13 Degrees of Separation

by Hechtl, Chris

  “Chir'rik?” the man asked, wrinkling his brow. “Why would she send you here?”

  “She didn't the map did. Yard Dog inc.”

  “Really,” the man said, putting the towel down and scrubbing at the bar. “Didn't know the add already broke,” he said amused.

  “What add?” Mairi asked.

  “We need to fix that though, the net's too big if fish like you are coming in. Kid you're too young to have experience.”

  “I've been piloting a tug since I could see over the controls,” Mairi answered, eyes narrowed. Her fingers drummed on her belt. “I was looking for something until I can go freelance since the damn station wants an arm and a leg for me to dock my tug.”

  Ralph blinked, eyes wide. “Little thing like you's got your own tug? Now you're pulling my leg!” he laughed. Alice came by and set her tray down on the bar. She was chewing gum. She looked Mairi up and down for a moment and then nodded. “What can I do for you lady?” she asked.

  Mairi turned on the freckled red head. The woman was a worker, that was to her credit. But she was seriously tired of being treated like a kid. “I'm...” she started with some heat before Alice smiled. She stopped and blew her breath out. “Sorry, I'm getting tired of being treated like a kid. I'm a tug pilot and a damn good one but no one is interested in that,” she said in disgust. “I guess I'll go back to MM and see if the Captain will let me work off the tickets to Pyrax,” she said turning to leave.

  “Hang on there girl,” Alice said catching her arm. Mairi turned with a glare but Alice deftly guided her to a nearby empty stool. “Now, how's about we start from the beginning?” she asked.

  Mairi sighed and started over again. She didn't notice Alice give Ralph a look and then a hand motion. After a moment a drink appeared in front of her. She took it and sipped it cautiously. Water, she thought but nice tasting water. She snorted. “You've had a hard life kid,” Alice said in sympathy. Mairi shrugged.

  “Some have had it harder than me. I've got no complaints there. I just want a fair shake.”

  “You've got a tug you say?” Alice asked, looking meaningfully to Ralph before she turned to look for the others. She sighed when no one else in the company turned up on her radar. “Damn. Ralph...”

  Ralph nodded and picked up the phone. He turned and moved off to the end of the bar, talking quietly. “Something I said?” Mairi asked.

  “Tell me a little more about yourself. You said MM dropped you off? So where is your tug now?” Alice asked.

  “The bitch? Still on the freighter actually,” Mairi responded warily.

  Alice picked up a bowl of pretzels and set them down in front of them. She took one out just as Mairi's answer registered. “The bitch?” Alice asked affronted.

  “Tin Plated Bitch. Bitch for short,” Mairi replied taking a pretzel from her. “What? I didn't name her, just inherited her,” she said as Alice stared. She took a bite and chewed. It was saltier than what uncle Edgar usually had, and surprisingly not stale. “Not bad,” she mumbled, brushing crumbs away. “Actually pretty good.”

  “Haven't had any in a while?” Alice asked amused.

  “No. Uncle Edgar's were always stale.” She didn't mention the questionable ingredients. Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.

  “Okay...”

  “Howie's on his way,” Ralph said quietly coming over. “He and Shari just got off shift. The others will follow when they get off,” he said.

  “Clio?” Alice asked, looking over her shoulder to her husband.

  Ralph grimaced. “She's in a meeting. She's recording.”

  “Um...” Mairi looked from one adult to the other. “Something I'm missing?” When neither responded she got up. “Fine look, whatever. I've got to get going. Mom's going to be disappointed but that's tough. I'd planned on going to Pyrax anyway. Hopefully they are hiring. I'll find out in a few months,” she sighed. She wasn't looking forward to being trapped on that ship with her mother for the better part of another year or so. Maybe chief Rogers would let her sign on again?

  “Hang on kid, no one asked you to leave,” Ralph said waving a meaty hand. “Just settle on down there for a bit. We'll... we'll work it out. Just chill a minute,” he said. He turned as a Veraxin couple came in and waved to him. “Alice customers,” he murmured to his wife.

  Alice looked over her shoulder and grimaced as the couple seated themselves in a booth. She turned back to Mairi. “I'll be back in a bit. Stick around kid, it'll be worth it I think,” she said and reached out to pat the girls hand. After a moment she turned and left.

  Taken aback Mairi sat there confused. After a moment she picked at another pretzel. “Okayyy...” she drawled.

  Just as she's about ready to give up and leave a familiar brown chimp came in through the double doors. After a moment another followed him. Howie came in with the others right behind him. He paused looking to Ralphi who waved to the girl at the end of the bar. Howie turned to her, recognized her from the day before and was instantly amused. “What?” Shari asked behind him.

  “Nothing, just met her earlier.”

  “You did?” Savo asked, coming in behind them. The holo projector hidden in the corner of the room came to life. Rasha Warner smiled politely, and then stepped to one side to make room for Clio.

  “Sorry I'm late,” Clio said just as Howie responded.

  Howie shrugged. “It's a small station after all,” Howie sing songed. The others snorted at his whimsy. Alice pointed to a nearby booth. They waved a confused Mairi over to it.

  The organics took a seat in the booth and made small talk. They are polite, talking with Clio and Rasha. Rasha doesn't say much, she just smiled politely and nodded occasionally. Eventually their curiosity got the better of them and all eyes turned to Mairi.

  “Howie said he knows you?” Savo asked. “You met yesterday?”

  “Yeah,” the girl said, looking at the chimp. He was a tough customer, and to her dismay he was wearing a station security uniform. “We met when MM docked,” she said.

  “She was on it with another woman,” Howie confirmed. “I didn't know you were a pilot though,” he said to the girl.

  All eyes turned to Mairi. She felt like she was in some sports match. She squirmed again. “You didn't ask.”

  “That's right,” Howie said. “I didn't. So you are? A pilot I mean.”

  “Yeah,” Mairi said defensively.

  “Still doesn't matter since we don't have a ship,” Shari said, sounding disgusted. Mairi opened her mouth to interject but Savo grunted.

  “She's a kid. A bit young to send her out and alone into the outer dark.”

  “I can hold my own. I've been...” Mairi started to say but the blonde being in the sheet raised her hand.

  “I've digested the recording. You told Alice and Ralph you own your own tug?” Clio asked. “The ah, Tin Plated Bitch? How quaint,” she said. She turned to the others as they looked at each other in surprise and then to the girl. “She is telling the truth, I have her on file and her tug her a registry.”

  “Interesting,” Howie said, grinning a tight lipped grin. He was practically smirking, brown eyes twinkling with glee as he turned to Shari.

  “Maybe,” Shari said, more cautious and not as optimistic as her partner. After all, they were far from a finished deal. “And you are looking to hire on with us?” she asked pointedly.

  “Us?” Mairi echoed.

  “The Yard Dogs,” Clio answered. “Let me make introductions since we've been reminisce there,” she made quick introductions. Mairi sat back, surprised and amused when the AI was finished.

  “You seem to be what we need, if you are as good as you say you are,” Savo said, as cautious as Shari when Clio was finished. “We need someone like you in the company.”

  “What is this company?” Mairi asked diplomatically. “All I keep hearing from everyone is that you are about to go belly up and stay as far away as possible. The only one who said to even talk to you said to just hire on for a w
eek then run to someone, anyone else.”

  Savo winced, looking at the others. Howie was scowling blackly, Shari's expression was sad. Only Clio and Rasha seemed indifferent.

  “Can I get you folks anything?” Alice asked. The organics gave her orders for drinks. Mairi demurred. When Alice was gone Savo sighed. “So it's like that huh?”

  “It's always been like that,” Howie growled, bristling. He was having a hard time not baring his canines. “Damn bastards. Won't give us an even break to save our lives,” he snarled.

  “Never give a sucker an even break,” Savo grumbled, muttering darkly. His brown eyes turned to the girl. “To answer your question, we're Irons folly. Admiral Irons wanted to build a shipyard here but the writing was on the wall. The station council and politicians drove him out of the system. But before he left he left his friends...” he paused to indicate those around the table. “Tools and equipment, not to mention some credits, and some databases to make the yard in his absence.”

  “Yard Dogs. He said it was a nick name for people who worked in a shipyard. Hence the name, Yard Dog inc.”

  “But... I didn't see a yard coming in. No one mentioned a yard,” Mairi said.

  “That's because right now it's a pipe dream. There is a repair slip. Scaffolding docked to the station but they won't let us use the damn thing. Bastards,” Howie growled.

  “See kid,” Savo started to say.

  “It's Mairi. Mairi Jersey,” Mairi interrupted.

  His brown eyes met hers and then he snorted. “Whatever you say kid. Anyway, as I was saying, we're in a fix. We've been trying to get this off the ground since John left six weeks ago. But so far all we've gotten is sorry and sore. We can't get off square one because of all the shit going on.”

  “Which is where you come in. One of the problems is this damn station. They charge outrageous fees for every little thing,” Alice said, coming over with their tray. She set it down and then took a seat next to Savo. “I'm a Yard Dog too kiddo, me and Ralphi,” she said smiling.

  “Oh!” Mairi said, nonplussed.

  “We're not big on ceremony or anything. No frills. This is a strictly hands on work group,” Savo said and then cut his eyes to the holo projections. “Sorry, no offense,” he said.

  “None taken,” Rasha replied, clearly amused. A hand touched her shoulder. She reached back and touched it, looking over her shoulder as her husband's image wavered into being behind her. “Sorry I'm late,” Taylor Warner said. He nodded to the others. “The others sent their regrets. They said they'd abide by anything we decide here,” he said and then nodded to Mairi. “And you are?”

  “Mairi Jersey. Pilot.”

  “You are what? 14?”

  “Seventeen. I'm small for my age,” Mairi replied defensively.

  “That's cause you haven't been fed up right,” Alice said patting the girl's knee under the table. “We'll do you right kid. If you sign on.”

  “You sign on with us you're not in it for just a paycheck. We're a family. We take care of our own,” Savo said, looking into the girl's eyes.

  Mairi's eyes widened in surprise. He really meant it, she could tell. There was something there, some... some sense of belonging. Something she'd longed to have. Slowly she nodded.

  “Good cause right now it doesn't pay squat,” Clio said snorting. “Enough for minimum bills and that's about it. You work for shares and a future cut of the profits. Which is calculated by me. I'm fair and unbiased being an AI.”

  “You're an AI?” Mairi asked, shocked all over again.

  “Nice kid,” Clio said. Mairi seemed brimming with questions. She smiled politely. “Yes and no, not a smart AI. I'm... well a hybrid I guess. I was a dumb AI but the admiral's AI changed my core programming. I'm well, borderline smart.”

  “Um...” Mairi wasn't sure that was possible. She didn't have a good handle on coding though. “Wait, admiral's AI?” She was starting to get that dazed feeling, when she'd read too much or too many things had happened all at once.

  “Commander Sprite,” Savo said and then picked up his beer for a swig. He set it down on the bar napkin. “Coder, adjunct, friend. Nice gal.”

  “You'd know, you had more contact with John than most of us, Me and Ralphi included,” Alice said smiling.

  “True. Though John was nice enough to not kick my ass too hard on the mat,” he said, leaning forward to rub the small of his back. “No broken bones so I'm pretty sure he took it easy on me, which I appreciate. Not that I did on him. Or at least tried not to.”

  “Um...”

  “Martial arts master,” Savo said, wiggling his fingers at her. “I'm sort of the security for the company right now.”

  “Oh.” Mairi snorted. “Cool. I want to learn,” she said.

  “Cool,” Savo replied with a small smile. “Good attitude,” he said looking to Alice. He got a small nod in response. She obviously approved too.

  “This tug, does it need repair?” Clio asked.

  “Not much,” Mairi responded with a shrug. “Her port RCS is still kicking but I know about it. Thrust is a bit sluggish, I wanted to do a full tear down but we just don't have the materials or parts in Senka. Besides MM showed up and I wanted out of there.”

  “Ah.” Clio nodded. She threw a few piloting and navigational questions at the girl. When Mairi realized it was a test she snorted but answered each promptly. She even took a napkin and pulled a stylus out of her pocket to diagram how to do a turn in burn with the least amount of fuel.

  “Can I access your ship's computer?” Clio asked.

  “What? Sure. But I've got to get her out of the MM to do that.”

  “Not necessarily,” Clio answered, suddenly sounding distracted as she looked up and to the side. “Accessing. MM firewall... access granted. Tin Plated Bitch access...” she turned with a frown to Mairi. “Code?”

  “You got in?” Mairi asked, staring again.

  “Yes. Access Code?”

  “Um... she looked around and then sighed. She rattled off an eighteen digit code. She could and would change it later she vowed.

  Clio cocked her head in amusement. “An eighteen digit alpha numeric code? Unusual for an organic to use,” she said.

  “I'm good with numbers,” Mairi admitted looking down.

  “I see that. And yes, she's good. I've gained access to her black box and logs, she's legit. I'm surprised, her computer is very clean, no viruses. Very, very good for her age. For any age really. I think only a pilot with implants could do better,” Clio said. “Though I am not much of a judge as far as piloting skills,” she admitted.

  “True. We can swing implants later,” Savo said.

  “Implants?” Mairi asked, eying the chimp.

  He smiled a tight lipped smile. “Several of our members are medics. Each of us have basic ident implants. A few like me have more... classified implants. Nothing Major but...” he shrugged.

  “Implants,” Mairi said, sounding dazed.

  “Here dear,” Alice said handing her a glass from the tray. The girl took it and drank. “Better?”

  “Yeah,” the girl responded. “Um...”

  “We're offering you a job. We'll work out the details later. The question now is, are you willing to take it?” Taylor Warner asked. He was on the fence about the girl, but they had to take chances. They had to take risks if they were going to break this blockade and succeed.

  “What are you asking me to do? I mean other than pilot,” Mairi responded setting the glass down. Alice noted a customer waving and she got up and reluctantly left.

  “Piloting primarily. Your tug to begin with, though we may ask you to pilot other ships later. Right now we need you to gather materials for our manufacturing needs and transport crews, supplies, and equipment to and from any construction sites,” Clio answered. “I've got a contract drawn up. You can review it later if you wish. I strongly advise you to do so.”

  “Okay,” Mairi replied.

  “I've sent it to your room,” Clio sai
d. Mairi nodded, not at all surprised that the AI could do that without her even saying where she lived.

  “Kid, we're going to do our best to first repair, and then later build ships. Are you in or out?” Savo asked.

  Mairi searched her feeling for a brief moment. Finally she nodded. It wasn't like she had anywhere else to go. “Yeah. Sure. I'm in,” she said firmly.

  “Good,” Howie said, slapping her on the shoulder. She winced. “I knew you were a good kid the first time I laid eyes on you!” the other chimp said, chuffing. The others snorted or smiled.

  “What about the bitch? I need a docking space. They won't even let me dock to an airlock,” Mairi said, aggrieved. “MM leaves in 2 days.”

  “We've got that covered,” Savo said getting up. He made a show of stretching.

  “You do?” She asked as the others got up as well. She scooted off the bench seat to let them get out.

  “Sure,” Taylor said, smiling. “We've got our own berthing slip. For the time being anyway,” he said and then disappeared. His wife and Clio did as well.

  Mairi turned in surprise to the chimps and Terrans. The laughed at her expression of surprise. “Come on, we'll show you.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Savo, Howie, and Shari took her to their Berth. It was nearby, only three decks down and near the outer docking ring. Savo logged them in and then walked them through the control room and various support and maintenance rooms to the main berth. “It's not much but it's home,” Savo explained to her. “At least for now.” Turn lights on with dramatic flair. It was a massive room, easily big enough to fit five, no six bitches inside with room to spare. Mairi nodded silently and poked around a bit and then nodded again, turning to the silently watching group.

  “We've got clear access there,” Howie said, pointing to the doors. “And we've got a warehouse of stuff. All kinds of tools and stuff.”

  “Which he's just aching to get his grubby paws on to play with,” Shari said and laughed at Howie's expression. After a moment Howie grinned in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  They separated outside in the corridor when they left the berth a short time later. Savo turned, making sure the hatch locked securely behind them. Mairi was told to report to the MM the next shift for the transfer. She nodded quietly and left to find her mother and to find out what trouble she'd gotten herself into in Mairi's absence. When she was gone Savo turned to the others. “Any thoughts?”