Mirror Masquerade {Star Trek Enterprise Fan Fiction}

Chapter 4 - Luck

The vision returned to the ISS Enterprise, in 2267. Travis Mayweather blinked for several seconds and steadied himself. "What the hell just happened?" he asked no one. He looked down. He even had on a different uniform. He had no way of knowing this, but it was Sulu's uni. "Huh. Suddenly I'm a Lieutenant. Awright!"

A few redshirts walked by. "Who the hell are you?" asked one of them.

"Mayweather, uh, just assigned here."

"A Lieutenant?" asked one of the redshirts.

"Yes," Travis intoned, "a Lieutenant." He bounced up on his heels briefly, proud of his sudden and unexpectedly odd promotion.

The intercom came on. "All hands, this is Ensign Chekov. The captain and his landing party are back on board. That is all."

Mayweather figured out how to get to the transporter room and, as he watched, Spock escorted a rather surprised-looking Kirk as the three other members of the landing party trailed behind, with the one woman at the back. Spock didn't seem to notice Mayweather but Uhura, one fine-looking woman, did. Travis looked her up and down, and his eyes did not linger on her face. "Niiiice," he came closer. "I'm Travis, baby."

Uhura gulped when she saw him. She tugged on the back of one of her companions' sleeves. "Scotty!" she hissed in a stage whisper. "What do I do?"

Scotty and McCoy looked back at her and the doctor shrugged. "When in Rome ...." He then realized what was happening. He stopped for a moment and turned back. "We don't have time for this."

"What are you gonna do about it, Old Man?" Travis's tone was one of contempt.

"Laddie, ya might wanna reconsider yer actions here," Scotty interposed himself between Travis and the rest of them.

"Enough," Kirk stated firmly. "We're busy." They went back to walking.

Uhura glared and then stopped for a second. "Lieutenant Uhura, Mister."

"An attitude, huh?" pressed Travis, still following along and still leering. "You got a stick where the sun don't shine? Let me remove that for ya, baby."

"Miss Uhura!" called the captain, "Let's stay together! Mister Spock, I think the doctor and Mister Scott can take their leaves now. I'd like to explore my options when it comes to the Halkans."

"Options, Captain?" The Vulcan eyebrow was raised slightly.

"Options, Mister Spock. Let's see if we can get what we want without destroying these people."

"Worlds that fail to comply with the Empire's wishes are destroyed. Terror must be maintained, else the Empire crumbles."

Kirk noticed the young man standing nearby and looking, perhaps, for something to do. "What's your name, Lieutenant?"

"Mayweather, sir." He grinned at Uhura. She put a hand on Scotty's arm.

"Come along with us to the Bridge, Mister, uh, Mayweather, is it?" Kirk inquired after watching the exchange.

"Yes, sir."

"Yes, well, come along, then." Uhura shot him a look, so Kirk added, "I'd like you where I can see you."

As they walked, Spock interjected, "Captain, might I remind you that this is highly irregular?"

"What is, Mister Spock?"

"Most unconventional – a new, unknown and untested person on the Bridge – and the Halkans, too, I might add."

"You might add that, yes," Kirk smiled. "But let's go anyway."