Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer) Read online

  “Of course, but protocol must be observed,” Sprite replied.

  “If you don't mind I'm getting dressed before we have company,” he sighed. So much for sleep. Come to think of it, while he waited it might be a good idea to check the place over again.

  “What happened?” Bailey asked, coming into the room a half hour later.

  The security chief looked down to the simian. “It seems the good Admiral had a spot of mischief.”

  “That's suffered a mischief,” Sprite said acidly. “Get with the program.” Irons looked up from the edge of the bed then back down. He still had a recurring headache. It came back every time he moved.

  “Headache is normal. You should lay down, your blood sugar level isn't helping,” Proteus cautioned.

  “The medic checked him out. He's refusing treatment though,” the chief of security kept talking to the chimp.

  “I don't know why. Those bruises are nasty,” Bailey replied, eying the bruises on the Admiral's exposed torso. They were fading though, which was wild and weird. “What the hell happened?”

  “He can't hear you very well chief,” the Security chief sighed.

  “WHAT HAPPENED!” the chief yelled, tapping Irons on the shoulder. The security chief and guard winced that the shrieking voice.

  Irons grimaced. “I can hear to some degree chief. I can also lip read to some degree. You can talk normally,” he grimaced. “To answer your question, it looks like someone sabotaged my shower.”

  “It could have been bad luck,” the guard muttered. “Been a lot of that going around.” He grimaced as they both gave him a dirty look. He hunched his shoulders. “Just saying,” he muttered. The security chief nodded to the door. Sullen the guard turned and left.

  “The ultrasonic shower was set to fry me. Medium well actually,” Irons said as his door hissed shut. A bot had already cleaned up the broken glass. Replacement glass was on it's way.

  “How did you...” Bailey asked, looking warily into the shower stall.

  “I'm an engineer like you remember?” Irons said dryly. “I checked all these systems before we left Pyrax and went over them with a fine tooth comb,” he said still a little loud. “I was bored and locked in here with little to do.”

  “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.

  Chapter 4

  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.

  According to Sprite's report the lead navigator had a confidence problem as he was still feeling out the ship's systems. From his look and manner he needed seasoning. Exposure to Bailey would either have him stiffening up or ducking for cover. Irons wasn't sure which way the lad would go, right now his money was right at the border, fifty fifty odds.

  Okay, so maybe having the chimp at his back wasn't such a good idea, Irons thought as the purser sputtered. “But he... he...”

  “He what? Saved the ship? Replaced the replicators? Your stores? You're one ungrateful son of a bitch you know that? What do you want? Him to gold plate your head?” Bailey demanded, spreading his hands and then pointing to the narrow door leading to the wash room.

  “That's enough Chief,” the captain said calmly, coming in behind him. “Sorry I'm late.” He nodded as the officers stood at attention. “Ah Admiral, chief, so good of you to make it. We don't see you often enough a
t dinner.”

  “Which is sad, making them come is probably the only way you can get either one to eat a proper diet at a decent time,” Sprite said from the overhead speaker.

  The captain and guests looked up to the speaker and then at the Admiral. He shrugged. “Ah yes, our gallant heroine. Thank you for your generous efforts on our behalf,” the captain said one hand over his heart. He bowed to the nearest speaker.

  “I'm pretty attached to my own electronic hide as the Admiral puts it. And his for that matter. Our lives were on the line as well captain. But like the Admiral said, it does feel good to right a wrong.”

  “When did he say that?” the captain asked, sounding genuinely curious.

  “Just after he found out you had been cheated on the replicators and the stores,” Sprite said, telling a little white lie. “I'm afraid he's always the white knight. Which is what got him in trouble on Vesta.”

  The replicators weren't the only thing left out in the stores. They had found that the boxes with Holographic projectors and LCD screens meant for the passengers and crew had been empty. Irons wasn't sure how they could have missed that. Entire crates of nothing but packaging. It left him with nothing to replicate the missing equipment with too. That sucked.

  Part of keeping a crew happy and content on such a long voyage was in entertainment and education. Keeping them occupied helped, even if it was watching a vid in their quarters. The lack of vids was a problem. One that would probably force people to occupy areas that did have the entertainment screens. And inevitably bored people or those who wanted to watch different things would fight over them.

  The purser was lucky to be hanging on to his job, Irons thought. He would have canned the stupid prick when all the missing equipment had been discovered. Hell, come to think of it Bailey was lucky to hang on to his job.