Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer) (7 page)

“Oh,
yeah, I'd have done something like that. Or climbed the walls,” Bailey muttered
looking around. “Cleaner than my place.”

“By
climbing the walls he probably meant literally,” Sprite said amused.

“Was...
is there a possibility of you missing something?” the security chief asked.

“Hardly.
I've used that shower before chief. Twice. And the lock has been tampered
with.”

The
security chief looked at it. He looked over to Bailey who scowled and pulled
out a screw driver. A few screws out and they had it disassembled. “Yeah. I see
what he means,” Bailey growled. “See here and here? Someone monkeyed with it.
It'll open from the outside only.”

“And
with your handling it, and the chief here, we wont get any prints or DNA. If
there were any,” the Security chief grimaced. “And I doubt we have anyone to
compare them too. I don't think anyone is in the system.”

“Perfect.”

“You
can check the ultrasonics themselves. Go over them with a scanner before you
take it apart this time. Please,” Sprite said.

“Yes
of course ma'am,” Bailey said, looking up to the overhead.

“She
can hear us?” The security chief asked, looking a little nonplussed.

“She's
inside me Chief. As is Proteus and Defender. What I see and hear they do too.
And vice versa from time to time.”

“Did...
was she in here when...”

“No.
Unfortunately Sprite was...” Irons looked at the security chief's set look.
“Right. Sprite?” he asked, looking up to the overhead.

“I
believe the security chief wishes to isolate me from you to get an alternative
point of view Admiral. It is a standard interrogation practice. Which isn't
likely to happen. However if he wishes to get my report he can access his
e-mail. I've already sent it to him as well as a full sensory download from
your sensors at the time of the incident.”

“Ah.
Thank you,” the security chief nodded.

“And
of course in the spirit of cooperation I can make myself available to you in
your office for further interview.”

“Thank
you again,” the chief nodded again, this time with a hint of respect in his
manner.

“Can
I, ah, talk to you as well? Or Proteus?” Bailey asked, looking around. “I
mean...”

“We
are all here chief. Proteus is more limited than I am. I will see if it can
make itself available.”

“It?”
Bailey's brown eyes went wide. He wasn't sure if he'd heard her correctly. Most
AI preferred some sort of gender role to better identify themselves as
sentient. For one to call an AI 'it' was... well rude.

“Proteus
is a shape shifter. A polymorphic AI. An AI who's core exists in a nanite neural
net. I usually refer to the AI as he, but it is also a possible designation,”
Irons said tiredly.

“You
are tired. You should lay down,” the security chief advised giving him a
concerned look.

“So
the AI keep telling me chief,” he smiled. Fortunately he wasn't in any pain.
Proteus had taken care of that, cutting off the pain receptors in the damaged
epidermis and other tissue. “I had Sprite check out the room. No other
surprises.”

“Still,
we will have you change cabins Admiral. To one more secure. I have several
available,” Bailey said. “Or at least the purser does,” he said sourly and then
shrugged. “You really should go to sickbay.”

Irons
had yet to make the acquaintance of Charlie Notuma. He'd heard from Sprite's
choice comments that he was a penny pinching asswipe so he really wasn't in any
hurry. “I'm okay. Not fine, that I admit. But my implants are repairing the
damage. All anyone could do in sickbay is watch and get in the way,” he said
and then rolled one shoulder as he shrugged.

“All
right. I'm posting a guard outside your door again Admiral, and one will
accompany you where ever you go. I'll make sure it is discrete so you don't
look like a prisoner,” he said before both Irons and Bailey could object. “I'll
even let people know it's for your protection over your protests,” he snorted
at Bailey's suddenly sheepish look. “I will also set up a system to monitor you
through the ship's camera network.”

“Already
done. I am also taking other steps,” Sprite replied.

“Oh,”
the chief looked nonplussed. “Can I ask what they are?”

“You
can ask but I'm not telling. A woman has to have some secrets,” Sprite said
smugly.

“Don't
even try to get it out of her Chief, she'll run you around in circles all day.
Not worth the waste of time and energy. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I
need to get some of the rest everyone is urging me to get.”

“Yes,
yes,” Bailey waved to the bed. “See you when you're up and about.” He
practically pushed the security chief out of the room. “And not a moment
before. I'll deal with the flak from the purser. Don't you worry about it.”

“I
forgot about that,” Irons sighed as the door shut. He laid back on the bed.

“I
didn't,” Sprite replied. “There are already some nasty e-mails in your in box.
Or were. I deleted them.”

“Thanks.”

“The
room is secure Admiral. Shields are online. Though I wish you would get into
your suit. Just in case,” Defender replied. Irons thought about it for a
moment. It was possible someone would cut life support to his room. Unlikely
though, since Sprite and Bailey were now aware. Forewarned and now forearmed.
He'd have to be a hell of a lot more careful. He'd been careless and let his
guard down. Something Defender was more than likely to never to let him forget
again.

“That's
taking paranoia a little too far. I'm pretty sure Sprite can watch the life
support for any problems. Good night,” Irons said, turning onto his side.

The
captain paced in his day cabin, thoroughly pissed. His cabin was just big
enough to get about two strides in before he had to turn. He had wanted a fish
tank embedded in one wall. What he had was an empty hole and a fish tank on the
floor. He carefully avoided it. Unfortunately no fish had been available in
Pyrax. He'd have to find out if they could get some somewhere else. He turned
to Ed, glaring. “What the hell just happened?” he demanded, scowling.

“I'm
not sure. What the Admiral reported is on the money. Someone did try to kill
him. At least it looks that way.” He turned to the chief with a raised eyebrow.
“Right chief?”

“Chief?”
the captain asked, turning to him. Bailey grunted irritably, still lost in
thought. “Chief!” he said again.

“Oh?”
the chief said, turning. “Oh sorry, thinking. I... yes, it's sabotage. I'm not
sure how the hell they did it. Not for sure. I mean I know how, but I don't
know when or who.” What he did know was it took education in engineering and
some practice to have pulled that stunt off. Which meant it wasn't a casual
attack.

“Which
is my department,” Ed said with a scowl. I checked the video logs. No one
entered his quarters. Not since he left. And he said he used the shower then.
Which makes me wonder. Was it an accident after all? Or was it something
someone did but it had a delayed reaction?”

“I
thought the video was offline?” Bailey asked turning to Ed.

Ed
frowned. “I...  A little white lie. I have the Admiral's quarters under
surveillance.”

“Not
well enough apparently,” the captain said as he went behind his desk and sank
into his chair with a huff. “I want someone watching him and his quarters. I do
not want a repeat of this incident. Clear?” he asked, knitting his hands
together in front of him in a prim and proper pose of commanding authority.

“Crystal
sir,” Ed said in unison with Bailey, both straightening.

The
captain stared into their eyes for a moment and then grunted. He jerked his
head to the door as he picked up a tablet. “Dismissed then gentlemen. Do what
you have to but make sure it doesn't happen again.”

“Yes
sir,” Ed said as he retreated with the chief. His right hand went to the hatch
jam over the chief's shoulder. He paused. “I've got too many suspects...”

“I
know. Just... do what you can Ed. I know security is catching the buggers after
they act. Do what you can to make it harder for them.”

“All
right,” Ed said leaving. He sighed as he exited. The chief gave him a look and
then a shrug. “Easier for you than me chief. I don't have a clue on what to do
or how to catch the bastard. Whoever it is is good.”

“Yeah,
I kind of figured that,” the chief said with a scowl. “Find 'em anyway Ed.
We're counting on you.”

“I'll
do my best,” Ed said, tugging on the hem of his jacket. He adjusted his gun
belt and then nodded to the guard stationed at the captain's door. “Let me know
if anything happens,” he said.

“Will
do sir,” the short Terran said with a frown. He had no idea what that was about
but he was pretty sure the grapevine might. He'd have to find out.

Irons
grimaced as he went to the wardroom door. The hatch door was a standard gray,
trimmed with a handle and warning markers. “Here goes nothing,” he said,
fidgeting with his undress uniform. It wasn't like he wasn't used to meetings
and formal occasions. But this was straining things a bit. He could feel the
tension in a lot of the people he ran into still. Most of the tension came from
the diplomatic passengers and the officers of the ship. Bailey was the only one
who was genuinely glad he was here.

Time
to get it over with he thought. The guard at the door didn't even blink as he
stepped up and tapped the admittance button.

Interesting.
Sprite had said most of the crew were either neutral or now grudgingly favoring
him over the accusations. Of course saving the day twice in a week probably
helped some. “Do I really have to do this?” he muttered under his breath.

“It's
about time you had dinner with the captain. It's only fair after all,” Sprite
replied. He grimaced. Sprite was most likely acting in her capacity as chief of
protocol so he couldn't fault her being a little miffed at not getting an
earlier invitation. Better late than never. He was curious about the timing
though. Did yesterday's attack have something to do with it?

“Zip
it. Best behavior,” he ground out quietly between clenched teeth as the hatch
door opened. He didn't need her distracting him with choice comments and
critiques. He nodded to the steward and other officers standing around.

The
wardroom was formal, a gloss black table was the centerpiece. It was trimmed
with lightly stained wood. The edges of the table where rounded for comfort.

The
walls were green, hung with an occasional painting. One wall had a painting of
Destiny. He turned his head. Another had a picture of the officers.
Interesting.

The
chairs were simple, high back black false leather. Some were for Terran
bioforms, but there were a few saddle style for veraxins as well. The bulk of
the senior staff were Terrans. The pirates had killed most of the other
bio-forms over time. Some like the non Terrans right off. Others had been
worked to death.

Ferguson
had tried to create a crew with what remained and what volunteers he could pick
up from the other ships and from adventurous souls in Pyrax. Of course the most
adventurous had ended up in the Navy or marines.

Still
he'd done a bang up job creating a solid crew. They still had some rough spots
but they were settling into a professional crew. Bailey had something to do
with that of course.

The
captain sat in the seat at the center of the table. His seat was marked with
the crest of the ship embroidered on the back of it. The exec apparently sat
next to him normally. She was absent, manning the bridge. An LCD screen was
supposed to be on a wall facing the captain but it had not been in stores.
Pity. The bare mounting brackets ruined some of the look of the room. From the
look of things they still had a ways to go before Destiny was completely ship
shape.

“Am
I late?” Bailey asked coming in behind him. Irons turned as he entered smiling
to the chief in surprise.

“What
is he doing here?” the purser asked as the other officers turned to the chief
engineer and Admiral in surprise.

Irons
didn't bother to scowl at the accountant. The man was a weasel, he could see it
in his face and manner. At least his hostility to the Admiral was out for all
to see, not veiled like some of the others in the room.

“I'm
the chief engineer remember?” Bailey asked clearly obstructing the purser's
thrust. “Wanna make something of it?” he asked, clenching a fist and showing
sharp canines.

“Ah,
um, no I meant...” Irons snorted at the sudden discomforting look the others
shared. Bryan the medic looked away. Bailey was a no nonsense character. It
felt good having him at his back.

“I
know what you meant. You want my advice, shut your yap before someone puts a
fist in it,” the simian growled. The hyper navigator nodded eyes wide.

Clarke
was a gangly, clean cut kid, all knees and elbows of youth. He seemed ungainly
but he moved with some fluid grace. Irons could see the implants on his HUD.
Yes, at least that part of the plan had gone through, the lead navigator had
second level civilian implants.