Star Trek: Erin

Part 3: Aliens Aren't New

     Being an officer, I got my own room. Closet-sized and distinctly smelling of feet, but mine. I wasn't in Starfleet to be comfortable so that suited me fine, but I'm sure Gabriel had a fit when she saw hers. I was lying on my stupid-hard bed when red alert went wailing again. I threw myself out of bed in time to get pitched into the wall by the ship's rapid deceleration. "Dammit!" Clutching my throbbing skull, I pulled myself to the computer and flicked through the open officer channels. "Stuff not working. Lovely." I left the chatter on and peeked into the hallway. Less hectic than usual red alerts, but that didn't mean a thing. I patted my phaser and headed towards the weapons depot.

     "Cobos. What are you doing here?"

     I rolled my eyes. "Going to my post. Is this part of the ship off-limits?" I drew myself up. Time to be the mature one. "Know what's happening?"

     Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Who's the suck-up now?"

     "Still you. I'm just trying to get briefed."

     The idea that she was briefing me was enough motivation to her fragile ego. "We're stopped."

     "Yeah, I gathered that, genius. What else?"

     "Aliens called Metrons took offense at our 'violent intentions,'" she made air quotes with her manicured fingers, "and teleported our captain and the enemy's to fight it out. I visited Chief Medical Officer McCoy on the bridge." She let out a very un-Gabriel-like snort. "Just in time to see him lick some potassium nitrate."

     Now, aliens aren't new. Most of my classmates in the Academy were full or half-alien. Hell, literally all the first-year tutors are Vulcans. Native population of my home planet were these pinkish-purple slug-people. The new thing here was the captain getting kidnapped right off the bridge.

     I let out a breath. Gotta love that they tell the crew what's going on. "So some aliens got pissy and kidnapped Kirk? Wouldn't be the first time from what I've heard."

     "I'm busy, Cobos. Stop wasting my time."

     "Thanks, Gabriel. You weren't stupid for once."

     "Go die, Cobos."

     I scampered away, grinning. McCoy's sourness is rubbing off on her. Very refreshing. My steps slowed. Nowak will be fine. I pivoted. A yellowshirt swore at me as I nearly drove him into a wall. Not my fault I have broad shoulders, jerkass.

     I took a rather long detour past Tetra's office, but Sprite wasn't in. So I went somewhere else. It'd be fun to bother Gabriel some more. A couple blueshirts were leaving the med bay when I arrived. I leaned in the doorway until the sensor beeped at me. "What is your medical need?" Gabriel asked without looking up from whatever.

     I studied the ceiling. "Thought you might be missing my razor-sharp wit."

     Gabriel didn't turn, but her shoulders tensed. "If you're not sick, get out."

     "Is boredom an ailment?"

     "If it makes you stupid, yes."

     "You would be an expert on that."

     She finally turned. "Did you come to insult me, Cobos?"

     "At the moment, you seem to know what random chemicals the captain's licking, and I rather like hearing about that. What's on the menu today?"

     "Mercy."

     "Aw, gross."

     "Psychopath." Gabriel straightened her miniskirt. Seriously, why did she pick that? Seems like it would hike up uncomfortably high. Like right now. "The captain spared the other alien and the Metrons let everyone live."

     "Kirk's full of surprises," I muttered. Gabriel looked at me oddly. Wait. "If everything's cleaned up, does that mean—"

     "I've been on duty this whole time."

     "But is McCoy coming back?"

     "Of course."

     "Dammit." I hopped over to the door.

     Gabriel gave that hilarious snort again. "Stick around, I'm sure the Chief Medical Officer will love hearing about how you're wasting my time."

     "Not a chance, McCoy scares the shit out of me."

     "I should keep him around more often."

     "You wouldn't do that. Longer you spend with me, smarter you get." I gave her a nasty little smile and ducked out before McCoy could arrive.