trans_9 | Separation Anxiety? [OPEN]

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Separation Anxiety? [OPEN]

Blink. Blink. Blinkity-blink.

Why are there three blue lights blinking from a small corner of Obs Deck? The blond kid in the simple blue polo and khaki pants might have an answer for you.

He's surrounded by small blue boxes and various inventions on the table and chairs around him, and if not for the fact that he's fiddling away on yet another invention and acting as if nothing's wrong, he would look just like an ex who'd been thrown out of his former significant other's house.

In between tasks, he lowers the tools and gazes around the deck, almost as if he's looking for something (or someoone) else. Hey, maybe he and his big mess ended up out here for a reason.

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Ahava merely cocked an eyebrow slightly at the mess; there was definitely something going on here that was worth a second look, she decided. Heading over to Billy's location, she waited until he looked up and met his gaze with a friendly smile.

"Working on something important?"

"Hi," he greeted, waving up at the woman. Billy thought he might have seen her in a crowd before. "No, this isn't anything particularly important---just some useful tools I think we may need later on. I was just using my time in the laboratory to finish some projects before I was forced to relocate."

Next, he had to ask: "Were you busy? I'm sorry if my mess distracted you."

"No, not particularly," Ahava answered truthfully. "Actually I was only looking around to try and meet some more people. Considering everything that's been happening and how many of us there are... well. I suppose I can't spend all my time hidden away in a lab, right?"

Not wanting to disturb anything in case it was important or fragile, Ahava leaned against a wall nearby, arms folded and watching Billy's work with interest. "You were forced to relocate?"

"Maybe I should follow your example. I might not have a choice in the matter, actually. As I heard secondhand some time ago and just experienced, the AIs are concerned about burnout. Stacy 'strongly suggested' that I take a break from that room for a duration of no shorter than 24 hours." If he had any skill at impressions, he probably would have attempted to mimic her voice.

"You're from the Science department, right? I'm guessing you have a full work load too." Billy leaned toward her slightly, interest growing.

"Which is why you moved everything out here?" Ahava laughed. "I'm surprised she hasn't tried to stop you, she can see nearly everywhere, can't she?"

At the mention of the Science department, her smile broadened. She'd taken the time to familiarise herself with the names of most others in the department, but putting faces and personalities to them was going to take a little longer.

"Yes, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm Ahava Yewande; apparently I've been assigned as senior Science staff member." It had been news to her as well, but all things considered she was happy enough with the assignment.

"Maybe she's relieved that I'm breathing recirculated air in a different location, or perhaps she knew that there was a greater chance that I would be distracted if I moved outside." That wasn't a jab at Ahava, as evidenced by the slight smile on Billy's face. He meant to be grumpier about his position, but the woman's cheer was too infectious for his mood to resist.

As it happened, Billy was quite happy to see the happiness with her position. Scientists doing their work for the love of it were always the most pleasant to work with.

"I'm Billy Cranston, co-chief of the Engineering department. I'm pleased to meet you," he said, standing and hesitantly offering his hand. Did her culture use this greeting?

"Unless she's been adding something to the air in different locations, it's probably the second," she answered lightly. At least Billy didn't seem to mind the distraction, so Ahava didn't feel as though she was intruding that much.

In fact, when Billy rose and offered his hand she didn't even hesitate before clasping it warmly. "Likewise," she said. "It's good to meet someone I'll most likely be working with in the future as well. And to see how dedicated he is to his work."

"Agreed, but we're all in trouble if she's adding unknown substances to the air supply on a whim." After that mistletoe incident, he's jumpier than usual about the ship's potential for cruelty. Those nightmares aren't helping him either.

"Thank you," he returnsed securing his grip and shaking her hand properly for a moment. "But I'm sure you show the same level of dedication. What sorts of projects do you usually tackle?"

"Hmm, but I wouldn't be surprised if she did decide to put something in there to calm people down in certain situations," Ahava pointed out. "After all, she doesn't seem to mind doing something similar when we wake up here."

While she didn't think Stacy was actively against them, it also seemed questionable if she was for them, for all that she spoke of maternal love and protection.

"At the moment I'm mostly working on getting my workspace organised," she laughed. "It's not like the laboratories I'm used to, after all. I've got some personal projects in mind, but other than that I'm still largely adapting." Turning her attention to the clutter around Billy, she continued. "And what about you? What did Stacy try and chase you away from?"

Billy answered her last question while fiddling with a metal bar. "I've been building miniature prototypes of security devices for our lab. They'll allow us to keep better track of our equipment if they're approved. I wanted to finish as quickly as possible, so I worked nonstop---and that's how I got myself evicted." He grinned up at her.

"Other than that, I'm in a similar situation. See how disorganized I am?" Billy waved an arm to all his scattered things to emphasize the truth of that statement. "Anyway, how long ago did you awaken here? I'm not sure when I first saw you around, but it must have been recent."

"Thrown out for a noble cause," she mused. "The labs could definitely do with better security." No one wanted potentially important projects or tools to just go missing, after not. Not if they were also equally hard to come by.

At the question of how long she'd been awake for, Ahava winced and forced a laugh. "I woke up just in time to join in the anti-zombie movement," she said. Hopefully that would be obvious enough for Billy to understand what she meant.

Fixing her gaze back on the other engineer's project, she asked; "So how is your security system going to work?"

"Just before we learned the truth of our situation, then," he realized. "That wasn't that long ago, and you're already a senior science staffer. That must be quite an adjustment."

Billy lifted a black orb in his hand and turned it on. "This sensor is the main component of the system---the lights are indicators. When an object crosses a pre-programmed threshold and nears the sensor, the sensor records that a breach took place and which direction it came from. The lights are off most of the time. They're turned on when someone comes back to check on the lab. Blue lights indicate that no breach took place, yellow lights indicate a minor brush with the perimeter or a rustling, and red lights indicate that a large object moved within the area." As he spoke, he moved his hand close to the sensor, and the lights changed to red as he did so.

"Of course, this prototype is only one small part of the overall plan. There will be multiple sensors and defense systems, and if they are approved and successful we'll develop equivalents for your labs as well."

"It was, but compared to everything else... in a way it's easier to have something normal to fall back on," Ahava answered with a wry smile. "I mean, it's easier to work on how to do my best as senior science staff than how to deal with the possibility that my entire dimension is just... gone."

As Billy began his explanation, she shifted to get a better look at the orb he was holding. "Sounds like a good system," she said, still looking with interest at the globe. "So I'm assuming those with clearance for the area will have something to activate and deactivate the system?"

"It's definitely easier. I've thrown myself into my work for the same reason." There's too many faces he might never see again haunting the back of his mind. It's a grief that almost everyone here shares, but...somehow, that doesn't make it any more bearable. He'll stop there, though, because he thinks she might not want to dwell on that.

"Yes. I'm still working out a few bugs, but that's the general idea." ---Bugs like the lights turning bright pink and green and flitting on and off, like they're doing at this moment. He hastily fumbles to turn it off, somewhat embarrassed. "I still haven't found the cause of that particular one."

Ahava tried not to laugh as the orb started flashing different colours, apparently at random. "I'm sure you'll get it working in the end," she said, smiling in amusement. "Maybe it's just overly sensitive to ambient energy from Stacy or other sources?" It was just a guess, but she was trying to help even if she didn't know exactly how Billy had made the device.

"Actually, since I've also been known to get involved in engineering, should I be worried about setting the system off if I need to borrow something?"

"I thought I'd filtered that energy out, but I'll check again for other sources. Thank you." Billy frowned at the disobedient sensor.

"No, you'll have clearance. I'll program it to recognize the Science department as trusted individuals. I've already spoken to Dr. Sera about sharing resources between our departments." Billy cautiously tapped at the orb, and watched as the lights reset themselves to blue. "While you're here, can you think of anything you need for your lab that we can build or provide?"

"It was just a thought, since I don't know how it works in detail, it really could be anything causing the interference," Ahava said, also frowning at the sensor.

It was a relief to hear that she wouldn't have to go to too much trouble to get anything she might need from the other laboratories. It'd no doubt cause problems later if she kept accidentally setting off sensors all the time.

"But it would still log equipment coming and going?" she mused. "To keep track of where everything is?" It seemed like common sense after all.

Ahava shook her head at the question. "At the moment I'm mostly focussed on getting everything set up and working out what it all is. But I'll be sure to get in touch if I need something."

"I haven't finished the equipment logging system yet. That will involve microchips that I've been developing, and with those we'll be able to retrieve a detailed list of which items left the area at which times. We'll probably only be able to implement that on the more valuable and scarce equipment, though."

He smiled. "All right. I check my omnicom messages several times a day, and there's also the comm rings. If I'm not available for some reason, Allen will help you."

Ahava nodded. "It'll be a good system when it's up and running," she said. "How long do you think it'll take?" She imagined it wouldn't be that long, considering how scarce their equipment and supplies were. They couldn't really afford to lose too much.

That name was familiar. "Allen... he's the co-chief of your department? I should probably meet with him some time."

"I still need approval from Command and the department, so maybe I'll take a week more to perfect the prototypes. Then I'll present them, and if they're approved I'll begin work."

Billy grinned, then. "Affirmative---uh, yes, he is, as well as the principal of our education program. He's very pleasant to work with, if somewhat enthusiastic at times. I'm sure he'll accommodate you"

"Well if you need a hand with it at any point, feel free to ask," Ahava said. "I've enjoyed talking with you, so I wouldn't say no to a chance to do it again in the future."

But for the moment, she thought Billy would probably want to return to his work. "Oh, one last thing: do you have any idea where I might find Allen?"

"I wouldn't either," he said with a friendly smile. "But for now, you can usually find Allen around the Special Weapons lab or media library. If he's not there, try messaging him on the omnicoms---they're his pet project, he checks them frequently."

"Thanks," Ahava answered, rising and stretching loosely. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Billy," she said sincerely, offering a hand to the man. "Here's to working together in the future."

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Separation Anxiety? [OPEN]

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