trans_9 | Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

Entry tags:

Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

Well, the joy of meeting new engineers certainly didn't last long.

A grouchy-looking Billy emerges from a strenuous training session in the Sensoriums, face coated in sweat and grime. Stacy's suggestions to go out and get some rest had begun to sound perilously similar to threats, and so he had reluctantly obeyed.

Now he intends to proceed directly to Special Weapons and begin work on the sampling equipment they had so sorely needed on the last mission. His mind is churning out idea after idea, straining to find a reasonable way to convert their very limited scrap material into vials and air-tight containers. It probably wouldn't hurt to fashion waterproof gloves either, if they could.

After a quick race through the tubes he's holed up in the laboratory in comfortable solitude, securing his glasses as he makes his first attempt to synthesize a containment material. In his mind, to defend his worth as a member of this crew, he absolutely must succeed. Superficial things like exhaustion and aching muscles won't stand in his way.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Walking through the halls of the ship, a certain young man paid little attention to the fact others were also walking down said hall. He had his PADD out and was poking away furiously at it. There was just to much to do and what felt like to little time to do it all in. A trip to the library had left him almost as dumbstruck as he had when he first walked in though only a little enlightened. Murmuring in Russian he barely had time to sidestep a person causing him to step into the science lab.

To say the expression on Chekov's face lightened when he saw the space was an understatement. "Oh!" the youth exclaimed, "zhis is wery, wery good!" Sure it wasn't like being back on the Enterprise but it would do nicely.

The young engineer's head instantly snaps up at the sound of Chekov's entrance. And he'd hoped the laboratory would be reasonably quiet at this hour! Sighing mentally, he composes himself and offers his usual greeting, but not without a bit of effort to hide his dismay at being interrupted.

"Is there something I can assist you with?"

"Ah! No. I vas valking down zee hall when I seemed to have found myself in here." Eyes were darting around taking in everything that he could at once. "Zhis is an impressing lab. Zee technology is not vhat I am accustomed to aboard zee Enterprise, but vorth an inwestigation regardless."

The hit of dismay was pushed aside for the moment as the young Ensign moved a few more steps into the lab carefully examining a piece of equipment that rested on a table. "A primitive wersion of zee protech hydro-went. Impressive."

Oh, so he's dealing with another curious scientist. Billy's favorite kind of people. Most of the time, anyway. He knows better than to be rude, though, so he also pushes aside his problems and continues on. Setting his project aside for the moment, Billy examines the 'primitive hydro-vent' as well.

"That's one of the engineering department's challenges. We're working with engineers from a wide range of time periods, and unfortunately I seem to be on the more primitive end of the scales." He look around the mess of a laboratory (he really needs to clean that up---he always leaves the lab cleaner than he finds it, so someone else is obviously to blame) and reaches for one of the more advanced pieces left by his fellow engineers.

"Do you think it would be possible to update this equipment to your time's standards, or at least beyond its current efficiency?" Yeah, asking questions is the opposite of making him go away, but Billy will be reasonably happy if he finds more work to do.

If Billy wanted his peace, all he had to do was ask. When Pavel became focused on something it was generally hard to tear him away from it. "It is possible," he said slowly as he studied the piece of something that Billy was handing him. "I am not zhat skilled as Mister Scott, er, Scotty, or Sulu are at different areas of study, but ve have to know much for our wessel."

Looking up he offered the older man his hand. "Ensign Pavel Chekov."

He nods, finding himself fascinated despite the annoyance stubbornly clinging to him. "If you're interested, you're certainly welcome to join Engineering. It isn't urgent, but your expertise would be valuable."

Billy wipes his hand on the leg of his plantsuit as discreetly as possible before shaking Chekov's. Sweaty engineer? Not a good first impression. "Billy Cranston, pleasure to meet you."

His smile doesn't quite appear completely relaxed as it normally does, but it's the closest he's going to get today.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Cranston." At the chance to join the engineering department? He got another wide grin from the seventeen year old. "Ah! I vould like to do zhat! I am also a nawigator so if zhere is anything planet vise zhat you need.. zhere is a chance I could be of greater assistance."

One more glance about left a warm smile on Pavel's face. "Is zhere anyzhing I can help you vith now? Or projects I can zake off someones hands if zhey are ower burdened?" For the most part he understood the mission most of the crew had just come back from had been... taxing. Over working ones self was not something he would encourage anyone to do.

"I believe that more than qualifies you. Welcome aboard, Mister Chekov", he says simply with a slight smile.

"There's no need for you to begin right away. The only major item on Engineering's plate right now is creating reliable sterile equipment with which to take samples from the planets we visit. I believe I can handle that much on my own. But feel free to contact me on the communication rings or send a message if you find something of interest. I'd like to assemble a database of our inventory and all accessible resources on board." Billy picks up his materials and begins the synthesis process again---not to shut him out, but to attempt to get this done before he crashes.

Chekov nodded his head, glancing between his PADD and the stuff about the room. "Is zhere a vay to keep zee things recorded and not have to vorry about.. ah.." With a motion of his hand about the ship he indicated Stacy. Not that he was going to say it out loud and possible get some bad stuff going on in the lab. "Because, if not, I can offer zhis for any documentation purposes."

With a little wave of the PADD he watched as Billy worked, falling silent soon after. He didn't want to distract the man you see.

Stacy. Billy had almost forgotten about her, engrossed in his work as he was. He doesn't think she's privy to the communication systems they'd designed with security in mind, but it helps to keep your options open.

"How does that device function? Can you describe it without..." He jerks his head to the side, indicating the eyes that saw almost everything.

"Zhey are designed to be sort of like a hand held computer," Pavel explained, offering it toward Billy for him to look it over. "Zhey are generally able to connect to a larger netvork, but seeing as in how zhere isn't here, per say, it acts as a personal storage dewice."

It was simple in design, a palm size device that was rather thin and lightweight with a touch screen for retrieving files, movies, logs, or audio recordings that may be on it. This one, though, was more of a working device than a personal one. "It's design is wery basic and easy to nawigate. If is somezhing zhat you zhink vould be useful, zhere may be a way to recreate more."

"Exquisite!" Nothing distracts Billy from his issues faster than a new shiny piece of technology to examine. It's sleeker than the omnicoms the team had crafted before, and that advantage could be useful later.

"We've recently outfitted the crew with omnicoms that function similarly, but are more restricted in their capacity. Your device could easily serve as a template for an upgrade to our existing system." He makes a few mental notes to keep in mind for the upcoming engineers' meeting.

For now, though, he returns to work---but he'll try to get acquainted with his coworkers on the way, because doubletasking is necessary if you're keeping yourself as busy as Billy is. "Did you have any particular engineering specialties?"

"Zee omnicoms.. zhey are like PADDs?" that got an impressed look from the seventeen year old. If these people were able to make anything out of half the parts that were scattered about the ship.. Inwardly the geeky side of Pavel tried to bubble out.

"Ah.." Reaching up a hand, Chekov scratched at the back of his neck. "I vas top of my class in stellar cartography and transporter theory. My adwanced theoretical physics is not so bad either from vhat my professors said." Truth be told he wasn't sure if any of that would be helpful at all- but it was there all upon the table if any of them needed it. "Other zhan zhat, I vill try my hand at anyzhing zhat you need me."

"I worked with teleportation technology myself, using an external power source only available at home, but I wonder if it'd be possible to construct a similar system here for emergencies. We also have several cartographers, who will no doubt be needed to help us navigate alien planets---provided we can obtain the necessary information." Billy's mind starts to wander into 'fantasizing about possibilities' mode, and he quickly brings himself back down to the present.

"For the most part, though, I believe your physics knowledge will be more than useful in rounding out our team's capabilities. I specialize in the construction process, with solid grounding in the theory of physics and chemistry. I'm passable in biology, but that remains my weak point." Just ask the exploding plants he unleashed on his team a short while ago.

"Most of our current projects revolve around robotics and weaponry, if you'd like to look those over."

"Zhere may be a chance zhat zee teleporters could be made here. Mister Scott vas more knovledgeable about zee abilities to send objects and beings from.. vell.. anyvhere. Ewen a moving starship." Already Pavel's mind was working like Billy's. If the supplies were there he could possibly formulate a transporter that could possibly work for emergencies like were used in Starfleet. Spock's help would be required, though, and if Scotty ever showed up then they would all be set. Depending on what they had to work with.

At possibly rounding out the team, though, Chekov actually ducked his head and blushed a little. "I vill do vhat I can do assist. Anyzhing to prowide zee people here vith items to better protect zhemselves."

While robotics and weaponry were not his skill area (the latter mostly falling to Sulu), Pavel nodded his head. "Da. I vould like to look at zhem vhen giwen zee chance if I may. And zhis omnicoms- if zhere is one to spare zhat I can tinker vith?"

Billy smiles slightly upon seeing the other engineer's blush, then politely looks away. He's already confident that Pavel will be an excellent staffer. If only the rest of Engineering shared his cooperativeness---but hey, that's Billy's next task. Crew cohesion.

Back on topic---"You can take one, as long as we make sure it can be repaired and returned later. Our supply levels are adequate, but we certainly don't have an excess." Reaching over to the omnicom production unit, he lifts a spare and hands it over.

Taking the omnicom carefully into his hands, Pavel was already studying it. "Oh. Da. I vill make sure zhat it vill be back in vorking order vhen I return it." Shifting the item in his hands eagerly the youth was all but bouncing on his feet. "I vill see if zhere is a vay to make it close to zee PADD if it is possible."

And to see how it works exactly. It was, as the Commander would say, fascinating.

Spock enters, having just come from inspecting the medbay. All these bloody engineers and not a vacuum between them. And so, when he came to Special Weapons, he'd been half-expecting a mess. He still isn't quite prepared for what he finds. Sure, they'd found it that way in the first place, and some of them might have tidied here and there. Despite that, it's a tip. One would suspect the Time Lords. They don't even have tidy minds.

"I believe you are--" he checks his notes, "Mister Cranston?"

Another interruption. Well, his day is going swimmingly. Billy glances up, recognizes the man from the command staff, and puts in some extra effort to appear normal.

"Affirmative, Mr---" he does the same, "Spock. How may I be of assistance?"

"I don't require anything currently," he replies, "Merely acquainting myself with the crew. Considering our teams share both staff and workspace, you might consider yourself a priority."

Completely oblivious of causing Billy any disruption, he wanders around the place, idly picking at equipment that interests him. It's probably really annoying and the narration apologises.

Eventually, having observed the tubes Billy has been working with, he adds, "Might I be of assistance, perhaps?"

"Of course. It's a mutual priority." But one he wishes he didn't have to fulfill right now. As Spock makes his rounds examining the equipment, he pushes all thoughts of a less-than-pleasant nature down forcibly. That's one of the downsides of being a prominent crew member. He has responsibilities that don't take days off.

In response to the other man's polite query he'd possibly ask for help in a more reasonable state of mind, but he's not too fond of following one display of weakness with another. "Negative, sir. The process of elimination of ill-suited materials for chemical synthesis is proceeding, if at a sluggish rate. All materials so far have warped at an unusually low threshold of heat, but I expect to eliminate and correct that issue soon."

Okay, so maybe that no sounded a little like a yes or maybe. But he'll never admit that in a million years and still hopes to be left alone.

"Then the work ought to be shared, if I may join you?" he replies, perching at one of the lab's benches, "What materials do we have available to us?"

"It's not necessary, sir, but if you have no other important tasks to attend to then I have no qualms." Except the minor one about his lost solitude, but he mentally resigns himself to socialization for the day. Billy dutifully describes the spare materials stockpiled in the laboratory and recounts his tests so far to Spock. The listing grinds to a halt when the teen realizes something is amiss.

"...That's strange. Some of our materials appear to have been removed and remain unaccounted for. I'll have to set up a formal inventory system by the next engineering meeting", he mutters.

"Removed?" he doesn't look impressed, "I would agree, an inventory is logical in light of the advent of new recruits. It would perhaps also be prudent to have the security team establish a detail for guarding the various science facilities."

"I'll make a request at the next staff meeting if that wouldn't unreasonably tax their resources, but until then I can arrange with the others to leave the laboratory staffed at all times. I'm almost certain that the items were taken during the planetside activity, so we'll need to keep that in mind." With as many night owls as they have, it shouldn't be too terribly difficult---especially since he's planning to take on as many shifts as they'll let him.

"The few containers that we'd already had on hand are among the more obvious of the missing supplies, along with some adhesive materials I'd planned to use for this project." Another synthesis. This one withstands a higher temperature than the others, so he makes a note and prepares the next test.

It was a long, long debate in Dark Smoke Puncher's mind. He'd heard about someone working on getting sampling equipment for the next on world mission.

Building. Creating. Making a new machine.

And he wanted to help. But there was a problem. That was supposed to be a chore. Because that was geeky. And he wasn't supposed to be geeky. As much as he was one. So despite wanting to go, in case it got to his brother and then somehow his parents he enjoyed it, it'd ruin his whole act.

However, he finally got a justification. He was on a mission. It was known he could do stuff with machines. So, therefore, to help with the success of the mission, he had to go help with the new machine.

It was brilliant.

"Yo, you need some help with that, dawg?" He asked as he appeared a few feet away from Billy.

It's probably a good thing that Billy's concentrating so hard on keeping his mouth shut as he works, or an unbecoming groan definitely would have escaped. He knows it isn't fair or accurate to judge an individual's competency by their appearance or vernacular, but he still views the appearance of the gangsta-talking ninja with some apprehension.

"Negative. My efforts to synthesize material suitable for sampling purposes are proceeding at a reasonably steady pace." Billy lays the technobabble on slightly more liberally than usual, eyes locked on the chemicals he's preparing. His hands tremble slightly, but whether that's from irritation or exhaustion is unknown.

"May I assist you with anything while you're here, though?"

Dark Smoke Puncher noticed the tremble. "I came to give ya some assistance. I'm pretty fly when it comes to stuff like this, as whack as it sounds," he said. He was pretty sure it made sense.

"Though if you be trembling, you might be needing a break dawg, especially working with chemicals. Too much and yo gonna ruin something, word."

"Pretty fly?" Billy gives the ninja a strange look. He'd heard his friend Zack use similar slang ages ago, but the non-intuitive meaning of the phrase caught him off guard. "If by the term 'fly' you're describing yourself as exceptionally skilled in the field, then you're certainly welcome to join the department."

All the disgruntled teen wants is to work in peace, yet it feels to him like half the engineering crew's wandered in to offer help. Perhaps they have a point.

"I appreciate your offer, but I believe I can finish without---" A chemical almost slips. Only his Ranger reflexes save it, and he hastily adds it to the formula before his hands can betray him again. "---too much trouble." Liar. Silly liar with a bruised ego. At least that combination is more stable than the last?

"Dude, I'm wickedly skilled," Dark Smoke Puncher said.

He watched Billy for a few moments. "You know, lying to a ninja is rather weak to do," he commented. yeah, he called out Billy on his lie. "Got pretty wicked reflexes though."

Billy flinches quite obviously. He knows that he's a terrible liar, and the only reason he used to get away with it was that his words went over the others' heads. But to be seen through by a complete stranger---even if he is a ninja---is weak even for him.

"...I suppose I'm not quite at one hundred percent vitality," he finally concedes. Closer to thirty or forty, maybe. "But I intend to see this project through to the end regardless. I can't afford to fail the crew again."

He reaches up to adjust his glasses before testing the latest mixture with another burst of heat. A moderate success, but that exhaustion must be catching up to him since his stubborn refusal is starting to waver. "If you insist on staying, then I've left my notes over there. They should bring you up to speed on the nature of the tests."

Dark Smoke Puncher rolled his eyes and picked up the notes, looking through them. It shouldn't be too hard to help from what he was reading.

"Yo, you know, working yourself into making mistakes ain't gonna do anyone any good. Unless you're working on a time to some really whacked out shit, you should work when you're at your fittest, word," he commented.

"That's a logical conclusion," he grudgingly admits as he proceeds to the next experiment anyway. It's not like he's on the verge of collapse or anything. The weak limbs and dark circles behind his glasses are just illusions.

"I'm loath to leave the laboratory for another reason. While most of our engineering crew was occupied on our last mission, a selection of our supplies vanished without explanation. We cannot afford to leave the equipment here unguarded."

"Yo, ninja. No one can steal anything in here without me knowing, dawg," Dark Smoke Puncher said. Really, what ninja would he be if a thief snuck in and out on him?

Billy chuckles hollowly in response. "Naturally." That doesn't mean Billy's quite ready to entrust Dark Smoke Puncher with the lab alone, but it's a start.

So he figures he'd better act the gracious host. "I failed to introduce myself earlier---my apologies, it happens sometimes when I'm preoccupied with work. I'm Billy Cranston, co-chief of this crew's engineering department. Were you considering joining us?"

"Yo, the name's Dark Smoke Puncher," Dark Smoke Puncher responded. "And a ninja has got a duty to his mission, dawg, so I thought, yanno, I better make sure this all goes well, yo. And this stuff I've got mad skillz in," he added. Yes, he wanted to join because working with stuff like this makes it a whole hell of a lot more bearable to talk like he doesn't have a proper vocabulary.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject