Star Trek: Erin

Part 2: Red Alert Again

     My assignment was Weapons Depot Security. I stood outside a locked door. I had a key to this door, but I wasn't allowed inside without permission. Nowak and I were on a four-hour system. Watch the door, do whatever, watch the door. On my off-hours higher officers could give me jobs, but I was supposed to be able to sleep, eat, and shit in that time. It was a job that needed doing. The Enterprise's heavier weapons must be watched, and in the case of mutiny, I was to stand my ground, call for any loyal reinforcements, and fight my crewmates to the death. Really makes you wonder what part of the assessments decided I'd be a good fit for that, but they were right.

     It was the perfect small beginning for someone destined for greater. I just needed my chance.

     Then I learned my first lesson aboard the Starship Enterprise: no one is safe. Not even the captain. It's a mixed blessing that no one has plot armour. Who knows, maybe Kirk will die and I'll have someone easier to beat. Although, from what I'd heard, the first officer was a top-notch Vulcan. And I've met enough Vulcans to know not to mess with them.

     I was freshly on duty when the alarm went wailing through the halls. Being on red alert wasn't new, the Enterprise seems to spend half the time on it. It was cancelled soon anyway after the jerk of phasers being fired. Later, I got visited.

     "Gotta love when they don't tell you what we're fighting."

     I kept my gaze straight ahead. "Did Marple send you to test me, Sprite?"

     He laughed and leaned against the wall across from me. "No, Tetra let me off so she could check what's happening on the bridge."

     "I see." My hands were folded behind my back.

     "You're no fun when you're on duty."

     I ran my gaze down the corridor in both directions. My posture relaxed. "Pays to be careful. Marple's been an ass, sending other officers while I'm on duty to try and get me from my post. Stupid Harveydale came by earlier saying she lost her damn cat. Why in hell would Starfleet let someone bring a cat on a starship?"

     "Emotional support?"

     "Shut up."

     On cue, red alert started squawking again. Sprite raised an eyebrow. "Twice in one day, it must be Christmas."

     "Attention, crew, this is your captain. Prepare for battle. I repeat, all hands, prepare for battle. This is a red alert. I repeat, we are on red alert."

     I rolled my eyes. "God, he's so dramatic."

     "I get the feeling you don't like him." Sprite checked the corridors again. "Am I wrong?" I stayed silent as a redshirt hurried past. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're after his job."

     "Not just his job," I muttered. "I want his seat."

     Sprite smiled. "Second wild guess, you don't want to like him because you want to destroy him."

     "Woah, watch it with the deep insights, buddy."

     Sprite pushed off the wall. "Listen, you may not like him, but try to take him seriously. I've seen him work, and he knows what he's doing."

     I folded my arms. "I'll keep that in mind."

     He watched me for a moment. "There's more than one way to the top, Cobos."

     "If you're about to suggest sucking up, you can toss yourself in the engines. I'm going to reach the damn captain's chair on merit or I don't deserve it."

     "You gonna be this high and mighty when I'm two ranks above you?"

     "Don't you dare."

     He smirked. "Well, I'll let you get back to watching this lovely door. I'm sure Lieutenant Tetra wants me."

     That dug deeper than he probably meant. Marple didn't give a shit about me. Sprite sauntered away before I could lash out, which is probably best for our tentative relationship. I watched my door and waited for the bridge to cancel the red alert.