Red Means Dead

Dinner

When we arrive at the door, he squeezes my hand and gives me a quick peck on the cheek before heading into the room. I take a few moments to compose myself, opting to smooth my hair and let my dress be--even if it were a crumpled mess, I wouldn't touch it--as I take a few steadying breaths and walk in.

The room is brightly lit and the observation window screens are up so we can see the closer planets of the current solar system we are mapping. There hasn't been any signs of humanoid life but that's proven faulty in the past.

Scotty sees me as I walk in and beckons me over to where he and the Captain are standing, looking out the window.

Captain Kirk acknowledges me as I join them and grabs a drink from a nearby tray which he hands to me. He continues talking about a theory with Scotty and I take the time to settle my nerves and study the planets.

The closest one fills a large portion of the view and is mostly a pale blue, similar to the blue of the science uniforms. It's massive, most likely a class S planet, with swirling turquoise storms and undulating seafoam clouds. The next closest is a bright vivid red, like Mars, but any other details are lost to distance. I hold my thumb up, closing an eye, and dance it behind my finger a few times while I somewhat listen to the Captain. I'm not trying to be rude but I feel like I'm infringing on a conversation between friends instead of colleagues. The last planet I can discern anything about appears somewhat pinkish with dark gray clouds and I feel a sinking pit develop in my stomach.

"Lieutenant Walker? Lieutenant Walker? Are you alright?"

I jump slightly and look down to see the Captain's hand on my elbow. "Sorry? Oh! Yes, sir. Quite, sir. Lost in...my own little world it appears."

He chuckles. "There are plenty out there to choose from."

"Yes, sir."

"Is that why you got into Starfleet? To go where no one has gone and all that?"

"I suppose. Although, I don't know how bold I've been in my endeavors thus far."

"I think ye'r doing just fine, lass. Ye'r why we're here, after all."

"I suppose. I'm sure any number of the other excellent engineers would have discovered the anomaly eventually."

"But they didn't. You did," the Captain interjects.

"Aye, lass. A toast ta ye." Scotty holds his glass up and I follow suit. It's strange, to be fraternizing with my superiors but it's somehow starting to feel comfortable.

Scotty smiles. "May ye always be 'round to make me look good!"

We all laugh at that and I tip back the blue liquid in my glass, double swallowing the burn it induces and blinking back tears.

"I bet you she'll tell you she was just doing her job," McCoy jokes from behind me, raising his glass my way before turning back to his conversation with Sulu.

"I'm not one for the spotlight," I explain. Now that the shock has worn off a bit, I've practiced a few stock responses so I don't seem like a surfer missing his board. "I'm really honored. Truly."

Captain Kirk nods. "Fantastic. There's nothing wrong with having your work recognized now and then."

"Aye, lass! Now, let's tip back a few more celebratory drinks and get things really a-going!"

Scotty, downs the rest of his amber liquor and hurries off across the room where a tray of similar drinks is set up. He runs into Chekov on the way and the two start a healthy debate about the origin of several potent potables.