Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

[morphitudinous]

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.

Comments

[morphitudinous]

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?"

[outweightheone.livejournal.com]

"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?"

[morphitudinous]

"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.

[outweightheone.livejournal.com]

"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?"

[morphitudinous]

"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.

[outweightheone.livejournal.com]

"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."

[morphitudinous]

"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.