JP - Molly Williams + Lt Cmdr Wil Ukinix - Molly! [Pt 2]

[Wil Ukinix]

((Bridge, USS Independence B - twenty-three minutes later))

It turned out that his time spent with Jansen Orrey’s daughter Natalia Moonsong had paid off.  Molly was a lot of fun, and the surprise of having to add “child care” to his list of roles for the day had put a smile on his face.

That and the double chocolate ice-cream cone he had purchased for himself at the same time he had bought an ice cream for Molly.

Molly: What are you doing Lieutenant Commander?

 

The young girl was sitting in the centre chair, eating her ice cream cone.  Wil was sitting at a console nearby, reviewing diagnostic and configuration reports and signing off on them.  The ship was still docked at Terminal A, and wasn’t scheduled to go anywhere.

Ukinix: I have to check some things and make sure everything’s OK.

Molly: Why?

Ukinix: ::Tapping at console:: That’s part of my job!

Molly: Why?

Ukinix: ::Tapping at console:: To make sure that the ship still works when we use it next.

Molly: But we don't use it often.

Ukinix: ::Swivelling in chair to face Molly:: Well, Captain Molly who likes ice cream, where would you like to fly to?

The ship of course wasn’t going to go anywhere.  But Molly could pretend, and Wil could even kick off a simulation to make it more fun for her.

Molly: To the Nebula out there! And I wanna see Julia!

 

Ukinix: ::Tilted head, furrowed brow:: Julia?  Who’s Julia, Molly?

 

Molly: Julia is one of the space creatures that played with us several months ago. She looks like a space unicorn. I wanna go see her!

oO Oh, the Stellae! Oo

Ukinix: We can’t really take the ship just to see one Angel.  I might get in trouble oO with operations *and* your mother. Oo

 

Molly: Pleeeeeease?

 

Ukinix: ::Smiling, playful tone:: Mo-llyyyy.  You should call the ice cream cone a win.

 

Molly: Well, then can I help you?

 

Ukinix: Let’s run what we call a “simulation”.  It’s where we pretend that the ship is flying.  Sound fun?

In Wil’s mind it was a creative and fun way to confirm that the diagnostics checked out.  Also, Molly was right - they’d hardly used the Independence, and a “diagnostic” simulation would even be fun for Wil.

Molly: Yes, but only If i can do something.

Ukinix: ::Enthusiastically:: You can be Captain Molly if you like!  Shall we have a look at the Sol system?  Do you know that one?

Molly: Isn't that the one with Earth?

Wil tapped a few times on the console in front of him.  The display changed - the Indy-B was now simulating being just on the inside of Sol’s Oort cloud.  In the centre of the display, was a type-G yellow dwarf star.  It made Wil smile to see Sol itself on screen.

Ukinix: ::mock official tone:: Which planet in the Sol system should we fly to, Captain?

 

Molly: ::correcting him:: Acting Captain Williams. Let's head to Mars - no, Earth. That's the one Mummy always talks about. 

 

Ukinix: ::Smirking, tapping console:: Aye ma’am, setting a course for Earth.

 

Molly: ::Correcting him again:: Acting Captain. ::thinking for a moment:: What do captains say when they want to go? En… Enursul?

 

Ukinix: I think one of them used to say “Engage”.

 

Molly: Thank you. ::sitting on the edge of the captain's chair with her chin cupped in her hands:: Engaaaaaage!

Wil chuckled at that.  oO Said with such gusto. Oo

The viewscreen showed that the simulation had begun.

Ukinix: We’re on our way, Captain Molly.

 

Molly: Lieutenant Commander, did you like Earth?

 

Ukinix: I still do, Molly.  I mean, Acting Captain Williams.  It’s my home.

 

Molly: I was looked after by my Aunty while Mummy was at school, and then we would pick her up each day. Mummy liked Earth, but she likes space more. Especially now that she finished school recently. I like space too.

 

Ukinix: Well that’s good!  You’ll have to ask your Mummy if she can take you out into the nebula to have a look.  It’s very *pretty* space.  Nice and purple.

Molly: ::pointing to viewscreen:: Is that Earth Lieutenant Commander??

Wil looked at the viewscreen.  The ship had “arrived”, and the screen showed it was in Orbit around Earth.  The African continent was prominent on the left hand side of the screen, the big blue Indian ocean next to it.

Ukinix: It sure is.  Do you think it’s beautiful?

Molly: Yes. 

 

Ukinix: We can lower our orbit and have a look, Acting Captain.

Molly: ooooh!

Ukinix: Aye ma’am!

Wil tapped the console in front of him.  The ship’s simulation nose dived, heading straight for the ocean, before it righted itself so that it was floating above a non-descript, non-populated beach.  The view screen changed to show the water that was 50 metres below them.  After a few moments, a shark could be seen swimming through the water.

Ukinix: There!  That’s a big one!

Molly: He's so cute!!

Ukinix: Shall we give it a name?

Molly: hmmm…. George.

 

Ukinix: Acting Captain, I have some bad news.  We have to end our mission now and get you home.  Ma’am.

 

Molly: okay…

 

Wil ended the simulation.  He got up from his seat and gestured for Molly to jump out of her chair.

 

Ukinix: That was lots of fun!

 

Molly: Can we come back some time?

Wil put his finger to his mouth, and mocked deep thoughtful consideration, before putting his hands on his knees and speaking with a big smile.

Ukinix: Yes we can, Acting Captain Williams!

 

Molly: Thank you! 

 

They proceeded to skip along back to the terminal, and Molly was dropped off at her front door to a mother nice and cheerful and carefree, and an awesome hugger.

End

 

==========================================

Molly Williams
Daughter of Ensign Williams/Acting Captain, USS Independence-B
Amity Outpost
A239810RI3

&

Lieutenant Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attaché and First Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0