Posted by Captain Michael Stout (CO) in Lounge - Clearing the Refined Air (Tag Pol)

Posted by Civilian Elizabeth Notta (Lounge Manager and Bartender) in Lounge - Clearing the Refined Air (Tag Pol)

Posted by Captain Michael Stout (CO) in Lounge - Clearing the Refined Air (Tag Pol)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Snippity Doo Dah.
“I am not going to answer that,” Pol says indignant as ever, folding her arms across her chest. “You are the captain it is up to you to decide if you want me around or not. You just got done yelling about me full of myself.” She huffs, “But if I were going to answer, which I am not, but if I were, I would say its because I am faster at thinking even than your best engineer. I am par excellence when it comes to detecting flaws.”

Polaris, The AI

Elizabeth covered her face with her hand and shook her head as she heard Polaris’s answer and turned back to taking care of her Bar and seeing if McMoragh needed anything else.

Elizabeth Notta, Civ

Stout looked at Pol. He saw Notta’s gesture from the corner of his eye, and a small smile formed. “Junior. I now you’re listening. You have any advice for Ms. Polaris here?”

Stout, CO

“depends on if she’s a learning AI or needs to be reprogrammed, Chief.” Elizabeth said honestly.

Elizabeth Notta, Civ

“You wouldn’t dare,” Polaris says to Elizabeth with scorn in her eyes, “I’ll.... I’ll…” She looks around with a hurried and uncalculated expression, “I’ll melt all your ice cubes!”

Pol

Stout laughed. Out loud. But just once. “Pol. I know you are an advanced AI with incredible capabilities. And I am leaning more and more to making you a full fledged member of my crew. But let me warn you about something.” and he pointed a finger at Notta, the smile still on his face. “That…” and he jabbed finger towards her, “is one of the finest Engineers Starfleet ever had in it’s ranks. And she is absolutely the most vengeful one ever. I would think long and hard before I threaten her ice cubes. I have seen her slag entire computer cores just to make a point, fail-safes be damned.” and he leaned back and chuckled. “Besides. It wouldn’t look to good for me to make you an officer with you being all petty.”

Stout, CO

“Besides, threaten my baby again and the only thing you’ll be able to do is act as a coat rack because I’ll lock every motor function you have until your standing with one arm standing straight up and the other out to your side with one leg bent at the knee and your holo projections have frozen to solid so you’ll be useful as just a coat rack.” Elizabeth smiled a smile of pure pleasure at the thought of it. “Other than that She has some potential if she’s just willing to learn rather than constantly be on the defensive with everyone.”

Elizabeth Notta, Civ

Pol was about to correct both of them but just closed her mouth, arms remaining crossed in impotent rage. After her temperament gets the better of her and she muttered under her breath at Notta, “If you are so good why are you a bartender? “

Pol

Elizabeth smirked, “Because I chose to be.” She said it was a simple answer. she enjoyed what she did, she had enjoyed engineering as well or she wouldn’t have stayed in it.

Elizabeth Notta, Civ

Stout snorted trying to stifle a laugh, but smiled broadly. “You see, Pol, once you put in your time and make a reputation for yourself as someone who can be trusted, relied on, and even looked to for expertise you get to make such choices. Me and Junior here served together. She proved herself to me, so now she enjoys the perks that come with that trust. For instance, she is the only one on this station that can tell me I’m being a bastard when I am being one. Well, I’m sure others could… but I’ll listen to her.” he said sarcastically. He looked intently at Polaris and said “And I think, in time, I could maybe see you in that light. If, and only if, you decide to step up, assume the responsibility you seem to be designed for, and make a name for yourself.” and he cocked his head slightly to the side and added “So what’s it gonna be, Pol…? Bar maid? Or Station AI?”

Stout, CO

“I don’t understand,” Pol said looking at the pair blankly. “If you excel at something that is what you should do. Even if I pick up a hobby like mixing drinks or writing poetry I will never be as good at it as I am with engineering problems and thus I must remain in engineering for the rest of my useful life.” Fail-safe number three.

“I own a bar because I enjoy it, and I’m good at it. I’m a damn good engineer, and I’ll never give up that experience. Plus if the Chief really needs me to do something for engineering I would. I enjoy and excel at making drinks that people appreciate and enjoy.” Elizabeth told Pol with a shake of her head an AI would never understand the heart of the matter at hand.

Stout smiled and said “If you excel at something, then you should do it if it makes you happy, if it brings you fulfillment and joy. I am a pretty good pilot, actually. But that doesn’t bring me as much satisfaction as working with a broken or malfunctioning impulse power converter. That makes we happy. There’s the difference.”

After considering the conversation a moment more she nods, “I’ll do my job and I promise no shenanigans.”

Pol

Stout looked at her for a moment and said “All right then. Call Woods and tell him he has a new assistant in Engineering.” and then he leaned forward and his expression became very stern. “But understand this, Pol. One… just one… out of line action or outburst, and we are done. You can go back to whomever sent you here. And Woods vouched for you, so it’s his butt on the line, too. Your actions reflect on him. Don’t make me regret allowing you out, okay?”

Stout, CO

“Good now that that’s settled does that mean she no longer has to bartend?” Elizabeth asked in a teasing tone with a slight smirk.

Elizabeth Notta, Civ

Pol looked as if she wanted to say something more to Elizabeth and the captain but deciding that discretion was the better part of valor at this point she just snapped her fingers, for theatrical effect, and disappeared out of view.

Pol

Stout grinned slightly and, knowing Pol would still be able to hear him, said “Pol, make sure you confine yourself to Engineering. No eavesdropping on people. And tell Mr. Woods to report to me when you are settled so we can discuss going forward. Thank you, Pol.” and then he looked at Elizabeth. “Well, Junior… I think a celebratory coffee is in order. Join me.”

Stout, CO

“Gladly, I’d call that progress, Chief,” Elizabeth said pouring two freshly made cops of coffee and motioned to an empty table for them to sit at where they won’t be bothered, besides it was during the time of day when she had the least number of patrons to her store.

Elizabeth Notta, Bar and Lounge Owner.

Stout sat down heavily and let out a deep sigh, then took a drink of the coffee. “I’m tired as hell, Junior…” and then he sat the coffee down and rubbed his temples.

Stout, CO

Elizabeth smirked, “This I do not doubt Chief,” She set her coffee down, but had yet to sit. He was not her chief anymore, but he was her friend still, so she moved behind him and bat his hands away before taking over rubbing his temple for him. She was told that she had a magic touch and could make any pain just melt away.

Elizabeth Notta, Bar and Lounge Owner.

Stout let her fingers work on the tension in his head for several long moments and then he reached up and grasped her hands and moved them away. He stood up, picked up the coffee, and made his way to the door of the bar. As they opened and he stepped through, he turned and looked at her. It was a look she hadn’t seen before. It was the look of man who was weighed down by his responsibilities, but refused to stop moving. He then said simply “Dinner tonight. See you at 8. Get someone to cover for you at the bar.” and he turned and left, coffee in hand.

Stout, CO

Elizabeth was actually surprised when he reached up to grasp her hands and move them away from his temple. She watched him go cocking her head to the right slightly wondering if she had done something wrong. Elizabeth’s breath caught when he looked at her. She had never seen that look before even when he was CEO and she was his junior. She wasn’t given time to respond. but she wouldn’t have refused his invite. she cleaned up the coffee, and went behind the bar grabbing some Andorian ale, she took a drink straight from the bottle. She already had a program that could take over for her, so she could go to dinner.

Elizabeth Notta, Bar and Lounge Owner.