Something in the pipes

Posted on 20 Sep 2022 @ 4:10pm by Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday
Edited on on 25 Jul 2023 @ 4:29pm

1,417 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Jefferies tube
Timeline: MD08 1900

ON:

[Circuit in conduit A47-53 has dropped by fifteen percent]

The computer's voice came calmly. John swore. He was glad that the staff was so thin, otherwise he might end up on report for the steak of blue that emanated from his mouth as he swung around on hands and knees to head back to a junction and head toward the indicated problem.

"Damn captain thinks she can just take an overhauled starship out and run it like it never had a problem." He was muttering the entire way going toward the new tube.

As he made it the the junction he shown a light down it to see a form laying on the floor snuggled up against a panel that was causing the problem. It was humanoid and furry.

"Well what do we have here?

On a blanket Mimi stirred slightly, her ears and tail twitching as she heard the approaching voice.

John wondered what the Nekomi was doing in here. "Mimi? Ensign Mimi?" He thought to be a bit more formal just in case. If she startled, she could be a handful.

"Lusaaa.... li zen loarenura" Mimi said as she groggily opened her eyes and began scenting the air to figure out who it was.

"Heya sweetie, what are you doing here?"

"John." Mimi said after realising who it was. "I.... could not sleep..."

John just got down now that she was more awake. "And you thought being in one of the tubes was a good spot?" He made a face. "I ain't no shrink but I think there's somethin' else botherin' you. So spill."

"I want to be as far away from our Captain as I can, and this is the furthest spot I know of, and it is nice and quiet." Mimi replied after a few seconds.

John just chuckled. "I hear she is a nut buster. Thankfully too low ranked to have to deal with her and her demands. What is that some sort of early PT and all? If she wants a bit of exercise have her crawl over this ship from stem to stern. So sweetie, let me tell you there are some very isolated places than this here tube that you can curl up in. Shoot internal sensors have a hard time and the way this ship was pushed out of dock, wouldn't be surprised if some of them just went off line and need repair."

"She does not seem to like any of the officers," Mimi told him "we all 'failed' our inspections even though everything was good. Made everyone do extra things to get their departments 'better', she is....." She paused as she thought for the right word to describe Tarin's actions.

"A bitch and a half with no sense of compassion or humor. Gotcha!" John supplied his own assessment. "Come on, got a spot that has been having problems and a lot better than this area. Going to take a little bit of clambering but no sensors in the area. They are on the fritz. Come one sweetie."

Swinging the blanket over her shoulder Mimi followed John through a series of the ships Jefferies tubes not quite certain just where they'd end up.

"Here we go." John waved to a spot that was really a little niche. "When they were repairing the damage to the engines, they skipped getting everything put together. Sensors out still. Also, nothing much here, but," he patted a flat spot. "Nice and warm, and a body laying here is not going to trip up the circuitry sensors like your last place. That is why I was going there. Your body heat was enough to make a little warning."

Mimi set the blanket down where John had patted the deck. "I do not remember this spot being this warm, they must have lost some of the heat resistance from the damage too."

"They reconfigured some things in the rebuild. I'm still trying to figure things out yet. Still good nap spot. Tell ya what, you take a bit and I'll swing by in a couple of hours with something to eat and drink."

"And if anyone asks you if they have seen me, what do you tell them.....?" Mimi said, she winked slightly hoping to give him a hint at the correct answer.

"Sorry ma'am, sir, too busy trying to keep this ship together. Want to throw me in the brig, fine, but you are already operating on less than ice thin engineering."

Mimi chuckled slightly. "Exactly."

“Exactly.” John gave Mimi a little kiss. “Best be off sweetheart but will swing by later to you up and maybe a little dinner.”

"See you soon John." Mimi said, she lay on her back on the blanket.


=== some time later ===

A little beep reminded John that a certain section needed to be checked. He got some fish and Mimi’s favorite non-alcoholic drink, slipped those into a engineering container and headed back. He saw the furry form all snuggled up. “Hey little Miss Purrfect! Your dinner and wake call has arrived!”

Mimi's ears and nose had picked up John's approach long before he got in sight and she was already partly awake. "Heyy." She said.

He was glad she was awake. There was nothing worse then startling a Nekomi if you didn't want to come away with claw marks. He got himself against the wall and then undid the container seal. "Let me see what we have here. Synthesized but rustled up some sweet fish from Elion two for you. Still nice and warm."

Mimi stretched out long and hard with a groan before slowly sitting up and shuffling herself over to rest against the wall of the tube. "mmhh smells good."

"There's some mineral water there as well. I figured all that running and crap might help a bit." John propped himself up next to her. "Man I might just start joining you here pretty soon. I think I spend more time in the tubes than anyplace else. One day they are going to get a better engineering compliment on this damn ship."

"You and the others are doing really well, the people from the Trail are doing their part." Mimi said, she took a piece of fish from the container and took a bite. "Mmhh that is nice."

“Yeah, but still could use a few more people. What you want to bet they send this ship into battle like everything is supposed to work! I can see it now “Engineering we need more power!’ “. He nodded his chin her way. “Glad you enjoy it, but getting to know your preferences.”

Mimi chuckled slightly. "Well this is an emergency call so I would expect we are probably going to get into some sort of trouble, I just hope it is trouble that does not involve us getting shot at... for a change."

John just laughed out loud long and hard. "On this vessel? Our commanders seem to get into the worse possible situations. Come on Mimi, who in their right mind would take on a Tholian frigate. Dumb and dumber."

"The same kind of person who would ruin our shoreleave barely one day in, just after we finally got some time alone together." Mimi ran her hand across John's leg. "That night was fun."

"Sure was but wew lady, you put some marks on my legs!" John chuckled. "Worth every bit though." He added quickly.

"It was, maybe after some more practise I will be able to keep my claws in properly and not scratch you." Mimi said with a gentle purr.

"Hmmm......practice sounds good." John frowned. "If we ever get the time! Well sweetheart, best be kicking you out my pipes. Somebody is liable to start wanting you. Tell you what, I'll come back when I have a bit and make this spot a bit softer and stocked with some goodies so when you can slip away again."

Mimi purred. "Sounds like fun." She said, moving onto all fours she leaned in and gave John a kiss before slipping the blanket over her shoulder and slowly crawling off down the jefferies tube.

John waved as his lover headed off. He whispered knowing how sensitive her ears were. "Oh just wait until you have time to come back." He was already making plans on how he was going to make this little nest.

OFF:

Ensign Mimi
Deputy Chief Ops
USS Galileo-A

PO3 John Hollenday
"Nutbuster"
USS Galileo-A

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