Fabula
S2E21 · Peak Performance
S2E21
· Peak Performance

Unexpected Gizmo Clatters into Engineering

While Geordi is deeply focused on the Hathaway's precarious retrofit, a small gizmo suddenly materializes behind him and tumbles onto its side with a sharp clunk. The jolt of noise and the object's unexplained arrival snaps him out of concentration, breaking the bay's fragile improvisational rhythm and injecting a new unknown into an already high‑risk procedure. The intrusion humanizes Geordi's vulnerability under pressure, raises immediate suspense, and functions as a setup: attention is diverted, protocols are jeopardized, and the possibility of a concealed variable — even a covert device transfer — is implied.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

A gizmo MATERIALIZES behind Geordi and falls onto its side with a clunk, jolting him out of absorbed work.

focused work to sudden disruption

Geordi whips a look over his shoulder and gapes at the gizmo, surprise taking hold.

disruption to astonishment

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

1
Geordi La Forge
Chief Engineer
 primary

Startled and momentarily disoriented — surface surprise giving way to quick, alert concern about the potential risk the object poses to the retrofit and crew safety.

Geordi is actively engaged in hands‑on engineering work with his back turned when the gizmo materializes; he immediately looks over his shoulder and gapes, his concentration fractured and attention forced away from the delicate retrofit task.

Goals in this moment
  • • maintain control of the delicate retrofit and avoid any mistake
  • • quickly assess the gizmo's threat or purpose
  • • regain full concentration and restore the interrupted procedure
Active beliefs
  • • unexpected disturbances can compromise improvised engineering and risk lives
  • • his technical skill can correct mistakes if he regains focus
  • • discreet unknown devices should be treated with caution until identified
Character traits
technically focused methodical diligent startled vigilant responsible
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Unidentified Gizmo (Engineering Bay)

The unidentified gizmo instantaneously appears behind Geordi and falls onto its side with a loud clunk, functioning as a disruptive vector: it shifts attention, introduces an unexplained variable into a fragile retrofit, and dramatizes the permeability of the safe workspace to unknown technology or interference.

Before: Not present in Geordi's immediate workspace; unobserved and …
After: Lying on its side on the engineering deck …
Before: Not present in Geordi's immediate workspace; unobserved and unregistered by him prior to materialization.
After: Lying on its side on the engineering deck near Geordi, stationary and newly observed but not yet examined or handled.

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