Free The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link by Daniel Hanks Page A

the left and right. See how that works?” I nodded. Of course I’d read this so it wasn’t anything new. “The right hand controls your direction of movement. This is a very forgiving unit, and if you move your hands to center, it’ll stop your movement. Okay, Drake, do what I do.” He rolled left. I followed. Then right, up, down, side to side. “Not bad. Now follow me.”
    He turned and flew away across the ship’s side. I followed, but as I caught up, he went faster and soon we zipped around the ship. Bob got crazier, weaving around supports for the main antenna array. Still I gained on him, getting closer as he spun around.
    “Drake, what are you doing? Stop it now,” Margret said.
    “No, I can get him.”
    “You’re going to get him killed. Stop now.”
    Bob’s leg hit a beam right in front of me. I pulled up, flying away from the ship. It hurt to say it, but I did. “You’re the man, Bob. I can’t catch you. I’m done.”
    “You’re done? That’s all you got? No one can catch the snake,” he said as he flew a victory roll. Margret was right. I would have killed him if I’d continued.
    “Thanks, Margret, for stopping me,” I said.
    “I know it was hard for you to stop. You’re a good kid.”
    “Oh, Drake, one more thing,” Bob said. “Hit the emergency home icon. It’s the house with a lightning bolt going through it.”
    I hit the icon and my vision bleared as I streaked toward the airlock.
    “Don’t worry, Drake. I have you. This will be rough but safe,” Margret said. The airlock approached very fast. The maneuvering unit fired, bringing me in. The outer door slammed shut, and the lock cycled. “That was nasty of him. I’m programed to take you to the nearest airlock as fast as possible. The suit weights eighty pounds, and you have no other clothes to wear. Plus, we’re out of fuel.”
    The weight of the suit settled onto my shoulders. After taking a seat on a bench, I peeled off the heavy suit. I laughed halfway through my shower and continued as I toweled off and then pulled a disposable coverall out of a locker. I looked in the mirror and laughed again. Well, I won’t find a girl dressed in that.
    With the heavy suit on an anti-gravity cart, I headed out of the changing area. As I turned a corner, I ran into Jenny, who giggled. “I’d walk with you, but you’re embarrassing,” she said.
    “That bad,” I said, looking at myself. The coveralls were wide enough for two of me. The sleeves just covered my elbows, and the legs didn’t reach my ankles.
    She laughed. “I need to meet your tailor.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” I smiled. Believing I couldn’t be embarrassed any more, we ran in to Kathy. She stopped, looked me up and down, then at Jenny.
    “Masquerade party?” she asked as she craned her neck, viewing my legs and bare feet.
    “Hey, Kathy, I always can explain my strange and bazaar behavior. Why don’t we walk and talk. My dorm is just down the hall. I can change, and we can discuss the whole sorted affair,” I said.
    “No. I’m busy right now. Come see me tonight after your shift at my quarters.”
    “Sure, but I might need to work late.”
    “When you’re done with your shift come see me. Understand?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “You’re Jenny, right?” Kathy asked.
    “Yes, and you’re Kathy Shelling,” Jenny said.
    The two women stared at each other for a moment. “Oh, you’re the girl who set up Drake’s assistant. Very funny stuff. Thank you for doing that. It’s kept him out of trouble,” Kathy said. Jenny nodded. Kathy turned and walked away. “Don’t forget, Drake. After your shift,” she said over her shoulder.
    “Margret, you got that?” I asked.
    “Yes, Drake. After your shift. Oh, and you need to lose those coveralls,” she said.
    Jenny glared at me. “What?” I asked.
    “Are you having sex with Kathy?”
    “Ha, I wish. No, she’s what she says she is—a very busy woman. I’ll be meeting with her to