Quick Fix

Posted on Mon Dec 8th, 2025 @ 2:20am by Ensign Scout & Lieutenant JG Leilani

1,284 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Xalanthh family quarters
Timeline: MD009 / 0815

The turbolift doors motored open to reveal a lone occupant, dispatched by the engineering department. With a purposeful gait he stepped off and headed down the corridor, searching for the location of his next assigned task.

He carried a satchel containing his tools, and wore an exo-suit that covered him head to toe. The suit was necessary, as the ship's standard M-class environment was lethal to his species. He took the risk in stride. His planet, Arae Octanos V, a dimly-lit world with oceans of sulfuric acid, was counting on him to make this assignment work. Ensign Scout--not his real name--was honored to do it. Delighted even. Starfleet duty was an adventure, wasn't it? And being among the first of his kind to join Starfleet was an honor, yes?

Arriving at his destination, he conceded that he would probably have to remind himself of the honor for the next hour or so. That's how long he estimated it would take to do this next job, mundane as it was. He pressed the chime.

The door slid open as the ship's current only counselor appeared. "Hello there, thanks for coming Scout. " She said pleasantly, being clad only in a dressing gown, her golden Dragonian bonding bracelet on her right arm, and fang blade attached to its sheaf on her right leg. " Was just trying to take a sonic shower and something started leaking from under it. " She explained, leading him into their family's rather bizarre quarters.

The inside of the family quarters looked very different from the standard fleet quarters. Many of the standard grey panels were gone and had been replaced with a warm and inviting desert golden colour. Many now held artwork from across the homelands of the strange family, from claw paintings of Xalanth's tribal people, Betazoid, human and Vulcan paintings and even Magna Roman mosaic paintings.

The central bulkhead that had separated the former two quarters was gone, replaced with a large living area.

Scout took in the unique decor with curious fascination. His pace slowed as he did. The striking artwork stirred something inside him. It was vivid, energetic. It provoked questions. He took a step towards one Betazoid painting to admire the colors and dynamic contours left by the brush.

Realizing he was being rude, he greeted Leilani with a deferential nod. "Hello, Counselor. I take solace in your light." His voice--the voice of a young man--was artificially constructed by the universal translator. The greeting was customary for an Arae Octan when entering the dwelling of a host. "You have a lovely home. If you'll show me which shower is giving you trouble, I'll start right away."

"One of my cousin's works. She's painting the results of the planetary reconstruction work from Betazed. " Leilani explained as she led the way into the family bathroom. It was non-standard, just like the rest of their quarters, yet clearly a well-used family bathroom. The sonic shower was over in one of the corners next to a regular glass shower. A black liquid was seeping out from under it, being mopped up by a towel.

"She is a talented artist," Scout said. "We don't have things like that on my planet." He went to the shower and took a knee, examining the strange, black substance. Then he dabbed a small portion with his gloved index finger to look at it more closely. "It looks like the sonic resonator is leaking some of its dampening lubricant." He looked up at Leilani with further explanation. "It deadens the sound when the shower is running at speed, and lubricates the internal mechanisms."

Scout stood up. He set his tool satchel down on the sink top. While retrieving a cloth to wipe his hand he gave the Counselor his prognosis. "It should be no trouble to replicate the replacement part. Then fifteen to thirty minutes to install it."

"Sounds good. Can i get you something to drink? "The ship's counselor asked.

Scout smiled at Leilani's kind offer, though she couldn't see it behind his mask. "Thank you, Counselor. A bit of sulfuric acid would be nice. If you ask your replicator for 'Scout nutritional provision 1-1-C,' it will give it to you in a container that is safe for you to handle."

The Counselor nodded and disappeared into the quarters' kitchen. "Computer, replicate one 'Scout nutritional provision 1-1-C.'" She said calmly as the secure container appeared. Picking it up, she carried it back to the bathroom. "Are you holding up well given your environmental issues?" She inquired as she handed it over, her role as the ship's counselor coming to the front of her mind.

Scout nodded. "One gets used to being vacuum sealed for freshness all day." He was regurgitating some of the good-natured ribbing he had received from his engineering co-workers. "My duty shift will be over in four more hours. Then I can go back to my quarters and be my real self for a while." He flipped open the top of the sealed duranium container and pulled out a small, flexible tube. He then connected the tube to a port under his helmet's vocal processor. A faint hissing sound indicated an airtight connection. Seconds later he was sipping from the container. "Do you require any special living conditions?"

"Me, no. Just a slightly higher than normal temperature." Came her reply before she explained. " My husband's homeworld is a desert planet, so he likes the temperature rather high. Are girls take after their father, so we keep it higher than standard ship board temperature."

"Interesting," remarked Scout as he moved to the household replicator in the family room. He disconnected his beverage and set it aside. "Computer, one standard sonic resonator and a lubricant reservoir with related accessories."

The requested item sparkled into existence. Scout picked it up and examined it. "This should suffice," he said, admiring the artwork on the walls again as he returned to the bathroom. "Is it a great challenge to be part of such a family unit as yours, Counselor? Truly you are favored to stand in such a myriad of light, but I imagine it must also overwhelm at times?"

"Oh, are family unit is rather unusual from the galactic norm, but I found it's easier to face challenges together. I love Xalanth and the daughters the universe blessed us with. I love my sister wives like my own sisters, and we make it work." she replied honestly.

Scout nodded as he searched for the appropriate tools in his satchel. Other questions came to mind, but they were much too personal. He would leave that branch of the conversation as it was, and be happy for the Counselor. She was surrounded by love and support from all sides. She could never feel alone. "We are ready to begin," he declared as he grabbed a mag-lock extractor and activated it.

Lelani watched as the engineer went about their work, replacing the sonic resonator. Scout asked Leilani more questions about her sister's art as he worked, and she was only too happy to answer. Scout wondered if he could learn to paint with oils, too. He made a mental note to see if there were any art classes aboard. There seemed to be a club for just about everything. In no time the shower was working again.

Leilani smiled at the now-working shower. " Thank you, Scout you're a credit to engineering."



Lieutenant J.G. Leilani
Counselor
USS Astrea



Ensign Scout
Engineering Officer
USS Astrea

RSS Feed