Episode Report Card Keckler: D+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Fist Fight
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 24 | Aired on 05.13.2003
602 Club. Trip and Quantum have a drink together. Trip grins at Ruby and reels off a list of names. "Keep trying, Tucker," Ruby The Bar Wench smiles, and walks away. Trip explains that Ruby has had her kids' names picked out since she was ten, and will reportedly marry the first guy to guess them correctly. Quantum is not amused, and asks what Trip's name is. Trip says, "Charles Tucker, sir, but ev'rybuddy calls me 'Trip.'" Or Shut Up, Trip. "Trip?" Quantum repeats. Trip explains that, as he's the third Charles Tucker, "Trip" comes from "triple." As in "triple my boredom." Wait, Ruby called him "Tucker," not "Trip." Wanna bet he's just trying to get this nickname to catch on -- kinda like The Rossatron? Quantum thanks him for arguing with the Vulcans. They clink glasses. Trip "I don't gets" the Vulcans' attitude about their space program.
Forrest arrives and says he stopped trying to understand the Vulcans a long time ago. Trip and Quantum jump to their feet. "At ease," Forrest says. I don't think Quantum knows what that order means. Forrest asks to join them. They all sit uncomfortably until Trip asks if he can buy Forrest a drink. "It's the least you can do after that outburst today," Forrest bites out. All and sundry know that I'm no fangirl of Trip's, but man, what a dick move! I've never liked the Evil Admiral anyway. Trip stumbles over an apology, and Forrest smiles that he'll have a beer. Forrest tries to make small talk, but Quantum's furrows aren't buying it, and they ask what's on the Commodore's evil mind. Forrest admits that at the urging of the Vulcans, Starfleet has put the NX program on the back burner indefinitely. Quantum doesn't know the definition of "indefinitely," so Forrest explains they want a whole new engine. Quantum has issues with this. Major issues. "Permission to speak freely, sir?" Trip asks, staring intently at the tabletop. Hee. There was something about Trinneer's delivery there that tickled me -- it's like he's trying so hard not to have another offensive outburst that he's got to stare very intently at the table to prevent himself. Forrest gives him the go-ahead. Trip tells Quantum (and reminds all of us who capriciously decided tonight was the night to watch a show with falling ratings and viewership) that the engine is of his father's make, and that if he were in Quantum's furrowed boots, he wouldn't take this lying down.
Time passes. We know this because we get a shot of a rain-soaked window.