Thought I’d end today with another little piece from the current WIP. ENJOY!
“Did you hear anything yet?”
Dogfish looked up from his desk aboard the MV Neily Campbell and scowled.
“No, Menace. I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“Because the crew is getting eager to know.”
“Really? I hadn’t guessed, since only seven other people have been in here since I got in at nine, and it’s all of quarter after ten.”
Mercedes ‘Menace’ Johnson’s face showed her dismay. She was the topside manager; to her mind, that meant she was supposed to ensure that Dogfish was able to do his job without being harassed by the crew.
“Sorry, Dog.
He waved off her apology. “Not a big deal. If I was in their shoes, I’d want to know the scoop as well. Just do me a favor, eh?”
“Anything.”
“Put a sign on the door that says, ‘He doesn’t know shit’, will ya?”
Menace grinned at that; it was perfectly him. “You got it.”
As soon as the door closed, his face returned to worry. It had been weeks since he’d announced to his crew, his people, that they’d soon be out of work as divers and salvage experts. At the same time, though, he’d offered them the same chance he’d been given: join the Terran Federation officially, as opposed to just part of the larger umbrella of the Harriman Trust, and serve as the first crew of the rehabilitated and seriously remodeled U.S.S. Missouri. Somewhat to his surprise, every single member had signed on. They’d been given a schedule for their physicals, signing-on ceremony, and the other minutiae that came with joining up.
Then silence.
And more silence.
And then the silence stretched out further.
Now, it was three weeks later, and while everyone was still being paid, benefits were still being given, there was a restlessness about his people. They weren’t used to long periods of down time between jobs, and Dogfish was starting to wonder how long he’d be able to keep them under control and ready to work. They were divers, after all, and…
Hey Dogfish, you busy, we need to talk, oh yeah it’s Mac, how have you been, we’re going to be dropping in, is now a good time or would later be better, maybe I should have asked that first?
“Sweet Jesus!” he exclaimed at the voice in his head.
Give a guy some warning! he thought back.
Oh yeah, it’s so easy to forget that not everybody is used to their implants, and you haven’t had yours long yet, I remember those days, it seems like it was just yesterday but, wow, it was over five years ago, I can’t believe it’s been that long, but you’ll get used to it.
Ms. McAllister. You said you’re dropping in?
Yeah, Ted and I, we’re on the Charlemagne, Motherlove was coming Earthside anyways and so we hitched a lift, she’s going to be flying by there in just a few minutes, and we’ll make our way back to Njord when we can, maybe she’ll pick us up, but I know that she’s going to be packed to the bulkheads, so there may not be any seats, and…
My schedule is free, he interrupted desperately. He’d dealt with her before; extensively, to be honest. It was somewhat disconcerting to realize that she could ‘talk’ over the implants nearly as non-stop as she could in person. Give Eyesight your ETA and I’ll see you when you land.
He very deliberately closed the connection before she could reply.
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