Chapter 8

Back aboard the XT Captain Camper eases himself into his bunk and sighs. He tries to relax but his mind won't tun off. What a Mission! From the near loss os a crew member to giant ants, to a wild saloon brawl! And more bad news from Wolf. There is a problem with the ship.

Then on a much more personal note, the last thing the crew needed was their Engineer to unexpectedly be transferred to a place where his services were more urgently needed. They were a tight-knit group and took the loss of their friend hard.

Camper's intercom crackles to life: "Your pardon, Captain." It's Rosie
He sighs. "Yes, Rosie"
"The new Eng. is here, Sir."
"Show him to the Eng. room. I will meet you there"
"Aye-Aye, Captain. Out"
Camper dons his uniform and heads to Engineering.

Upon entering, Camper is taken aback at the size of the new crew member. With a warm smile he says to Camper, " Just call me Big Bear."Camper likes him right away.
"Welcome Aboard."
As they chat, Captain Camper's pager goes off. It's the ships' sick bay. Medical Tech Sugar Mags requests the Captain's presence. He enters sick bay to find a grim-looking Sugar Mags and General Gray.

General Gray: "Captain according to Sugar an immediate return to earth is warranted. She is concerned for the crew."

"Interesting," says Camper. " Wolf has just informed me earth may be ther only place we can get to."

Sugarmags breathes a sigh of relief. The crew needs some R and R. They need to go home.

The XT docks and the crew excitedly musters and waits for Captain Camper to dismiss them.

Tweety calls them to attention as General Gray and Captain Camper approach.

Trina glances at Captain Camper and rolls her eyes. She wipes Blueberry Pie from the corner of his mouth.

"AHEM", Camper starts, ignoring Trina.

"Crew, I just want to extend my gratititude for a job well done through a difficult mission. This leave is well deserved. General Gray?" Camper's glare says, "Keep it short!"

General Gray, "The same goes for me. There, short enough?!"

Camper dismisses the crew and with excited choruses of "I'll miss you!" and "Have fun!", the crew heads out.

Sugar Mags is off to visit her twins in Starfleet Academy where both are straight A students.

Camper and Trina are off to NY with the new ship's Engineer in tow, as Camper can't wait to show off his toys!

Codger is off after the Turnip Buck,

Me Wolf had critters to skin, Val went camping with Rosie and Charlie to Hershey Park, Pa. Trapper and Hunter headed for the North Woods. Tweety and Eddie went fishing.

At Camper and Trina's, Trina is glad to be home. She sits in the comfort of her own kitchen, sipping coffee and watching out the window as Big Bear and Camper head out to look at Camper's Canoes. The shed is quite a distance from the house.They dissappear over a rise. She sighs, and breathes in the aroma of the pies baking in the oven.

Outside, Camper and Big Bear climb the hill to the shed and Camper steps inside. He pushes one canoe out past Big Bear and into the snow. He continues to rummage, mumbling, so Big Bear sits on the end of the canoe to wait.

Suddenly, Camper lets out a yell! Big Bear jumps to his feet just as a box flies past his head! It hits the ground, and to his amazement, a skunk comes flying out! (A family of them had taken up residence in the their absence.)

"WHA ...!", Before Big Bear can say anymore, Camper dashes from the shed and crashes into Big Bear. They both fall into the canoe with such force, it begins to slide down the hill, picks up speed, and flies over the rise between the house and the shed and becomes airborne and flies directly at the house.

Hearing the commotion, Trina looks out in time to see the yelling men in the canoe hit the snowbank in the driveway and tumble out. She comes out on the porch as they pick themselves up, makes sure they are o.k., rolls her eyes and goes back inside, thinking to herself, "I only wish there was MUD!"