Needs a Little Tune-up

Posted on Tue Jan 29th, 2019 @ 6:53am by Lieutenant Danica Kovitz

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Science Labs, USS Elysium
1577 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Justin hobbled into the science lab, his little hitchhiker’s guide themed tray hovering behind him, containing a lot of clear glass containers with clear fluids in them - water samples. He looked around and saw Dani, the familiar face from the pool. Well, he had looked at her face long enough to recognise her even with the uniform on, anyway. “Hi”, he greeted. “Could I borrow some of your lab facilities for a bit? I’ve got some water samples here I’d like to analyse.”

Dani, who had been working on a few tests of her own, looked up and spotted the man entering. “Oh, hey Justin,” she said with a friendly smile. “Yeah, I think the liquid analysis unit is free right now, so help yourself. Just don’t break it. I’ve already had to talk to Engineering a few times today because I keep shorting out a power conduit.”

“I could help you take a look at what might be causing it”, Justin offered. “I’m an engineer, too.” He had taken all the engineering classes at the Academy, it was the primary training for his operations job. He wasn’t as good as one of the veterans yet, but he knew his stuff. He was certainly better at engineering than at water sample analysis. But how hard could it be filling the machine and running the tests? Interpreting the data, that’s where the tough part lay.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” she said, gesturing to her set up. She had a number of different analytical devices running. A soil sampler, some bizarre electrical device which seemed to be shocking a rock, and a few hologram simulations of mining operations. “It could be any number of these, I’m sure. I just haven’t wanted to waste time shutting them off.”

“Well, I’ll see what I can find while they’re running”, Justin said. “Kara Hoffman would be best for this job, I know, but she’s still in sickbay and not allowed to leave. I might not be able to do it while they’re running.” He smiled at her. “You could run these water sample while I check? They’re from the planet, Dr Hertz wanted them checked, to see if there’s anything the sensors down there can’t detect that might make people act so weird. They’re samples from all the different municipal water sources.”

“Sure,” Dani said, walking over to that terminal. “It’d be a nice change of pace.” She placed the first sample into the device, waiting for it to warm up. “Any idea what we should be looking for?”

“None”, Justin said. “Doc said I should list anything in there that’s not supposed to be, she could figure out the rest. But what could be inducing mass hysteria? I mean, aside from the obvious fear of dying in a natural disaster, which I don’t think we’ll find in the water supply? I think this is a long shot, but the Doc wants to be thorough.” Justin got a tricorder out and started scanning the devices that were hooked up to the power coupling that Dani had indicated to him. If there were any fluctuations running back that would cause an instability, the tricorder should pick up on them. The question was, how long until one occurred?

Dani loaded up the first screen. “Ok...well...this water has some impurities. But I’m not seeing anything noteworthy. Perhaps some better pipes would be in order, but I doubt that some extra zinc would be an issue.” She kept the scanner running, in case anything else showed up. “I keep hoping we actually do find something in the water. It would help explain why they’ve been acting so irrationally on the surface.”

“And it would be an easy fix, too”, Justin agreed. “Which is exactly why I don’t think that’s it. It’s never the easy, obvious thing.” But that didn’t mean it didn’t need to be ruled out, just in case. And he did, that was his job, and name. He climbed down onto the floor rather awkwardly, but once seated opened up the scanner Dani had been using, to check its innards.

“I know,” Dani said a little dejected. A beep from the scanner indicated its search was complete. “And the liquid analyzer obviously agrees. This sample is clear at least. I’ll try the others, just in case.”

“Yes?” he said. “Oh, uhm, never mind.” He would have to get used to that eventually.

“You found it?” Dani asked in surprise.

“No, for a second I thought you’d called me”, Justin said. “Don’t mind me, I’m stupid.” Was it because of the perspective he had, down by her feet? No, he was working, and thinking about work. “But I may have here a component that’s a little odd. Is it supposed to oscillate like this?” He turned his tricorder around and held it up to her.

“Oh! Dani said, understanding the confusion. She looked at the display. “Yeah I don’t think it’s supposed to do that actually.”

“Have you got a spare? I could replace it for you. But we’d have to turn the machine off”, Justin offered.

“Ugh. You sure that’s what causing the issue? I only want to turn off one test if I have to.” Dani moved slightly to get access to the power control for that device.

“It’s not doing what it’s supposed to do”, Justin said. “It’s a bit trial and error, trying to find the fault. If it’s not that, at least that part of the machine will be working again.”

She sighed as another water sample came back negative. “Yeah might as well. It’ll save me time if the whole breaker stops crashing.” She flipped the switch and looked down at him. “Also your water doesn’t seem to be our source.”

“Yes, I’m not surprised”, he said as he looked up and smiled. Nice perspective. He disconnected the power, then touched the static discharge plate, unlocked the safety cage, removed the computer monitor and then took out the planck regulator, handing it to Dani. “Have you got another for me?”

“Only one,” she said, handing him the left over. “I’m hoping this actually solves it.” She placed yet another water on the test. It’d be really nice if it actually worked.

It wasn’t difficult for Justin to put the new planck regulator in place, re-attach the computer monitor, close and lock the safety cage again and finally reconnect the power. “Want to give it a shot?” She’d have to stand above him, but he really didn’t feel like climbing up only to have to get down again if it didn’t work.

“On it,” she said, stepping over and flipping the switch. The device sputtered and appeared to activate. “Looks good up here. How’s it down there?”

He looked up at her. “Looking good.” Of course he meant the power readings. “The coupling’s putting out the right amount of steady power now.”

“Excellent,” Dani said. “I’m going to run the whole set and see if we trip the breaker again.” She started throwing switches. “Let me know if one throws it off. Also your water is definitely clear. The next one is clean too.”

“I was worried you’d say that”, Justin said. “Well, I’ll relay the bad news to the doctor.” All the readings on his tricorder looked fine, though. “If I may make a suggestion?”

“Certainly,” Dani said continuing to play with the numerous tests.

“If the engineers tell you there’s a fault, let them fix it completely?” Justin said. “I mean, I understand you want results fast, but the fault might actually affect those results. Can’t be too conservative with those things, I think.” In his experience, the engineers usually knew best.

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Dani said with a smile. “I think it was probably that compo….” She jumped a little from that last flipped switch, as a blot of blue electricity leapt to her finger. The hair along her arm was on end. “Component. Well...that little shock might disagree.”

Justin smirked. “People are always shocked when they find out I’m a crappy electrician.”

Dani rolled her eyes, though she allowed herself to laugh. “Well, I appreciate your assistance. But I’ll be careful around these switches in the meantime, Justin Case.” She dropped the joke about his name intentionally this time.

Justin laughed. “It was just some static electricity, though.” He shuffled to the side a bit and closed the plate on the instrument again. Then he held up a hand to her. He figured she might as well help him up now that he had helped her out.

Dani helped pull him to his feet. “Your help was much appreciated. Not having these things crash will probably save me hours of lost data. I’m sorry I didn’t get a better answer for you regarding the water.”

“The truth is the best answer we can hope for, isn’t it?” Justin said. He believed enough in the methods and goals of science to be convinced of that, no matter what he’d rather wish to be true.