A Wonderful Time

Joint Log by Lieutenant j.g. Joseph Kim and Lieutenant Jen Lee

Joe walked into his quarters and heard beeping coming from his communications console. He immediately ran to it and tapped it, seeing the message from Major Liam Kincaid and Lieutenant Antonia Trull of the USS Federation. For a few seconds, he did not remember who they were, but then figured out that they were fellow crew members of the lovely Lieutenant Jen Lee.

He saw that it was a wedding invitation for the pair's nuptials tomorrow. Joe's eyes widened at the excitement of seeing his friend Jen Lee again, because he was certain that she would be there.

Quickly, he ran out of his quarters to see the Commodore in her ready room to gain approval for the time off. He told her that he would only be gone until the next night and would come right back for his duty shift. Fortunately, she gave him her permission. He thanked her and ran back to his quarters to pack. After checking his dress uniform, and packing what he needed, he slept early in anticipation of the next morning's travel.

Upon awakening, he hurriedly dressed and headed to the shuttlebay in his dress uniform. He entered the shuttlecraft Darwin, the one he had arrived at the Darmok in when he was first assigned to the ship. He checked all the departure signs and checks then finally signaled the control room.

"Control room, this is Lieutenant Kim ready for liftoff. Request permission to depart."

Joe saw everyone in the shuttlebay clear the vicinity and then the doors opened. "Lieutenant Kim, this is the control room. Permission granted. Have a nice and safe trip."

"Thank you." The shuttlecraft lifted off and exited the Darmok's shuttlebay. When he was clear, he set a course for the Bersius wormhole, which was not far from his location. He remembered how hypnotizing the illuminating egress of the wormhole was the first time. It was no different the second. Once he cleared the other side of the wormhole, he set a course for the coordinates of the Federation, which were also given to him in the letter.

When he arrived at the ship, he dropped out of warp and began to circle the ship at impulse. He tapped a comm link. "Shuttlecraft Darwin to Federation, this is Lieutenant Kim of the Darmok. I'm here for the Kincaid/Trull wedding. Permission to dock."

"Welcome, Lieutenant. Permission granted. We are now opening the doors for docking. Have a nice visit."

Joe smiled and began the docking procedure. He steered the shuttlecraft into a U-turn around the side of the Federation and into the now open shuttlebay doors, completing with a smooth landing.

When he came out of the shuttlecraft, he tugged downward on his dress uniform and looked around for security personnel or someone of the sort. Finally, a security officer came.

"Lieutenant Kim?" the ensign asked.

"Yes, where's the Kincaid/Trull wedding?"

"I think it is about to begin. I heard everyone's taking their seats now. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to the holodeck it'll be in."

Joe nodded and followed the young ensign quickly through the corridors of the USS Federation. Up a turbolift then out. When Joe came to see many people in their dress uniforms or other formal attire entering the holodeck, he thanked the ensign and dismissed him. Joe then walked through and into the holodeck.

Before he could find a seat, he looked around to observe the environment of the wedding area. He began to wonder in a year or two it could have been him and his now ex-girlfriend, Erika going through the same thing, but after what she had put him through recently, that wouldn't happen.

He finally snapped out of his pondering and looked around for an empty seat. Then to the left side of the seating area, he saw Lieutenants j.g. Silberman and Serik sitting together. Next to them were a few open seats so he approached them and asked them if the seats were taken.

"No, you're welcome sit here." Lieutenant Silberman informed Joe, smiling.

Joe took his seat next to the half-Vulcan. "Hey . . . Serik, right?" Joe said to Serik as he was moving over to his seat. Serik did not respond, but raised his right eyebrow instead. Joe returned a whimsical expression of his own then sat down next to him. Finally, the groom came out and took his place on Joe's right of Commander Ariell St. Duiex. Then the wedding music began.

As he noticed the maid of honor come out, he saw a sight he never could imagine could be as astonishing and alluring as the one he saw now. It was Jen. She was wearing a white dress that looked so wonderful to Joe that he couldn't describe the vast medley of emotions he was feeling at the sight of her again. When she turned in Joe's direction, their eyes met. All Joe could do was to raise his hand and wave to her. She returned the greeting with a smile as she proceeded down the aisle.

Finally the bride came down the aisle arm in arm with Captain Quatto. Wow, she looks great! Joe thought. He could see the happiness in Major Kincaid's eyes even from his distance as he saw her come closer to him. The wedding ceremony had begun and concluded wonderfully.

"Everybody, time for the reception in the ten forward lounge! You can all meet us there!" Mrs. Antonia Kincaid informed the guests.

Then as Mr. and Mrs. Liam Kincaid left the holodeck, people shouted in praise and threw rice at them, following the old Earth tradition. Immediately, Joe rushed straight to the ten forward lounge, hoping not only to beat everyone to taking all the seats, but also looking forward to talking with the lovely Jen Lee again. To Joe, he wouldn't be surprised to see so many men being all over her. Without thought, he rushed pass many commanders and captains and chiefs of department. They're not going to beat me. Joe thought.

As he came to the ten forward lounge, Joe could see that the entrance was already swarming with Starfleet officers and personnel. He tried to look over all the people to see what was going on and if all the tables were taken. As politely as he could, he did the same thing as he did while trying to enter the holodeck to get through. Successfully, he went through and saw there were a few tables that weren't taken.

To his right was a central table reserved for the bride and groom, who were already there welcoming all the guests as they came in. He looked around and saw Jen, as stunning as ever after all those years he hadn't seen her, talking with someone. When the person left, he decided to walk up to her and talk to her, for he wasn't the type of person who would be shy and beat around the bush. At least not anymore.

As he approached, Jen looked at him and smiled. "Hi!" she said to Joe and opened her arms to embrace Joe. They hugged, happy to see each other.

"Hello, Jen." Joe said in a suave manner to Jen as they both let go of each other.

"How long has it been, Joe?" Jen asked.

"About five years. I've missed you," he told his friend.

"I've missed you too."

"Do you have any . . . company to . . . you know . . . keep you company?"

Jen smiled and said, "As a a matter of fact I do." At the crestfallen look on his face, she quickly added, "You, I hope."

Then Joe smiled, relieved. "Of course, I'd love to accompany you." He gestured to an open table by a window and Jen proceeded to it. Joe didn't have the time before to observe how great she really looked in that dress but as she walked to the table, he noticed she looked stunning. How nice her body fit the dress and gave it good shape.

Joe immediately pulled Jen's chair back for her to sit in and she did. "Thank you." She said as she seated herself. Joe smiled and sat down in his own chair. The two were now face to face, meeting eye to eye again after five long years apart.

"So, how've you been?" Joe asked.

"Great. I'm now a Lieutenant and chief of science here on the Fed."

"That is great!" Joe told her.

Jen looked down at Joe's rank collar then up to meet eyes with him again. "So, you're a junior grade already? Wow."

Joe nodded. "Yup, I was promoted not so long ago. I serve on the Darmok now under the command of Commander St. Duiex's twin sister. She's a great woman and commander. I'm the assistant chief engineer but since the chief engineer position is now open, I'm the acting chief for now."

"That's great!" Jen said.

"Well . . . yeah, it is. Thanks."

There was a pause between the two but this gave Jen a chance to really give Joe a good look this time. "Wow, the last time I saw you, you were just a mere teenager but now, you're a man."

"Well, there usually is a big change from sixteen to twenty." Suddenly, as he said this, both of them began to hear slow dance music. Both turned their heads to face the dance floor and saw that there were a few couples dancing already including the bride and groom. Then the two met eyes again.

"I don't know about you, but I would like it if you'd dance with me," Jen said with a question in her eyes.

Joe smiled excitedly, trying to hide his ecstatic feeling from showing too much. "I thought you'd never ask." Joe held his hand out across the table for Jen to take and the two proceeded to the dance floor. Joe placed his hands on Jen's waist as Jen placed hers between Joe's shoulders and neck when they reached the floor, and they began to slow dance.

"You know how long I've wanted to do this? With you?" Joe told her.

Jen gave out a giggle, indicating that she was flattered. Then Jen pulled him closer so that they seemed like they were in an embrace on the dance floor. Joe didn't know about Jen but he loved it. It made him wish that the night would never end.

"You really look nice tonight. As you did every time I saw you on the Leeuwenhoek. You still look nice now."

"You don't look so bad yourself." Jen told him, blushing slightly. Joe smiled and the two danced in happy silence until the song ended. Jen pulled back and out of Joe's embrace and told him she was going to take a seat back at their table. Joe watched her get back to her seat and sit down.

Damn! he thought as he walked back to the table and sat down with her again. Joe heard the sound of the crowd begin to die down so he decided to stand up and make a toast.

"Excuse me, I have an announcement. I haven't known the bride or groom that long at all. I haven't even met them until tonight. All through my trip here, I wondered how they would feel having me, someone they don't even know well, come to their wedding. But I thought a wedding is a special occasion. One in which two people make a lifetime commitment out of true love which will never die. And I thank them both with all my heart for welcoming me to their wedding."

He pointed his drink to the bride and groom. "And most of all, thank you both for being my friends. To Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid. May you two stay together in so much love for many more years to come." Everyone agreed and held up their drinks to the bride and groom then drank from their glasses.

After his toast, he heard that the bride was going to throw her bouquet. Joe's eyes were now to the crowd of ladies whom Jen joined. The bride threw her bouquet behind her and everyone tensed, waiting to see who would catch it. And the winner was . . . Commander Ariell!

Everyone shouted in surprise and happiness. Then Joe went to join a crowd of gentlemen who were in a circle around the bride and the groom who was going to take the garter off the bride's leg. Joe, for some reason, had a feeling he knew who was going to catch the garter, but he began to feel that he was wrong because next to him, he could see Doctor Drakken's determination to catch it.

Major Kincaid threw it and it went to the Doctor, all right. Everyone shouted but not in surprise this time. <> Joe immediately stepped back then headed back to the table where Jen was waiting. Before he sat down he checked his chronometer.

"Uh oh, I have to go." Joe said.

With a sigh, Jen replied, "Do you have to?"

"Yeah. I told Commodore Johannson I would be back before the end of the day. It's late already."

"Well, can I accompany you to your shuttle?"

Joe smiled. "I'd love that."

Joe and Jen stood up and headed toward the exit. On their way, Joe stopped to talk with the bride and groom. He leaned over to Antonia and gave her a friendly peck on the cheek. "Thank you," he told her. Then he extended his arm out to the groom. "Thank you," he said as the groom took his hand and shook it.

After that, Joe and Jen were on their way to the shuttlebay.

As they went through the doors and to the shuttle, both stopped to look at each other, eye to eye. Joe smiled to Jen. "Thank you for inviting me. I'll miss you."

"You say it as if you'll never come back."

"Of course I'll be back, but I don't know if it'll be anytime soon. We have to do a lot in the Beta quadrant. Until then . . . " Joe gave Jen a nice, pleasant hug which became a tight squeeze. He closed his eyes to savor the moment.

"I'll miss you too," Jen said, wiping a tear from her eye. Joe wiped a tear from under her other eye. "Don't worry. I promise, when the Darmok comes back to the Alpha quadrant, I'll be back to see you."

"I'll be waiting," Jen said and gave Joe another hug. Joe felt pleasant chills. He loved to be hugged by the lovely Jen Lee. He turned and walked into his shuttle. "Bye!" Joe said with a wave. Then the shuttledoor closed behind him. The inside of the shuttlebay was cleared and Joe set for liftoff.

When he was passing back through the Bersius wormhole, he remembered five years ago that Jen Lee had given him an everlasting thought. He had a wonderful time. Now he knew that that conclusion wouldn't go unquestioned.

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