Checking up on Legacy's Health

Posted on Thu Jan 28th, 2021 @ 6:26am by Captain Cynthia Jackson & Lieutenant Kevin Chambers

1,185 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 3.5 - Some R & R
Location: Engineering

Cindy knew that rest and relaxation was not something that everyone would have between missions. She imagined that after the last mission, Engineering would be busy dong repairs and trying to determine if there was anything left over from the red matter or dimensional alternate realities. Striding into Engineering Cindy called out in a sing song voice, "Kevin! Kevin! Are you in here?"

Feeling more like he was under the chassis of an old car, Kevin heard his name reverberate around him, making him sit up in surprise. And true to form, he whacked his head soundly on the tightly-packed toolbox he’d tucked into a small crevasse above him. “Yeah!” he called back in response, rubbing his head with the palm of his hand.

”What can I do you for?” Kevin asked, sticking his head out of a tube. Noticing who it was, he slipped a bit of a, “Captain,” in there to cover his ass.

"You should never ask a girl a question like that," Cindy told Kevin with a mischievous grin. "But actually, I was coming to check in on you and Legacy. He's been quite through the ringer lately and I wanted to see if there was anything that I could do to help you with the repairs."

“She’s in good hands,” Kevin said softly and patted the wall gently and lovingly. Turning back to the Captain, he spoke more conversationally. “We’re managing to do some quick repairs as we go... but we’re still in the assessment phase.” Offering the PADD to Cindy, Kevin asked, “Wouldn’t you rather actually take some time for you?”

"Doing what, Kevin?" she asked interested in his answer. "This ship is my everything. And, while the crew is on shore leave, the racquetball league is postponed." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Besides, I haven't gotten to see you much since we met on the day we boarded Legacy."

“Relaxing?” Kevin threw out there. “Racquetball is great, but don’t you enjoy something you do on your own that is a secret passion?” His was... tinkering. And when he gave Legacy a breather to recover from his ministrations, he would read old mechanics magazines and design new things out of old tech.

“And that’s true, Cap.” Kevin slid himself out of the tube so he could address the Captain a little more formally. “But I’m hoping that’s a good thing?” Not seeing your Engineer during a mission... didn’t that imply he was doing a great job?

"My secret passion?" Cindy gave Kevin a mischievous wink. "Oooh. Getting nice and personal, aren't we?" She giggled at Kevin. "I'm mostly a sports girl and a bit of a Tomboy. So, no, there's nothing really out there that I want to do. Besides, I've already done everything on that starbase. There's nothing new or exciting there for me. Besides, I like to socialize. So, here I am!" She shook her wavy platinum blonde hair back behind her shoulders and beamed at Kevin.

“So personal,” Kevin shot back sarcastically. “Nothing wrong with sports... just they tend to need more than one person to play.” Kevin gave Cindy an exaggerated look. “You like socializing...” Kevin turned to look at the empty bay. “That, too implies more than one person.” He took a beat and expected a response so clarified, “Other than yourself... like a group you might encounter aboard the star base.”

He shook his own head and winked at Cindy, his grin matching hers. The wink was less him making a pass and more like bringing her into some sort of secret.

"Yes, but you're here and working, so clearly YOU need socializing. So, here I am!" she beamed.

“Gee thanks,” Chambers said sarcastically. “You make me sound like a pet that’s been kept in isolation.” Chuckling, he added, “Not sure they make cones big enough for this big head.”

"Well, you do tend to hide down here. I mean, you could be up on the bridge with me!" Cindy replied beaming at Kevin. "Or participate in the racquetball league! Or find a nice woman to spend a few nights with on the base...."

“Not hiding, Cap. Mostly handling a few personal projects. And I never really gave much thought to being up top with the rest of you.” Shrugging, he looked at his distorted reflection in one of the tubes. “I don’t much cut a fine figure to be Bridge bound, and not looking for company of an intimate nature.” He wasn’t doing that again.

“Although I do appreciate your professional interest, you don’t have to worry about me,” Kevin assured her and sat back on his heels before standing up.

Cindy shrugged. "You can't keep yourself alone, Kevin. It isn't healthy. You don't have to be intimate with anyone. Lord knows that I have not found someone that I'm interested in but some socializing is necessary. So, tell me about your personal projects."

Taking a deep breath, more for enthusiastic energy than building the courage to explain his pet project to the Captain, Kevin Chambers began.

His hands were animated, as well as his face, words tumbling out about Legacy, updating the engines and of course, making several references to older vehicles that had never seen stars except from below. How tweaking the power array and making easy and non-intrusive adjustments could easily up the engine output by 20 - 25%. As a very understated possibility. He was certain that it could be considerably higher with... well with the XO’s and his Department’s assistance.

He took a breath, eyes shining and cheeks flushed. Kevin looked about 10, maybe 12 years old with his very first hover board. He resisted pulling out his extensive notes, instead waiting for her reaction.

Cindy smiled and in a praising, yet humored voice said, "My! You are one dedicated person! And are you planning on doing all of these things on leave?"

Kevin looked confused. “Of course!” he responded. “She should be ready to go for the next mission.” Because one should do what makes one happy during leave. And this? Would make him very happy indeed.

"Hmmmm," Cindy mused. "Kevin, we're going to definitely have to get you out more." She nodded her head and said, "Yep. I think I will make it my personal mission."

A Spocked eyebrow was his response as Kevin thought to himself, ‘How bad could it be?’

Ahhhh, CEO Kevin Chambers of the USS Legacy... how often might you think back on this moment. A last moment of quiet reflection... of private moments... of a breath easily taken... some might pity such a predicament. If only you might have never answered with the following dismissive tone: “Whatever you say, Cap.”

Let’s have a moment of silence for him.. and how his life would change so... definitively.

"Good! As soon as I get a free moment, I will be relieving you from duty one day and the two of us will just, play." With that, Cindy turned on her heels and left engineering with a huge grin on her face.

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