Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer)

by Hechtl, Chris

  “But they followed you anyway,” Irons said. He had wondered how the others had afforded tickets on the passage. Perhaps they had been discounted to get troublesome individuals out of the system?

  “So I'm getting off where they aren't,” the cheetah replied. “I'm tired of being the omega. The clown everyone slaps around. The bottom of the pack,” she growled softly. “It's time I went off on my own. Started seeing the galaxy for myself,” she said with a sniff and then licked an exposed shoulder.

  “It'll get mighty lonely after a while,” he murmured.

  She looked away then back to him. “I've got a way to prevent that. If I don't find other cheetahs I can grow my own family,” she said looking up. She smiled. “I've got genetic samples from every surviving cheetah on Anvil going back four generations.”

  “Interesting,” Irons replied digesting that. She was obviously smarter and more determined than he initially thought. Good for her, it increased her chances for not only survival, but to thrive. “You've planned this carefully.”

  “Actually, my ancestors did,” she said and then shrugged. “Unfortunately none of the other cheetahs were interested in coming. There are only six of us left and we're pretty closely related. Now there are five, now that I've gone.” She flicked her ears again.

  “Huh. I wonder how they are making out,” Irons replied.

  “Shitty as usual for most. I heard Senjix was going for the marines to get away from the gangs. Good luck there. Tomax and Xamot will probably follow when they are old enough. The rest...” She shrugged.

  “Not your problem?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “No, not really. Oh I'll send word where I end up. That way if they want to follow and set up near me they can.”

  “Good point,” Irons nodded.

  “You never did say why you're here,” she said picking up a tablet.

  “Sorry,” Irons grimaced. He looked around, soaking it up for a second. The infirmary was clean and neat, white washed walls with the occasional marking on a door or cabinet indicating what was inside. Since this was a civilian freighter the infirmary was small and had limited storage and equipment. He'd hate to see a lot of traffic here.

  There were a half a dozen gurneys around the perimeter and one near the center. Cabinets were everywhere. Brightly marked Paramedic back packs and oxygen masks were racked near the door. Good. “I was bored so I figured I'd come by and do a little work on some of the systems and see how the ident program was going. But if you're busy...”

  “I am. Cataloging inventory and dealing with Ident chip crap,” she waved a tablet. “People claiming to be sick after getting one, of all things.” She brandished her wrist. “I got one, no sweat.”

  They had been fortunate to find the indentichip fabricator. Irons had helped Bryan set it up in a nearby compartment then cleared the decks to allow the line of people in to get their chip. Their implant. It was amusing to see the different opinions. Those that were eager, and those that were terrified.

  “It only takes a second,” Irons nodded.

  “And we're the first full crew to do it,” she said. He shook his head. She caught his expression and frowned. “We're not?”

  He shook his head. She made a moue. “No, Io 11 implemented the same procedure before heading to Pyrax actually,” he explained. “Sorry to burst your bubble.”

  “No, that's... that's okay, I get it,” she nodded and then mewed in distaste as a crewman came in hunched over. She went to him. Irons could smell vomit and sweat. Either it was another psychosomatic response or someone had gotten some of that rotgut that was going around. When would people learn not to drink something you knew wasn't exactly safe? “I think it should wait for Bryan's approval. It's his sickbay after all,” she shrugged. “I'm just the stand in.”

  “Okay. I'll do that,” Irons nodded watching her go to work.

  “Though you could fix the replicator since you're here,” she said going over to the machine built into the wall. “It's one of three fully functional ones on the ship. Industrial one I mean, though that one's supposed to be a medical one. The rest are still in boxes I think. This one is supposed to make general meds but it keeps malfunctioning or something.”

  “Okay,” Irons nodded. “I'll get to work.” He went over and morphed his arm, jacking into the universal port.

  Her eyes went wide as saucers at the sight then she nodded. “Damn that's wild,” she breathed, eyes reverent. She shook her head. “I'll be ah, over ah, here going over the notes from today. Let me know if you need anything.” She kept sneaking glances his way.

  “Sure thing,” Irons said with a nod.

  The chimp engineering chief looked up then sighed as Ed, the chief of security came into main engineering. Apparently something of what had happened with Jerry had worked it's way back to him. Or Ed was just making the rounds finally. He was betting on Jerry though. He nodded politely to the assistant who got the hint and left without a backwards glance.

  “Chief can I see you in your office?”

  “Sure.”

  “Since I couldn't get you to come to mine?” the security chief growled as they walked to the office.

  The chief shot the taller man a hard look as they moved towards the door. “That's cause I'm a tad busy,” Bailey said, trading dig for dig.

  “Didn't look it.”

  “Everyone needs their marching orders. And to get onto the same page,” Bailey said, sitting at his desk. He moved the chair closer so he could prop his short legs up onto the desk. He crossed them then smiled. “What can I do you out of today?”

  “I just found out we had a computer security breach yesterday.”

  “Handled,” Bailey said eyes flashing.

  “Not by me.”

  “No, by me. One of my people. I put the fear of me into the little puss bag. Maybe it'll scare him straight. But now I know who to keep an eye on if something like that ever happens again.”

  “Oh. Would you care to identify the culprit?” Ed asked.

  “Why? So you can arrest him?” Bailey said. “I told you, I disciplined him. My department, my rules.”

  “But I am the security chief,” Ed said teeth gritted. He turned as the door opened. The captain came in. “Ah captain....” he said as both men got to their feet.

  “I heard you wanted to speak to me?” The captain asked as they both rose. Bailey shook his head and grimaced, indicating the chief of security. “What's so urgent and why did you call me down here?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

  Bailey raised his hands up. “I didn't. Your place is on the bridge. Or okay, where ever you want to be. captain's prerogative and all that,” Bailey said shrugging and raising his hands helplessly.

  Ed scowled. “We have a jurisdiction dispute captain. It seems there was a computer security breach.”

  “Oh. Went over my head huh? Tattle tail,” Bailey growled. He gave the security chief a dirty look then turned to the captain. “I handled it in house.”

  “Which I reiterate, isn't proper.”

  “Anytime you want to pick up a screwdriver and swap jobs is fine by me Ed. I can do your job with my eyes closed. Being a bully and a jackass waving a stunner is no skin off my nose.”

  “You want...” Ed's hand went to his stunner.

  “Sure. Wanna try going a few rounds with me?” Bailey's eyes lit as his fur went up. He grinned nastily at the security chief. The chief suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable. Good. “Anytime, anywhere, just name the place and I'll take you apart. I don't guarantee putting you back together again though. That's Bryan's department. I can take you apart anytime. You and I both know it.”

  “Which he would. I understand you're a black belt,” the captain said conversationally.

  Bailey gave him a look and then chuffed a laugh. “Trust you to know captain.” He shook his head. He didn't know where he'd gotten that tidbit from. He'd done well to hide his martial arts ability under the eyes of the damn pirates. Could Chambers have ra
tted him out? Nah, he would have had to have admitted that he'd gotten his ass kicked by the diminutive engineer if he had.

  “Yes I heard you and the Admiral have been working out,” he said amused as he nodded. “You punished the miscreant?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “Yes. He got nosy. Peeper. I chopped his nose off, chewed him out till he pissed himself.” He looked at Ed. “Literally. You're standing in the puddle.” Ed lifted a foot and grimaced as the chimp smiled sweetly.

  “Gee thanks for a warning.”

  “Sure thing,” the chimp said. “Anyway, I put the fear of me into him and he's on my shit list. Going to be doing scut work for a long, long time. Crap no one in his right mind wants to do.”

  “Oh,” the captain nodded. He cocked his head. “First offense?”

  Bailey blew out a raspberry and then rolled his brown eyes. “Yeah. Greenhorn know it all kid right out of diapers. Little shit has a lot to learn and just found that out. We've got a lot of time invested in his training though, so I want to see if there is something worth salvaging. Besides,” he shot a look at the security chief. “Too many cooks spoil the brew.”

  “Good,” the captain nodded. “Carry on.” He turned as they straightened to attention and left.

  “See?” Bailey said smiling to the security chief. The chief blinked then shook his head. “I win,” Bailey said buffing his nails. “Now, pick up a spanner or get out of my face boy. You're crowding me.”

  “Ah...” Ed shook his head, face red. He left without a backwards look.

  “Cretin,” Bailey said shaking his head. “Now what the hell was I planning on doing before being so rudely interrupted?”

  Chapter 6

  Irons nodded to the chief as he walked up to the sickbay door. He looked around noting the guards. “Something I should know?” he asked. He'd lost his bodyguard on the walk here. Either the girl had been peeled off to do another duty or someone was watching him virtually. Or so he hoped. Sloppy behavior wasn't what they needed. Erratic security was just as good as no security. Then again, the random element would throw everyone off guard. Including him. It paid for him to be on his toes and not rely on others for his own protection after all.

  He'd had the guard now for nearly a week. He'd almost gotten used to a presence nearby. Almost. He didn't want to let his guard down. That actually wasn't hard to do on the surface. They looked scary to some of the people, big bruisers, heavily muscled. A few were heavy worlders like those two near the door were. It was as much attitude as it was the weapons on their hips that acted as a deterrent. Well, that and the threat of retribution from the captain... that's what really kept people in line. Or was supposed to. Something had gone wrong with that arrangement apparently.

  “No,” a guard said giving him a contemptuous look. Irons sized him up. Short black hair, sneer, broken nose, fresh bruise on one cheek, shiner on the other and his uniform was a bit well... clawed. Shredded. He could see some skin and deep cuts here and there. Still the guy kept his post. Good.

  “Nothing important Admiral, just a fight that got out of hand,” the other guard replied. The first gave her a dirty look. “What?” she asked as the Admiral passed.

  “Thanks for the information,” he muttered as he entered. He looked around. Additional guards were stationed around the room.

  “Something I can help... Oh Admiral!” The paramedic looked up with a smile. “Thanks for coming I've got a real mess.” He waved to the others then went back to dabbing a cut on a woman's face. From the looks of her she'd been savaged by one of the cats. She had long claw marks on one cheek. She was lucky they hadn't gotten deeper. If they had they would have cut to the bone, ripping her face right off. Whoever the cat had been they had either been just far enough out of reach or had just enough self control to keep that from happening.

  “Nasty,” Irons grimaced. “What do you need me for?” he asked.

  “In here,” Bryan the paramedic motioned to a side room. He went in. “What am I looking for?” he asked, noting the patient unconscious on the bed. The lioness was clutching one arm he could smell her copper blood. She was skinny, he could see her ribs under her scarred fur. She had a sheet around her ankles, all bunched up in a tangled mess. Most Neo's hated too much clothing.

  He looked closer. The injury was semi serious. The biofoam was holding the wound closed. From the look of it she wasn't happy about the area around the wound being shaved though.

  “The equipment can't handle a Neo. And the dermal regenerator keeps fritzing out.”

  “Oh,” Irons grimaced as he noted the female feline was watching him with slitted eyes. “Sorry to see you injured,” he said politely, nodding to her.

  “Why should you care?” she snarled. The guard standing behind her bed looked at her nervously, hand on his stunner. She shot the guard a look and then went back to cradling her arm. It was burned. From the look of it she'd gotten oil splattered all over her. It had melted her fur to her skin. Hot oil had splattered over her side and face. Bryan had picked off the melted fur with forceps and foamed the wounds that had broken the skin.

  “Just being my usual helpful self. Point out the equipment and I'll gladly get out of your hair. Fur I mean. What's left of it.”

  “Is that supposed to be funny?” she snarled. Her head lolled. She panted. “I'll teach you,” she said and then blinked in confusion. Drugged, most likely pain killers. He backed away.

  “Easy there lady,” he said hands up.

  “She's sedated and restrained,” the guard said. “But yeah, I'd stay back.”

  “What happened?” Irons asked, placing a hand on the equipment. Proteus began streaming data on his HUD. He felt his nanites streaming into it.

  “She got into a fight. By accident it turns out. Galley fight. I'm not sure what started it. Someone knocked over the oil used to fry fish and chips and it got her. She thrashed about and clawed a couple of people.”

  “It hurts,” she meowed piteously.

  “I'm sure it does,” the paramedic said, shouldering his way past the Admiral. “You've only got a subdermal local. I'm cutting your pain nerves but this gear and my training is set for humans.”

  “Typical,” the cat snarled. Her teeth were bared in a grimace of pain and anger.

  “No, I'm learning,” he said and then shrugged. “We all are. It takes time. And patience, which you obviously lack,” he muttered. He took the mister and checked the dosage.

  “What's that?” she asked watching him warily.

  “Mister,” he explained. “Used to apply a topical anesthetic. It should dull the pain more.”

  “Accessing medical database. I suggest upping the dosage slightly and changing the spray to a 2 nanometer head to get through her thick hide doctor,” Sprite said over the intercom.

  “Huh?” the guard looked around in confusion. “Who said that?”

  “My AI. She's tied into the medical database,” Irons replied. Proteus listed the diagnostic file. He nodded. “I'm done with this. It was out of calibration. It's fixed now.” He moved over to the dermal regenerator.

  The dermal regenerator was a boxy piece of equipment with a hose attached to it. Controls were on the face, angled for easier viewing of course. Inside the machine a sample taken from the patient was processed. If it was an emergency situation a pseudo plastic replacement laced with growth chemicals was sprayed onto the wound with the attached hose and sprayer. If the attending medical staff had more time they could clone the patient's skin cells in a bio-reactor built into the machine and then spray a mix of cloned stem cells, growth hormones, and a powdered collagen glycosaminoglycan matrix to heal a wound.

  The third ability of the machine was even more complex. It could stimulate the cells in the wound to self replicate and repair with the use of a wand that was apparently missing. That was a painful experience and it had it's own risks. It was a bit messy and it could induce tumor growth so most medical professionals avoided using it. Especially on larger wounds like t
his. What apparently no one knew was that the wand was loaded with nanites. Well, someone must have known since the wand was missing. He wondered what had happened to it? Whoever had removed it had inherited a dead piece of plastic and electronics, the nanites were programmed to self destruct when the wand was removed.

  Even with a dermal regenerator the body still needed to have the time to integrate the repairs. But using it cut the healing time down to a day or so. For small wounds it took only hours for them to heal.

  “How does she... I mean there isn't anything about Neos in the ships database. I know, I checked,” Bryan said grimacing.

  Irons looked up. “You didn't ask for access to my files. I've got files on my ship,” Irons replied. He nodded at Bryan's disgusted look. “I bet if you ask Cheetahra she could get you a copy as well,” he said. Bryan looked like he could kick himself over that last. He had thought about asking her to help but she was obviously uncomfortable around the other Neos. “The dermal regenerator has a clogged head and some sort of growth in it. I would suggest getting another or a sterilization of this one.”

  “Ah,” Bryan looked at the device as he rubbed a swab over the cat's arm. “You can tell just by looking?”

  “With your hand on it?” the guard added in confusion.

  “Proteus,” Irons said lifting his hand. He ran the demo sequence. His fingers flashed into various tools then back to normal. “The ultimate Swiss army knife and diagnostic tool,” he smiled.

  “Oookay,” the guard said wide eyed. “You're for real.” Irons snorted mentally. Apparently some people still didn't believe who and what he was. Typical and sad in a way. Had they really fallen... no then again, it had been typical in his time and through out time to be skeptical, even when you saw something right under your nose.

  “Last time I checked,” Irons deadpanned, moving on to the next piece of equipment. “By the way doctor you'll need to load the dermal regenerator with Neo feline stem cells to work. Generic human stem cells have a moderate chance of being rejected. Your best bet is to harvest them from the patient where they are not injured induce mitosis a few times then use them. Keep a few on file for later use,” he suggested and then shrugged at the medic's expression. “That much I do remember.”