A New Project

U.S.S. Enterprise, 2273.281, 1410 hours. The computer said he was here so she rang the chime and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

T'Alora rang again and held the buzzer down until she heard muttering on the other side of the door.

"I swear, Marcus, ye best not've been muckin' about my…oh, T'Alora, it's you!" Standing still she allowed Uncle Scotty to wrap her up in a big bear hug. "What a surprise! I thought you were still in Kenya! You must'a jus come back."

Inwardly she chuckled. It was just like him to get wrapped up in the ship and lose all track of time. "Uncle Scotty, we returned from Kenya to San Francisco sixty-three days ago."

He scrunches up his face. "Ya mean it's not the middle of August?"

"No, it is not. It is early October."

His expression instantly sobered. "Oh."

He stepped back into his quarters and motioned for her to follow. T'Alora witnessed the piles of clothing interspersed with engine parts and schematics and even an old-fashioned, greased up wrench. It did not look as though he had left the ship once since they entered space dock. "Perhaps you should endeavor to take advantage of your shore leave and disembark from the Enterprise too, then you will be less likely to lose track of the time."

He looks abashed. "And leave my gerl in the hands o' nincompoops and ne'r-do-wells? I dinnae think so, lassie!" She raised an eyebrow but did not chance any other reply and soon the rattled Scotsman settled back down. He stepped over to the electric kettle and turned it on. "Besides, I did return home to Glasg-y briefly to visit me Mum and take care o' a spot o' personal business." She was about to ask her question when he beat her to the punch. "Wait a minute, if it's only October then what're you doin' back aboard? We're not due to re-launch for another three months at least!"

"I requested permission to come aboard with Mama today as there were personal effects in our quarters that I required." She purposefully left out the fact that she was homesick for the Enterprise; for a Vulcan to admit such an inclination would be unseemly. "I was also desirous of speaking with you. I have an important project due…"

"Ach, now, I hate to stop you there, T, but if you cannae already see I'm up to my eyeballs in projects at the moment. I'd love ter help you with yer schoolwork but I…"

"This is not an academic project," she interjected, pulling her backpack down and rummaging around for the necessary items: a small black rod that was 12.7 centimeters long and sporting a green tip, 2 round, beige-colored hearing aids, and a pair of thick, black sunglasses. "This is an enrichment project to benefit Selas."

Her uncle brushed some debris off his table and set down two mugs of tea, gesturing for her to take a seat. As she blew cool air over the edge of her cup she watched him examine the items with great interest, finally finding the toggle to activate the rod that bathed the room in a green-glowing grid. The earbuds soon started chirping away in response as well. He held the cane up to his eye and peered down over the barrel, casting the grid on various piles of stuff set about the room. "Oh…oh I see now…"

"Yes," she replied. "Though it is less primitive then previous incarnations, the laser cane is still too deficient for Selas' use. There is a five second delay in relaying information from the cane to the hearing aid; also, it fails to detect certain bodies if they are not solid enough. If you will allow me I may provide an example."

Handing the cane back to her, T'Alora rose from her chair and stepped away, pointing the grid at her seat. It was a basic design, very minimal and efficient, perfect for a starship. She and Uncle Scotty could clearly see a chair there but when she scanned it nothing else happened. The hearing aids did not chirp.

"You can see how this would be hazardous to my brother's health."

He took the cane back from her and began twirling it about in his fingers. "Aye, that I do." Next he held it between thumb and forefinger and brought it to his ear, giving it a little shake. "Mind if I make a few scans and look up a bit o' information on it before ye have to go?"

"That will be unnecessary. Doctor Garcia presented Selas with four such canes and hearing aids in the event that one breaks or is otherwise damaged over the course of our next mission. I do not require this set back unless that time arrives."

He nodded and she sat back, silently watching him study the implements. She watched as he grew more and more intrigued by the technology until the very reason why she sought him out dawned on his countenance. "T, I dinnae mean to insult yer intelligence, but this design…well, I thought you knew how to boost the receptors and memory relay all on yer own?"

"I do."

Now he looked extremely puzzled. "Then why do yer need me t'help ya? If it's access to the tools ye want I kin give them to you now…"

The small start of a grin tugged at the edges of her mouth. "I require your expertise, Uncle Scotty, because it is my belief that we may take all of this…" her hand swept out over the cane and ear buds, "…and not only improve them, but combine them into this." T'Alora picked up the dark frames and held them in her hands.

His eyes jumped from the ear buds and cane to the glasses and back again until he could barely contain his delight. "Oh! Oh that'll be an interestin' bit o' business to be sure…"

Little did T'Alora know that the project they would embark on that day would not be completed to her satisfaction for another eighty standard years.

A/N: Anybody think they know what I'm talking about here? I'll give you a hint-you see this alot in ST:TNG...