Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) (6 page)

“What's
taking so long?” Jorge asked as he put the cups in the sink.

“The
Captain and Purser are in a meeting,” the Admiral answered.

Jorge
looked at his arm. “Does it always do that?” He pointed to the jack.

Irons
smiled. “That and more. You get used to it after a while.” He chuckled at
Jorge's disbelief.

“Yes?
Who is this? Oh Admiral? Wearing out your welcome so soon?” the captain
cackled. Irons smiled.

“Not
exactly captain. It seems that Juanita's family needs a hand. I would like to
trade parts and a small fighter craft for parts for their tug and a visit to
sickbay for Juanita's father,” he reported. The captain grunted then was
silent.

“Juanita's
father?” she asked after a moment. Jorge frowned but didn't say anything.

“Yes
captain, he's been extensively injured. Multiple contusions, damage to his
right knee, broken right arm, cracked and broken ribs, as well as internal
injuries. He is running a low grade temperature which indicates ongoing
infection,” he reported quietly. Jorge stared at him until Iron's smiled.
“Implants do have their uses.” He tapped his temple with his left hand. Jorge
shook his head.

“Right,
I'll go along with that or Juanita would never forgive me,” the captain said in
exasperation. “After all that she did, she earned a little peace of mind. Now
about those parts...” Iron's noted her desire to make a profit and tried not to
laugh.

The
dickering went fast and furious; he uploaded a list of parts Sprite had
compiled, as well as a list of what they needed. The captain was all set to
dicker over power and transportation to and from the ship when someone cut her
off. “Captain, you've got an appointment in two minutes remember?” Julia said
softly. Irons chuckled.

“All
right, just get the load here and pick up the finished parts. I'll have Faith
go over your list and get started as soon as you make the first delivery.” She
hastily signed off.

“Admiral
you still there?” Julia asked softly.

He
chuckled. “Thanks for the save Julia. I'll get the parts out ASAP along with
Jorge. I may have to load him up on the pallet as well; I doubt he could handle
climbing the ladders I had to use to get here from the docks.” He looked over
to Jorge. He shook his head. At least he was honest about that Irons thought.

“All
right Admiral, give us a call when you’re on your way, we'll have someone
keeping an eye out for you,” Julia assured him. He nodded.

“Thanks.
Signing off.” Sprite cut the channel and he un-jacked.

“We've
got to get that pallet up, then I... I mean we can load it and be off.” The
Admiral stood.

“What
about this?” Jorge pointed his crutch to the open door to the Admiral's bunk.

“Oh
yes, thanks for reminding me.” Irons stepped around the table and past the
wounded man. “Looks good. Green light.” He pulled the part out and looked it
over. “Yes, looks good.” He tapped the universal port with his finger and felt
Proteus send out a diagnostic probe. After a moment the AI lit a green dot on
his HUD. “Yup, diagnostics check out. She's good.” He set it aside and placed
another component inside. It began to melt. Jorge watched it with wide eyes.

“You
know, I never saw a replicator work...” He watched the part melting. “Is it
melting it with heat?” He looked up to Irons who shook his head.

“It's
using nanites and magnetic fields to pull the part apart molecule by molecule. Then
it will build a new part from the materials.” He waved to the living room.

“These
quarters were once a business. That's why you have the replicator and gear you
have. The dishwasher, all of it. Apparently they were small quarters for a
small inner system transportation company.” He looked over to the Valdez
patriarch who nodded. “Your food replicator isn't very complex or advanced, but
it can handle basics if fed the right material. Let's get this load sorted out
and then I'll take a look at it. I'll need it to make a few plastic parts for
the cabin.” He waved as Jorge's mouth fell open then closed. “Thanks,” Jorge
said softly.

Anita
and Junior caught them just as they were about to leave. “What are you doing
here?” Anita and Jorge asked one another. Both sounded exasperated.

“Taking
advantage of my family? Going to rob us blind?” Junior started to snarl until
his father held up a hand.

“He's
taking me to Io with the parts. We're going to get new parts for the tug.” He
looked over to Anita. “And he insisted I get a check up by the doctor.” She
froze then nodded.

“Can
we see Juanita?” Junior asked. Anita's eyes lit. She was trying not to cry.
Jorge cocked her head at her. “Yes, that might be a good idea; if I am held up
you can visit our daughter while you wait,” he said softly. She nodded.

“Sprite,
unlock the damn lifts, there is no way we can wrestle this up ladders.” He
watched the family talking.

“Admiral,
I can't without linking in. And when I do it will raise a flag in Ops.” The AI
cautioned. Irons nodded. “No helping it. See if you can delay the notice.” He
started pushing the cart down the corridor. He stopped to let Jorge sit on top
of the pile.

“You're
on a lunch break?” Jorge asked Junior. Junior shook his head.

“They
cut power in our section. Barney sent us all home, there's no point working in
the cold and dark,” he sighed. Jorge looked grim.

“It's
never been this bad,” Anita said softly. Jorge nodded quietly.

“And
you?” he asked her.

“I
swapped shifts half shifts. I go back in two hours,” she waved airily. Jorge
nodded.

They
arrived at the lift doors. Junior and Jorge stared as the Admiral went over to
the universal jack and plugged in. After a moment and grinding of gears the
doors opened. A car squealed to a stop and brake dust seemed to leak around its
edges. Its door opened with a groan. “I see some things need repair other than
your tug.” The Admiral shook his head.

“What
are you doing?” Junior asked as the Admiral pushed the cart into the lift.
“It's a cargo lift. We have cargo. Get it?” The Admiral pointed to the pallet.
“You coming?” He turned to see Anita and Junior on the wrong side of the doors
staring. Hastily they jumped into the car.

 “I've
never been in one in my entire life. Is it safe?” Anita asked nervously.

“Hopefully,”
the Admiral replied as the double doors groaned shut and the car began to lift.
The Admiral jacked into the inner door controls. He was amused to see Proteus
making small repairs to the panel, fixing several shorts and rerouting a bus
around a fused chip.

“What
are you doing?” Anita asked looking over to him.

“Making
sure we get to where we're going. I needed to fix something.” The Admiral moved
to the side so she could see his artificial arm making repairs. She stared.

“You
really are from the past!” she whispered. He chuckled.

“Glad
that sunk in.” He felt the car jerk then begin to move sideways.

“Oops,”
Sprite reported.

“What?”
The Admiral asked softly.

“What
is it?” Anita asked nervously. “It seems someone else wishes to use this car
and track,” the AI reported. The Admiral sighed. They groaned to a stop and the
doors creaked open slowly. Someone was swearing on the other side of the door.
Fingers wormed their way in and started to pull the doors apart.

After
a moment and grinding of gears the outer doors opened. The Admiral opened the
inner doors manually. “Hello, it's a bit crowded but there is room.” He stepped
aside and motioned for the couple to enter. They looked at them in surprise.

“You’re
going to the docks?” the woman asked. Jorge nodded.

“We
have some trading to do with the Io 11,” Junior growled.

The
Admiral smiled. “No way could we get this gear up a ladder.” He waved to the
pallet. The couple entered. And looked around. Hastily the man got out of the
way of the doors as they ground closed.

“I
wish we could fix that,” he muttered. “Lazy people in engineering,” he sighed.
“No, I heard the Admiral made more cuts since they're down to one reactor,” the
woman whispered. The Admiral picked it up. “The reactor is down to twenty
percent and falling. We need to get off this station before it dies,” she
whispered urgently.

The
man waved her to silence then looked over to the Valdez family then the
Admiral. “Are you folks getting off the station?” he asked.

The
Admiral shook his head. “I doubt it, I just got here. I'm here to help.” He
indicated the Valdez family. “If we can get their tug back online then they can
get more fuel for the reactors.” Junior smiled grimly and nodded as the couple
gazed at him then looked hastily away.

The
car ground to a long slow stop with loud clangs and screeching metal. Irons
sighed. “Okay, looks like this is our stop.” He watched as the door struggled
to open. The couple forced the door open enough to get through then left
without a backward glance.

“So
much for chivalry,” Irons commented dryly. He and Junior wrestled the door open
wide enough to get the cart through. “If it's all the same with you, I think
I'll stick to the ladders,” Anita said dryly as the lift doors closed behind
them and the lift dropped away. Her son chuckled softly.

“Oh,
that's not bad actually. A drop chute is much worse,” Irons replied turning
around.

“And
what pray tell is that?” Anita asked. Irons smiled.

“A
tube that shoots people with force fields. No car at all. It was popular on
resort worlds and large corporate buildings and space stations. The clear tubes
were all the rage for a while.” He shrugged. She shook her head then shivered.

“NO
THANKS!” she said then took in his smile and smiled herself.

They
waved to the bored customs girl and guards then purposely made their way to the
Io's slip. The couple were there arguing with the guard. Irons waved as she
commed her supervisor. She smiled and waved back then went back to her
argument.

They
managed to make it to her station just as Faith, a small group of techs and the
purser arrived. The purser took the couple aside and began to talk with them.
Irons turned his attention on Faith. “How are things shaking?” he asked. She
smiled.

“Not
much to shake in dock Admiral. These the parts?”

He
nodded. “This is the Valdez family. Jorge, Anita, and Sergio. They are
Juanita's family,” he nodded to Faith. Faith glanced at the wounded Jorge and
nodded. Motion on his HUD made the Admiral look up. He could just make out
Juanita on his sensors.

“Someone
is rather anxious to see them too,” he said softly.

Faith
looked over her shoulder then chuckled turning back to the Valdez family. “That
she is. I can't say I blame the lass. All right ladies; let's get this lot
sorted out while they head to sickbay.” She motioned to Jorge. “Your guide is
waiting inside.” Jorge nodded and got up weakly. Anita rushed to help then
hastily stopped hands cringing. He looked up and smiled softly. Faith took it
in and grunted.

“Typical
damn fool men, don't know when to shelve their pride and get help when they
need it,” she grumbled. Irons hastily smothered a laugh with a cough as Junior
glared. The Valdez family entered the ship and then happy cries echoed back
through the lock.

Faith
and her work party were smiling. “I'm glad you made sure he gets medical care.
I don't think any of us would forgive ourselves if we didn't. We owe you and
Juanita that much,” she nodded to the party. “This the first load?” she asked
as they transferred the load to a new cart. The Admiral nodded.

“Call
it a deposit. I'll go back for the next load in a moment.” He nodded to several
of the crew as they passed him with smiles and waves. He chuckled. “Missed me
already.” He shook his head. Faith smiled.

“They
know what you’re doing now, helping Juanita's family is a good thing. I'd do
what I could but I'm knee deep in another project right now and I won't get it
done till we leave,” she sighed. “That is if we don't get thrown off our stride
by this project and anything else you have in mind.” She smiled at him. He
laughed.

“I
make no promises I can't keep.” He looked at her.

She
shook her head dimpling. “I'd never trust a man's word anyway. Well, maybe
yours.” She smiled. “I took the liberty of replicating a few of the parts you
listed.” She nodded to Mary who was piling a small load on the Valdez cart.
“Call it a promissory note or down payment in return if the purser gets
involved.” She whispered to him conspiratorially. He laughed.

“All
right, I'll drop these off and then get back with another load. Anita needs to
be back in an hour and a half, she has a shift. Can you ask someone to keep her
honest? She's a little too wrapped up to remember right now.” The glad cries
had receded. Faith nodded.

“I'm
coming to Admiral.” He looked over to see Junior. “Willing to risk the lift
again?” he teased. Junior gulped then nodded manly.