Santa's little helper

Posted on Sun Feb 13th, 2022 @ 1:54am by Lieutenant Myne Redal & Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: DECK 8 - Cabin 41 W-O
Timeline: After Christmass
2143 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

//ON//

There must have been some warning somewhere, or notification about someone using the replicator a bit too excessively. Somehow, even Myne's programs weren't perfect to stop all the alerts and cover all the power surges. In her cabin, Myne was lost doing what she usually was when left by herself for prolonged periods of time. She got lost in her own mind and started doing things she could barely explain later.

Right now, there was a tricorder literally walking on spider legs on the floor of the cabin, patrolling the front door and waiting to detect any signs of an AI core or of Captain Carrett Lovejoy. Its carcass was long desecrated, components pulled own, reassembled, new parts added up to the point where it barely looked like a tricorder anymore. But it was serving its new purpose in life dutifully.

Meanwhile, on the floor, next to the replicator in her cabin, Myne had singe marks on her hands, face dirty from putting out a few flames and the carpet was also bearing scorch marks. She was at her tenth attempt of minimizing a processor and she really had to learn to scale back on her ambition. She kept expecting too much, shoving too much, and it always blew up. The poor replicator was getting tired of making more and more components to be thrown away uselessly. The music in the cabin, from an ancient Human band, Haggard, an album named Eppur si Mouve was blasting to deafening levels.

Garrett was headed to Myne's cabin after their talk about Christmas and her wish list. He got to thinking he wouldn't give her an AI core, she'd have the thing take over the ship, but he could 'loan' her a tiny processor to use. As he reached the door a singe smell of something burnt greeted him. *Myne, what have you done?* He thought as he pressed the door before he noticed the spider on the floor, only it wasn't a spider. It was a kit bash of what looked like a tricorder and heavens knew what else. He was beginning to have seconds about letting Myne have the processor.

The tricorder noticed him and started beeping furiously, and as it emitted dangerous looking, eerie really red light, rasing two legs menacingly towards him... it squeaked. Then the two legs got raised even higher in the air and the tricorder-spider began to chaotically run around in circles before stopping to bash it's tiny legs on the door till it opened. Yes, for all intents and purposes, Myne's dangerous looking, creepy creation... had a comical panic attack as it continued to scurry into the room and towards Myne.

Myne who was wearing pijamas and was on her stomach on the floor surrounded by tools and broken equipment, trying to make her own tiny processor. The music still raged on, metal and opera as the tricorder-spider began to strike her her leg panicked, desperate to catch her attention. Myne simply reached back without looking and shooed it away. Making the tricorder-spider look so, truly... sad for a moment before it slumped and scurried off under the bed to hide.

Garrett stood in the doorway, looking down at Myne and watched the 'spider' scurry under the bed. His gaze shifted to the odd collection of assorted computer parts consisting of tricorders padds and who knew what else. His hands with the processor were behind his back. "Myne?" He prompted gently.

As someone who spent who knows how many hours making a program to mimic his voice for the Super Garrett cartoons, the moment he spoke out her ears were on high alert. Turning suddenly the microchip she was working on fried and as always, singer her hand again slightly. With a yelp, a panicked hammer to the cup to stop it the old fashion way, Myne got up and clapped her hands stopping the music.

"Captain Super Garrett sir, I did not hear you come in. Erm... sorry for the mess." She looked down a bit, suddenly aware of what a mess she made. "I swear I had a tric... oh there he is. I will scrap you, you spineless piece of rust metal!" She cussed at the tricorder-spider as the little invention peaked put from under the bed to wave a leg angrily at her.

"Myne, what are you doing?" Garrett asked and then continued, "I'm surprised you aren't deaf. Why have you got the music so loud?" As he took a step further into her quarters, careful not to step on any of Myne's 'inventions'. "How can you find anything here? It's a mess."

"Erm, nothing. Just trying to make a small version of the mini processors we use. The problem is I can't get the power flow right and they keep burning up or blowing up." Myne explained, fidgeting and playing with her ponytail nervously. "As for the music, that is research. Earth music, helps me focus lately. Finding stuff however, I have a program that keeps track of stuff, I just need to ask what I am looking for really. Like, Snickerdoodle, where's the thingy I use to melt wires?" She asked out loud and her PaDD beeped with a melodic tune as a voice similar to hers replied. "Under the desk."

"Nothing? For doing nothing you are making a considerable mess." He paused for a beat and continued on. "Um, yes about that. Remember our talk about Christmas and the Christmas list and I told you I would think on your um wish? Well I did and this is for you." Garrett told her as he brought his hands from behind his back and handed her a brightly wrapped box. "Merry Christmas Myne."

"Eh, the universe is chaos anyway, what's a little mess every now and then?" Myne shrugged and smiled, nodding. "Yep, I remember. You did you say you'd think about my list." As her eyes fell upon the box she let out quite the intense yelp of excitement as she took the box from his hands. And true to form, was shaking it furiously trying to listen to the sounds it made. "What is inside sir? It's too small for an AI core, but it sounds like something tech in any case! Can I open it?"

Garrett chuckled at Myne's exuberance. "By all means open it. I brought it for you. But if you keep shaking the box, you might just break it." He warned teasingly. I hope it's what you want."

Ripping the wrapping eagerly and opening the box, Myne peeked inside and then brought the small box to her chest. "A tiny processor?! I have been trying for hours to make one already!! You know, it's harder than it seems, not something you can wing it in your quarters, frustratingly enough." Looking in the box again at her new tiny processor, she giggled and launched herself forward, hugging the captain for a brief second. "Sorry about that. Thank you sir, it is a very thoughtful gift."

Garrett smiled at both the hug and Myne's obvious happiness. "Don't be sorry." He was glad the gift made Myne happy. "You are welcome Myne, I hope it helps and knowing you I am sure it will."

"Oooh yeah. Gonna try to build a mini manufactorum using it. Kinda fifty-fifty chances it will work or go boom. But in any case, thank you sir. I really appreciated it. This is really a very thoughtful gift." Myne said softly and nodded, holding the box with the tiny processor close to her chest.

"It was my pleasure Myne." Garrett replied honestly. He liked seeing Myne happy just as he did all his officers. "I'm sure that whatever you come up with will special and unique just as its creator is."

"Promise to try and make something cool at the very least sir!" She nodded and looked around at the mess that was her room. "Erm, do you want something to drink sir? I am not really used to guests soo... I think this is the point where I offer beverages and food?"

"A glass of water please." Garrett replied. As he waited he asked. "Myne what are you doing here?"

Nodding and placing the box with the tiny processor on the desk she went to the replicator to bring him a glass of water. Being very careful with her steps not to step on the components and scrap left on the floor. "Here? As I said, was trying to actually make my own version of a very small processor. Minimizing technology is a passion of mine, but it is very touch and go. The moment you scale down something the rules of physics that used to apply on the normal version change. Everything from heating, cooling, power, nothing really applies the same way." She explained trying to be helpful.

Garrett shook his head, "I don't mean here in your quarters I mean why aren't you out socializing, having a good time with other officers or crew?"

Myne looked caught off guard by the question, and she embarrassedly looked to the side. "Well, I am not really good with people sir. And I think I might have pushed things a bit too far with my friends lately. Feels... safer to just do things alone then to do... well Myne things and hurt others."

"Myne." Garrett said softly. "You are never going to get better, comfortable with people by sitting, hiding in your quarters. You have to get out and mix with them. It may feel awkward but it will get easier, I promise you. Further if your friends are really friends they will always be there for you and support you. But you'll never know sitting in here." He finished gently.

"Sir, with all due respect. Please do not insist." Myne replied softly, still avoiding his gaze. "I tried and I try, but I don't like how it makes me feel. I do not like feeling like I keep pushing myself on people. I have made new friends, yes, but I value them enough to give them space from myself now. As for me, my mind always finds things for me to do, so I am not lacking in activities."

"Myne, I would never insist, it was a suggestion nothing more. I will repeat that you are doing yourself and your friends a disservice by not being with them. In addition you are not pushing yourself on your friends and even if you were, they would overlook it." Garrett answered with conviction.

"Maybe sir. For now I feel like I am doing more good by taking a break if I am honest. A few days to clear my head for a bit, that is all. Will correct my mistake afterwards." It was clear that receiving a lesson from Garrett was not doing the young Trill officer too much good. The glances she stole at him betrayed quite a bit of genuine awe. Given the Super Garrett aspect, Myne did hold the Captain on a very high pedestal. And being told she is doing wrong, clearly did not make her feel too good about herself.

Garrett stopped and realized he might be making Myne feel worse by offering suggestions, so time for some damage control. "Myne, I am not saying you are doing anything wrong. I apologize if I made you feel like you were."

She shook her head furiously at that. "No sir, you are right. I am not doing the right thing. I will try better, I promise. There is no need to apologize." Myne offered eagerly, not really eager to have Super Garrett apologize to her.

"Myne, stop or we'll be apologizing to each other all night. I will leave it your hands as how you approach it." Garrett answered with a wry smile.

Chuckling, Myne shook her head, smiling widely now. "That was funny. Alright sir, I'll stop if you do. Don't worry about me sir, I'll be fine. Honestly, tinkering with things really makes me happy."

Smiling Garrett replied, "It's a deal Myne and I won't worry about you. I will leave you to your tinkering."

"Aye aye sir. Thank you again for the gift. It was really thoughtful and I really really appreciate it!" She nodded and picked up the box with the micro processor and held it close to her chest. Clearly eager to get started on using it.

Garrett nodded at her, a smile on his face at her happiness. "You are most welcome Myne, I'm glad you like it and I hope it helps you in your creative talents. I know you will put it to good use."

"I will, sir yes sir." She saluted and chuckled again.

//OFF//

Captain Garrett Lovejoy
Commanding Officer
USS Elysium

Lieutenant JG Myne Redal
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium