****Authors Comments: Warning, contains mild profanity. If profanity offends you, please consider this warning before reading. Also I did something a little different with this episode. Instead of Arnie, Bree and Roy responding to events like in episode one, I took the general story of Charlie X and adopted it to whats here. I probably won't stick to this style so if you don't like it as much as the first, worry not, the next stories are back to the old format 
And as usual, comments and suggestion (and praises) are always welcome 
****
ACT I
(premise - Arnie gets 'promoted' and is unable to control his new found 'powers')
Stardate: 1533.6
Out of all the stories I have to tell about my life, I have to say this is the most embarrassing. You're already aware I am not too bothered by telling my faults but this story. Well, it takes the cake.
So here we were, and by 'we' I mean myself and the 'blushing new couple' Bree and Roy. I admit, I was still chaffing under the collar by them two getting together. It was like a slap in the face to me. At least I put a stop to them getting it on in my cabin. That I just wasn't going to tolerate. Anyway, here we were sitting enjoying a nice meal in the Mess Hall of tasteless colored cubes chatting away and the topic turned to 'what we would do if we were in charge'.
It's a pretty common topic among us enlisted crew. We always think we have the answers but we don't. Yet, I didn't know that at the time...
"It's been a week and Ensign Snow is still riding me hard. She's assigning me all the crap work and I'm just about getting tired of it!" I moaned.
"You're getting tired of it? What about me? Babysitting you all day long is not what I consider 'enjoyable'." Commented Bree. Who just happened to be sitting, quite comfortably mind you, on Roy's lap. Much to my continual shirgrin.
"You should transfer over to the Security department baby. We still haven't completely filled the rosters since Green and the other's deaths." Said Roy to Bree, seemingly ignoring my presence all together.
Bree chuckled. "No way. Security's turn over rate is a tad too high for my tastes."
"I tried to transfer." I mumbled.
"Really?" Asked Roy, acknowledging me for the first time. "What did they say?"
I himmed and hawed. "They rejected me. Said something about my Phaser score was dismal."
My two shipmates laughed. Bastards.
"Well that's true. Your Phaser score IS dismal. As a matter of fact, its so dismal to call it dismal would be to say its better than it really is. It's that dismal." Replied Roy.
"Har Har." I said humorlessly then leaned forward. "The problem is, I'm a really good tech. It's just that no one sees it, especially the old 'Ice Queen'. Given the chance, I could run the Environmental Division like THAT!"
I prompted my comment with a determined snap of my fingers but the look of horror on my fellow shipmates faces told me all was not right with the world. Then I noticed that they weren't looking at me but behind me. The bile started rising in my throat and I swallowed hard to keep it down.
"Is that so crewman?" Said a voice from behind. The words turned my blood cold. Ice Queen indeed.
I turned around slowly and stood up to attention. "Um." Was all I could say. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to the coming storm. However, what happened next not only surprised me but everyone else at the table.
"Very well. If you think you can do a better job at running the Division than me, then do it." Ensign Snow said.
At first I thought I didn't hear her correctly. "Ex...Excuse me Ma'am?"
"You seem to think my job is easy." She shrugged matter-of-factly. "So proove it."
"How, exactly?" I managed between the Richter scaled thumps of my heart.
"Well, once I clear it with the Chief Engineer, you'll get a temporary promotion to Acting Lieutenant and be placed in charge of the Environmental Department." She explained.
"Acting Lieutenant?" I repeated in disbelief.
"That's right crewman, you'll out rank me." She replied like it was no big deal. "Ill get the OK's and by tomorrow you'll be the head hancho of the Division."
"I...I...um..." Was all I could say.
Was this really happening? It must be all some sort of cruel joke like some fraternity razing. But, I had to admit. She sounded dead serious. Like I was going to get a temporary promotion to OFFICER. And not just any officer, but LIEUTENANT. It was like what it would feel like to be king for a day.
"So?" She prodded.
I smiled triumphantly. I've been saying how good a job I could do. This was my change to prove it. "Alright. I accept Ensign."
"Whoa, it's still Ma'am to you. Until tomorrow at least." She warned.
"Oh, um right. Sorry, Ma'am." I replied.
With that she strutted away but before she got too far away she turned around. "Oh and Crewman Hinkle? I'd suggest you start studying the Officers Bible tonight."
"Yes Ma'am." I said than sat down with a stupid grin on my face. "You guys heard that right?"
Bree and Roy just nodded dumbly.
"What's up with that? I mean Ensign Snow has you shovling sewage for a week straight then just out of the blue decides to give you a field promotion to officer?" Bree asked.
I leaned back in my chair and grinned triumphantly. "Who knows, maybe things are starting to go my way for a change."
******
The rest of my shift didn't quite go as I expected. I thought it was going to drag like a child waiting for Christmas day but the news of my impending promotion spread around the division like wildfire. I had people coming up to me asking for favors and others threatening my with bodily harm if I crossed them. I was starting to get the dimmest sense that this might not be quite as easy as I had thought.
At the end of my shift Ensign Snow called me in her office to lay out the rules of this little 'exercise'. True to her word, she got permission from the higher ups for a temporary promotion to Acting Lieutenant with all the rights and responsibilities afforded that position. She even gave me a new uniform to go with my new rank. I had to say, I wasn't expecting quite so formal a show. I thought it was just going to be something like letting me act the part but have no real control but the way the Ensign told it, this was no simulation. It was the real deal. I was going to be a full on Lieutenant.
"Your temporary command will last for one week. How we will determine your performance will be by measuring the stats of the department now and in one week's time." Ensign Snow explained.
By this time I was getting a little suspicious of the Ice Queen's motives. I wasn't the only enlisted crewman to say how much better I could run things if I was in charge. Not by far. So why was I selected to be the guinea pig in this little 'experiment'?
Unfortunately, it wasn't like I had any real choice in the matter to bow out. I should have been smart and said no at the first mention of anything like this but the die had already been cast. The only thing I could do was my best. And hope it was good enough.
"I understand Ma'am." I replied.
"Very good." She said. "But from now on it's no longer Ma'am but Miss Snow."
"Yes Ma...um...Miss Snow." I said.
"You'll report for your duty at 0800 tomorrow with your new rank and your new uniform. I will be acting as your assistant so if there is anything you need or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask." Then she held up her hand. "And before you ask, no I wont be overruling you at every turn. You're a Lieutenant now, which means you outrank me and as such talking back to you would be no different than talking back to any other superior officer."
"Sir, I have to ask. Why are you doing this?" I finally inquired. I just couldn't hold it in any longer.
"You said you could do a better job. I'm interested in finding out if you can." She replied.
"But why me? Enlisted crew talk all the time about how they could do things better. It's apart of being crew." I asked.
Ensign snow got up out of her desk, walked to the front and sat down on its edge. "In every crew, there is a black sheep. On the Enterprise, you are that black sheep. Sometimes those black sheep prove to be exceptional crew that harbor undiscovered potential, but sometimes they are just screw-ups. I'd like to know Mr. Hinkle, are you exceptional, or are you a screw-up?"
I should have just answered it right there and be done with it before it all started. Hell, I already knew the answer but I decided to play along.
"If there is nothing further Mr. Hinkle, you are dismissed." She said while standing up off her desk.
"Yes Ma'am." I replied.
Giving her a salute I stepped out of the office, Officers uniform in hand and headed straight to my cabin. Once there I set the box that contained my 'new' uniform on my bed and opened it up. Right there in front of my very eyes was a brand new uniform complete with Lieutenant's stripes along the cuffs. It even had that new uniform smell to it. Part of me was hesitant to even lay my enlisted hands on such a reverent and holy object. But come tomorrow, I was no longer an enlisted man, so I pulled it out of the box.
I sat staring at my new uniform for a few minutes until Roy and Bree came bounding through the door, storage boxed in hand. Roy gave me a crisp salute suitable for the CO but Bree seemed to be less enthusiastic about it all.
"Permission to enter Sir?" Asked Roy in his formal, enlisted to officer tone.
"Roy, its your cabin too. You don't need my permission." I said.
"Ah, but I do." He replied. "And it's not your cabin any longer Sir."
"What do you mean?"
"You're an officer now. With that, you have been reassigned to new quarters." Then he paused for what I could only guess was dramatic effect.
"In Officer's Country."
That's when it hit me that this wasn't merely a game. This was for real.
"Officer's Country?" I repeated shakily.
"That's right." Bree added less than enthusiastic. "We've been ordered to transfer your personal belonging to your new quarters."
"Well, actually I volunteered. Bree here was the one that was ordered." Explained Roy, then winked. "Kicking and screaming I might add."
"Unlike the two of you, I do not find any of this amusing." Bree commented humorlessly.
"Come on Bree, cheer up." Roy said and nudged her playfully. "One of us gets to be an Officer for a week. Something like that doesn't come around every day. Let the man enjoy it."
"Fine." She said grumpily. "But if he starts ordering me around, that's where I'm going to draw the line."
"That's his job Bree. Now come on, lets get his stuff boxed up and moved to his new digs." Said Roy.
The two started about their duties. Naturally I began helping out too but Roy held up his hand to stop me. "Sorry Sir, this is our duty. As an officer, you just sit back and supervise."
I hesitated for a moment then relented. I had to start acting the part sooner or later. I guess sooner was better. The good thing was that it didn't take too long. It wasn't like I had a ton of personal belongings. My heart nearly stopped when Bree discovered a certain something that I had forgot about.
Bree brought up a pair of under garments from my mattress and looked at me accusingly.
"What are these?" She demanded.
Oh Crap! I looked around the room in panicked horror. I knew I should have done the packing myself. There are just some things others aren't meant to see. But before you get the wrong idea, I just want to say I'm not a pervert or anything. Bree is like my dream girl, I just wanted a memento of the one and only occasion we were together. You know?
I chuckled nervously.
"You...um...left them." I said, quite unconvincingly.
"Ah, no I didn't." She replied firmly. "I know because I distinctly remember being fully clothed that morning. And, these weren't the pair of panties that I was wearing."
Damn! Only a woman would keep a running total of which under garments they wore on which day. It's really kind of annoying. But in my defense, she DID leave them. It just didn't happen to be on that particular night and not while she was with me...
Roy cleared his throat. "Bree, put them in the box and move on. That's none of your business."
Bree looked at Roy with a 'Are you mad?' expression while I just sat there in a stupefied silence.
"These are MY panties!" She accused.
"Regardless." Roy warned. "The attitude you have toward Lieutenant Hinkle right now is bordering on insubordination Crewman."
"Insubordination?!" She shot back in disbelief. "I don't believe this! You're taking HIS side?"
"Bree!" Roy called firmly. "Is this the kind of attitude you would display in front of an officer?"
"Well...no." She replied. "But Arnie is not an officer!"
"Yes, he is." He explained. "As of right now, he has the same power as any other Lieutenant on this ship. Including busting your arse for insubordination."
"But..." Bree replied weakly.
"But nothing." Roy said. "Apologize to the Lieutenant."
I have to admit. I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open. Here Bree was, rightfully pissed about discovering my stalker-like tendencies, and her boyfriend of all people was ordering her to apologize to me!
After a few tense seconds, Bree spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry...for discovering what a..."
"Bree!" Roy warned.
"Sir." She finished after a moment of collecting herself.
I had no idea what to say so I just nodded. I was starting to realize, command had its privileges.
"Permission to carry on Sir?" Roy asked.
"Huh?" I replied. "Oh, yes. Carry on Crewmen." I replied.
"Thank you Sir." Roy said.
Bree and Roy finished packing my things. Thankfully I had nothing else of a 'dubious' nature for them to discover and soon we were walking down the corridors to Officer's Country. Oh, and just so you know, Bree looked like she was about to explode during the entire trip.
Before long, us three reached the precipice of what was Officer's Country. Now, for those of you not familiar with Starfleet or military tradition in general, on every starship there is a place known as Officer's Country. Officer's Country is simply the part of the ship where the Officer's cabins are. Most of the time its usually separated from the crew's by some distance, but not always.
Since the days of blue water ships, Officer's Country has been a place that has been completely off limits to enlisted crew. Crewmen simply were not allowed to even step foot in the area unless they were authorized by an Officer. Now, it's not like there were security officers protecting the area, it was just a custom thing. But, for a lowly crewman like myself, stepping foot into this space was like a heathen stepping on holy ground.
I felt completely out of place.
"Sir, shall we?" Roy prodded.
I took a deep breath to build up my nerve. I stepped across the boarder into Officers Country and waited for the impending alarms that would start blaring: "Alert, Alert - Unauthorized Enlisted Crew In Officer's Country!". To my surprise, nothing like that happened. In fact, it was no different than any other part of the ship. The few officers that we passed nodded politely.
We reached my new quarters and the door slid open automatically. It had already been pre-programmed to respond to my bio signature. I stepped in.
In all honesty it looked almost exactly the same as my old room, save that there was only a single bed in the sleeping area and not two. Yet, if felt like a castle to me. Private bath room, private bed room, private office. Sure it may not have amounted to more than 400 square feet of space but that 400 square feet was all mine. I walked around the room brushing my fingers against the bed, the desk and the cabinets reverently.
"Sir?" Roy asked.
I looked up to notice that him and Bree were still waiting outside with the boxes in their hands.
"Oh, right. Just set the boxes down on the desk." I replied.
"Aye aye Sir." Said Roy.
They did as they were ordered then stood there silently. At first I was confused but then it dawned on me.
"Dismissed." I ordered and both of them snapped a quick salute and filed out of my new cabin.
Before the door slid closed completely I overheard Bree say to Roy, "You and I are so through."
And as usual, comments and suggestion (and praises) are always welcome ****ACT I
(premise - Arnie gets 'promoted' and is unable to control his new found 'powers')
Stardate: 1533.6
Out of all the stories I have to tell about my life, I have to say this is the most embarrassing. You're already aware I am not too bothered by telling my faults but this story. Well, it takes the cake.
So here we were, and by 'we' I mean myself and the 'blushing new couple' Bree and Roy. I admit, I was still chaffing under the collar by them two getting together. It was like a slap in the face to me. At least I put a stop to them getting it on in my cabin. That I just wasn't going to tolerate. Anyway, here we were sitting enjoying a nice meal in the Mess Hall of tasteless colored cubes chatting away and the topic turned to 'what we would do if we were in charge'.
It's a pretty common topic among us enlisted crew. We always think we have the answers but we don't. Yet, I didn't know that at the time...
"It's been a week and Ensign Snow is still riding me hard. She's assigning me all the crap work and I'm just about getting tired of it!" I moaned.
"You're getting tired of it? What about me? Babysitting you all day long is not what I consider 'enjoyable'." Commented Bree. Who just happened to be sitting, quite comfortably mind you, on Roy's lap. Much to my continual shirgrin.
"You should transfer over to the Security department baby. We still haven't completely filled the rosters since Green and the other's deaths." Said Roy to Bree, seemingly ignoring my presence all together.
Bree chuckled. "No way. Security's turn over rate is a tad too high for my tastes."
"I tried to transfer." I mumbled.
"Really?" Asked Roy, acknowledging me for the first time. "What did they say?"
I himmed and hawed. "They rejected me. Said something about my Phaser score was dismal."
My two shipmates laughed. Bastards.
"Well that's true. Your Phaser score IS dismal. As a matter of fact, its so dismal to call it dismal would be to say its better than it really is. It's that dismal." Replied Roy.
"Har Har." I said humorlessly then leaned forward. "The problem is, I'm a really good tech. It's just that no one sees it, especially the old 'Ice Queen'. Given the chance, I could run the Environmental Division like THAT!"
I prompted my comment with a determined snap of my fingers but the look of horror on my fellow shipmates faces told me all was not right with the world. Then I noticed that they weren't looking at me but behind me. The bile started rising in my throat and I swallowed hard to keep it down.
"Is that so crewman?" Said a voice from behind. The words turned my blood cold. Ice Queen indeed.
I turned around slowly and stood up to attention. "Um." Was all I could say. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to the coming storm. However, what happened next not only surprised me but everyone else at the table.
"Very well. If you think you can do a better job at running the Division than me, then do it." Ensign Snow said.
At first I thought I didn't hear her correctly. "Ex...Excuse me Ma'am?"
"You seem to think my job is easy." She shrugged matter-of-factly. "So proove it."
"How, exactly?" I managed between the Richter scaled thumps of my heart.
"Well, once I clear it with the Chief Engineer, you'll get a temporary promotion to Acting Lieutenant and be placed in charge of the Environmental Department." She explained.
"Acting Lieutenant?" I repeated in disbelief.
"That's right crewman, you'll out rank me." She replied like it was no big deal. "Ill get the OK's and by tomorrow you'll be the head hancho of the Division."
"I...I...um..." Was all I could say.
Was this really happening? It must be all some sort of cruel joke like some fraternity razing. But, I had to admit. She sounded dead serious. Like I was going to get a temporary promotion to OFFICER. And not just any officer, but LIEUTENANT. It was like what it would feel like to be king for a day.
"So?" She prodded.
I smiled triumphantly. I've been saying how good a job I could do. This was my change to prove it. "Alright. I accept Ensign."
"Whoa, it's still Ma'am to you. Until tomorrow at least." She warned.
"Oh, um right. Sorry, Ma'am." I replied.
With that she strutted away but before she got too far away she turned around. "Oh and Crewman Hinkle? I'd suggest you start studying the Officers Bible tonight."
"Yes Ma'am." I said than sat down with a stupid grin on my face. "You guys heard that right?"
Bree and Roy just nodded dumbly.
"What's up with that? I mean Ensign Snow has you shovling sewage for a week straight then just out of the blue decides to give you a field promotion to officer?" Bree asked.
I leaned back in my chair and grinned triumphantly. "Who knows, maybe things are starting to go my way for a change."
******
The rest of my shift didn't quite go as I expected. I thought it was going to drag like a child waiting for Christmas day but the news of my impending promotion spread around the division like wildfire. I had people coming up to me asking for favors and others threatening my with bodily harm if I crossed them. I was starting to get the dimmest sense that this might not be quite as easy as I had thought.
At the end of my shift Ensign Snow called me in her office to lay out the rules of this little 'exercise'. True to her word, she got permission from the higher ups for a temporary promotion to Acting Lieutenant with all the rights and responsibilities afforded that position. She even gave me a new uniform to go with my new rank. I had to say, I wasn't expecting quite so formal a show. I thought it was just going to be something like letting me act the part but have no real control but the way the Ensign told it, this was no simulation. It was the real deal. I was going to be a full on Lieutenant.
"Your temporary command will last for one week. How we will determine your performance will be by measuring the stats of the department now and in one week's time." Ensign Snow explained.
By this time I was getting a little suspicious of the Ice Queen's motives. I wasn't the only enlisted crewman to say how much better I could run things if I was in charge. Not by far. So why was I selected to be the guinea pig in this little 'experiment'?
Unfortunately, it wasn't like I had any real choice in the matter to bow out. I should have been smart and said no at the first mention of anything like this but the die had already been cast. The only thing I could do was my best. And hope it was good enough.
"I understand Ma'am." I replied.
"Very good." She said. "But from now on it's no longer Ma'am but Miss Snow."
"Yes Ma...um...Miss Snow." I said.
"You'll report for your duty at 0800 tomorrow with your new rank and your new uniform. I will be acting as your assistant so if there is anything you need or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask." Then she held up her hand. "And before you ask, no I wont be overruling you at every turn. You're a Lieutenant now, which means you outrank me and as such talking back to you would be no different than talking back to any other superior officer."
"Sir, I have to ask. Why are you doing this?" I finally inquired. I just couldn't hold it in any longer.
"You said you could do a better job. I'm interested in finding out if you can." She replied.
"But why me? Enlisted crew talk all the time about how they could do things better. It's apart of being crew." I asked.
Ensign snow got up out of her desk, walked to the front and sat down on its edge. "In every crew, there is a black sheep. On the Enterprise, you are that black sheep. Sometimes those black sheep prove to be exceptional crew that harbor undiscovered potential, but sometimes they are just screw-ups. I'd like to know Mr. Hinkle, are you exceptional, or are you a screw-up?"
I should have just answered it right there and be done with it before it all started. Hell, I already knew the answer but I decided to play along.
"If there is nothing further Mr. Hinkle, you are dismissed." She said while standing up off her desk.
"Yes Ma'am." I replied.
Giving her a salute I stepped out of the office, Officers uniform in hand and headed straight to my cabin. Once there I set the box that contained my 'new' uniform on my bed and opened it up. Right there in front of my very eyes was a brand new uniform complete with Lieutenant's stripes along the cuffs. It even had that new uniform smell to it. Part of me was hesitant to even lay my enlisted hands on such a reverent and holy object. But come tomorrow, I was no longer an enlisted man, so I pulled it out of the box.
I sat staring at my new uniform for a few minutes until Roy and Bree came bounding through the door, storage boxed in hand. Roy gave me a crisp salute suitable for the CO but Bree seemed to be less enthusiastic about it all.
"Permission to enter Sir?" Asked Roy in his formal, enlisted to officer tone.
"Roy, its your cabin too. You don't need my permission." I said.
"Ah, but I do." He replied. "And it's not your cabin any longer Sir."
"What do you mean?"
"You're an officer now. With that, you have been reassigned to new quarters." Then he paused for what I could only guess was dramatic effect.
"In Officer's Country."
That's when it hit me that this wasn't merely a game. This was for real.
"Officer's Country?" I repeated shakily.
"That's right." Bree added less than enthusiastic. "We've been ordered to transfer your personal belonging to your new quarters."
"Well, actually I volunteered. Bree here was the one that was ordered." Explained Roy, then winked. "Kicking and screaming I might add."
"Unlike the two of you, I do not find any of this amusing." Bree commented humorlessly.
"Come on Bree, cheer up." Roy said and nudged her playfully. "One of us gets to be an Officer for a week. Something like that doesn't come around every day. Let the man enjoy it."
"Fine." She said grumpily. "But if he starts ordering me around, that's where I'm going to draw the line."
"That's his job Bree. Now come on, lets get his stuff boxed up and moved to his new digs." Said Roy.
The two started about their duties. Naturally I began helping out too but Roy held up his hand to stop me. "Sorry Sir, this is our duty. As an officer, you just sit back and supervise."
I hesitated for a moment then relented. I had to start acting the part sooner or later. I guess sooner was better. The good thing was that it didn't take too long. It wasn't like I had a ton of personal belongings. My heart nearly stopped when Bree discovered a certain something that I had forgot about.
Bree brought up a pair of under garments from my mattress and looked at me accusingly.
"What are these?" She demanded.
Oh Crap! I looked around the room in panicked horror. I knew I should have done the packing myself. There are just some things others aren't meant to see. But before you get the wrong idea, I just want to say I'm not a pervert or anything. Bree is like my dream girl, I just wanted a memento of the one and only occasion we were together. You know?
I chuckled nervously.
"You...um...left them." I said, quite unconvincingly.
"Ah, no I didn't." She replied firmly. "I know because I distinctly remember being fully clothed that morning. And, these weren't the pair of panties that I was wearing."
Damn! Only a woman would keep a running total of which under garments they wore on which day. It's really kind of annoying. But in my defense, she DID leave them. It just didn't happen to be on that particular night and not while she was with me...
Roy cleared his throat. "Bree, put them in the box and move on. That's none of your business."
Bree looked at Roy with a 'Are you mad?' expression while I just sat there in a stupefied silence.
"These are MY panties!" She accused.
"Regardless." Roy warned. "The attitude you have toward Lieutenant Hinkle right now is bordering on insubordination Crewman."
"Insubordination?!" She shot back in disbelief. "I don't believe this! You're taking HIS side?"
"Bree!" Roy called firmly. "Is this the kind of attitude you would display in front of an officer?"
"Well...no." She replied. "But Arnie is not an officer!"
"Yes, he is." He explained. "As of right now, he has the same power as any other Lieutenant on this ship. Including busting your arse for insubordination."
"But..." Bree replied weakly.
"But nothing." Roy said. "Apologize to the Lieutenant."
I have to admit. I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open. Here Bree was, rightfully pissed about discovering my stalker-like tendencies, and her boyfriend of all people was ordering her to apologize to me!
After a few tense seconds, Bree spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry...for discovering what a..."
"Bree!" Roy warned.
"Sir." She finished after a moment of collecting herself.
I had no idea what to say so I just nodded. I was starting to realize, command had its privileges.
"Permission to carry on Sir?" Roy asked.
"Huh?" I replied. "Oh, yes. Carry on Crewmen." I replied.
"Thank you Sir." Roy said.
Bree and Roy finished packing my things. Thankfully I had nothing else of a 'dubious' nature for them to discover and soon we were walking down the corridors to Officer's Country. Oh, and just so you know, Bree looked like she was about to explode during the entire trip.
Before long, us three reached the precipice of what was Officer's Country. Now, for those of you not familiar with Starfleet or military tradition in general, on every starship there is a place known as Officer's Country. Officer's Country is simply the part of the ship where the Officer's cabins are. Most of the time its usually separated from the crew's by some distance, but not always.
Since the days of blue water ships, Officer's Country has been a place that has been completely off limits to enlisted crew. Crewmen simply were not allowed to even step foot in the area unless they were authorized by an Officer. Now, it's not like there were security officers protecting the area, it was just a custom thing. But, for a lowly crewman like myself, stepping foot into this space was like a heathen stepping on holy ground.
I felt completely out of place.
"Sir, shall we?" Roy prodded.
I took a deep breath to build up my nerve. I stepped across the boarder into Officers Country and waited for the impending alarms that would start blaring: "Alert, Alert - Unauthorized Enlisted Crew In Officer's Country!". To my surprise, nothing like that happened. In fact, it was no different than any other part of the ship. The few officers that we passed nodded politely.
We reached my new quarters and the door slid open automatically. It had already been pre-programmed to respond to my bio signature. I stepped in.
In all honesty it looked almost exactly the same as my old room, save that there was only a single bed in the sleeping area and not two. Yet, if felt like a castle to me. Private bath room, private bed room, private office. Sure it may not have amounted to more than 400 square feet of space but that 400 square feet was all mine. I walked around the room brushing my fingers against the bed, the desk and the cabinets reverently.
"Sir?" Roy asked.
I looked up to notice that him and Bree were still waiting outside with the boxes in their hands.
"Oh, right. Just set the boxes down on the desk." I replied.
"Aye aye Sir." Said Roy.
They did as they were ordered then stood there silently. At first I was confused but then it dawned on me.
"Dismissed." I ordered and both of them snapped a quick salute and filed out of my new cabin.
Before the door slid closed completely I overheard Bree say to Roy, "You and I are so through."
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