Relics - Michael Jan Friedman [25]
But Crusher wasn’t about to give in. If all went well, there would be plenty of time for Scott to see engineering and whatever else he liked-later.
By now, Ensign Kane had expected Commander Riker to be treating him a little better. But he wasn’t. Far from it. Kane was still mired in cargo duty-much to the detriment of his status among the other ensigns.
Kane hated to admit he was wrong. He hated being shown up. So instead of keeping his mouth shut, since that was what had gotten him into this hole in the first place, he opted to dig a little deeper.
“I’m telling you,” he said, commanding the attention of the other half-dozen male ensigns in the rec room, “the man’s going to come crawling to me on his knees, begging my forgiveness. Just wait and see.”
Tranh, who’d graduated just behind Kane at the Academy, shook his head and chuckled. “Sure he will. And then we’ll all put on dresses and do a little jig.”
That got the rest of them laughing-even Sousa, who’d turned out to be Kane’s best friend in this sorry bunch. Kane could feel his cheeks growing hotter with each passing moment.
“Go ahead,” he said, putting on the best show of confidence that he could muster. “Laugh all you want. You’re going to look pretty funny dancing around in those dresses.”
That got the chuckles going his way. He smiled, building on his progress. One thing Darrin Kane knew how to do was work a crowd.
“Tell you what, though,” he said. “When I’m up there on the bridge, impressing the hell out of the captain, I won’t forget my friends. I’ll make sure you get twice the recommended-“
Before he could finish, a voice rang out in the rec. “Ensign Kane … this is Commander Riker.”
As far as the ensigns were concerned, it might as well have been the voice of God. Riker was the man on whom all their careers depended, the single most important factor in whether they realized their dreams or spent the rest of their lives as second bananas.
Kane just smiled. Finally, he thought. He’s had his conversation with Picard and he’s calling to make his atonement.
Well, Kane wasn’t going to make it easy for him. Instead of answering right away, he took the time to grin at each of the others in turn, as if to say You see? I told you he’d come around.
“Ensign Kane?” Riker called again.
Clearing his throat, the ensign responded in a casual tone. “Aye, sir?”
A pause. “Ensign … am I catching you at a bad time?”
Kane’s grin widened. “No, sir.”
“Because if I am,” Riker continued, “I can always find someone else to give this assignment to.”
The ensign straightened at the word assignment. This was what he’d been waiting for. He didn’t want to blow it.
But by the same token, he didn’t want to lose the entertainment value of this little scene. It was almost as important to him that he regain his preeminence among his peers as that he get his career on firmer footing.
“No, sir,” Kane assured the first officer. “I’m ready, willing and able.” But he put an ironic spin on the words, eliciting muffled sniggers and head shaking from his companions.
“Good,” said Riker. “In that case, you’re on duty as of right now. I want you to report to sickbay.”
Kane felt as if he’d just hit some turbulence. “Sickbay, sir?” What in blazes was happening there that was so important they needed him to take care of it? Weren’t there nurses for that sort of thing?
“That’s right,” Riker confirmed. “Sickbay. There’s a Captain Scott there. I want you to escort him to his room.”
Suddenly, the snickering stopped. Kane looked around at his fellow ensigns. They were actually too astonished to laugh.
Next to this, cargo duty was an honor. Escorting someone to his room … was there a less vital job? He couldn’t think of one.
“Ensign?” Riker barked. “Do I need to repeat myself?
Kane ground his teeth together. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to work. He was supposed to be on top here.
“No, sir,” he muttered finally. “Sickbay. Captain Scott.”
“Immediately,” the first officer told him. “Captain Scott will be waiting.”
Then silence-ridiculing him, crushing him