"Well I'm glad you’re learning something constructive," the Captain leaned back and smiled.
"Oh learning our heritage, it's so exciting!" Dorah exclaimed.
The chief recognized the warning signs of Dorah about to go hyper. "I do believe you wanted to check the changes to deck two?" she said suggestively. She tried to extract the Captain with the helpful suggestion.
"Eh? Oh right," the Captain took the cue. She nodded. "All right, carry on ladies." The girls snapped to attention. The Captain looked startled, and then nodded as she passed.
The Chief waited until they were out of ear shot. "Now he's teaching them historical nonsense? Whatever came out of studying the past? Waste of time!" she snarled. The Admiral came around the corner rubbing his left shoulder while hefting his tool box. "You!"
He looked up and sighed. "Yes?"
"What did you do this time?" she demanded.
He looked around to the guards. They shrugged. "Um, if you mean the port injector feed, I'm waiting on parts. I was working on the bow OMS pod...."
The chief waved it off. "Not that, all this crap the girls are spouting, historical drivel!"
The Captain raised her hand. "Softly dear." She turned her attention to the Admiral. "I see you've been busy."
He nodded. "Well, some of the ladies were asking about my sources, so I dumped the historical database into a website and left links...it sort of snowballed. I understand they can now put some of the material from the holo novels into context again."
The Captain nodded. "Good to know, and good that they're keeping busy," she said. He nodded. "You’re turning this ship into a small city right?" she asked softly. Her eyes glittered. He wasn't sure why at first, and then recognized her body language as amused.
"Well, manufacturing, knowledge..." he said and then shrugged.
She froze, and then nodded. "Yes, but, we can't keep it all in one basket," she murmured.
He nodded. "Glad you understand."
She nodded. "Yes, yes now I do." She straightened. "Carry on." She moved past them. After a moment her granddaughter followed.
"I heard you two took Tia in hand," the Captain nodded to Jen and Shandra. They looked at each other than to the Captain.
"Well, someone had to, and since I'm on afternoon shift and Shandra is on mornings..." Jen said.
The Captain nodded. "Well, I'm glad you’re giving her some comfort. Is she settling in?" she asked.
Jen grimaced. "She's still having nightmares and sleeps with us," Shandra sighed.
"Oh," the Captain quietly stirred her cup.
"Perhaps she needs some counseling? Or medication?" the doctor suggested.
Shandra grimaced. "No drugs. But counseling," she turned. She gave Jen an imploring look.
"We'll get back to you on that," Jen replied firmly. "All right, so you’re down to replacing the replicators and putting the final touches on the repairs to the primary flight control center?"
Faith nodded. "I've a lass in mind to act as the boss. We're still up to our necks in shuttles too." She turned to the Admiral. "Why did this ship need so many?" she asked.
He smiled. "Well, not all of them were shuttles; many were robots, work pods, and the like. This is a tender, designed to support a fleet," he explained. Jen and several of the other officers nodded.
"I understand you built satellites for the people of Gaston?" Faith asked.
"Yes, as well as a few other things," he said.
She smiled. "No argument, I just was wondering how many different things we can make..." He leaned back as Jen practically bounced.
"Oh not this again," Vanessa sighed. "Honestly, some of us have heard it before. Can we get off this and back onto the ship status?" she demanded. Jen closed her mouth with a clop.
"Perhaps another time Jen, why don't you give me a computer status?" the Captain suggested diplomatically.
"Very well," Jen glowered a little at the purser. "We've gotten most of the hardware sorted out, and with Io here," she waved to the AI who smiled. "We're finally on tract for software repairs. We've even salvaged a lot of data; it'll be a while before we sort it out though," she sighed.
"All right and fuel?" The Captain looked over to Leri.
“Well...”
"Hi baby," a hoarse voice said softly.
Mindy felt a hand stroke her hair. She looked up surprised at the soft rough voice. "Mooom?" she asked uncertain.
"My have you grown. But what have you done with your hair?" her mother asked.
Her eyes teared as her mom ran her hands through her hair once more. "Oh mom!" She clutched at the bed sheets and dropped her head to her mom's lap.
She sobbed for a few minutes. "There there, I'am back. I'am so proud of you! You've been a good girl right?" her mother asked. She patted Mindy's hair as she nodded.
"I've tried."
The doc cleared his throat from the doorway. "Ah, I see you’re awake."
The two exchanged a wordless nod. "Thank you. I mean, if you’re the one who put me back together," Clarissa waved to her broken body.
"Yes, well, we had a lot of help," The doctor said and then he shrugged.
Mindy looked up suddenly. "We woke up an Admiral who put the ship back together and taught us all kinds of things!" Her normal exuberance had reappeared, but quickly faltered. "But we lost Molly," she said and bit her lip. Her face crumpled again. She bit her lip. Clarissa sighed.
"Mindy, why don't we let your mom rest a bit longer. You can check on her in a little while," the doctor said, studying Clarissa. She gave a weak nod.
"We have your new clothes right here mom," Mindy said. Mindy got up and bounced to the smock hanging from a hook. "See?" She put it on and pirouetted.
"That's nice dear," Clarissa sighed and closed her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Mindy, instantly contrite patted her mom's hand then checked her forehead. "No sign of fever," she said. She took the jacket off and put it back. She kissed her mom on the cheek and then tip toed out past the doc. The doc caught Clarissa's peek as she opened one eye. He snorted. Mindy shushed him.
He chuckled softly, turning with a wave. "Get some rest; you’re going to need it."
"Mom! You’re awake again!" Mindy bounced excitedly as Clarissa stood in the doorway. She was swaying a bit. "Easy mom," Mindy said. Mindy stopped and rushed a chair to her. Her mother had disdained her patient's dress for a coverall and the medical smock.
Gratefully she eased into the chair. "You should give those muscles time to heal doctor," Kess said, coming over and handing her a glass of water.
"Kess right?" Clarissa took a sip of water and looked up at her.
"That's right doc, it's good to see you again." The doctor came in, as did the new nurse.
"What are you doing here?" Clarissa demanded.
Kess waved. "Oh, I'm doing a bounce shift." Clarissa looked confused. "I'm helping out in sickbay after the doc fixed some of my bio-sculpt," she said. She pointed to her ears, and then turned to let the doctor get a better view.
Clarissa ran a hand through her hair, and leaned forward to examine them closely. "My my, and without a scar!" She looked over to the male doctor, giving him a wondering glance.
He shrugged. "We've been learning the machinery. Now that it's all repaired." He waved to the sickbay.
"Mom mom! I'll give you a tour!" Mindy excitedly wheeled her mother around for a moment.
Clarissa stopped her at a bay. "One moment Mindy." Clarissa looked a bit motion sick. "You’re going a bit fast, and the sudden stops," she said. She shuddered.
"Oh, sorry," Mindy said contrite.
The male doctor came over and chuckled. "Well, if you'd stayed in bed you wouldn't have this problem yet," he teased.
Clarissa looked up. "Well, they do say doctor's make for the worst patients." She grinned at the doc, who smiled back and bowed.
"I do remember reading something about that," he chuckled.
"So, you have a staff?" she asked and then waved.
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"Well, actually they're your staff," he corrected. He shrugged and indicated Bonny, Kess, and the girls.
Kess was back to work at a table looking through a microscope. "My staff?" Clarissa looked confused.
"Well..." The doctor looked away.
"We sort of kidnapped him mom," Mindy said quietly. She leaned over her mother, and then came around to kneel beside her. Her mother looked at her confused then back to the male doc.
"Kidnapped?" she asked looking into his eyes. He nodded.
"Don't be mad at us mom. We had too," Mindy said.
The doc sighed. "The Captain said I can get off at my home world in a couple months," he said. He nodded and left them.
"You kidnapped him?" Clarissa turned on her daughter with accusing eyes.
Mindy looked down guiltily. "We needed someone to help you mom. You and Faith and the others, and anyone else who gets hurt." She waved to the other bays."
Clarissa slowly nodded. "Still, that doesn't excuse kidnapping!"
Clarissa laid back in the chair. "The Captain said she'll make it right, she's going to set him up with a full sickbay when we get to his home world, complete with power plant to run it all," Mindy said.
Clarissa looked over to her daughter stunned. "What?" Mindy bounced up. Clarissa tried to follow her but stopped when she got behind the chair and pushed her back to her bay.
"Yup, but don't tell him, it's a secret," she stage whispered then giggled. "Jennie and Kess are working on the stuff. We have an entire cargo bay for it all," she said and then waved. "I helped a little, but I've been busy," she sighed theatrically. "There's so much to do now! Everything is fixed! And we can do so much now!" She waved.
"So someone managed to fix it all huh?" Clarissa sighed.
"Oh, not just anyone, the engineer," Mindy said eagerly.
Clarissa looked over to her daughter as they stopped at her bed. "Engineer?"
Mindy nodded. "Actually, he's an Admiral, whatever that is," she said. She wrinkled her nose.
"Like the Pyrax port Admiral?" Clarissa asked, getting weakly out of the chair.
Her daughter supported her as she faltered. She eased her onto the bed. "Oh, he isn't like him at all. No he's a REAL Admiral from the past!" Mindy said. Clarissa looked over to her.
"Young lady, you better not be fibbing," she growled.
Mindy shook her head vigorously, making her ponytails swish back and forth. "I'm not mommy, honest!" she had an earnest expression on her face. "We found him in a life pod over a year ago. He's some big hero during the Xeno war. He fixes stuff!" she giggled. "I'll introduce you. He can be a Meanie though," she grimaced, pouting a bit.
Clarissa nodded. "So, what else has been going on, fill me in," she said. Mindy looked excited and started chattering. Her mother listened with interest.
"So Admiral, I hear we have you to thank for my resurrection?" He turned and smiled at a blond female in a medical smock smiling at him. She had a stethoscope in her front pocket and a set of scrubs on under her smock.
He chuckled. "I just fixed the tools and let the medical professionals do their magic," he demurred. She smiled.
The hatch to the galley opened. "Buy you a cup of coffee?" he offered.
Her eyes twinkled. "I think I should be buying you the...uh... coffee?"
He chuckled and waved to the mess. "Ladies first." She smiled a little as she bobbed a curtsy and stepped past.
"But why? Why leave us?" jennie asked. They were now only a few hours out from the Anvil space station.
He sighed, trying not to meet her face. "Jennie, Trisha, do you see what you can do now?" Trisha nodded warily. Jennie just studied him. "You're making an impact on everyone you now meet," he said. Trisha's eyes were wide. "Before you brought news and some goods, now you're a mobile factory, able to go from one system to another fixing and making things," he explained.
Trisha nodded. "That's what you do right? So why leave?" Trisha asked.
He nodded. "Yes, and the knowledge you've learned, some of that is being passed off to others in the classes taught," he said.
Jennie nodded. "But you can do more," she said. He nodded.
"And you can be more of an impact somewhere else?" Trisha waved to the ship. "Why not here?" He sighed again. "Trisha, you don't need me. Your Chief engineer and medic are out of stasis and recovering nicely, they've even gotten into the classes," he said. She nodded.
"Now that you can influence the colonies you visit, I can move on to another place to do more," he explained patiently.
Jennie nodded suddenly. "I see." She studied him. "You want to rebuild civilization?" she asked.
He chuckled. "Well, I'm an engineer, which is what we do right? Fix things?"
Jennie wiped her eyes and sniffed a bit. "Yeah, you're right." She hugged him.
He patted her back. "Don't worry, we'll cross paths again. With the ship back up to specs, you'll be hitting more and more systems; we're liable to cross paths again," he said smiling.
She sighed. "Yeah, thanks." He smiled and patted her hair. Trisha looked at them, and then looked away, eyes glistening as well. He took her hand.
Jennie broke the embrace and looked over to her. "Don't worry. We’ll be fine. He's taught us that much," Trisha nodded tears flowing.
"Anvil station control, this is Io 11 come in please," the communications tech looked up after a few minutes. "Still no reply Captain," she sighed. "There won’t be for another ten minutes if they respond immediately. I'm getting some of the local radio traffic including the radio news." She grimaced. "Most of it's gossip."
Shandra and Leandra perked up. "Lets here it!" they said in unison, and then giggled.
"No thank you. Why don't you record it and let people access it when they get off shift," The Captain replied smoothly. She tugged at her uniform blouse. "Are all the preparations in order?" she asked the purser softly.
The purser smiled. "Ready and waiting impatiently." She flicked her eyes to the Chief.
The Captain shook her head. "She'll miss him when he's gone, we all will," she sighed.
"We're getting her neutrino signature just fine Captain. We're also picking up the signatures of the other colonies," Shandra looked up to the Captain who nodded.
"That about does it," he shouldered the second bag, and carried the third.
"Got enough luggage Admiral?" Jennie teased.
He shrugged. "Normal. I'm not about to wear my suit, and since the pinnance had its...unfortunate mishap, I get to carry it manually."
She looked the gear over. "Well, we could get a dolly," she joked. He shook his head. She shrugged. They exited his cabin and she nodded. He didn't look around much as he went, just tried to keep the bags from hitting the walls or knockers. The ship was back in ship shape he thought, feeling a tinge of remorse... but tempered with pride.
"You do good work Admiral, and these seeds have been sown well, they'll fly far and wide to seed more," Sprite's comment made him smile. He almost bumped into Jennie as she stopped in the gallery. She shifted to the left, and then came to attention. He entered and looked up.
The crew was there, all of them. All dressed in uniforms, and standing at attention. The doctor and Hibiki were the odd men out; doc wore a uniform, but had a white smock of his office on as well. Bonny, Mindy, and Dorah stood behind and around him. Hibiki wore his trademark black coverall with red vest. The Captain was standing by the airlock with the Chief, Faith, Clarissa, Tia, Io, and Shandra at her side.
"Send off?" he whispered.
"Looks like it," Sprite answered.
"You deserve it," Jennie answered. She took her place beside Tia. Tia looked up and took her hand with a smile. He approached the Captain and nodded.
"I'll take that," the Chief said raising her hand to the bags.
The Captain blocked it with a hand. "Enough of that. Whatever he has, he's more than earned it." She turned to her granddaughter, gave her a warning look, then back to the engineer.
Her eye
s twinkled. "As long as it isn't my china set of course," she mock growled. She smiled as he chuckled.
"Didn't have the room," he teased right back.
She snorted. "Well, the ladies and I wanted to give you a proper send off," her usual gravel voice had been strengthened and reinforced by the new medical regime.
He smiled. "Here to see me off?" He cocked his head at the Chief.
She grimaced. "Making sure you go," she growled. He chuckled. She answered that with a glimmer of a small smile.
"My boy, you've done wonders on this ship,” the captain said. The Captain held out her hand. He took it and shook it. "We have one more thing to attend to." She nodded to the group behind him.
The Chief came to attention. He turned, letting the bags slip to the floor.
"Detail Attention!" Jennie called out. The group came to attention. "Salute!" The group saluted as one. Tears came to his eyes, these people...
"Quite a send off Admiral," the Captain said softly behind him. He nodded feeling his own eyes sting. He came to attention and saluted smartly.
"Detail attention." He smiled, it wasn't quite by the book, but it still worked. He caught the ancient faded symbol behind Jennie. He nodded as he broke the salute. She nodded back.
That symbol was the ship's crest. Above it was the flag of the Federation. He picked up the bags and turned to the Captain. "Thank you Captain, for that," he said huskily.
She nodded sober. "Yes, I thought it was proper." She waved to the airlock. "Good luck on your next adventure Admiral. We know you'll do well," she said. He smiled and left.
THE END
Appendix:
My blog:
http://cyberforge3d.blogspot.com/
Yes if some of things are familiar, I admit I used this as a general reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandread
Sites of interest:
http://www.schlockmercenary.com/
http://www.vexxarr.com/Index.php
http://conceptships.blogspot.com/
New Dawn (Wandering Engineer) Page 50