The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link

by Hanks, Daniel

  I sipped my drink. “Captain, what do you want?”

  “Ha, those two professors off my back and you out of my life.” She laughed.

  “May I show you something?” She nodded. “Margret, show the captain the massacre.”

  On the wall the scene at the base camp was displayed. I took a long sip of my drink. The captain gasped, then swore, and before the video was over, she called security, ordering them to lock up both professors.

  She looked at me. “Charges won’t stick to the bastards, but the publicity could ruin them.”

  “So the two professors are off your back.”

  She continued to look at me as she sipped her whiskey. “Now how do I get rid of you?”

  “I want to join fleet as an officer, and be allowed to study at Rodriguez Academy of Science.”

  “Good dream. My daughter wants to go there.”

  “It’s a large place. I doubt we’ll run into each other.”

  “One can only hope. So, what do you want from me?”

  “Your recommendation for officer’s school.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll write you a recommendation, not because I like you. I do, by the way. I’ve never met anyone who deserves it more. God help the fleet. They’ll need it.” She took another sip of her drink. “Drake, please keep my ship running, okay?”

  “Thank you, captain. We’ll keep it running, Jack and me.”

  On the way to my quarters, I stopped by medical to see Bob. He sat on the couch in his room. Vivian was at his side.

  “Ah,” I said as I sat, “how are you doing, Bob? They treating you right?”

  “I’m doing well, and they’re treating me good. I heard rumors about you getting married and having to leave your bride.”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” I said, not really wanting to talk to him about it.

  “Spacers are always leaving their lovers behind. Don’t worry about her having a fling when you’re not around. Cut her slack. She loves you. Be easy on yourself too.” I nodded, thinking about Octella. My life was a mess. “You do that, boy, and always remember crazy Bob. I’m crazy but happy.” He patted Vivian’s hand. “Don’t worry, Vivian, I’ll get well for you.”

  “Bob, Vivian, I have to go. It has been a long day. I’ll come back and visit soon.” I excused myself.

  Following Margret’s directions, I found my new quarter’s right across the hall from engineering. Compared to my old ones on the Armstrong it was wonderful. On one end of the room sat a desk with a bunk built in above it. On the left side was a huge locker with four doors. Across from that sat a small couch. Beside that was a narrow door that led into a private bathroom with a shower. It was a suite.

  As I put my clothes away, I thought about the quarters on the Tangent. The best part of that was Sandra. I missed her. I fondled my necklace. If I don’t find a way to stop the Link, Sandra would be captured, a fate worse than death. Firming up my resolve, I continued unpacking. If I made any other decision, she’d suffer a horrible end. I had to stop the Link for her.

  The next day I stopped in and got donuts and coffee. I caught Kathy and Jack kissing next to the maintenance door. Kathy gave my donuts a disapproving look, but said nothing as she headed off to her duty station. Jack tried to wipe her lipstick off his face as he walked into the shop. I followed him into his office and set what I carried onto his desk. After taking a seat, Jack joined me. We were both quiet, enjoying our coffee.

  “Everyone has been telling me what a great job you did planet side. Good work on that force field. That was tricky,” Jack said.

  I was still thinking about Sandra, and just grunted an acknowledgement.

  Jack tapped his console screen. “Hmm, more of the same hot sections need cooling adjustments, and it’s time to check the air system. We need to check power bus two. We’re getting power loss. Might be loose connectors. Let’s split up these cooling complaints, knock them out and meet back here before lunch. Then check out the bus and air system.” He tapped the screen. Margret chirped at his incoming message.

  I grabbed my tools and then headed out. The first call was to dining hall three. Just another day in maintenance. One day followed the next, and I found myself always looking for Sandra.

  Kathy stormed into the shop. She wasn’t happy. “Drake, we know you’re smart, but the final test covers everything you’ve studied. You’re doing it early so you have to score better than a ninety percent. If you blow it, you’ll have to wait. You won’t be able to retake the test before your four years of hands-on training is finished. Two years and three months to be exact.” She paced across the shop floor. I watched her. She is still beautiful, I thought. “At least take the pretest and study guide and look at it.”

  “Kathy, I know you mean well, but I have my own way of studying, and I never cram. Don’t worry.”

  Kathy sighed. “Okay, you’re, of course, right, but we aren’t going to celebrate by drinking Jack’s piss water. We’re going to go to a bar and drink real drinks this time.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Jack shook his head. “My stuff is better and cheaper.”

  * * * *

  Stepping out of the shower, I said, “Margret, don’t be angry. I have to leave my eye behind too. You know the rules. No electronics in the test. We’ve been through this. Look up how I can gain twenty pounds of muscle and get ready for officers training.”

  “Well, you should put on forty pounds. You’ll need lots more self-defense training,” she said.

  “I’m serious. Find out the best way. Get me scheduled with the good doctor. I’ll need his help.” After I pulled my clothes on, I looked at Margret. “I hate leaving you behind. I’ll be back soon.” I shut the door behind me.

  I walked down the hall. I passed someone. They let out a gasp and stared at me.

  “Sorry, I had to leave my eye.” I covered up my empty eye socket. Stopping by a first aid kit, I took a bandage and covered it.

  Entering the testing room, I stopped in midstride. Captain Ramon was seated in the proctor’s chair.

  She smiled. “Close your mouth and take a seat. People have suggested you’ve cheated on your tests so I’ve come to see. Take your seat.” I sat. “What’s that on your eye? Take it off.” I pulled off the bandage. “Oh, of course.” She looked at the empty socket. “I’m not offended. You may leave it off if you wish.”

  I slid the bandage across the table and smiled.

  “This is a four-hour test with one break. You’re allotted two hours for each section. If you finish early, the time can be used on the other section. Do you have any questions, Drake, and are you ready?”

  “One moment.” I rolled up my sleeves, then rolled my arms over so she could see each side. “I don’t cheat. I work hard. That’s how I do so well. I’m ready.”

  She slid the pad over to me. “Start.”

  The screen lit up, and I took off. I’m a very fast reader. The only thing I worried about was making stupid mistakes. I handed her the pad back after one hour and twenty minutes.

  She looked at me and smiled, then tapped the screen. It displayed one hundred and twenty-seven correct. I need a ninety to pass. “Very good. Would you like to take a break or continue?”

  “I’m good. Let’s do it.”

  She passed me back the pad. “Start,” she said.

  The only way I can describe it is it’s a runner’s trance. After an hour and a half, I slid the last test to her. She tapped it. The screen displayed one hundred and fifteen correct. I was shocked. How I could have missed ten questions? What the hell?

  “Well, congratulations. You now will be getting journeyman pay, and provided another journeyman is on ship, you may ship out as a journeyman. Very good, Drake. This will look good on your record as an officer with journeyman training.” She held out her hand. “And I’ll toss anyone into the brig who says you cheated. “ I shook her hand. “Now go get drunk with your friends. Have a drink for me.” She walked out the door.

&nbs
p; * * * *

  Jack was alone in the shop when I arrived. He looked up and sighed. “Finished so soon? I told her you’d finish fast. Never seen or heard of anyone finishing those test so quickly.” He smiled. “So, how did it go? Are you getting journeyman pay now?”

  “Yeah, I just got a pay raise. Jack, the captain proctored the test, and said she wanted to make sure I didn’t cheat.”

  “No shit? The captain? Wow.” Jack got up, went over to his cabinet, pulled out his bottle and poured two cups. He handed me one. “To Drake, who’s costing the company way more than he’s worth.” He took a sip of his drink. I took a small one with him. He poured another cup when Kathy entered the shop. He handed her the cup. “Drake, our newest fourth-year apprentice,” he said. As he hoisted his glass, Kathy shook her head and joined us.

  “Hey, Kathy, maybe tonight you and Jack will sleep on my couch,” I said with a laugh.

  “In your dreams, Drake. I’ll sleep on the floor of my office rather than that little couch of yours.” Jack filled my cup. “So I heard you want to be an officer in fleet. Best of luck to you. Margret, you should record this. I was a grade-nine enlisted man for ten years. I broke four junior officers and trained seven good ones. You’ll be good so listen up. I’ll tell you stuff that will save your ass, boy.” He staggered back to his desk. “First thing, boy, officers and enlisted aren’t friends. Never cross the line. You can respect them, but you’ll never be their friends. Tell them jokes, yell at them, curse them and praise them, but never ever complain in front of them. You got that? Don’t ever complain in front of an enlisted man. The four officers I broke complained in front of me about their superiors, among other things. I broke them for that. If you give someone responsibility, you support them, and never let people you’re in charge of fight each other.” He leaned back, obviously plastered, but I listened and told Margret to record everything. Jack would never be so open when sober.

  Kathy laughed. “Are you going to give him you’re training in leading people when you’re drunk, Jack?” She crossed the room and poured herself more.

  Jack laughed. “Hell, why not? He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. Drake, I’ll tell you war stories that’ll keep you from making the worst mistakes.” He started to sing.

  I listened to Jack as he told his stories. Sometimes I stopped him and asked questions or we’d laugh.

  “Jack, I wouldn’t have done that. Why did he do it?”

  Jack laughed. “Biggest mistake you can make is to assume someone else is going to do something because that’s what you’d do. We’re different. We each respond to the same circumstances differently. You can never know how someone else will react. Crap, you hardly know how you’ll react. Another big mistake is to think you can tell what someone else is thinking or if their honest or liars by looking at them. Shit, if you want to know what someone is thinking, you’d better ask them. If you want to know if someone is a liar, check their story. You aren’t a mystic. You can’t read minds. Ask, look and investigate them. You’ll know. The proof about someone is in their actions, not in words or expressions.” Jack was silent for a while. “So many times I wish they’d asked.”

  Jack looked over at Kathy. She was snoring. Her head leaned over to the side. He got up and staggered over to her.

  “Give me a hand, Drake. We have to get this fine woman to her room,” he said.

  I staggered to an upright position and almost fell on top Kathy. We each grabbed an arm and hoisted her to a standing position. She muttered a complaint as we steered her through the office door. With great concentration and nerves of steel, Jack managed to keep us on course, and after several wrong turns, we miraculously arrived at her apartment. I refused to come in, and left Jack and Kathy at her door.

  I have no idea how I managed to get home or why I slept on my bathroom floor. I just wanted to die. Margret blasted out an alarm. I could swear my head split in half. Staggering, I almost made it to the stool to heave. After pulling off my clothes, I climbed into the shower and came to life.

  On my way to breakfast, Margret reminded me I had an appointment with Dr. Weston after lunch. She also told me the best way to get over a hangover was to drink lots of water, take vitamins and eat lightly, and no sugar.

  Jack looked like I felt. Kathy laughed at him, telling him to go back to bed. Nothing was so important that it couldn’t wait. She handed me her hangover medicine, which I thanked her for and drank right away. I spent the morning in the shop, mostly not doing anything. I grabbed a sandwich at a cafeteria and got to my appointment with doc early.

  Dr. Weston shook his head. “Drake, why are you doing this? Just to get a girl back? Be honest.”

  “I’m going to join fleet and go to officer’s school. I want to be more than ready. I’m good mentally, but not physically.”

  He looked me up and down. “The only reason I’ll help is I know how hard a worker you are, and it’ll be hard work. So I’ll start you out with a combination of steroids and enzymes to make your body grow. To get the results you want you’ll have to train, and train hard. Every morning and night you’ll need to take a protein mix. Four scoops a day mixed with a liter of water. It tastes like shit. Choke it down, and I don’t want to hear any whining about it. You can get it at the ship stores.” He sent a note to Margret. “Meet me at the gym at six in the morning and at five at night. Miss one time and I’m done with you, okay?” I nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

  Crap, what had I gotten myself into? I expected to get a shot and sent on my way. Now I had to go to the gym twice a day with the maniac doctor.

  He returned and gave me a shot. “You might experience growing pains and discomfort at night. Tough shit. See you in the morning, kid.”

  Brice was his usual happy self. He looked at the note and went over to his console. After a few minutes, he came to the counter with a large bag. “So bulking up, macho man, huh? I’ve thought of doing that, but too much trouble. Doing it for a girl?”

  “No, not me. Nothing as cool as that. I’m going to enter the fleet officer’s training and I don’t want to wash out.”

  “Good god, why? You have, what, a year left of your apprenticeship? My brother tried to make it in officer’s school. He got the shit kicked out of him. You’ll need to fight to make it. They make you fight.”

  “Yeah, so I heard. I have to get self-defense training. I have a year. I’ll be ready.”

  “Hmm, yeah, so what you need is to fight not spar or shadow box. You need to fight, kick, scratch, punch and bite, a knock down fight. One on one, may the best man win. That’s what you need.”

  “Yeah, who’s crazy enough to do that?”

  “Well, I know of a bunch of guys who like to gamble, drink and fight. I used to do martial art stuff. It’s good, but nothing like the real thing. A fight isn’t a match, not a competition decided by judges, but by the first man to hit the mat face first. You’ll never know how you’ll do in a fight before you’re in one. Go do your martial arts for six months, then come see me and we’ll get you ready to make it through OTS with honors.”

  On the way to my room, I stopped in to see Bob. For a crazy man, he was very wise and smart. I don’t know how he did it, but he managed to get the whole story out of me in a few minutes.

  “Let me get this straight. You think you alone must find a way to destroy the Link. It’s you against the Link, one-on-one, man-to-man, toe to toe and all that rot?”

  “Ah, yeah.”

  “Drake, you saved a lot of people’s lives planet side. If you hadn’t stepped in, it would have been a disaster. All the scientists on this ship know that and respect you. If you go to them, they’ll help you. They want to help you. Go ask them.”

  I paused. He was right. I could ask. That wouldn’t relieve me of the responsibility, but I’d be more productive.

  Margret chimed in. “Should I place a call to Dr. Livingston?”

  “Yes, Margret, and put it on speaker,” I said.

  “Drake, what a pl
easure to hear your voice,” Diane said.

  “Diane, can I meet with you?”

  “Of course, any time.”

  “How about fifteen minutes?”

  “Oh, okay. Is this personal?”

  “No, it’s the Link.”

  “May I invite a few associates?”

  “Yeah, anyone you want.”

  “Hmm, I’ll keep it small, less than ten. I’ll send Margret directions. See you in fifteen minutes.”

  I turned to Bob. He looked smug and smiled. “Thank you! You were right.”

  “Drake, you’re a leader. Use people. Get their help.”

  “Thanks, Bob. Please get well, I have to run. I want to get there ahead of them.”

  “Good luck. You’d better run fast.”

  I sprinted to my room and to pick up the ball, then following Margret’s direction’s, I arrived at a small conference room. Everyone turned and went quiet at my entrance. Diane pointed to the empty chair at the end of the table.

  The room went silent as I walked to the chair. I felt my face flush. As I sat, I placed the ball onto the table. “This was given to me by Sandra. It’s central to the Link. Tangent could find no record of any research or design effort to build this device. Margret, display the close-ups of it.” The wall was covered with a picture of the core. “I’ve looked at it and can see nothing that’s common to any other Monisa technology. I think it’s an alien device. The more I look at it the more I believe it’s not from Monisa. I need your help to find out how it works, how to destroy, neutralize or stop it.”

  A wiry man sitting across from Diane looked at the ball. “Looks like pieces are missing,” he said.

  “Yes,” I said. “Octella wanted samples to study. I scanned them first. Margret, show them the scans.” The rest of the walls showed enlargements of the scans.

  “What’s the scale of these scans?” Margret displayed the scale.

  A large man jumped up from the table and circled part of the display and enlarged it. “Baxter, you see? I told you, didn’t I, huh? Look at that!” He turned and looked at a tall man who was still seated and laughed. “A string computer processor.”