Ensign Henderson escorted Kaelara and Vora to Main Engineering. They rose the turbolift and exited straight into Engineering. Assistant Chief Engineer Flummox was holding a brief meeting with the Engineering staff, announcing that Captain Skyrunner had given him the position of Assistant Chief Engineer, temporarily. He also informed them that he was in command of Engineering until Catersha returned. Lieutenant Williams visibly huffed and marched off as soon as Flummox dismissed the staff. Flummox noticed Williams’ storm off.

“I’ll talk with him later,” Flummox said quietly to himself. He turned towards the turbolift and saw the Security guard with Kaelara and Vora.

“Can I help you,” Flummox asked them.

The Ensign spoke first, handing the Assistant Chief Engineer a PADD. “Per orders from the Captain, Kaelara and her group, has been given permission to help enhance the ship’s shields and weapons systems and install a new alternate warp drive system.”

Flummox briefly looks over the orders from the Captain. He looked at both the Ensign, Vora, and Kaelara, then nodded acknowledgement of the orders.

“Very well Ensign. I assume you are escorting these ladies?”

The Ensign stood straight. “Yes sir. I’ll post myself over there, out of the way.” The Ensign walked off and stood in a corner of the room, where she had a clear view of the whole room.

Flummox looked at Kaelara and Vora. “I’m Flummox, the Assistant Chief Engineer here and currently in command here. How can I help you?”

Kaelara gave Flummox a second PADD. He took it and scanned through it. He spent a few minutes looking over schematics for the equipment for the alternate drive system and defense systems enhancements.

“Interesting plans and ideas Kaelara. I’d be happy to help.” Flummox looked around the Engine Room, spotting Williams and Rodgers. “Williams and Rodgers, come here please.”

Williams visibly sighed as he heard his name and followed Rodgers over to where Flummox was standing. Flummox introduced everyone around.

“Gentlemen, Kaelara and Vora are here to help install an alternate warp drive system and enhancements to our shields and weapons. Rodgers, you will go with Vora and work on the weapons and shields.” Flummox tapped a few keys and grabbed a spare PADD.

The plans from one PADD were copied and sent to the other PADD. Flummox gave Rodgers one of the PADDs. Flummox gave Williams the other PADD. Williams grabbed the PADD, looking very annoyed. Flummox had enough of his attitude.

“Lieutenant, what is the issue here?”

Williams stared at Flummox.

“My problem is you, sir. I was next in line behind Chief Catersha. Now some new guy, who I don’t know, has taken over like he owns the place.”

Williams tossed the PADD onto the computer console that was in front of Flummox. Assistant Chief Engineer Flummox stared back at Williams.

“Enough Lieutenant. You are relieved of duty and confined to quarters. Immediately.”

Williams’s face became sterner with anger. Before Williams could say anything, Flummox warned him.

“Lieutenant, leave now. Only warning.”

Williams just stood there, staring at Flummox. Then grudgingly turned and walked away, storming out. Kaelara stood nearby silently. Flummox took a second to compose himself and then turned to address Kaelara.

“I’m sorry about that Kaelara. I will help you with the alternate warp drive system. Let’s go to the Cargo Bays and use the engineering replicators to build these components.”

Kaelara stood still, her tall, imposing figure radiating an aura of calm, calculated control, as she regarded Flummox with piercing eyes that betrayed no hint of emotion. With a slight, almost imperceptible nod, she acknowledged his words and followed him to the Cargo Bays, her long strides easily keeping pace with his. As they walked, her gaze swept the corridors, lingering on the crew members they passed, her expression enigmatic and giving away nothing of her thoughts or intentions. The soft hum of the ship’s engines and muted beeps of the consoles provided a steady background rhythm, punctuated by the soft creak of the deck plates beneath their feet, as Flummox sensed her eyes on him, feeling a shiver run down his spine at the unnerving presence of the ex-Borg.

***

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Emily Rodgers and Vora crouched in the cramped engineering service crawl way, surrounded by the hum of electronics behind panels and the faint scent of ozone. Before them, the sleek, silver bulkhead was partially disassembled, revealing a tangled latticework of duranium and tritanium alloy. Rodgers’ hands moved with precision, her fingers weaving through the complex network of wires and conduits as she carefully integrated the Borg components that Vora handed her. Everytime Vora hands Emily a piece of equipment, their fingers touch and a spark is created between them. Occasionally, they would lock eyes on each other.

“This is the last of the shield enhancers,” Vora said, handing Rodgers a small, cube-like device adorned with the eerie, pulsing circuits characteristic of Borg technology. “Once this is online, our shields should be able to withstand even the most intense attacks.”

Rodgers nodded, her eyes locked on the device as she carefully connected it to the ship’s systems. “What about the weapon upgrades?” she asked, her voice steady despite the delicate nature of their task. Rodgers was gazing at Vora, with a friendly smile, and a hint of mischief.

Vora consulted the PADD in her hand, scrolling through the schematics and diagrams. “We’re looking good. The Borg transwarp conduits will give us a significant boost to our phaser and torpedo capabilities. We’ll be able to take on even the most heavily armed enemy vessels.”

“Good. Let’s go back to Engineering and inform the Assistant Chief,” Emily suggested.

Vora and Emily started crawling through the cramped crawlspace, their bodies inches apart as they slowly moved down the crawlspace. They ran across a damaged secondary power junction box and Emily suggested they should fix it while they were there. Vora agreed and happily assisted Emily. As they started to work on the damaged isolinear chips and the junction box, the air was starting to get thick with the smell of sweat and ozone. As they reached a particularly tight bend, Emily’s hand brushed against Vora’s, sending a spark of electricity through both women.

“Sorry,” Emily muttered, her voice low.

Vora’s eyes met Emily’s in the dim light. “No need to apologize.”

Their gazes held for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Then Emily looked away, her cheeks flushing. As they continued to work, their bodies touched repeatedly, the close quarters making it impossible to avoid. Vora felt her attraction to Emily growing with every passing minute. Finally, they finished the repairs and moved forward to the closest exit, on deck 5. Once they opened the hatch, Emily crawled out of the crawlspace first, then Vora. As they stood up, Emily’s eyes locked on Vora’s.

“I think we’ve earned a break,” Emily said, her voice low and suggestive.

Vora’s heart skipped a beat. “I think you’re right.”

They sealed their new friendship with a kiss, the tension between them finally released. Emily carefully looked down both ways of the corridor, then waved Vora to follow her. They found Conference Room 5 and slipped inside. Emily opened the keypad and triggered the manual locking mechanism. She turned towards Vora, a mischievous smile on her face, which matched the same flint in Vora’s biological eye.

***

Lieutenant Commander Flummox Vael and Kaelara have spent an hour in the ship’s machine shop area of Cargo Bay 5, manufacturing the needed components to assemble this alternate FTL drive unit. Kaelara slowly looked over each part, making sure they looked perfect, before she started to assemble them.

“Your Engineering skills are outstanding,” Kaelara mentioned as she inserted the main control unit.

As she inserted the control unit and connected it to the power supply, it hummed to life. Control panels and keypads lit up and started blinking as it started a self diagnostic. Flummox looked at Kaelara.

“Thank you for the compliment. I have always taken great pride in my work when I was the Chief Engineer for the Thunderdragon.”

Flummox looked away for a second, trying to fight tears from running down his cheeks. Flummox tried to compose himself, however, understandingly, the deep wounds of the Thunderdragon’s loss feels worse than any Klingon knife. Suddenly he felt a tender touch in his cheek. Flummox glanced to his side and saw it was Kaelara’s hand on his cheek. Surprised that her fingers felt soft and warm, and he felt a lump form in his throat.

“Hey,” Kaelara said, her voice soft and gentle. “Look at me.”

Flummox hesitated, but Kaelara’s fingers wrapped around his chin, guiding his face back towards hers. He felt a tear roll down his cheek as their eyes met. Kaelara’s gaze was filled with compassion and understanding.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

Flummox felt a dam break inside him, and he let out a shaky breath. Kaelara’s touch was like a balm to his soul, soothing his emotions and calming his heart. He managed to regain his composure and looked over the unit, trying to play it off, but neither of them bought it.

“It looks good and ready to be installed and hooked up to the main power conduits,” Flummox said, his voice steady.

Kaelara nodded in agreement, her expression softening as she gazed at him. She reached out, her slender fingers wrapping gently around his shoulder. The warmth of her touch seeped into his skin, calming the turmoil brewing inside him.

Her eyes, pools of deep, rich brown, held a depth of compassion that made his chest ache. She kept her gaze locked on his, her attention unwavering as she seemed to see right through to his very soul.

The gentle pressure of her hand on his shoulder was a steady, reassuring presence, a reminder that he wasn’t alone in his struggles. Kaelara’s calm, empathetic demeanor was a balm to his frazzled emotions, soothing his worries and fears like a cooling breeze on a summer’s day.

They both left the Cargo Bay and headed to Engineering. Flummox briefed the Captain, who said that he was on his way to see the device himself.