Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer) (22 page)

The
women he had come up in the lift with gave him an encouraging smile. He nodded.
“Nanna? When can we come home? I really want to come home now,” he bit back a
sob. “Even if I have to eat your greasy green bean casserole and do dishes
every day. I don't care.” This time he did let a sniffle out. The captain
rested his hand on his shoulder.

“You
bastard,” the old woman snarled. The kid's eyes widened, hurt washed over his
face as he looked around wildly.

The
lead woman snarled and swooped in past the others to hug the kid. “Jersey when
I get my hands on you, old woman or not I'm going to kick your ass so hard
you'll walk on your tip toes the rest of your life!” she snarled, looking at
the camera over her shoulder as the young man broke down and cried.

“Not
you, him, I mean...” the old woman sputtered helplessly.

“You
mean us ma'am. I believe, I feel you're angry over the situation. I understand
that. We're frustrated as well. Frustrated that we can't get it through your
thick heads that we're the real deal. This, well...” he shrugged, hands up in
surrender.

“Who
sent for you?” Willis asked, looking from one adult to the other.

“The
Admiral did,” the woman said, dashing the young man's tears and then rubbing
his back. “You're fine lad, she didn't mean it. She's got a potty mouth. Always
has had, probably always will.”

“I
know.”

“The
Admiral?” Mayfair said, making a sour face.

The
captain smiled, feeling relief over the situation. Finally something seemed to
be going right. Apparently Irons wasn't as hands off as he had wanted to appear
to be. “I have no objections. It seems to have made some breakthrough.
Hopefully,” the captain said, nodding to the women.

“He,
ah, he put the transmission up so we could all hear it captain. All of us I
mean. I think maybe it was his AI.”

“Guilty,”
Sprite said from the overhead.

“Who
was that?” Jersey asked. “Why can't I see her?” she asked confused.

Willis
grimaced but then shrugged. “That was Fleet Admiral Irons AI ma'am. Sprite.”

“Lieutenant
Commander Sprite ma'am, Federation Navy,” Sprite said. The lights dimmed and a
holo of her appeared beside the captain. She dressed in a day uniform, with her
rank insignia on her collar and lapel. She straightened, saluted, and then
nodded to the others as her hands tucked behind her back. The captain saw a
slight spark or twinkle in her eyes.

Amused
he nodded back. “I take it the Admiral is lending a hand?”

She
shook her head, her short virtual hair bobbing slightly. “Actually, I am. He's
working on the hyperdrive with Proteus right now. He did tell me to lend a hand
if you seemed to need it. Which you do. You're obviously not getting anywhere
fast.”

His
lips puckered in a wry smile. She was right. He had been about to swallow his
pride and ignore Mayfair to ask the Admiral directly. After all the man had
decades of experience to draw from. What he hadn't expected or considered was
that his AI had some of the same experience and training. “True. Thank you.”

“You
have an Admiral?” Jersey asked, sounding more than a little confused. She'd
heard stories of the Pyraxian port Admiral and didn't like the idea of one
coming here one least little bit.

“It's
complicated ma'am. We'll gladly explain when we're down on the surface,” the
captain said, giving Sprite a warning glance. He didn't need her to complicate
an already complicated situation with information right now. She gave him a
slight nod in return. This was no time to be cluttering things up with that
mess. One thing at a time.

“He's
the one who saved us,” the kid said, rubbing his eyes. “He's nice. He's, well,
from the past. Back nanna, from way back. He's older than you. He was a
sleeper. It's cool, he's got an arm that can change shape and AI and well...”
he glanced at the others again uncertain on how to proceed and wondering why
the Admiral wasn't there.

Sprite
smiled to him. The lad's nattering on was just what she was hoping for. His
excitement was getting through to the people on the ground. A child under
duress wouldn't be excited and happy. “As we said, it's complicated. The
Admiral is a sleeper from the time of the Xeno war. We were picked up about two
years ago. He led the people of Pyrax in defending themselves from the pirates.
They did such a good job they managed to capture most of the pirate ships.
We're here to help ma'am, you have my oath as a Federation officer,” she turned
to the camera.

After
a moment they heard a grunt and then a cough. “Do what you want, it's not like
we can stop you.”

“Ma'am,
if you could help us with coordinating the logistics? We've got a lot to come
down and we'd like to get it down to you in an orderly fashion. Do you want it
all dropped in one point so you can distribute it yourselves? Or you do want us
to do multiple drops? What do you want first?”

There
was a long pause. “What is this? What are you talking about?” She sounded
genuinely curious for once.

The
captain stood straight and tall, hands behind his back like the AI beside him.
“This expedition was organized as a relief expedition ma'am. We're carrying
emergency supplies for your colony. Rations, power plants, replicators,
blankets, medical supplies, and some other gear to help you get through the
winter and get back on your feet.”

Which
had better all be there, he thought darkly. Charlie assured him he'd run two
different spot checks since all the other things had been out of order. He'd
checked every item off, even going so far as to pull crates to check the
contents. Or so he said.

“Seriously?”
The voice now had an edge of startled disbelief.  Winter was coming soon. Each
season was about four months long. Well, all but the winter season. It was a
frigid five long boring months of snow and ice. The plants stopped growing,
there were only a few spots at the south pole that grew anything. Most of that
was for their own survival.

The
pirates had hit them hard. Agnosta wasn't a rich planet, it barely survived
with just enough export to allow for some trade and some interest from passing
ships. Many ships simply passed them by, on their way to and from Pyrax.

The
young man nodded earnestly. “It's true Nanna, we've got all sorts of stuff.
I've been learning how to use it all, so I can be a big help when we land,” he
held up a tablet he'd come in with. “I've learned to read better and well...”
he turned the tablet so she could see the manual. “I did this too,” he turned
the tablet and tapped the controls. After a moment of concentration he turned
it back to show once more. The screen now had a drawn image on it, colored by
hand.

“I'm
getting better. I've even got the phoenix book Nanna, so we can pick up where
we left off or where I am now.” he grinned invitingly.

“Your
teeth....”

“Oh!”
he held a hand up to the braces, covering them. “Sorry, I forgot. Braces.
Doctor...” he glanced in confusion to the woman.

“He's
a dentist.”

“Dentist
mister Waverly did them.”

“Waverly?
He's alive?”

“And
kicking too. He's packing his things. He's given us all check ups and did what
he could for us. Now he's got all sorts of gear and is ready to get started
again he said. Just as soon...” she turned to face the camera, hands on her
hips, “as you get it through your thick numbskull that we're here to help you
old crone!”

There
was a sputter of silence and then a cackle. “Maggie Lu Kasey, get your ass down
here so we can have a beer and shoot the shit young lady. Beer hell, I might
have some tipple left in the back of my cave, have to check. Just get your
sorry ass down here lady, right smart!”

“Yes
ma'am.” Maggie Kasey said to a suddenly grinning and chuckling room. The ice
was broken, they were finally going home.

Mags
held onto the arm rests for dear life as the shuttle shuddered and shivered.
Just hold on, she thought. Her fingers curled into claws, hanging onto the
padded arm rests as hard as she could. Just a little while longer. Hold
together baby, just a little while. She screwed her eyes shut, ignoring Pidge
next to her. The kid was enraptured, she'd seen it written all over the lad's
face when he'd seen the LCD. She was just glad there wasn't some stupid view
port on the hull. Like she needed to see the sky streaming by right about now.
Damn she hated heights!

“Oh!”
she said as the vehicle seemed to bank and then shudder a little. It pitched up
and down a bit then settled. She thought about those whatcha ma call its,
inertial something or others. Clearly this shuttle needed new ones.

The
shuttle flared it's jets as it came in for a landing. It was a bumpy one, due
to the dirt they were landing on instead of the customary tarmac. The shuttle
kicked up rooster tails of dust and debris. A cloud gushed out under it like it
was catching the ship, easing it down to the ground. “Any landing you can walk
away from...” Maggie muttered, unbuckling her seat belt and fumbling with her
overhead baggage.

“Come
on! Hurry up!” the kid said impatiently, waving. The little twerp had bounced
out of his seat in record time and was already nearly at the hatch. Other
passengers chuckled at his excitement, hiding their own. When she didn't move
fast enough he turned and rushed to the lock.

“Hold
up son, we've got to secure the area first.”

“Let
him go Bert,” the pilot said coming out of the forward compartment. The guard
by the door turned. “Let him go, he's the best security we've got. The best
diplomat we've got right now. You've got your things kid?”

“Um...”
he looked around sheepishly. In his zeal he'd forgotten his luggage.

“Here
it is,” an amused Maggie said, lifting it around the short guard Bert and
handing it to the boy.

“Thanks
Mags, you're a peach,”  Pidge said, grinning a wide grin as he grabbed the
bag's straps. She snorted.

“Sure
kid,” she ruffled his hair. She looked over her shoulder to the others standing
in the aisle patiently waiting. “Let's get this party on the road folks.”

“You
sure?” Ernie asked, looking at Bert. His partner shrugged. “Okay then.” he
turned the wheel and then pulled the door open and to the side clearing the
hatch. They could feel wind and light spilling into the compartment. Pidge
closed his eyes and smiled, enthralled by the feel of a natural breeze on his
face.

While
he was stalling Ernie Pulled a lever and dropped the stairs to the ground.
“Okay kid, you are up.” He indicated the hatch and stairs. There was a light
breeze out, the wind made the bushes dance in the distance.

“Right,”
Pidge's eyes snapped open and he rushed down the stairs, bumping the guards as
he went. “Sorry, sorry!” he waved and kept going.

Bert
rubbed his shin but Ernie was grinning and chuckling softly. “What are you
laughing about?” the skinny dour Bert growled. He flicked his hand to the short
tuft of hair on the top of his rather pointed head.

“Nothin',
nothin' at all,” the squat Ernie said, shaking his curly broad head. He unlike
his partner had a curly mop of black hair and a broad face. His ancestors had
been from somewhere called Samoa.  “Let's go folks.” he stepped out the stairs
and down. The others followed.

Outside
Pidge was turning in a circle, looking for some sign of life around them. Some
sign of a greeting. He was looking a little forlorn when a figure appeared out
of the bush about a hundred meters behind him.

Maggie,
shielding her eyes caught sight of the figure and rested her hands on the boy's
shoulders. He looked up at her uncertainly so she turned him bodily to face the
figure.

The
boy's face contorted into joy and he dropped his gear to run to the distant
figure. “Nanna!” He jumped and cartwheeled, excited.

“Just
a wee bit excited to hit dirt isn't he?” the pilot asked with a sniff. He felt
the wind tousle his black mullet and turned, enjoying the sun and breeze. The
smells... it was so different than on board a ship.

“Born
dirtsider Keith, born and bred.”

He
turned to his long and lean co pilot. “Probably Lance.”

Maggie
shook her head as she tried and failed to ignore the byplay. She saw another
figure come running out of the bush to intercept Pidge. The boys slammed into
each other and fell in a laughing tangle of arms and legs.

She
grinned a toothy grin at the sight. That was long overdue. “Looks like Billy
caught up with his brother. Good thing, I don't think Jersey would have
survived the tackle that kid was setting in to land on her.”

“Maybe,”
Aurora said from behind her. They both smiled at each other. Aurora waved to
Jersey. Pidge and Billy untangled themselves and then went over to their Nanna,
talking animatedly. Both boys were arm in arm, inseparable. Jersey rubbed the
kids head and then turned. She whistled and then waved impatiently. After a
moment people reluctantly spilled out of the bush.