Kelly considered the possibilities and was about to reply that he would enjoy that very much, when Yeoman Benitez came up behind him and cleared her throat. He turned toward her.
She said, “Captain, you and Commander Timmons are requested to meet with Admiral Craddock in his office as soon as possible.”
Kelly paused for a second to let the fact that he had just been addressed as Captain for the first time to settle in. He decided he liked the sound of that.
“Yeoman Benitez, thank you. I’ll be right there.”
He turned back to the three waiting women, all wearing mischievous looks on their faces, and said, “Ladies, I’d be delighted to join you, if my duties allow, but now I have to go meet with your dad, Candy.”
Hours later, LT Casimirski approached a shuttle outside Scout Force HQ and was about to climb in when a voice shouted out, “What do you think you're doing, Lieutenant?”
He turned and saw Kelly walking his way. LT Casimirski saw Kelly’s rank insignia, blinked in surprise, dropped his jaw, saluted and said, “I was going to take this shuttle to my quarters, sir.”
“No, you aren’t, Lieutenant. I’m using that shuttle. I’ll be taking that shuttle back to my ship in a minute or two.”
Caz gritted his teeth and replied, “Sir, if there is no shuttle here the central motor pool will send another. It should be here before you need it.”
“Maybe you didn’t understand me, Lieutenant. I said I’m taking that shuttle. If you need one you can wait for it. I don’t intend to. Now run along.”
As LT Casimirski stalked away, Kelly entered the shuttle, programmed his destination, and chuckled all the way back to the Vigilant.
Revenge was sweet.