Human & Engineering Appeal

[Abe Kas 0]

: on Deck 16, In Cargo Bay 2 ::

 

Savros has just come in with three of the standard-issue 0.5 cubic meter science containers, suitable for radioactive non-explosive matter. The Cargo Bay is full of equipment and supplies for the Klingon's home world, and Abe is over at the Transporter Room 2 controls.

"Hey Savros, come on over here. I stopped in the Crew Lounge upstairs and picked up some Root Beers for us while we work." Savors looked at Abe holding out a bottle of Root Beer to him.

 

"Mr. Kas." The cargo bay doors closed and Savros stopped, with a Vulcan look expressing his confusion over Abe's seemingly lackadaisical approach to his duties.

 

Abe got up with both Root Beers and extended one to Savros. "Dude, look. By the way, the Lt. j.g embroidery looks good on you. Now, I know what you were going to say…"

 

Abe noticed the Vulcan's gaze and stopped himself. "Telepathic attributes are not a Human capability I am aware of, Mr. Kas." Savros folded his arms looking curiously at the offered Root Beer. "No thank you."

 

"It's one of those similes some of us humans are fond of saying, L-T." Abe sipped his drink and wondered if his Vulcan companion's inquisitive nature extended not just into the sciences, but also into the nature and behavior of Humans. "We often compare two unlike things to explain them. Like when I told you about how 'hot' Jenny looked to me."

 

Savros nodded. "Yes, I believe I understand. She appeared 'hot' to you not because of any quantitative comparison of her surface temperature to the subjects in your atmospheric classes, but because of how her appearance and physical characteristics created the reaction of an increase in your emotional and libido levels."

 

Abe nodded as he drank more of his root beer. "Ah. You don't know what you're missing!" He took another drink. "As you get to know me better, you'll find that I'm not like a lot of other Federation officers. I didn't go to the Academy 'By-the-Bay'. I got my SF commission through the Earth Cargo Service University in the SF Officer Training program, up in the 'Mountains'. Just like when I say 'I'll be there in 5 minutes,' it means I'll be there in less than 20 minutes or so." Abe spreads his arms out to his sides, Root Beer in one of them. "I know it took me more than 10 minutes to get here."

 

Savros decided to be polite. He had studied humans for the better part of a decade and thought it best to encourage Mr Kas in his pontification. "I believe I understand, but you do realize you're misleading information can have deleterious ramifications. You may want to be more precise, given your profession."

 

"You're just mad that you took, what was it, oh yeah, uh '7.25' minutes to get here instead of the '7.2' minutes you said. Humans, or at least myself, are much more tolerant in these matters. But, let me tell ya, you find something off by so much as..." Abe holds up one hand, thumb and finger almost touching, squinting as he looks in between them at Savros "..even this much variance in a critical system." Abe smiled, moved his finger from left to right and said, "You won't find anyone in Engineering being imprecise when it counts."

 

Together they walked over to the transporter console. Lieutenant Kas finished the last bit of his drink and began again to work. "I'm still reading in some of my Marriage and Family Counselor digests on Vulcan and Human marriages." He lowered himself to the floor and climbed into the console. "I especially admired the relationship of Ambassador Sarek and his recently departed wife, the late Lady Amanda Grayson. Spanner." Abe paused, holding out his hand.

 

Savros did not seem to get the gesture at first. Then, locating the Isolinear Spanner on the nearby cart, he passed it to the engineer's open hand.

 

"If you're interested, I recommend you read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus written more than two centuries ago."

 

The Vulcan considered his words. It was unusual to be counseled by a human on relationships. He wondered if somehow he exhibited some sort of emotion showing that particular need. Mr Kas could not know his feelings, he decided. Just a random bit of information that interests him. It's fascinating how humans strike a cord with casual conversation.

 

Abe pulled himself from out of the console and stood up. "Now we see if it works." He pressed a few buttons on the console. Instantly some smoke began rising from under the console. He discontinued the experiment. "I think I misaligned it." Quickly he returned under the console to troubleshoot the problem.

 

The Vulcan stood there, unable to assist as he had little knowledge of transporters. "Perhaps I should bring up the manual," he suggested.

 

"No. No. It's not in the manual. I'm altering the scanning buffer so that it will accept my input on particle filtration. You see, transporters weren't designed to filter dust. Fortunately, they have been modified to filter microorganisms. Same principle really." Abe spoke as he continued working under the console.

 

"Facinating. I have never known a passion for engineering, but now see some appeal."

Edited August 17, 2008 by Abe Kas