Subject: Grail: "Last Look Back"; "Dizzying Effects"
"Dizzying Effects" Part I.
By: Lt. Kait Brennan.
<OOC: Sorry for the need to post this into parts but RL has given me but an
hour a day extra with which to spend my time as I please. Actually it is
not that much but I have sacrificed Kaitlyn to my school long enough. The
next post will be tomorrow, in the same chapter. I hope this will not cause
any problems... but I don't think there should be any since there is no
character interaction here. It's just another boring post to give my
character something to do. >
<<Stardate: 47307.17- 12:25>>
Kait watched in stunned amazement as Epic Terrakian walked, rather hobbled,
into Sickbay. It was as if her injuries had transferred to him. At first,
she felt very guilty that he was to suffer because of her, but she dismissed
the feeling with the acceptance of the fact that the action was completely
his choice. Instead of feeling guilty, she should take advantage of the
benefit which he had conferred onto her.
There was no pain. The surprise from that revelation brought a smile to her
face. How wonderful! She felt completely refreshed. Thank you, Epic!
A Bolian officer interrupted her raptures over the alarming occurrence, and
Kait only answered him in order to remove his distracting insistence on a
response to his singular query. At the response, he left her in the
corridor and she wondered at its sudden emptiness.
Now there was the occasion to put her time to use. She now had a chance to
enjoy her day off. What was she going to do with it?
The adaptation of the cloaking device was an unwanted yet pervading thought
in her mind, and she pushed it away with every ounce of will she had... she
had a day off for once in her life and she wasn't about to throw it away!
Yet... everything else seemed to fade in comparison, and the idea never left
her, even though she rejected it every time... until finally she gave up the
fight. It was the curse of an engineer to have an inner dedication to their
work. This was a pleasing thought since it hinted to Kait that this was,
indeed, her calling, despite her previous doubts that perhaps she should've
chosen a more progressive field.
Putting little further thought into the idea, she glided in a graceful gait
towards the turbolift, and upon entrance said with more vivacity than usual,
"Main engineering, computer!"
As the TL traveled, she took notice of the great change in her composure and
to prevent others from commenting, she wiped the smile off her face. After
all, she didn't need anyone to make any smart remarks, such as asking if she
had a 'good time' last night.
The TL doors opened and Kait saw several engineers standing at various
places in Engineering, in front of consoles. Kait noticed that one of the
consoles was shorted out. Probably a result of the battle, but it was
surprising that it appeared as if only one had suffered any ill effects from
it.
A couple of officers were taking fancy to Kestra's prize: the cloaking
device. One person who should've been examining the device was not. Kait
walked towards him and exclaimed, "Ensign K'tel! What exactly do you think
you're doing?"
Anybody else would've taken a defensive posture in response, but K'tel was
content to devise a shady facade in an attempt to make her believe that he
was not at all affected by her reproach. Instead, he merely took his time
turning around to face her, and with mock civility, said, "What *exactly* do
you mean?"
It created the most comical sight for a Klingon to exercise sarcasm, but
instead of laughing, she continued on the parody by saying, "Why, certainly
you *must* know!" Gradually becoming more serious, she continued, "You, of
all people, should have first hand knowledge of these devices."
Actually that was just an assumption, which there was a great chance of that
statement being inaccurate, but she was glad to find that he did not make an
attempt to correct her. Instead, he gruffly replied, "That is NOT a
cloaking device."
Kait looked at him incredulously. "Of course it is! Don't be silly."
"The design is completely different. I've already looked," he replied.
"Perhaps so, but surely there must be some similarities which will help us
to learn how to adapt it to the Grail."
Becoming sore on the subject, he said with more intensity, "On the contrary!
There is more different than there is the same... Sir." He maintained his
stiff composure which Brennan regarded as mock formality.
Her amused disposition at his intensity of emotion was fleeting. "Ensign, I
would strongly that you not take that tone of voice with me."
She didn't think he would respond, but she didn't provide any sort of
opening for such.
"You are going to assist me in devising a means of adapting this cloaking
device to the ship's systems." It was more of a statement of fact rather
than an order. Never had she got more enjoyment by the control she was able
to exert, and the excitement of knowing that her control was unsteady and
dangerous: just like standing on the edge of a cliff and daring the wind, by
one sudden breath, to send you flying down in a perilous spiral to the
ground. On second thought, maybe she was getting far too much enjoyment out
of this for her own good.
Ensign K'tel pulled the tricorder out of his side holster, wielding it as if
it were a weapon, and trudged closer to the position of the engineers who
were still captivated by the cloaking device. Brennan followed K'tel, and
as she approached the other two engineers, she said, "Excuse me, boys, but
can you find some place else to play? K'tel and I have some work to do, if
you don't mind."
Their resentment at being ridiculed then dismissed was obvious. Brennan
seemed to be grating against everyone today more so than on a usual day.
One ensign sighed unhappily, turning to walk away, and the other walked
inches past her, giving her a mean glare, which was a rather pathetic
attempt to intimidate her. Kait couldn't help but smile at such an
interesting staff. Getting reactions, especially ones to this degree, had
never come as easily, and knowing that she had the power to have such an
impact was a comforting thing to know. Somehow being ignored gave her the
sense that she did not exist and that she was not important enough to even
be given any regard for what she said. It was a careless way to get
attention, but it was worth the risk... and Kait had no need to worry so
long as there were no permanently harsh feelings against her and the work
still got done.
The task at hand was with what these other skilled engineers deemed elusive.
"Let's start from the beginning, K'tel..." Kaitlyn began.
<To Be Continued>
--REVISED MIRANDA--
"You have the right to swing first. However, if you choose to swing first,
any move you make can and will be used as an excuse to beat the shit out of
you.
You have the right to have a doctor and priest present. If you cannot
afford a doctor or not presently attending a church of your choice, one will
be appointed to you. Do you understand what I just told you -- ASSHOLE!"