Free Tales From the Hunter Legacy Universe 1: Jane's Christmas by Timothy Ellis Page A

Maybe."
    "Should I show you one now?"
    "Hell no. I'll take your word for
it."
    "Jon?"
    "Yes Amanda?"
    "What's going on in the Rec and Dining
Rooms?"
    "I've no idea. Is something going
on?"
    "Yes. There's a security droid outside
the doors stopping anyone from going in."
    "I'll get back to you."
    "Okay."
    I could hear the grin behind the word.
    "Jane?"
    "Jon?"
    "What's going on?"
    "Merry Christmas Jon."
    I sighed.
    "You said that already. It's not an
explanation."
    "It should be."
    "Jon?"
    "Yes Grace?"
    "The simulator in the Pilot's Mess was
just turned off, and there's a butler droid here asking everyone to leave.
What's going on?"
    "Your guess is as good as mine. I'll
get back to you. In the meantime, better do as the butler wants."
    "Okay."
    She didn’t sound enthusiastic.
    "Jane?"
    "Yes Jon?"
    "Jon?"
    "Let me guess BA. You're being tossed
out of the Marine Mess?"
    "How did you know?"
    "Just a hunch."
    "What's going on?"
    "I'll get back to you."
    "What do you suggest everyone does
without a Mess?"
    I looked at Jane.
    "There's a basketball court set up on
the Cargo Deck."
    "That won't keep everyone
entertained," said BA.
    "There's a few other entertainments
down there as well," added Jane.
    "Oh? Fine, we'll head down
there."
    "Enjoy."
    Jane grinned at me again.
    "What else did you do down
there?"
    "Gravity and non-gravity volleyball,
huge chess set, and a sim-field big enough for any team sport they want to
play. There's a range of balls available for whatever they choose. And I took
the liberty of making most of the common goal posts up. They just need to
position what they want to use."
    "Seriously?"
    "Seriously."
    "Jon?"
    "Yes Annabelle?"
    "What's going on? I'm getting
complaints from all over, about half the ship being off limits at the
moment."
    "It's not that bad. Send everyone down
to the Cargo Deck. Jane's provided some sports setups."
    "Why?"
    "Why? I'm still trying to find
out."
    "You will let me know?"
    "Sure."
    "Okay."
    "Jane."
    "Jon?"
    "What is going on?"
    "Priority email for you Jon."
     

Two
     
    Saved by the bell. I sighed. It was from
Eric. I threw it to the wall.
    "Merry Christmas Jon."
    Huh?
    "I don’t know how you did it, but the
computer you sent me is wonderful. The original versions of the X3 trilogy
would be incredible enough, but the full Wing Commander series? I didn't know
any tech still existed to run those old programs. I assume Jane figured out how
to get the old tech to work together. Needless to say, the wife is not well
pleased I'll be locking myself away for long periods from now on, but then, I
can play on the Bridge while I'm officially working. It’s a dream come true,
and I thought I’d have to wait until you went home. Thankyou. I wish I could
say I thought to get you something, but alas, you're half the spine away. Party
at my place when you return. Merry Christmas!"
    The vid ended with him raising a wine glass
in salute.
    "Jane?"
    "Jon?"
    "What did you do?"
    "For Eric?"
    "No, for bloody Norbett. Of course
Eric."
    "I tinkered around with some of those
computers we pulled out of the Midgard ships, the ones we replaced with modern
fighter ones. They were a bit advanced for Wing Commander, but I managed to
slow them down. I added a number of them together, all doing different speeds,
and cobbled together an operating system which would select the right hardware
for each game. Getting the vid to work with modern units was the really hard
part, but I managed it. The computer works with standard PC hollo tech now, so
Eric's PC can interface the old tech computer, and he can play it on a flat
screen with hollo controls."
    "Where's mine?"
    "Sorry?"
    "You did all that for Eric. Where's
mine?"
    "Oh. I sort of thought you were beyond
that now. After all, life has been emulating a computer game for you for quite
some time now. Isn't reality enough for you?"
    I sighed.
    "Nicely side tracked by the way. So
what's going on?"
    "Why would anything be going on?"
    She batted her eyelids at me. I