Peter slowly walked as the two officers took in the sights and sounds of Starbase 72.  Sure, the Captain had seen the interior of numerous stations, but he hadn’t left Earth in so long that he had forgotten how unique civilian business areas could be.  The corridor was wide and filled to the brim with every shop imaginable. 

“Sarah would like it here,” he looked up, running to catch up with his wife.

Elena huffed, “First off, could you walk any slower?  I swear, we’re never getting there,” Elena sighed. “Secondly, Sarah would not like it here…” she rolled her eyes, “I’m here.”

“Oh, my daughter doesn’t hate,” he took one look at Elena and gave in, “Ok, maybe slightly dislikes?”

“I’m the woman who replaced their mother,” Elena replied, “of course your children don’t like me.  Sarah, Petey, Dominic..”

“Ok, happier topics,” Peter pleaded with a fake smile. “First command, a piece of advice?”  He watched as Elena smiled, “ok, a piece of advice I have been told.”  He was a running joke that he’d made it to Captain, yet he had never served on a starship.  Not everyone was cut for ship life, and Peter enjoyed the other side of the job. 

“Take your time with the Executive Officer,” he added, ignoring her.  “They are typically young, driven, and sincerely full of themselves.”

He smiled, “Lena,” he took her hands as the Dragonfly came into view. They stood there momentarily as the ship seemed to dance with life.  From the large window, they would see the activity; worker bees were busy prepping the outsides.  Security checking in the new crew at the nearby docking port.  

Elena whistled as the realization hit her; she was in charge of this entire ship. She looked at Peter, grabbing his hand.  “No one has seen me, nope,” she turned around.

Peter grabbed her by the shoulder, “Captain Mitchell,” he exclaimed, “already running from a challenge?  Surely, the Dragonfly’s Captain has stronger nerves?”

“About that XO stuff,” Elena stated, never taking her eyes off the ship.  She stepped forward as her eyes danced over every part of the vessel. From the nacelles to the docking port, phasers, and the bridge, “oh my,” she exclaimed, “the bridge. Unaware that Peter had stepped back, giving her space to relish in this overwhelming accomplishment, Elena continued to look over her ship.  

Out of the corner of his eye, Peter saw a familiar face. Approaching the man, “Gab Harris,” Peter offered a hand, “What are you doing here?  They finally give you a command?”

Gab huffed, “not yet,” he replied, a touch of attitude dripped from the simple words. The very mention of a command seemed to set him off.  The man tensed, “Apparently, my talents are needed elsewhere.”

Peter wasn’t sure what to say next. Do you apologize or move on? “Which ship is yours,” he asked, hoping to avoid an uncomfortable discussion. 

“The USS Dragonfly,” Gab looked out the window to his left, “some hot-shot young newly promoted Captain needs to be babysat,” Gab smiled, “from what I understand, she’s married to someone at Starfleet HQ.  No doubt she…,” Gab’s words trailed off as he noted the expressions coming from Peter’s face.

Peter shrugged, “guilty,” he pointed to Elena, “my wife and your Captain,” Peter replied. 

Gab was equally embarrassed and upset. “Did you have her select me? I mean, what are the changes, your new wife… I mean.  He paused, “well?”

Peter started to assure the man he had nothing to do with it.  Elena wanted to do this independently; he couldn’t give advice or suggestions.  However, he just stood there with his mouth open for a second or two. “She’s fairly stubborn and wouldn’t have taken my suggestions even if I could offer them.”

“Oh good, you’ve met,” Elena said behind Peter.  “I was hoping to introduce,” she paused, “do you two know each other?”  Elena had this odd feeling she’d walked into the middle of something.  Neither man looked happy at the moment, and Elena was confused. 

“We’ve met,” they both replied in unison. 

Elena stepped forward, “Well, Commander William Harris, or do you prefer Gab?”

“Harris will do just fine,” he replied. Only his friends called him Gab, and no one called him William but his mother.  “Captain Mitchell, I presume?”

Elena smiled, “Well, I can’t help but feel like I jumped into the middle of something here, but oh well,” she extended her hand, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Commander.  I’ve read so many good things about you and can’t wait to work with you.”  She smiled, “This is my husband, Peter, but I sense you both know each other.”

She suddenly wished she’d shown Peter her list of XOs. Once Commander Harris was gone, she was mentally prepared to ask her husband many questions. She couldn’t help but wonder how many of her other selections knew her husband and how.

Peter leaned over, “I’ve got to go meet the kids. You sure you don’t want me to reschedule and walk you over?”

“I’m fine from here,” Elena replied, “besides, something tells me the Commander and I need to have a bit of a discussion.” 

Peter leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek, “I will see you tonight, Captain.” he smiled.  “Gab,” he looked over to Harris, “pleasure to see you again.”  He didn’t want to be that man when Elena got him alone.

“Pete,” Gab nodded, “tell Sarah Uncle Gab says hi.” 

Elena picked up on the cue clearly; her husband had much to explain.  She was equally confused and impressed. How had she not picked up on the fact that Peter knew this man?  She knew that much of Peter’s previous life had been lost to the ravages of divorce when he left Becca.  But a friend, as well?  

Harris knew Peter but didn’t know of her.  The longer she stood there, the more questions filled her mind. “Commander,” Elena gestured to the docking port, “after you.” 

“Thank you, Captain,” Gab replied.

As Peter left to meet his kids, Elena and the Commander stood there, a noticeable tension in the air. Elena cleared her throat in an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence.

“So, Commander Harris, seriously, any preferences on how you’d like to be addressed?” she added, “I am not a fan of the term Number One.”

“I suppose Harris works just fine, or Commander,” he replied rather directly. Elena could sense there was more beneath the surface.

As they approached the docking port, Elena opted to address the elephant in the room, “So,” she coughed, “I gather you two know each other. How far back does that go?” she allowed her curiosity to get the better of her.

“Rather far, I suppose,” Gab hesitated, “We go back to nearly my Academy days. We were close, one would say, but then.” He paused, “Things changed, it happens, and here we are.”

Elena raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by this mystery. There was a history here that she knew nothing about; whatever happened, it must have been big. “And now you are here, assigned as my Executive Officer.” She approached him to see his reaction, “any thoughts on that?”

Gab chuckled. He knew what she was trying to do, but he wasn’t going to give her the answer she was looking for, “Fate has an interesting way of biting one in the butt?” He sighed, “Look, Captain, I’m here to do my job. Nothing more!”

As they approached the ship, Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that there was much more to this story. She was certain each man was hiding something. Whatever happened between the two of them that was a puzzle she was more determined to open. However, that would take time, and nothing gives you time like being stuck on a starship.