Anonymity – Chapter One
Rating: PG-13 here, R in later chapters though
Disclaimer: Paramount own these lovely lads and lasses, unfortunately. If I were getting any money from this, which I'm not, I'd buy Trip and Malcolm for myself. Pity.
Summary: On shore leave, Trip and Malcolm both go for some anonymous fun in bars.
"Fantastic idea Cap'n – we could all do with a break!"
"It has been a while, sir" added Hoshi, looking at Trip while registering her agreement with him. The others merely nodded their assent.
"Well that's settled then. Three days shore leave, only skeleton crews on board. I expect everyone, and that means everyone," he added, looking at T'Pol, "to take some time off. I'll make a ship wide announcement after lunch. Dismissed."
The senior staff filed out of the situation room and went their separate ways, nodding to each other as they left. Trip found himself heading towards a turbolift with Malcolm.
"Going for lunch?" Malcolm asked as they both requested the same deck.
"Care to join me?" Trip asked in reply.
"No, thank you Commander, I'm just going to grab a quick bite before doing some more research on Tandax Prime." Trip looked sideways at him.
"Trying to find the best spots to check out those fine Tandaxian females?" he quipped. Malcolm looked strangely at him.
"Something like that," he replied with a half smile, before stepping out of the lift and walking ahead of Trip into the mess hall. Trip groaned inwardly. The man could undo him with just a look, and that last half smile had been enough to ensure him a very uncomfortable situation indeed. He decided to skip lunch for the moment and head to his quarters for a shower and some research of his own. Though, he added to himself, it certainly wasn't going to be anything to do with Tandaxian females.
That had been close, thought Malcolm as he grabbed his sandwich and headed back off towards his quarters. Far too close for comfort - the last thing he needed right now was for Trip to discover his fondness for males - or for one sandy-haired male in particular - and spoil his shore leave for him. He was planning on indulging in some anonymous enjoyment of the local culture to forget said aforementioned male. He was just settling down in front of his console to sort through the data sent in by the ambassador to find a suitable location for his evening's entertainment when the door chime went. He sighed, leaning back in his chair and resigning himself to the interruption.
"Come in!" he called. The door slid open and Travis entered. Malcolm rose and moved around to the front of his desk.
"Travis," he acknowledged, "what can I do for you?"
"Oh, nothing important, sir. It's just that Hoshi and myself were planning on doing the rounds of a few bars tonight and we wondered if you'd like to join us." Malcolm considered his reply.
"Well, that's very nice of you Travis, but I've already made my own plans for this evening. Maybe another time?" The ensign nodded and made his way to the door.
"Hope you have a good time then. Maybe you'll bump into Commander Tucker." Malcolm was confused.
"Travis?"
"Well, he said exactly the same thing when we asked him. Funny." Travis shrugged. "See you then, sir," he added, exiting Malcolm's quarters and leaving him alone again. Malcolm stayed where he was for a second, then muttered with a smile as he returned to his desk and settled back into his research,
"Probably after those fine Tandaxian females he was talking about."
Sorry this is so short – please review! Next part up shortly!