Communication Problems

by Lindy Bryant




Thought you guys might enjoy my latest attempt at fanfic...this if for AOL's "Intimate but not" challenge.

As usual, God has an office at Paramount and has lunch with Berman, Braga and Taylor. I just get the scraps and leftovers....but I'm grateful for even those......


Chakotay hurried out of the turbolift and dropped the padds he was carrying onto the console next to his chair. He was almost late, but had managed to arrive about 15 seconds before the Captain swept onto the bridge.

"Report," called Janeway.

Since he had just arrived himself, Chakotay turned to Tom Paris. "Mr. Paris?"

"All systems normal, Captain, nothing unusual to report," he said, surpressing a grin. It was unusual for the senior officers to cut it this close to the start of the duty shift. Usually both were in place ten or fifteen minutes early as a minimum.

Suddenly the comm badge on Janeway's uniform beeped and B'Elanna's voice was heard. "Engineering to Commander Chakotay."

All eyes on the bridge turned to the two seated in the center. Why was the Commander being paged via Janeway's communicator?

The answer became clear a moment later. The two senior officers quietly removed their comm badges and exchanged them without a word and without looking at each other or anyone else on the bridge.

Quickly reattaching the badge to his uniform, Chakotay tapped it. His voice was a little hoarse as he tried to answer calmly. "Chakotay here, go ahead."

"Just wanted to let you know those plasma tests all came back fully aligned." came her message.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Chakotay out."

The dead silence that followed was excruciating until Paris could hold it no longer. Unable to contain himself, his shoulders shaking with repressed laughter, he leaned forward on his console and laughed out loud. Soon snorts and chuckles were heard from various stations around the bridge.

Finally, Tuvok looked at his Captain. "Might I recommend, Captain, that you engrave your initials on the reverse of your badge. It would facilitate its identification when rushed in the future."

Janeway rolled her eyes and grimaced. "Thank you Mr. Tuvok. Mr. Paris, if you could, would you mind flying this ship and controlling yourself? And by the way, did Gamma shift get that communications relay repaired?"

"Yes, ma'am, Captain," grinned the conn officer. "All communications on this ship are working just fine."

finis (well, what do you think?)