After using his rebuilt torch to cut the lock on the gate blocking the safety cage around the ladder, finely put there to keep kids off the ladder and catwalk. Mark started climbing the hull ladder up to the crane catwalk. The tool bag becoming heavier and more tiring than Mark thought it would be, thought it should be with each step. Having to catch his breath half way up confirmed that the drugs were wearing off as every muscle in his body protested. Especially his arms as he leaned back against the safety cage.
Finally standing on the catwalk next to the crane Mark remembered all the hours his friends and him had spent playing on the beast pretending it was a space ship, chasing pirates and shooting bad guys, even landing on distant dangerous planets to explore for treasures before being chased off of the tractor and catwalk, as to dangerous for kids, time and again until they finally added a locking gate to the ladder. He had been over every inch of the crane. He knew from experience the few times he had helped work on the other cranes, that the power supply going to the beast was through a third rail and for the first time he wondered where the power for the third rail was supplied from.
Not really wanting to climb back down to look for the power supply, Mark stuck his head into the tight little control cabin and checked to make sure all the controls were there and off and nothing major was missing. Then going to the main breaker box on the back of the tractor where the arms to the Third rail was attached, he checked the breakers and started tracing the power lines to the various major pieces of equipment on the crane to make sure it was all there. He knew he must have traced and checked everything out before for the fun of it but could not for the life of him remember if it still had everything. As sore and tired as he suddenly was, it took a lot of concentration even with Mickey’s help even though he had not asked her for help. He could not believe it as she highlighted each wire as he traced them through bundles and holes losing sight of them only to have Mickey show him which wire he was tracing as it came out the other side while keeping track of what he had already gone over and comparing that with what inventory he thought it should have. But finally he was satisfied that everything seemed to still be there and connected with both power and control circuits intact with no wires hanging out indicating something as missing or could to shorted out, but doubt still remained.
“Mickey? Can you tell me if anything is missing on this crate? Oh. You couldn’t possibly tell me where the power supply was for this thing could you? I mean besides the obvious that it gets its power from the third rail running beside the support rails it is supported by.”
“Yes Mark. The crane seems to be intact equipment wise. As for the power supply. Just give me a minute to access the ships technical plans and run a scan of the hold.”
“Ok… You wouldn’t happen to be able to help find any problems with the crane as well would you?”
“Yes Mark. I have already access the schematics and manual for the crane over the net but it would be much easier if I could access the control computer directly as well as the ship but give me a few minutes and I will do my best.” Mark stood there for a couple of seconds leaning against the rail as he stared at the inviting seat inside the cab that kept telling him to sit down and relax and then decided to climb in and sit down while he waited for Mickey. Using a rag from the bag he had brought with him, he dusted the seat off and a few other things and then settled into the seat. Remembering sitting in it many times, many years before, pretending it was a fighter's cockpit as he chased the bad guys across the universe. He leaned back propping his knee up on the control console and closed his eyes and relaxed his arms draped across the chairs arms. “I have a problem accessing the ships files through the either. It would be faster and provide me additional access and security if you could plug a remote strait into the mainframe of the ship. Though any hard wired access point would help for now.”
“That’s nice Mickey.” Mark settled in getting a little bit more comfortable. “I don’t remember a remote in the case; just a bunch of memory slides and rods. But whatever you need buddy.” And then yawned.
“I will have to form a compatible plug in remote when you decide where you want me to plug into the ships system.”
Mark smiled. The thought of little mechanical hands building a remote plug inside the case was too cute to ignore. “I don’t remember little mechanical hands in your case either.” And scooted his butt down far enough to let his head rest on the back of the seat then yawned again, wedging one knee over to the side of the instrument cluster and the other on the bottom glass panel holding his legs up and keeping him from sliding farther down and out of the cushioned seat. He just could not keep his eyes open.
“No Mark. I will grow it in the recess I occupied from materials I have in stock in the case just for that use. Though I will need the materials replaced as soon as possible. I am already reshaping the recess to accommodate the procedure and will start production of a universal remote that I should be able to reform to fit most data receptacles currently used from what I can find on the web.”
“That is nice Mickey. Anyone? Ever tell you? You have a.. Nice… Voice.” Mark whispered and started snoring.
-------------------------------
Captain Cook sat at her desk in her office. Engineering Chief Scott sat on the other side of it. The Doctor walked in as the Captain leaned back in her chair. “Doctor. Just in time. What did you find out from Doctor West?”
Looking at the Chief as he sat down, Doctor Wells frowned. “Doctor West seems to be incredibly proficient and the implants Mr. Collins purchased for the Chief are not only the top of the line but cost more than the boy paid for them. The Doctor says that the discount comes from the government paying for most of the cost for its troops and over stocking during the war. It seems that the military took advantage of eye burn outs by giving the blinded troops super vision with implants they could take back to combat, giving them a damn good advantage. He says they even encouraged hundreds of thousands of experienced troops to volunteer for battle implants with promotions and special pay. He showed me a secret report saying that the implants are credited with winning quit a few planets and possibly the war. I am even more impressed with Dr. West talking Mr. Collins out of getting the implants now that I know they had a sanctioned implant program for the military. Though I found out that Mr. Collins is still thinking about the implants. It seems the good doctor in order to get Mr. Collins to agree to try the new glasses had to agree to provide the implants in addition to the Chiefs Mark bought, if Mr. Collins did not like the glasses after a few days. It sounds like the boy bought the Chiefs glasses to make sure that the doctor was available for his implants after the prescribed time trying out the new glasses.”
“Ok and why does this Doctor think Mr. Collins will like these new glasses any better than his old ones even if they are not as conspicuous?”
“It seems they are a non-implant version of the military implants.” Said the Doctor. “With some kind of interactive A.I. computer added.”
“And here I was starting to have some hope for the boy.” Captain Cook sat back in her chair and took another puff on her cigar shaking her head in sad disbelief.
The Doctor turned to talk to a red faced Chief Engineer getting ready to blow a big one but decided not a good idea and turned away as he stood and walked from the brewing explosion. At the counter next to one of the viewing ports and the ever present water jug he took a bottle from a small cupboard and pored himself a strong drink as he looked out the port next to him and noticed the still smoking hulk back around the ship just outside the perimeter fence Mark and Tom had talked about the night before. He could see cleanup crews still cataloging and removing bodies that could not simply be picked up and thrown in a bag. He had found the report on the ships destruction, the death toll made him sick. He poured himself another stiff one before turning back to face the Captain and the Chief now that he had a safe buffer zone. “The Chief and the ship would benefit greatly from these new implants and you
Chief would be a fool if you did not let Dr. West replace yours. Fact is I now feel damn guilty not recommending this years ago but I simply did not realize there were better implants out there for you or how bad you had it now that I have actually put on a helmet simulating what you see. The fact that I was told 20 years ago that the only difference between what the ship could afford for you at the time was just some bells and whistles and not quality. That the ones you got were the best available and would last the life of the patient and nothing about the quality of the vision is no excuse. I should have checked once we got to more advanced planets and had the extra funds available. I do know that this opportunity will not come again. At least for anything as good as these military implants or with as skilled a surgeon. Though the Doctor said he will have to disable the laser designator weapons in them since you are a civilian.”
Chief Scott pushed his chair back several feet as he stood up. “You can just go fuck yourself you quack!” Turning he headed for the door knocking the chair out of his way toppling it over onto it’s back to slide across the cabin in front of him. More because he did not see it than temper. Then tripping on it as he caught up to it again. Falling to the deck, then using the chair more by feel than sight to quickly get back up. Turning with one hand still on the chair as he took a few seconds to find the Captain, he looked at Captain Cook. “You said it yourself that snot nosed boy only bought them as a ruse to make sure he could get implants himself. I am not serving as anyone’s shill.” The Chief carefully found and taped the hatch open acting as if he had not just fallen.
“Stop right there Chief!” Demanded the Captain. “You walk out that hatch; you can just keep going right off the ship.”
That brought the Chief up short. The look of shock and hurt was plastered all over his face as he turned around. In a few seconds his face changed to stubborn defiance. “You would not dare kick me off the ship without a trial. The crew would not stand for it.”
The Captain slowly stood up at her desk. Her knuckles on the desk top leaning over it. “You listen you old goat. All I would need, is to put you through one of the fitness tests I have been exempting you from for 20 years. But I haven’t forgotten that 21 years ago you saved the life of a certain infant as well as the ship and this crew and then lost your sight and I have bent over backwards letting your little faults slide ever since. Intervening when everyone else including the Admiral wanted to retire you. Now that boy is trying to pay you back even if he does not know why, even if it is more selfishness than genuine hero worship. So you will give him some slack and if I ever hear the word Orphan out of your mouth again I will kick you out the nearest air lock got that.” The Captain stared down the Chief, waiting until he looked away. “Now when the good Doctor West gets here and is ready, you will cooperate and let him replace your implants. Is that under stood Mr. Scott?”
The Chief just stood there starring at the Captain.
“I said do you understand my orders Mr. Scott?”
“Yes.” He whispered.
“What! I said do you understand my ORDERS Mr. Scott?”
“YES! SIR! CAPTAIN!” As he came to attention.
“Very well then Chief. Now I am told the Engine upgrade kits arrived and have been placed in the engine rooms. You have much work to do. I expect a progress report with a time table for their installation by tomorrow 1200 hours. You are dismissed.”
The Chief turned on his heels and marched out hitting the side edge of the hatch with his arm as he went through the wide hatch.
“And that is how you handle that.” Sitting down the Captain took a deep breath.
“We will see.” Frowned the doctor as he threw down the rest of his drink in one gulp. He glanced at the still smoking ship and noticed the cold hulks around it for the first time.
“Have you had time to go over our casualties from the accident in L-hold this morning Doctor?”
Turning away from the gruesome seen out the port the Doctor sat back down to relax. “Yes. I took a quick look at John and he is doing fine. Then headed up here. Why?”
“What about ah, Mr. Collins? How is he doing?”
“The boy that didn’t get the implants? Well he is fine since he did not have the surgery done.”
“No Mr. Collins the guy that got his arm crushed by the steel plate saving Mr. Harington?”
Frowning as he tried to think. “No one else was in the infirmary Captain and the guy that saved John was pinned by his tool belt and not crushed from what little I had time to hear before coming up here. You said Collins, Mark Collins Captain?” The doctor pulled out his PDA and started searching.
The Captain frowned at the Doctor. “I was just told Collins was half dead when they got him up into surgery.” Leaning forward, the Captain started tapping her screen. “Let's just see what the security video record for L-hold shows.”
“No. John is the one that came in half dead.” Dr. Wells read from his PDA. “Mark Collins was pinned under the plate and the tool belt was evidentially causing interference with the medic’s scanner while scanning Marks shoulder. The medic believed the scanners program could not handle the confusing readings of a crushed arm and treated him accordingly. It did not matter that he did not have a crushed arm; the medic did what she was supposed to do. Treat for the worst case possible.”
The Captain looked up from her desk. “The Mark, that did not get an implant, is the same Mr. Collins that almost got crushed?”
“Actually yes Captain. The Same Mark Collins that bought the Chief his implants is the Same Mark Collins that saved John from the steel plate and then got up off the stretcher drugged out of his mind and dragged the doctor over to John for treatment before he died of a brain hemorrhage when the medical staff did not even now John was hurt. According to the report I am reading. I am not aware of any other Mark Collins's aboard the Star Queen.”
“Ah... I don’t think dragged would be quite the right word Doctor. Look up at the wall screen and tell me what you think. But let's start at the beginning when Mark first entered the hold. That should be interesting.”
After spending a few minutes wondering around the hold near the dropping hatch looking like he had never seen a hold before. With no particular destination talking to his friend who was not always at a normal conversation distance. His interest divided between the hatch and the work in the middle of the hold and seemingly imaginary points in-between around the overhead and the empty deck. Mark suddenly stopped, starred at the hole for several seconds and then started a lazy walk directly towered the center of the hold that got faster with every step. Then after talking to someone he started to jog before suddenly bursting into a run and proceeded to speed up every few seconds.
“Godstar that boy can run!” exclaimed the Doctor and then a few seconds later. “But then he has had lots of practice as I understand it. I cannot believe they survived the plate falling on them. That was some damn fancy leg work just before it hit. Oh yes; see how John is running around aimlessly and screaming incoherently at first? He is already going into shock but massive amounts of adrenalin is keeping him going. Then by the time the medical team arrives he has quieted down but still wonders around aimlessly confused. Oh my god I am going to demote a certain doctor to intern or candy stripper. Can you back up and zoom in as John walks up to the doctor? Yes; pale faced, incoherent, unsteady drunken walk and I bet eyes that would scare a child and he brushes him off. The fact that he was busy with a life and death case does not matter. He should have seen the signs of and been looking for additional victims’. I know everyone is busy with the refit and everything but this was disgusting and any bigger accidents or a disaster could mean dozens of lives lost just because of careless stupidity. But then changing procedures could help too. Looks like we need to start sending a second set of medics just for checking for additional casualties when the first is busy. Start checking everyone involved even if they aren’t showing any signs of need. Though I can see from here that John was showing all kinds of s
igns if the Doctor had bothered to use his head.”
“I am going to have to schedule a lot of training exercises in the next few days and weeks to get my medical staff up to even a minimum acceptable performance levels. I will try to co-ordinate with you and the other departments Captain but surprise is half the training.” The Captain cut the video with Mark laying curled up on the deck with a Sgt. at Arms and an old lady standing over him as a pretty Medic pulled Mark around laying his head on her lap. Though she missed most of the old ladies comments with all the noise in the hold as she listened to the Doctor.
“As long as the drills do not cut into construction and maintenance work.” Agreed the Captain.
Dr. Wells got up and headed for the hatch. “Thanks Captain, this has been most instructional.”
“Ah wait one Doctor.”
“Yes Captain?” He said as he stopped and turned around. “I think we will start with some basic drills tonight after an afternoon of refresher training and I have reamed a certain Doctors Butt.”
“Yes Doctor but do you think it a bit strange or odd that this Mark Collins is involved in so many incidents’ in less than 24 hours?”
Tramp Wars: The Enemy Page 28
