[NO-SJ] The Surprise

The surprise

The mess hall had seen better days.

A length of shimmering blue fabric stretched across the ceiling, sagging slightly in the middle where it had been attached to a ventilation grille. Small decorative lights floated above the tables, casting shifting patterns of violet, gold, and turquoise across the walls. Someone had arranged several containers of flowers along the serving counter.

On the largest table sat a half-assembled birthday cake.

Joey stood in the middle of the room, holding a roll of decorative ribbon and looking around.

"Okay. I think we're getting somewhere."

Elrond, standing on a small maintenance step, examined the fabric above him.

"Getting somewhere would imply that we know where we're going."

"We do know where we're going," Joey replied. "We're going to have a birthday party."

"I understand the destination. I'm questioning the route."

Rod looked up from a small collection of luminous ornaments he had been arranging.

"Actually, there are several interesting ways we could approach the decoration. We could use a localized light field to create the impression of a much larger space. Or perhaps a refractive illusion, something that makes the ceiling appear to open into a starfield. Although, if we were to use a refractive field, we'd have to account for the existing illumination because the interference patterns might—"

Joey turned toward him.

"Rod."

"Yes?"

"Can we make the ceiling look like space?"

"Certainly."

"Wonderful. Let's do that."

Rod looked pleased. "I was getting to that."

Across the room, Fang was examining one of the floating lights. He turned it slowly in his hands, studying the small emitter beneath its casing.

"These are using the same power standard as the corridor lights?"

Rolex looked up immediately.

"More or less. Why?"

"The output is inconsistent. This one is brighter than the others."

Rolex approached, taking the ornament from Fang and turning it over.

"Ah. That's because these were salvaged from the observation deck. Different emitter model. They should still work together, though."

"Could you synchronize them?"

"Of course. Give me a few minutes."

Fang glanced toward the ceiling.

"Could you also make them respond to movement?"

Rolex paused.

"Respond how?"

"Perhaps change color when someone walks underneath."

Rolex's expression brightened.

"Now that's interesting."

Joey watched them exchange the light.

"Just to be clear, we're decorating the mess hall. We're not installing an interactive security system."

Fang considered that.

"Would it be useful?"

"No."

"Understood."

Rolex had already begun opening the casing.

Elrond looked down from his step.

"Joey, I believe your decorations have acquired a research department."

"At least they're enthusiastic."

"That's one word for it."

Gene came through the doorway carrying two large bags.

"Good news. I got the supplies."

Joey turned around.

"Oh, excellent! What did you find?"

Gene placed the bags on the table and began unpacking them. A collection of colorful streamers, metallic balloons, decorative ribbons, and several small boxes spilled across the surface.

"Everything we need. And a few things we probably don't."

Elrond descended from the step.

"Where did you get all of this?"

Gene gave him an easy smile.

"Supply storage."

"Which supply storage?"

"The one downstairs."

"Did someone authorize you to take these?"

Gene picked up a metallic balloon and began inflating it.

"I asked."

"Who?"

Gene hesitated for a fraction of a second.

"Someone."

Elrond regarded him.

"Gene."

"All right, fine. I found the storage room unlocked. There was a sign saying the materials were for recreational use."

"And you decided that qualified as permission?"

"Well, we're having a recreational event."

Joey pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

"Gene, did you take anything that belongs to someone else?"

"No. Everything's accounted for. I checked."

Elrond looked at the bags again.

"At least you checked."

Gene grinned and handed Joey a bundle of streamers.

"Besides, Feather deserves a proper celebration. We can't have him walking into a room with three balloons and a cake from the vending machine."

"That's actually a very good point," Joey said.

Elrond sighed quietly.

"Somehow, I suspect the inventory clerk will have a different opinion."

Gene returned to unpacking.

"Then we'll invite them to the party."

A little more decoration

Rod had begun working on the ceiling.

Thin strands of blue-white light extended from his hands, spreading across the overhead panels in delicate patterns. The effect resembled a distant nebula, with faint stars appearing between wisps of colored light.

He stepped back to examine his work.

"Interesting. The ambient illumination is affecting the apparent depth. If I adjust the field slightly, I can make the stars appear considerably farther away."

Fang looked up.

"Can you make them move?"

"Yes, but the movement would require a separate sequence. I could simulate orbital motion, although that would make the entire ceiling feel as though—"

"Do it," Gene said.

Rod turned toward him.

"You want orbital motion?"

"Yeah. Imagine walking in here and looking up. The whole ceiling's moving."

"That would be rather impressive."

"Exactly."

Joey smiled.

"All right, let's have a moving starfield. Rod, you handle the ceiling. Fang, could you help Rolex with the lights? Gene, I need you to take care of the tables."

Gene looked at the tables.

"Just the tables?"

"And the chairs."

"That's a lot of chairs."

"There's a lot of people coming."

"How many?"

Joey paused.

"Well, I haven't actually confirmed the number yet."

Gene gave her a look.

Elrond stepped in.

"Perhaps we should establish the guest list before we start rearranging the furniture."

"Yes. Good idea." Joey pulled out her datapad. "I was thinking the whole crew, naturally. And maybe some of the people Feather works with. Do we know who he'd want here?"

Elrond considered the question.

"We should be careful. If we invite everyone, the surprise may become rather difficult to maintain."

Gene leaned against a chair.

"Or we could make it a bigger surprise."

"That is generally how surprises become difficult to maintain."

Rolex, still working on the floating lights, raised a finger.

"Actually, I have an idea. We could use the ship's internal announcement system to play a birthday message when he enters."

Joey looked interested.

"Oh! That could be nice."

Fang examined the control unit.

"Would the announcement system be audible throughout the ship?"

"Yes."

"Then Feather would hear it before reaching the mess hall."

Rolex stopped.

"Right. That's a problem."

Elrond nodded.

"A fairly substantial one."

Gene smiled.

"Unless we make it sound like an ordinary announcement."

Joey turned toward him.

"What are you thinking?"

Gene put down the balloon.

"Something boring. Like a maintenance notice. He comes in, reads it, and then—"

"Then what?" Rod asked, looking down from the ceiling.

Gene spread his hands.

"Everything lights up. Music, decorations, the whole thing."

Joey's expression brightened.

"That's actually pretty good."

Elrond looked at her.

"Provided the announcement doesn't give the surprise away."

"We can make it sound official," Gene said. "People believe official announcements."

Elrond regarded him for a moment.

"I am beginning to understand why you find that amusing."

Gene laughed and returned to the chairs.

The cake problem

A few minutes later, Rolex had finished modifying the floating lights. They now drifted gently around the room, changing color whenever someone passed beneath them.

Fang watched one of the lights follow Gene across the floor.

"It tracks movement accurately."

Rolex looked pleased.

"Yes. I adjusted the sensors and linked them to the local power grid. They should run for several hours without needing attention."

"Could they follow multiple people?"

"Probably. Why?"

"Testing."

Fang walked beneath the lights again.

Three of them turned toward him.

Rolex watched the result with growing interest.

"Wait. That's not supposed to happen. I only linked the nearest sensor."

Fang stopped.

"What did you change?"

"Nothing. That's what's interesting."

Joey looked up from the cake.

"Rolex, please tell me the lights aren't going to chase everyone around the room."

"They aren't chasing anyone."

One of the lights moved after Gene.

Gene looked up.

"That one's following me."

Rolex studied the device.

"Well, it's tracking you."

"That's what chasing means."

"No, chasing implies a different movement pattern."

Gene walked faster. The light followed.

Rod, still working on the ceiling, leaned over the table.

"Technically, the distinction depends on whether the object is attempting to intercept its target or merely maintain a relative position."

Elrond closed his eyes briefly.

"Please don't encourage this."

Joey laughed.

"All right, let's leave the lights alone for now. We have a cake to finish."

She turned toward the cake.

It was considerably taller than it had been earlier, with several layers of frosting and a decorative arrangement of fruit around the top.

Joey studied it.

"Who made this?"

Gene raised his hand.

"Me."

"You made this?"

"Well, I assembled it."

Elrond approached the table.

"Where did the cake come from?"

"Galley."

"Did you ask the kitchen staff?"

Gene nodded.

"They said I could use the ingredients as long as I cleaned up afterward."

Elrond looked at the cake.

"That is reassuring."

Gene picked up a small decorative topper shaped like a starship.

"I thought this would be a nice touch."

Joey examined it.

"That's adorable."

"It's a miniature of the ship."

Rod came closer.

"Is that supposed to be the ship?"

Gene looked at him.

"Yes."

"Because the proportions are slightly unusual."

"It's a cake decoration, Rod."

"I understand. I was only observing that the engine assembly is considerably larger than the actual—"

"Rod."

"Yes?"

"Let the cake be a cake."

Fang looked at the topper.

"The engine assembly is oversized."

Gene pointed at him.

"Thank you. I appreciate the support."

Fang considered this.

"You're welcome."

Rolex approached the cake, wiping his hands on a cloth.

"Could we make the starship's engines glow?"

Joey looked at him.

"Can we?"

"Absolutely. Small light emitters. Nothing complicated."

Elrond looked from the cake to Rolex.

"Does the cake need illuminated engines?"

Rolex thought about it.

"Need? No."

Gene leaned forward.

"Want? Yes."

Joey laughed.

"All right. Tiny engines. But nothing that melts the frosting."

Rolex nodded with complete seriousness.

"I can work with that."

The small engine lights were installed a few minutes later.

Rolex placed the miniature ship on the cake and activated the emitters. Two tiny blue lights flickered beneath its engines.

Gene leaned closer.

"That's brilliant."

Rolex adjusted one of the connections.

"Give it a moment. The power distribution needs to stabilize."

The engines glowed brighter.

Then the miniature ship began vibrating.

Everyone looked at it.

Rod tilted his head.

"Is that intentional?"

Rolex leaned forward.

"Interesting."

The starship suddenly lifted off the cake.

It hovered approximately three inches above the frosting.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Gene's eyes widened.

"IT FLIES!"

"Yes, I can see that," Elrond said.

Rolex was already examining the miniature.

"Hold on. That's actually quite good. The emitter is producing a stronger field than I expected. I wonder if the frosting is affecting the—"

The ship drifted sideways.

Fang reached out and caught it before it collided with a container of flowers.

He examined its underside.

"The stabilizer is responding to the cake's surface."

Rolex took the miniature back.

"Really? Let me see."

Joey stared at the frosting.

"Rolex."

"Yes?"

"Please put the spaceship back on the cake."

"Of course."

"And make sure it stays there."

"Right. Yes."

Gene was still grinning.

"Can we keep it flying during the party?"

Joey looked at the cake, then at Rolex.

"Maybe we can have it hover above the cake when Feather walks in. Just for a moment."

Rolex's expression brightened.

"Now that's something I can arrange."

Elrond looked at Joey.

"You realize that you've just encouraged him."

"I know."

"Then I shall reserve my objections for when the cake catches fire."

"It won't catch fire," Rolex said.

Fang looked at the miniature.

"Probably."

Rolex turned toward him.

"Why probably?"

"Because I haven't finished examining the power field."

Rod nodded thoughtfully.

"That is a reasonable conclusion. We should also consider whether the field might interfere with the other decorative emitters. If the miniature produces a localized distortion, the ceiling's light patterns could potentially—"

Joey raised both hands.

"Okay! Let's take a breath. The ship stays on the cake. The lights stay on the ceiling. Nobody experiments with the frosting."

Gene picked up the decorative topper and placed it carefully back on the cake.

"Understood."

He looked at Rolex.

"Can you make the engines pulse?"

Rolex smiled.

"Yes."

"Excellent."

Elrond quietly returned to arranging the chairs.

Almost ready

By the time the preparations were nearly finished, the mess hall had become a completely different room.

The ceiling shimmered with a slowly rotating field of stars. The floating lights drifted between the tables, casting soft colors across the decorations. A long banner stretched above the serving counter, spelling out:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FEATHER!

Joey stood in front of it, reading the words.

"Do we like the banner?"

Gene looked up.

"Yeah. Looks good."

Rod examined the lettering.

"The spacing is slightly uneven."

Joey turned.

"Is it noticeable?"

"Only if you look closely."

"Then we're keeping it."

Rod nodded.

"Fair enough."

Elrond was arranging the final plates.

"I've counted enough seating for the crew and the additional guests Joey mentioned. The food should arrive shortly."

Joey glanced at her datapad.

"Did we remember everything?"

Elrond looked around.

"Food, decorations, seating, cake, drinks. We have a birthday message prepared. Rolex has made the lights considerably more elaborate than originally intended."

"They look great, though."

"They do."

Joey smiled.

"Thank you for helping with all this."

Elrond placed another plate on the table.

"Feather has spent enough time looking after the rest of us. I imagine he'd appreciate having someone make an occasion of his birthday."

Joey looked toward the cake.

"Yeah. That's what I was thinking."

A brief silence followed.

Then Gene appeared beside her, holding a small package.

"Where should I put this?"

Joey looked at it.

"What's that?"

"His present."

"Oh! You got him something?"

Gene shrugged.

"Yeah. Saw something I thought he'd like."

"Can I see?"

"No."

Joey blinked.

"Why not?"

"Because it's a present."

"Right. Obviously."

Gene grinned and slipped the package into a small compartment beside the serving counter.

Elrond glanced at him.

"You remembered to bring a gift. That's thoughtful."

Gene looked pleased.

"Well, it's his birthday."

Fang, who had been quietly inspecting the decorative lights, approached the table.

"How long until he arrives?"

Joey checked her datapad.

"Not long. We should probably turn off the main lights and get everyone into position."

Rod looked up at the ceiling.

"Should I maintain the starfield?"

"Yes. I think it'll look wonderful when he walks in."

Rolex raised a hand.

"And the floating lights?"

"Keep them."

"The miniature ship?"

Joey looked at the cake.

"Keep it on the cake."

Rolex nodded.

"Understood."

Elrond finished adjusting the last chair.

"Then I suggest everyone find a place. We should avoid having Feather discover six people standing around the entrance."

Gene immediately headed toward the doorway.

"Or I could greet him outside and bring him in."

Elrond looked at him.

"That sounds reasonable."

Gene stopped.

"Really?"

"Yes. Provided you don't give anything away."

Gene placed a hand against his chest.

"I can be discreet."

Elrond regarded him.

"I shall take that under advisement."

Joey laughed.

"Go on, Gene. Just make sure you bring him here."

"Got it."

Gene slipped through the doorway.

The others began switching off the lights and finding their places.

Rod stood near the serving counter, looking up at the slowly turning stars.

"Actually, I think this is quite beautiful."

Joey joined him.

"It is, isn't it?"

"The illusion gives the room a remarkable sense of depth. I might experiment with something similar for the observation deck."

"That would be lovely."

Elrond settled into a seat near the table.

"Provided the observation deck remains an observation deck."

Rod considered that.

"Of course."

Rolex crouched beside the cake, making one final adjustment to the miniature ship.

Fang watched him.

"Are you certain it will remain stable?"

"Yes. I reduced the field output and corrected the stabilizer."

"Good."

Rolex looked at the little ship.

"Although I would like to know why the original field was stronger."

Fang nodded.

"We can investigate it later."

Rolex looked up.

"Together?"

"Yes."

Rolex smiled.

"Good. I think there's something interesting happening there."

Joey looked around the dimly lit mess hall.

The decorations were in place. The cake was ready. The presents were hidden. Everyone had found somewhere to wait.

She took a breath and smiled.

"All right. I think we're ready."

From somewhere beyond the doorway, Gene's voice could be heard.

"Hey, Feather! You're needed in the mess hall for a minute!"

Elrond quietly straightened his collar.

"Positions, everyone."

The doorway opened.

And the little ship above the cake began to glow.