Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [15]
“Then,” said the first officer, “it would be my pleasure to show you the way.”
Cadwallader inclined her head. “How gallant of you.”
“Nice ship you’ve got here,” Cadwallader remarked as she and Riker stepped out into the corridor.
He nodded. “Thank you.” He paused, trying to be diplomatic. “Although to be honest, our communications system isn’t a great deal more advanced than the Lexington’s.”
She smiled. “I know. I get a kick out of any system. I wasn’t entirely kidding when I said I was still a communications officer at heart.”
A couple of security officers passed by, going the other way. Riker acknowledged them with a nod.
“You know,” he said, “for a moment there, I thought you were going to say “kid.” As in “a kid at heart.”” Cadwallader laughed. “That too. In fact, I’m sure most of them think of me that way—as “the kid.” I was pretty young when I beamed aboard the Stargazer. was He glanced at her. “I know. Nineteen, wasn’t it?” She grinned. “How did-oh. I guess you’ve been doing your homework.”
Riker smiled back. “I guess I have. Let’s see. Home-town: Sydney, Australia. Graduated from Startleet Academy with honors. First assignment as ensign on the Goddard. After a year, you came to the Stargazer, where you served until the Maxia Zeta incident. Three years as lieutenant jay-gee on the victory, and another three on the Thomas Paine-where you distinguished yourself by saving your captain’s life on not one, but two occasions. When Captain Ben Zoma was given command of the Lexington, he offered you a promotion if you’d come aboard as his second officer.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “You’ve got quite a memory, Commander.”
“Will,” he told her.
Cadwallader laughed. “All right, Will it is. But tell me—do you memorize all your visitors’ bios the way you memorized mine?” The turbolift was just ahead. As they approached, the doors opened to accommodate them. They stepped inside and the doors closed again.
“Main bridge,” said Riker.
“You haven’t answered my question,” she told him. He returned her gaze. “The truth?”
She thought about it for a moment. “No.”
“In that case,” he said, “yes, I do memorize them all that way.” She laughed. He found it infectious; a moment later he was laughing too.
“You’re a very charming man,” said Cadwallader. “Some times more than others.”
She eyed him. “Nonsense. I bet you were charming the day you were born.” She looked at the ceiling. “Let’s see … in Valdez, Alaska, wasn’t it? Graduated from the Academy with high honors. Served as ensign on the Zhukov, lieutenant jay-gee, and later full lieutenant on the Potemkin. Three years as second officer on the Yorktown and two more as first officer on the Hood. Most recent assignment, of course, the Enterprise-where you’ve become known as one of the top officers in the fleet. Credited with almost single-handedly stopping the Borg invasion.”
Riker’s smile broadened moment by moment. “I guess,” he said when she was finished, “I’m not the only one around here with a good memo-was
Before he could complete his sentence, the turbolift
doors opened onto the bridge. Worf, Data, and half a dozen other officers were looking in their direction. Riker cleared his throat. He considered Cadwallader, who obviously enjoyed having taken him by surprise. “Carry on, Commander,” he told her. She nodded. “Aye, sir.”
And as he made his way to the captain’s chair, she headed for Tactical-where Worf’s replacement had already arrived.
V eordi knew he was a little early for his Engineers’ Meeting, but that was all right. It would give him a , chance to get his thoughts in order.
The meetings were informal, and purposely held as far away from engineering as possible. Their original inspiration had been the incident with Broc-with Barclay. (even now he had to be careful not to refer to the man by that silly nickname.) Geordi had realized that he didn’t know some of his people as well as he should-hence, a weekly off-duty coffee