Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) (20 page)

“Can
we sweeten the deal with some antibiotics, some more medical nanites, and some
replacement tissue?” He caught the doctor's sharp intake of breath.

“Maybe.
Who's it for?” The captain asked. “Not some piece of shit who wants another
nose job is it?” she grumbled. He shook his head.

“No
another sleeper like me,” he replied. Her eyes went wide.

“Another
like you?” she asked.

“Power
tech Horatio Logan. He is a fleet noncom who was found nearly a century ago and
is the station's chief engineer. I served with him briefly.” He shrugged.

She
nodded. “He's the one who's been keeping that bucket of bolts together?” she
asked. He chuckled.

“He
has help, but yes he's been trying. He's old though, the past century hasn't
been kind to him.” He sighed looking away.

“Him
and me both.” The captain muttered looking away as well. She cleared her throat
and looked back at the camera. “All right, you've got a deal. I think you're
nuts to stay there though Admiral.” She shook her head. “I must be getting old
if I am being this soft,” she muttered. He chuckled.

“You
are not old, just... mature and set in your ways.” He smiled. “Remember, you’re
younger then I am.” He smiled as she gave him a sharp look. Her eyes seemed to
glitter then she smiled.

“Flattery
will get you much more with others Admiral,”  she said with a cackle. He
chuckled. “You’re not known for buttering an old woman up so I'll toss in an
extra robot so you can get things going faster. That way I can get my AI back
sooner.” She waved.

“Why
thank you captain, it's been a pleasure doing business with you.” He nodded as
she waved dismissively and the link was cut.

“You’re
amazing,” Shelby chuckled. “She threw in an extra robot? I couldn't get a used
lug wrench out of the old goat!” She exhaled, nostrils dilating in annoyance
and exasperation. He smiled.

“She's
not really old, well, compared to you young whipper snappers maybe, but not to
me.” He chuckled at the sharp look both women gave him.

“I'm
a Fleet Admiral remember? They don't give those out over tea and crumpets;
you've got to earn it. It takes decades to get flag rank. Nearly a T century of
service. Or at least it did in my time.” He shrugged. “Besides, I took the long
route, I mustang-ed from enlisted.” He looked away in thought.

The
doctor stood and cleared her throat. “I'll just be going...” she muttered and
left. He looked back.

“Oh,
sorry, wool gathering I guess.” He nodded to a tech that was patiently waiting
nearby. “Yes?” he asked.

“I
heard that happens with you old folk,” Shelby said dryly, smiling. He mock
glowered at her.

“Liam
has cleared the last control run; we're running new cable now. We've almost run
out of cable from stores though,” she said after a moment. He nodded.

“What
we don't have we will beg, borrow, or steal from other sources. Check the junk
logs for used cable. Splicing it will be a pain though,” he said with a
grimace, then shrugged. Hopefully not his problem. Hopefully.

Shelby
nodded. “Four hours to clear the control runs, you've done what we would
normally do in weeks.” She shook her head. “Is it just the implants or
training?” she asked. He chuckled.

“A
bit of both. Plus lots and lots of practice and a need to get it done.” He
smiled.

“Speaking
of which, I have some parts to dig up. Get back in there; we're all rooting for
you.” She nodded to the interface then patted his shoulder and left. He exhaled
softly, then rolled his shoulders.

“Right
Sprite?” he asked.

“Valdez
family has been informed, I've sent an order list to a nearby work party to
take care of the transportation, and the first parts are being fabbed now,”
Sprite reported. “The exec is not happy about losing the income from Io, but
he'll get over it,” Sprite finished. He grunted.

“He'd
better if he knows what's good for him.” He sent the mental sequence to jack
back in.

“With
an extra robot and additional computer core time Proteus or I could pilot it
Admiral,” Sprite reported. “For that matter Defender could as well.” She
pointed out. Defender lit a red light.

 “My
duty is to protect the Admiral,” Defender's bass voice replied coldly.

“And
you would be doing that by helping him stay alive right?” Sprite riposted. The
admiral grimaced.

“Okay
kids, break it up, I'm trying to concentrate.” He felt his awareness of the
outside world recede as his cybernetics overlaid the neural feeds from the
robot.

“How
are we doing?” He asked Liam.

Liam
waved. “We're doin'. We're doin'.”

“Dad's
out of the tank for now. He's fighting with the doctor to come back. She is
pretty firm about him not getting out of bed though. Do you want to go see him
with me?” Shelby asked. The Admiral gave her a look. “You’re about the only
person he'll listen to. He'll sneak down here the moment she's got her back
turned,” Shelby said disgusted. Irons chuckled.

“Sounds
familiar.  Doctors aren't the only ones who make terrible patients.” He got up
slowly. “Well, since we're waiting on the emitter delivery from Io, sure.” He
got up and stretched as his right arm un-jacked.

A
woman smiled shyly as she took his seat. She wriggled a little. “Thanks for
keeping it warm,” she murmured putting her virtual gloves on.

He
chuckled. “You are welcome.” She dimpled and blushed as she put the helmet on
and laid back.

“They'll
be fine. You've explained the steps and we've been watching you. I've even got
teams tearing apart the other reactors. If you're a good boy I'll even buy you
a bon-bon on the way back.” Shelby shrugged. He chuckled as they made their way
to the lifts.

“That
reminds me; get someone to fix a couple of wireless links so I can jack in
without having to be connected. That way my AI can keep working while I am
doing something else,” Irons instructed. Shelby froze, scowled, and then her
face cleared.

“It
will be an encrypted link Admiral. I'm giving only you access,” she replied. He
nodded.

“Prudent.
Use your father's access system. He has a good firewall set up,” he replied.
She nodded then murmured into her wrist com.

The
lift jerked to a stop and the doors ground opening. Sparks flew off to one
side. “That could cause a fire,” he said. “Where are we? No guards?” he asked
as he looked around. Sprite pulled up a map.

“We
came in through the back entrance.” She waved. “One the guards think is closed
for repairs. Come on this way.” He followed her down the dark corridor into the
light. She paused in the doorway.

He
came up behind him and growled as he looked around. The mall concourse was
brightly lit with neon, holograms, and various visual effects. “What the hell,
do they think this is a party?” Shelby snarled. He shook his head.

“Damn
fools.” He looked up. “Sprite...”

“I
can't Admiral, this area is covered by the station AI, and he is perverse in
his power use,” she replied.

“Then
cut his power allotment from the reactor and keep firing requests at him a
thousand a second or more until he gets the point. And cut the gravity down as
well, half grav for the entire station.” He looked around. A group of women
were milling around a holo of a pole dancer.

“Hey
sailor, want me to show you a good time?” one cat called. He shook his head
bemused.

“Perhaps
another time ladies, we're in the middle of an emergency.” He waved. “Hookers?”
He stage whispered amused.

“Oldest
profession,” Sprite responded.  Shelby curled her lip.

“Come
on hun, we'll do two for one!” one girl called, giving her miniskirt a bump and
grind. She started to walk over but Shelby stopped her with a cold glare.

“With
looks like that he won't be with you long sister. You just come to us when
you’re ready sugar, we'll treat you right.” She smiled at the Admiral. He tried
not to sigh. His olfactory sensors were going nuts. She had enough perfume and
pheromones to send an adolescent male into a melt down. Shelby gave him a dirty
look then led him off by the arm.

“Men,”
she muttered darkly. He had to smile tiredly at that.

She
led him down the mall and into the dim but packed sickbay. “At least someone is
conserving power.” The Admiral shook his head. The dragon at the front desk
waved them on.

“He's
trying to get past Ben now,” she motioned them to hurry.

“Thanks.”
Shelby picked up the pace. They stepped over several people lying on the floor
along the walls then turned a corner hearing voices. Shelby homed into them and
picked up the pace.

They
turned a corner and Shelby stumbled into the broad shoulders of the orderly. He
turned to look at her as she righted herself. “Dad?” she asked looking around
the man. “Dad get back in bed damn it!” She pushed the orderly aside to stand
and glare at her father with her hands on her hips.

The
old star sailor was defiant, but some of his defiance ebbed when he saw the
Admiral. “Admiral on deck!” He stood at parade rest.

“Drop
it you old fart,” Shelby growled.

“I'm
afraid he can't its part of our training,” the Admiral replied coming to
attention himself as people in the room stopped to look and see what they were
doing. He acknowledged Logan's salute with his own then broke it with a grin.
“Good to see you up and about Horatio but I think the doctor told you to get
some down time to let the healing set in?” He motioned for the man to take a
seat on a stool. Reluctantly Logan allowed it.

He
settled into the stool with a noisy exhale. “We've got it from here Ben,
thanks,” Shelby nodded to the brawny man. The orderly nodded.

“I'll
be over here with the Doc. Don't let him leave or she'll skin me,” he said
giving the old man a look.

“Yeah?
You could use to lose some skin you Neanderthal!” the old man growled. The
orderly laughed and waved as he walked off.

The
Admiral studied Horatio. Logan was obviously tired, he still had bags under his
eyes, but he had a lively spark. His skin practically glowed with renewed
health. He was hunched over however, and seemed to wince when he moved. His
coverall was clean, and he set his cane on his thigh with a sigh.

“I'll
be right back,” Shelby patted her dad on the arm, kissed his cheek then went
over to the doctor for a moment. They started to walk back after a moment.

“Since
you’re so determined to leave, and I don't have the time to strap your mangy hide
down to a bed, Shelby has talked me into letting you go to your quarters after
a check on engineering.” She shook her head.

“HA!
You don't have a bed to strap me too anyway!” Logan grinned.

The
doctor's face puckered. “Don't remind me. Io was good enough to take our
overflow. We're swamped. I've even tapped several stores to act as temporary
trauma wards.” She shook her head.

“We'll
take care of him Doc,” the Admiral assured her. She nodded. Shelby looked a
little reluctant.

“But.”
The doctor held up a finger under the old man's nose. “You so much as think of
jacking in and I will come down there and sedate you myself you got it?” she
growled. He reluctantly nodded. “Yes ma'am,” he replied meekly. Shelby nodded.

“I'll
make sure Doc,” she murmured. Her dad gave her a dirty look. The Admiral
chuckled.

“Although
it would be nice to have your help Horatio, right now we're stymied until we
get the next shipment from Io.” He shrugged.

“If
you’re up here who's minding the reactor? Not that ham handed twit Liam?” Logan
asked suddenly concerned.

“Io
is.” The doctor and Logan looked confused. “I rebuilt the Io's AI. She's a
smart AI and she is using her links and mine to control the bottle. In fact she
will control both bottles once we get the second reactor up. At least until we
overhaul the AI and train some people.” The Admiral shrugged. “Let's just say
we're working on it.” He nodded to the orderly who came up with an old
fashioned wheel chair.

“What's
this?” Logan asked dangerously looking at the offending thing.

“Get
in it dad,” Shelby pointed. “Now,” she growled. Logan gave her a look then
looked at the chair and started to climb in.

“Don't
look at me, I didn't teach her that,” the Admiral said chuckling.

“No
her mother did. Rest her soul,” Logan said with a hint of humor. He shook his
head as he settled with the cane propped across his lap.

“I'll
take him.” Shelby stepped behind the wheel chair and started pushing her
father, maneuvering around the bodies. “And you will behave or I will lock you
in your quarters,” she stage whispered in his ear as she leaned forward. He
grunted.

“Thanks
for the help Admiral,” the doctor said with a small smile. “Keep me informed.”
He nodded and suppressed a yawn.