"The Journey"
Alisha tossed and turned in teh back of the shuttle. She had been in this contraption for who knows how long now. She was sure it had been days upon days, the exact number she no longer knew. It wouldn't have been half as bad if that stuck up pilot would let her fly from time to time. She could be practicing her techniques. But oh, no, that wouldn't be allowed. This lousy two-bit Lt. jg was enjoying pulling rank over her. He wouldn't let anyone touch his baby.
At first, Alisha just let it be. She figured He'd HAVE to sleep sometime. But boy she was in for a surprise when He did finally go off to bed after the first 48 hours (she wasn't sure how he was able to stay up that long). She waited patiently (Okay, only 15 mins, but that was a LONG time for her to wait!). After he'd fallen asleep, she climbed into the pilot seat and looked about to take the auto pilot offline. The next thing she knew she was flat on her back looking up at a very disgruntled Lt. He apparently had done some fiddling with the computer to give anyone a shock if they tried to disable the autopilot without the right key or something; and apparently, he had set it up to wake him if the shock went off.
He was so mad when at her when he pulled her up from off the ground. She must have seemed light as a feather to him with the easy that he was able to pick her up and set her down in a chair. He spent the next 2 hours lecturing her on the proper etique. But she only barely heard him, her mind was elsewhere. This was a habit she had picked up/learned when she would be lectured in her youth. It sometimes got her into trouble when it appeared like she wasn't listening. But throughout the years she had also aquired a techique to scan what was being said and respond at the appropriate points. Now it was hard to tell she wasn't listening.
For the next few days after that Ali kept to herself in the back compartment reading up on things. LOTS of things, since she had the time.
Now she was wondering to herself why starfleet couldn't have sent her in a faster ship, and why they felt the need to torment her so badly by sending her off in a slow as heck peice of metal with a stuck up pilot. What had she really done? Okay, so she had almost failed out of the Academy her Junior year, but she had pulled it back in her Senior year, earning a 4.0 that term, and her first two years were exemplary. They couldn't possibly be punishing her for one measly mistake (albeit a mistake that lasted a year, but still).
When Lt. Suck up finally called out that the station would be in range in less then 20 mins, Alisha couldn't believe it. She was more then ready to get off this ship and into her career as a starfleet officer. She was excited enough to even go up front and sit with the pilot, even if he was a prick.
THE END
by Ensign Alisha Connors
