"Bubble Bath"

[LtGeorgeMcLean 0]

Lieutenant Travis Kroells and Lieutenant George McLean

USS Reaent

“Bubble Bath”

0403.18

 

 

As George and Travis poured through the data decoded by Ensign Voran and Ensign Graham, the frustration level in the room began to rise. They couldn’t make any coherent sense of anything that the probe had given them. Yet, they both knew that the answer was contained somewhere in the data.

 

George looked up from the screen towards Travis frustrated, “None of this really makes any sense Travis...”

 

Travis, equally annoyed tossed his PADD and replied, “I don't think it's meant to.”

 

George stared up at the ceiling and let out a deep sigh, “I'm just trying to figure out...why exactly the moves of the probe have been so calculated.”

 

Travis let his thoughts escape aloud, “The thing, looked like it readjusted it self when it took off. Maybe...that thing it jumped into, is only in specific places.”

 

“That seems to be the only consistent thing this probe has ever done.”

 

“It can’t just go to warp at any given point in space like we can.”

 

George shrugged letting his gaze shift elsewhere, “As far as we know...our sensors weren't really able to penetrate that far into the hull.”

 

Travis nodded, “And because of that, we have to try and make educated guesses.”

 

George, obviously not happy with the response from Travis gave in, “Ok...let's go off your hypothesis, what could propel such a thing if it didn't have such capabilities?”

 

“I'm guessing that it has something to do with the subspace bubbles that sent us to the borders of the Andromeda galaxy not to long ago.”

 

“We know even less about those bubbles Travis, only that they've brought us to this place,” replied George frowning.

 

“What...what if we only try to figure out how the probe uses it, and mimic its actions?”

 

“Yes, all we have to do is find the bubble bath, eh Travis? Give me a freakin' break,” answered George looking back at his data.

Travis stood up and grabbed George by the shoulder, exerting significant force, “Look! I don’t see any ideas of grand coming from that sarcastic mouth of yours! So either help me, or go back to yelling at your engineers, I can do this on my own!”

 

George responded by standing up and puffing out his chest to reveal his full stature, “I would advise against that Travis...the last time you did that resulted in something quite unpleasant for you. Back off. I’m just as frustrated as you, you know?”

 

Travis shook his head and mumbled, “Yeah, sucker punches to a guy that had just been stunned with a phaser.”

 

Obviously not listening, George sat down abruptly, “Wait, maybe we have something here!”

 

Sarcastically Travis bites back, “Now, then Professor McLean. Teach me something.”

 

“Ok...these bubbles...maybe they do... come from some bubble bath! Meaning, the bubbles are the...I don't know...come on George think!”

 

Travis calmly, “Water…I think I was wrong before…about, these bubbles being connected...like a network.”

 

Still thinking, George expounded, “What if the probe traveled on some sort of connected river?”

 

“Of course...and the bubbles...are like the beaches, or something in that sense. A place to get off the line.”

 

“This would explain the calculated movements of the probe right?”

 

“Of course, I had to line up, if it was to enter the ‘river.’”

 

“There's still a problem...we can neither see the river, nor do we know of to get into it.”

 

“Well...how did we activate it before?” Travis inquired.

 

George tapped on the console, “We didn't...we were pulled along in the bubble remember…It was all the probe....”

 

Travis nodded solemnly, “The key, what ever it be...is in what that probe tried to tell us.”

 

George looked over the data and spoke, “What if the probe were trying to show us the way?”

George motioned Travis to look at the data and Travis stared over George’s shoulder. George continued, “This data is what occurred just prior to the disappearance of the probe…Notice this here,” as he pointed to the screen, “Does that look like a rift to you? It seems to be a subspace rift. Only, it didn't want us to enter with it...like the other times…hmmm….”

 

Travis jumped in, “I don’t think it wanted us to follow it.”

 

George pointed to the screen, “If we enter at this point, then we should be able to travel the river..., but we don't know how to navigate this thing....”

 

George sat back looking defeated. They had come too far to hit such a roadblock. Then, Travis saved the day, “Would it be possible, to use the warp field, or the deflector dish to...sail on the top of it...?”

 

George stroked his chin, “It would...but how would we know where to get off? We don't have a map of this thing.”

 

“The probes used it before…and, the Federation tracked the probe, the last time it went through federation space.”

 

“Not through this thing though...could we equip a shuttle?”

 

Travis thought for a moment then replied knowingly, “Probably. It we sent it ahead...it'd be able to detect places to get off...and relay it too the ship. The ship would need the extra time...it's not nearly as maneuverable..., but...it'll be a rough ride.”

 

George nodded.

 

“We'll have to start shield, sensor, and hull modifications now.”

 

George set to work, “I'll get on the hull modifications...you start with the sensors and I'll get Mr. Shamor to work on the shields.”

 

George stood up and moved quickly towards the exit, but suddenly turned abruptly around and smiled as Travis watched him.

 

“Thanks Travis.”

 

Travis slowly nodded and after George had exited sighed, “Engineers….”