Reunion

[CaptBlair 0]

Blair had finally made it to the guest quarters that were assigned to him. It wasn't easy getting around, since the station was in complete dissarray. He was amazed he made it in somewhat decent time, considering the computer seemed to be malfunctioning at every level. That made it even more difficult to find his way to the section assigned to guests of the station. The directional systems had, at one point, pointed him directly to the holosuites; a decidedly unappetizing place to be, to say the least. But no matter, he was finally in his room, and getting settled in.

 

Blair placed the memory engram containing his luggage for the next few days into the interface next to the room's wardrobe...and waited.

 

...and waited...

 

...and nothing happened. There shouldn't have been a pause. His clothes should have materialized within a second or two of putting the engram in place. But he was still staring at an empty wardrobe.

 

He hit a button next to the interface. The console bleeped. A decidedly negative response, indeed. In fact, if Blair didn't know better, he'd have sworn the computer was giving him a raspberry. He pressed the button again.

 

Another bleep. Another raspberry.

 

Blair spoke into the air, a prospect he always found strange, despite the fact that it's been something he's done all his life. He much preferred consoles. "Computer," he said. He waited for the beep that indicated the computer was waiting for his command. It never came.

 

The system was definitely messed up. He'd take a journey down to engineering later, if he was allowed. Perhaps there would be something for him to do on this trip. His background was computer systems, after all.

 

He spoke again. "Computer!" This time a beep prompted him to continue. Again, the computer seemed to be responding with some sarcastic tone, as if to say 'oh, sorry, didn't know you were there.' It was irritating.

 

"Please execute program code on the memory engram in the wardrobe interface," Blair stated firmly.

 

"That function is not currently available," was the computer's deadpan response.

 

"What?! What do you mean it's not available?"

 

"To make pumpkin pie, one first needs a pumpkin."

 

"Computer, I did not ask you to make a pumpkin..."

 

"The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

 

"What, now you're a poet?" The problem seemed far worse than he'd initially thought. Federation computer systems were quite sophisticated, and had an extensive artificial intelligence capability. But Blair had never before heard any computer spontaneously spout poetry. Blair was about to repeat his command, but before he could, the wardrobe replicator hummed to life. With a shimmer of light, the once empty closet space was now packed full.

 

Too full.

 

And with a haphazard array of clown suits, balarina dresses, and a plethora of odd and colorful garb that was certainly not on the memory engram Blair had inserted.

 

He looked at the clothes. He felt the material of the clown suit.

 

"Hmmm...soft. Well, at least it's my size..."

 

Blair let out a long, slow sigh. It was going to be a long three days.

Edited January 9, 2005 by CaptBlair