Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 4 Jan 2004 04:53:47 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: jeanette_slinn@yahoo.co.uk (Hoshissis) Title: "Did I Just See A Mermaid" 1 Author: Hoshissis Contact: jeanette_slinn@yahoo.co.uk Series: ENT Rating: PG-13 for swearing Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star trek and I derive no financial gain from this story. Codes: Tu, A, T, Ma, S, R, P, angst, friendship, humor, action/adventure Summary: This story is set before Season 3 when the mission is one of Did I Just See a Mermaid? Enterprise was orbiting above a newly discovered class M planet. They had been here for over a week now, while Tpol had been running numerous scans of the planet below. Even though the crew were aching to go down and see what wonders this world would offer, Captain Archer had given in to Tpol who had insisted on running detailed scans first. //Can't be too carefully, especially after what happened on the first Class M planet we discovered// he thought. Scans were now complete and the planet had been declared safe to visit, there was now a loud commotion in the shuttle bay as various officers and crewmen ran back and forth preparing for the upcoming mission. To the unseen eye it looked chaotic and unorganised, but since Science Officer Tpol was in charge, this was certainly not the case. One away team consisted of Travis and Tpol; the second team consisted of Captain Archer and Malcolm. Surrounding them were six crew members of Tpol's science department who would all be running scans of planets, trees and animals that were waiting to be discovered. Prepping the two shuttles was Charles Tucker (aka Trip) the Third, Enterprise's Chief Engineer. This would usually have been done by some lower members of his engineering team, but Trip had an ulterior motive – he was bored stiff and aching to stretch his legs on this newly discovered world. He hadn't had any shore leave for the past six months and he was bone weary and tired. //If I tinker about and make myself useful, while dropping the casual hint to the Cap'n, he might offer to take me down.// Well that was the plan anyway. Unbeknown to Trip, Captain Archer had cottoned on to this within the first five minutes, but he was deviously playing hard to get making Trip work for it. He had every intention of taking Trip along, since he loved seeing the wondrous look of joy that appeared in his eyes as he gazed out on any new unexplored surroundings, his youthful enthusiasm as he bounded out of the shuttle and the click, click, click of his camera as he snapped images of his surroundings. Images that were downloaded and made up into visual and audio logs of there mission, which were then sent back to Earth for Starfleet to painfully pick apart. "All finished Cap'n," said Trip, "Tpol's, had so many vials and test tubes packed away, they could probably bring back every blade of grass on the planet and still have some left to spare," laughed Trip. Captain Archer chuckled, that certainly sounded like Tpol – a stickler for detail. "So, what do you have planned," asked Trip, trying to sound cagey. "Do you think you will have time for shore leave," he asked with a twinkle in his blue eyes. "There's some big mountains that are screaming to be climbed, which boarder around a huge deep lake." "Sounds good!" replied Captain Archer. "I wonder if Malcolm fancies a hiking and diving expedition. I'll call him over so I can ask him." //Damn// thought Trip giving him that hurt big blue eyed look. "Malcolm, Trip's just told me about some great mountains and a lake that we could visit while we're down on the planet. Are up for some hiking and diving?" asked Captain Archer, looking at Malcolm with a twinkle in his eyes. Malcolm, who had been watching this teasing display by his Captain towards his engineer decided to play along. "Sure sounds nice and relaxing. Thanks for the tip Trip." "Don't mention it!" said Trip, with a dead panned look on his face. "So what are you going to be doing on the ship, while we're down below?" queried Malcolm. "Don't worry about me, I'm sure I'll find some manifolds to purge or intake valves to tinker with somewhere," replied Trip trying to inject some semblance of enthusiasm into his face. "Hey!", said Captain Archer, "I've been meaning to get you to do a Level Five diagnostic on all the power relays. Why don't you get started on that?" asked Captain Archer, trying to look serious on the outside, while deep down he was laughing his sides off. Trip threw him a blank stare. "Sounds great, why don't I paint the hull while I'm at it? Wouldn't want to get bored would I," joked back Trip with a hint of sarcasm. "Great idea, you do that?" said Captain Archer as he climbed into the pod with Malcolm, both of whom were wearing a huge smile on their faces. //Damn// thought Trip, standing there with his mouth open, giving him the son-of-a-bitch-means-it amazed look. After a couple of minutes, Captain Archer popped his head out of the hatch, "Anything else Commander," he asked while trying to look as serious. "No, can't think of anything!" replied Trip staring at him with a pair of huge puppy dog pleading eyes. "See ya in three days," he said before turning around and walking out of the bay, feeling utterly depressed at what was going to be a really boring next couple of days. At that moment he heard loud laughing from inside the shuttlepod, as the two occupants were doubled over clutching their sides. Trip turned back and gave them the you-evil-son-of-a-bitch stare. "You only had to ask you know," chuckled Captain Archer. "Come on, we've already got your gear packed onboard and I've sorted everything out with Hess." "You enjoyed that!" replied Trip, trying his best to sound hurt, while not smiling in the process. "Course we did," laughed Captain Archer. "Your just so damn gullible, it's hard to resist." Trip playfully smacked him on the shoulder while settling down on the seat behind Malcolm. Captain Archer reached for the comm. Link "Captain Archer to Hoshi, we'll see you in three days. Take care of my ship, if there are any problems just give me a buzz." "Will do sir! Have a great time." -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? 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