Stardate: 70302:1630
Title: Awakenings (Part 3)
Author: Ensign Andrew Keller
Time: Current
Scene: USS Relentless


The doors of the Turbo-lift opened and Keller entered Main Engineering.

=/\= Engineering =/\=

Ensign Browning looked up from the panel he was administering. 

"Ensign Keller" he said. "Bit lost for a navigator aren't you?"

Keller chuckled. "Nope, I'm exactly where I want to be."

Browning looked surprised. "Come to see where the real work gets done?" he joked.

"Nope, I need to speak to someone who knows cybernetics. Is anyone on duty?" replied Keller.

"I might be able to help, but Lt. Vilmer is the man you want to speak to" replied the Engineer.

A voice came from behind. "Speak to me about what?" it said. Both men turned round as Lt. Kal Vilmer strode into Engineering. "Ensign Keller. What brings you to engineering?"

"I need something checked out." he replied.

Both engineers looked puzzled by the statement. "Shouldn't you go to sickbay?" asked Browning.

"Unfortunately, I don't think Cybernetics is the good Doctor's forte." Replied Keller, and seeing the puzzled look on both men’s faces he continued. "You may not have seen my personnel file. I lost both legs and part of my right arm. What you see, isn't real although they do bleed; I can feel pain and they are as much a part of me now as your limbs are to you." he explained.

"You have cybernetic limbs?" Browning asked. "What happened to you?" 

"Our ship was attacked by a Romulan Warbird while we were patrolling the border of the Neutral Zone. I lost my limbs during the engagement." explained Keller.

"So," interjected Lt. Vilmer. "What would you like us to check for you?"

"I want you to run a diagnostic on the CPU that controls the cybernetics." replied Keller. "I don't think I’ve any cause for concern, but I've been subject to a few nightmares since I came on board and just want to cover all the bases."

"Fair enough." replied Lt. Vilmer. He turned to Browning. "Can you hand me that tricorder over there?" he asked.

Browning lifted a tricorder from an adjacent work station and handed it to the CEO. Opening the flap, Lt. Vilmer ran a sweep long Keller's artificial limbs and methodically worked his way up to the head. As the instrument passed around the nape of Keller's neck, the expression on his face changed. He looked concerned. He crossed to a work panel and plugged the tricorder into a data-port. The tricorder data appeared on a larger screen and Lt. Vilmer puzzled over it for a few moments.

Noting his expression, Browning asked "Is everything OK?". Keller too, looked puzzled by the CEO's reaction. Lt. Vilmer glanced over at the robot he had been working on, and returned his gaze to the two men.

"Rob, remember how I told you about the possibility of storing Relly's entire core within Christi?" he said.

"I do, but what does that have to do with Ensign Keller?" replied Browning.

Lt. Vilmer switched his gaze to the seated Helmsman. "According to this data, Relly has established a link with the CPU that control's Mr. Keller's artificial limbs..."


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Ensign Andrew Keller
Helm
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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