Back From Shore Leave (Part One)

"Did everyone enjoy their Shore Leave" I ask the senior staff as we gather in the refurbished Ready Room. It always looks much better after the cleaners have been in it. All that space travel must collect a lot of dust.

"Trisha and I enjoyed our stay at Rigel IV, the pleasure planet" says Geordi, "But when we went to the nightclubs we hit some problems. The staff would not give us any drinks as they cost 200 Credits each. As we live in a currency-free soociety, this proved difficult.. I tried to explain, but they laughed and gave us glasses of water instead."

We all laughed, although the same thing happened when I tried to gain admission to the Green Lady Orion Night Club some time ago.

"How about you, Worf?" inquires Beverly, "What did you think of Deep Space Nine when you went to see it with Jadzia?"

Worf looks a little annoyed that he has to recall what happened.

"I found it rather pleasing eventually." he grudgingly concurs, "But it took some time to see it, as a rather officious shapeshifter, who was in charge of security there, immediately decided to throw me in the brig because I was a Klingon because some others had been causing trouble there. It took some hours of convincing by Jadzia to get them to release me."

We all laugh again, much to Worf's displeasure.

"If I ever go back to that space station." he continues, "I'll have something to say to that shapeshifter. It's fortunate that I'm not an officious security officer like him."

We do our best to maintain straight faces at this comment by Worf.

I turn my gaze to Deanna Troi and Will Riker.

"How was your trip to Betazed?" I ask them, "I recall you saying that you said you were going to tell Mrs Troi that you would decide when to marry, and not her."

Riker looks despaired.

"My mother said how pleased she was to see us again." says Deanna, with a resigned expression, "Then continued by saying she has picked the flowers for the wedding, has composed the Guest List, and the choice of meal for the dinner afterwards. My mother did ask us if there were any people we wanted to add on afterwards. Will and I tried to get a word in edgeways, but ended up agreeing on the Guest List...even though Will and I haven't even agreed to get married!"

Riker looks more depressed, as if he knows the mother-in-law he will have isn't his perfect choice, and Lwaxana's just put some shackles on him.

"Let's take a break in Ten Forward." I suggest, "And meet back here to know how the others got on."

"Agreed." replies Deanna, "I could do with a Chocolate Sundae."

"I could do with a Klingon Bloodwine." says Riker in a depressive voice.

To be continued...