Another Happy Customer

Posted on Tue Aug 24th, 2021 @ 9:45pm by Lieutenant Mila Lynn & Ensign Skylar Southgate
Edited on on Tue Aug 24th, 2021 @ 9:45pm

1,614 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Chapter V: The Calm Before The Storm
Location: Science Lab, Ourainavassa
Timeline: 238702.22

Mila smiled to herself as she unplugged the tricorder-like device from her computer access console. So far, the prototype scanner provided by Raven's friend had passed all the tests, once they had been calibrated for chroniton and omega radiation. After their spontaneous lunch, she had asked Perez to stop by the lab earlier, to do a test on a live subject - and, as expected, the time traveller's residual chroniton signature was immediately picked up by the scanner. What's more, with a small modification to the device's programming, even the Terran's altered quantum signature was easily detected.

Satisfied, the young scientist took another look at the device in her hand. It was compact enough, and although its appearance was less refined than that of those produced by the Federation or the Romulan Empire, the fact that it was so much more effective more than compensated for it. All in all, she was more than happy to confirm that the devices met, and even exceeded, their requirements.

Skylar was stood next to the young scientist, keeping a close eye on Mila as she examined the device. Until the synth had the agreed, reduced, fee in her possession, there was no way she was going to consider letting the scanner out of her sight for even a second. It appeared that the scanner did meet the customer's requirements, but Skylar knew there was always room for improvement. Any feedback from the prototype could and would be incorporated into the rest of the devices which had been ordered.

"So, what do you think?" Skylar asked.

"It does what we need it to do," replied Mila, smiling. "And they appear to be quite solidly built, too, which will come in handy. How long do you think it'll take to get the rest?"

"Not long, probably a few days or so. We can programme in the additional features you've added to this one if you would prefer, at no extra cost incurred to your boss. Then again, I expect she'd probably tell us where to go if we tried to charge her any more than we are already" Skylar responded.

Mila chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds like Raven alright." She looked at the scanner in her hand, and nodded. "I think that would be a good idea. Saves us the time of having to do it with every single one of them. Or, rather, saves me the time, since I'm the only scientist on this crew." She handed Skylar the device. "You said your brother was the one making these?"

Skylar accepted the device and placed it back in her pocket, pleased that it met the requirements. A regular scanner was fairly straightforward to design and create, but these had a very specific purpose, so a bit more time and effort was required. She knew Ian would also be pleased it had been time and money well spent.

"Yes, he is. I design the software and he designs and builds the actual scanners themselves" Skylar confirmed.

"Team effort, eh?" The young scientist smiles. "Reminds me of my brother and me. He's one hell of a pilot, but I got the brains. So, when we had to make our own way in the galaxy, I found us races that he could enter and win, then rigged the bets. It's just basic maths, after all. Now that we're here, he flies this bird, and I figure out what the hell it is that we're fighting. We're still a team, though. Always have been, always will be."

"I'd say I'm the brains and he's the brawn, but that would be pretty unfair on him. I prefer to think of it as covering each others' gaps in knowledge or bringing our respective skillsets to the table. On top of that, it'd take twice as long if I was doing everything myself" Skylar commented, making a mental note of the modifications to be incorporated into the main batch of scanners.

"It does help having help, doesn't it," Mila agreed. "So you're just out in the galaxy, fending for yourselves?"

Skylar nodded. While they weren't nomads, the synths were very much on their own in their fight for survival. They did have the support of a senior figure at Starfleet Research and Development, but his visits to the synth colony in the Briar Patch were sporadic at best.

"Yeah, we tend to roam around the area looking for odd jobs like these. They don't always pay well but the ones that do make up the difference. How did you and your brother end up fending for yourselves?" Skylar responded, looking at Mila.

"Long story. My brother and I ran from our parents. Turned out to be a bit of a misunderstanding, or so our dad told us when we saw him again last week. He gave me this. Used to be our mother's," she added, pulling on her white uniform jacket to illustrate her point. "Thought she could make the 'perfect kids' through in utero gene modification. She was an expert on GM agriculture, thought it would be the same with humans. Turned out she was only half right. I have increased intelligence, but I was born deaf. My brother has crazy reflexes, but incredibly fragile bones. But she would not give up, kept pushing us. Until we ran."

Skylar nodded. Genetics was an interest of hers, but only for the right reasons. She did not consider Mila's mother wanting to create the perfect children to be a productive use of genetic engineering.

"I'm sorry, Mila. While I'm interested in genetic engineering myself, albeit to a limited degree, I think your mother's completely and utterly delusional if she thinks it can be used to create the perfect child. She's obviously not very good at it either if you and your brother's conditions are anything to go by" Skylar responded, not really sure what else to say.

Mila shook her head. "Was. She died while my brother and I were gone. We visited her grave when we were on Cera. I can't change what happened. I have implants to fix my hearing, my brother's skeleton is reinforced with titanium. Doesn't mean we can't use our gifts, though." She thought of Perez, and shook her head again. "Besides, there are people far worse off than us."

Skylar replied, feeling slightly guilty. "Oh, I'm sorry. I have to say I really like your positive attitude though, you and your brother have obviously worked hard to get where you are now. I understand from a colleague of yours that it isn't particularly easy to get a place on this crew, so good for you and your brother"

"Rogers, the second-in-command, she saved our lives on this station," Mila replied with a shrug. "Introduced us to Raven, who happened to need a pilot and a scientist. So we stuck around. Wasn't as mich hard work than dumb luck, really. Still, thank you."

Skylar nodded. "Raven saved my friend's life, and her little sister's too. They spent some time with us but Daisy obviously feels the time is right to move on and accept a new challenge or a change of scene. I can't say I blame her because I wouldn't call my brother and I's repeated meandering particularly exciting"

"They're good at that," Mila replied with a chuckle. "Saving random people from distress that turn out to be valuable assets to the crew. This place has become home. Filled with the strangest misfit family you could ever dream of."

Skylar smiled. "You know Mila, someone doesn't have to be blood related to be family. While they say you can never choose your family, I think we've both managed to land on our feet with our respective brothers. Mine has his moments for sure, and he spends more time looking for his tools than actually doing anything, but he's a really, really good egg. Your brother sounds like one too"

Mila smiled. "You have a good point there. Plus, my new 'family' is a great bunch of people anyway, despite how messed up some of them are. What you are born into is less important than where you end up."

"My family is rather dysfunctional to say the least, but they're my family and I love them" Skylar replied, before checking the time on her 20th century wristwatch. Ian had bought it for her as a present for her last birthday.

Skylar concluded. "I have a bit of time left before I'm due back, how about we grab something to eat or drink in your canteen? On me of course"

"Sure, if you're hungry I bet Renee will whip up something good for you. I had a good lunch, so I won't need any food, but I'll take a coffee." Mila smiled. "Since you're insisting on paying. Otherwise, I'd just have gotten it for free, since the boss changed the rules. Docked everyone's pay a bit but in exchange we get free supplies from the mess hall. Except booze, that gets put on a tab that comes straight out your pay."

"Well, if you're not eating I shall take a leaf out of your book and stick to a beverage to save a few quid. Lead the way" Skylar responded, gesturing for Mila to lead the way to the canteen.

"Oh just stick it on my tab if you're hungry, it doesn't make much of a difference," Mila replied as they stepped out of the lab and started walking towards the mess hall. "And believe me, Renee's cooking is worth it."

Skylar smiled, following Mila. "Well I did say it'd be on me, but if you're offering, I'm not going to refuse"

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