Title: Vila and the Penguin Version: 1.0, posted 2/8/05 (originally posted on Livejournal, 7/14/03) Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine. (See full disclaimer on previous page.)
Summary: Just because it's cute, doesn't mean it's not dangerous.
Vila and the Penguin
by Mistral Amara
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Avon's hand inadvertently clenched on the
laser probe, shifting its position by a fraction of a millimetre and
ruining the entire sequence of adjustments. He grimaced, then forced
himself to relax and start the delicate procedure over.
The
sound came again. Thump. Thump. Thump. This time, it was followed by
the all-too-familiar chortle of a certain Delta. Avon withdrew himself
from the circuitry compartment so quickly that he bumped his head on
the way out. It didn't improve his mood any.
"Vila! Whatever you are doing, do it somewhere else!"
Vila
looked up from the computer console. "But Avon, look what I've found on
the GalacticNet!" He returned his attention eagerly to the screen. The
thumping resumed.
Avon made his way over to Vila's station and peered over his shoulder
at the screen. "What is that?"
"A penguin. Extinct flightless bird from pre-atomic Earth."
"A penguin. And you are?"
Vila pressed the screen and there was another thump. "Poking it."
"Of course." It made no sense, so of course, Vila would do it. "Dare I
ask why?"
Vila shrugged. "Because it was that or another round of Go with Zen.
Besides, it's fun."
"Ah.
I should have realized." Avon closed his eyes. Well, he supposed it was
better for Vila to be prodding at an inanimate computer character than
at him. All right, then, where had he left those earplugs?
Before
he had time to consider the answer, there was a loud crash, followed by
another. Avon opened his eyes to see Vila sprawled on the floor,
rubbing the elbow he seemed to have landed on. "That wasn't very nice,"
Vila complained. "It startled me. Why did it do that?"
Avon
looked briefly at the screen, then back at Vila. He allowed himself a
half-smile. "Let that be a lesson to you, Vila. Never provoke anything
with an I.Q. higher than yours. Particularly if it wears black."
He
managed to walk calmly across the flight deck and reinsert his head and
arms into the circuitry cabinet before the rest of the smile got free.