Knit Me A Pony: Status Message Here

Via email, from MeL: Steampunk Star Trek, any series, GO.

Voyager/Janeway & B’elanna

Dreams had pushed B’elanna from her bed and down from her lodgings above the workshop; when tinctures and miracle cures and even whiskey failed you, work could always keep the night at bay.  

And there was plenty of work to be done, still; her man in the next town over had re-faceted a dozen crystals that were waiting to be installed, and now that the final tests were done she meant to replace the oilcloth ‘round the dials with leather.  And of course, there was the whole secondary manifold to install…

It was enough to send her brain spinning in the other direction, and she was so deeply focused on her work that she failed to hear the door open, or the tell-tale combination of skirts and boots that heralded her patron’s arrival.

“Miss Torres, you’re up rather late.”  

B’elanna’s surprise was quite helpful; it made her haul just a bit harder on the spanner, and the stubborn bolt she’d been prying at creaked a quarter turn in a useful direction.  Still, she flicked a scowl at her visitor, one that was received with good humor.  ”I could say the same to you, you know.”  

Kathryn ran her fingers along the open edge of the engine compartment.  ”That’s true.  Too much coffee, I’m afraid.”  She glanced at the fingertips of her gloves; they were dirty now, which was enough of an excuse to be rid of them.  Thank goodness.  And with the gloves went the hat, and already she felt better.  ”I decided to go for a walk and saw your light on.”

She shed her coat as well, and leaned in to examine the now sealed-off pipes that B’elanna’d been working on.  ”I hope you’re well. What keeps you awake?”

“Inspiration struck.”  B’elanna rocked up on her toes before she stood, tucking the spanner into the back of her belt.  ”I’ve had to readjust half the engine for the new crystals.  The wrong frequency, well, let’s just say there won’t be time for recriminations.  I realized I could move the dampeners closer if I split the mount over there.”

“I suppose every apronman must dance to the tune of their muse.”  Kathryn followed the path of B’elanna’s work back past the open compartment and up to the control console, still propped open.  ”Are we still on schedule for the fair, do you think?”

The engineer considered that carefully, rubbing a greasy thumbprint off the copper on the edge of the door.  ”I think so.  We’ll be ready for a test by the end of the week, at least.”

“Do you think it’ll work?”  Kathryn’s smirk was infectious, and B’elanna found she didn’t even mind smiling back.

“I think it’ll work.  I’m just not sure if it’s going to fly.”

Kathryn paced the length of the rocket, pausing to wipe dust off the window with her sleeve.  ”Maybe we’re mad,” she said, with a little shake of her head, “but we’ll see the stars, one way or another.”