A 6-panel comic titled ‘First Officers.’ The first panel shows Brad, Ransom, and Beckett sitting on the bridge. A narrative caption in Ransom’s point of view reads: ‘Personal log, 59582.5. It’s been months since Mariner and Boimler have been promoted to first officers... and neither one has come forward about their hush-hush relationship. It’s like they aren’t even dating at all!’
The second panel shows Ransom speaking. A speech bubble says: ‘I fold. You two hide your relationship good. Kudos.’
The third panel shows Becket and Brad standing in front of Ransom, looking shocked and weirded out. Beckett says, ‘Nope! Hell no!’ Brad says, “Uhh, no, sir!”
The fourth panel shows Ransom’s face again, framed by Brad and Beckett standing in front of him. Ransom has his hands up, and is grinning. He says, “Woah, settle down... flings are fine by this captain. Besides, I know a thing or two about first officer lovers...”
Fifth panel: a close up of Beckett’s face, wearing an expression of revulsion. There is no text, but it invokes the word, “EUGH.”
Sixth Panel: Beckett and Brad on an alien planet, both looking thoughtful and uncomfortable. A narrative caption in Beckett’s point of view reads: ‘Since Ransom’s stupid joke on the bridge, every mission with Boims has been so damn awkward!. What the %#*@ is Ransom’s problem? Why would he say that?!’.
End image
A seven-panel continuation of the comic from the previous page.
Panel one: Beckett in her nightgown, staring into a mirror. A narrative caption reads, “We’re best friends. Basically Kirk and Spock of the 2380s...” In the reader’s voice of the Lower Decks comic, “Warp Your Own Way.” It says, ‘Kirk and Spock?’ A thought bubble coming from Beckett says, ‘Yeah! Those two were T’hy’la!”
Panel two: Beckett looking introspective. The reader’s voice narrative caption says, ‘You know, Mariner, historians debate the nature of their friendship a lot...’
Third panel: Becket slams her hand against the mirror and says, “Kirk was a free-spirit that preferred alien babes!” The reader-voice caption says, ‘touchy subject, I see.’ Beckett insists, ‘He didn’t want his best friend!’ A second reader-voice narrative caption says, ‘Forget I mentioned it.. At the end of the day, you’re not Kirk.’
Fourth Panel: Beckett turning away from the mirror, looking angry. A reader-voice narrative caption reads, ‘You’re Mariner. What do you want?’ Below is a LCARS-style Choose Your Own Adventure. The left says, ‘Try to Answer: Follow Left Panel.’ The right says, ‘Don’t Answer: Follow Right Panel.”
Following the right panel leads to the fifth panel of the comic. It shows Beckett marching out of the room, making a sarcastic vulcan salute. A spiky speech bubble reads, ‘Stow it, asshole!’ A caption reads ‘The End.’
Here's the spread I did for last year's #StarTrekLowerDecks Mariner/Boimler fanzine! It's available at bit.ly/marinler25. All donations go to pcrf.net ❤️💜
#StarTrek #LowerDecks #BeckettMariner #BradBoimler #zine