One of these things is not like the other - part 6

Posted on Wed Dec 14th, 2022 @ 6:34pm by Lieutenant Myne Redal & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Deck 14 - Holodeck 4
Timeline: Prior to current mission
3750 words - 7.5 OF Standard Post Measure

~~ Previously, on the USS Elysium ~~

Before he did, he looked to Myne and took a deep breath, "Answer his questions? Can I make something up when he asks or is he going to know if I make something up? I don't want us getting tripped up after getting this far Myne. I mean I can make things sound believable; I just want to know which way to go before I bring him up. After all you did say he was a Ferengi." Gary's finger hovered above Mr. Numbers logo as he waited for Myne's answer to his question. He so wanted not to screw up.

~~ And now... ~~

Before he did, he looked to Myne and took a deep breath, "Answer his questions? Can I make something up when he asks or is he going to know if I make something up? I don't want us getting tripped up after getting this far Myne. I mean I can make things sound believable; I just want to know which way to go before I bring him up. After all you did say he was a Ferengi." Gary's finger hovered above Mr. Numbers logo as he waited for Myne's answer to his question. He so wanted not to screw up.

"You also are too harsh on yourself Gary. You are really the only person still alive who knows so much about the Ark. The other have you know, died a few decades ago, old age and all that. Been a while since I told anyone about it and even now I am giving you rather sparse information on it." Chuckling, Myne nodded. "And yeah, I was an artist once actually. Ten lifetimes, I got to do looots of fun things!"

"You know, Starfleet has had only bad interactions with the Ferengi if you have that kind of opinion big bro. Be honest, and offer what information you can. It is fine to say you do not know if you genuinely do not know. Plus, Mister Numbers is genuinely a good program. He was an AI on a Klingon colony actually. The Ferengi that sold him to the Klingons got a seriously good price for him. Thing was, the colony was really struggling so he felt a tiny bit bad. So..." Myne paused to chuckle.

"So he basically modified Mister Numbers to not only to oversee the colony security and stocks, but also check prices and contracts to warn the colonists if any trades in the future try to rip them off. Except for him of course, you understand profits are still profits. But Mister Numbers genuinely took care of that colony, and with him helping without the colonists realizing, they did save up on a looot of credits. Enough to buy a new and 'better' system, rendering him obsolete. I actually bought him for pennies, and he was happy I gave him a purpose after that."

"An honor I greatly appreciate Myne even if I know very little about the ARK. I appreciate your trust in me and telling me some of its secrets. No one will know them. They will be our secrets, I promise you that." He tilted his head at her, "An artist? That is so cool! Too bad not and escape artist." He observed but even if Myne was her ropes weren't going to come off, she had to see Super Garrett for that to happen.

Gary shook his head from side to side, "No, I wanted to know how to deal, interact with him and you told me Myne. To be honest. I can do that. It sounds like he cared about the colonists, and they did him wrong. But then we're talking about Klingons and in their eyes, he was just a computer program, and no thought was given to him or what he had done to help the colony become profitable and thrive."

Gary's finger still hovered about the Mr. Numbers icon, a bar of latinum. "I'll be honest and tell him what I know, I'll answer his questions, give him the information he wants, I just hope he's as good as you say he is and he is willing to help us in getting this plan in motion and defeating Nanny. How are you holding up? No more being depressed or upset? Mad yes but do not be depressed. This isn't your fault." Gary assured her.

"Well, I trust you Gary. You and Garrett you know, took a crazy Trill in when my former chief, XO and captain didn't really like me at all. They were all too eager to be rid of me, but you took in a stray. And you know, bared with my crazyness and supported me. The least I can do is at least explain the reason to some of my insanity. With Garrett gone, I only have you and Baeryn really as a umbrella. And please do not tell any of this to Phoenix. Or Avalon for that matter!"

Myne smiled playfully. "Avalon has been trying to get in to scan the Ark ever since I came aboard. Her attempts have been a welcomed diversion to the Iza and the programs inside. Avalon has had not success so far." She said proudly. "If anything she has helped me upgrade the Ark security as a result by doing this."

"Also an escape artist? That was Vede the pirate, but he had a brute strength similar to a Klingon to back him up. And yeah, Mister Numbers is a nice program, just with a curiosity that could swallow a black hole!" She chuckled. "Also I am fine, do not worry. I will be happier and relaxed once we get this over with!"

Gary smiled and nodded his head. "I thank you for your trust Mynne. I will never betray it or give you reason to doubt your faith in me. Garrett and I helped an extremely talented officer feel welcome and accepted, part of the family. It is a decision I have never regretted and if Garrett were here, I am sure he would say the same. As for not telling Phoenix, I won't. My personal conversations are just that personal and private. The same goes for telling Avalon." he smiled and added, "I trust you too Myne."

"I bet Avalon isn't very happy with her lack of success in attempting to access the ARK. She can be most persistent in her attempts. In addition, I doubt she would see it as a compliment that her failed attempts to access the Ark have helped you improve its security. However, I am glad to see you are up to the challenge. Her attempts and your counter moves, reminds me of a chess match between two master players.

"Yes, an escape artist. Brute strength I suppose helps but is necessary to being a good escape artist. I think flexibility is much more important and the ability to manipulate your binds." He looked at her, "Alright, I'll take your word that you are fine. As for worrying, it's what brothers do. Please tell me if those changes." He nodded, "Oh, I know you will be much happier and much more relaxed when this is over."

He looked down at the PaDD, Well, here we go." He said as he accessed the Mr. Numbers program and waited to see what came next.

The screen changes, pushing the menu to the side and intead forming the image of a smiling Ferengi dressed in Klingon attire. He waves excitedly and claps his hands in typical Ferengi fashion before talking. The image moving from showing off his assumed form to only his upper body with a focus on his face. Mimicking to the best of its ability a video conference call.

"Alright alright, if it isn't the Executive Officer. Come to trade I take it? You must have if you come to Mister Numbers! And I take it since you can access this fine toy, you are Redal's permission or you tortured it out of them. So, in the vested interest of my own existence, are you ready to pay up for whatever you wish to gain from me?"

"Hello Mr. Numbers! You are correct I am the executive officer." Gary turns to show Myne sitting behind him, "As you can see, Myne is here with me. I have her permission to talk with you. As you can also see, she is unable to access you, herself." Gary pauses and continues, "Yes, I am ready to pay for your help." Gary finishes simply.

The Ferengi smiled brighter and waved at Myne. "Hey Redal, you holding out alright?" Seeing Myne nod and smile at him he turned his attention back to Gary. "Alright boss man, let's see. Dilithium crystals, what's the price on those recently? Also, I take it the ship has emergency food supplies in case the replicators fail, so give me at least a rough estimate how much those cost you. Hmm, throw in some medical supplies in as well, basic stuff for non surgery treatments. Or portable generators, what is the rate on a mobile one these days for small operations? Oh, right, microchips, processors and how much is a two week leave on Orion and Risa? Shuttle engines, yeah, throw that in as well, always good to know. Hm, Avalon's processing capacity, and your codes to override the security system in the Intelligence hub on the ship?"

Gary looked at Numbers and then back to Myne and once again to Numbers. A smile crossed his face, "I take it now we engage in haggling. I make you a counter offer, A two week stay on rise is 5000 credits, slightly less on Orion, emergency food supplies cost a million credits, A portable generator goes for 500 credits an hour." He finished, not even mentioning the ship's codes to override security or Avalon's processing capabilities.

Numbers rubbed his large lobes and chuckled. "I was hoping you'd fall into a pattern and answer without thinking. Alright, still then, medical supplies, shuttle engines, microchips and proccessors. Oh, and Avalon's cache memory." He counter offered with a wide friendly smile, clearly enjoying his banter with Gary. The poor program did not get to engage with biologicals that often other than Myne herself, so he was more than happy to milk this for longer if it meant he got to keep talking with Gary for a little bit longer.

Gary returned the smile, Numbers was engaging had a captivating personality and if you weren't careful, he'd steal the shirt off your back. "Shuttle engines go for 250 thousand credits each. Medical supplies the prices vary depending on what you are in the market for. Same with microchips and processors. Depending on the size and the capabilities you want the prices vary widely.' Again he didn't broach the subject of Avalon and her specific information. He cast a glance at Myne who was sitting watching him with a smile on her face. Clearly she was enjoying watching them haggle.

Myne nodded Gary on, rather happy to see him enjoying himself with what the Trill herself considered a living entity. "Alright alright. Ball park it for me, medical emergency supplies. What you stock in a shuttle or transport for let us say a thousand people or so. Go for general medical supplies that can be used or repurposed for multiple species. The temperature required to run Avalon's servers without letting them overload.Microchips and processors for civilian use, such as administration computers, farm equipment, shuttles, transport vehicles, that kind of stuff. I can extrapolate from those." Numbers asked, speaking quickly and trying to sneak in another trap question for Gary.

Gary smiled back at Myne, wished fervently that she was free of her ropes but they were working toward that goal. He turned back to Numbers. "Okay, ballpark on stocking a transport as a shuttle would never be able to carry a thousand people. Would be 175 thousand credits. Processers for civilian use , oh 65 thousand credits. to equip a farm, I'm not sure. but in the neighborhood of 200 credits. Transport vehicle prices vary as well, Personal use 25 thousand credits, Public transport 50 thousand." Gary answered again bypassing the question on Avalon.

Sighing and shaking his head Numbers chuckled and applauded. "Wonderful. A bit sad you didn't slip, but such is life. Not bad for a meatsack. You have my respect, thank you for the information." The term he used was said with a lighthearted tone, not meant to offend. "Alright Captain Taylor, what do you want to request of me? You have given me quite a bit of currency to last me for a while, so you have my cooperation."

"Thank you Mr. Numbers, I take that as a high compliment. You aren't half bad yourself. You are most impressive. Not at all what I expected. What I, what we would like is the code to defeat Nanny. It is most important we have it, as it would help in setting Myne free, and able to devout more time to you and the other programs. you would like that wouldn't you?"

Mister Numbers stared at Gary wide eyed. "Wow, patronizing much Captain? What was that about?" The tone was offended as he shook his head. "We might depend on Redal for maintenance of our shared habitat, but we are certainly not school children. Wow, now I know why the Romulans don't like you Starfleet folks. It is as if I were to imply that you all are babies without whomever is Captain on your ship this month."

Gary's reaction was swift as he bristled and offered a honest reply. "I find your words and your done to be inflammatory Mr. Numbers. My words were not meant to be patronizing and I resent you saying they are. It was a compliment which I am not sure you deserve given your latest behavior. I mean you do like having Myne improve your conditions. Furthermore, I can assure you we are not helpless babies, and I don't give a plugged nickel what the Romulans think."

Narrowing his eyes, Numbers sighed. "Touchy subject. I thought you were insulting me there for a second there Captain. Implying that we are puppies waiting on Redal to give us scraps of attention. Do you know how long this conversation has lasted? It's been a week for me, I've actually been tending to other things in between each syllable you speak. But I digress, I will help you of course. We made a trade, just be careful with wording in the future, if there will be one. I am more amiable, but I do have other citizens of this Ark who are rather more prideful. Also, you really won't find another program willing to converse with a biological, other than the operating system that is. 'Users' are not really viewed kindly." He used air quotes for the word user and made sure to speak it differently for emphasis.

"Touchy on your part." Gary fired back. His voice sharp like a rifle shot. "I was paying you a compliment and you got mad. Flew off the handle, I implied no such thing. It was how you chose to interpret what was said. You are mistaken, sadly so. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your valuable time. Just give me what we need, and I won't trouble you anymore and you can get back to whatever else you were doing. As for the other programs. Their views are their own and I won't trouble them either." Gary looked at Numbers. " I thank you for honoring the trade. Code now... please." He had been honest in what he said, and he wasn't about to be lectured by some computer program on how to talk to them. It was treating him like a baby.

"Very much so. You get treated like a object long enough and you learn to get touchy at times. I do appreciate the compliment, but you finished on a bad note there. Can never tell with you meatsacks really when you are being nice or insulting." He said with a smile and shrugging. "Anyways, speaking of touchy emotional biologicals, there is no code to give you, Nanny has you locked out pretty good out there."

Myne cleared her throat to attract Gary's attention, mouthing 'appologize' and 'be nice' at him. The way their conversation took a wrong turn has been clearly distressing the young Trill. Her eyes and stress has been growing the longer the two of them had been going at this unproductive exchange.

Gary had turned his head at Myne's clearing og her throat, saw her mouth the words 'apologize and be nice' he nodded and turned back to Numbers. He shifted his feet as he thought on how best to approach this and settled on the direct approach was the best route. "Um, Mr. Numbers, I realize that somewhere our conversation took a wrong turn and I place the blame on me. I sincerely apologize for any hurt feelings or lack of respect my words may have caused you.... I'm sorry."

Mister Numbers looked a bit confused at Gary, his Ferengi expression shifting a bit as well. "Well, now that is something no one will believe if I tell them. A biological apologizing to a piece of lifeless code. Fun!" He sighed and shook his head. "There is no code that I can give you Captain because I do not have them. There is no secret back door to access. However, there are you codes which can override the Nanny's control. Your holodeck system is trying to access the holodeck, all you need to do is find a way to get it to hear you basically. It is as simple as that."

Gary sighed as Numbers gave him the bad news about not having a code to defeat Nanny. "Alright, thank you Mr. Numbers and thank you for the advice on other codes." He wasn't sure just how that was going to help them, but he thought if it was important enough for Numbers to mention it, there had to be something to it. He turned back to glance at Myne, to see if she had an idea on what Numbers was referring to. "What about it Myne? Is there a code we can use to override Nanny's control?"

Myne was already smiling widely. "Oh yeah, that's right. He is sooo right, you are the Executive Officer. You should have codes to override anything on the ship. CO, XO and 2O all have their own codes for various situations. I should have known this, huh, sorry Gary guess I was more distracted than I thought." Smiling even more brightly Myne stood straight and looked at Gary with determination. "Gary you need to break my leg or arm. Nanny has the imperative drive to look after and care for biologicals. She cannot hurt us, but also not allow us to get hurt. If the system admin is locked out, aka Super Garrett or the Wizard, then we need to force the Nanny to connect with the ship library. I am a Trill, do it and claim you can't help me because you do not understand my biology. Once the Nanny connects, use your codes to give full control to the admin system, the Wizard Super Garrett."

Gary stared at her as Myne stood before him, still bound helplessly. A shocked, dumbfounded look on his face as Myne made her suggestion. He shook his head from side to side. "Are you crazy? I need to do what? Absolutely not Myne! I am not breaking your arm or leg." He said firmly. "There has to be something else we can do to escape this." He paused, "You have nothing to apologize for Myne except this idea. Have you hit your head and I missed it?"

"Ooooh, you know, hitting my head might also work out, but then I might be dazed. Plus potential brain damage, but meh." She chuckled and looked around the snowy landscape around them. "But I am very serious, a medical emergency can't be ignored, she will have to do something about it. It is brilliant in its simplicity. All you have to do is act panicked and wait for the chance to use your command codes!"

Gary shook his head again. "Oh? Is that a fact?" His voice becoming hard, firm. "All I have to do is break your arm or leg and then live with the fact that I did it. Forget why I did it. Fact is I did it. This isn't funny Myne, not in the least. There has to be another way other than declaring a medical emergency." He sighed and tried come up with another option. A better option. Anything better than what Myne suggested.

Rolling her eyes Myne sighed and took a few steps back. "Ugh, seriously? You Humans are so squeamish at times big bro. It's just a leg, seriously. As long as we get out, all will be well." As she talked she moved back still, until she spotted a snow covered rock and tripped herself. In the few heartbeats it took for her to fall, she raised her other leg to apply pressure on her falling right and bent her body just right. With a loud crack, Myne screamed bloody murder and she broke her right leg, taking the decission for both of them.

Gary was about to protest that he wasn't squeamish that this was more a matter of common sense which Myne was clearly not demonstrating right now before she took matters into her own hands (so to speak) he didn't panic, he had seen and been through too much in his career to panic. That didn't mean he couldn't be shocked, and he was profoundly shocked by Myne's action. He rushed to her side as she screamed bloody murder. Kneeling, he could tell her leg was broken. It was time for an Oscar winning performance. "Oh my God Myne! Your leg is broken! Oh God!" He looked about wildly. His eyes wide. "Help! Help! Somebody, help!" He decided to add to his performance. He jumped to his feet, paced his hands on either side of his head and began running around in circles. "Help! Help! Myne has broken her leg and I don't know what to do!"

~~ To be continued ~~


//OFF//

Captain Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium

&

Lieutenant Myne Redal
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium