Captain James Kirk knocked on the female crewperson's cabin's door. The voice from within shouted:
— Enter!
Kirk complied and looked at the woman who sat on her couch. Doctor Helen Noel recognized him, quickly stood at attention, and said:
— Oh, Captain. May I help you, sir?
She soon noticed a beautiful necklace in his hand. Kirk approached her and showed this necklace. It was really beautiful — it sparkled in the overhead light. Kirk handed it to Helen with the words: "At ease, Doctor. Here, this is for you, my dear Helen".
She took the necklace in her hands and stared at it. Then she looked at Kirk, and her eyes sparkled with wonder:
— What's this for, Captain? Is it a Christmas present?
She was thinking of that romantic tale she had thought of that ended badly at the Tantalus penal colony where she had been on assignment with the captain. However, at this time he was in a good mood that couldn't be spoiled by any unpleasant memories. He humbly said:
— My dear Helen, I give this little present to you only because I think you're worth it.
— Really? — Wondered Helen. Then she asked a question:
— How did you get it? There is nothing like this in the ship's store.
Kirk smiled:
— To be honest, this necklace is a product of our food generator.
— What do you mean, Captain?
Kirk coughed before continuing.
— When I wanted chicken broth today, I put the card in the selector slot, and that's what — he pointed at the necklace — it created.
Helen giggled: "Are you serious, Captain?"
— I'm completely serious, Helen. I've tried to put this card in many times, and it always created necklaces. I think it's a malfunction.
— I don't know if that's good or bad, — doctor Noel said thoughtfully. Then she looked at James' wrist in puzzlement.
— Captain, I hadn't noticed this digital gyro watch on your arm before.
The captain smiled:
— It should have been hot toast with raspberry jam.
Helen Noel started to contemplate: "What else can be produced with the help of this food dispenser?" To know the answer she asked a final question:
— Was this… mechanism repaired?
— We haven't done it yet, Helen. But we have tested all the food cards.
— And what? — Helen's eyes sparkled again.
— This wacky dispenser refuses to make any kind of a food. "Napolitano" salad, scrambled eggs, Aldebaran whisky — nothing works. However, to be honest, one card does actually work. It's the card for pea soup.
The woman giggled. She looked at her lacquered nails and then again at the captain. He seemed to be depressed — as an experienced psychologist, she used to recognize this sort of face.
— What's wrong, Captain? Are you upset about something?
— Yes, I am upset, — confessed Kirk with a sigh.
— Why, Captain?
Kirk sighed again before making a confession.
— I hate peas!