Felix was used to tearing through the ship in a hurry and having a
private turbolift didn't hurt, either. That had been one of his CEO's
suggestions: considered zany and unnecessary at first, it had saved his
life on at least two occasions. This time it allowed him a vital extra
two minutes to sneak up on his chief engineer.
“Veronica. Tighten that coupling a little bit more…. Yes….. That’s it!”
Edie stood above the much younger Lieutenant Veronica Bellfountaine, one
of her most trusted Engineers in the department. The CEO had a look of
satisfaction on her face. She knew Lonie liked his couplings tight - her
technological companion would be most pleased.
“I can already see an increased energy output of
zero-point-zero-zero-five….Hah!” Edie’s glowing smile turned frown in
the blink of an eye though - she was not a telepath but had a way of
sensing Felix’s approaching presence… Even more so when he had bad news
to deliver.
“The answer is NO.” She didn’t give the man a moment to express himself.
If the Captain hadn’t known better he’d have sworn he heard the ship
sigh alongside Freelove’s emphatic, pre-emptive response. He followed
her as she slunk around the perimeter of her engine. (It was, without
dispute, her engine.)
“It’s Starfleet procedure, Edie, I can’t do anything about it. The chief
of security and head doctor have to come on the away team during a
first contact scenario, Zolog is the only trained command officer but
his demotion rules him out, and much though I trust our Cardassian
helmsman, the fleet might not see it that way if something goes tits up.
Fact is, I need you on the bridge.”
There were some words Edie could have muttered aloud in that moment -
they were not nice ones though and she elected to keep them for herself.
She was sure her buggy eyes said it all. “I can command from down here,
you know…. I’ve known this moment would come again some day… I have
been prepared!” The flighty CEO rushed over to a nearby console and
tapped away for a moment. One would question how it would be possible
for her hair to look anymore frizzled, but it certainly did in that
moment. The mad scientist had been unleashed.
A familiar blue light and hum of a transporter beam materialized a
makeshift and tattered looking Captain’s chair, adjacent Edie’s
slipstream core. “I’ve already pre-programmed an automatic
reconfiguration protocol to turn this room into a functioning bridge.
All I need is to give my command.”
“This is…” Felix wrung his hands, searching for terminology that
wouldn’t cause more upset for his chief engineer, but wouldn’t hamstring
him, either. “Impressive, Commander, but also against protocol. Now,
I’m not much one for that, but –”
Was he really going to challenge her on this? How dare he… Edie thought this briefly before bursting into a flurry of words - many of which were indiscernible.
“But,” Felix insisted above this new inferno of noise, “the command and
engine rooms have to be separate in case of systems failure or invasion.
It’s only when the bridge and battle bridge are no longer functioning
that the engine room becomes a command centre.” Also, de l’Isle didn’t add, I thought we gave that chair to the orphanage on Barius III at least three years ago? Edie, alas, had what he could only call ways.
As quickly as her temper had given away, Edie grounded herself again. “I
hate it when you’re right. You know that?” She loudly and dramatically
sighed. “Very well. Lieutenant Bellfountaine is more than capable of
keeping this place in organized chaos…. She knows the consequences if
she doesn’t.” The old woman gave both officers a cheshire like smile.
The engine thrummed as the pair of recipients absorbed the consequences.
"Mister Touvey has the bridge, but I'll expect your voice up there when
you've handed over to Lieutenant Bellfountaine." Felix pulled his
uniform straight and nearly said something foolish – don't do anything I
wouldn't do – before thinking better of it and remembering, as he often
didn't around his beloved chief engineer, that she could outfox the lot
of them. Still, there was one thing, one utterance that would keep them
all safe; that would unwind even his slyest of old foxes.
"Keep Lonie safe for me, Commander," Felix said sincerely, before pressing his palm to her shoulder and resuming his course.
Edie stroked the nearby console gently, if only to compliment Felix’s
statement. She simply gave him one of her flighty nods in reply and the
two parted ways. There was no need for further words between the two
Officers - besides Felix, Lonie could not be under the watch of someone
else who cared about him more than Edie.