Reed cleared his throat, drawing the crews frightened stares away from the overly descriptive Huckster. "Well people, you heard the man", he spoke confidently.
"One in three trillion. Sounds like the chance of a lifetime to me." He turned and gazed at the view screen, studying the stars for a moment. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm
ready to go home. Back to my own place...my own time. Back to my loving wife and sweet children, Luke, Bo, and little Daisy." He took a deep shuddering breath, then turned to regard those
assembled on the bridge, a tear in his eye. "Yes folks, I'm ready to go home", he muttered, voice thick with emotion. "What about the rest of you?"
Some smiled, others nodded, but all wiped away tears as they made their way back to their stations.
"I know I'm ready, Commander", Lieutenant Scott proclaimed, rubbing vigorously at his eyes.
Reed smiled gratefully at his protégé as he walked with deliberate slowness to his command chair. He leaned forward once seated, and quietly addressed his science officer. "And you, Mr. Schultz",
he chided. "Did I touch a heart string? Are you ready to go home?"
"Do forgive me for not applauding your little performance, sir", the Huckster replied blandly, "but as usual, your speech had no effect on me." He looked around at the dedicated group of young
officers and shook his head. "I would caution you, however, about playing with the emotions of your crew." He shook his head, clearly confused, "They really do believe in you."
He turned back to regard Reed, and saw to his astonishment the commander knuckling his eyes. "Conscience getting the better of you, sir?", the Huckster admonished.
"Not really", Reed conveyed casually, "but I think I may have broken a blood vessel trying to produce that tear."
Mr. Jeffy was finding it difficult to concentrate. He'd been up for ten hours without a nap and it was beginning to show. "Hibbard, recheck the Cosmobilization Spectrofiers!", he called without
looking up from his computations.
"Checking it now, sir..."
"Just do it, Ensign!", Jeffy snapped. "I don't have time for any of your crap!"
Hibbard blanched. "But I was just..."
The engineering officer swung around, glaring at his subordinate. "Ensign, shut your mouth and open your...", he searched for an appropriate word, "...whatever you'd open if you were going to recheck
the...uh..." Having lost his train of thought, he stamped his foot violently. "JUST GET IT DONE!!"
Hibbard stood, wiping his hands on a shop rag. "It's done, sir", he said through tightly clenched teeth.
Jeffy, who was wondering whether he'd sprained his foot, looked up with some chagrin. "Good work, Hibbard. Sorry I was so rough on you", he continued dismally, "but its been a stressful day
for me."
"For all of us", the ensign observed evenly.
"Yeah", Jeffy agreed, "but for me it's different, ya' know, because its me."
Hibbard nodded. "Could it also have something to do with your personal life?", he asked cryptically.
Jeffy squinted at his subordinate suspiciously. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Ensign."
"No disrespect, sir, but everybody knows about Nurse Yahbo."
Jeffy grabbed the ensign by the lapels and lifted, causing the material to bunch uncomfortably under Hibbard's arms. "What about Nurse Yahbo?!?", he demanded.
"Just that you guys are dating, sir", Hibbard explained, grimacing from the armpit wedgie.
The engineering officer released his subordinate, guiltily smoothing out his uniform. "Sorry Hibbard. I'm just a little edgy."
"I understand, sir. Maybe you should go get some rest."
"Yeah, I could take one of those power naps the Commander is always talking about."
"Good idea, sir", Hibbard agreed, ushering him to the door. He pressed his hand against the steel plate and it slid open silently.
Jeffy didn't move, couldn't move, as Nurse Yahbo was standing in his path. She looked at him through bleary, blood shot eyes. She's been crying, Jeffy realized, barely able to stop himself from reaching
our to her.
She brushed an errant strand of hair away from her face, looked at him uncertainly, and said, "We have to talk."
