Ens. Gnai - This Suit Was Made For Walking
Lich
((Main Engineering, Deck 15 - USS Artemis))
More parts manifested, either out of thin air, or pried loose from the wounds of the Artemis. The suit took form, arms attaching to the chassis - missing the blue coat of paint that denoted its department, but that was an easy fix later - before legs were bolted on, stable enough that it could stand upright as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath tinkered with the internals.
But something was missing; they’d found everything they could so far, managed to recreate the majority of the suit, except the transparent aluminum tank that it would swim within.
Gnai: ~ Yes… I ::partial:: was wondering… Do you think there will be enough transparent aluminum to be salvaged from the ship? Or will it need to be replicated? Is there enough energy to spare? ~
Apparently, Lt. Cmdr. Salkath thought that this was an interesting question. His eyebrow raised just the slightest fraction, which was more than enough to denote the absolutely maximum of emotion that Vulcans seemed to allow themselves. Obviously he had something up his sleeves. Besides just his arms. Gnai had never really understood that phrase, as it had never seen anyone actually pull what they were hiding out of their sleeve.
Salkath: Stand by one moment.
Gnai watched and waited as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath darted around the corner, disappearing from view. What was he up to…?
It didn’t need to wait very long, as he came back, pushing a null grav cart. There was something on it, suspiciously hidden from sight, before Lt. Cmdr. Salkath pulled off the cover with a flourish.
Salkath: It has been arranged.
Gnai: ~ Thank you! How…? ~
Salkath: When I was tasked with repairing the captain's ready room, there was still some warped portions of the viewport attached to the outer hull. Though it had suffered explosive decompression and embedded wooden shards, I was able to salvage enough to cast into the shape and quality of containment vessel you require.
Wooden… shards?
Gnai: ~ Thank you again, Commander. ::pause:: I ::partial:: can’t believe it’s done! ~
Salkath: Allow me to complete the final assembly, and then we will be done.
The new tank was readily fitted to the chassis that had been constructed. Every spare connection was snapped into place, the port was readied, and water refilled. With the controls all in place and the programming completed, all that was left was for Gnai to enter the new suit, finally mobile of its own accord for the first time in what felt like ages.
The interlock between the holographic tank and the suit was completed, and Gnai swam over, eager to test out the controls of the new suit. Would it still function the same as its previous suit, or would it be as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath suggested - a lesser copy, something that worked but not as well?
No time like the present to test the speakers though.
Gnai: Thank you, sir. This is extremely grateful…
Salkath: ::with a satisfied nod:: All that is left to do is take it for a 'test drive'. ::with a shrug:: Do not ask, it is a human term, and we all know how irrational they are with their abuse of Federation Standard.
He could say that again. Humans were always saying the damndest things, and Gnai had trouble keeping track of all the meanings of it all - despite what its friends had tried to teach it at the Academy.
Gnai: Sounds like a plan, sir.
Salkath: Response
Tentatively, Gnai began to manipulate the suit, ever-cautious of tipping. It wouldn’t do to tip, bowling itself over in front of a superior officer. A slow, measured pace was key, one foot of the suit placed in front of the other. It was shaky, as anyone would be in a new vehicle, but everything was still roughly the same.
… If a bit less responsive, and jerkier. Gnai really could feel the difference in the construction as it ambled around the bay in engineering, gradually picking up pace to a more proper walk as opposed to the stagger it had started with. This wasn’t the end of the world though, far from it. After being stuck in a backpack for so long, having the ability to move under its own will - even if that motion was uncomfortable at times - was greatly appreciated by Gnai.
Gnai: It’s working!
At some point, it would need to get around to painting the chassis back to the proper Science Officer Blue that its old suit had worn, but for now - it was as close to perfect as Gnai could have hoped for.
Salkath: Response
Yes, more testing… eventually.
Gnai: If it’s suitable for you, this would prefer to come back for further testing later during leave. The suit functions adequately for now, and this is eager to take it on even more of a ::jerky air quotes:: “test drive”.
Salkath: Response
It bobbed in its tank, that was reasonable. But now that it could move again, the whole universe had opened back up to it. And it knew exactly where it would be headed first and foremost - as soon as it was able to visit its friend in the hospital. Niev had been injured, and it wasn’t certain when they would be allowed patients…
Gnai: Thank you again, sir. You’ve given this back its freedom.
Maybe a tad melodramatic. But who could blame it, after everything it had been through?
Salkath: Response
With a wave of its suit’s hand, Gnai bid farewell to Lt. Cmdr. Salkath, and left Main Engineering of its own volition. What a relief it was to be able to do so - as much as it had appreciated hanging around with Lt. JG. Sadar, the backpack had been uncomfortable and the lack of autonomy grating.
Now, it had some reaccustomizing to do. Perhaps a stroll around the Science Center would be a good first target to stretch its new suit’s legs….
Tags/End scene for Gnai! :)
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