Travis, Malcolm, Trip, and Phlox entered the shuttlebay, all their gear in tow. Phlox entered Shuttlepod One first, followed by Trip, then Malcolm. As Travis was preparing to board, however, the doors to the shuttlebay opened, and Hoshi walked in.
Travis set down his gear and smiled at Hoshi weakly. “Hey…” He walked towards her and embraced her.
“I just wanted to…wish you luck…and….” Her voice cracked. She laid her head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly as tears began to flow down her cheeks.
“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us…please…”
Watching the spectacle from inside the shuttlepod, Malcolm’s face twisted into a heavy scowl.
“What’s the matter with you?” asked Trip, noticing his friend’s apparent anger. “You look like you’re about to shit a tea kettle.”
Malcolm grunted. “If Captain Archer had the guts to institute even the slightest bit of discipline…”
“Then what? We wouldn’t be allowed to date anymore? Come on, Malcolm; the crew’ve gotta keep up their morale somehow!”
“He’s holding up the mission, Trip! And besides that kind of…fraternization among crewmembers is against Starfleet regulations. Especially while on duty.” Reed continued to glare at Hoshi and Travis furiously.
“Look, just promise me you won’t do anything stupid down there,” Hoshi demanded.
“Hey now, I’m not gonna make any promises I can’t keep….”
Malcolm’s scowl grew even more pronounced. “Lieutenant! Grab your gear and get your arse on this shuttlepod, NOW!”
Hoshi and Travis jumped and turned to Malcolm, surprised by his sudden outburst. His expression remained grim.
Travis turned back to Hoshi, smiling wryly. “Gotta go.” He placed his hand behind her head, leaned forward, and kissed her passionately. As their lips remained locked, Malcolm pulled away his gaze and sat facing straight forward in the shuttlepod, fuming.
Trip chuckled. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”
“What? That’s ridiculous! You know I would never—”
“I know, Malcolm, I know, and I’m not sayin’ you would, but still…you oughta be happy for Hoshi and Travis. They’re your friends, after all.”
“They’re junior officers, not my friends. LIEUTENANT!”
Finally pulling himself away from Hoshi, Travis ran back to the shuttlepod, grabbed his gear, and entered the cockpit. “All ready then?”
“Yes, Lieutenant, those of us who aren’t too busy snogging their shipmates are ready to go.”
Travis turned to look at Trip, who shrugged. He then turned back to the shuttlepod controls.
The shuttlebay doors opened, and Shuttlepod One’s docking arm lowered it out of the ship. The docking clamps holding the shuttlepod disengaged, and it flew out into space, back towards Romulan territory.
“Preparing to enter stealth mode,” announced Travis from the pilot’s seat.
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