Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer)

by Hechtl, Chris

  “Sure,” Irons chuckled. He pulled out another gold piece and set it on the bar.

  “That'll buy a weeks worth of food!” the proprietress hissed quietly to her husband.

  “Hush woman,” he whispered to her. He looked at the chimp. “Sure thing, coming up,” he poured another stout.

  “The Admiral fixed up Destiny good. Even took a look at our still,” the chimp said, smiling a little as he took a sip. “Dang, you do have issues.” He shook his head.

  “It's the vats,” the bartender said not looking at them.

  “Probably,” the Admiral nodded. “Sometimes a good cleaning with a bottle brush is all you need for a still, and a going over to make sure water vapor isn't getting into the mash.”

  “If you're a Navy guy, how come you know about stills?” Benny asked, sounding suspicious.

  Bailey grinned and laughed. “Hell, ain't a ship out in space that doesn't have a still! It's a spacer tradition! Right Admiral?” Irons chuckled and nodded. He took another sip of beer.

  “I can get you some brushes that will work. I also have some gear to give to the local school. If I can,” He shrugged.

  The man grimaced at that. A little girl came up behind him and yanked on his jacket. Irons turned to her. She had pigtails and freckles. She looked infectiously cute with the smudge on one cheek and the blue ruffled dress she had on. He smiled politely down at her. “Yes? Can I help you?”

  “Do you really like kids?”

  “Of course. I was a dad a long time ago,” Irons said with a nod. “I've also been a teacher.”

  “Oh.”

  “But not here right?” a little voice asked from under a table. Bailey glanced under but the kid hid. He could see him anyway with his sensors. A child, about five or six years old. The chimp snorted and went back to his beer.

  “No. I'm from off world. I was born in space on a freighter a long, long time ago.”

  There was a rustling of cloth from under the table. “Oh.”

  “Wouldn't it be cool to go up?” the girl asked, turning to the boy. “Billy get out from under there before you knock the table over. You know what mom said about you playing under there like that,” she said.

  A little boy came out sheepishly and went to his mother. He held on to her skirt. He sniffled rubbing his head and brow. He was dressed in brown slacks and a white shirt. He had black suspenders keeping his drawers up. Their was no belt, just a draw string tied in a bow at the front. He had moccasins on his feet.

  “Sick?” Bailey asked.

  The mother felt the boy's forehead. “He keeps running a fever.”

  “Clean the place. Get some air and light in here,” Bailey snorted. “Lose the lanterns, the smoke is bad for you.”

  “Bailey,” Miss Willis sighed. She turned to the barkeeps. “He's not very tactful. Sorry.”

  “What? I'm just sayin',” the chimp shrugged. His shoulders hunched though.

  “I can get you some solar panels and lights. And bleach,” the Admiral suggested.

  “Bleach? Did you say bleach?” the woman said blinking. “I heard of it, but it's so expensive!”

  The Admiral winced a little. That alone said a great deal about their standard of industrialization and economy. “It's actually relatively simple to make. I can give you the formula as well. I've got a container in my shuttle.”

  “You've got your own shuttle? Can I go on it?” the boy asked. The girl nodded, the parents looked wary.

  “Sure,” Irons nodded. He held up one finger. “Provided you help me drop off some school supplies and help your mom and dad out for a couple of days. You and oh, maybe six others and an adult or two can come up.”

  “Seriously?” the girl said jumping up and down. She went to her mom who was looking torn. “Please, please, please, can we?”

  “Your mom or dad can come if one of them is not too busy. Or an adult who is available,” Irons said with a shrug. “I was planning on giving the material to the school and town but the mayor is busy.” He spread his hands helplessly.

  “Yeah, I wonder why?” Bailey said sarcastically, shooting a dark look to Willis. She held up her hands.

  “It wasn't me. Honest.”

  “Maybe so, but that bullshit's got to stop. The man is innocent. I've seen the video, so have you. So have the others. Next person I catch shooting their mouth off isn't going to like what I do to them,” he growled menacingly. “That goes for that bitch of a boss of yours too. You can go ahead and tell her I told you that too.”

  Willis winced a little then shrugged helplessly. “He's safe. It's not true what you heard. Any of it. The Admiral is a good man.”

  “Gee thanks,” Sprite said dryly to the Admiral. “That makes it all better right?” she said sarcastically in the Admiral's ear. He sighed a little. “I think it's high time I get into this conversation Admiral,” she said. He grimaced, put dutifully pulled out a holo emitter out of his hip pocket and placed it on the bar, it lit and a small image of Sprite formed.

  “Hi folks,” she said looking around. The bar patrons gathered around, oohing and ahing. She fairly preened.

  “Don't lay it on too thick folks, she's got a big enough head as it is,” Irons muttered. She gave him a quick quelling look then smiled again.

  “My name is Sprite. I am a Lieutenant Commander in the Federation Navy. I am assigned to Fleet Admiral Irons as his aide and guardian.”

  “Guardian?” Miss Willis asked.

  Sprite shrugged. “Sure. Flag officers have a way of getting into trouble. It's in their nature after all.”

  “You could say that again,” Bailey snorted as he poked Irons.

  “Is she real?” the kids asked, hands on the bar. The boy pulled himself up to see over the counter. His father snorted and gave him a leg up. He glanced up with a smile of thanks then turned, eyes on the little figure. The little girl put her hand through the holo, then blinked up at her mom.

  “That tickles,” Sprite giggled a little. She smoothed her outfit as the image wavered and stabilized. “I am an AI. An Artificial Intelligence. So yes I am real. This is my avatar, which isn't exactly real. It is my way of showing people who I am.”

  “She has other ways of making herself be heard. Believe me,” Bailey snorted.

  “Cute Chief. Keep it up and I'll tell your wives you've been a naughty boy.”

  “Could you? I haven't been punished in days!” he said with an ear to ear grin. Sprite opened her mouth then closed it with a sigh.

  “No fun when we ask for it is it?” Irons teased with a small smile of his own.

  “It does take the impact away,” she growled. She shook her head, glaring at the chimp then turning and ignoring him. The kids giggled a little. The little girl smothered her giggles with her hand. “I have been with the Admiral for years. It's been quite an adventure.” Her image faded then another appeared.

  “It all started...”

  “Please tell me you're not going to show my baby photos?” Irons said under his breath.

  “No. Just the highlights, not the low lights,” she replied on his HUD. “Now hush, you're distracting me.

  “Gee thanks,” he sighed, sitting back. He felt his ears burn a little as she continued on.

  “WEEE!” the kids squealed. Irons chuckled as the little girl, who's name was Wendy pulled the yoke back to her chest. The shuttle stood on it's tail and climbed for orbit. In a moment they were near subspace.

  “This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but okay,” Irons snorted. Her mother was looking a little green. “Barf bag is in the compartment next to you ma'am,” he said leaning over and pointing to the right area. He wasn't sure what her problem was. The inertial dampeners were working at ninety five percent. They could barely feel the shuttle maneuvering.

  “Thanks,” she half whispered, eyes wide. One hand fumbled with the compartment latch then fell into her lap.

  Irons felt a little pity for her. She was trying manfully to deal with the vertigo. It got to everyone
on their first trip. Some took to it better than others.

  He'd been surprised she's been the one to go. Apparently her husband had been needed to tend to the still and bar so she'd been elected. Word had spread about his show, forcing a chagrined Sprite to replay it a few more times. Fortunately word had spread about the truth though. He was pretty sure whoever had started the rumors was now gnashing their teeth at that. Good.

  The mayor had specifically asked for the donation, something that had amused Irons. He'd wondered if Willis had been the helping hand to break the ice there or not. He wasn't sure. After all this time with the woman he still couldn't get a proper read on her. He doubted he ever would.

  “Kids go easy on your mom, it's her first time too remember?” he asked getting up and stretching.

  “Don't you have to fly? I mean... what if something happened?” she asked, eyes wide.

  “They are doing fine,” the Admiral smiled as a pair of boys got into his seat. They knew better than to push any buttons. He glanced at them then back to their mother. “To tell you the truth I've got it on auto pilot. They can maneuver a little, but it's now locked on course to Destiny,” he stage whispered to her. The kids were oblivious. The other four were clustered around the view ports, pointing and laughing.

  “Oh,” she watched the ship roll and roll. “Oh god.” She turned grabbing at the compartment.

  “Yeah, I'll just be over here if you need me,” he said walking away as she began to barf. The kids were making ew sounds as they caught the sound and smell. Hopefully none of them would follow suit.

  “What's going on?” one of the guards asked, as the boat bay opened and kids came piling out. “What the hell?” he said looking from one to another. He hadn't expected that. Pulling guard duty during a visit was a bit like being a bored tourist in reverse. He got to see his friends and shipmates go down and come back drunk and half out of their minds. Which could be fun. But... kids?

  “School field trip,” the Admiral smiled. He stepped aside as the teacher stepped out with the mother. Both were a little green. The teacher was waving a hand in front of her face. “We're here to pick up a load and for the kids to check out a real star ship.” He waved. “I've called ahead and made arrangements.”

  “That he did. I got hung up, sorry about that folks,” the captain said coming around a corner. The guard jerked to attention.

  “Captain on the deck!” the guard exclaimed. Some of the kids saw the guard and Admiral come to attention and paused then came to some semblance of quiet order themselves.

  “Welcome to my ship ladies and gentlemen. I am the captain of the good ship Destiny. I will give you a quick tour so you can see her for yourself.” He pointed to a camera bot hovering over his left shoulder. “This robot will film it for those students who missed out.”

  The kids looked at each other then smiled. “Shall we begin?” he asked. The Admiral nodded.

  “I'll be loading,” he said nodding as the group moved off. The mother looked back, shrugged then followed the group, using her hands to guide the kids along. The teacher looked awestruck by the captain in his uniform. Irons was pretty sure that was going to make the rounds with the local biddies once the two adults hit the dirt once more.

  “Well, you're racking quite a few good deeds up for one day,” Bailey growled coming up behind him. He turned with a snort.

  “Thought you were ground side?”

  “Had to come up. Harry ran into a problem and called in a panic. Turned out to be nothing but a wasted trip, they fixed it when I was half way up,” he sighed. “Clennie will go back down with me next trip though. Sylvia is busy.” He toed the floor. “Wish we could all get off at the same time though.”

  “That's the fun thing about trying to arrange schedules,” Irons sighed. “She can't swap with someone else?”

  “No, she tried but her department is short handed as it is,” the chimp sighed, shaking his head.

  “Maybe it's for the good. She's pregnant. You don't want her catching something ground side. Or getting sick going down or coming back up,” Irons replied. The chimp glared for a moment and then sighed.

  “Yeah, you're right. Still sucks though.”

  “Don't worry chief. Soon enough you'll have family picnics. Just keep a fire extinguisher handy for the little tykes antics, just in case,” Irons grinned as he slapped the chimp on the shoulder.

  “Gee thanks,” Bailey said with a laugh. “I'll give you a hand here. Nothing better to do.”

  Chapter 30

  “Well, that was fun,” Sprite said watching the kids leave. They were waving excitedly as they left. A few were skipping on the tarmac. One kicked at some weeds growing up through the cracked plascrete.

  “It had it's moments,” he said disinterested. He waved goodbye to the kids and then looked around. He'd spent the day going up and down. Then several days helping the family get organized. Now that was all settled. He felt a little better helping a family, but it was a small drop in the bucket compared to the entire colony!

  “And it's not so fun moments. Still it is good that you helped them despite their initial attitude. Solar panels, the bleach, the school. All nice touches.”

  The barmaid and younger teacher had practically twisted the older schoolmarm's arm to get her to take the gear. She had watched him like a hawk as he and a few helpers had set up the solar panels and the small wind turbine on the school roof, then run the wiring. He'd even threaded the wiring through conduits to keep it safe from prying fingers. She had been grumpy and dubious about the project but she had been all smiles at the results. Lights, heating, and even an electric pump connected to the nearby well to pump water to the school's new indoor sinks and toilets. The computers and tablets had been something she had clearly not known what to do with.

  “Once they got over the gossip you mean,” Irons growled. “And as long as I am supervised.” He nodded to a couple of people near the tower. They were men, most likely the local ruffians. “Any of you men want to earn a gold piece? I've got some packages to go to the tower here.”

  “Sure!” a man said jerking himself upright. He brushed dust off his brown pants and shirt. “What have you got?”

  “Equipment to help your tower out. Radios, solar panels, satellite links, and some meteorology equipment. Also some transponders, parts to keep everything running, and tool kits.”

  “Cool. Mayor must of paid through the nose for this stuff,” one of the men said, coming behind him.

  “No, it's all donated from the Federation Navy. I'm trying to help people get back on track and up to speed,” Irons said with shrug.

  “You don't say. Let me see that gold piece,” the first said. Irons fished out a piece. “And what's to stop us from taking it now?” the man said puffing his chest out. His thumbs went to his belt.

  Irons smiled. “Well, I am a Federation Officer. With oh... this,” he said. He held up his right arm and did the demo morph. The men blinked, slack jawed. “I encourage honest wages for honest work fellas. Think about it. You in or out?”

  “Sure, sure. Just saying,” the first man said with a shrug. “Let's go,” he waved.

  Irons made orbit and sighed, sitting back in the couch. The vibrator kicked on and rubbed the knot of muscle in his back. “Thanks.” Hours of back breaking labor for little thanks. He regretted letting them keep the hover jack. Of course he could make another but that wasn't the point. None of them even said thanks when the left. Not even a wave goodbye. More of a good riddance feeling when he'd returned to his shuttle.

  “Don't mention it. Your pain endorphins were distracting me,” Sprite said dryly. “You do have implants for that you know.”

  “Sometimes you have to feel human to feel alive. Sorry,” He shrugged.

  “What ever. I can't believe these people. Stupid. You were giving away equipment they'd sell their first born to get and they treated you like a leper. Not so much as a thank you.”

  “And it will be that way. At least until
we get out from under this cloud, and the only way to do that is far away from Destiny,” the Admiral sighed. “Think Willis was the one spreading the rumors?”

  “Miss sweetness?” Sprite sniffed. “I'm catching on to that little two faced bitch. Yes. I'm pretty sure she's the culprit. No one was in that bar except her. I checked. The rest of the delegation went to the other side of town. I caught the looks the bar patrons were shooting her way when she admitted it was all lies. And yes, Mayfair has been up to her usual tricks, but she's starting to run into a wall with some of the people after your side got out. She's having a hell of a time dealing with it. Now the mayor thinks she's a liar.”

  “And you had nothing to do with that?” he asked.

  “Moi? Well, maybe a little,” she said. He started to protest but she kept going. “She started to take credit for your donations. I had to put that down in the interest of justice.”

  “Of course,” Irons said, knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere arguing with her. He was pretty sure the holo of their adventures and her showcasing the incident in Pyrax had also played a hand in things. Mayfair must be really pissed right about now. You'd think she would have learned by now not to pull that kind of crap, it just came back and bit her in the ass. “You were saying that Willis is behind some of the other rumors though? But she spiked her own guns in that bar. I was curious why they didn't call her on it.”

  “I am too. Perhaps one of them caught it earlier? Now I'm not sure. She hasn't been completely truthful with you or about you. I had thought it was jealousy at one point.”

  “Jealousy?” he asked amused.

  “Over miss O...” He held up a hand wincing. “Sorry.”

  “Ah. An interesting datum,” he said after a moment.

  “Here is another. She's a last minute addition to the team,” Sprite replied.

  “Come again?” he said freezing.

  “You heard that correctly the first time Admiral. She actually bumped someone else. She has... get this, no qualifications.”