by Ben Winston
The pretty girl laughed and nodded her agreement. “Doctors are the same no matter were you come from, Talena. They work like crazy to heal you, then try to make you sick by feeding you that horrible food!”
“Come on, Beth, that bland crap is going to make her blow chunks regardless of how well her stomach works!” Ian pleaded.
Beth frowned, but asked the domestic drone for something called cinnamon apple oatmeal.
“With a little bit of sugar?” Ian asked. “Please?”
“If she gets sick on it, you get to clean it up!” Beth said sternly.
Ian grinned and took the bowl she offered. “I think you might like this better. Remember, try to eat it slowly.”
She took the spoon and took a small bite. “This is much better! Thank you!” She said before taking another bite. Ian winked at her before standing. “Cindy, when she’s finished, would you show her how our showers work, and help her with our clothes?” he turned back to Talena, “I’m sure you know how to do all those things aboard ship, but we are rather primitive down here, and no one can know you’re from another planet. I’ll leave you to your breakfast.” He caressed her cheek before he turned and left.
Chapter Eleven
“Commander, the level one diagnostics on the hull and superstructure are complete, and I am ready to report,” Oly said.
Ian, Jenny, and Beth were sitting at the dining room table talking about Talena when Olympus called. “Okay Oly, come on out and give us the good news.”
“I am afraid there is very little of this that is good, sir,” Oly said as he appeared beside the table.
He motioned to the center of the table where a miniature of the ship formed. “All six primary keel supports are badly degraded on the molecular level. Even if the ship were in space, any thrust applied to the superstructure would cause these main support beams to buckle and destroy the ship. They must be replaced before any attempt to move the ship is made.
“The hull plates on the rear of the ship, from roughly section one-ninety-two, back, are also badly degraded. In fact on the rear quarter of the ship, the hull plates would shatter if you hit them with a hammer. Again, they must be replaced before any attempt to move the ship is made,” Oly said.
Ian had his head in his hands, this was much worse than he’d thought.
“What about the internal super-frame and reactor support stanchions?”
“All of it has to be replaced, Sir. In fact, I would strongly recommend shutting down the reactor immediately in the event the stanchions fail. The internal frame as well as all bulkheads from section two-twenty-one through main engineering must be rebuilt and or replaced.
“At this point if a meteor were to strike anywhere remotely near the ship, the rear half would simply crumble into dust,” Oly finished. “May I ask how you knew it was not safe, sir?”
“Instinct I think. The night you taught me the physics involved in the propulsion system, I got a... I don’t know, a feeling I guess. A feeling that something wasn’t right,” Ian said thoughtfully. “Then there’s ‘Murphy’s Law’.”
Oly looked confused a moment, but Ian could see the information registering on the AI’s face. “If something can go wrong, it will.”
Ian nodded. “Usually at the worst possible moment. That phrase was intended as an ironic joke, Oly. However, I want it treated as a real law of nature. Nothing gets used and nobody goes aboard again until it’s safe.
“You’ll need to check the shuttle we’ve been using as well.” He turned to his first officer, “Okay, Jenny, do you agree that we should shut down the main reactor in order to affect repairs to the superstructure of the ship?”
“Yes I do,” Jenny said. “Immediately. The long term results of the main reactor detonating on the moon would have catastrophic results for the Earth, not to mention the loss of the ship. The reactor has enough power to potentially nudge the moon out of its current orbit.”
“I agree. Oly, effective immediately, I am ordering the shutdown of the main power reactor for the ship. Further, assign all the maintenance drones not currently involved in other critical repairs to the task of replacing and repairing the primary frame and keel sections, the super-frame, and the hull. Once that is complete, perform a complete level one diagnostic on the main reactor prior to restart,” Ian said.
“Sir, part of that test requires human assistance, as well as the restarting of the reactor,” Oly stated.
Ian nodded in agreement. “While you’re working on the superstructure and hull, we’ll be recruiting more people. I’ll get some engineers ready for you once it’s safe for them to be up there. Do you have an estimate of the time line for repairs?”
“In a dry dock facility, it would take a minimum of three weeks to replace the keel sections, and two more weeks to repair the bulkheads and secondary frame sections. Given the history of this reactor, it would be removed and a new unit installed, adding another two weeks. I feel I should mention that with this amount of damage, the ship itself would most likely be destroyed, and a new one built to replace it,”
“Well, we don’t have a dry dock facility, and I’m not about to order the destruction of the ship. How about this; use a portable power supply and erect an isolation field here at section one-eighty,” Ian used a pen to indicate the area, “Then have the drones destroy the reactor before beginning on the internal frames. Essential systems can run on their secondary power systems until the reactor is replaced. Did you get the rest of those drones built?”
“Yes sir, I have tentatively assigned one hundred to the keel replacement, one hundred to the hull sections, and the remaining hundred to internal structures. The outer hull cannot be finished until the keel is completed, but once the drones are to that point, I will pull them inside to help,” Oly said.
“I agree, proceed. Now, once we get the frame sections and reactor stanchions replaced, and the keel is finished, go ahead and rebuild the reactor. I would like for your drones to work from the front of the ship back, so as soon as it’s safe, we can start bringing people up to help with repairs,” Ian said.
“Have you given anymore thought to this corporation idea?” Beth asked.
Ian winked at her. “Oly, I think we’re going to need credit cards or some other vehicle to pay for incidentals, until we can get this corporation set up.” He paused in thought, then activated his communit. “Commander to Counselor Laskar.”
“Hi Ian,” Janet replied.
“Do you think you folks could come over for a bit? We got some plannin’ to do.”
“We’re about ten steps from your door,” Janet said laughing.
Ian grinned. “Just walk in then, I think it’s unlocked.”
The door opened to admit Janet, Bill and Julie. “Sorry Commander, we wanted to come over to see how Talena was doing,” Bill said grinning.
“Cindy has her in the shower I think. Actually, they’ve been in there for a while. Maybe I better go check on them,” Beth said as she stood. “Have a seat, everyone. Ian can get you something to drink.”
Ian smiled at his in-laws. “Isn’t it a little early in the day for both of you to be off work?”
“Actually, neither of us is employed any longer,” Bill said frowning. “Management got pissy when I told them I took that time off to attend my daughter’s wedding. They said I should have planned better and submitted a vacation request two months ago.” He shrugged. “They were assholes anyway.”
“So what happened to you, Julie?” Ian asked.
“I was going to be downsized anyway, so they decided now was just as good as the end of the month. I got a three month severance package, though,” Julie said grinning.
“Okay, well, if you guys need anything, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to either ask, or just use the credit card you’ll be getting. As soon as we can get it set up, we’ll list both of you as officers or members of the board for the corporation.” Ian turned to Janet. “Now, you pretty lady, I need you to get to work post-haste. We�
��ll need a good corporate attorney as well as whoever else to legally set up a corporation. I’d prefer if they knew everything that’s really going on, but it’s not a requirement. Okay, why are you grinning?” Ian asked.
She touched her ear, “Computer, telephone please...” She rattled off a number and waited a few minutes.
“Carla? Hi! It’s Janet. Are you busy?” She paused while the other person was speaking.
“Really? That’s horrible, but perhaps really good too; I’ve stumbled across something out here that just screamed your name to me when I heard about it.” She paused again to listen.
“No, honey, nothing like that. It’s totally legit, and I’ve been told that if you’re everything I’ve said you were, it’ll pay twenty percent over your existing salary.” Janet listened with her grin growing.
“Yes they do, how soon can you make a trip out here?”
Pause,
“No, tonight’s fine, you’ll only need clothes for a couple days, they’ll furnish anything else you might need.”
Pause.
“Okay hon, you go pack, and I’ll get your flight information and call you back.”
Pause.
“I know you will, dear. They’re a really neat bunch of people. Give Paula a kiss for me and I’ll talk to you soon, bye.”
Janet smiled at Ian, “Carla Nelson is one of the best corporate attorneys in New York City. The problem she’s been having is that in order for her to advance, she has to 'pay her way'.
“She was let go from the firm she was working for yesterday for punching one of the senior partners in the face when he commanded her perform something obscene on him during a board meeting. She’s afraid the old bastard will have her disbarred.
“She’s free to come whenever we need her here.” Her grin deepened, “She’s an avid science fiction buff, and I thought it would be a great way to break the ice if we picked her up in the shuttle.”
Ian dug out the keys to the hummer and tossed them to her. “Do you think you can be back in time to see Jenny and I graduate tonight?”
She stood and looked at Bill, “Can I take Julie with me? You can save us three seats can’t you, love?”
Bill chuckled. “I’m not going to end up with another wife out of this, am I?”
“I don’t think so, dear, Carla isn’t into guys,” Janet said with as straight a face as she could get.
Bill looked at her face and busted out laughing. “Get out of here already!”
As the women turned to leave, Ian asked, “Do you remember how to get out to the farm?”
“Yeah, but if we get lost, Oly can guide us,” Julie said and they left.
Beth passed the women in the hallway, and sat down, grinning. “Those two look chipper!”
“They’re going to pick up our new corporate attorney; if she joins us,” Ian said. “How are Cindy and Talena doing?”
“Napping. It was so cute, I looked into Talena’s room and there was Cindy, with Talena spooned up against her, sound asleep,” Beth said.
“Those two sure have gotten attached quickly,” Jenny said.
“Not as fast as Talena and our dashing husband. I think the girl might be slightly empathic, because she looked into his eyes, and her heart melted. She’s confused about her feelings right now, but pretty soon she’s going to realize what those feelings are,” Beth said. “We’re going to have to figure out how to handle it when she does.”
“She’s going to be our wife one day, Beth,” Jenny said softly.
Beth looked a little shocked. “Really? We barely know her, and she's so tiny!”
“Were getting to know her now, and since when does size have anything to do with it?” Jenny asked.
Beth frowned. “I know, I just... How many wives is Ian going to have?”
“I honestly don’t know, Beth. I just got that the first time I saw her,” Jenny said.
“But...” Beth said.
“Beth, I love you, but you of all people should know that size has nothing to do with a loving heart. Besides, we're getting to know her now, and so far, I don't see anything about her that I don't like, but it's only been a few hours.”
“The kids are right, Beth,” Bill said, he cocked his head to one side while looking at Beth. “Are you wearing your make up differently, Beth?”
“I’m not wearing any make up, Bill why? Is something wrong?” Beth replied.
“No, you just have a different look about you today, I can't put my finger on it.” Bill said.
Further conversation was interrupted by a very sleepy looking Talena walking out, and climbing into Beth's lap.
She looked up at Beth. “I’m still hungry, can I have some more to eat?”
“Did you eat all of the oatmeal, sweetie?” Beth asked.
Talena nodded, “I wanted more, but Cindy said I had to wait for a little bit.”
“Did you feel sick at all?” Beth asked.
“No, just really hungry.”
“Okay, well if you were going to have a reaction, you should have had it with the oatmeal. I’ll go wake sleeping beauty, if you’ll order lunch for us, Ian?” Beth said rising from her chair, and guiding Talena over to sit by Ian.
Jenny stopped her. “I’ll go get Cindy for you, Beth.” Jenny picked up a glass of water.
Everyone chuckled except Talena who looked confused for a minute, then started chuckling too.
Ian ordered a three-meat sub sandwich with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and bacon. He ordered a foot long, cut in half so he could share it with Talena.
“Since you’re not familiar with the food here, I thought I’d see if you liked one of my favorites. However, if you don’t like one of the toppings, just open it up and take it off.” Ian demonstrated by opening his sandwich and removing the tomato. He then picked up the sandwich and took a bite.
Talena aped his movements and her eyes lit up with the taste. Ian ordered two of Oly’s replicated Mountain Dews. Talena seemed to really enjoy those too. Shortly, Cindy and Jenny came walking out hand in hand.
“You look happy, and dry!” Talena commented, with a small grin.
Cindy grinned, “I was already awake when she came in. So she didn’t get the chance to use the water.” Her grin widened. “We decided to hold onto the water to use on you!”
“You could always use it on Ian!” Talena quipped.
Bill shook his head, “Oh Ian, you are going to have your hands full with these two. I think she and Cindy are going to be a pair!”
Still grinning, Talena calmly went back to eating her sandwich.
The comedy slacked off then so people could eat, and finally Bill asked Ian what time tomorrow they’d be returning to the ship.
“I’m afraid that trip has been postponed for a while, Bill. There is considerable damage that still needs to be repaired before I’ll allow anyone back on board,” Ian replied. He felt Talena shudder a little on his lap, so he caressed her shoulder with his hand to let her know he was there, and cared about her.
Bill frowned, “Well, there was something I wanted to get started with, but I guess it’ll have to wait.”
“Don’t worry, Bill, I’ll keep you so busy the time will seem to fly by,” Ian said.
“Doing what?” He asked.
“Well for one thing, we need to get some plans going. We need a mission statement for the corporation. I was thinking of something along the lines of ‘We wish to preserve and protect our world through the advancement and development of ecologically friendly technologies’, Ian said. “Then of course we’d have to list one or two paragraphs touching on the guidelines we’ve set for ourselves.”
The discussion continued until they had to get ready for graduation. Ian and Jenny had to leave early, and left the family to follow along a little later. Janet and Julie arrived just before the ceremony started and took seats beside Bill.
News of Ian and Jenny’s marriage had spread though the class and even the principal congratulated them - after making sure that Jenny
hadn’t gotten pregnant. The little fib about her condition served to set the administrator’s mind at ease. Both Ian and Jenny had been asked to be valedictorian for the class but declined.
Once the appointed time arrived, the ceremony began. After long winded speeches about the future and how this class would be instrumental in making the world a better place, the principal finally got to the part the class had been waiting for; handing out the diplomas.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to deviate slightly from our rehearsed procession, tonight to honor two of our students. Would Ian Williams and Jennifer Laskar-Williams please come up here?”
Cheering broke out from the assembled class and it was quickly picked up by the parents and relatives that had come to witness the proceedings. Ian took Jenny’s hand and they walked up to the podium together.
“Ladies and Gentleman, most of you probably haven’t heard of either of these two remarkable young people, but rest assured that every one of their classmates has. In addition to having the highest marks in their class, both of these students gave up hundreds of hours of time to help tutor fellow students.
“Our football coach has made the claim that Ian is solely responsible for keeping our varsity players from dropping off the team to keep up their grades. Not to say that the players are not bright, but the extra assistance granted them by Ian allowed them to learn better study habits, so they didn’t have to worry so much about academics.
“I’m proud to announce that this is the first year in the history of the school that the entire senior portion of the team has been offered scholarships to many fine universities across the country.”
Principal Rawlins paused to let the applause die down. “Jenny’s achievements, while not as obvious, are equally as impressive. She selflessly helped so many students in her career at this school that it is my great honor to give her an award normally only given to staff: the Rutherford Hills Award for Academic Excellence for Teaching. In addition to the monitory award, Mrs. Williams’ name will be inscribed on the plaque on public display at the school district offices.”