An oldie but goodie chapter from my "Trek Tales" fic.
"Zhere she is, Keptin."
Kirk leaned forward in his chair, the panorama of Iad's golden seas lighting his face with an almost angelic glow. His eyes were lit up like Christmas lights as he looked in wonder upon the planet before them. "Really something, isn't it, Mister Chekov?"
"Beautiful. Like a dream." Chekov's right hand was poised over the touchscreen delicately, frozen mid-tap. His left was tucked under his chin, elbow planted on the console. Sulu, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, his controls momentarily forgotten. Other members of the bridge crew had similar reactions. Some had left their stations behind altogether, mesmerized by the ethereal sight.
It'd be a good time to attack us, that's what. Leonard McCoy observed from his usual place near the back of the bridge. Close to the turbolift if his services were required elsewhere. Which they usually are when something cool's happening. Not to mention far back enough that he didn't feel as though he was about to fall through the viewscreen, down, down, down, through the atmos- enough! Don't go there!
"Ahem…" Everybody turned in Spock's direction. He was standing at his station, poised, with one eye on the viewscreen and the other observing the reactions of the crew. "While it is fascinating visually from this vantage point…." He made his way to the centre of the viewscreen, effectively blocking most of the planet, making quick eye contact with the others one at a time. His gaze met McCoy's last. "….there are other considerations. What do initial scans show?"
"Sorry, Mister Spock." Spock waved his hand as if to say, Never mind. "Atmosphere is similar to Earth….a leetle on ze smoggy side. Hot, too….somezing of a desert. Current daytime temperatures reaching…." Chekov tapped the screen. "103 degrees Fahrenheit…whew!" He wiped his forehead, as though he could already feel it. "Am not detecting any humanoid life vhatsoewer."
"Probably can't take the heat." McCoy fanned himself idly, striding up next to the captain's chair.
Kirk looked up at his approach. The glazed look was gone, but it had been replaced with one of –what? Resolve? Joy? Defiance? McCoy wasn't sure. Maybe all three. Whatever it was, it propelled him out of the chair with a hop and carried him to the front, where Spock now perused a display readout.
Sulu noticed his sudden appearance. "I assume you want to stick around, sir?" he asked, drumming his fingers on the console.
Kirk appeared thoughtful, before his features hardened, but not in an angry expression. Rather set, more like gelatin than concrete. "Standard orbit, Mr. Sulu. We're going planetside." I knew it. He spun on his heel and headed back towards the chair. As his eyes met McCoy's, his expression changed yet again. The corner of his lips twitched, and his eyes filled with a tiny bit of mirth. Aside from that, his expression appeared professional. What's so funny? McCoy wondered.
It didn't take long for him to get his answer. Kirk leaned against his chair, arms crossed over his chest, and flicked a lazy glance over at him. "Standard objections, Doctor McCoy."
Standard what?, he mouthed. Kirk waved a hand at him, palm facing up. Go ahead, he seemed to say.
Then it hit him. Oh for crying out- have I become that predictable? McCoy pressed his lips together, trying not to smile or laugh or do anything that would validate the little weasel's attempt at levity. He scanned the bridge and found to his dismay that nearly everyone was waiting with bated breath for him to speak up. Even Spock appeared to be curiously observing him. Waiting.
A moment of silence passed. What to do? Stomp off the bridge with a scowl or just humor him? How long can they keep it up, anyway? I've got work to do – better things than being the butt of a joke. I'm a doctor, not a comedy relief! I- A fine spray issued from his mouth. He swallowed, hard. Then sighed. All right, all right! Get it over with, Len…. He extended his left and right index fingers, then touched one to the other, counting calmly, with the ghost of a smile and a touch of irony in his voice. "Number one, it's too dangerous. Number two, you'll be killed. Number three, we don't know anything about the place. Number four…"
"Zhere she is, Keptin."
Kirk leaned forward in his chair, the panorama of Iad's golden seas lighting his face with an almost angelic glow. His eyes were lit up like Christmas lights as he looked in wonder upon the planet before them. "Really something, isn't it, Mister Chekov?"
"Beautiful. Like a dream." Chekov's right hand was poised over the touchscreen delicately, frozen mid-tap. His left was tucked under his chin, elbow planted on the console. Sulu, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, his controls momentarily forgotten. Other members of the bridge crew had similar reactions. Some had left their stations behind altogether, mesmerized by the ethereal sight.
It'd be a good time to attack us, that's what. Leonard McCoy observed from his usual place near the back of the bridge. Close to the turbolift if his services were required elsewhere. Which they usually are when something cool's happening. Not to mention far back enough that he didn't feel as though he was about to fall through the viewscreen, down, down, down, through the atmos- enough! Don't go there!
"Ahem…" Everybody turned in Spock's direction. He was standing at his station, poised, with one eye on the viewscreen and the other observing the reactions of the crew. "While it is fascinating visually from this vantage point…." He made his way to the centre of the viewscreen, effectively blocking most of the planet, making quick eye contact with the others one at a time. His gaze met McCoy's last. "….there are other considerations. What do initial scans show?"
"Sorry, Mister Spock." Spock waved his hand as if to say, Never mind. "Atmosphere is similar to Earth….a leetle on ze smoggy side. Hot, too….somezing of a desert. Current daytime temperatures reaching…." Chekov tapped the screen. "103 degrees Fahrenheit…whew!" He wiped his forehead, as though he could already feel it. "Am not detecting any humanoid life vhatsoewer."
"Probably can't take the heat." McCoy fanned himself idly, striding up next to the captain's chair.
Kirk looked up at his approach. The glazed look was gone, but it had been replaced with one of –what? Resolve? Joy? Defiance? McCoy wasn't sure. Maybe all three. Whatever it was, it propelled him out of the chair with a hop and carried him to the front, where Spock now perused a display readout.
Sulu noticed his sudden appearance. "I assume you want to stick around, sir?" he asked, drumming his fingers on the console.
Kirk appeared thoughtful, before his features hardened, but not in an angry expression. Rather set, more like gelatin than concrete. "Standard orbit, Mr. Sulu. We're going planetside." I knew it. He spun on his heel and headed back towards the chair. As his eyes met McCoy's, his expression changed yet again. The corner of his lips twitched, and his eyes filled with a tiny bit of mirth. Aside from that, his expression appeared professional. What's so funny? McCoy wondered.
It didn't take long for him to get his answer. Kirk leaned against his chair, arms crossed over his chest, and flicked a lazy glance over at him. "Standard objections, Doctor McCoy."
Standard what?, he mouthed. Kirk waved a hand at him, palm facing up. Go ahead, he seemed to say.
Then it hit him. Oh for crying out- have I become that predictable? McCoy pressed his lips together, trying not to smile or laugh or do anything that would validate the little weasel's attempt at levity. He scanned the bridge and found to his dismay that nearly everyone was waiting with bated breath for him to speak up. Even Spock appeared to be curiously observing him. Waiting.
A moment of silence passed. What to do? Stomp off the bridge with a scowl or just humor him? How long can they keep it up, anyway? I've got work to do – better things than being the butt of a joke. I'm a doctor, not a comedy relief! I- A fine spray issued from his mouth. He swallowed, hard. Then sighed. All right, all right! Get it over with, Len…. He extended his left and right index fingers, then touched one to the other, counting calmly, with the ghost of a smile and a touch of irony in his voice. "Number one, it's too dangerous. Number two, you'll be killed. Number three, we don't know anything about the place. Number four…"
