Post 360: Driven to Distraction

Stardate:70807.1430
Title: Driven to Distraction
Authors: Lair and Dengar
Scene: Main Engineering
Time: 0800 in the morning after "Even a Journey," and "Priorities"

With her mind still very much in another place, Lair Kellyn sat down at Salvek's desk in the Chief Engineer's office and tried to read reports.

As distracted as she was, she still managed to get a good idea of where the repairs to the Independence's communications net, holodecks, and transporters stood at this point in time.

The transporters and communications nets were back online. The components that had been fused and fried by the power overloads generated by the virus were being ripped out and replaced with new parts, which were arriving steadily from Trill.

The rest of the work on the holodecks was on hold until everything else was finished -considered much lower priority. Things were moving right along.

What they needed to do next was reinforce the firewalls to the holodecks and all other systems which were previously considered 'low risk' as far as security.

They had learned the hard way that aboard the Federation flagship, there was no system they could afford to think of as secondary, or of lesser importance.If it hadn't been for the upgrades that Salvek had already designed and implemented. . .she didn't want to think about what that outcome would have been.

She signed off in agreement on a report that TC Blane and N'Dura had written, outlining the exact changes that needed to be made.

She would now turn it over to the Captain for final approval.

She wished that Salvek were here, working in his usual place. She knew he had responsibilities as the ship's acting XO, but she really did miss working with him the way they always had, here in engineering.

He was off duty for another day or two entirely while he dealt with the fallout from the discoveries he'd made during their mind meld. Kellyn had done all she knew how to do for him, reassuring him of her devotion, and her determination to stand by him, come what may.

All she could do now was wait.

"Xhian," she called, as she heard footsteps approaching and assumed it was the Ensign. "When you are finished backing up the auxiliary communications relays, would you please move on to the-"

An unfamiliar face peered in at her through the glass now, instead of Xhian. Lair sat up straight in her chair and set down her PADD. "Looking for something?"

"Actually sir, I believe I am looking for you. Ensign Rada Dengar, sir." Rada said whilst walking in and extending his hand out. Rada was glad that the Acting Chief Engineer wore a uniform instead of coveralls and that her hand did not leave a speck of dirt on his own.

He knew however that this was not going to be an easy meeting. He still had to explain how he had managed to do so much damage to the runabout on the trip from Trill to the Independence, and in so little time. When he wasn't even the pilot!

Still, he could see that she was wearing a traditional Bajoran earring and whilst he knew little of their beliefs, he was hoping that her gods might- for some reason- object to her ripping him limb from limb.

He knew that this was probably an exaggeration. Then again the consequences of growing up on Angosia III a remarkably 'peaceful' planet had been enough for him, he could not imagine having grown up on a planet like Bajor during the occupation, as he had heard that Lair had done.

She turned to look straight at the young Ensign with the impeccably clean uniform."Lair Kellyn, pleased to meet you, Rada, is it? I'll be calling you Rada, by the way. I have too many ensigns around here, have to go to first names. Otherwise, I yell 'hey ensign' and everybody turns around. Or runs and hides."

She smiled, trying to put him at ease. She remembered very clearly how nerve-wracking her first day aboard this ship was. In this very department. She shook the memory off and started again.

"So, anyway, you've found me. What can I do for you?"

Rada thinks to himself *Okay, your words here are incredibly important so try not to say anything stupid*

"I have a report here about what I did to the Ganymede." he said whilst handing over a PADD.*What did I just tell you?!* he yelled in his head *You could have said, 'containing the modifications I made during the emergency' or 'a report on the damage to the runabout' but instead you had to place the blame squarely on yourself! Bravo, indeed!*

"What you personally did to it? Okay, then." She nodded, impressed by his forthright manner.

"You just earned ten bonus points, Mr. Dengar. See, I believe that the best policy is, if you think you've done something maybe you shouldn't have, tell me immediately. Because I love my engineers, every last one of 'em. But when somebody tries to hide something from me?" she widened her eyes. "Then Lair Kellyn is not a happy camper."

She looked up at a seemingly confident although secretly terrified Rada.

"It shouldn't take you too long to repair the damage."

This was a great relief. She still trusted him enough to let him near the runabout and he had all of his limbs still attached.

"No, Sir," he replied.

"Look, we'll be working very closely. Please, call me Kellyn."

"Yes, Sir."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, Kellyn."

"He can be taught!" Lair smiled once again.

Rada felt like an idiot, *She asks you to call her "Kellyn" not sir and the first thing you do is call her 'Sir' not Kellyn?* Now what will she expect you to do when she asks you NOT to blow up the ship? You'll never even be allowed near the warp core at this rate.*

Rada was still not concentrating when he noticed something much more terrifying than being pulled limb from limb by "Kellyn". The fact that she hadn't done it!

She just seemed too distracted and Rada was left yet again with a 'do OR die or do AND die' choice.

It is not an Ensign's place to confront a superior officer with concerns thatthey seemed distracted, and if he does he risks looking like an interjecting little pest but if he doesn't ask what's wrong he either risks seeming like an uncaring jerk or someone who is so unperceptive that he wouldn't know if his arse was on fire.

He bites the proverbial bullet, hoping that will stop it going into his head. After all, if Lair had completely wanted to distance herself she wouldn't have asked him to call her Kellyn, right?

"If you don't mind my asking, Kellyn, is there anything wrong?"Suddenly Lair's expression changed as she stared over Rada's shoulder. Her mood seemed to have instantly brightened. Considerably.

He turned to see a tall Vulcan standing behind him, wearing off-duty clothing.

"Kind of you to ask, Rada, thank you." Kellyn said as she stood up, "but everything is fine now. Allow me to introduce you to my husband, Commander Salvek."
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Lt. Commander Lair Kellyn
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Independence NCC-90791


andEnsign Rada Dengar
Engineering Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791