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“You should have seen it, Malcolm!” Hoshi said excitedly. “The fake Aviarian was aiming at Trip, so I shouted, but he didn’t know where the attack was coming from. And then just as the traitor fired, T’Pol came out of nowhere and knocked Trip out of the way!”
Malcolm nodded, but didn’t speak, loath to interrupt the communications officer’s animation as she told the story of the skirmish on the planet below. Her face was aglow with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling as the memory of the incident ran through her head again.
Remembering that she was talking to someone, she shook her head and focused on him. “I thought for a second that I shouldn’t have been there, that it should have been you, because you’re faster and better at that kind of thing than I am. But I was there, and you weren’t, and I had to do something to help T’Pol and Trip and Rook, so-”
“Wait,” Malcolm finally interrupted. “Rook?
“Yes - he was the little Aviarian boy whose mother died of the illness. He took a real shine to Trip and T’Pol.” She smiled fondly, then that smile dimmed just a little. “So much so that he almost ran into the line of fire because he was worried about Trip, and Trip had to rush in to grab him while T’Pol and I laid down covering fire and took out the false Aviarian.”
She paused, perhaps struck by the look on his face, perhaps concerned about the young Aviarian.
Malcolm was listening in mounting trepidation. Trip had been put into harm’s way, T’Pol had barely managed to push him out of the way of a phaser blast or worse, and Hoshi—sweet, gentle Hoshi—had ended up in a firefight with a traitor?
As she looked at his troubled face, eyebrows lowered and lips puckered as though he was biting at the inside, her eyes narrowed. “Are you thinking of me as that scared ensign needing protection again?” By the sound of her voice, she wasn’t too impressed by that idea.
Malcolm’s frown vanished and he straightened his shoulders, clearing his throat and trying not to look guilty. “No. No! I know you hate that. I was just, uh, wondering how all of this happened when we were simply there to provide assistance.”
Hoshi shrugged. “There will always be people who think they know best. Always be traitors, I guess. People who don’t want the Other, the alien, the outsider to join or gain access to whatever it is they think is theirs, and theirs alone. And then - there will always be those who seek to take advantage of a tragedy.” She sucked in one corner of her mouth in annoyance, then shook her head and brightened. “I guess it’s just a good thing we were there to help.”
“It’s unfortunate that helping put all of you in danger.”
Another shrug. “The hazards of the job, I suppose. Those taking advantage generally don’t want their crimes exposed.”
Malcolm grimaced, but conceded the point with a nod. “In any event, I would have enjoyed seeing you in action. You’ve come a long way, Hoshi.”
Pride warmed her chest. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without your training, though.”
“Well, we’ll put that training to further good use in protecting the Aviarians - that and your skill at tracking down untoward activities. You’d make a good code-breaker.”
She ducked her head, flushing in pleasure. “You’re making me blush,” she mumbled.
“Sorry, I’ll try to refrain from pointing out that you should be proud of your improvement and your skill.” Malcolm didn’t sound sorry at all, his eyes twinkling as she looked up, her cheeks still pink. She almost punched him in the shoulder before thinking better of trying that with the ship’s security officer.
Instead, she gave him a mock glare before stepping to his side and shoulder-bumping him in a friendly fashion. “Come on, flatterer, you can buy me lunch.”
“Lunch is free,” he pointed out mildly, falling into step beside her.
“An extra dessert for being your star pupil?” she said hopefully, making her eyes as big and pleading as she could and batting her eyelashes at him meaningfully.
That elicited a snort of laughter from her companion. “I suppose I could give in to the puppy dog eyes this once. Porthos has nothing on you, clearly.”
Her grin was triumphant. “For an extra slice of chocolate cheesecake? My study of his wiles has paid off.”
This time he rolled his eyes theatrically as he snorted. Hoshi smiled inwardly as the banter continued down the corridor. Now all was well in her little world.