Stasis Troubles

Posted on Mon May 25th, 2026 @ 6:23pm by Michael Th’ross & Lieutenant JG Elen Rell

1,203 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Hydroponic Bay
Timeline: Early 2389

Hydroponic Bay
Deck 20
———

Michael Th’ross had had a bitch of a morning. Two of his prep cooks came down with a case of Levodian flu and Rook had complained about the yield of Avalon Gold mead which meant he’d have to do another batch. The worst thing of all, in Michael’s mind, was the Uhssan Razorfish wasn’t holding it’s proper temperature or age which meant he was now down in the Hydroponic Bay, arms deep in his stasis unit.

It had to be the stasis unit. Andorian Uhssan Razorfish had to be maintained to a proper degree without the biome of Andoria’s polar oceans to keep it regulated. The slab of razorfish his sou had pulled from stasis this morning was out of balance to where it wasn’t usable and it was a pain in Michael’s ass to get it from Andoria from deep space. He didn’t want the rest of it to spoil. That was a good portion of his menu.

So here he was, cursing the gods, trying to figure out what went wrong with a 30 year old, rebuilt stasis unit he bought second hand from Qualor-II.

“FUCK MY LIFE!” He howled to the heavens as he lost his grip on his spanner as it clattered to the ground.

“Stupid piece of shit,” He growled more as he tried to pull the relay that was sparking, his frustration growing.

Elen had come to Hydroponics for five quiet minutes and some green things that did not need anything from her, which was apparently too much to ask from the universe. The swearing snapped her head up, the clatter right after it pulling her into motion before she had fully decided to move, and by the time she rounded the corner she was already pushing loose hair back and keying onto the problem. "Oh no, it won't like that...give me a sec," she said at once, dropping into a crouch beside the stasis unit, one hand scooping up the fallen spanner while the other hovered near the sparking relay without touching it. Her eyes moved quickly over the exposed components, fast and bright, taking in three things at once. "So...that's live and has a nasty bite." She leaned in closer, shifting her weight, her hair free except for a few half-braided bits meant to keep it from her face. It failed miserably. Out of uniform, she looked like any other random member of the crew. "Your calibration loop doesn't sit right...got a tricorder?" Her eyes went to him then, her own green ones warm.

"I barely could afford this thing." The Human/Andorian spoke rather bluntly. His hair was a mess, his chef jacket flap open but his name was still visible "Michael Th'ross" and below his name "Co-Owner The Green Kiss".

"Tricorders not really needed for cooking." He added on.

"Shame, they're handy for malfunctioning equipment," she said, and grimaced. She was without her stuff. But...every room had an emergency kit. She pushed herself up, humming as she made a beeline for the utility closet, opening it and pulling out the kit. Not...exactly what she would have liked. It was unloved. But useful. She carried it back and realised she had forgotten to say who she was. "Elen Rell. Engineering..." she added with a quick smile.

"Michael. I own The Green Kiss" Michael said as he extended a hand. "You could probably do more for this POS stasis unit than I have done in the two years I've owned it. This is what I get for buying shit from Qualor-II. Fuckin Dokachin."

She nodded as she started working, shaking her head as she glanced at him. "Not to be that person, but what is it you're hoping this thing...does...? When it works I mean..." she asked, because she could make assumptions but it was best to check.

“The Stasis pod has Andorian Rockfish. It’s a large shark like fish from the north polar ocean. The thing is it has a unique microbiome that has to be maintained with proper control. Otherwise it rots rather quickly.”

She looked at him with mild confusion before the warp core ejected in her mind and she got it. "Ah, food preservation!" she smiled to herself before nodding. "Okay, so good news, this is not going to be a difficult fix. Bad news...it'll break eventually again, I'd say...three months max."

Michael shook his head. Three months they would be doing this again and that was no good.

"Any suggestions?" He asked looking up at her from where he was sitting on the ground.

Elen considered it before she looked at him, her eyes shining with it. "Get someone to make you a new one. From scratch. Could be done in a month too..." she said and tilted her head to the side as if she was judging the problem in front of her. "I'd most likely get something running within a couple of months. Other engineers would be able to do it quicker. I'd ask the enlisted, a lot love projects...especially if it is in exchange of something."

"I'll talk to some of them when they come down. Thank you, Ms. Elen" Michael gave her a soft smile.

"Oh no," Elen looked at him with alarm, shaking her head almost passionately. "Oh no, no Ms. No, no, no...we do not do that. I do not do that. That seems so much...you know...serious? Lady-like? A weird mixture of adult and not? Who knows! Just...Elen will do, thanks. Rell if you have to or want to sound serious..." she winked, grinning. "But I can fix this for now, and if you have patience I can try and make you a new one before this one gives up the ghost."

"I have been told that I should try to cultivate some patience. I'll let you attempt to make a new one. Thank you, Elen" Michael nods.

She smiled at that, nodding as she shifted. "So...this is a funny situation...a chef...and someone who managed to burn things on the holodeck. With safeties..." she looked at him, her eyes shining with humour. "Is it ironic, or...you know...just one of those things?"

"I suppose so, though I have alot on my list to complete today and that's just before dinner service." Michael gave her a small smile.

"Ah! You run and get that sorted," Elen said, feeling awkward for holding him up, as she hurried up. A familiar sound and she nodded. "There, working again...sorry..." she grimaced, nervously shifting a little before she gathered the tools.

"Thank you. It'll hold for now, I suspect." Michael got up from the floor, gathering up his tools and equipment.

"I need to get back to the restaurant but poke your head into the kitchen sometime."

"I will," Elen said with a nod, moving to the side with the toolkit to put it where it belongs. "Good luck, Chef."

"Thank ya" He smiled at her before leaving the cargo bay.

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Michael Th'ross
Executive Chef/Owner
The Green Kiss
USS Guinevere

Lt. jg Elen Rell
Engineer
USS Guinevere

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