36

[reversedpolarity]

I don't think I've ever been so glad to get out of that engine room. I mean, really, am I the only one who sees how utterly ridiculous it is that we're expected to keep fixing up some damn piece of machinery that's just going to break down again in what, a week?

You know what we could use? Some shore leave, that's what. It's not natural, being cooped up in a metal deathtrap all the time.

Comments

[chrissychapel.livejournal.com]

Shore leave would be great. It would give me time to catch up on my medical journals.

[reversedpolarity]

Medical journals?

Shore leave is about relaxing, having fun, getting off this bloody ship. You know, fresh air, an actual sky.

[chrissychapel.livejournal.com]

And yes, those are all lovely things, but while humanity is suffering, I must not spend my time on frivolities. I have a great capacity for biochemistry, so I must devise some cures.

[reversedpolarity]

Suit yourself, but there is such a thing as working too hard, you know.

I mean, can you imagine all the fun I've missed, being stuck in the engine room all the time?

[chrissychapel.livejournal.com]

Well, the engine room doesn't sound appealing. But contributing to humanity? Very exciting.

[reversedpolarity]

Trust me, the engine room is pretty awful. It's the same old thing, day in, day out, fix something and watch it break again two days later.

At least you enjoy what you do.

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

Who are you and what have you done with my fiance?

[reversedpolarity]

What, you don't agree that we could use some shore leave? I thought you were tired of this overblown pile of scrap metal too.

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

Well... yeah, some shore leave would be nice, but...

You don't have to play along just because I'm a little homesick.

[reversedpolarity]

Play along? Love, what are you talking about?

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

What do you mean what am I talking about? You... are you feeling okay?

[reversedpolarity]

I'm fine. Why would you think I'm not feeling okay?

I'm just tired of being here, you know?

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

Since when?

[reversedpolarity]

It just sort of hit me, you know?

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

I guess I just... I...

Okay. I'll be in my office... I've got work to do.

[reversedpolarity]

Oh... uh, alright then... Um.

Did you want to do something later?

[elizabethdehner.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah. Sure. 1900?

[reversedpolarity]

Sounds good to me.

[ensign-singh.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind a shore leave. Whoever hired these other ensigns in the engineering department must've been smoking crack! Completely useless! I'm doing all the work.

[reversedpolarity]

Are you?

Keep up the good work, I guess.

[ensign-singh.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm doing all the work. It's like no one has a brain down there. I'm going to be pulling in over time this week, that's for sure.

Thank you sir, I appreciate it. Although, I haven't really seen you around lately.

[reversedpolarity]

Oh, well. Been in the office, mostly. When I'm actually down there. You know, I think I spend too much time down there, so I've kind of been taking a bit of time off this week.

I'm sure it's all well and good for people who actually like that sort of thing, but I can't imagine what possessed me to get into engineering in the first place.

[ensign-singh.livejournal.com]

Understandable.

..Wait, WHAT did you say? You can't imagine what possessed you? You're practically the greatest engineer that's ever lived!

I guess just take some time off or something, but if we lost you... man, what a loss.

[reversedpolarity]

It's just this ship, you know? I'm tired of being stuck out here, I'm tired of this bloody ship, and I'm tired of spending all my time down in that blasted engine room.

[ensign-singh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some time off would be best. I can't imagine this engine run by anyone but you, sir.

[reversedpolarity]

Well, a week or so can't hurt, right? And since you're down there all the time you can make sure we don't blow up, I guess.

[master-charm.livejournal.com]

M-metal deathtrap? I can't believe Scotty called the ship that

Um, uh, Sir? Are you feeling alright?

[reversedpolarity]

Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm perfectly fine.

[master-charm.livejournal.com]

Well, it's just that I've never heard you say anything but praise for the Enterprise. S-so you calling it a deathtrap seems, uh, unlike you?
...Sorry!

[reversedpolarity]

It's just a ship, Miss Masters, and if you count the number of times it's tried to kill me? I'd say it definitely counts as a deathtrap.

[master-charm.livejournal.com]

I kind of see your point, sir. Even the most dedicated of engineers need time away from the hull.

[reversedpolarity]

Some time away from the ship altogether wouldn't go amiss, either.

[master-charm.livejournal.com]

That's true. Some shore leave would be nice, I guess.

[reversedpolarity]

You know, I might ask the captain about it. It's been a while since our last leave, hasn't it?

[nyota-uhura24.livejournal.com]

"Some damn piece of machinery?" "Metal deathtrap?" Scotty, is everything all right? I know you've been under a lot of stress lately, but you don't sound like yourself.

[reversedpolarity]

Alright, what is it with everyone and thinking there's something wrong with me? I'm fine. Never felt better, in fact.

Except of course for the fact that I'm absolutely stuck out here. You know, at least on Delta Vega there was an actual outside. A sky. A real sky.

[nyota-uhura24.livejournal.com]

...Did you just say that you'd rather be back on Delta Vega than on the Enterprise? Do you realize how strange that sounds, Scotty? You love the Enterprise! I know things start feeling crazy out here after a while, but... the reason everyone's asking if something's wrong is because you've been acting differently. You can't expect people not to worry.

[reversedpolarity]

I'm fine.