All Aboard the Merlin Express by Li Vilya, Alexis Cazook, James Henderson, Paul Laurents, & Siobhan Finklestein After she and the ensign very politely shoved their spider guest out of the shuttle bay (because it was really something like she'd seen Quark do: welcome to Avalon. Now when are you leaving?), Vilya bolted toward the other shuttle bay. She was fairly infuriated to learn that the three most important men in her life wouldn't be on board with her. "What sort of idiot separates a mother from her child?" she grumbled as she dropped into the pilot's seat. Alexis was sitting next to James when she heard someone grumbling up front. She stood up and made her way to the front to see what was going on. "Is there a problem, Ensign? Something I could perhaps help you with?" Vilya raised one fine auburn brow. "Begging the lieutenant's problem but I'm a lieutenant second class and a pissed off one at that," she grumbled. "My husband, son, and father are on another shuttle and I have no way of knowing if they're alright." "I'm sure that everyone is okay. However, if you want to check why don't you try to comm the other shuttles. I would think that someone, somewhere would be trying to make sure everyone is accounted for. I don't mean to imply that you wouldn't have thought of that, merely making a suggestion." Alexis knew she was concerned, but she didn't have a husband, father or son to worry about. James walked up to the front and sat down in the co-pilot's seat. He began to run a tactical analysis of the shuttle. He wanted to make sure all was in proper working order before they took off. God forbid if the shuttles were infected. He turned to look at the Lieutenant sitting next to him. "All systems appear to be working order Ma'am." He wasn't exactly sure what he should do next, so he just kept his eyes on the console. "First thing's first, though," Vilya said steadily. "If we don't get this thing off the ship, it won't matter if they're safe or not." Oh, Benjamin, you had best be watching over my family. You can't want them back so soon. "Then let's get going." Pauly said as he walked up behind the small group. "Once a place has had spiders it's never the same anyway." "Our roster's not complete," Vilya muttered as she prompted the shuttle's start up system. Ming's had better be. He and Daddy had better be with my baby. "We're waiting on one other I think." Alexis looked at Vilya and at James. "Well then, I will leave you two to your duties. I will be in the back going over the medical supplies. If you need anything just give a yell." Alexis turned and scooted her way down the cramped aisle to the back where she began to check out the medical supplies. She hoped that Georgia, Skyler and her sister Melanie were all okay. They weren't her family but she felt close to both Skyler and Georgia. She knew that Skyler would be worried about her sister and Georgia. James looked up from the console and spoke to Lieutenant Vilya. "Ma'am, I have managed to pull up a roster of who is assigned to this shuttle if you would like to take a look at it." He transferred the information to the screen in front of Vilya for better access "Thank you," Vilya said, nodding sharply. As she suspected, there was one more they were waiting on. "We're waiting on a medtech and we're out of here." "Someone take roll call," Pauly teased and then tapped James on the shoulder. "Since when do we call officers by their first names?" Vilya snorted, glad for a bit of amusement. "Only if we sleep with them." James turned beet red with embarrassment. "I sincerely apologize, Lieutenant. It won't happen again." He returned to his console where he felt more comfortable. To himself he muttered, Way to go idiot. Make a fool out of yourself in front of everyone. Smooth move. "I can think of a couple I wouldn't mind calling by their first names." Pauly grinned. "Though I think I'd know the difference between a first name and a last name and the cultural traditions behind said naming. Though, I have messed up a time or two myself. Word of advice, never mistake a London accent for a Liverpool accent and then ask said person with said accent if they saw Liverpool mop the pitch clean with Man. Unt." Paul shivered at the memory. "Then pity my son when he's old enough to answer people when they ask him his name, Ensign. Li Nalas Zachary Kabuki is a mouthful even for my husband's family," Vilya said fondly. Alexis had wondered back up to the front when she heard a conversation going on. She was actually quite bored in the back. "I think it is a lovely name, Lieutenant. Your son should be proud of such a name. He is lucky to have such a loving parent as yourself. My only regret is never having a family of my own. I suppose I could call Starfleet my family." Taking a deep breath Alexis sighed at the thought. "It's never too late," Vilya mused. "Our family on Bajor isn't quite as large as my husband's. They've tracked their family tree since the middle of Earth's twentieth century." "It's a nice thought however I think I am a little too set in my ways to attempt to start a family. I don't think I could find anyone who would be willing to put up with my idiosyncrasies. I have enough problems living with myself." Alexis grinned at her companions. Siobhan had been assisting in transporting patients to their assigned shuttles, which was a monumental task without the use of transporters or turbolifts; she skidded into the airlock of her own assigned vessel and flung her small duffel into a storage compartment. "Reporting for evacuation, sirs!" she announced breathlessly. Vilya thought about that very first date she had with Ming. A ride on San Francisco's famous trolley cars. What was it the conductor shouted before the car moved? "All aboard?" "Yeap," Pauly replied looking around. "Lets go."