Free Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer) by Chris Hechtl Page A

be?”
    “For
people panicking, getting into trouble, hoarding, anything,” the chief replied.
Ed spread his hands, indicating there was of course more to it than that. Irons
nodded slightly. At least one of the other officers was on his game. Sort of.
“I didn't know. My bad, I should have kept on it and anticipated it.
Fortunately the Admiral's actions kept a lid on things. When word got out that
he was correcting the problem everyone settled down.”
    “But
it was still a problem,” Willis said pursing her lips thoughtfully.
    “True,”
Ed admitted.
    “He
does have a point there,” the captain sighed. “Fortunately, it is a moot point.
But I expect better of you Ed, from now on.” The security chief nodded. “You
too Charlie,” he said, giving the purser a look.
    “Yes
sir,” the purser said nodding looking decidedly nettled.
    “How
are you feeling Admiral?” Willis asked looking to him.
    “Me?
Fine, just fine,” he answered and then shrugged. “Thank you for asking.”
    “I
heard you had been injured. Something about your shower?” she asked, sounding
genuinely concerned.
    “How'd
you hear that?” Bailey asked, suddenly intent. Willis reared back startled.
    “From
the ship's grapevine. It's all over the place,” she said giving the chimp an
amused look. The chimp didn't look like he believed her.
    “She's
correct Admiral,” Sprite told him over his HUD. She sounded a bit disgusted but
unsurprised that it had hit the grapevine. He nodded. Him coming up a cropper
would be juicy news for the entire ship's compliment.
    “I
believe it is all over the net,” the purser said, coming to the beleaguered
delegate's defense.
    “So
how are you?” the captain asked, turning to view Irons. “You look well.”
    Irons
shrugged. “I am.”
    “The
ultrasonics should have cooked you Admiral. I should have taken you to
sickbay,” Bryan the paramedic said looking concerned.
    “Not
necessary,” Irons said waving a dismissive hand.
    “From
the size of those bruises it should have been,” the security chief replied. “I
looked it up. You probably sustained internal injuries.”
    “I
did. My implants repaired the damage,” Irons held up his left wrist and then
unbuttoned his cufflink and pulled the sleeve back to his elbow. “See?” His
skin was unblemished.
    The
security chief looked then whistled a little. A few of the others looked as
well. The purser grimaced and looked away.
    “All
better. The wonder of modern medicine,” Irons said nodding to the paramedic. “I
would have just been another body cluttering up your tiny sick bay.”
    “Yes.
I see that now,” Bryan said, blinking in confusion.
    “How
did it break down?” Clarke asked.
    “The
investigation is still in progress,” the security chief replied, shooting a
warning look to Irons and Bailey. They both nodded, getting the message.
    “I
see.”
    “I
believe this ship is old. A death trap. Typical malfunction. What do you expect
from a ship centuries old?” the purser asked with a sniff. “We really shouldn't
have left Pyrax. That problem with the computer bears this out.”
    “On
the contrary, I repaired the replicator, shower, and other things in my
quarters days ago. To my satisfaction,” Irons replied then practically kicked
himself when the security chief gave him a dirty disgusted look. From the looks
around the room the others were coming to the logical conclusion that statement
generated. He winced internally. Oops.
    “You
did? How odd that it broke down so soon then,” Miss Willis said shaking her
head. There was an odd note there. He wasn't sure about it.
    “Yes.
Odd,” Bailey said giving the Admiral his own look. “But we're looking into things
now.  Hopefully there will not be a repeat with someone else. Someone without
the Admiral's healing ability.”
    “You
said your food replicator was working?” the purser asked suddenly leaning
forward.
    “Yes,”
Irons shrugged, looking to Bailey. “I was assigned to