Stardate: 80728:2349
Title: The Engineers Way
Author: Robert Browning
Time: Between "Renewal & Relentless" and "Second Guessing"
Scene: Engineering
Paperwork was never the Engineers way, but sadly it was the Starfleet way. Robbie would almost prefer to scrub the plasma intake manifolds manually rather than deal with so many reports. He sat at his desk to one side of Engineering, reports piled upon the surface for things from routine repairs to quarantine set-ups for the sick.
As he signed off another PADD, Relly materialised beside him, appearing in a somewhat greasy jumpsuit as was her preference in Engineering hoping to fit in with the rest of the grease monkeys.
"Hello Relly, you're a welcome distraction." He smiled at the hologram, but soon stopped after seeing the look on her face.
"Chief... would you say I'm a defective program?"
The question took him off balance for a second, but he composed himself and sighed a little.
"That would depend on your definition of defective... some could say that because you can feel would make you defective, but I think that just makes you more human."
She looked at him puzzled. "Explain."
"Well, with humanity... and I say this even though I'm not human... it's not about being perfect. Trying to be a perfect human just stands out, it's the mistakes and errors that make a person who they are."
Relly began to pace about the deck. She was never the same from one second to the next in there, analytical, playful, impulsive, reserved, but now was different.
"All the crew that are sick; does that make them more human then?"
"No Relly, they are ill... some very severely." Saying this, at least two of his staff were suffering and another three were showing symptoms. "It's like if you caught a computer virus - that wouldn't make you more, it would lesson you, hinder you."
She looked at him with a look in her eyes as close to fear as she could manage. "Ensign Lox believes my existence to be a mere malfunction..."
The pause she held chilled him, more than he could say. It was difficult trying to understand someone's emotions when he couldn't sense them. His ability to read the sentient computer varied on the situation and Relly herself, if she portrayed no emotion... then there was none to read.
"If you were a malfunction we would have done something about it. Did Kal ever see you as a malfunction... do I? I'm the Chief Engineer on this ship, in whatever fashion that is, it's my responsibility to ensure that all components work at maximum efficiency. If Ensign Lox wants to make a point of concern about you then he can bring it to me or Maxine and we'll look into it." He made sure the word Ensign carried the meaning of a lower ranking officer. He wasn't normally one to pull rank, but he couldn't have the Ship's AI having a crisis.
"Either way, you are still intelligent and an asset to this crew. Put him out of your mind and go see if the Doc needs some of your assistance... even if its just for some company."
"Any more problems Relly, come speak to me or tell the Captain."
With that, the doors closed behind him as he rushed to his bridge station.
"I shall..." and she vanished.
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Lieutenant (JG) Robert Browning
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
===========================
&
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Relly
Ship's A.I.
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
===============
