Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer)

by Hechtl, Chris

  He turned at the sound of a chitter and squeak. He looked down by the doorway to note a coonie sniffing his pant leg.

  “Looks like you found a friend,” Bryan said, looking over his patient then going back to work. The coonie chittered and grabbed his pant leg with a hand paw and tugged.

  “He doesn't have anything for you Nara, so go,” Bryan said not looking up.

  The coonie looked at the paramedic then went over to sniff the patient.

  “That's... not a good idea mate,” Irons said. “Even though she smells like fish, she's not one.”

  “No, but he'd make an really good snack right about now.” the lioness said, rolling her head back and forth. “And I'm getting hungry,” she growled. One eye caught sight of the coonie.

  “That's the regenerators. They stimulate your body's natural growth and repair functions,” Irons replied.

  “Who asked you,” she snarled.

  Irons picked the fat ball of fur up. The coonie's ears flicked and she settled right away, obviously used to being handled. He cradled the coonie. “You obviously didn't,” he said stroking the now purring coonie. “By the way, he's a she,” he said petting the pet. “We've met.”

  “So? Do you ask what gender your dinner is?” she asked.

  “Well, when you put it that way,” he said amused, moving further away.

  “You are not eating my coonie,” Bryan said not looking up. “Try and I'll give you one hell of a hangover that will last weeks.”

  “I'm kidding Doc,” she said giving the medic a look.

  “Funny,” he said not smiling. He picked off a bit of singed fur. “Lucky for you, I've got a sense of humor or I'd leave you here with a nice bald spot.”

  “How'd you get the purser to sign off on the cat Doc?” the guard asked clearly fascinated. She reached a hand out to let the coonie sniff her.

  “Hmm? Oh the captain okayed it. Only way I'd come actually. I brought Nara and her mate. She's pregnant too. Prize winning kits in that one. She's a coonie, by the way, not a cat. At least not all of her,” he grimaced.

  “Coonies are genetically engineered from racoons. Old earth racoons and cats actually. They are about as intelligent as an old earth dog,” Irons filled in stroking the beasty. His fingers rubbed and scratched at her ears. She purred louder and then yawned sharp needle like teeth. She made smacking sounds and then her eyelids became suddenly very heavy. “They can come in natural colors or have bright coats like this little lady here.” He stroked the purple fur then tweaked the banded tail. She grabbed her tail and licked it clean indignantly as they smiled.

  “Coonie. Huh. The bandit mask is darling. Can I have one?” the guard asked looking at the pet.

  “Not likely,” Bryan shook his head. He sighed at the kids expression. “Not my choice. I'd love to give you one but the captain forbade it. I'll probably end up giving or trading the kits to the colonists we run into. Coonies are great. Better than house cats for pest control They are smart, omnivores so they eat anything, and aren't afraid of water. They actually wash their meals. It's why I got into them. It's so much fun to watch.” He paused what he was doing. “Sorry, no offense.”

  “None taken. Now,” the lioness growled. She blinked, her irises were wide. “Goddess of space do you have to have the lights so bright?”

  “Sorry,” Bryan said shaking his head. “I need them to see clearly.”

  “Yeah well, hurry up then. I want to sleep.”

  “The healing process is kicking in then. Good.” He looked up to her eyes. “Pupils are dilated...”

  “Drug reaction doctor,” Sprite said over the intercom. “Possibly to much phenobarbital.”

  “Oh,” he grimaced. “I thought I got the weight right.”

  “Not if the bed's scales are off. Which they were,” Irons said, raising his right hand. “I fixed it.”

  “Thank you. Can you check the other equipment please?”

  “A good idea. I'd hate for something to happen because the equipment is not properly calibrated,” Bailey said, sticking his head into the room. “Gah! What stinks like fish and burnt fur!” he said, covering his mouth and nose. He waved his right hand in front of his face and turned away.

  “Possibly burnt fur,” Irons said moving aside to let him see the Neo cat's arm. The aluminum tray nearby was covered in singed bits of fur and skin.

  “Oh,” Bailey shook his head. “Oh hey Nara,” he petted the suddenly excited coonie. Irons snorted as the chief palmed the coonie a treat.

  “I saw that,” Bryan said with his back turned to them. “Don't do it again. She's fat enough as it is.”

  “She's pregnant. She's got the right,” Bailey muttered. Irons smiled. He set the coonie down as she began to struggle. She went over to chatter at the chief then when he spread his hands apart she went off with a tail flick.

  “Going to try to charm more out of someone else,” Bryan sighed turning. “You know she's supposed to be pest control as well,” he said shaking his head. “Evil pure and simple.”

  “What her? All females are Doc, thought you knew,” Bailey said with a toothy smile to the females in the room. The female guard in the corner sighed and rolled her eyes. The Neo cat gave him a look then looked away. Her whiskers twisted back and forth as her ears flicked and then laid flat again.

  “My ancestors would have chased you up a tree for that.”

  “Mine would have thrown shit at them from the tree tops,” Bailey returned grinning as he gave as good as he got.

  “Go on. Go find someone else to harass before you get her BP up,” Bryan said shooing them off.

  The door opened and Irons looked up. That wasn't supposed to happen. He looked but didn’t see anything. The door closed. He frowned. Then he felt a paw on his pant leg.

  He looked down to see a red and black coonie twitching his whiskers at him. “Well hello there,” he said smiling. He patted the little guy under the chin. That of course had the little guy purring right away, eyes half closed, ears up.

  “That's Cooter. He's the male.”

  “How'd he get in?” Irons asked.

  “His collar. Mr. Kelly talked someone into setting that up. It opens the doors for him when he gets near.”

  “Oh lovely. Can you say security breach in progress?” Irons said shaking his head. “I bet the security chief doesn't know.”

  “Paranoia Admiral.”

  Irons closed his eyes, willing patience to return as he felt a wave of exasperation well up. “Tell that to me after someone copies what ever signal this thing sends out and uses it to gain access here. Hell that might have been how they got in here in the first place. Did you think of that?” he asked, fingering the collar.

  “Um... No,” Sprite answered. She felt like kicking herself. She wasn't an organic. She should have thought of it.

  “Track this guy and his partner then. By their movements. Fingerprint what ever this thing is sending out and lock off access to areas of the ship he and his cohort shouldn't be in. And let me know if someone is using the access.”

  “Good point,” Sprite said chastened.

  “Now, what can I do for you fella? Out exploring or did your wifey toss you out for eating bugs in bed?” he asked, as the coonie chittered. After a moment he got up on the bed and curled up on the foot of it.

  “Coonies are normally nocturnal. On stations and ships they usually conform to the normal day night cycle over time. However since it is now morning...”

  Irons grimaced. “And I pulled an all nighter again.” He rolled his shoulders.

  It had been well worth the effort though, most of the sickbay equipment was now in spec. He had to wonder though why they weren't in the first place. Another thing to pass on to the IG office.

  “Yes. I expect you'll have a furry bunk mate Admiral,” Sprite said, sounding amused.

  Irons looked at the furball. It had been a long time since he had a partner in bed. A furry partner too. He hoped the connie didn't shed much. “No problem. It's
been a while, but I think I can handle it.”

  “And if you can't you can always kick him out,” Sprite replied. He snorted.

  “Not likely. Night Sprite.”

  When he woke he stretched. He felt the furry lump on his feet and paused. Caffeine deprived it took his sleepy mind a moment to remember his furry house guest. When he did he opened an eye to see the bandit looking at him sleepily. Ears up, eyes sleepy and half opened. The coonie yawned and then smacked his mouth together a few times and then stretched a hand paw out before settling back down again.

  “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “Want some breakfast?”

  The coonie chittered, looking up. His ears perked and his eyes were now fully open and alert. He stretched and then ordered some coffee, then a treat for the coonie. He snorted. His furry house guest got up and stretched this way and that then took the hand out with grace and worked it over with his whiskered cheeks and hands a few times before looking at him. “Well?”

  The coonie jumped to the floor and ate it, then got back up onto the bed and proceeded to stretch and then clean himself when no more treats were presented to him. Occasionally he'd stop the grooming to look up at the Admiral in curiosity. Irons just watched him in bemusement.

  “You're a little too close to the edge there matey,” Irons said, sipping his coffee. The coonie chittered then toppled off. He snorted and saluted him with the cup. “Told you so.” That made him smile. It felt good to have a small laugh.

  The coonie gave him a dirty look and then went into the more serious activity of taking his morning bath. After a minute more he stopped, looked up and then made his way to the refresher. He heard some scrambling then winced. “He's...”

  “No, wait for it...” Sprite said chuckling. After a moment he heard the toilet flush. The fan even came on came on. Then he heard water running. He snorted. Coonies really were smarter then they looked.

  “Okay,” Irons said watching the coonie, tail high bounce out. “Later,” he snorted. “What's on the agenda for today?”

  Bryan stuck his head into the wardroom and paused. “Ah. Sorry captain.”

  The captain looked up, cup half way to his mouth and paused. “Looking for someone Mr. Kelly?” He smiled slightly. Apparently he was in a good mood. The medic didn't want to spoil it.

  “Yeah, it's not important. I'm... uh...” He looked at the tablet in his hands, thoroughly confused.

  “She's right here,” the captain said indicating his lap. The paramedic made his way across the room then looked around the table to see Nara asleep on the captain's lap.

  “I'm sorry she's such a bother sir,” he said feeling embarrassed and a little mortified. He tucked the tablet under his arm and dry washed his hands in anticipation of getting chewed out.

  “She's not actually,” the captain said amused as he sat back. “She is heavy though,” he chuckled, free hand stroking her pelt.

  “Yeah, she's pretty gravid. And insatiable when she gets that way,” Bryan said, shaking his head. Even from two meters away he could hear her loud rumbling purr. Nara had her ways. She obviously had added the captain to her list of special friends.

  “Yes, that she is,” the captain said with a fond look down to the animal. “When is she due?” he asked, smiling slightly.

  Bryan spread his hands. “Any time. Coonies gestate anywhere from fifty four to seventy days. It all depends on how many kits and the length of day where they are at,” Bryan said as he grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. “She's pushing the envelope though, but then again she's got five in her.”

  “Five huh?” the captain smiled, stroking her again. “No wonder she's one big mama.”

  “I normally limit her to two, but well, since we're going out to new worlds, I thought it would be a good idea. Genetic diversity.”

  The captain blinked. “How...” he started to ask, looking up.

  “My partner did it,” Bryan grimaced once more, this time in distant pain. “His term paper for his veterinary course at the college. I gathered samples from other coonies and he combined them into random samples and then inseminated her with the embryos.”

  “Oh,” the captain nodded. “Different parents you say?” He was genuinely curious and talking about it might help the medic a little.

  Bryan nodded. “Yes captain. Dame and sire for each. Nara is a surrogate in this case,” he shrugged. “I was going to have one of her own with Bluefeld, a prize winning male, but my mother sent me a sample of Jezebell,” he smiled. “I couldn't resist.”

  “Okay,” the captain said sounding amused as he looked up. The ins and outs of Coonie breeding were beyond his ken or care.

  “Coonies are pretty big on Anvil sir. At least in the circles I traveled. They take care of insects and pests and are pretty lively. They help with moral and keep people amused by their antics.”

  The captain nodded. “I noticed that. And I remember your speech when you asked for them to be included. Demanded it really as a condition of your coming,” he snorted then looked down as he stroked the coonie. “I see why though.” His voice was soft. He didn't regret it now. Even if he had to be blackmailed into it. He wasn't about to admit to the medic that he had considered getting a ship's cat before the medic had been introduced to him. This had taken care of two birds with one stone. No three. One the medic, two a ship's pet or in this case pets, and three someone to feed and care for them. Good. Usually it was the purser's or ship's apprentice's job to take care of the cat or pet. Charlie wasn't up for it, he really didn't like animals that much so this worked out much better. Since the medic was also versed in animal care they didn't have to worry if the animals got sick too. Good.

  “I'm glad sir.”

  “Are you planning on keeping them all?” the captain asked, looking up. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of seven of the furry monsters running around. Even though they were cute. Getting one into something they couldn't get out of... or getting killed... no picking the fur out of a fan motor wouldn't be fun. Nor would be telling the medic that one of his precious charges had come a cropper. He'd have to have a quiet word with the chief about that later.

  Bryan looked startled. “I hadn't known I would be able to sir. I thought you'd like to trade them,” he said with a pang of remorse. “I'd like to keep one or two. Jezebell's a rarity sir, her kits are highly prized.”

  “All right,” the captain nodded. “How goes sickbay otherwise?”

  “Well, the Neo lioness is out of there. Thankfully,” Bryan gushed a sigh and then grimaced as he sat on a guest chair. “Not before tearing one of my beds to shreds. She is probably why Nara vacated. I caught her making eyes at both coonies. She said she was joking but you never know with them. They were looking pretty nervous.” He hadn't wanted her there any longer then necessary either. Luckily with the Admiral's tuning he'd been able to get rid of her after one day.

  “You're keeping track of her?” the captain asked.

  “Yes, the Neo is doing fine...” Bryan blushed. “Oh you mean the coonies. “Yes sir I had a tracker put into the collars. That way I can find them and keep them out of areas they shouldn't get into.”

  “Good luck with that,” the captain laughed. “Somehow I think this lady can get into anything she puts her mind to. Or charm her way in at any rate,” he smiled down at her, stroking her ears until they flicked a few times.

  “Yeah, she does have that gift,” Bryan said, smiling. “I've been accessing the medical database the... I don't know how... I mean. The AI. Sprite. She's a she right?”

  “Yes I am,” Sprite said from the overhead, making both men jump a little. “Forgot I'm here?” she asked amused.

  “Yes,” Bryan said shaking his head as the captain dusted his arm and dabbed at the coffee he had spilled.

  “I'm in the computer net. I will be here for a while. Most likely the entire trip. I've finally made good on all the software repairs. And I've been busy building a class one AI for Destiny.”

  “You did?” the capta
in asked surprised. He'd wanted an AI but they had nixed it for some reason. He wasn't sure why. He wasn't sure about having a ship that could talk back now that he's had the chance to experience it. It was a bit unnerving.

  “Not a smart one captain. Class one. Just a... Call it an interface AI. Something like Smithy but not nearly as smart since you don't have the computer space. Smithy was about that level before I got a hold of him,” Sprite explained. “You were supposed to have one before you left dock since you're a reserve vessel. Just another thing overlooked for some reason.”

  “Oh,” the captain nodded. “Thank you.” He shrugged then turned to Bryan. “You were saying Mr. Kelly?”

  “Um, yes,” Bryan snuck a glance up to the overhead then straightened and looked at the captain. “I've been familiarizing myself with the database Sprite gave me,” he paused and looked up. “Thanks again for that.”

  “No problem,” Sprite responded, sounding amused.

  “I've gone through the index and scanned the files that pertain to the species we have on board. There are a lot of bytes to go over though. I'm just glad I've got it though. I'm in over my head when it comes to the Vesuvian's though. I'm glad we've got that.”

  “A handy resource,” the captain said nodding. Nara woke and got up. She stretched the front end, then the back, making the captain chuckle as he dodged her banded tail which kept sweeping toward his face. “Lets keep the tail out of the face dear,” he said with a chuckle. He kept his free hand out to keep her balanced and not teeter tottering all over his lap. She was polite enough not to sink her claws too far into his trousers.

  She turned and leaned on his chest and patted his cheek then got down to the floor and went to the refresher. After a moment they heard the flush. Then there was the sound of running water.

  “Bladder issues,” The captain said, perfectly deadpan. “My wife had that problem when she was pregnant. Especially in the last trimester. She kept muttering about perverse kids and playing soccer with her bladder a lot.”