Slipstream Saga : It All Comes Together

Lieutenant Shaka stepped up to the mat. Raising her hands above her head, she leaned forward slightly. With a strong push from her legs, she flipped forward, landing deftly on her feet. Cautiously yet surely, she put foot over foot on the balance beam. Quickly, she leaned back and performed a backflip. She spent more time on the holodeck lately, as Sierra had suggested. Andorians as a species have high agility, and by cheating a little and decreasing the gravity, she was able to perform several gymnastic feats. When she completed her routine, she catapulted herself from the beam and landed, smiling proudly to the cheering spectators.

"Computer, process evaluation." Shaka said, towelling herself off.

<Evaluation complete.> The computer responded. One of the mats disappeared, revealing the computer's judging.

"Not bad !" Shaka said to herself. "Speed increased by one percent. Estimated strength and agility up by half a percent. Let's go for one." Shaka challenged herself, running towards the bar. "The most direct route isn't always the fastest."

Shaka flew out of control, hitting her head on the beam as she went over. Rubbing her head, she wondered what just happened. She snapped her fingers.

"Of course... of course ! Computer." She said, running to the balance beam."End program."

She pushed off the beam just before it disappeared, propelling herself through the opening doors. She sprinted back to her quarters.

"Computer, create a database for all references to 'Slipstream drive' and be sure to include all my journals."

<Database will be complete in approximately ten minutes.> The computer responded. Shaka, however, didn't hear it. She was fully absorbed into her PADD.

Bridge

"Computer." Captain Devore asked."Where is Lieutenant Shaka ?"

<Lieutenant Shaka is in her quarters.>

"It's not like her to be late," Toran said. "Should I have security wake her ?"

Devore thought back to the discussion he and his wife had regarding the Lieutenant. "No, Toran, I'll get her myself."

Shaka's Quarters

Shaka continued writing furiously... by now, she threw the PADD aside and began replicating massive amounts of paper.

[Captain Devore to Shaka.] Devore asked over his communicator. Shaka continued writing furiously.

"What are you working on ?" Devore asked. Shaka jumped.

"How the hell did you..."

"I don't know all your prison tricks, but somehow I couldn't open the door." Devore said. "I beamed straight in."

"You had no business doing that," Shaka snapped, looking up from her work.

"When you're on my time, I can." Devore responded.

"I assure you, I am working on the Slipstream drive." Shaka said coldly, turning back to her work.

"Paper and pencil ?" Devore asked curiously.

"It helps me think. Organise in my own way." Shaka said. "Look at the progress I'm making on the Slipstream drive."

Devore looked over her shoulder. "It's in two languages I don't speak. Andorian and Techie !"

"If I can't show you the work I'm doing I'll have to show you when I'm done." Shaka said. "Good day, Captain."

*The cold shoulder ?* Devore asked himself. *Reliving the past.*

"Lieutenant... The Slipstream drive has been acting up lately... The ship can't get past warp eight..."

"You should make sure the Slipstream manifolds are still aligned." Shaka said. "But I have to get back to work. Good day, Captain."

"Lieutenant, I'm giving..."

Bridge

"What just happened, sir ?" Toran asked. Devore had materialise on the Bridge.

"I don't know how..." Devore said.

"This is a punishable offence." Toran said.

"I don't think there's any precedent against beaming your Captain out of your quarters." Devore said, straightening his shirt and sitting down. "Besides, you've known Shaka as long as I have. There's no point in adding one more reprimand to her file."

Devore was defending Shaka, but he was also questioning himself. *What's going on ? Just yesterday I was telling Sierra how much Shaka's changed.*

Shaka's Quarters - January 13, 2384

On some level, Shaka was sorry for what she did. Not having a phaser drill, however, she never saw that level. The most important thing was to finish. It was a day and a half later, but she finally put her pencil down on the sweat-stained paper. "I'm done." she sighed.

And with that, she collapsed.