The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link (5 page)

Bob looked over at me and frowned. “Ah, that was a lot of stuff, wasn’t it?” I nodded. “Too much too fast, huh? Don’t worry. You don’t have to know it all. Get a good functional idea how it works. The computer will get you to the area in a system that has failed.”

Practice with Sandra was really tough. My head wasn’t in it. I was still trying to put the environmental system together in my mind. She got a bit frustrated with me, and I had to apologize. We stopped and did some breathing exercises, and that helped get me through the practice. 

Later, Vivian met me at the door. I wasn’t very good company with my head buzzing with power and environmental systems.

After the main course, and as she served desert, I realized how bad I was being. “Vivian, this has been a wonderful meal. Thank you.”

After dinner, we moved into the living room.  Bob told me how he and Vivian met, and how Vivian had knocked him cold. She kept interrupting and correcting him. Finally, he stopped.

“Women. This is my story and I’ll tell it my way,” Bob said.

“Yes, dear, but you make me sound like a monster. Drake, I didn’t knock him out just senseless. What was I to think when someone I’d never met patted my bottom? Well hell, I turned around and belted him.” She looked at Bob. “You looked so cute lying on the ground, except for the blood around your mouth.” She gave him a warm smile. “I took him home, and we’ve been together for over thirty years.”

“I’ve been patting your bottom now for thirty years,” Bob said.

“You keep on patting it or I’ll knock you cold,” she said with a smile.

The way they looked at each other I thought it was time to go. I thanked them for the meal and wished them a good night.

As I walked to my dorm, I thought about the systems that made it possible for us to cruise through space in comfort. The ventilation, electrical distribution systems, and oh, don’t forget about the plumbing, fresh and the other. It was so much stuff to understand, and I hadn’t even started to study the power reactor or main engines.

At my dorm, I started my next course. A man with a bald crown lectured on transistor theory. A large one appeared next to him. Different colored balls moved through the display, representing base emitter and collector current flow. Another group represented the minority current caused from heat. Something clicked. The audio and visual display made sense and explained everything in a way I could grasp. Of course basic transistor theory was review. My dad had taught me about it for as long as I could remember, but this lecture brought it together and made it clear to me. I studied long into the night.

Chapter 4: Tests

Jack looked over my shoulder as the data streamed across the screen. It was close, but the controller was still hunting, not settling on the set point. I’d just changed out a damper servo in the aft main ventilation duct and was having a hard time getting the controller to settle. I increased the gain, and it started leveling out.

“Very good, Drake. Good work,” Jack said.

Wow, that was the second time he’d told me I was doing a good job. You don’t get many of that from Jack.

“There you are,” Kathy Shelling said as she entered the shop. “Drake, you must have made a mistake.”

“Mistake,” I repeated.

“Yeah, you’re asking to take your first-year exam. That can’t be right. You’ve been an apprentice for only three months,” she said.

“Well, I just finished the course work and thought I should take the test while it was fresh in my mind.”

Jack leaned against a test bench. “You finished your first year in three months?” he asked.

“Ah, yeah. It’s review. My dad’s been teaching me the basics for the last ten years. He used to be a professor, so it’s just natural for him to teach, and I was the only one around.”

They were both staring at me. Kathy turned to Jack. “Well, he can challenge it, but he has to pass with a ninety percent or better.” She turned to me, scowling. “If you don’t hit that, you’ll have to wait a full year to try again. Do you still want to test now?”

“Well, if I pass I’ll get second-year pay, right?”

“Yeah, you’ll step up a grade if you pass. You’re scheduled for tomorrow. I shouldn’t help you. It might do you good to fail. Still we have a study guide and can give you a week to prepare for the test. Would you like to reschedule?”

“No, I know the material. Thanks, tomorrow’s fine.”

She stepped forward. I thought she was going to hit me. “Very well. I’ll see you tomorrow in the testing center. No electronic devices are allowed. I’ll supply you with a calculator, and will watch you. Don’t even try to cheat,” she growled. She turned on her heels and walked out, leaving us both stunned and quiet.

“You ready for that test?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I hit a hundred on the pretest last night.”

“Figures. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

“I was going to start showing you the reactor tomorrow, but seeing as you’ll be testing, let’s start the day after.”

Bob entered the shop. “What happened to Kathy? She didn’t even say hi to me. Just passed by, talking to herself.”

“Ah, she’ll be all right. Drake just asked to challenge his first-year test. Kathy wants to protect everyone. She’ll be fine after he passes tomorrow,” Jack said with a laugh.

Bob looked confused. “What? You’re testing? Shit, that’s quick. You ready?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.” Everyone’s surprise caused me to start wondering if I was as ready as I thought.

“Cool. You get a raise if you pass, don’t you? I have a bottle. Let’s have a drink tomorrow after you pass that test. You’ll be fine.”

“How’s that damper doing, kid?” Jack asked.

I glanced at the display. The controller was right on set point. “Looks good,” I said.

Jack nodded. “Okay, let’s take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow we’ll drink ourselves sick.”

I closed down the terminal. I’d decided not to study anymore tonight. It was a good time to take a walk, watch a video, then hit the gym. It was strange leaving the shop with no particular place to go. I’d been rushing around so much I had to force myself to saunter down the hallway.

I stopped at a lounge where a man played the sax. Watching a live performance was always nice, so I stayed and enjoyed it for a few hours. It always amazed me that people could be so talented.

Thinking of home, I pulled out Margret and wrote a few lines to Mom and Dad. This was the first time I’d felt homesick. I sent another note to them, telling them about the test tomorrow.

“I can’t change it,” Jenny said, taking a seat across from me. Another girl sat at her side. “Sorry, I never thought he’d be kicked off. I was so pissed at Mitch.”

Jenny was a pretty blonde girl. “Oh, you mean Margret. She’s great,” I said with a smile. Jenny’s forehead furrowed. I continued, “Margret is fun. She makes me laugh. She’s the best assistant I could hope for. Whatever you did to her, thanks.”

“Drake, that was such a sweet thing to say.” Margret purred. Both Jenny and her friend flinched, and a spot of color came to Jenny’s face.

I reached across the table. “No worries, Jenny. Let’s be friends,” I said. She took my hand with her mouth hanging open. “Nice to see you again. I mean it when I say thank you for making Margret the way she is. Thanks. I must be going. I have a class.” I got up from the table.

Sandra was hard on me. She worked me like a dog. After we finished, she said, “We’re going to have a tournament. I entered you as a novice. We have a month. You’ll be ready.”

What could I say? She looked so happy and excited. What I’d do for a friend was just stupid. I smiled, and said, “Great, that sounds like fun. You think I stand a chance?”

“No worries. I’ll make sure you’re ready,”

I cursed myself all the way to my dorm. What the hell was the matter with me? I should just stand up for myself and stop being such a dumb nice guy. After taking a shower, I hung out in the dayroom, watching a video, then Johnny started giving a woman breathing lessons. Feeling uncomfortable, I went to my tube, going to bed early.

All through breakfast Margret had been unusually quiet, no smart little remarks, no suggestions, nothing. I didn’t know what was wrong, but as I was about to leave she told me.

“I should always go with you. I hate being left behind.”

“You heard her. No electronics allowed. I have to leave you here. It’ll just be a few hours.” She didn’t answer as I closed the door.

Kathy wasn’t happy. She was tart as she told me to take a seat. She read me the rules and reminded me if I was caught cheating on the exam, I could be expelled from the union.

“Kathy, I won’t cheat. I expect to pass in the high nineties,” I said.

“Take a seat. The exam will start in five minutes.”

She handed me a calculator and a touch pad with a stylist. She took a seat facing me. She sat up, looking straight at me. I unsnapped my sleeves and pulled them back, then rolled my arms over to show her I didn’t have any answers written on them. We stared at each other as the countdown continued.

“You have nice eyes,” I said.

“No talking during the test,” she said.

The timer went to zero, and the first page of the test appeared. I gave her a smile and then found my groove. I hit it hard, flying through each problem as fast as I could. Everything else faded. It was just me and the test. After answering the last question, I looked up at her. She shook her head. The screen in front of me flashed one hundred percent. No questions missed, it said. I looked back to her, and she slumped in her chair.

“How did you do that?” she asked.

“I work very hard.”

“Oh.”

After pulling down my sleeves, I held out my hand. “Come on, I’ll buy you lunch.”

She was quiet as we walked. Coming around a corner, Jenny ran into us. She looked at Kathy, then at me and our hands.

“Oh, I get it. That’s why you’re so busy,” she said with a crooked smile. She turned on her heel and then walked away at a fast pace.

Kathy’s face turned red, and I laughed. “You’re an awful young man,” she said, then turned and went back the other way, shaking her head.

I headed to engineering. On my way I stopped at a cafeteria and picked up a sandwich to go, then grabbed Margret, who was still pissed. Bob and Jack were both at the shop when I arrived.

“Ah, don’t worry, lad, you’ll get it next time. It took me two tries to pass it,” Bob said.

“This won’t hurt you. It’ll put you back a few months, but you’re smart. You’ll pass easy next time,” Jack said.

I looked at both of them and smiled. “I aced it.”

“You aced it, in what, an hour?” Bob said, getting up. “If you don’t mind, I’ll give Kathy a call.”

“Ah, Bob,” Jack said, shaking his head, “let’s leave Kathy out of this for now. You and I both know he couldn’t have taken the test much less aced it in an hour.” He gave me his son-don’t-give-me-no-shit look. “So what happened, Drake? Was the test canceled?”

I smiled at him. “I’ll call Kathy. She can tell you,” I said, pulling out Margret. “Please call Kathy Shelling.” Both Jack and Bob looked at each other.

“Hi, Kathy,” I said.

“What do you want?”

“Jack doesn’t believe I passed the test.”

“I don’t either. Put him on.” I handed Jack my assistant.

“Hi, Kathy. Is he lying? Ah, shit, no way. You’re kidding! Thanks, Kathy. You need to come see him. Yeah, he’ll be here. Bye.” Jack handed me Margret. He shook his head. “Aced it. Damn. How?”

“I work hard,” I said.

“You did. You aced it,” Bob said. He jumped up, shook my hand and pounded my shoulder.

Kathy came into the shop a few minutes later. She looked frazzled. “That little bitch posted this.” She pressed her assistant and a picture of me holding her hand filled the wall. “She’s insinuating we’re having a relationship.”

“I wish.”

“What? You’re just a kid,” she said.

“I know, but you’re an amazing woman, and I should be so lucky.” Jack flinched.

“You’re an evil young man. This won’t hurt me, but you could find yourself taking the test again.”

I shrugged. “So. I can take that test any time they want to give it to me.”

She turned to Jack. “What are we going to do?”

Jack walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle and cups. He poured four of them halfway full. He handed me one, then went around handing Kathy and Bob one as well.

With a nod, he said, “To Drake, our new second-year apprentice.”

I took a deep gulp and then coughed my fool head off. No one should drink this shit, I thought between gasps for air and spasms.

“Smooth,” Jack said with a laugh.

Bob patted me on the back. I wondered if he tried to help or if it was just an excuse to pound on me. After catching my breath, I noticed Jack’s cup was half-full. Mine was a quarter. Crap, he could have warned me.

“Let’s move on into my office and discuss young Drake’s problem in comfort,” Jack said.

As we followed him to the office, Bob saddled up to me and gave me a nudge. “Kid, this here is sipping whiskey, not soda pop. A big gulp could kill you.” He smiled.

I stopped and looked at the yellow liquid in my cup. Kathy put her arm around me. “Just small sips and you’ll be fine.” She pushed me forward into the office.

Jack reached over and poured more whiskey into my cup. “Most of the time it’s good to be in a hurry, but it can be dangerous to rush a woman or whiskey, boy.”

Kathy let out a sharp laugh. “Jack, you’re one of the best engineers I’ve met, but you know nothing about women.” She took another sip of her whiskey.

“I don’t think that’s correct. I know women,” Jack said. Bob put his head into his hand and gave it a small shake.

Kathy let out a loud cackle. “Okay. Whatever you say. Drake, you want advice. You’d better come to Bob or me. Got it?”

Bob shook his head. “I have no answers for you, son. I’ve been married a long time and don’t know nothing, except that I love Vivian.”

I looked over at Jack, who poured more whiskey into his glass. “Been single for the last ten years,” he said, slurring his words slightly. “Since my wife died. Only woman I’ve ever loved too. Tessa.” He raised his glass in a toast. I took another small sip. The shit wasn’t bad.

I looked over at Kathy. She studied her glass. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble. Can I do anything?” I asked.

She looked up at me and laughed. “I’m not in any trouble. Every woman on this ship will think I’m lucky.” She smiled. “That’s not a bad thing for me. Men don’t care about older women having a fling. If they do, screw them or don’t screw them, I should say.” She paused. “You might be asked to take the test again. Young women might think you’re a trashy guy.”

I was high so I told her, “Well, looks as if I’ll be spending time talking to you. Looking into your eyes is all I’ll ever need,” I said. Jack scowled, Kathy giggled and Bob groaned.

Kathy looked at Jack. “What have you been teaching him?”

I looked at my glass. It was empty, and the room was different. Jack put his head in his hands and then poured more whiskey into his glass. I staggered to his desk with mine.

“Just a bit more.” I managed to stop him at half a cup.

Bob let out a long blast of air. “Gad, Jack, that stuff is strong. I’m going home. See you in the morning.” He staggered as he went out the door.

“Night, Bob,” Jack slurred. “Good man that Bob. Great friend, the best.” He leaned back in his chair.

Kathy stood, looking tipsy. “You guys are a bunch of lightweights. I know a bunch of girls who could drink the lot of you under the table.” She staggered and sat hard. “Damn, Jack, what the hell is this shit? Poison?” she sputtered.