Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) (10 page)

“As
you can see, I've been a bit busy.” He indicated the drive.

O'Reilly
nodded, rolling up his sleeves. “Let me at em. I'll get it sorted.” He went
over to the pile and began puzzling out pieces. The Admiral nodded.

“Right,
Miss, if you could act as gofer, we can get things sorted out. Right now we
need two grav collars and the parts inside my replicator.” He nodded to the
girl. She rushed off. Junior snorted.

“Sergio,
if you want to lend me a hand with this?” he motioned to the reactor. “I'll
just help my husband,” Mrs. O'Reilly announced.

“She's
a life support tech too,” Sergio whispered when he caught the concerned look on
the Admiral.

Slowly
Irons nodded. “Right. Okay, we need those collars!” he called looking over his
shoulder.

“Coming!”
the girl grunted. He met her at the lock. Both collars were on the pallet. She
was sweating.

“Bet
you're going to sleep tonight,” Junior teased. She grimaced and ran off.
Together they got to work.

Hours
later the O'Reilly's reluctantly had to break off to go to bed. Junior was
having trouble staying awake and the girl had gone off to bed. Irons checked
his internal chronometer. “Sergio, take a break. I can get this.” He waved as
the boy nursed his cut hand. His hand had slipped and he had done a number
skinning his knuckles.

“I
can get it,” Sergio started but the Admiral was already under the vehicle.

“No
worries, I've done this before and remember, I've got implants. You don't,” the
Admiral teased. His arm morphed and he let Proteus lock the bolt down to the
right torque specs. “That finishes the engine wiring, we've just got the cab
and OMS fuel lines and we're ready for a test run. Your aunt and uncle did a
good job reassembling the life support. Go get some rest; you’re going to need
it in the morning,” the Admiral ordered.

Reluctant
footfalls echoed out the airlock and down the corridor. He sighed. “Going to be
a long night.” He looked over the underside, taking his time, making sure
Proteus checked and double everything. He wanted to make sure everything was
golden. Just to be sure he checked each fitting manually. His life and possibly
the lives of thousands rested on doing this right the first time.

When
he was done he started in on the cab. Had he been inclined, he probably could
have had Io replicate a new one. The way the chief had been drooling over the
weapons pod and fighter, he was pretty sure they would have built an entire tug
from scratch. He chuckled at the thought then froze. Perhaps it wasn't such a
stupid idea after all. He made a note of it.

He
stepped back and scanned the cab, then laid his right palm on each identified
breach and felt the nanites go to work. It took several hours, but in the end
it was worth it.

The
cabin's windows were stained, with some micro meteorite damage. It was amazing
how an artificial ruby matrix could be damaged. E equals MC squared eat your
heart out... he thought to himself.

“Admiral,
I've intercepted an order from the Port Admiral to the exec ordering him to cut
power to this module as well as life support,” Sprite suddenly reported.

He
stopped and stared up. “Did he get the message?” he asked.

“No,
I sent it astray. It's in a buffer,” she replied, voice full of mischief.

“I'll
bet. Okay, let's make sure it stays lost. Permanently. And any others as well.
Come to think of it, why don't you insulate this deck to make sure we don't
have any problems as well...?” he ordered.

“I'll
do what I can, but I can't get into the security system outside this bay. It
may alert the station AI. It's crazy, no telling what it could do. I had to
fight it off when you had me play with the lights and grav earlier,” she
reported.

“Great,
just what we don't need.” He shook his head going back to work.

It
took two more hours to complete the hull repairs and install the seat and
interior. He was just starting on the electronics when he heard the first
stirrings in the living section.

“The
O'Reilly's are off to work,” Sprite reported. “Anita is up, but she can't get a
shower in. She's in the kitchen crying,” Sprite reported again after a moment.
He sighed as he plugged a module in to the mother board, then began running the
new wiring harness.

A
sleepy and rather stiff Junior joined him nearly thirty minutes later. He
nodded to the young man. “Sergio, can you do me a favor and get me a cup of
coffee?” he asked. Sergio winced then left. A few minutes later he returned
with his mother.

“You've
been at it all night?” she asked sounding worried. He smiled and nodded his
thanks to Sergio as he took the cup. “I don't need much sleep; I can go for a
week without it if needed.” He took a sip as he watched Sergio examine the cab.

“It
looks different,” he said, running his hands over the hull. He looked back at
the Admiral with a confused expression. The Admiral smiled. He'd taken the time
to check each patch and grind the welds smooth.

“Yes,
the hull is repaired. I will do a pressure test later,” he waved his cup to the
cabin.

Sergio
climbed in without further invitation and whistled. He got up and stared,
running his hand over the inside of the glass. “I don't believe it!” He sounded
excited. His mother smiled fondly.

“The
only way to do it is to do it right the first time,” the Admiral said dryly.
Sergio examined the wiring harness. “It's all neat, how will I … oh and
labeled!” Anita chuckled.

“She's
no Viper or Manta fighter, but she'll do the job and get you home safe if you
respect her limits,” the Admiral replied, giving the boy a pointed look.

“Lesson
learned,” Sergio sighed. His mother nodded.

“I'm
going to check on your father before my shift starts. Be safe. Breakfast is in
the pantry.” She gave the Admiral a look. He chuckled.

“Yes
ma'am,” he murmured meekly. She waved a fist at him.

“Eat.
You may not need sleep, but I know you need food or power.” She waved to the
airlock. He chuckled as junior climbed out of the cab and ran his hands over
the tug. “Almost as good as new,” he was murmuring over and over.

He
looked up from the replicator to see Anita kiss her son on his swollen cheek.
“Be good, stay safe,” she said then pushed him into the living quarters. The
Admiral hid a smile with his coffee mug.

It
took them most of the morning to finish rewiring the tug. He was forced to find
work for an excited Sergio. Finally he asked the young man to do a safety check
on his suit. Sergio rushed out to comply making the Admiral sigh in relief.

“Admiral,
I've been monitoring the station net. There are a lot of unhappy people out
there. This water shortage is not going over well. Perhaps it's time we took a
hand in the big picture?” Sprite asked.

He
shook his head. “Let's eat lunch and do a flight check and tune up. Getting
that tug in space will be a step in that direction.” He nodded to Sergio as he
returned fully suited.

“Did
you eat?” he asked the boy.

He
shook his head. “Too excited,” he replied.

The
Admiral chuckled. “Okay, let's do the tune up and then you can eat.” He watched
as Junior climbed into the cab and powered it up.

“Start
small, get the electronics up.” He watched as Sergio keyed in the activation
sequence. The young man checked everything over. Iron's nodded. He wasn't about
to tell the young man he was in the tugs network monitoring everything.

“Reactor
test,” he ordered.

One
by one they checked and tuned each system. The onboard software began to adapt
to the new changes, adjusting settings. Sergio looked at the board in
amazement. “She almost flies herself,” he said. Irons chuckled.

“If
she's ship shape it will seem that way. Just take her easy. Out and back.” He
climbed down and exited the bay.

The
pig tailed girl met him in the doorway. “Shouldn't you be in school?” he asked.

She
shook her head. “Half day. We were supposed to clean deck twenty three but
without water...” She shrugged. He grimaced and nodded. She was watching her
brother through the porthole. “Is he really ready?” she asked.

“He
is. Technically I should take her out, but it's your family's bird and he's
pulling rank.” He smiled down at her. She looked confused then smiled
mischievously. “Right okay.” She tapped the intercom. “Good luck big brother.”
He looked up and waved, then blew her a kiss.

“Pressure
test complete, she's sound.” Sergio gave them a thumbs up. “Just the same, keep
your suit sealed until you're back.” The Admiral cautioned. Sergio nodded as he
looked down, checking things off oin his preflight check list.

“Bay
atmo evacuated. Door opening.” The girl ran through the airlock sequence like a
pro. The Admiral nodded in approval. She had eyes only on her brother.

“Right;
OMS pod engaged, antigrav up.” Sergio reported. The craft wobbled then jerked.
“Touchy,” he reported. Iron's nodded.

“She
will be. Go as easy as easy till you get the hang of her.” He cut the channel.
“Or at least till your outside,” he said softly. The girl grimaced and nodded.
Gently the tug lifted and drifted backwards out of the bay.

“She's
a dream!” Sergio reported. “Um, tug 552Q to Ops, flight test in progress.” He
called over the net.

“We
see that. Good luck 552,” a voice responded. The Admiral nodded.

Gently
almost majestically the craft drifted out and away, and then turned. “She can
turn on herself? Wow!” Sergio called. The Admiral smiled. “Well, OMS looks
good. Rolling now.” He rolled the ship, then back the other way. “Looks good.
Powering up the drive,” Sergio reported.

They
ran through the basics step by step until he called Sergio in to do some fine
tuning. Anita was home and the kids were busy setting the table. Sergio looked
a little mulish about returning but the Admiral reminded him he needed to eat
too. Sheepishly the young man agreed.

He
raced off to change when his mother came into the bay. “Don't even think about
getting your hands dirty until you eat. Post flight can wait!” she ordered. The
Admiral chuckled as Sergio and the girl nodded meekly and marched off. They got
a few meters away then started to chatter about the tug. Anita smiled.

“So
it was a good flight?” she asked. He chuckled.

“As
well as can be expected. There are a few minor issues to sort out, tuning to
do. Think of her as teething,” he waved to the craft. Anita looked back and
nodded.

“Jorge
is out of surgery and in a big tank. They say it is a regen tank to help him
recover, but they will have to operate soon to fix his knee.” She looked
concerned. He nodded.

“He's
in good hands, don't worry. His recovery should have him off his feet for a
little while, but when he is back up he will feel better then new.” He smiled.
She nodded.

“I
was wondering... “ She grabbed his arm. He paused. “Mickal said our deck was
going to lose water and power, yet we haven't while our neighbors have. Why?
Did you do something?” she asked. He smiled again.

“Sure
it isn't just water in the tanks?” he asked then shook his head. “I have a
friend who is pulling a few strings. The exec is also helping out,” he nodded
to her. They heard a clatter in the living room and she rushed off. He paused.

“Come
to think of it, how did you know about the cut off?” He looked up to the
ceiling. “Sprite?” He asked.

“We've...
come to an understanding,” she replied sounding distant and distracted. “We
meaning you and the station AI?” He asked.

“Well,
all of us actually. I had to bring Io, Defender, and Proteus into it as well.”
He nodded as she explained.

“It
is a primitive civilian AI, little more than a house AI really. DNA coded to
the Port Admiral's blood line. We just... convinced it was in its best interest
to keep the Valdez family alive and to leave us alone.” He felt the smile in
that. He shook his head.

“There's
a story in that, I know it. Tell me later.” He nodded as the girl ducked her
head out of the living room then waved at him urgently.

The
Admiral chuckled as Sergio explained his first flight to an amused family. He
walked past and cleaned himself in the refresher, did his business then exited.
Sergio was still explaining the roll when he came out. His mother shushed him
and then patted his shoulder. “Later dear. Eat,” she admonished with a grin.
His stomach growled. The clan laughed.

“Don't
have to tell him twice!” his aunt teased. They chuckled again.

After
dinner the kids and Anita settled into post clean up chores while the other
adults set in to fine tune the tug. Sergio was excited about taking her out on
a run in the morning. After several hours the O'Reilly's reluctantly broke off
and went to bed. Sergio looked a little confused. “Time flies when you’re
having fun,” the Admiral chuckled.