Lieutenant Uhura paced in the recreation area, casually overseen by Lieutenant Sulu. She leaned up against the shelf, reaching as high as she could stretch. Sulu's giggling was caught by his cup of coffee, recently brewed.
Uhura turned a trained ear, and dropped both arms to her sides.
"What are you looking at, Mister?"
"What are you looking for, Mister?" he said, setting down his drink, "Maybe I can help."
"That red fabric there," Uhura admitted, pointing at the uppermost shelf, "I'm redecorating."
He retrieved it, and held it up to the light. Originally, it was a tablecloth, used when important delegates or officers visited the Enterprise. The fabric was shimmery, thin, and cool to the touch. Exactly what Uhura wanted. She held onto one corner, sifting it between her fingers.
"What are you going to do with it?" he asked, as she took it out of his arms, delighted.
"I haven't decided… do you know anything about Christmas decorations, Mister?"
"I know one thing; my corps did it at Academy."
Uhura smiled, and asked whether the fabric could fulfill it.
"Probably," he said, "You hang up little bags with everyone's names on them, and put gifts inside. But, being cadets, we had to do one of the superstitions too: if you pin up this weed in the doorway – mistletoe, they call it – then no one can go inside."
She continued grinning; she was always fond of memories. Those of others, above her own. She was excited to integrate them and call them up later, when the friendship demanded it. This was, of course, a product of her previous loss of memory, and a way to show her gratitude.
"I can make bags out of this," Uhura decided, while Sulu returned to his coffee, "And put them in the captain's cabin! Wouldn't that be adorable?"
Sulu mirrored her smile, and offered whatever help she needed. Together, they sat down at the dining table and tore the fabric into smaller sections. With help from a cosmetic heater, which Uhura usually used on her hair, they fused each one into a pocket.
Both stood, and Uhura gathered up their work.
"Need any other help, Mister?" Sulu asked.
"I don't think so, Mister."
"Well I don't think you can reach the ceiling in there," he laughed, as they trotted down the corridor. She shoved his shoulder.
They arrived at the captain's room, playfully forgetting the doors would not open for them.
"There's a space there," Sulu pointed across the hall, to an empty wall panel.
"People will see."
"Not if we hurry."
"I meant once we were finished," Uhura suggested, needlessly. She followed the other lieutenant to the wall, and watched as he tapped random places.
Quickly, the attempted stockings were pinned to the wall, as uniformly as possible. They stretched from the bend in the hallway all the way to the nearest turbo-lift.
Uhura was inspired to find a tablet-pen; she adorned each with the name of a crewman. Sulu did not volunteer his assistance with this portion of the project. Instead, he counted the stockings.
"We're about four-hundred shy," he said, lightly.
"Well of course I'll make more."
She stood against the opposite wall, to view as many of their creations as possible. Sulu stood close beside her, and promised the captain would enjoy it.
"See you on the Bridge, Mister," she said, moving toward the turbo-lift, "Thanks again."
He laughed, and walked toward the opposite lift.
The captain was not on the Bridge when Uhura arrived. Neither was Sulu.
This made her nervous.
She took her seat quietly, and adjusted her earpiece. Spock, sitting in the captain's chair, turned upon hearing her. He saw no need for questions.
The intercom speaker buzzed from the armrest.
"Lieutenant Uhura to Captain's Quarters," relayed Kirk's voice. Spock turned to her, and nodded once toward the door.
"Aye, Sir," she said.
Her ride in the lift was silent. The journey through the hallway was silent. Until she reached the bend where the stockings began…
Four-hundred-and-thirty of them, covering the wall entirely. They seemed to float, all on their own.
Uhura's eyes twinkled and glowed, basking in the golden ribbons that had been carefully added to each one.
"I needed them to be Regulation."
She turned and smiled up at the captain.
"Sir, they're wonderful!"
"Yes they are," he grinned, "Mister Sulu caught me on the way to the Bridge, and told me it was all your idea. I had to go and see what I was missing."
"But… you made the rest of them, didn't you, Captain?"
"I had Mister Sulu take them to Uniforms to be duplicated. Took no time at all."
"And the ribbons?"
"And the ribbons. I just borrowed some data from personnel records."
Uhura moved to the one nearest hers, then those above and below. They were all perfectly alike.
"We'll have them all filled up before shore leave," he promised, thrilled just to watch her, "Just like in the stories."
Deck the halls with boughs of holly.
'Tis the season to be jolly.
Follow me in merry measure,
While I tell of yuletide treasure.