Daughter of the Stars

Buckle Up

Stardate 2258.204

"Looks like you're the last one on my list, Sala," McCoy said, starting to pack up what he intended to bring onto the Enterprise with him, "That is, except for Jim."

"He is a Captain now and yet he still skirts his medical exams?" Sala asked as she straightened her uniform tunic.

"Seems like it. But, you can't think you'll be able to teach an old dog new tricks," McCoy grumbled.

"Then perhaps I can lend my assistance in attempting to 'corner' him once we are all aboard the Enterprise."

"I'm sure that'd help but, we need to be careful about how often you help. He might wise up and stop trustin' you when he's missed an exam," McCoy said before securing his office space.

"Duly noted, Doctor," Sala said before stepping towards the door, "Since you have completed your list of Enterprise personnel, shall we both proceed to Hanger One?"

McCoy looked up at Sala, then looked around his office space before letting out a sigh, "Yeah. I guess we should just get that over with."

With that, the two officers made their way to Hanger One.

"Congrats on being bumped up to Commander, by the way," McCoy said as he and Sala walked.

"Thank you, Doctor. I had believed that it was soon coming, as Spock has been a Commander for almost two years at this point. We bear similar merits so it would seem almost illogical for the two of us not to be Commanders," Sala pondered as they walked, "And congratulations on maintaining ownership of being the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer."

"Yeah, it's a blessin' and a curse," McCoy grumbled.

"In what manner?"

"Well, I, like yourself, am required to board the Enterprise as soon as I am available to do so."

"And does your aviophobia make this difficult for you, Doctor?"

"Well it certainly doesn't help. What makes you ask anyway?"

"I have been exploring the possibility of gaining the certifications as a counselor."

"Is that really such a good idea? Aren't Vulcans supposed to abandon emotion or somethin' like that?"

"It is a withdraw and control of one's personal emotion. And it seems to me that being able to remove my own emotions would better allow me to guide those who are emotionally tormented, or aide those whose emotions are clouding their judgement."

"Still, don't know what it would be like talking to a gal who's distant from her own emotions about stuff that's deep and emotinal."

"It does not seem to stop our Captain," Sala said with a ghost of a smirk, glancing at McCoy.

"Yeah, well, as I'm sure you've figured out by now, Jim's a bit of a rogue."

"But that about him is what may lead him to be a brilliant Captain."

With that, the two senior officers turned the corner into Hanger One.

"How much you wanna bet Jim's gonna be one of the last ones on the ship?" McCoy asked.

"I do not need to 'bet' for I believe that your thought is correct," Sala said simply.

McCoy let out a soft chuckle, "Ya know, it's almost scary how well you know that boy."

"It would be more concerning that he does not seem to easily break established habits," Sala said, a glimmer of a laugh in her eye.

The two senior officers approached one of the shuttles, which had an officer posted outside of it.

"Commander Sala," Sala said simply to the officer.

"Lieutenant Commander McCoy," McCoy followed.

The officer checked his PADD for the two crew member names, "You're both clear."

Sala boarded the shuttle first, McCoy following quickly after. The shuttle ride to the base in orbit was quiet, unsurprisingly since there was a lack of a Captain aboard the shuttle. Once they arrived at the docked Enterprise, McCoy and Sala went towards their respective stations; McCoy to the Med Bay and Sala to the bridge.

"Greetings, Mister Sulu," Sala said as she arrived on the bridge.

"Commander," Sulu said with a small smile and a nod of his head.

"Are the preliminary flight checks running smoothly?"

"Yes, ma'am. Smooth as silk."

"Good," Sala said with a small nod.

The female Vulcan then began to circuit the bridge as reports started to come in from around the ship.

"The Med Bay is staffed and ready to go," McCoy reported as he entered the bridge.

"Thank you, Doctor," Sala said with a nod of approval.

It was a few more minutes before the Captain, James T. Kirk, arrived on the bridge.

"Keeptain on ze bridge!" Chekov announced.

"Engineering thrusters and impulse engines at your command, sir," Sulu reported.

"Weapons systems and chutes on standby."

"Dock control reports ready, Captain," Uhura relayed.

Jim drew a deep breath before speaking, "Bones!" Jim then started to walk towards the CMO, "Buckle up," Jim said as he clapped McCoy on the shoulder.

McCoy drew a deep breath and rolled his eyes at Jim.

"And how's our Cultural Officer doing?" Jim asked as he moved to sit in the Captain's chair.

"Prepared for the journey," Sala said with a ghost of a smile.

"Good," Jim said with his own smile before opening a comms channel to engineering, "Scotty, how we doin'?"

"Dilithium chambers at maximum, Captain," Scotty answered before his voice sounded a little distant, "Get down!"

"Mister Sulu, prepare to engage thrusters," Jim said once he'd closed the comms link.

Sulu started the prompts on his screen to do just that, when the door to the Turbo-lift opened to reveal Spock.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain?" Spock asked, his hands crossed behind his back.

"Permission granted," Jim said with a soft smirk.

Spock then started to approach Jim, "As you have yet to select a First Officer, respectfully, I would like to submit my candidacy. Should you desire, I can provide character references."

"It would be my honor, Commander," Jim said with a small smile.

Spock gave a small nod of acknowledgement before moving to take his seat on the bridge.

"Welcome aboard, Commander," Sala said as Spock passed her.

"Thank you, Commander," Spock said, a glint of humor in his eye.

"Maneuvering thrusters, Mister Sulu," Jim said as he sat back down in his seat.

"Thrusters on standby, Captain," Sulu answered.

"Take us out."

"Aye aye, Captain."

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new lifeforms and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.