Roo the Day, page 10
part #13 of Bob and Nikki Series
“Why is that?”
“It shows that you are just a regular guy, even if you are sitting in the big chair.”
“That’s important to you?”
“That’s important to a lot of people. You’re the only thing between us and the deep black. We need to believe in you.”
“I see what you mean. I hope I can live up to that.”
“You do fine. You better get home, before something comes up you need to deal with.”
“See you tomorrow, then.”
Snitz and I went home. Jeeves greeted us with a shh sign. He whispered, “The twins just went to sleep. If you wake them, you and I will be responsible for putting them back to sleep.”
I nodded, and slipped off to bed. The next morning was new and different. Snitz didn’t lick my ear, because Becky was trying to get him to lift her onto the bed, so she could wake me up. He had the back of her pajamas in his mouth, but he wasn’t dog enough to raise her that high. I helped him, but it was awkward, and we had a time getting her where she wanted to be. Once we did, I checked, and sure enough, she had a good reason for coming after me. After I got that taken care of, I left her to play with Snitz for a bit, while I took care of what I needed to. The rest of the family was still asleep, so I took her with me, when I took Snitz to the grass room. Jim saw me carrying her, and asked, “Teaching the new generation the ropes, Boss?”
“She decided that Dad’s Diaper Service needed to open early today. I brought her with me to keep from waking up everybody else.”
“She let you know that, without waking them up?”
“I woke up to her trying to get Snitz to lift her into bed with me. Turns out he isn’t quite dog enough.”
“Those twins are something else.”
“I shudder to think what they’re going to be like, when they get a little older.”
“Why do you think dads get gray hair?”
“An optimist. Just what I need this morning.”
“Not like you wouldn’t do the same for me, Bob.”
“You’re right, there. Something I should know?”
“Janice is going by medbay today to be sure, but she thinks so.”
“Congratulations!”
“Thanks. If it wasn’t for this outfit, we would both still be waiting to die at Shady.”
“Now that would be a waste of talent, big time.”
“You must want something, Bob. What is it?”
“Nothing, right now. I’m sure something will come up.”
“If you say so. You headed to the galley?”
“I am. You?”
“Likewise. I need to get around some coffee. I’m starting a project today.”
“Scotti get you set up with a place to work?”
“She did. Joanna thinks Lilly needs some old-fashioned wooden toys.”
“Any chance you could make a few extra, for Gus and Becky?”
“I figured I would make several extra, as many babies as are being born in this fleet. You’d think the guy running the thing was encouraging fraternization, or something.”
“I can see how you might think that, since it’s true, and all.”
We started for the galley. Stella greeted us, saying, “Morning, fellas. I see you brought some help this morning, Boss.”
“She got me out of bed, I figured I ought to bring her along, so she didn’t wake up everybody else.”
“What do you want for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs, and maybe some sausage?”
“And you, Jim?”
“Oatmeal, I think.”
I looked at him. “Oatmeal, really?”
“Got so used to it at Shady, it just doesn’t feel like morning without it.”
“Different strokes for different folks.”
We sat down, and Stella filled our coffee cups. It wasn’t long before our food came out, too. Snitz wandered off toward the kitchen, and Molly followed. Jim said, “Andre’s a soft touch for those two.”
“As long as he’s hardcore when things get sticky, he can be however he wants to be on his time off.”
Becky was paying close attention to me eating. Finally, she started making a fuss. I figured now would be a good time, since Nikki wasn’t around. I gave her a little bit of scrambled egg to work on. Much to my surprise, she managed to get it down without trouble, so I gave her some more. I knew I was playing roulette, but I was hoping my number didn’t come up when it came out the other end. My comm rang. Julie said, “Boss, do you know where Becky is?”
“She woke me up this morning, so I brought her with me, so that she didn’t wake up everyone else. Sorry to upset you.”
“No problem, Boss. I just thought I would check with you, before I had Gene search the ship.”
“I probably should apologize in advance, Julie, for what you will have to deal with later in the day.”
“What do you mean, Boss.”
“Becky decided she liked the looks of my eggs. I doubt her system will handle them well.”
“At least I can turn off my olfactory sensors.”
“I’ll bring her back, once I finish breakfast.”
“See you then, Boss.”
I said to Jim. “I better get her back. That was Julie looking for her.”
“Is she doing better now that she doesn’t have the impossible task of keeping Frank corralled?”
“Seems to be. These two are a handful, though. I don’t envy her when they get a little older.”
“Maybe you can get them to play Frisbee with Lilly. That would keep them all busy.”
“Sounds like a plan, as soon as they can stand up.”
I stood up, and headed for the transit. Topper came over the speaker. “Captain Wilson, to the bridge, please. Captain Wilson, to the bridge.”
I said, “Hang on, little one”, and ran for the transit. I went through the bridge door, hollering, “As you were. What’s up, Topper?”
“Another sensor reading, Boss. We’re dropping out of FTL to have a look. I figured you would want to be here.”
“Good thinking. I have the conn.”
A bot I didn’t recognize came on the bridge with a car seat, and strapped it into the observer’s chair, next to mine. I said, “Thank you. What’s your designation?”
“BA-47, Boss.”
“Mind if I call you Mr. T?”
He froze for a minute, checking references. “For B.A. Baracus? No, Boss, I don’t mind at all. Thank you!”
“Thank you, for setting Becky up with a safe seat.”
I strapped her in, and then strapped myself in. We eased into normal space. Sue called, “There are two ships, in battle with each other.”
“Jump in, full lightshow, full stunners. Tex, be ready to escalate, if they make it necessary.”
Ruth and Tex answered, “Yes, Boss.”
“Saucy, get Ellie up here, five minutes ago.”
“On it, Boss.”
“Sue, I need to know what exactly is happening here, as soon as you can get me some data.”
“Understood, Boss.”
We came in bright, and both ships stopped what they were doing. Sue said, “I’m not reading any stunner resistant individuals on either ship, Boss.”
“What sort of ships do we have, Sue?”
“A Roo ship, looks to be set up for exploring, and a Commonwealth ship, with about the same kind of equipment.”
“Any indication what they were fighting about?”
“The Roo ship has all the damage, and their guns appear to be capable of doing some harm to the other ship. I’m going to call it as a Roo greeting gone wrong, Boss.”
“Not quite what we might want for a first contact.”
Ellie came hopping through the door. “Yes, Captain?”
“Some of your people seem to be having a disagreement with some of our people. We’ve stunned them for the moment, but I was hoping you might be able to help us end the shooting.”
“What are they fighting about?”
“Near as we can tell, your folks gave them a greeting, and our folks misinterpreted it as a hostile act, and started shooting for real. It appears we got here before your folks decided to escalate, as well.”
Sue said, “The Commonwealth ship is registered to the Guide, Boss.”
“Topper, page Nikki.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Sue said, “Some of them are starting to wake up, Boss.”
“Zap ‘em again, Tex. We’re not ready.”
“Stun ‘em till they glow, and then stun ‘em some mo’, aye, Boss.”
Ellie looked concerned. I said, “It’s just an expression. He won’t hurt them.”
“Sorry, Captain. I should know better, given the way you and your crew have treated me and Lilly.”
“No problem. This crew works a little differently than most.”
Nikki came running onto the bridge. “What’s up, Caveman?”
“Found a Roo ship, and a Guide ship, in the process of having a misunderstanding. We have them stunned at the moment, but I thought maybe you could help calm the folks from the Guide down, when they wake up.”
“I can try. I don’t know how much pull I will have, now that I resigned.”
“Surely we still have some goodwill from fixing the teaching machine.”
“It can’t hurt, that’s for sure. Still, it might be better to let the Roos wake up first, and move off a little, before you let the folks from the Guide wake up.”
“Tex, you heard the lady.”
“That I did, Boss. Keep the Guide asleep, while you talk to the Roos.”
“You probably want to tickle the Roos with the turrets, when they wake up, just so they know we don’t mean them any harm.”
“On it, Boss.”
Sue said, “They’re waking up, again.”
Tex said, “Guide is out again, tickling the Roos, now.”
Saucy had the action on the main screen. Tex managed to avoid all the places the Guide had damaged, when they mistakenly attacked. Shortly, Saucy said, “Incoming transmission. I’ve got the translator in the circuit, you should be able to talk to them, Boss.”
A weary-looking Roo appeared. He said, “Thank you. That other ship took offense at our greeting, and tried to destroy us. I see you know our ways.”
I pointed to Ellie. “I’ve met one of your people. She has helped me learn about you. Do you need assistance to repair your damage?”
“I’m afraid we do. Could you help us?”
“I think so. Is your ship still mobile, or do you need a tow?”
“Our engine is still down. A tow might be best.”
“I’ll get a recovery ship out to you right away.”
“How many ships have you got, Captain?”
“Quite a few, actually, but they’re all inside the Gene. Aren’t your sensors working, either?”
“No, they aren’t. Why is that important?”
Another Roo appeared on screen. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but she was pointing and making gestures, seeming very excited. The fellow I had been talking to said, “Excuse me a moment, Captain.”
He walked off-screen, and then hurried back, nearly as flustered as the other Roo. “Captain, are you aboard that massive vessel I can see?”
“Indeed I am. Unless you have some objection, I intend to bring your ship aboard for repairs.”
“Considering that you have already saved our lives, and that without your help, we would be stranded out here in the black, I have no objection. How did you come to have such a massive ship?”
“That’s a long story. I’m sure we’ll have time to talk about it, while your ship is getting fixed.”
“Sounds like a good idea. My crew says your recovery ship is approaching. Do we need to do anything to help?”
“I doubt it. Ace and Hopper are good at their jobs. Just don’t try to maneuver while they are hooking you up, and it should go smoothly. We’ll talk again, once you are aboard.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“You’re welcome.”
I turned to Ellie. “Did I do that anywhere close to right?”
“You did a fine job, Captain. They must be in dire straits, for their captain to be so easy to convince.”
“Do you mind heading down to the bay, to keep them calm, until I’m able to make an appearance?”
“I’d be glad to, Captain. I know the fellow you were talking to. He tried to talk me out of my trip to your planet.”
“Were we able to give you enough information to justify your trip?”
“Yes, Captain. I will, indeed, be able to, what is your expression, ‘rub his nose in it’.”
“Our people are not so different, then. Glad we were able to help.”
She left the bridge, as Sue was saying, “The Guide ship is coming around again. Ace has the Roo ship hooked up, and is bringing it in.”
Nikki said, “Saucy, give me a comm channel to that ship.”
“Yes, Ma’am. There you go.”
Nikki said, “Guide ship, this is Retired Ensign Benikkious Slongum. Stand down. I say again, stand down.”
A Guide Lieutenant, who looked a little full of himself, came on screen. “Who are you, Ensign, to give me orders?”
I said, “Have a look at your scanner, before you get too wound up, Sir.”
He looked down at the readout. “That can’t be right! That ship is huge!”
Nikki said, “Not only is it huge, it is well armed. Any further hostilities will be stopped. Do I make myself clear?”
“This must be some kind of a trick.”
I said, “Tex, tickle them, see if you can make him understand the position he is in.”
“You’re firing on us! Cease fire! Cease fire!”
I replied, “We did no damage, just like the alien ship. It’s their way of saying hello. If you had noticed you weren’t taking damage, before you started shooting, this could have gone differently. Do you wish to continue being a hardhead, or would you like to come aboard and apologize to your fellow explorers?”
One of his crewmembers came up and whispered in his ear. He turned to the camera and asked, “Are you Bob Wilson, Captain?”
“I am.”
“The fellow who fixed the teaching machines?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, Sir. We’re a long way from help, and we were scared, when they started firing on us. We didn’t realize they were just ‘tickling’ us.”
“Come on aboard, and we’ll see if we can get it all straightened out. We’ll give you some blinking lights to follow.”
“Glad to. Where did you find such a marvelous ship?”
“That’s a long story. It can wait till you’re aboard. See you soon.”
When the connection dropped, I turned to Nikki. “Can I trust that bunch?”
“I’m not sure about the fellow in charge, but the one who whispered in his ear, I’ve met before. He won’t start anything.”
I turned to Topper. “Mr. Topper, would you be so kind as to make sure all our visitors have a nice reception committee?”
“Already arranged, Boss. Andre says thanks for the business.”
“Excellent work, as always.”
I turned back to Nikki. “How long will it take the backup those Guide folks called to show up?”
“At least two days, this far out, probably more like four.”
“We need to be gone before they get here. One captain raving about the enormous ship Bob Wilson flies, they might be able to ignore. If it’s two or three, that would be harder.”
“Caveman, there are standing orders not to report anything you do, unless it is a direct threat to the Commonwealth.”
“Consorting with aliens wouldn’t be considered a direct threat to the Commonwealth?”
“I see what you mean. They could use that to get you in trouble, couldn’t they?”
“If they wanted to, yes. Just depends if this guy’s crew is able to talk some sense into him, or not.”
“Do we need to go greet them?”
