Shifting Sands (A Star Trek: The Next Generation Fan Fiction)

Chapter Two

For the next two hours, I sat there in a slight stupor. I was used to sitting alone for long periods of time, that's what stowaways do, but that didn't make it any less boring. Plus, I wasn't alone. I was with Commander William T. Riker, the famed first officer of the Enterprise. I had heard about him many times, but I had never thought that I would meet him. Much less be sitting face to face with him in his quarters with him thinking I was a rather frightened and hostile cat. I would have laughed if I was able.

The Commander's com badge buzzed again and I started. It was Geordi LaForge, the same man who had called earlier. The repairs had apparently gone faster than planned, and the ship was ready to depart.

The Commander was obviously glad to hear the news. I wasn't too sure how I felt. I was glad that we would be leaving soon because that meant that I could get off this ship all the sooner. But I had also somewhat hoped that I could return to the station. Someone on board knowing I was there was not something that I had planned on, and it would have been much easier to find another ship to get on.

Too late now.

I might as well make myself comfortable, I thought. I hadn't eaten the food yet, mainly because I hadn't wanted to move. I didn't want to take my eyes off Riker.

At this point I was starving, though, and I doubted that Riker would suddenly go off his head and attack me. Klingon, maybe. Starfleet, no.

I jumped off the couch and headed over to the replicator. Carefully, I sniffed the food. True, it was only a bowl of brown slop, but it smelled like beef. And I was starving. I'd eaten worse.

I carefully licked it. Then, I began to eat it, painfully aware of how disgusting I probably looked. That was the one good thing about being a Sandorian, or any other humanoid species: we had hands. Cats just had to make do.

Once I had eaten most of the slop and drunk some water, I settled into the cat bed. It was actually very comfortable. Looking up, I saw Riker watching me.

He no longer looked, or smelled, as uncomfortable as he had before. Maybe he was starting to get used to me, or maybe the fact that I was now acting more catlike comforted him. Whichever, he was definitely more at ease.

This made me feel better. The less suspicious he was, the easier it would be for me to sneak out. It was around 2100 now, which meant that Riker should be going to bed within one or two hours. Then I could leave.

Another hour later, Riker rose and disappeared into another room, which I was assumed was the bathroom. When he returned, he went into the bedroom and began to get undressed. I quickly closed my eyes as I had no desire whatsoever to see Riker in any state of undress. I opened my eyes around five minutes later. Riker was now wearing blue pajamas, and was climbing into bed.

"Computer, turn off the lights," he said. The lights immediately went off. It took my eyes several minutes to try to adjust. There was a little light coming out of the replicator, and with my cat eyes I was able to see again.

"Goodnight, Tasha," Riker murmured. I paused, a funny feeling filling me. It had been a long, long time since anyone had ever told me goodnight, and even longer since they had used my real name. Riker had somehow known my name. I closed my eyes, reveling in the feeling. I actually felt like I kind of belonged.

I allowed myself a minute or so, and then I opened my eyes again. I needed to focus. In order to open the door I needed to go back to my normal form, which meant that Riker had to be in a deep sleep. I didn't know how long it would take him to fall asleep, but I had to wait at least forty-five minutes to be on the safe side. Maybe longer.

I allowed myself to slip into a slight doze. I was tired, and it wouldn't be good if I were tired as I made my escape. I knew that I wouldn't sleep more than an hour, and my cat ears would alert me if anyone, or anything, moved inside the room.