Warp Core in a Bottle

Posted on Mon Apr 6th, 2026 @ 2:22pm by Lieutenant JG Electra Drake & Lieutenant JG Elen Rell

1,464 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Corridor - USS Guinevere
Timeline: Early 2389

Elen Rell wasn't running late as much as running. She still had time before her shift started - two hours- but she also knew that school days were a thing and she had made a promise to Lucy Drake. So, she had thrown on her jumpsuit rather than her usual uniform, not bothered with her hair except last night's braids to keep it away from her face, and pulled on the fingerless gloves. Her satchel contained her little invention, plus the pair of purple fingerless gloves she had crochet for Lucy. Oh, and some Martian blend tea for Electra. A moving in present. She rang the chime as she caught her breath, hands braced on her knees as she bent over. Oh, she had to start running more. Or maybe start goading Jace into more holodeck trips for hand to hand...she was getting better. Slowly. But better.

"I got it...I got it...." Lucy called on the other side, running to open the door herself. She was still wrapped in her little dressing gown that was covered in stars. The girl looked up to with excitement glinting in her eyes. "I knew it was you."

Elen smiled as she nodded, taking a deep breath and straightening. "Because we had an appointment," she said with a smile. "I had to tell the computer to remind me and count me down...with a backup or two. So I didn't lose track of time."

Lucy nodded at that, her little face serious as she thought on how often she was late or forgot things. "Thanks."

"Elen," Electra smiled as she saw the other woman, hairbrush in hand. She'd expected her to keep her word, but she'd managed with time to spare. The counsellor in her couldn't help but note how she'd managed that with her time blindness. "Come on in, can I get you coffee? Tea?"

"Oh...coffee could be good," Elen said with a warm smile, looking over at Lucy before she looked around, unable to stop herself. "Two sugars if the replicator can manage, you know how those things are with making sure nutrition stays excellent...."

"It's all fake," Lex chuckled softly as she moved to get the coffee for her. She glanced in Elen's direction, seeing the way she looked at the quarters. "We still have a couple of boxes to unpack," she found herself saying, almost on impulse, not wanting her to think the space was unappreciated. Most of their ornaments were out though, the knick-knacks they'd picked up on the way and made it feel like home....some souvenirs from travels, more elegant vases and frames that spoke of Lex and a couple of more childish figures that were gifts to Lucy.

The coffee table had been overtaken by Lucy's drawings, books and artwork though, with a couple of cushions around the edge so she could sit close. The furniture had been dressed up with warmer accessories, to give them both some comfort in their new place...dark red cushions, a light blanket, even a teddybear sitting in the corner of the sofa. And there was a large set of shelves with real books for both of them. "Here, hopefully it will hit the spot," Lex met the other woman's eyes with a small smile as she offered the glass cup over.

Elen took it, her focus pulled between the different things. "Oh I still have a case I never unpacked...pretty sure it's still sealed with clothes from the Academy, just never...got to it, you know? Also there's always a risk I put something I was obsessing over in there and I don't want to poke that dragon..." she sipped the coffee and grimaced, not because it tasted bad but because the temperature was more than she had anticipated. She usually forgot the coffee until it was at best lukewarm. "I love the cushions...and what's the teddy bear called?"

"Polaris," Lucy replied with a shy smile, following her mother's motion to sit in front of her at the sofa, to let her brush her dark red hair. "It's...the North Star...on Earth. It's in the Little Bear cons-tell-a-tion..." she offered the fact freely, taking her time over the long word to get it right. "We...call her Polly."

"I love it," Elen said with a nod, holding the cup. She put it down, carefully, watching Lucy and Electra. "So...I..." she swallowed and reached into the satchel, pulling out the orange box, easy for a child to hold. A granny square with the crochet hook pierced through it fell out with it and Elen grimaced at the ping, before she pulled out the gloves. "I...finished these."

"Oooo...." Lucy moved as best she could with her hair being brushed, taking the gloves to feel. She slipped them on with excitement, grinning at the feel. "So snuggly!"

"They're yours," she said with a smile, watching Lucy before glancing to Electra. She sat down on the floor, not even thinking twice about it, before she picked up everything that had fallen out of the satchel. "Something to...hold your hands when you feel like you're floating off the map a bit."

"Protect them..." Lucy nodded with narrowed eyes, looking to her with a firm nod. "So clever...I'll learn too."

"I'll teach you," Elen said and smiled warmly, giving a wink before she put the box on the table. "Here we go....the sound of the warp core." She nodded to the orange box. She shifted a little where she sat, tapping her knee for a moment. Because she was a bit nervous. She wanted Lucy to like it...but more importantly, she wanted Lucy to be honest if it needed changing.

Lucy bit her lip, looking with curiosity, because it seemed so small to have a sound as big as a warpcore. "How does it...?"

Elen looked at her before she reached out. It was as simple as a switch on the side...tactile, easy to feel. "You turn it on here..." she tapped it, but didn't turn it on. "And you can adjust it by sliding your finger over the top...the loudness, I mean."

Lucy leant forward as her mother let go of her hair, kneeling up at the table to look with a small smile of excitement. She tried it for herself, grinning as the familiar thrum came out. "Magic science..."

"I...if there's anything you want changed, you can tell me," Elen said softly, but she was watching Lucy's reaction with warmth...taking in the smile, the way she moved. She stroked her hand over her leg for a moment before nodding. "I don't mind doing it for it to work for you."

"It's perfect," Lucy looked to the clever lady with awe for making it work. She leant forward, hugging her arm tightly.

Elen let out a breath at that, smiling as she shifted to just touch her cheek to her hair, briefly, not wanting to crowd her. She felt the warmth, the...wave of feeling rolling over her. "I hope it'll help you sleep, Lucy."

"It's the best," she assured with a small smile, moving to look at it again, as if she might learn how to make it herself, but there were no clues. "You have one now?"

"Not yet, made yours first," Elen admitted as she gave a small shrug, but the smile was warm and she couldn't stop it. "It...took priority. Oh, and the gloves. I like making fingerless gloves. I can knit some too, they'll...feel very different."

"You really were able to make them that quickly?" it was Lex who asked the question though, looking at the craftsmanship with awe.

"Oh, it's quick when you just focus on it," Elen said with a small, almost shy smile, shifting a little. She hadn't been able to go to bed until it was done. And anyway, she wasn't...sleeping that great right now. One of those phases, it would ease.

"I can do it," Lucy said with absolute certainty, studying the links in the stitches, enjoying the pattern of it, the consistent loops.

"I know, you'll be good at it," Elen said softly, looking at Lucy with a small smile. "Maybe we can...arrange a time for me to come and...teach you?"

Lex smiled gently as she watched them, unsure for a moment...knowing she would be taking over Elen's therapy, and knowing how awkward Lucy could seem to others in the moments when she struggled. But she nodded lightly, knowing she had to give them both the trust...and set aside her own worries.

---


Lt. JG Elen Rell
Engineer
USS Guinevere

Lt. JG Electra 'Lex' Drake
Counsellor
USS Guinevere

Lucy Drake
Civilian Child
USS Guinevere

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