Enterprise earlier for some reason, so Veylo accompanies me to Shuttlepod Two which is still docked at Port 1. I hope I can remember how to fly it.
"I hope you had a memorable visit, Lieutenant," she says, straight-faced. Doubtless for the benefit of the two technicians who are preparing to carry out the routine maintenance on this port, having finished with the forward ones.
"Most memorable, Lieutenant," I reply, matching her with an effort. "I've been extremely grateful for your hospitality. If we meet again one day I'd like to think I could return it."
Better not make the return visit too soon, though. I'm not sure I'd survive it.
Knowing what I know now, I haven't the faintest fragment of an idea how she could possibly produce a smile so demure. She bloody well didn't look like that when she was ... well, never mind.
"I'll look forward to it," she responds. If I wasn't so exhausted I'd grin at the way her tongue peeps naughtily from between her lips, but right now I'm so knackered I couldn't raise a squeak.
Our farewells are suitably decorous. Kissing would be inappropriate of course.
The shuttle door closes and I subside into the pilot's chair with a sigh, not unmixed with a wince. I may be fit, but there's a limit even for me, and right now muscles I didn't even know I had are complaining.
"Lihi-vaelef to shuttle." How long ago since I first heard that, and how much has happened since then.
"Shuttle to Lihi-vaelef. Ready to decouple. Please release docking clamps."
"Lihi-vaelef to shuttle, you are free to leave."
The shuttle parts from the port, the controls responding readily to my hands. For a few moments most of the viewscreen is obscured by the huge hull, and then as I get clear enough to turn safely the blackness of star-scattered space comes into view. And there, serene in space and waiting for my return, is Enterprise.
I breathe a long, soundless sigh of relief. At last we've had a First Encounter that went without a hitch. I can go back to the ship and relax into the nice calm routine that's waiting for me there.
I didn't see Trip in the Vissian Mess Hall though, so maybe he didn't get as lucky as I did. With any luck I can drop endless hints and watch him squirm with envy.
Makes a change for me to be the lucky bastard around here.
