Captain's starlog, 904.3
Enterprise has arrived in orbit of Omega Piscium for a scheduled R&R and much-needed shore leave.
Pike set down his recording padd and looked out the window of his quarters. The planet, the only planet in the Omega Piscium binary system, lay below, covered in snow and ice, although he had been assured that terraforming efforts had built domed cities of temperate weather.
Usually, Pike's personal yeoman would be handling the starlog recordings on the bridge, but she had begun her metamorphosis (a byproduct of her half-Arkonian ancestry), and would be out of commission for a few weeks. The other alien hybrid, half-Vulcanian Mr. Spock, had taken some yeoman duties, in addition to his position as assistant to Science Officer Lucero, but Pike felt it was too much for the young officer, and below his paygrade.
The captain pondered then how he wound up doing the brunt of the work as his own personal assistant, when a familiar whistle sounded. He jumped over the bed, and flipped a switch on the wall communicator. "Pike, here."
"Captain, we are in position and ready for our first beam downs," said his trusted first officer, Commander Una.
"On my way. Pike out."
Pike made his way through the cramped corridors, past some couples in beachwear. "Chris," said Doctor Boyce, his best friend, "I hear O.P. is the foremost vacation spot. Knocks Wrigley's out of the water."
"It's a snow planet, Phil."
"Yeah, but they have beach cities. And I hear the local women are more animal than man," said the pervy old man, giving Chris a knowing wink.
He just smirked. "Well, enjoy yourself. I'm going to be on the ship. I have paperwork to catch up on."
"Still doing the yeoman's job? Let the computer do it for you. Half the fleet doesn't even use them anymore."
"I guess I'm set in my old ways."
"Chris, you're the most decorated Captain in active service. Filling out starlogs and administrative reports is below your call of duty. Flash Gordon never got his elbows dirty with such minutiae." They entered the turboelevator.
"Maybe he did. They just edited that part out." Pike smiled as he twisted the lever to take them to Deck 1.
"Captain on the bridge!" shouted Mr. Spock. "At ease," responded Pike. He sighed when he realized no one was there to hand him the deck report, noting additional recordings for his nightly duties.
"They say Omega Prime is the newest premier destination for space travelers. We've been to Rigel, we've been to Risa. We've been to Wrigley's, and we've been to Casperia. Let's see if it lives up to the reputation. It's been a trying year for us Enterprisers. We deserve this."
Nods of approval and pride rang out as Pike stood next to his chair and hit the comm switch. "All officers and crew. This is the Captain. By order of Admiral Robert L. Comsol, Commander, Starfleet, you are relieved of duty until 0600 hours, two weeks from today. Enjoy your shore leave. You've earned it."
The bridge was nearly deserted before Pike finished his communique. A skeleton crew would man it, cycling out after a week, but he would not be among them. Pike planned the two weeks catching up on reports and enjoying the quiet for once.
"Are you sure you don't want to come down, Chris?" asked Una, dropping her usual formality, as she gripped the Captain's shoulder, "Just for a day or two?"
"No, I should be up here in case of emergency. Which is why you need to be down there. If something happens to Enterprise, I need my best man available to take charge."
Una gave him a curious look. "Err, uh, you know what I mean." Pike broke the awkward silence by turning to his Assistant Science Officer.
"As for you, Mr. Spock, are you ready to formally take command?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Not so loud there, Lieutenant. You act like this is the first time. It's only the longest. I'll be in my quarters if anyone needs me."
"Chris..." began Una, as her CO entered the lift.
"I'll see you in two weeks, Number One." And with that, Pike left the bridge.
The halls of Deck Twelve were abandoned, as Pike made his way back to his quarters and more paperwork.
He fell asleep at his desk before even getting halfway through that afternoon's financial reports. It was midnight, or a little after, when he heard an uncharacteristic knock on his door.
"Come," he yelled, wondering if it was Spock with an inane question.
Knock.
Realizing Spock wouldn't be knocking on his door, Pike arose and stared suspiciously at the door as he approached it. He grabbed a laser as a third knock proceeded.
Cursing the lack of a peephole, Pike stood to the side as he opened the door.
Nothing. Pike lowered his weapon and muttered a curse at his impetuousness. He turned back into his quarters and...
"Jesus Christ!" Pike yelled in shock, coming face to face with a doppleganger of himself, with a beard, long hair, and ancient clothes.
To be continued...
Enterprise has arrived in orbit of Omega Piscium for a scheduled R&R and much-needed shore leave.
Pike set down his recording padd and looked out the window of his quarters. The planet, the only planet in the Omega Piscium binary system, lay below, covered in snow and ice, although he had been assured that terraforming efforts had built domed cities of temperate weather.
Usually, Pike's personal yeoman would be handling the starlog recordings on the bridge, but she had begun her metamorphosis (a byproduct of her half-Arkonian ancestry), and would be out of commission for a few weeks. The other alien hybrid, half-Vulcanian Mr. Spock, had taken some yeoman duties, in addition to his position as assistant to Science Officer Lucero, but Pike felt it was too much for the young officer, and below his paygrade.
The captain pondered then how he wound up doing the brunt of the work as his own personal assistant, when a familiar whistle sounded. He jumped over the bed, and flipped a switch on the wall communicator. "Pike, here."
"Captain, we are in position and ready for our first beam downs," said his trusted first officer, Commander Una.
"On my way. Pike out."
Pike made his way through the cramped corridors, past some couples in beachwear. "Chris," said Doctor Boyce, his best friend, "I hear O.P. is the foremost vacation spot. Knocks Wrigley's out of the water."
"It's a snow planet, Phil."
"Yeah, but they have beach cities. And I hear the local women are more animal than man," said the pervy old man, giving Chris a knowing wink.
He just smirked. "Well, enjoy yourself. I'm going to be on the ship. I have paperwork to catch up on."
"Still doing the yeoman's job? Let the computer do it for you. Half the fleet doesn't even use them anymore."
"I guess I'm set in my old ways."
"Chris, you're the most decorated Captain in active service. Filling out starlogs and administrative reports is below your call of duty. Flash Gordon never got his elbows dirty with such minutiae." They entered the turboelevator.
"Maybe he did. They just edited that part out." Pike smiled as he twisted the lever to take them to Deck 1.
"Captain on the bridge!" shouted Mr. Spock. "At ease," responded Pike. He sighed when he realized no one was there to hand him the deck report, noting additional recordings for his nightly duties.
"They say Omega Prime is the newest premier destination for space travelers. We've been to Rigel, we've been to Risa. We've been to Wrigley's, and we've been to Casperia. Let's see if it lives up to the reputation. It's been a trying year for us Enterprisers. We deserve this."
Nods of approval and pride rang out as Pike stood next to his chair and hit the comm switch. "All officers and crew. This is the Captain. By order of Admiral Robert L. Comsol, Commander, Starfleet, you are relieved of duty until 0600 hours, two weeks from today. Enjoy your shore leave. You've earned it."
The bridge was nearly deserted before Pike finished his communique. A skeleton crew would man it, cycling out after a week, but he would not be among them. Pike planned the two weeks catching up on reports and enjoying the quiet for once.
"Are you sure you don't want to come down, Chris?" asked Una, dropping her usual formality, as she gripped the Captain's shoulder, "Just for a day or two?"
"No, I should be up here in case of emergency. Which is why you need to be down there. If something happens to Enterprise, I need my best man available to take charge."
Una gave him a curious look. "Err, uh, you know what I mean." Pike broke the awkward silence by turning to his Assistant Science Officer.
"As for you, Mr. Spock, are you ready to formally take command?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Not so loud there, Lieutenant. You act like this is the first time. It's only the longest. I'll be in my quarters if anyone needs me."
"Chris..." began Una, as her CO entered the lift.
"I'll see you in two weeks, Number One." And with that, Pike left the bridge.
The halls of Deck Twelve were abandoned, as Pike made his way back to his quarters and more paperwork.
He fell asleep at his desk before even getting halfway through that afternoon's financial reports. It was midnight, or a little after, when he heard an uncharacteristic knock on his door.
"Come," he yelled, wondering if it was Spock with an inane question.
Knock.
Realizing Spock wouldn't be knocking on his door, Pike arose and stared suspiciously at the door as he approached it. He grabbed a laser as a third knock proceeded.
Cursing the lack of a peephole, Pike stood to the side as he opened the door.
Nothing. Pike lowered his weapon and muttered a curse at his impetuousness. He turned back into his quarters and...
"Jesus Christ!" Pike yelled in shock, coming face to face with a doppleganger of himself, with a beard, long hair, and ancient clothes.
To be continued...
