A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [102]
Riker was sitting at a table with Troi, the pair of them sharing a large drink called a frozen hot chocolate. From what La Forge recalled, it included chocolate ice cream, hot chocolate, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings, and as he approached their table, he saw that those were, in fact, the ingredients, along with hot fudge poured over the top. Talk about gilding the lily, he thought.
Upon seeing the chief engineer, Riker said, “Geordi! Good to see you. Can I interest you in some of our frozen hot chocolate?”
With mock petulance, Troi said, “I never said we could share this. You’re lucky I’m even sharing it with you.”
Holding up a hand, La Forge said, “Don’t worry about it—I know better than to come between the counselor and her chocolate.”
“You’re wise beyond your years,” Riker said gravely, then spoke in a more relaxed tone. “What can I do for you?”
Sitting in the seat next to Troi and opposite Riker, La Forge said, “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to say no to the first officer job.”
To La Forge’s chagrin, Riker looked crestfallen. “Why?”
Quickly, La Forge said, “It’s not that I’m not flattered by the offer, believe me. I’ve been turning this over in my head since you first mentioned it.”
“I thought you wanted a ship of your own someday,” Riker said. “That won’t happen unless you put in some more time on the bridge.”
At that, La Forge smiled. “I have my own ship—you’re sitting in it.”
Troi chuckled. “Captain Picard might have something to say about that.”
“Look,” La Forge said, “I’m sure I’d be a perfectly fine first officer—”
Riker put in, “I think you’d be better than that.”
“Maybe—maybe not. The thing is, I already know I’m a good chief engineer. And I like being a good chief engineer. And not many people can do what I do. That may sound egotistical, but it’s also the truth.” He folded his hands in front of himself the way the captain and Data always did when they wanted to look authoritative. “Remember last month when we were all talking about the presidential race, and the captain said that Admiral Ross wasn’t foolish enough to run?”
Both Riker and Troi nodded.
“I think the admiral knows that he’s a good admiral, and he doesn’t want to do anything to mess that up. Well, I’m not foolish enough to become a first officer for the same reason.”
Troi and Riker exchanged glances. With his implants, La Forge could see that Riker’s pulse had quickened a hair. Troi, though, was at her norm. She probably senses how right this feels for me. Come on, Commander, pick up on that, please. I don’t want you disappointed in me.
Then Riker looked at La Forge and sighed. “Well, much as I’d have liked to have you on board, I’m not gonna stand in the way of your cavalier insistence on being happy with your career. Besides,” he added with a grin, “I think I’ve proved over the last fifteen years or so that any idiot can be a first officer. But a good chief engineer is too valuable to lose.”
Relief washed over La Forge, and he laughed, Riker and Troi joining in.
“I believe,” Troi said to Riker with a certain pomp, “that this calls for special dispensation.” She grabbed one of the spoons, scooped out some ice cream, with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top of it and hot fudge dripping off it, and handed it to La Forge. “Commander La Forge, I hereby authorize you to partake of my frozen hot chocolate.”
“I’m honored, Counselor.” He put the contents of the spoon into his mouth. At once, he shivered from the ice cream and recoiled from the burning sensation of the hot fudge on his tongue. The whipped cream softened the blow, at least. Yeah, that’s definitely gilding the lily.
As La Forge swallowed the dessert—followed by a glass of water that an alert Jordan provided moments later—Troi turned to her fiancé and asked, “So who’s your next choice?”
“Me?”
Riker tried not to laugh at the person sitting