Paravoid (Rust Bucket Universe)

by Atk. Butterfly

  "What?" exclaimed Brut.

  "You need to learn how to scrub a patient, too. Not all of your patients will be conscious, though they usually will for this procedure," the doctor replied. "This is just an opportunity for you to get some hands on practice before you find yourself alone treating someone."

  Brut stared at the woman who merely smiled back at him. Quickly he found the entry screen on the terminal. He made the entry, getting the information from her, though most was filled in automatically from a database. Brut said, "This way please. You have to scrub up for the procedure."

  "I know. Aren't you going to scrub me?" she asked.

  "I'll guide you since you're conscious," he replied. "Give me a moment to review the scrub procedure. This is my first hour in here."

  "I know it is. I start my first shift in here when you go off duty."

  "You'll be working in here, Lydia?" he asked.

  "You didn't know that, Brut? I thought you would have known everyone in the department by now," she exclaimed.

  "Sorry, Lydia. I know everyone, so I hadn't paid any attention to the new assignments yet because this department is so strange," he said.

  "Yeah, it is different. We better get in the shower now so I can scrub up. You know what? I could practice scrubbing you at the same time. Why don't you take off your clothes? You're supposed to do that anyway, even for non-emergency situations like this. It's in the manual," she said.

  "It is?" he said.

  "Yeah. Can you imagine what it was like for patient survival before medical personnel realized that they were carrying in all sorts of diseases clinging to their clothing just from contact with the air?" she said.

  "How do you know all this? You couldn't have read everything in the manual by now, could you?" he asked.

  "Not really. I've got a degree in pharmacology. I've had some exposure to medicine already. Anyway, you can practice scrubbing me while I practice scrubbing you for those times we hope we never encounter when we're all a friend has to keep death at arm's length. I promise I'll be gentle," she said.

  "Well, I guess so, since I'd be helping you to learn at the same time," he replied hesitantly.

  ***

  If it was possible for anyone to determine that Brut was blushing, he appeared to be blushing in the shower with Lydia, when he and she actually put their hands on each other. She reminded him then that what they were doing was entirely for clinical reasons in order to get him to scrub her entirely, especially her most private areas. He flinched some, at first, when she took parts of him firmly in her hands. He couldn't believe that he was allowing anyone, especially a female, to handle him in such a manner.

  Shortly after scrubbing each other, Lydia lay on the operating table where the doctor guided Brut in the E-sus procedure. Brut never knew he could sweat so much as he did doing his first operation. Constantly, the doctor swabbed the sweat away from Brut's eyes while Brut carefully and meticulously performed the procedure in slow cautious steps.

  However, Brut was the one doing all the handling now and it seemed to take an eternity. He hadn't known that he would be performing the operations himself, even though they were all minor, routine, and under the guidance of a doctor. It wasn't like he would ever be expected to perform major surgery. Still, it was pressure totally unlike what he went through as the ship's captain. This was personal. A major mistake here could actually result in death for the person he was operating on. Even worse, he knew every other cadet and he would be losing a friend by his own hands.

  ***

  "You did quite well, Ensign Vincent. The procedure took a little longer than usual, but I understand the reason for that. It's not anything to be concerned about," the doctor said.

  "Thank you, doctor. Did I hurt you any, Lydia?" Brut asked.

  "Not a bit. Felt like a professional was E-sussing me," she replied.

  "You've had this done before?" Brut asked.

  "Once. I'll have two children to give birth to when I leave the service," she replied. "I think it's about time for me to start using something or I'll have too many of them on the shelf."

  The doctor chuckled. Brut only stared in wonderment.

  "Lydia, Brut can set you up for the contraceptive method you prefer. I'll see you all later. Again, Brut, that was well done," the doctor said as he left the room.

  Brut said, "Thank you, Doctor, Lydia, for the compliments, but I must have been very clumsy. Are you sure I did not hurt you?"

  "You didn't hurt me. I've had bigger things than that instrument inside me there. Of course, I haven't had anything quite like you and I'd like to try when we're both off duty. Would you care to have some sex with me?" she asked.

  "Sex? Uh, I, ah, don't know. What if you become pregnant again?" he asked.

  She exclaimed, "Pregnant? Not after you give me the implant pills. Cleverest thing I've ever heard of yet. Just swallow them and they attach themselves inside you. Works for both men and women. If you're worried, you could probably take them, too, though you'd have to wait until another shift to get yours, since you can't issue those to yourself."

  He said, "Uh, still, uh, I might hurt you."

  "Listen, Brut, I can handle you easily. You might be, uh, very well hung, but you'd have to have a hell of a lot more before I couldn't. So, do you want to have sex?" she asked, not knowing that she was making him blush once more.

  "I will think about it," he replied.

  "Fine. Let me know when I come on shift. See you then, Brut," she said.

  ***

  "Oh god, Brut was dreamy in bed. Once you get past the tickling sensation of all his body hair hitting you everywhere at once, it gets really sensuous," Lydia said.

  Candy asked, "You went all the way?"

  "Of course. The silly didn't think I could take all of him. Boy, was he surprised when he found I could," Lydia replied.

  Shirley asked, "Was he any good?"

  "Mmmm, yes, he was good. A whole lot nervous at first, but definitely good. I wouldn't mind having him again," replied Lydia.

  "Are you going to have him again?" asked Candy.

  "Only if I can get him in public. I don't care for closed rooms much," Lydia responded.

  "Then you'll never get him again. He's too shy for that," Candy said.

  "I thought I'd try to work him towards that by finding someone to make it a threesome. If I can get him to do that, I know that I'll eventually get him to make it in public," Lydia said.

  "Who's going to be the third, a man or woman?" asked Shirley.

  "I'd prefer a man, but I know that would probably upset Brut, so I'll settle for another woman in bed with us. I'm certain that Brut has enough stamina to handle two women," Lydia said.

  "You have anyone in mind?" asked Candy.

  "You volunteering?" asked Lydia.

  ***

  "Man your battle stations! Asteroid field ahead! Man your battle stations! Asteroid field ahead!"

  The intercom blared for a few seconds with an alarm and the lights flickered to red and back. Inside each ship, gunners scrambled to their gun stations. If an asteroid was too large and threatening, they would blast it apart to protect the ships.

  ***

  "Captain, there's an object inside part of the asteroid field that looks like a ship."

  "Put it on sensors. Patch it into the hologram display."

  Admiral Oden moved closer to the display to look at the strange ship. From his seat in the back, he could tell instantly that it wasn't anything like any space ship he'd ever seen. Even though he was interested in it, he left the decisions to the cadets running the squadron.

  "Captain Savala, it appears damaged," First Officer Rome stated.

  "Yes, it does," she commented. "Can we determine if it's got anyone alive in it?"

  The First Officer was pressing switches on his control panel. A few moments later, he stated, "There's still electrical equipment functioning on board, so there's a chance that someone may still be alive in it. Shall I put togethe
r an investigation team?"

  "Yes, notify the squadron to match up courses with that ship. Have the Everette Dixon stand by to lend assistance," she replied.

  ***

  First Officer Rome grabbed onto the alien ship with his magnetic grapplers. Behind him, Ensigns Harder, Vincent, and Carney followed, leaping from the small fighter that was holding position from only a few meters away from the alien ship. Beyond it, the Everette Dixon loomed up close, its crew ready to lend assistance when needed.

  First Officer Jim Rome moved to the obvious hatch and looked at the controls. They were too alien for him to understand. He toggled his radio. "Send a linguist expert over to take a look at the air lock. I'm moving to the damaged area to inspect it."

  He moved away from the air lock, leaving Brut and Lydia there and motioning Reese to stay with him. Over the hull, he moved carefully, taking notice of any objects sticking out which might trip him. He wasn't interested in those, otherwise. For now, he wanted to first determine if there was a way in so that he could ascertain if there was anyone alive inside. Jim reached the damaged area and took a look at it.

  The metal hull was caved in. The inside area appeared to be an engine room with engines quite similar in appearance to their own, though not as sophisticated. He thought for a moment and then guessed that the beings inside were only a decade or so behind in their design. The opening was large enough for a small person to enter.

  "I can get in there," said Reese. "Mind if I try?"

  "Okay, but be careful. The equipment looks like what we used a decade ago. Let me know what damage you find in particular. I'm fairly certain that we can help these beings fix it with what we have available," Jim replied.

  Reese carefully squeezed himself into the opening, avoiding the jagged edges with great care. He disappeared inside.

  "There's a dead body in here. They're humanoid in appearance, but definitely not from Earth or Leuion. The body is green and I don't think the coloration is from death. There's a picture on the bulkhead of one of them and the picture shows a green person, too," Reese radioed back a few seconds later. "The body appears to have been crushed by the impact. I'd say that he or she got it almost instantly and never even knew it was coming."

  Jim replied, "Okay. See if they use a double-hatch to their engine room. We might be able to get in through here."

  The linguist expert said, "First Officer, I can't make heads or tails of their symbols. There's just too many switches and symbols on this air lock. I'm recording those to take back and put on the computer. Perhaps the computer can interpret them since we know that these relate to an air lock."

  The First Officer replied, "Very well, Jane. Keep me advised."

  "First Officer, same situation in here. Too many symbols on the hatch. It appears to be a single-hatch system. If I open it, I might be killing someone inside," said Reese.

  "Okay, Reese, come on out then," Jim replied.

  "Sir," said Reese, "how about if we just fix their engine anyway? Maybe that will give them the power they need to survive? I'm only guessing, but I don't think they've been damaged like this too long. They might be trapped in their cabins and unable to make their own repairs."

  Jim replied, "I'll check with the Captain about your idea. Captain Savala, are you monitoring us?"

  "Affirmative, First Officer. Reese, do you think it would really make a difference if we repaired their engines without asking their permission?" she responded.

  "Yes, Captain. I think that their life support is tied in with this engine from the looks of things in here. It could very well make a difference to them if they're still alive inside the rest of the ship. Also, we know how these engines work and there are more symbols with them. We'll have a better knowledge base of their language if we get these symbols into the computer along with their known functions," Reese replied.

  "Well, if they're all dead, then it won't make a difference anyway whether we repair them or not. They certainly won't be able to complain in that case. I also don't think they'll complain much if we repair their engines and that saves their lives. I've made my decision. Repair their engines and hull. Do it good, but do it fast. We don't know how long they've been like this and it might make a difference," Captain Savala said.

  "First Officer Rome to Everette Dixon. Send a repair crew over immediately. Fighter One, back off to allow the Everette Dixon in closer. Brut, Lydia, establish a cable between us and the Everette Dixon."

  The fighter moved quickly out of the way, jettisoning the tethers that connected it to the alien ship. Those could be recovered later when the investigation team returned. Almost as quickly, the Everette Dixon maneuvered as close as it could get to the alien ship.

  As soon as the salvage ship was only a few meters away, Brut and Lydia were taking hold of a cable sent to them from an open hatch on the salvage ship. They made it fast to the structure of the alien ship and assisted more space suited personnel who came over to the alien ship. With them came tools and parts, probably more than they would need, but material they wanted handy regardless.

  ***

  Everette found himself working on the repairs of the engine since only two other personnel could fit inside through the jagged rip in the hull. The hull would be left until last for repairs since it was the only way inside the alien ship for the time being. It wasn't until they happened to clang some equipment against the deck that the ship suddenly came alive as faint vibrations were felt coming from another part of the ship.

  "First Officer! There's some sort of vibration coming from elsewhere on board. Sounds like someone deliberately banging on a bulkhead with something like they're trying to signal."

  "I feel it, too," said Ensign Haley.

  "Okay, keep working and do it well. Whoever's signaling you is probably in no position to do the repairs themselves. It's up to us. I'll move about and see if I can pick up the vibrations and signal back," responded Jim. "Captain Savala, did you copy our last conversation?"

  "Affirmative. I agree with your intended action," she responded. She looked back at Admiral Oden and said, "You know something? Ship captains don't get to have very much fun."

  Admiral Oden said, "I think I know what you mean. However, admirals are allowed even less fun, if that's any consolation to you."

  "You have less fun as an admiral?" she exclaimed.

  "That's the truth of it. Anytime something comes up, there seems to always be either bodyguards or ship captains who shuffle us poor admirals out of the way so we won't get hurt or even threatened. I don't get to explore much anymore and combat for some of us is almost out of the question," Dave replied.

  ***

  Jim moved until he felt the vibrations from inside the ship. He then bent down and used one of his magnetic grapplers to bang gently on the hull. He wasn't sure how much to bang, but he hoped it would reassure whoever was inside that help was present and would get to them somehow.

  ***

  "Jeeze, this is hard work, even though we're without gravity," one cadet from the Everette Dixon said, touching helmets with Reese.

  "It is?" exclaimed Reese. "I hadn't noticed. I wonder why?"

  "You're not feeling the strain?"

  Reese replied, "Not really. Maybe it was the strengthening program I was in on Beulah at Admiral Oden's recommendation."

  "Could be. He certainly got me to approach quantum mechanics in a way that helped me pass it. Ready to lift?"

  Reese replied, "Ready."

  "One-two-three-lift!"

  The engine piece was lifted onto the bolt. Reese and the second cadet held it against the plate while the third cadet moved in quickly to bolt it in place.

  "Almost! Just a bit more! Got it! What's next?" the third cadet said.

  "Get some hoses to replace what's ripped," the second cadet replied.

  The third cadet moved up towards the jagged opening and returned a moment later with several sizes of hose. He quickly matched the sizes and cut away the ripped section. Smoothly, he p
ut clamps in place and slipped the new section of hose into place. The second cadet tightened the clamps in place as soon as the two ends were overlapped.

  Reese stood by the engine controls, confident that he could start the engine properly since its design was all too familiar.

  "It's ready, Reese," the cadet tightening the clamps radioed across the short distance.

  Reese fired up the engine, taking care that it wasn't engaged for propulsion. It would be a catastrophe for a lot of them if the alien ship suddenly moved away while there were cadets on the outside of the hull and a tough cable stretched between the two ships.

  The engine came on line and lights came on inside the engine room.

  Brut noticed the panel on the air lock suddenly light up. He radioed, "The air lock panel has lights on it now!"

  One cadet near the inside engine room hatch radioed, "So does the inside hatch panel."

  First Officer Rome said, "Okay, let's get out of their ship and give them a chance to check out what we did for them. I hope we did enough."

  The cadets inside the engine room gathered their tools and remaining spare parts. They carried those to the opening, passing them outside to other cadets until only they were left to exit. They looked around and double-checked themselves for anything they might have left behind. Then they left the engine room, one after the other, through the damaged hull.

  "Okay," said First Officer Rome, "time to get off and make ourselves appear more friendly. Get the equipment back and then yourselves. Everette Dixon personnel first. Once you're all off, have the Everette Dixon move so our fighter can pick us up."

  Somehow, each cadet moved properly so that there wasn't too much confusion as the repair equipment and parts were passed back over to the salvage ship for storage. Then the cadets from the salvage ship crossed over and the cable was detached. The Everette Dixon slowly moved away to stand off about where it had been before, in case more work was needed. After all, there was still a hull repair that the aliens might need assistance with.