The wait . . .

<Who> Zack, what's left of Cubie, Chris Zodar
<Where> Engineering (I think)
<When> Whenever Zack would just happen to catch Chris in Engineering
Zack stumbled through the door to Engineering, tears streaming
down his cheeks. He spotted a young man looking at some instruments
and rushed over to him. "I need an engineer! Someone absolutely
brilliant!"
Chris blushed. "Well, it so happens-"
Zack pulled out Cubie's wrecked tramsmitter/controller. "This
is my wife. Can you repair her?"
Chris eyed the smashed plastic casing with various circuits and
wires dangling out of it. Then he eyed the distraught Zack. Then he
took note of the available exits and the nearest comm button that
would summon Security.
Then he thought about exactly what the consequences of summoning
Security on the Blue Dwarf were. He smiled. "Well, let me take a
look."
Carefully he took the crushed device from the ex-salesman and
laid it gently on the workbench. It only took him a few minutes to
realize that he was looking at something a little more advanced than
standard JMC equipment. "Where did you get this?"
Zack frowned. "The back seat of a rental hovercar. Why?"
Chris looked up at him. "I meant where was this created?"
Zack's eyes lit up in understanding. "Ah. She was designed in
the 29th century. She's an STCP headquarters field agent/accountant."
Chris nodded. "Well, this stuff is way past anything I've ever
seen before."
Zack paled. "You can't fix her?"
Chris smiled. "Oh, I think I can get her working again. It
just might take some time."
Zack hugged him suddenly. "Great! Where should I wait?"
Chris shook his head. "You should find something to do. This
could take a few hours." He pried open the cover, and a button
popped across the room and rolled under a coolant tank. "Or days.
Believe me, I'll let you know when she's ready."
Zack's shoulders slumped. I-I understand. I'll be down in
Owen's."
Chris nodded. "Yeah. A couple drinks might help make the time
pass."
Zack looked back at him. "No, I work there now."
"Ah."
Zack shuffled out of Engineering, feelings of hope and dread
battling for control of his mood.
<Well, Chris? Cubie's in your hands now. Fix her, fail to fix her,
or turbocharge her - it's all fine with me. Look forward to seeing
Zodar's handiwork.>
~Zack Richards~
~Glum fella~