Rura Penthe #125"
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1000

==Ready Room==

Hunter tapped his console.

=Captain's Log Stardate 58205.18=

The prisoner transfer has been completed. It is noted that one incident was quelled quickly. Perhaps our exchange officers were able to assist our crew in bolstering their performance. I've made notes in the Security Chief's personnel file as well as the crewman who responded quickly to a potential threat situation.

The ship is now being escorted back to the border of the Klingon Empire. We shall arrive at it in about 3 days.

Word has arrived from headquarters that a diplomat has been assassinated during the preliminary peace negotiations. The crew has been informed. We will be on tactical alert once we leave Empire space.

I think I speak for the crew that we are all glad to have the prisoners off our ship.

=END LOG=

Hunter leaned back in his chair and reflected for a moment. He looked at the chronometer on his desk and changed the display. It read Tuesday, 18 May, 2382. Then he sat up and pressed the console again.

=Captain's Personal Log, Stardate 58205.18=

Dr. Dane and I have returned from Rura Penthe. We found some information on her brother and recovered a PADD from his campsite. Hopefully Silvio or one of his techs can help her recover the information on it. Perhaps she will find something useful.

We certainly had quite an adventure. It brought back some fond memories of my Uncle Carter and also reminded me of what this war has robbed me of. I guess I thought about many things.

Pursuing the Doctor's advice, I'm and taking some time off this afternoon. I've scheduled some holodeck time for myself and Chester, I'm sure he'll enjoy it too.

=END LOG=

AI's Anyone? "
By: Krystal, Pixie Hologram , [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1030

Maxine was never one to put things off, and today was no exception. So without further ado she shushed the little pixie that was buzzing around her excitedly and activated her Comm Badge.

"Ensign Maxine Tapert to Captain Hunter," she called and waited for him to acknowledge her.

"Ooohh... Hurry up, hurry up..." Krystal stood on Max's shoulder and clapped with a spray of pixie dust, then buzzed around excitedly and landed on the top of Max's head.

"There are times, Pixie, when you can be a roight on annoying little blighter," Max looked up as the pixie peered over her head, hanging down half on her brow, only to tumble off when the Captain's voice came across the Comm Link.

"Hunter here."

"Permission to come speak with you, sir?"

"Certainly, I'm in my ready room."

"I'm on my way. Thank you sir." Maxine's gaze followed the darting pixie around the room as she giggled and shouted in glee. "I need to adjust your programming...." the young computer expert shook her head and stood up. "Stay out of trouble, eh?"

The door swooshed open and Maxine stepped out into the corridor.

"Wait for meeeeeeee!!!!" Krystal squealed and made a dart for the door, only to disappear as if she never existed when she hit the doorway and there were no more holo emitters to sustain her image.

"Silly Pixie..." Max murmured as the doors whooshed closed and she headed to the Captain's ready room.

Moments later the door chimed, "Enter." said Hunter. As the door opened, he was greeted by a stranger. "Ensign...Tapert?"

"Yes sir!" Max saluted and then rubbed her head for a fraction of a moment.

"I don't believe we have met have we?"

"No sir. Just came aboard from the Klingon freighter. Maxine Tapert, sir. Operations. Computer specialist," she told him. She didn't move from where she'd stepped into the room, and was standing sort at attention.

Hunter looked up and saw her rigid posture, "at ease Ensign."

"Thank you sir," Max stood in the traditional 'at ease' pose.

"Please, have a seat." he said politely.

Max smiled a little and slipped into a nearby seat. "I 'ave a request, sir... If I may?"

"A request?" said Hunter, a curious look crossed his face.

"It's a computer program I've written, sir," she pulled out her PADD and silently requested permission to bring it to him. Hunter nodded and gestured for her to bring it. She stepped forward and handed him the PADD which contained a copy of the program for him to see.

Hunter looked it over. It wasn't like anything he'd ever seen before. "What is this?" he asked.

"It's an AI program sir. A hologram...." she continued and then grew silent while he looked over her work. Maxine had earned every bit of the reputation she had with programming and computers as a whole.

"That's very interesting Ensign, but...What is it you wanted?" said Hunter handing the PADD back to her.

"I want to install it, sir. So that I can take 'er with me," she explained and scooted to the edge of her seat. She was using her hands to gesture and had to stop and take the PADD back. "Right now she's confined to my quarters and personal computer. But I'd like permission to make 'er mobile sir. With me, of course. See, I 'ave this idea of some very small holo emitters that I could incorporate into my clothing," she became quietly animated and even pulled out one of the holo emitters she used in her room. "Like this sir, only smaller..." she offered it to him.

Hunter took the device and examined it. It looked like a multi-faceted crystal "button" about three inches in diameter. Handing it back, he settled into his chair, "What do you mean, 'install' it?" he inquired.

"In the computer, sir. Rather like the EMH. She wouldn't be able to function as a hologram anywhere there weren't holoemitters." She was still quietly animated and getting even closer to the very edge of her chair, and perilously close to falling off. "And even then only on command, of course," she explained further. She could feel herself starting to babble and so quieted. Starfleet officers did not babble... Or fidget.... She folded her hands in her lap and eased her rear back into the chair further, looking hopefully at the Captain.

"I presume you mean to install this in the mainframe," said Hunter with a look of concern on his face.

"With your permission, sir," Max nodded and was back on the edge of her seat again, hands out of her lap, not -quite- fidgeting yet.

"What are the security risks? Can this thing run amok in the system? Are there...safeguards?"

"Yes sir... I would include the same security measures that are on the EMH. And I have firewalls that I've designed which I can use to confine the program to certain areas of the mainframe. It's not an intrusive program, sir. And I have installed a failsafe which, if initiated, will cause the program to delete itself."

Hunter leaned back into his chair. He still wasn't entirely convinced. "Fleet regulations are not entirely permissive on such software... but I guess I don't see what the big deal is. If it is just an AI program, perhaps you could demonstrate it for me and I can better decide."

Max nodded and had this suppressed air of excitement about her. "Of course sir. Now sir? Of course with just one holoemitter, the program will lack some of it's finer, more detailed qualities... But it may suffice..."

Hunter took a deep breath, "Sure."

"A'roight," Maxine grinned and set the holoemitter in the middle of the Captain's desk and then took her PADD in hand. She was definitely on the edge of her seat now. A few keystrokes later and a shower of gold sparkles appeared in the air just above the holoemitter, and in a breath of a second later, a little winged Pixie popped into existence between Max and the Captain.

The image lacked any real solidity and seemed to static a little when it moved, but it was nonetheless easy enough to make out. She stood all of 5" tall and was dressed in wispy gossamer scraps of material and had equally gossamer looking wings. Her blonde spiky hair framed a tiny elfin face and curled about delicately pointed ears. There was a warm golden glow about her skin and 'pixie dust' seemed to hover around her and echo her movements. Her wings fluttered and she looked from Max to the Captain and then finally announced, "I'm Krystal."

"Krystal, meet Captain Hunter," to which the little pixie squeaked and clapped and performed a courtly bow in the middle of the air.

Hunter smiled, "What is that? A...faery?"

"Aye sir. A Pixie to be exact." Max was as proud as if she were showing off a newborn baby. "Fascinating creatures. Very intelligent." Krystal preened the entire time Max talked about her, paying particular attention to her wings. "And very much a part of their environment. Pixie's environment is data. Retrieval, computational, theorizing, structuring. Anything you can do with raw data."

Hunter crossed his arms as he mused the little creature. "So, is this a pet or a tool?"

"Both," Max smiled a little crookedly. "It started out as a companion that I made functional."

"I can do Math," Krystal announced with a nod of her little head and a grin for the Captain as she paused in her exploration of her physical parameters.

Hunter leaned forward, putting his arms on the desk, "Is that so Krystal?"

The Pixie blinked huge blue eyes at him and nodded in an over exaggerated way. "Uh-huh." She had her hands tucked behind her back and her wingtips fluttered. The Pixie 'at-ease' pose.

"Can you tell me what our current navigational status is?"

She nodded and then thought, and then shook her head before pointing back to Max who just smiled, "She won't let me talk to your computer until *you* say it's okay," Krystal told him. "So... Can I, huh?" She gave him a bright smile.

"And does Krystal always behave? I can trust her?" asked Hunter glancing back at Max.

"Aye Captain, for as long as she's been operational she 'as," Maxine told him. "I've coded the desire to please and the Chain of Command into her programming. She thinks you're God, sir." Krystal grinned at him and wiggled her fingers.

"Is that so?" said Hunter leaning back, locking his fingers together behind his head. "Okay...okay," said Hunter considering the ramifications of what he was about to do, "Computer, voice authorization Hunter, give this program access level beta-two.

The computer chirped back, "voice authorization confirmed. Level beta-two access conferred on process id 7991199."

Hunter looked at the hologram and said, "Ok Krystal, I gave you an order."

The little Pixie blinked and nodded, a bit of golden dust sparkling in the air when she did. "Warp 7 on a heading of 237 Mark 5, Capt'n." She saluted and her wingtips quivered.

Maxine was quite proud of Krystal's performance. The program was behaving as it always did, just like Max coded it. She was just as pleased with herself.

Hunter looked at Max, "So the pixie is just user interface with a personality?"

"Basically, sir. Although she has her own memory module and storage, and learning capabilities. She can also do independent functions and calculations, but is limited by her memory size as to the complexity of things she can handle.

The word Maxine used, 'companion' stuck in Hunter's mind. He knew what it meant to have a pet or such. His life would be completely empty if it were not for Chester.

"Okay," said Hunter, "You can install Krystal for a trial period. If I learn that she has become a source of disruption for you or anyone else, or if her routine causes any problems with the ship's systems, I will be forced to reconsider this decision."

"Oh, Yes Sir! Of course, sir," Max immediately got to her feet in her excitement while Pixie danced and clapped with glee. She even tried to fly over to the Captain, but unfortunately the holoemitter didn't quite project that far and she fazed into a glittering shower of pixie dust when she reached the boundary. "I'll make daily reports if you like, sir," Max offered.

Krystal had blinked back into existence and shook like a little dog before tapping one foot in the air and striking a thoughtful pose. After only a moment, she was on the desk, next to the holoemitter, trying to 'push' it closer to Hunter.

"And run diagnostics on the system every twenty-four 'ours if that would be satisfactory?" She glanced down at the Pixie who was grunting and groaning with the effort.

Hunter smiled, "that will be fine." He watched as she left. It was obviously caused her great elations which was evident as she left the ready room. He thought to himself that the ice on Rura Penthe must have frozen brain cells, he really couldn't believe he had permitted something so whimsical.

Report - Computer Repairs"
By: Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1045

=Op's Office=

As Riaan began to read the reports for the day she began to wonder how the computer repairs were coming.  As Riaan briefly looked up for a second she spotted Ensign Tapert entering the office.

"Good morning Ensign Tapert how are you this morning," Asked Riaan.

"Morning ma'am, m'fine," Maxine smiled at the Operations Chief.

"I am wondering how the repairs are coming with the computers after the damage Birkoff had caused?"

"Slowly, ma'am," the young computer expert answered.  "But nothing I can't handle," she assured Riaan.  "He was good, I'll give 'im that.  We've managed to restore nearly all the files 'e corrupted and right now I'm searching for any backdoors 'e might have left behind or any time-release bugs.  Right nasty things those are.  M'also running checks on any and all files that were accessed during 'is time with us."

"I would like to suggest we find a way to secure these computers in order to prevent this from happening again.  Once the repairs are done I would like a full report on my desk and any ideas you may have that would help improve the security of this ship," as Riaan looked at Maxine smiling.

"Aye ma'am.  I 'ave a few ideas that might help..."  And it was clear by the young Ensign's rather animated face that she was keeping herself from launching into a rash of technical babble that would explain them.   "Ensign Tapert how about lunch or dinner sometime, maybe then we can discuss those ideas of yours."

"That would be fine, ma'am," Maxine nodded and shifted around a bit.  

"Well that is it Ensign Tapert, keep up the great job," as Riaan smiled at her.

"Thank you, ma'am, it's a pleasure, really..."  Matter of fact, Max was rather giddy at getting to go through the system as thoroughly as she had been.  It was giving her a very 'intimate' feel and knowledge of the Zion's computer systems and she was already falling in love with the thing.

Riaan watched as Ensign Tapert left the office.  It was time to reassess supplies onboard and Riaan decided to have Ensign John MacKinnon verify what inventory of supplies where left and what needed to be ordered, even though the supply vessel did a reasonably good job restocking the ship before continuing onto Rura Penthe.  Riaan decided that she would also drop by sick bay to see if Lt. JG Teilani Dane  needed any supplies or not and to drop in and say hello to Lt. JG Zoei while there after finalizing the morning reports.

Rura Penthe #130"
By: Miranda, Lounge Manager, [RNPC]
Chester , the Captain's Cat , [NPC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1230

=Captain's Ready Room=

Hunter finished reading the last of the reports and decided it was time to take his needed rest and relaxation time. He walked over and dropped some food into his fish aquarium. He shut off his console and turned down the lights. Leaving the ready room he gestured to the bridge crew with a nod and stepped onto the turbolift.

Hunter shortly arrived at his quarters where he was greeted by Chester.

Chester watched Captain come in, he sat up on the back for the sofa, his tail swaying from side to side. He looked at Captain and let out a soft meow. Perhaps he could get Captain to spend some time with him today.

"You just know these things don't you boy?"

Chester jumped of the sofa and weaved in and out of Hunter's legs. "Okay, lets go." As they ventured down the hallway, Chester lead the way.

After taking the turbo lift down several decks, they arrived at the holodeck. Hunter stepped up to the console, "Load Spring Creek number #2." said Hunter. A moment later the computer replied, "Program ready."

The door opened and with out adieu, Chester bolted inside. Hunter sat down on a large rock and watched as Chester began smelling all the vegetation. It was a ritual of his to familiarize himself this way.

Hunter took a couple of deep breaths. He didn't really feel like relaxing yet. Deciding that a quick trip to Miranda's for some food would put him in a better mood for relaxing, he walked up to Chester, "Have fun, I'll be back in a few minutes."

Chester stretched as he watched Captain leave. Captain has never left him alone here before. Quickly, he followed the creek until he came to is favorite tree. He climbed up the trunk of the tree, and crawled out onto a large limb that hung over the creek. From his vantage point Chester could look into the water and watch the schools of fish swimming by. Chester stared at them, his tail twitching back and forth. Although, he occasionally would take a playful swat at them he knew better than to go in after them. Chester had no desire to get wet.

Hunter stepped back into reality and looked at the chronometer on the holodeck console. It was 1250 hours, plenty of time.

=Miranda's= Mirnada watched as Hunter walked in. "Hello Captain, how are you this afternoon?"

"I'm good...great in fact," said Hunter, "..and you?"

"I am fantastic Captain. It is amazing what a little time off will do for you. What can I get for you sir."

Hunter thought about it for several moments, "I don't know, what do you recommend?"

"I have a delicious prime rib sandwich today," replied Miranda.

"Hmmm... that sounds delicious, but I think I'll just have a grilled sandwich like you got me the last time I was here."

"Coming right up captain," she said as she went to get his order.

Hunter ate his meal and leaned back in the chair staring out at the stars showering across the great bow window.

The Cat that Leaps, is Not the Cat That Lands "
By: Krystal, Pixie Hologram , [RNPC]
Chester , The Captain's Cat , [NPC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1315

==Holodeck==

Chester amused himself watching the fish swimming in the creek for a short time, however, he became bored and decided to look around. He stalked though the trees and tall grass. He had a great time; he had managed to capture several flying bugs, and even a small furry creature. While he was pleased with himself, he found that he was confused. Chester could not figure out what happened to them when he caught them -- they just disappeared.

After hunting, Chester found a nice patch of dirt and began rolling around it in. It felt good, very good, he thought. Chester started to purr, life was good.

"You're a cat," a tiny voice above him announced. It came from a nearby tree, but since when did trees talk? "Chester. Captain's cat. Male. Age, unknown Family Felidae, subfamily Felinae. Which is a small cat as compared to a large cat. Which of course, you aren't."

Chester jumped quickly to his feet, his back arched. Chester looked at the tree closely. The tree never talked to him before. Tentatively, Chester crept closer to the tree.

Krystal giggled in a purely delightful and Pixie kind of way. It was light and musical and tickled the senses. She poked her head out from the branches and leaves that'd kept her hidden and wiggled her little fingers at him. "Hihihi. M'Krystal," she announced, leaving trails of pixie dust with every movement she made.

Chester watched the strange bug with curiosity. He had never seen such a thing before. It even talked like Captain --sort of. He watched the streams of sparkling dust fall to the ground. It sure looked like it might be fun to chase. He sat still and waited for his chance, all the while wondering if this bug would disappear like the other ones; or would he be able to eat it.

Being programmed into a "Pixie", or at least Maxine's understanding of what Pixie's and Faeries were from the research she did, Krystal was a hyperactive little thing. She flitted from where she was to perch on a much better looking branch about a foot or so away. "You don't talk much," she twittered and tilted her head to watch him. Her wingtips fluttered and she crouched on the branch to study him.

"OH!!" she exclaimed and bounced up and down, clapping and showering pixie dust everywhere. "Cats like Catnip!!! I can do that!" she told him with a giggle and clapped her hands again, sprinkling the plant below her with dust and exclaiming, "Catnip for Chester!!" And the plant shimmered and changed into Catnip.

"Hello," thought chester. Perhaps this bug might be a good thing, he walked over to the catnip, gave a quick glance at the bug and stick his face into the catnip. "This is good stuff," thought Chester and soon he began rolling around in it.

Krystal clapped and giggled and plunked her bottom on the branch where she crossed her ankles and swung her legs as she watched him.

::Record mode activated: Input new data. File name: Chester and catnip.::

"Meeow," said Chester as he leaped onto the tree trunk and climbed up past the pixie. He no longer felt any desire to eat the bug. He climbed as high as he could then then crawled out onto the nearest limb and layed down. "This is fun," he thought. He was not sure how he would get back down, but decided to worry about that later. He began to lick his paws.

"Meeow," she giggled back and stood on the branch, fluttering her wings and peering up at him as he crept out above her.

::Input new data. File name: Chester climbs a tree.::

She was intrigued when he started licking his paws and fluttered up to perch cross-legged on the limb in front of him.

::Input new data. File name: Chester licks paws.::

"What are you doing?" she asked him curiously. Her wingtips fluttered and she tipped her head as if that would help her to better understand him.

Chester looked at the pixie, he was not sure what she was saying. He was starting to get hungry though; he always got hungry after catnip. Perhaps she would get him a nice fish to eat. Chester let out a soft meow and continued bathing himself.

"Meow?" Krystal questioned.

::Language mode activated: Engage Universal Translator. Input new data. File name: Cat language.:

"Are you hurt?" she asked, trying to understand this newest meow because it was different from the last one.

Chester thought about Captain. Captain was a sucker for the purr. Captain would do anyting once Chester started purring. Just maybe this magic bug would be the same way. Chester said, "Meow," and started purring very loudly.

::Language mode: Unable to comply. ::

Krystal frowned at the error message and "hmphed" quietly as she propped her little elfin chin on her fist and narrowed her eyes at Chester in concentration. Till he started purring, that is. And then she blinked and sat up straight, fluttered her wings and inched closer to him.

::Input new data: File name: Non-Vocal Audio Emissions from Chester.::

She twittered and fluttered up to her feet, bouncing on her toes actually and quivering with excitement. "Ohhh!!! Hold on, hold on... I'll get it!!!"

::Compare File: Non-Verbal Audio Emissions from Chester with all known audio emission files.::

"Weee!!! Got it!!!" she twittered excitedly, clapped her hands, fluttered her wings, hopped up and down, lost her balance, and plopped onto the branch, landing on her cute little pixie butt. "Ooof!" She blinked several times and then looked at Chester as if asking 'how'd that happen?'. A moment later and she was back on her feet and shaking like a dog, spraying Pixie dust everywhere.

"Well..." she placed her little hands on her hips and tapped a foot as she studied him. "You're not hurt... Tired?" She shook her head cause he didn't look tired.. "Nooo.. Not tired... Cold?" She shook her head again, cause he didn't look cold... "Hungry?"

Chester stopped licking himself and watch the pixie with much curiosity. He had heard her talk about Hungry, Captain sometimes talked about Hungry right before he fed Chester. His purr weapon was working. Chester looked the pixie in the eye and purred even louder.

Krystal blinked huge blue eyes at him when he started purring louder. "That's a yes! Is that a yes? It looks like a yes!" she exclaimed and started pacing along the branch, wingtips fluttering as they helped her keep her balance on the pivotal turns.

"Ah-Hah!" she stopped and clapped and waltzed up to him. "Want some nectar? That's what I eat. Nectar." She nodded enthusiastically and clapped her hands again, producing a thimble full of nectar that she held onto with both hands. She inched closer to Chester, being as careful as she could and not wanting to spill any of it. Her tiny pink tongue peek from the corner of her mouth in concentration.

"Here, try some," she held it out to him and grinned. "It's the *good* stuff," she confided with another nod of her head and spray of dust.

Chester looked at the little thimble, then gave it a little snif. He did not think it was somethign he wanted to eat. Maybe she would try again. Chester looked at the pixie; his tail slowly swaying back and forth.

Krystal blinked and peeked around his body to his butt and swaying tail. Her AI program inputting this new data as the little pixie interpreted it.... "Ohhh... So that's a no, huh?" she looked back into the cat's face and tipped her head a bit. "You don't like nectar? Then what do you like?" she asked, but her subroutines were already accessing the data files for the 'eating habits of cats'.

"OOHH!!! Fish!!! She exclaimed and nearly fell over in the process. "Whoops!!!" she juggled the thimble, managing not to spill any of the nectar and then wrapped one arm around it, holding it securely against her body. "Okie doke. Fish it is!" she nodded and waved her free hand with a flourished, "Fish for Chester!" And with a snap of her fingers and a pop of pixie dust a fish flopped on the branch between them. Course, it was still alive and proceeded to flop around in an effort to get back to water.

The little pixie squealed as it nearly knocked her off the branch and then looked like it was about to fall itself... "Catch it!!! Catch it!!!" she squealed and pointed and hopped up and down and got nectar all over herself.

Chester's quick reflexes allowed him to pin the floping fish against the tree limb. This was what he wanted. Much to his disappointment however, the fish just disappeared the moment he treid to eat it. Just like the other creature he was chasing. Chester began to lick his paws.

Krystal blinked when the fish disappeared and even tried to peer under Chester's paw to see where it went. She straightened and scratched her head as she processed this little tidbit and accessed the holodeck's programming parameters to find out what happened.

"Sushi!!" she snapped her fingers and giggled. Then she *poofed* the thimble and nectar away, licking her fingers afterwards and then bounced and pointed at Chester. "We can do Sushi!!" She clapped her hands with a, "Sushi for Chester, please!!" And a little Sushi bar appeared with all manner of raw fish decked out for Chester to choose from.

Chester looked at the fish, it looked real. He cautiously, prodded some of it with his paw. It did not run away and it did not disappear; this might just be what he was looking for. Chester speared a bit of the sushi with is claws and ate it. It was good. Chester busied himself eating his fill of the suhi.

Hunter was full. For some reason it seemed, her replicated was much better than any other. He entered the holodeck, the program was still running. "Chester!" he called clicking his tongue.

Chester, hearing Captain calling looked down at the ground. Now, he had another problem, how was he going to get down. He looked again at the ground and tried to crawl down, however, he scampered back to the limb of the tree when he realized that he would fall.

"Oooohhh!!!! It's the Captain!" Krystal exclaimed excitedly and hopped up and down clapping. Then she started flitting around and encouraging Chester to, "Come on!!" complete with hand gestures and liberal sprays of pixie dust. When she saw him head down and then scamper back up, she accessed the data banks on cats: climbing....

"Uht-oh!! You're stuck!!" she exclaimed and held both hands out to him, palm facing in the universal 'stay' motion. "Stay there, Chester!! I'll get help!!" she told him and flittered off.

Hunter looked around and was surprised he had not come right away. He used his fingers to make a loud whistle. Still no cat. Hunter was about to terminate the program, but then decided instead to find Chester the old fashioned way. "Now where would that cat be?" He crossed a small bridge that ended in a meadow on the other side. This is where Chester usually chased things.

When the little pixie reached the Captain, she put on the brakes with a "Whoa!!"... A rather comical sight in mid-air, and complete with a spray of pixie dust. "Help!! Help!!" she zipped up close to tug on his shirt with teeny hands as she back-winged and tried to pull him along.... Of course she had her feet planted on his chest at the same time, so wasn't going to be pulling him too far. "Chester's Stuck!!! Chester's Stuck!!"

"Easy...easy." said Hunter. "What are you doing here?"

"I was exploring," Krystal told him, still tugging, only not quite so hard as at first and trying to figure out how to actually 'pull' him along. "And I found this program running... "

Hunter gave the pixie a suspicious glance.

"...And then I just *peeked* in, honest! But then I found Chester, and he's a CAT." She finally took her feet off his chest and tried just tugging on him. "I've never learned a CAT before," she explained. "And since there wasn't anyone really here but him, I thought it would alright..." She paused for a moment to blink at him. "It was alright to interact with Chester, wasn't it?" she asked, but didn't pause long enough to actually let him answer. "Hurry, Hurry! He's stuck and you have to save him!"

"Okay..Okay, calm down and show me where he is"

"This way!!" Hunter followed the pixie as it finally released him and started to fly in the direction of where she'd left Chester. She kept coming back to make sure he was following and even hurried him along as quickly as she could, which given the size and mass difference wasn't going to be very effective. "There!!! See!!!" she pointed up at the cat.

Hunter looked up at Chester, he did seem to be about 15 meters up in a tree top. "Computer, verify safety protocol. The computer promptly responded, "Spring Creek safety parameter is set at 110%." Hunter turned and looked at where Krystal was hoovering. Putting aside the ridiculous fact that he was about to address a pixie, he asked, "How did he get up there in the first place?"

Krystal blinked at him and then looked up at Chester and back to the Captain. "He climbed up. My data indicates that cats are very good climbers," she went into data recall mode, "but they often lack the understanding of how to climb back down, hence the adage of 'stuck up a tree'."

Hunter circled around the base of the tree slowly. He had seen Chester climb this tree but never quite so high. Hunter considered terminating the program but was concerned that might bother Chester next time they returned. "Arch" said Hunter. The computer produced the holodeck arch.

"I need bring this tree down or figure out a way to go up and get him."

Krystal looked from the Captain to Chester and back, rather like watching a tennis match. She was processing the data though, and looking for a solution for Hunter. "You could climb up," she pointed out. "Or I could get him down."

"You can get him down?" Hunter looked up. "Ok, go ahead."

"Uh-huh," she nodded and flitted up to just above Chester where she proceeded to sprinkle him liberally with Pixie dust. Then she started to sing as she waved her hands around. "Salaga-doola, menchika-boola, Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!" At which point Chester should start to float....

Chester tried to shake the dust off his fur, it was going to take him forever to get his fur clean again. Suddenly, he realized that he was floating. His eyes opened wide as he moved away from the tree. Chester let out a loud screech and slashed at the air with is claws. Continuing to screech and flail at the air he saw Captain.

Chester landed on the ground at Hunter's feet. He crouched low to the ground and tired to get himself under control. He did not ever want to do that again. He hissed at Hunter and began to make loud growling noises.

"Chester!" scolded the Hunter. "Its okay!" He reached down and picked him up and started soothing him by scratching him behind the ears.

"Whoops!!" Krystal stared wide-eyed at the pair of them, her tiny hands both covering her mouth for a moment or two. "I didn't mean to hurt him!" she squeaked.

"He's fine," said Hunter, "just doesn't like flying I guess."

Krystal fluttered her wings and looked like that was just the oddest thing she'd ever heard. "Maybe I could teach him," she suggested and flew a little closer to Chester and the Captain.

Chester took a look at the pixie and then jumpeed out of hunters arms and headed towards the computer arch.

"I guess Chester is ready to go home." said Hunter. "Computer, end program."

Hunter followed after Chester

The little pixie flittered alongside him, trying to follow him and Chester out of the Holodeck. "That was a 'no', wasn't it? I think it looked like a n---" Only she disappeared with a little sparkle of golden dust as soon as she crossed the arch .

Rura Penthe #127"
By: Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]
Craig Witmore, Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.18 1610

Ensign Tapert stepped out of the turbolift and headed to Main Engineering. She was looking for a certain Engineer. Namely Ensign Craig Witmore. That's who Lieutenant Silvio had told her to get help from and she right figured that as the Chief of Engineering, he'd know who was best for what she needed.

"Pardon me... Whoops... 'Scuse me... Sorry..." she scooted around people making their way in the opposite direction she was headed and stepped into Engineering with a muttered, "Whew..." Bright green eyes looked around at the people moving about on duty as she tried to pick out that -one- face.

"'Scuse me..." she finally stopped an Crewman that happened by. "Could y'tell me where I can find Ensign Witmore?"

"Of course, ma'am. You'll find him right over there..." the Crewman pointed in the direction of where Craig was and gave her some quick directions.

Craig had buried himself partially inside a console. The blasted thing kept circuiting out and Silvo had basically ordered him to rebuild the console from scratch. He whisled a small tune and reached for the spanner beside his leg.

Touching blindly for this, he noticed he was touching a pair of boots.

Max blinked as his fingers touched her foot and crouched down, her hand going for the spanner to put in his and at the same time try and get a peek inside the console to see him. "'Ello there... M'lookin' for Ensign Witmore".

He wriggled himself out of the console and looked up. " That will me me pretty Laidy, what can old Craig do for you?"

Maxine grinned at him and offered the spanner. "I have a project Lt. Silvio said y'might be interested in doing," she told him in that soft New Zealand accent of hers. "M'needin' some 'oloemitters mucked about with."

"Fiddling with some holoemitters? He smiled this was just his cup of tea. " Sure that would be great, you have any particular design in question?"

She nodded and fished in a pocket for one of the holoemitters from her room. "This is what I use in my room. What I need is something smaller and mobile. Like a button, or 'airclip. Something I can put on me. I think three or four ought t'do it."

"I see a pretty Lady does not need fancy hairclips but you asked for it." He now had managed to crawl out of the tight space and stood up.

Maxine stood when he did, releasing the holoemitter when he took it from her. It was about three inches in diameter and looked like a multifaceted crystal button. Not as sophisticated as something a good engineer could whip out, but not bad for a computer geek to produce. "I also need t'get some force field generators installed in my quarters. Could you 'elp with that too?"

Craig first did not hear what she siad, then he nodded. "Sure pretty lady, I can make some for you. Come to think of it. Follow me." Craig let her to a small work area and search thru some of the components. He remembered some red redundant crystals.

"What you think of those, like the color?'

Max had followed along and peered over his shoulder as he dug around, straightening when he came up with the crystals. "A'roight. Red is good," she nodded her approval and gave him a 'thumbs up'.

Craig looked at Max, "if you don't mind my asking lady but why do you need these emitters and generators for?"

"For my AI program," she patted the PADD at her waist. "Or 'er 'olographic projection, that is," she added. "I 'ave the 'oloemitters in my room and she 'as free reign there. But it's not like the 'oloeck. With some force field generators added to my room, I can make 'er more like the EMH. At least when she's in my room. When she's with me, she'd just be a projection that looks real."

"That sounds facinating," Craig said. "Check back with me in about an hour and I might have something ready for you."

Maxine nodded enthusiastically. "A'roight, that would be great. I'll come back then," she grinned at him, her excitement barely contained and threatening to bubble over.

Pixie Helpers "
By: Krystal, Pixie Hologram , [RNPC]
Maxine Lucinda Tapert, Computer Specialist, [PC]
Craig Witmore, Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.18 2030

Craig yawned, and felt his stomach rumble. He had been working on the small mobile emitters for the pretty lady and much to his surprise they had turned out rather well. He had managed to build them from scratch and they were an absolute gem.

He pushed away his tools and for the last time checked the power out put on the little emitters. According to the readings the output was at 98%. He stood up and stretched, feeling his muscles ach and his joints crack, thats what you get for sitting too long in 1 seat Craig he spoke to himself.

He walked to one of the other consoles and had managed to find 2 force field generators, they were a bit older then the latest ones they had from QT but they still served their purpose.

He tapped his combadge. Withmore to ensign Tappert

Maxine blinked at the page as it brought her out of her totally absorbed state. She'd been working on the computer system and the mess left behind by Garret. "Tapert here," she responded after a moment.

"Hello pretty lady, I have your order ready."

"A'roight.. Take out," she grinned. "Y'want me to come there? I can be there in just a second..." Course that meant she'd have to practically run the whole way. "Or did you want to meet somewhere?"

"Well lady," Craig said hesitantly, he was never so good around girls. "I could meet you at your quarters I have these force field generators as well. I could install them for you if you want?"

"Oh, perfect! How soon can you be there?" Max asked, her enthusiasm apparent in the tone of her voice and she was already starting in that direction.

"I will be there in about 15 minutes Lady." Craig said with a chuckle as he heard the eagerness in Max's voice.

****

=Tapert's Quarters=

Craig hit the chime, hopefully she was already there.

"He's here!! He's here!!!" Krystal clapped and giggled with glee. She buzzed around the room several times and did a few aerial acrobatics to demonstrate how happy she was.

"I should have programmed you without emotions, Pixie," Max shushed her with a, "try and behave, a'roight? Maybe duck into your cave..." she looked with a bit of longing towards what once was her replicator but now looked like an overgrown cave mouth.

"Okie doke," Krystal nodded and zipped back into her little 'nest', her big blue eyes visible as she peeked out. Max shook her head and turned her attention to the door. "Enter," she called out and shushed the giggling pixie again just before the door whooshed open to expose Craig standing there.

"Hello pretty lady," he said. "1 order of technical hardware".

"Door to door delivery. What could be better?" she laughed and waved him in.

Craig grinned as he stepped in. "So tell me where you want to have those," he lifted the small generators.

"Oh perfect!" Max exclaimed and a tiny voice echoed her sentiments. The woman in front of him ignored the voice as she pulled out a drawing of her room, indicating where the holo emitters were located and where she thought the generators should go. "But you're the engineer, so if you have a better idea, I'm more than willing to bow to your expertise," she added.

Craig looked at the schematics. "Hmmmmm, the first one should pose no problem," he said as he put his tools on the table. He took one of the generators and placed it in a corner of the room, from a distance it was nearly invisible. He concentrated deeply on recalibrating the little generator and a quick glance on his tricorder showed him it was fully functional.

Max watched him work with barely concealed excitement. As for Krystal, she peeked further out of her "nest" and eyed some of the smaller, shiny tools Craig was using.

The second one Max had indicated would go into the other corner but according to Craig that would not be such a good idea. " Listen im going to place this higher against the bulk head so that the range overlaps eachother o.k.?" he said.

"That sounds good to us," Max nodded. If nothing else, she was impressed with his engineering abilities.

Standing on a chair he carefully attached the generator to the bulk head and after some fiddling his tools indicated that it too was fully functional.

If Max was more cognizant of her surroundings and less focused on what he was doing, she might have been worried about him falling off a chair.... Krystal was however, and buzzed out to land on Max's shoulder and tug on her ear with a whispered... "Don't let him fall!" before ducking back behind Max's hair when she saw Craig finishing.

"So there we are," he said as he stepped down from the chair. " As you can see pretty lady, your whole room is now "hotwired" so to speak. But tell me why did you need those generators for?"

"For my AI program," Max smiled at him and looked around the room. "This is going to be perfect," she nodded. "Krystal, stop hiding and tell Ensign Witmore thank you..." And with her prompting, Krystal peeked out from around Max and wiggled her tiny fingers in a wave.

"Hihihi! Thank you, Ensign," the very real looking hologram giggled and scattered a trail of dust with every movement.

Craig took a step back as he eyed the little hologram. "Well your a little butterfly. Hello." he said.

Krystal and Max both blinked.

"So tell me butterfly, you are happy with the arrangements?" Craig said as he continued to study Krystal.

"I'm a Pixie," Krystal told him and nodded, spraying dust everywhere. She zipped over to him and patted his cheek as a test, which worked pretty good considering the setup in Max's room wasn't nearly as sophisticated as the holodeck. "Oooohhh... Now I can play with Maxy's stuff!" she squealed in delight and began buzzing around the room, touching everything.

"I've created a monster," Max commented as she watched the little thing buzz around.

"I presume she is quite a handfull Miss," Craig said softly as he packed his tools."

"She can be," Max agreed with a smile. "But she's well behaved even within the Pixie parameters.

"Well I better be going now, if you need anything else just call." he said with a chuckle.

"Oh, I will. Thank you very much... For those," Max waved a hand towards the field generators. "And for these," she indicated the small mobile ones in her hand. "If *you* ever need anything, just call. We're indebted to you for this," she admitted and followed him to the door. Krystal flitted around them, watching and listening and learning.

"Bye pretty lady, bye Krystal."

"G'bye, Craig, and thank you again," Max smiled and Krystal wiggled her little fingers in a wave. "Bye bye Ensign Witmore. Come back and see us," she called out, and the invitation was echoed by Max.

As the door whooshed closed, Craig could hear the little pixie hologram sing a giggling, "I'm freeeeeeeeee..." and Max's response of, "I'm so reworking your pixie behavior protocols......"

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