Chapter 10: Hitchhiker in the Stars
From his vantage point aboard The Riptide, Robert had been watching the Enterprise for days, waiting for the perfect opportunity. His ship was cloaked, its systems tuned to avoid even the most sensitive of Starfleet scanners. It was a marvel of stealth, an unholy amalgamation of looted technology and his own ingenuity. The chance finally came when the Enterprise dropped its shields to beam aboard supplies at a Federation outpost.
“This is my moment,” Robert muttered, gripping the controls.
Using precision that only months of practice in piloting his cobbled-together craft could provide, Robert maneuvered The Riptide toward the Enterprise’s exterior hull. His ship, slim and compact, was designed for agility, and he had equipped it with magnetic clamps for just such an occasion.
With a faint clunk, his ship latched onto the hull near the Enterprise’s engineering section, safely tucked within the warp bubble. The ship’s systems confirmed his secure attachment.
Robert leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face. “I’m literally up your butt, Kirk, and you can’t even feel me.”
The situation was absurd, but perfect. By hitching a ride, Robert could infiltrate Starfleet operations without risking detection. And now, the Enterprise was carrying him like an uninvited guest.
The Planetside Shore Leave
After the chaos of recent missions—the tribble infestation and the botched covert operation—Captain Kirk had decided the crew needed shore leave. Their next destination was Risa, the famed pleasure planet known for its pristine beaches, luxurious accommodations, and anything-goes attitude.
As the Enterprise entered orbit, Robert smirked from his hidden position. “Risa, huh? Perfect. Let’s see how you handle a little psychological warfare.”
He had no intention of directly confronting Kirk or his crew—at least, not yet. But the chance to rattle them, to make them feel his presence without knowing he was there, was too tempting to pass up.
Robert’s Landing
Robert detached The Riptide from the Enterprise’s hull once they were safely in orbit, his cloaking device active. He descended to the planet’s surface under the guise of a visiting trader. His tattered clothing and rugged appearance were replaced with a carefully chosen outfit—simple but stylish, designed to blend in while highlighting his charm.
He wandered through the vibrant streets of Risa’s capital, mingling with the throngs of tourists and locals. The city pulsed with life: music drifted from open-air bars, alien merchants peddled exotic wares, and visitors lounged in the glow of Risa’s twin suns.
Robert had no intention of interacting with anyone who might recognize him from the Enterprise. Instead, he targeted off-duty crew members who wouldn’t know his face.
Seduction and Psyops
In a sleek bar overlooking the ocean, Robert spotted his first mark: a young Starfleet ensign nursing a brightly colored drink. Her uniform was absent, replaced by casual clothes that did little to hide her Starfleet demeanor. She was pretty, with short-cropped blonde hair and a nervous energy that Robert could read like a book.
“Mind if I join you?” Robert asked, his voice smooth and disarming.
The ensign looked up, startled, but smiled politely. “Sure. It’s, uh, nice to meet someone not from the crew for a change.”
Robert slid into the seat opposite her, ordering a drink with a casual wave. “You don’t seem like the type to sit alone on a planet like this. What’s your story?”
The ensign blushed. “Oh, I just… needed some time to unwind. Things have been stressful lately.”
Robert leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Let me guess. You’re with Starfleet.”
Her eyes widened. “How did you—”
“Lucky guess,” he said with a charming grin. “You’ve got that disciplined, mission-ready look, but here you are, trying to relax and forget about it for a while.”
The ensign laughed, her guard dropping. “Yeah, something like that.”
The Game
Over the next few hours, Robert repeated the same act with several other crew members: a science officer with striking green eyes, a security chief with a no-nonsense attitude that melted under his charm, and even a civilian specialist temporarily assigned to the Enterprise.
Each encounter was carefully planned, leaving them flattered, disarmed, and intrigued. He didn’t linger too long with any one of them, slipping away before anyone could piece together his presence.
“This isn’t just seduction,” Robert thought as he wandered back to his ship. “This is a reminder that Starfleet doesn’t control everything. I’m in their orbit, in their lives, and they’ll never see me coming.”
Internal Reflections
Back aboard The Riptide, Robert lounged on his couch, nursing another drink. The women’s discarded items—a bracelet here, a scarf there—were scattered among the chaos of his ship’s interior.
“Maybe it’s petty,” he thought, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “But it’s effective. They think they’re untouchable, but I’m proof they’re not. I’ve taken their crew’s trust, their precious cohesion, and chipped away at it without firing a single shot.”
He glanced at the monitor displaying the Enterprise, still in orbit. A sly grin spread across his face. “Enjoy your shore leave, Kirk. You’ll never know how close I was.”
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