"That's better!" Tom started. He quickly realized that three days without sleep were starting to get to him. He quickly lowered his tone. "Now...there's no sense in anyone blaming anyone for anything. Ensign P'rr's, the sooner you can get a light on, the better."
"Sir...you're going to have to wait a minute. Ensign P'rr's is on the floor. I don't think she liked the banging sound," came another ensign's reply.
"Croiky!" Tom exclaimed. "I'm coming over." He started feeling his way past the various computer stations, tubes, and machinery in the direction of the ensign's groaning...occasionally bumping past a leg or two in the process. He eventually came upon a furry pair of legs on the ground. Assuming they belonged to the Catian ensign, he started feeling around much more carefully. The last thing he needed was for her to think he was interested in her. "P'rr's? Are you alright? I'm really sorry about that."
A paw grabbed his arm. She slowly sat up. "I...will...be...fine," she said slowly and quietly. "My...kind...arrre...verrry...sensitive...to...loud...noises."
He decided to throw caution to the wind and put his arm around her to help her sit. "We'll get you to a medical bed as soon as we get the power back on."
"No...need...Leiutenant," Her voice was starting to pick up a bit. "My equilibrrrium will rrreturrrn in just a moment." Her voice lowered a bit. "I do apprrreciate yourrr concerrrn, though." She patted the hand he had draped around her.
"Um..." Realizing that although no one could see what was happening, everyone could HEAR what was happening, he quickly withdrew his arm. "If you think you can get us a light over here, great. Otherwise, I'll fetch it myself. I think I can manage my way over there."
He could feel her standing up next to him. "No need, Leiutenant. I shall get yourrr light forrr you. And, we shall talk laterrr." As quickly as she stood up, he felt her take off, but she didn't make a sound.
"Ensign?" Tom asked. He felt around for the ensign who, presumably, was there when Ensign P'rr's fell.
"Don't worry, Sir. I didn't hear a thing." The ensign replied quickly.
Tom felt the leg of the ensign near him and slapped it on the knee. "That's not what I meant. Help me up."
Tom felt a hand on his and it pulled him up. "Oh," the ensign responded.
Just then, a bright, white light illuminated the entire engineering area. Ensign P'rr's was holding it in her hand. "Right," Tom said officially, "Everyone to the equipment locker. Get a hand light. P'rr's, you're with me. We need to head to the main power junction. I have a feeling I know what happened." With cat-like grace and speed, she was next to him within moments. They headed from the giant dilithium reactor across to a large panel with eight large tubes originating from its center. Each of these tubes represented a main power line going from a larger tube behind it to different areas of the ship. Each tube was held in place with an oversized clip. Quickly, he popped the clips, then pulled off the panel. As soon as the panel came off, they could smell burnt circuits. "P'rr's, shine the light down here."
She did as instructed. There, they saw the burned out remains of the main distribution node. "That's what I thought," Tom said, "We've been pulling too much power through this node. It's too small. It was only a matter of time before it blew. Thomas, get me that spanner I threw. I need to get this thing off." He pointed to two other engineers who were switching on hand lights. "You two. Get to cargo bay one. There's a large, gray crate labelled 'Auxiliary Power Installation' near the side door. There's another distribution node in it. It was meant for the auxiliary power center, but since we don't have that yet, we can use it here. Go, go go!" The two ran off, manually opened the sliding doors, then took off down the hall.
"Parrrdon me, Sirrr," P'rr's started, "but won't this happen again?" She looked at him questioningly.
"Well, we'll just have to be careful about what systems we bring online. And we'll have to requisition a bigger distribution node." With the spanner in hand, he expertly popped the node off. It was still smoldering.
His communicator popped. "Bridge to engineering," came the voice of Captain Velasquez.
He tapped his comm badge, "Kelly here, Sir." He replied as he tossed the burnt node to the ground.
"When will I be able to see something other than my helmsman playing Hyperstrike on a tricorder?"
"We've already located the problem and pulled the damaged part. We'll have a replacement within a few minutes." His response was very professional.
"That's good news, Leiutenant." She sounded relieved.
"Captain," he started, "the main distribution node is too small for our needs. It blew. I'll order us a new one, but until it arrives, we'll have to watch how we use power."
"What are your recommendations?"
"Well, since we only have a third of our normal crew, maybe we can temporarily relocate people to the upper decks, then cut power to the lower decks, save engineering, cargo bay one, and the turbolifts. If we drop the internal temperature by a degree or two, that will also help. I'd also recommend killing the power to the rec room and the holodeck. Our system tests should also be done a chunk at a time."
"All good suggestions," the Captain noted. She almost sounded happy. "They've been noted. We'll start relocating the crew as soon as we can find them. That requires lighting, Leiutenant."
Just then, the two engineers squirted past the open doors with the new node. "You'll have lights in just a minute or so." He motioned them over to him. With a deftness that impressed the Catian, he attached the new node to the grid. With the panel back on, he started reclipping the power tubes. With each new connection, more of the ships systems sprang to life.
"Thank you, Leiutenant! Bridge out." She sounded almost giddy.
"You arrre most imprrressive, forrr a human," Ensign P'rr's said playfully. With her hand still wrapped around the hand light, she popped it off, spun it around, and turned it off.
Tom started getting uncomfortable again, "P'rr's, we need to talk later."
P'rr's smiled, "I know, Leiutenant. Things arrre not as you perrrceive them. I shall explain everrrything. At the end of ourrr shift, I shall meet you at the shipyarrrd messhall.
Confused, all Tom could do was smile and nod. With amazing agility, she slinked over to the supply panel and returned the hand light before going back to her duty station.
Tom scratched his head. He wasn't even thirty yet. He shouldn't have to worry about a subbordinate hitting on him. He momentarily dreamed of being a kid back at his fathers repair shop in Melbourne, when life was simpler. He brushed his long, blonde hair back with his hand. "If only Dad could see me now," he thought to himself.